Thursday, November 24, 2016

Thankful for friends and family


We used to have family gatherings with my brothers at my folks house. When they died and my oldest brother died, we no longer get together. Sometimes the gatherings were not so smooth, with someone getting drunk or the lack of concern for each other. There is no family like the family of God. My friends love the Lord. My immediate family are Christians. 

My wife Faye, is looking forward to having my son and family visit this afternoon. They asked if she could be put in a wheelchair in the living room instead of her bedroom. She is in good spirits and the turkey is in the oven, I am thankful for Jesus my savior. I am thankful for my family, the family of God. There is no strife when we come together.

Pro 17:1  Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. 

I love the peace that comes from the Holy Spirit. Even being alone with a crust of bread can bring peace and thanksgiving. My good friend Earl died two years ago. He would sing his mother's favorite hymn; Never Alone.


I’ve seen the lightning flashing, I’ve heard the thunder roll.
I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, which almost conquered my soul.
I’ve heard the voice of my Savior, bidding me still to fight on.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!

Refrain

No, never alone, no never alone,
He promised never to leave me,
He’ll claim me for His own;
No, never alone, no never alone.
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.

When in affliction’s valley I tread the road of care,
My Savior helps me carry the cross so heavy to bear;
Though all around me is darkness, earthly joys all flown;
My Savior whispers His promise, never to leave me alone!

Refrain

No, never alone, no never alone,
He promised never to leave me,
He’ll claim me for His own;
No, never alone, no never alone.
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.



Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Bearing your burden


Mat 23:2  Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
Mat 23:3  All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
Mat 23:4  For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 
 
Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Gal 6:3  For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Gal 6:4  But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Gal 6:5  For every man shall bear his own burden.
 
 
For those under a heavy burden I point you to Jesus who cares for you and carries your burdens. I offer my love and sympathy, pointing you to Jesus. The Pharisees knew the word, but did not do anything to help anyone. In truth we often speak words to encourage others but in the end we must bear our own burden. We are to give it to Christ Jesus. There is one intercessor between man and God; Jesus our advocate and Great High Priest. We cannot work to please him, but we are to trust in him. He is our burden bearer and deliverer. Thank you Jesus.
 

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  

Walk on, bearing your cross, trusting and obeying him.

Friday, November 18, 2016

Fear the sword


Job 19:29  Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment. 

I see this as the sword of God's judgment.  We have read that those who live by the sword, shall die by the sword.

Mat 26:52  Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

What we should fear is the wrath of God or the judgment of God against evil doers. To fear God is a just and righteous act. To take up the sword, to use force to achieve an ungodly purpose is setting yourself up for the judgment of God. It may not be directly from God, as a fire from heaven, as in the final war against God, but those who sin are actually warring against God. They may die by the sword of their enemy as a just punishment. Or they may cry to God for mercy as David did after his transgression with Bathsheba.

Psa 51:2  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 
Psa 51:3  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 
Psa 51:4  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 

David received mercy from the LORD but the results of his sin played out in his family. We have eight years of Obama and now it appears that his legacy will be erased by a new conservative law abiding change of government. The ten trillion dollars of additional debt still stands and it is predicted that the dollar will crash because of this heavy debt. The results of sin cannot be entirely erased. Sins have consequences.

Coming to Jesus for forgiveness of sins will cleanse you in God's eyes. The results of your sins may still affect your children or those who were affected by them. What you sow you will reap. 

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 
Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

So seek God to do his will and receive Jesus as your savior. An eternity in the presence of a loving God is your reward. This is the undeserved grace of God. Thank you Jesus.






Tuesday, November 1, 2016

No False Gospel


Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 
Gal 1:9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Gal 1:11  But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The gospel of Jesus Christ: Jesus, the Son of God,  came from heaven to be the way to God. He gave his lifeblood on the cross to pay for our sins. By faith in him we receive forgiveness grace to become the children of God. Buried with him in baptism, we are raised in new Spiritual life with him. We are born again. We walk in the spirit and are not under the power of the flesh and the devil. Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world. Keep the faith for Jesus is the only way to the Father, Almighty God.

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.