Category: Salvation

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Where’s Jesus?

This year I scaled back on my Christmas decorating but this little nativity is front and center. It has such meaning to me. I’ve shared this story before but it’s worth repeating.

In our area we have beautiful, brightly colored pottery which is made in Mexico and it is known as talavera.

For years I have purchased pieces to use in my decorating; cups, bowls, plates, canisters, etc. Each piece brings an atmosphere of gaiety and joy to the room. Several years ago, I was shopping in Tubac, an artisan community near us, when I saw the talavera nativity sets. I knew I had to have one. 

Most of my decorating at Christmas is done with nativity sets and angels. I studied each figure in the set; their smiling faces, their clothing, the shape of the stall and then I realized there was no baby Jesus! Where did He go? What happened to Him? 

The shop that we were in had many different size nativity sets and they were all missing the Christ child. And then I saw the handwritten sign…If you buy a nativity, ask for Jesus. 

Ask for Jesus!

Wasn’t that the Father’s intent from the beginning? He wanted us to recognize that our lives were not complete without Jesus. 

Ask for Jesus?

When I asked the shop owner why there were no baby Jesus figures he told me this. We never have any problem with theft in this shop except for the baby Jesus. We keep Him in the back until a nativity is sold and then bring Him out and add Him with the rest of the pieces. 

Who would steal the baby Jesus?

That is completely counter to the reason He came. When Jesus was born the angels filled the heavens with the announcement. The shepherds were told to go find Him. The wise men saw and followed His star. Everyone was welcome to come see Jesus!

Jesus came to forgive the sins of all men, even the ones who would steal the baby Jesus.  Jesus wasn’t born in a palace where only a few of the elite would be allowed to enter. He wasn’t born in a monastery where only the religious and the holy would be. No, He was born in a barn; anyone – man, woman, child, elite or poor, educated or unlearned was welcomed at the manger. 

“‘Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.’ 13 Then a huge army of angels from heaven joined the first angel, and they were all praising God, saying,

14 ‘Praise God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace to the people who please him.’

15 The angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this great event the Lord has told us about.’

16 So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box.” Luke 2:11-16 ERV 

I want to encourage you to put Jesus on display. Don’t hid Him, let the world see that He lives in you. Love the way He did; reach out to everyone the Father brings your way. The sign on our lives should be Jesus is free to all who ask.

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Creation – Salvation – Inspiration

Three words came to mind first thing this morning – creation, salvation and inspiration.

Even though we don’t live in an area with a brilliant autumn pallet I’m so glad that I can enjoy the beauty that is captured by a photographer’s lens.

It’s breath-taking!

Hopefully, when we see nature’s beauty we stop and thank God for creating it for our enjoyment. There are so many things that attempt to distract and divert our attention to the mundane and unattractive. It’s refreshing to be able to “enjoy the view”.

I’ve told you before that some of the first thoughts that come to mind when I wake up are to tell my heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit that I love them. To me, there’s just no better way to start the day.

This morning those thoughts were followed by these words: “Thank you Holy Spirit for inspiration, thank you Jesus for my salvation and thank you Father for your creation”. A heart filled with gratitude just starts the day out right.

God’s creation teach us: “The heavens keep telling the wonders of God, and the skies declare what he has done. 2 Each day informs the following day; each night announces to the next. 3 They don’t speak a word, and there is never the sound of a voice. 4 Yet their message reaches all the earth, and it travels around the world.” Psalm 19:1-4 CEV

The Holy Spirit inspires us: “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. 27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:26-27 NLT

Jesus is our salvation: “Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone.” Acts 4:12 CEV

I don’t know what my day has in store, neither do you, but I do know that when we start our day with praise and thanksgiving we start from a position of power and strength.

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Thankful for Freedom

I hope you had a wonderful yesterday – I did. After sharing with you about forgive and forget Dave and I sat in our living room and joined the service from one of our favorite churches.

The songs they were singing really touched my heart.

“Good, Good Father” was one of them and I agreed whole-heartedly that yes, He is a good, good Father and I am loved by Him. Every once in a while I am impacted again by that amazing truth – He, God the Father, is MY FATHER and He loves me unconditionally!

WOW!

The next song we sang was “No Longer Slaves”. What a perfect tie-in with the words I had just written a few hours earlier. Forgive and Forget. When our actions, our sins, are forgiven and forgotten we are set free and no longer enslaved to them. Guilt is gone, freedom has come.

“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” John 8:36 NLT

Our new life in Christ sets us free – free from guilt, worry, condemnation, fear, sin, separation and gives us a new life.

I’ve never been locked in physical chains but I have certainly been in emotional bondage. When I found out that God’s love and forgiveness set me free and I no longer had to carry the guilt I was overwhelmed. It took a while to fully realize what that meant. I had to keep going over and over the verses to let it sink in.

“ So now anyone who is in Christ Jesus is not judged guilty. 2 That is because in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit that brings life made you free. It made you free from the law that brings sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 ERV

The chains have been broken, the prison door has been opened and we have been freed to a new life with a loving Father.

Let me end with a few lines from the song I mentioned above.

From my mother’s womb
You have chosen me
Love has called my name
I’ve been born again
Into Your family
Your blood flows through my veins

I’m no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God
I’m no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God*

Here we are at the beginning of a new week. What a great time to realize our freedom. Drop guilt like a dirty coat; kick low self-esteem to the curb like a pair of worn out shoes; the chains are broken and we are free!

Thank you Lord for our freedom!

*No Longer Slaves by Bethel Music

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Time to Clean Up

There’s an interesting phenomenon, that occurs where we live, each Labor Day weekend. Most years I forget about it. This year was no different.

I went out yesterday to fill the hummingbird feeders in our backyard and I heard it…the whirl of weed eaters. Neighbors all around – east and west were in their yards, cleaning up weeds that had been growing, unhindered for months.

Very few people who live on our mesa have grass lawns. Most of us have desert landscaping with cacti and flowering shrubs that flourish in the warm, arid, desert climate. However, there is that contingent that allow the weeds to grow, unhindered, for months. And on Labor Day weekend the clean up, which takes several weekends to complete, starts.

Why? I have no idea but it is a process embraced by more than a few.

I guess that “fall clean-up” is a bit like “spring cleaning”. I find it much easier to do neither. Instead I have found that a little time each week working in the yard and cleaning the house are tasks that let me enjoy the beauty of my yard and home all year long. I’m glad Dave feels the same.

Isn’t that just like life?

We’ve all seen those movies where people are on their death beds and someone sends for the preacher or the priest. Death bed confessions they call them. Those who have lived their lives, letting them fill up with weeds, but before they die that want to make sure that they have asked forgiveness for the wild seeds they have sown.

I am so grateful that our Father hears those confessions, answers their cries and forgives. Just like the thief who hung next to Jesus on a cross. He recognized his guilt and his need for the Savior. His death bed confession was heard by a compassionate, merciful Savior.

“Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:39-42 NKJV

Unconditional love, total forgiveness. How amazing! It’s never too late while we are here on earth to be reconciled to God. How much sweeter it is to walk in relationship with Him each day and experience the abundant life He has promised us.

“All whom My Father has given to Me will come to Me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to Me.” John 6:37 NLV

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 AMPC

It is so wonderful to live each day wrapped in the Father’s love! We don’t have to wait for “Fall Clean-Up”, we can be enjoying the fullness and beauty of life in Christ each and every day.

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Where Did the Moon Go?

When I was a kid I used to wonder where the moon went when it was gone.

Did you notice there really wasn’t a moon last night? You probably didn’t think about it at all. Happens all the time doesn’t it? Yet, we know that when the moon turns to that tiny little sliver very shortly there will be a full moon to take it’s place.

Each new day reminds me that the Lord is into new beginnings. The sun is always rising and setting – the tide always brings the waves in and out – our God always was, is and always will be. He promises that each morning He will have new ways to show us His love and His mercy.

“We are still alive because the Lord’s faithful love never ends. 23 Every morning he shows it in new ways! You are so very true and loyal!” Lamentations 3:22-23 ERV

Everything on earth has a beginning and an end. There is only One who is eternal. He has no beginning and no end and He is ever present – always there, when we call upon Him and when we ignore Him, He is present. The Bible starts with “In the beginning GOD” and it ends the same way.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 22:13 ERV

Those of us who believe in Christ as Savior have eternal life. There is so much more to our lives than this physical existence; it is our life in Christ. It is an abundant life where we draw from God’s love, mercy, grace and goodness each and every day.

“for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

A new day is beginning, one the giver of life, abundant life, eternal life, has designed for us.

Enjoy this day, it’s a new beginning!

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Excellent Advice!

When Dave and I purchased our home in Montana the current owner gave me some excellent advice – words I still remember. You see, we moved to the Beaverhead Valley from north Idaho where the climate was more temperate.

She took me to the big picture window and said, “There will be days this winter when you look out these windows and you won’t see a thing except for blowing white. You’ll hear the wind howl and you’ll think that you’re going to be snowed in for the rest of the winter. Don’t panic! Just wait…wait about thirty minutes. The wind will die down and then you will be able to go outside once again.”

I put those words to good use that winter. “Don’t panic. Just wait.” Sure enough it was just as she said. The longest I ever had to wait was forty-five minutes and the wind would subside and the blizzard was over. We lived in a big log home with a great wood-burning stove and we were safe and warm. No need to panic.

I’ve applied those words to many of life’s circumstances, the current one we are going through is no exception.

Jesus said the same thing to his disciples:

“Amazing things will happen to the sun, moon, and stars. And people all over the earth will be upset and confused by the noise of the sea and its crashing waves. 26 They will be afraid and worried about what will happen to the world. Everything in the sky will be changed. 27 Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, stand up tall and don’t be afraid. Know that it is almost time for God to free you!” Luke 21:25-28 ERV

His disciples had asked Jesus about the end of times. A lot had been written in the Old Testament about this. Jesus told them to watch for the signs but He also told them they didn’t need to be afraid. I can hear the words of Jesus more clearly than I heard the words of Mrs. McGinley. “Don’t panic…just wait!”

There will be a time when life on this earth will end. I believe that because God said it will. But that’s no reason to fear. It is a reason to be prepared. The Lord will return for those of us who have accepted Him as our Savior and He will take us to heaven. Those that remain here on the earth will face terrible and devastating events.

God is loving and gracious. He is giving everyone the opportunity to come into relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.

“The Lord is not being slow in doing what he promised—the way some people understand slowness. But God is being patient with you. He doesn’t want anyone to be lost. He wants everyone to change their ways and stop sinning.

10 But the day when the Lord comes again will surprise everyone like the coming of a thief…” II Peter 3:9-10a ERV

How wonderful is that? God is patient and He doesn’t want anyone to be lost! The good news – everyone has been invited to have a new life in Christ, a life that brings forgiveness and reconciliation with God, the Father.

Don’t panic! Just wait and it will all be over soon.

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Broke is Broke

When we first moved into our house we noticed that one of the bedroom windows had a rock chip in it. Yes, the bedroom window. We figured it must have been someone working with a weed eater and a small rock was pitched up and hit the window. The window was shattered so we didn’t think too much about it at the time.

However, broke is broke! We should have asked for it to be replaced. You see we have dual pain windows and that chip released the seal between the panes, the gas escaped and now the view through the window is cloudy.

Broke is broke and sin is sin!

With God there is no big or little sin, it’s sin. Look at the two brothers in the story of the prodigal son. The younger son in the story was guilty of some pretty “big” things while the older son looked respectable but he was obviously holding bitterness in his heart toward his younger brother and his father. Which do you think was worse?

Neither! Sin is sin. Kind of like my broken window; if a brick had shattered it or the little chip cracked it and broke the seal the result was the same. The window was broken.

“One law rules over all other laws. This royal law is found in the Scriptures: ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’ If you obey this law, you are doing right. 9 But if you are treating one person as more important than another, you are sinning. You are guilty of breaking God’s law. 10 You might follow all of God’s law. But if you fail to obey only one command, you are guilty of breaking all the commands in that law.” James 2:8-10 ERV

The Old Testament teaches us that God hates gossip and murder yet we find one more socially acceptable than the other. Sin is sin and we are all guilty.  The penalty for sin is not based on a sliding scale.

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23 NLT

“When people sin, they earn what sin pays—death. But God gives his people a free gift—eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 ERV

Jesus words were so powerful when he spoke to the Pharisees about the adulterous woman. They felt superior to this obviously sinful woman but they were willing to overlook their own sins of deception and self-righteousness.

“They were saying this to trick Jesus. They wanted to catch him saying something wrong so that they could have a charge against him. But Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 The Jewish leaders continued to ask him their question. So he stood up and said, “Anyone here who has never sinned should throw the first stone at her.” 8 Then Jesus stooped down again and wrote on the ground.” John 8:6-8 ERV

How many times have we played the role of the Pharisees or the older brother? We condemn “the idiot driver”, the person holding up the line, the unintelligent cashier, the negligent phone representative, the ill-informed newscaster or worst of all, the person with an opposite viewpoint than ours.

What they are doing may certainly be wrong but when we judge our attitude about the situation is equally as wrong. We are to do all that we do from a loving and compassionate heart.

Since God sees all sin the same, He makes the payment for that sin the same.

“So that one sin of Adam brought the punishment of death to all people. But in the same way, Christ did something so good that it makes all people right with God. And that brings them true life.” Romans 5:18 ERV

We have forgiveness, payment for our sin, with the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That sacrifice is available to all – we simply need to receive it!

“12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12 KJV

I’m so glad that God doesn’t grade on a curve but He accepts us all. It’s not based on what we’ve done but on what Jesus did!

Now that’s called grace!!!

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The Unknown God

Did you know that there is an altar in the Palatine Museum in Rome that is dedicated to the “unknown god”? It was discovered during excavation of Palatine Hill, which is the center most of the seven hills of Rome, in 1820.

It’s true!

This is not the altar to the unknown god that the Apostle Paul spoke of when he was preaching in Athens but it’s interesting that these early Romans and Greeks recognized that there was a god who they didn’t know anything about.

Paul spoke to the men of Athens when they asked him to expound on a new teaching.  The Athenians loved “new” teachings and they were very religious people.

“Then Paul stood up before the meeting of the Areopagus council and said, “Men of Athens, everything I see here tells me you are very religious. 23 I was going through your city and I saw the things you worship. I found an altar that had these words written on it: ‘ to an unknown god.’ You worship a god that you don’t know. This is the God I want to tell you about.

24 “He is the God who made the whole world and everything in it. He is the Lord of the land and the sky. He does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 He is the one who gives people life, breath, and everything else they need. He does not need any help from them. He has everything he needs. 26 God began by making one man, and from him he made all the different people who live everywhere in the world. He decided exactly when and where they would live.

27 “God wanted people to look for him, and perhaps in searching all around for him, they would find him. But he is not far from any of us. 28 It is through him that we are able to live, to do what we do, and to be who we are. As your own poets have said, ‘We all come from him.’

29 “That’s right. We all come from God. So you must not think that he is like something people imagine or make. He is not made of gold, silver, or stone. 30 In the past people did not understand God, and he overlooked this. But now he is telling everyone in the world to change and turn to him. 31 He has decided on a day when he will judge all the people in the world in a way that is fair. To do this he will use a man he chose long ago. And he has proved to everyone that this is the man to do it. He proved it by raising him from death!”

32 When the people heard about Jesus being raised from death, some of them laughed. But others said, “We will hear more about this from you later.”Acts 17:22-32

Paul stayed in Athens and taught those who wanted to learn more about Jesus. The Bible tells us that some people laughed at the idea of the resurrection but there were some who believed. There is no other God like our God! He has designed from the beginning of time a way for us to be in relationship with Him. He sent His Son to die for our sins. No other religious leader and/or god has ever died and been raised from the dead. Only Jesus.

“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6 NLT

Our study over the past few days has been on our relationship “in Him” or “in Christ”.  Without that relationship we are without Christ and without hope in this world.

“Yes, at one time you were far away from God, but now in Christ Jesus, you are brought near to him. You are brought near to God through the blood sacrifice of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13 ERV

I am very glad to say like Paul that in Christ I have life, breath and everything I need.

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No Playing Favorites

One verse keeps going over and over in my mind this morning. It has to do with our position in Christ.

“Peter began to speak: ‘I really understand now that God does not consider some people to be better than others:’” Acts 10:34 ERV

This verse should bring a real sense of peace and encouragement to each and every one of us. Perhaps you are someone who grew up battling low self-esteem. You weren’t the prettiest or the smartest or the best athlete or the richest or the most blah, blah, blah…Whatever and whoever, you were just never the best. 

Or maybe you lived on the other end of the spectrum and had always felt that you were one of the elite; the special, the ones that everyone wanted to be like – you were all that and a bag of chips!

But how does God see you? Yesterday I used these verses but they bear repeating.

“You were all baptized into Christ, and so you were all clothed with Christ. This shows that you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 28 Now, in Christ, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or free, male or female. You are all the same in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:27-28 ERV

Rich or poor, educated or uneducated, man or woman, free or enslaved, high society or from the wrong side of the tracks, none of this matters; what matters is that you are in Christ!  Don’t be held back in your walk with the Lord thinking that others are better, more spiritual, more acceptable to God or that they are less than you. God’s love is the same to all. Even before we accept Him, He loved us.

“But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.” Romans 5:8 ERV

Jesus loved the lowly as much as He loved the highly esteemed in society. He came to bring life to the leper and the Pharisee, the harlot and the lawyer. The difference was their opinion of themselves and their willingness to ask for and receive salvation.

Nicodemus, a high ranking religious leader, came to Jesus by night. Coming by day, he might be seen. “What will the neighbors think? What about the guys at the club?”  It was to this man, Nicodemus, that Jesus said you must be born again. You must be born from the Spirit and then Jesus spoke to him of God’s amazing love.

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world. He did not send him to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him. 18 People who believe in God’s Son are not judged guilty. But people who do not believe are already judged, because they have not believed in God’s only Son. 19 They are judged by this fact: The light has come into the world. But they did not want light. They wanted darkness, because they were doing evil things. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light. They will not come to the light, because the light will show all the bad things they have done. 21 But anyone who follows the true way comes to the light. Then the light will show that whatever they have done was done through God.” John 3:16-21 ERV

Today, make it a point to let God show His love to you and through you!

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The Treasure Hunt

This morning I decided to go on a treasure hunt and I wanted to take you along. I know that God’s word is more valuable to me than any amount of silver or gold. If I was asked to give up my Bible or access to Scripture for a million dollars, without hesitation I would turn it down.

I read an article about the treatment of Christians in China. The government is going in to impoverished areas, searching homes, removing crosses and pictures of Jesus from the walls and replacing them with pictures of Chairman Mao or President Xi. These are the homes of people who receive government welfare. If they refuse to comply they are being removed from the list of names that receive assistance. It’s the government or God. Many are standing strong and refusing to deny their faith. They need our prayers.

They have found a treasure and they refuse to let go.

So here are some of the verses that came to mind after reading that article. Verses that promise treasure, better than silver or gold, to those who are willing to search for it.

“If you cry out to know right from wrong, and lift your voice for understanding; 4 if you look for her as silver, and look for her as hidden riches; 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find what is known of God.” Proverbs 2:3-5 NLV

“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are sinful and have done bad things. There is no one who does good. 2 God has looked down from heaven at the children of men to see if there is anyone who understands and looks (searches) for God.” Psalm 53:1-2 NLV

God is always watching for those who will search for Him and there is a promised blessing for those who do. God is not a narcissist; He’s not an ego-centric dictator. He’s a loving Father who wants to protect and provide for His children.

“But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him.” Hebrews 11:6 CEV

This verse is in the chapter that many refer to as the Hall of Fame of Faith. It recounts the stories of men and women who abandoned all and sought God. Maybe you’ve heard of a few of them – Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab (a prostitute), Samson, Gideon, David. These all sought the treasure of knowing God and their lives were enriched and serve as a testimony to all of us.

“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…But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.” Matthew 7:7-11 CEV

This is just part of the teaching Jesus gave on searching for the things of God. The promise is that everyone who searches will find. There are stories upon stories of men who have led expeditions on land and sea searching for treasure. They search for years and never find what they are looking for but always hoping that someday they will make a great discovery.

As Christians we don’t have to wait for the “someday” of discovery. Each day, as we seek to know more about our heavenly Father, we will find Him. He’s not hiding!

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 ERV

There is no greater treasure than finding a personal relationship with God, our Father!

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