The Little Red Hen Died

 Our little red hen, we called "Clucky" showed up in my side yard on October 1, 2019.  No one knew where she came from so we kept her in the back yard. She soon took dominion over the yard. She was a companion with me when I was in the yard, she raked with me and dug. She was a living roto tiller.  2019 was the year that began with a snow storm that was 12 inches deep. It broke down fences and tree limbs. 2020 would shut down our nation with the Covid scare and the takeover of the nation by those who do not obey the laws.   God makes all the creation and he does it well.  That chicken had interesting ways.. When frightened or left in her little cage too long, her voice was like a rooster. At bed time she cooed like a little child. Pets die and are missed. People die too, but if they come to Jesus to be free from sins, we live on and on with God who made the universe. Live simply and keep close to God. Jesus has overcome death.

Heb 13:5  Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

The Prayer of Faith

I was driving my Chevy Caprice station wagon to prayer breakfast when a truck that

was parked at the side of the road pulled out in front of me on a rainy Thursday morning. I yelled out "Jesus" and hit the brakes on a wet slippery road My car stopped inches away from the truck. An angel must have helped me. The most effective prayer for a Christian is "Jesus help me".

 A Christian has come to Jesus who shed his blood for our sins. Jesus came to be our payment for sins and to bring us in right standing before Almighty God, His Father. 

 Romans 3:21  But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 

Rom 3:22  the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 

Rom 3:23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

Rom 3:24  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 

God wants to be your loving Father; You may share all things with him. Listen to him in prayer and he will give you direction.

I come to you Jesus for the forgiveness of my sins. I believe you are God's son who came to bring us eternal life with the Father. Thank you Jesus for saving my soul. Amen.

Sing Together

Sing to the Lord a new song from the heart. Let it be full of joy and praise. When with others, a new song should be from the heart and in harmony and in truth. A new song that no one knows is not something shared together.

 Psa 33:2  Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. 

Psa 33:3  Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. 

Psa 33:4  For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. 

Psa 33:5  He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. 

 I hear too many of the new songs with weak lyrics. Is it because I am of a different generation?  Many churches have abandoned the old familiar hymns that we know from our hearts. I spent a day copying the alto parts from the familiar hymns so that there would be harmony as we play together the saxophone, with trombone  and the piano. We play together the old familiar hymns in three retirement homes. The old folks know these sacred hymns and join in singing from the printed lyrics.  We were told not to preach, but the words of the old hymns come from the Bible. They preach to the hearing and from the hearts of the dear isolated people of God.  To some who never went to church, these hymns were as new songs, with life changing messages.

The Bible says in nine places to sing into the Lord a new song. It also says that we are to sing together. Sing together with new hearts these old songs too. In the senior retirement homes some respond with tears from hearing these precious hymns. Whatever we do should be as unto the Lord . Sing praises with spirit and truth and with grateful hearts full of love.

He Lives (hymn)

 I serve a risen Saviour; He's in the world today.

I know that He is living, whatever men may say.

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him He's always near.

Chorus:

He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.

He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

In all the world around me I see His loving care,

And though my heart grows weary I never will despair.

I know that He is leading, thro' all the stormy blast;

The day of His appearing will come at last.

He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.

He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian! Lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King!

The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,

None other is so loving, so good and kind.

He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.

He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

The Lamb of God

On Palm Sunday they celebrated Jesus as King of the Jews, but they did not know that he would shed his blood for their sins.

 

Mat 21:5  “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” 

Mat 21:6  The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 

Mat 21:7  They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 

Mat 21:8  Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 

Mat 21:9  And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 

Mat 21:10  And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 

Mat 21:11  And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” 

Satan thought he would do away with the Son of God who came in  flesh and blood. His followers soon would yell out "Crucify him".  

Mat 27:22  Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 

Mat 27:23  And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” 

In heaven the Lamb of God is worshiped..

Rev 5:11  Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 

Rev 5:12  saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 

Rev 5:13  And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 

Rev 5:14  And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Jesus will return soon as King with his angels who will separate the sheep from the goats.  Jesus died for our sins. The only way to be forgiven and be allowed in heaven is to humbly ask in prayer to receive Jesus as your Lord and savior. He will give you a new life.

Your gift

I had a tooth break off. It was the last of my grinders that I could chew with in my aging teeth. It was a Saturday so I left a message with my regular dentist. Monday morning I called and the receptionist said that there was something wrong with her computer and she would call me back. A week passed and no call, I was brushed off?  I called another dentist that I had been to.  A lot of dentists will not pull a tooth and they send you to an oral surgeon. I was wondering if the regular dentist would do the work.  I made the appointment and he got it removed skillfully in short order. I respect that dentist for his skill and willingness to do the difficult procedure. He did not make a promise that he would not keep.

Pro 18:16  A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before the great. 

The proverb speaks of a person who is skilled at his work.  The quality of the work can bring you before important people and those who are important to God are the needy.  

Mat 25:40  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 

If we have a gift we should be faithful to God. In this way he will open doors of opportunity. 

Col 3:23  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 

Col 3:24  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 

Col 3:25  For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 

A final important message is that we cannot please God with our sins not forgiven. We all have sinned. Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross. Receive forgiveness and a new life by saying you are sorry for your sins and giving your life to Jesus Christ forever more. 

Rom 10:9  If you openly say, "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from death, you will be saved. 

Rom 10:10  Yes, we believe in Jesus deep in our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we openly say that we believe in him, and so we are saved. 

Rom 10:11  Yes, the Scriptures say, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed."