Category: Hebrews

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Make A Request

I hope you don’t mind but we are going to spend some more time with Abram this morning. There’s so much that we can learn from his relationship with the Lord. Yesterday we focused on his obedience. Today we’ll look at the beginning stages of his friendship with God.

“It happened as the Holy Writings said it would happen. They say, “Abraham put his trust in God and he became right with God.” He was called the friend of God.” James 2:23 NLV

There are several mentions throughout the Bible where Abram is referred to as God’s friend. I love that! God wants us to have relationship with Him; not only is He our heavenly Father but He also desires that we become friends. Friendship takes time to develop, a true friendship is built on trust. God wanted Abram to trust Him and have confidence in what He said.

I would really like to encourage you to take time to read Genesis chapters twelve through twenty-five. This is the account of the one hundred year relationship between God and Abraham. In chapter 15 of Genesis, Abram has just returned from rescuing his nephew, Lot, who was captured in battle. Here is what the Lord says to Abram.

“After all these things happened, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. God said, “Abram, don’t be afraid. I will defend you and give you a great reward.”

2 But Abram said, “Lord God, there is nothing you can give me that will make me happy, because I have no son. My slave Eliezer from Damascus will get everything I own after I die.” 3 Abram said, “You have given me no son, so a slave born in my house will get everything I have.”

4 Then the Lord spoke to Abram and said, “That slave will not be the one to get what you have. You will have a son who will get everything you own.”

5 Then God led Abram outside and said, “Look at the sky. See the many stars. There are so many you cannot count them. Your family will be like that.”

6 Abram believed the Lord, and because of this faith the Lord accepted him as one who has done what is right.” Genesis 15:1-6 ERV

The Lord told Abram that He would protect him and give him a great reward. Many people would be very excited to hear the words “great reward”. It didn’t seem to faze Abram, he was already a very wealthy man. Abram told God that the thing he desired most was to have a son. God heard his friend’s heart and made him a promise that he and his wife would receive the thing they desired most.

King David had that same confidence in his relationship with the Lord.

“Trust in the Lord, and do good. So you will live in the land and will be fed. 4 Be happy in the Lord. And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Give your way over to the Lord. Trust in Him also. And He will do it.” Psalm 37:3-5 NLV

This type of relationship with the Lord isn’t exclusive to people who lived long ago. Jesus was teaching to the people of His day and giving them instruction on trusting God and believing in His word. Here’s what He said.

“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. 9 Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? 10 Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? 11 As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.” Matthew 7:7-11 CEV

Did you notice that Jesus points out the loving relationship that His Father wants to have with us, His children? He desires to give us good things just like He did with Abram. He wants us to trust Him and He wants us to ask.

Before I end today’s blog I’ll get you reacquainted with a man I’ve introduced you to before. This man was there that day when Jesus was teaching on the hillside. There was a multitude of people but this man stood out in the crowd. He was a leper. He had to be segregated from all the others. He was considered unclean and couldn’t have human contact. When Jesus came down the mountain, this man who heard Jesus say “ask and you will receive”, walked up to Jesus, risking all, and he asked.

“As Jesus came down the mountain, he was followed by large crowds. 2 Suddenly a man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus. He said, “Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to.”

3 Jesus put his hand on the man and said, “I want to! Now you are well.” At once the man’s leprosy disappeared.” Matthew 8:1-3 CEV

Every time I read this it brings tears to my eyes. This man, who was an outcast, had probably gone years without anyone touching him. No hugs or handshakes, no pats on the back, no physical contact, no expressions of love and kindness UNTIL Jesus reached out and touched him and showed him the Father’s love.

The Bible doesn’t tell us of anyone else in that crowd asking Jesus for something but this man heard the Word of God and asked. Just like Abram, this leper believed that God would keep His word and so he asked for what his heart desired. He was healed and Abram received the promise of a son.

I’m not sure what you are needing but I do know that God’s Word is still true. He loves us as much as He loved Abram and the leper. He wants us to have the relationship of Father/child and the closeness of trusted friends.

“Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 CEV

Don’t be like the people in the crowd who walked away and didn’t act on what Jesus had said. Be like the leper and Abram and ask!

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Standing On Solid Rock

It’s interesting to look back. Yesterday I was in the hot tub with our oldest daughter Kim and two of her friends. I was telling them about when we first got our hot tub. It was four years ago on December 26.

So why am I using an image of a rock pile this morning? I’m glad you asked. Talking about that reminded me it was only a few days after the hot tub was in that we took delivery of 20 tons of rock. We then spread it across our front and back yards. I’m not sure how anyone else would relocate and spread 20 tons of rock but we did it by filling the wheelbarrow, literally hundreds of times, dumping it and then leveling it with a rake. It was one of the hardest physical project I have ever done.

It took days!

When we are going through things like this, things that try our patience and our stamina , we sometimes loose sight of the big picture. We are tempted to complain, take short cuts and quit. But if we persevere, if we continue to labor on, the rewards are great!

The same holds true for our spiritual lives. God has chosen to do a work in us and He won’t quit, He won’t give up until He has accomplished what He set out to do.

“And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy. 5 This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it. 6 God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:4-6 CEV

This is the good work that God is doing in our lives.

“God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. 13 Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. 14 Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together.

15 Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.” Colossians 3:12-15 CEV

These verses from God’s word are the foundation that we should be building our lives on. Jesus said that His word was the solid bedrock for our existence and that when we are built on His word we will be able to stand secure in life’s storms.

“Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. 25 Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on solid rock.” Matthew 7:24-25 CEV

When God makes us a promise it will last forever. God cannot lie and once He has given His spoken Word he doesn’t change.

“God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. 19 This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls.” Hebrews 6:18-19 CEV

Let me take you back to that 20 tons of rock that we had delivered. Before it was brought in, our yards were a mess after every rain. The soil in our area is clay based and so it makes a very sticky mud. It’s almost impossible to wash it off your shoes when you walk through it. However, once the rock was spread over it that has no longer been a problem. We have sure footing even in the heaviest monsoons of the year.

“I love you, Lord God,  and you make me strong. 2 You are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector,  the rock where I am safe, my shield, my powerful weapon, and my place of shelter. 3 I praise you, Lord! I prayed, and you rescued me from my enemies.” Psalm 18:1-3 CEV

Take time to look back today. What areas have been a sticky mess for you? Let God’s word be your rock, claim His promises which last forever, and stand firm in the storms.

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The Unexpected

In a few days we will be entering a New Year. As a child I thought something magical happened on New Year’s Eve and now I realize it’s no more than turning the pages on a calendar.


People spend a lot of time thinking about the future and wondering what it holds for them. I’m sure that Mary and Joseph also spent time wondering about their future.

A new son. Not just a son, the Son of God, had come to live with them and life as they knew it was going to change. Have you ever thought about what happened in Mary and Joseph’s lives after Jesus was born.

“The time came for Mary and Joseph to do the things the Law of Moses taught about being made pure. They brought Jesus to Jerusalem so that they could present him to the Lord. 23 It is written in the law of the Lord: “When a mother’s first baby is a boy, he shall be called ‘special for the Lord.’” 24 The law of the Lord also says that people must give a sacrifice: “You must sacrifice two doves or two young pigeons.” So Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem to do this.” Luke 2:22-24 ERV

The Scripture really doesn’t give us much insight into the lives of the young family. We do know that Mary and Joseph were required by Jewish law to offer sacrifice for cleansing, a woman was considered unclean for seven days following birth, and then a first born son also had a special offering to be made.

What did they do for those seven days? Bethlehem was almost one hundred miles away from their home in Nazareth. They didn’t go home. Did they stay in Bethlehem for the seven days. If so, what did they do? We do know they came to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer the proper sacrifices. The trip to Jerusalem was only 5 miles. An easy walk, even for a new mother.

Now it was time to return home to all the relatives. Would there be a celebration or would they shun the young couple and child? Again we don’t have any information on their day to day life. Many times we wonder if God is concerned about our day to day life.

He is! He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He has promised to give us strength in all things. He has told us to pray without ceasing – to rejoice always – to come boldly to His presence in our time of trouble. Money won’t solve our problems; our own abilities will leave us lacking; worry and anxiety change nothing; it is God who has the answer and the help we need in every situation.

“Keep your lives free from the love of money. Be happy with what you have. God has said, “I will never leave you or let you be alone.” Hebrews 13:5 CEV

“Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do.” Philippians 4:13 ERV

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. 7 Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.” Philippians 4:6-7 CEV

“Let us go with complete trust to the throne of God. We will receive His loving-kindness and have His loving-favor to help us whenever we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 NLV

My 2019 has some big unknowns. I am really excited to see what the future brings. Each day is a blank slate and the outcome is unknown to us but just remember there are no “unknowns” to God. Nothing catches Him by surprise.

“Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way.” Proverbs 3:5-6 ERV

Trust in the Lord today and He WILL direct your path.

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With Is Better

For the last several days we have been with our son, Koy, and his girlfriend, Kym, in California. We knew that we wouldn’t be together at Christmas so he flew us out a couple weeks early.

We’ve had a great time of  being with each other. Phone calls and video chats are good but actually being with the ones we love is the best. 

God enjoyed being with Adam and Eve each day in the garden; they would walk and talk – it was a special relationship. But when Adam sinned  that fellowship was broken. However, God had a plan for restoring what had been lost. It was important to Him to be with us.

“Joseph was a good man[a and did not want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone. So he decided to quietly call off the wedding.

20 While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. 21 Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, 23 “A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.” Matthew 1:19-23 CEV

God wanted a way to be with us so He sent His Son.  One of the things that means the most to us as parents is knowing that our kids want to be with us. God is no different. 

“When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world.[a The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! 18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. 19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people.” II Corinthians 5:17-19 CEV

It’s a whole new world when we have life with Christ. We aren’t alone. God is with us – in the car going to work; in the kitchen baking cookies; helping our kids with their homework; Christmas shopping; sitting beside the bed of a sick friend; sitting alone looking at the checkbook and the bills that need to be paid.

God with us – His purpose in coming was to be “with us”. In fact, Hebrews 13:5 tells us that He will NEVER leave us or abandon us.

We are also told that He promises to provide all our needs, heals all our diseases and forgives all our sins. Psalm 103 

I didn’t always realize that God wanted this type of relationship with me  but I can say that when I realized  “God is with us” it has certainly changed the outcome of my life for the better – the best.

When we focus on all “we” have to do and how it’s all up to us, we become self absorbed. We make a very small package. When we realize, truly realize, that God’s purpose is to “Be with us”, when we unwrap the present of His presence in our daily lives, our world changes dramatically.

” What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? 32 God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else?” Romans 8:31-32 CEV

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11

The Christmas carol today is one that was written in the 12th century. 

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

I know the Old English is a bit hard to understand but the basic message is one of God’s desire to be with mankind, who He created, and  bring them deliverance in each situation.  Just remember, He’s a loving Father who wants nothing more than to be involved in His children’s lives.

God wants to spend time with us; with is better!

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Choosing The Right Gift

Many of you know that this year I wrote a book, The Best Gifts of Christmas. Isn’t that what we look for when we are getting gifts for those we love? The Best Gifts.

It’s easy enough to buy the latest trinket or gadget but when it’s a gift for the love of your life, that special someone, a dear friend or family member the decision on what to get is a bit more difficult. 

This morning in my Bible reading I came across this verse in Hebrews.

“Let us give thanks all the time to God through Jesus Christ. Our gift to Him is to give thanks. Our lips should always give thanks to His name. 16 Remember to do good and help each other. Gifts like this please God.” Hebrews 13:15-16 NLV

One of the best gifts we can give our heavenly Father is the gift of praise. We can give Him our thankful hearts, expressing praise for the wonderful things He has done for us. 

Over the last few days Facebook has been flooded with 2018 Yearbooks. They are helping us remember our past year by providing a collage of the images we have posted and others have “liked”. 

But what if we made our own collage of things we know God has done for us over the past year. A collage of praise, overlapping from one blessing to the next, giving God thanks for ALL He has done. 

“Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same. 18 God decided to give us life through the true message he sent to us. He wanted us to be the most important of all that he created.” James 1:17-18 ERV

Our loving Father has given us every good and perfect gift that we receive. He has given us the best. What He desires in return is our thanks, our gratitude, our love. There is nothing better that we can give Him. 

There’s a song that’s been circulating the last few years, it has a familiar melody but the lyrics have been rewritten. A friend sent it to me in a message the other morning and as I listened my eyes filled with tears as my heart overflowed with gratitude. I hope it does the same for you. 

A Hallelujah Christmas

I’ve heard about this baby boy
Who’s come to earth to bring us joy
And I just want to sing this song to you
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
With every breath I’m singing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

A couple came to Bethlehem
Expecting child, they searched the inn
To find a place for You were coming soon
There was no room for them to stay
So in a manger filled with hay
God’s only Son was born, oh Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

The shepherds left their flocks by night
To see this baby wrapped in light
A host of angels led them all to You
It was just as the angels said
You’ll find Him in a manger bed
Immanuel and Savior, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

A star shown bright up in the east
To Bethlehem, the wisemen three
Came many miles and journeyed long for You
And to the place at which You were
Their frankincense and gold and myrrh
They gave to You and cried out Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I know You came to rescue me
This baby boy would grow to be
A man and one day die for me and you
My sins would drive the nails in You
That rugged cross was my cross, too
Still every breath You drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Father, accept our heart-felt hallelujahs as our gift of praise for all You have given to us. 

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Precious Moments – Precious Memories

This past week has been so much fun! Dave and I have been taking care of our two youngest grandchildren.

Their folks will be coming home tomorrow evening and our time here will come to an end. What a joy it has been!

I know you think I am going to start bragging about how cute, smart, talented and obedient they are. I would love too but there just isn’t enough time. Suffice it to say, they are sweet and we love them.

These days have been precious…Yes, that’s the word.

Precious is used to describe something with monetary value like precious stones or to describe something emotionally valuable. Our days have been rich with memory making moments.

Looking at these two each day I can see God’s hand of blessing on my family. I can see God’s design in our marriage, our having children and them choosing mates and having children. Yes, it has been a continual pattern of blessing.  God’s provision for us is indeed precious.

“How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of men take refuge and put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.” Psalm 36: 7 AMPC

We can place our love and trust in Him knowing that He will protect and provide.

Sam and Kristine depended on Dave and I to feed and protect them. They knew we would help them and do what’s right because they were confident of our love.

In the same way, our heavenly Father wants us to trust in His love. He reassures us by telling us how much time He spends thinking about us.

“O Lord my God, many are the great works You have done, and Your thoughts toward us. No one can compare with You! If I were to speak and tell of them, there would be too many to number.” Psalm 40:5 NLV

We have spent the last seven days creating memories, precious memories. Recalling them, at some time in the future, will bring us right back  to this place and the joy we feel now.

That’s the way it is with God. He remembers the good times we’ve had with Him and all the while, He chooses to forget our sins.

“ I will show loving-kindness to them and forgive their sins. I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12 NLV

The Lord has so many good thoughts and plans for us. He wants our lives full and complete. Each day we spent with Him is a memory-maker.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

Lord, thank you for thinking of me. Thank you for the good plans you have for me. Thank you that  you consider me precious. I love you.

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Thankful for an Open Door

This morning I was reading in Hebrews, one of my favorite books, and I reread those verses that I share with you so often.

“ Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:15-16 CEV

Come bravely, or boldly, before the throne!

In days of old, the only way a subject was allowed to come before the throne of the king was by invitation or summons. Even their own families were taught not to enter without first being granted access.

As I read these verses, I was impacted again with the absolute freedom that we have been given to come to the Father’s throne without fear. Confidently we come, knowing that we will find help and be treated with kindness.  Amazing!

I did a search to find an image of a palace with an open door to use as today’s illustration. Do you know how hard that is to find? The picture I used isn’t a palace, it’s a cathedral. Even today, palaces just don’t have open doors. They are secure areas, special clearance is needed and very few actually receive an audience with the king or ruler.

We have open access to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

And again, it’s not just access to Him; we have favor with Him, He holds us in His heart and is always willing to provide us with help.

“When you pray, don’t talk on and on as people do who don’t know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. 8 Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask.

9 You should pray like this:  Our Father in heaven, help us to honor your name…” Matthew 6:7-9 CEV

These are the words that Jesus spoke when he was teaching his disciples to pray. He wanted them to understand that when they talked to God, prayed, they weren’t talking to someone they didn’t now. They were talking to their Father, a loving, tender-hearted, kind and compassionate Father; their Father who knew what they need before they came and had already planned to help.

My heart is overflowing with gratitude and love because of my Father’s kindness and grace. This morning I sat here in my chair, coffee in hand and I began to tell Him how much I love Him. I started listing all the reasons I have for loving Him and then I stopped abruptly. I wasn’t through with my list of His wonderful blessings…I was completely overwhelmed by His unconditional love.

Sometimes I see myself, as a little child, running through the throne room doors, straight up to the Father’s throne. When I get there I throw my arms around his neck, give Him a big kiss, tell Him how much I love Him, climb down from His lap and go on about my day. I know He likes that!

Jesus showed us that side of the Father when he took time to interact with the little children.

“ Then the people brought their little children to Jesus so that he could lay his hands on them to bless them and pray for them. When the followers saw this, they told the people to stop bringing their children to him. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these children.” 15 After Jesus blessed the children, he left there.” Matthew 19:13-15 CEV

This is an example for us. The Father wants us to come as little children. Children filled with innocence, confidence and total abandon, trusting completely in Him. I’m here to give testimony,  the Father’s throne room door is always open to His kids.

Come on in! He’s waiting just for us with open arms!

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Wipe It Clean

If you’re my age or close to it, you will remember wiping the chalkboard clean when you were in school.

It was one thing to use the eraser to remove the Math problems or the sentences written for Grammar instruction but the real fun came at the end of the day when we got to use the teacher’s chamois to wipe the boards completely clean.

When I was a girl we sang this song in church, Calvary Covers It All. I was thinking about that song this morning. How thankful I am for Calvary!! Thankful that the blood of Jesus covers my sin!

In the Old Testament the priest would offer a lamb once a year for the forgiveness of sin. The priest would lay his hands on the head of the lamb, signifying a transfer of the sins of the people to the perfect lamb of sacrifice. And when this transfer was complete the Israelites could experience freedom and cleansing for another year. The blood of the lamb “covered” their sins but never completely blotted it out. Each year they would have to come again, offering another sacrifice, to receive their forgiveness.

“The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn’t the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices that are offered year after year. 2 If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. 3-4 But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next.” Hebrews 10:1-4 CEV

Jesus Christ is our lamb of sacrifice  and only had to be offered once for the forgiveness of sin! We, who have accepted that sacrifice don’t just have our sins covered but can rest knowing those sins are completely blotted out.

“You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God’s people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins. 14 God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. 15 There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.” Colossians 2:13-15 CEV

Now this is significant. If something is just covered, we could lift the covering and find what was being hidden. However, if it’s blotted out or wiped clean. There is nothing to be found.

I know it’s  crude to use the illustration of cleaning the chalkboard but it gives us a visual that we can all identity with.  The blood of Jesus is so much greater than a chamois eraser but I think you get the point.

“The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God’s right side, 13 and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. 14 By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God. Hebrews 10:11-14 CEV

We have been wiped clean by the blood of Jesus. There is no longer any evidence there to show our sin and failings. Jesus set us free forever. Let’s not  allow our mind or well-meaning people  to hold us captive to our past.

Jesus blood has wiped out and removed all trace of our sin. Hallelujah!

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Learning to Trust

This morning I’m talking to myself and you can listen in.

Trusting God is not something I do perfectly, that’s why I titled this “learning to trust”. I can go along real well for a long time, trusting God and standing strong on His promises and then – out of the blue, I get some news and my knees go weak, my eyes fill with tears and I find myself asking God why that just happened.

God doesn’t mind me asking why. He’s like any loving Father who when asked an honest question wants to help his children understand and increase in knowledge. He wants me to come to Him when I hurt, there’s no better place to find comfort and help than in His presence.

“Let us go with complete trust to the throne of God. We will receive His loving-kindness and have His loving-favor to help us whenever we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 NLV

I need to put more value and trust in God’s word  than I do in anyone else. His Word is the only thing that never changes. I will trust the one who knows the beginning from the end, who knows the number of hairs on my head and sees a sparrow when it falls.

Now I’ll talk to all of us.

Everyone of us have a Bible in our pocket or our purse; its small, round and shiny.  We need to take it out and read it – read it several times each day and remind ourselves “In God We Trust”.  I think it’s so interesting that those are the words on US currency. Many people put their trust in their financial holdings but I think our nation’s founders wanted us to always remember where we should always put our trust.

“If God is for us, no one can stand against us. And God is with us. 32 He even let his own Son suffer for us. God gave his Son for all of us. So now with Jesus, God will surely give us all things. 33 Who can accuse the people God has chosen? No one! God is the one who makes them right. 34 Who can say that God’s people are guilty? No one! Christ Jesus died for us, but that is not all. He was also raised from death. And now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us. 35 Can anything separate us from Christ’s love? Can trouble or problems or persecution separate us from his love? If we have no food or clothes or face danger or even death, will that separate us from his love? 36 As the Scriptures say,

“For you we are in danger of death all the time.
People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed.”

37 But in all these troubles we have complete victory through God, who has shown his love for us. 38-39 Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39 ERV

Thank you Lord for reminding me to trust you. Thank you for giving me comfort and for replacing fear with faith. Thank you for allowing me to help others who are learning to trust You.

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Mission Possible

Your mission today, should you decide to accept it…

“Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ” Colossians 3:16 ERV

Letting God’s word live in you will revolutionize your life and the life of those around you!

The understood subject of that verse, “let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly”, is you.

When I woke at 1:30 this morning thoughts of fearful things filled my mind and I couldn’t fall back to sleep. I could have laid there fretting or complaining in my head or I could let thankfulness replace the fear and fill my heart. It was my choice to make; it wasn’t impossible.

“Let the name of the Lord be honored, now and forever. 3 The name of the Lord is to be praised from the time the sun rises to when it sets. 4 The Lord is high above all nations. His shining-greatness is above the heavens.” Psalm 113:2-4 NLV

There are so many things to be thankful each day; a bed to sleep in, food to eat, warmth and protection of a home, friends, good coffee, and beauty of nature.

Those are just the natural things, the things we can see. Then there are those things we can’t see like God’s love, his protection, mercy, grace, joy and peace. Those are the things that are eternal.

“With perfect peace you will protect those whose minds cannot be changed, because they trust you. 4 Trust the Lord always, because the Lord, the Lord alone, is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4 GW

We can choose to worry or be at peace; we can chose anger and resentment or forgiveness; we can choose to grumble and complain or to be thankful.

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 I trust God, so I am not afraid of what people can do to me! I praise God for his promise to me.” Psalm 56:3-4 ERV

The mission is possible. We need to be willing to accept it. I will put my trust in God.

“ Let us give thanks all the time to God through Jesus Christ. Our gift to Him is to give thanks. Our lips should always give thanks to His name. 16 Remember to do good and help each other. Gifts like this please God.” Hebrews 13:15-16 NLV

I hope you are willing to accept this mission today. It’s Mission Possible, giving thanks and praise to God.

 

 

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