Time To Wake Up

I remember many years ago when I was just starting school I had an alarm clock.  This wasn't your standard alarm clock by any means.  This was a Mickey Mouse alarm clock that actually spoke when it was time to wake up in the morning.  The shape of the clock made it look like a train and Mickey was on top because he was the Conductor.  

I remember the sound it made early in the morning like it was yesterday.  It said, "Toot! Toot! Rise and Shine!  It is time to wake up!  Toot! Toot!"  It made the train whistle and everything.  I must admit on a side note that I have never really been a fan of Mickey Mouse.  I can relate to Goofy more I think, but that is probably a story for another time or a therapy session.

It can be hard to roll out of bed in the morning sometimes especially when it is cold and snowy outside and it seems like the sun just never shines like it used to.  We know that we must get out of bed and face the day and we as believers in Christ know that the Lord will lead us and guide us through our day. 

Sometimes in our Christian walk we can become a little sleepy in the spiritual sense of things.  We may allow culture to dictate our thoughts and actions, but we who are believers in Jesus Christ must remember that we are to follow Him, Jesus, and not the world.  Sometimes it is easy to just go with the flow of things, but when we do that we are in danger of compromise.  We must never compromise God's Word or His will.  We must remain firmly established upon His Word and the truth of who He is.  We must cling to His principles that are revealed to us from the Bible. 

I am reminded what the Apostle Paul says in Romans 13:8-14,

"8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.

References for Romans 13:8

• Cross References

• 9 13:8 - ver 10; S Mt 5:43 ; Jn 13:34 ; Gal 5:14 ; Col 3:14

9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”^a and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^b

References for Romans 13:9

• Cross References
• Footnotes

• 10 13:9 - Ex 20:13-15,17 ; Dt 5:17-19,21
• 11 13:9 - Mt 7:12
• 12 13:9 - Lev 19:18 ; S Mt 5:43 ; Mt 19:19

• ´ 13:9 - Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deut. 5:17-19,21
• µ 13:9 - Lev. 19:18

10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

References for Romans 13:10

• Cross References

• 13 13:10 - S ver 8; ver 9; Mt 22:39,40

                                   

11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

References for Romans 13:11

• Cross References

• 14 13:11 - 1Co 7:29-31 ; 10:11 ; Jas 5:8 ; 1Pe 4:7 ; 1Jn 2:18 ; Rev 22:10
• 15 13:11 - Eph 5:14 ; 1Th 5:5,6

12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

References for Romans 13:12

• Cross References

• 16 13:12 - Heb 10:25 ; 1Jn 2:8
• 17 13:12 - Eph 5:11
• 18 13:12 - Eph 6:11,13 ; 1Th 5:8

13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

References for Romans 13:13

• Cross References

• 19 13:13 - S Eph 5:18
• 20 13:13 - Lk 21:34 ; Gal 5:20,21 ; Eph 5:18 ; 1Pe 4:3

14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.^"                                 

Paul reminds us to love one another which is summed up in the command that Jesus gave us which says, "Love your neighbor as yourselves."

Love doesn't do harm to those around us.  Love doesn't push people away of look down on them like we are so special or more important.  We aren't as great as we sometimes think we are. 

We need to wake up as followers of Jesus Christ and rekindle the love we have for Him.  We also need to start loving one and other in the body of Christ.  We must not forget to love our neighbors as ourselves.

The Lord Jesus is coming back soon to take us, who are trusting I Him for salvation, Home to be with Him forever.  Let us cast off those sins that so easily ensnare us and trip us up.

Let us run the race of faith unhindered and focused on Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Our salvation is nearer now than it has ever been.

The Body of Christ really needs to wake up and start living for the Lord Jesus in eager anticipation for His return. 

Lord,

We are sorry that sometimes we get "sleepy" and need to be awakened.  Wake us up Lord.

Help us to love You more and more and help us to love others and You love us.

Lead us and guide us according to Your will.

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen.

Jesus Saves

This world that we are living in seems to be getting more and more violent.  We can see this every time we watch the evening news on our televisions.  We wonder, what in the world is going on?
The more distance a people or a nation or a world outs between themselves and God the darker things will get.  People may try to push God out of society, but they can't push Him out completely because He is God.   God can not be moved out of the way.  He is all powerful and He is Sovereign.

The Lord is still at work in people's lives all around us whether they realize it or not.  We who are believers in Jesus Christ must not get discouraged by the things that we see going on in our world today.  We should be concerned of course, but we must allow the Holy Spirit to shine the light of Christ through us in this increasingly dark world.

We are Ambassadors for Christ in this world.  We are not of this world.  We belong to a better eternal Kingdom in Heaven.  This world is not our home.  If we are trusting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior then we need to look forward to that great day when we will enter into our Home in Heaven and see the face of Jesus Christ, the One who died on the Cross for our sins and gives us eternal life with Him forever.

This world is crying out in despair and acting out in violence.  People need a Savior.  There is only one Savior.  No world leader will ever meet your need.  No world leader can save you from your sins.  No world leader can make a way for you into Heaven.  There is only one way to obtain Salvation.  There is only one way to have your sins completely forgiven and that is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. 

We have all sinned and have fallen short of the Glory of God.  We must come to the Lord in repentance of our sins and trust in what Jesus did for us on the Cross.  Jesus died on the Cross for our sins.  He is the only One who can forgive our sins and He is the only way into Heaven.  The is no other way. 

This is why it is so urgent for us to get the Gospel message of Jesus Christ out to people throughout our world.  People need Jesus.  Jesus Saves.  He still saves.  He is the only One that truly saves.

Let us shine His light in this world and proclaim the Gospel message with the love of Jesus Christ.  Our world needs to hear the Good News.

Lord,
Shine Your light through us in this dark world.
Help us to tell others about Jesus Christ.
Use us to spread the truth and hope that we have in You.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen.

Our Hope In Jesus Christ

This is the first Sunday of the Advent season when we believers in Jesus Christ prepare hearts to celebrate the first coming of Jesus Christ.  The world has been cast in a shadowy land of darkness and despair.  Fear and anxiety seem to plague the deep recesses of the human mind and heart.  When we look around us we see people who feel angry and full of worry for the future.  There are many people in our world today that feel hopeless.   We can see it written on the expressions of people's faces that we encounter each day.

The good news for you and myself and also for the whole world is there is indeed hope.  We have hope in Jesus Christ.  He is the hope that we need and that the world needs.  God demonstrated His great love for us by sending His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to come to earth as a baby placed in a manger.  Jesus lived a perfect and sinless life.  He went obediently to the Cross where He laid down His life for our sins.  Jesus shed His blood for our sins and for the sins of the whole world.

God didn't stop there, but He raised Jesus from the dead on the third day to show that He is indeed God.  The Lord Jesus is at the right hand of the Father in Heaven and one Day He will return as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  The Lord didn't leave us as orphans, but He gives the Holy Spirit to indwell everyone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Jesus is our hope for salvation and forgiveness of our sins.  Jesus is our living hope.  There is no other way to obtain forgiveness of our sins except through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  Not one of us is good enough to obtain entrance into Heaven on our own.  We need a Savior and there is only One that saves and that is Jesus Christ. 

We must realize that we can not save ourselves and that all have sinned and have fallen short of God's high standards.  We must come to the Lord with a humble heart and we must come repenting of our sins.  We need to receive His forgiveness and eternal life.  We can receive it only by coming to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and we can do that by faith and faith alone.

There is hope for each one of us.  There is hope for this world that we live in.  There is a light that has come into this world of darkness.  That light is Jesus Christ.  May His light shine through you as you put your faith and trust in Him. 

I pray that as you prepare your heart during this Advent season that you would remember that there is hope in Jesus Christ.  There is hope of salvation and an eternal Home in Heaven with Him when we leave this world.  We also have hope everyday because He promises to never leave us and never to forsake us as we walk through this dark and lonesome world.

Let us focus on the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Lord,
Thank You for the hope we have in Jesus Christ.  Thank You for Your love and mercy and Amazing grace.  Lead us by Your Holy Spirit.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen.

The Lord Will Help Us

There will be days when we find ourselves facing giant problems that just seem overwhelming and totally unfair.  Our world is filled with unfair things.  Life is hard and difficult for many people.  We all face trials and hardships.  The Lord Jesus tells us that in this world we would have trouble, but He also tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world.

We live in a dark sin filled world.  Things seem to get darker and bleaker with each passing day.  We wonder what will happen next.  We believers must take courage and focus our eyes upon our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The Lord knows our hardship.  He knows life can be difficult and horribly lonely at times.  Life hurts and it can hurt really bad at times.  Life is extremely unfair at times.

It is not the Lord's fault that bad things happen.  God is good and He loves you with a deep unconditional love.  He understands your pain and suffering.  Jesus knows all about rejection and pain.  Jesus understands what you are going through no matter what it is and He will guide you through it if you will let Him.

The Lord wants us to come to Him with all of our concerns and problems.  We can go to Him in prayer anytime.  The Lord is available to hear from us 24/7.  He is never to busy to hear from you.

We need to go to the Lord in prayer and draw near to Him by reading His Word, the Bible.
Let's come boldly to His throne of Grace with all kinds of prayers and praise.  Let us worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

The Lord will help us in our times of difficulty. 

Are you allowing God to help you in your time of need?

Seek the Lord and focus on Him.

Lord,
Thank You for always being with us even during hard times.
We praise Your name.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen.

Giving Thanks To God and Thanking God for Those Around Us

Today is Thanksgiving Day here in the United States.  Many have gathered together with family and friends to eat way more than they should and many will watch American Football on the television.  Hopefully in the midst of all the goings on today we will set aside some time to think of all the things we should be thankful for.

We who are believers in Jesus Christ should be thankful for the Lord and all that He has done and is doing in our lives.  I am thankful for the Lord Jesus.  I am thankful for my mother, my brother and his family.  I am thankful for many things. 

I am thankful for the Lord's protection in this world of uncertainty.  Things can change in a heart beat.  My mother and I went to my brother and his wife's place for a wonderful Thanksgiving Day meal.  After eating and enjoying a great time with family we headed home.  On the way home I looked to my right to look at a certain house and I noticed a young man wearing a blue tee shirt running towards the road with an arm in the air waving at me.  I thought that it was weird since he seemed to come out of no where then I looked in front of me and there was a deer running across the road directly in front of our vehicle.  We missed the deer by probably less then ten feet. 

If I hadn't have slowed down to see the young man waving I am pretty sure we would have hit the deer.  I am thankful to the Lord and that young man who ever he is.  There were other deer on the other side of the road as well.  I am thankful for a good vehicle with good breaks as well.  God is indeed good.  He does protect us and He does help us.

We need to give the Lord more thanks and praise than we sometimes do.  Sometimes we just see the bad things that are going on all around us,  but we must remember that there is still a loving God and He is still at work in this world.

I like what Psalm 100 says,


"1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

References for Psalms 100:1

• Cross References

• 1 100:1 - S Ps 98:6 ; Ps 98:4

2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

References for Psalms 100:2

• Cross References

• 2 100:2 - S Dt 10:12
• 3 100:2 - S Ps 95:2

3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his^a ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

References for Psalms 100:3

• Cross References
• Footnotes

• 4 100:3 - S 1Ki 18:21 ; S Ps 46:10
• 5 100:3 - S Job 10:3
• 6 100:3 - Ps 79:13 ; Isa 19:25 ; 63:8,17-19 ; 64:9
• 7 100:3 - S 2Sa 24:17 ; S Ps 74:1 ; Eze 34:31

• Ś 100:3 - Or "and not we ourselves"

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

References for Psalms 100:4

• Cross References

• 8 100:4 - S Ps 42:4
• 9 100:4 - S Ps 96:8
• 10 100:4 - Ps 116:17

5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.                                    

We need to give the Lord thanks in all of life's circumstances that we face.  We need to thank Him in the good times and in the bad times.  We need to praise Him for His Awesome love and presence.

Let us come boldly to His throne of grace with humble hearts, words of thanksgiving on our lips, and joyous praise bursting deep from within our very souls.

The Lord is worthy of all of our praise.  We need to rejoice in Him because of who He is.  We are His people.  We have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  We owe Him our praise and faithfulness.

Let us give thanks to the Lord and praise His name always.

Lord,

We are thankful for You Lord our God.

We are thankful for our families and our friends.

We are thankful for Your protection.

Lead us and draw us near to You Lord as we seek Your face.

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen.

A Thankful Heart

Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the Unites States of America.  It is always good to be thankful everyday even though some days it may seem very challenging to say the least to find something to be thankful about. 

I am thankful that my mother was released from the hospital today and she is now back home with me.  I am thankful that she is once again healthy and feeling much better.  I am thankful for doctors and nurses that have great talents.  I am thankful for those two emergency medical technicians that came to our aid and transported my ailing mother to the hospital.  I am thankful that one of those men stopped to talk to me at my work place to ask me how she was doing.  I think we need to be more thankful for EMTs and those in Law Enforcement and those in the Fire Department who don't get a Holiday off to be with their families.  I am thankful for all the men and women who perform those task.  I am also thankful for those who work in the Emergency Department at the Hospital.  I am thankful for the X-Ray technician that went above and beyond her call of duty in my book. 

I am thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ for always seeing us through the most trying of life's circumstances.  I am thankful for the Lord's direction and the peace that dwells in my heart even though things around me seem to fall apart.  I am thankful that even though there are times that I feel lonely and friendless that Jesus is a friend that stick closer than a brother.  I am thankful for Jesus dying on the Cross for my sins on my behalf because I know I can not save myself. 

I am thankful for good health.  I am thankful for people who pray for me.  I am thankful that I have a job.  I am thankful for encouraging words from fellow believers in Jesus Christ.  I am thankful for you who are reading my blog posting right now when you could be doing something else.  I am thankful for my Pastor Dennis Ashley and his wife Kelly who answered God's call to come all the way to a place called Houlton, Maine.  I am thankful for my Church family at the First Baptist Church. 

I am very thankful for all that the Lord is doing and has done in my life.  I am not sure what He has in store next, but I will trust Him and keep my eyes upon Him wherever He leads.   I am reminded of all of those people who will be alone on Thanksgiving Day.  I pray that they will at least sense the Lord's presence in their lives and that He would send someone to visit them.

Let us develop a thankful heart unto the Lord Jesus Christ for all He has done for us.

May we have an attitude of gratitude.

What are you thankful for?

Lord,
Thank You for Your healing touch on my mother and bringing her back home.  I pray for all those working tomorrow to keep us safe.  I pray that we will have an attitude of gratitude for all You have done for us and all that You will do for us in the future.
We praise Your name!
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen.

Praying Through Our Troubles

We know as we go through life eventually troubles will eventually come to us in some form or another.  Some troubles last only for a short while and some last a long time.  The good thing is that even though we may go through many things in life and we may experience heart wrenching troubles that boggle our minds we can know that we are never alone in our troubles. 

The Lord promises us that He will always be right with us until the very end if we have trusted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.   We believers in Christ have hope in Him.  We have hope in this life and in the life to come, eternal life.

When troubles come we should pray.  We need to be people of prayer.  Calling out to the Lord with all kinds of prayers and concerns is always a good thing to do.  The Lord wants to hear from His children. 

If anyone has a concern they should pray.  If anyone is facing a difficult decision they should pray.  If there is anyone who is full of fear and anxiety they should pray.  The Lord is listening and He will answer our prayers.  He may not answer our prayers the way we hope He will.  He will answer our prayers according to His will. 

I just want to mention a word of thanks to all of you who have been praying for my mother since I last wrote a blog posting.  She is still in the hospital, but she has improved greatly.  She is full of life and feeling much better.  Lord willing she may come home tomorrow.   She has been able to eat some mainly liquid things.  Thank you again for praying for my mother and our family. 

We must remember that as believers in Jesus Christ we are family.  We are fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  We need one another.  We need to pray for each other in good times and also in bad times.
 
May we keep praying and not give up.

Keep praying and calling out to the Lord in faith and trust Him to answer. 

Lord,
Thank You for answered prayer.  Thank You for my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Bless and touch each one with Your comforting hand.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen.

God Loves A Cheerful Giver

We are fast approaching the Christmas season when we believers in Christ prepare our hearts to celebrate the first coming of Jesus Christ when He was born of a virgin and was placed in a manger.   We will celebrate the great gift that God gave to human kind, Jesus Christ. 

God demonstrated His great love for each of us by sending His only begotten Son to this earth to live a perfect and sinless life.   Jesus went obediently to the Cross and shed His blood for our sins.  We have all sinned and we all fall short of God's high standards.

Not one of us is good enough to obtain Heaven on our own merit.  God made a way for us to be reconciled back to Himself by sending Jesus to die on a cruel Roman Cross for our sins and who ever confesses their sins to Him and receives Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be forgiven based on Jesus finished work on the Cross for them.

When we believers in Jesus Christ that is what we generally think about at Christmas.   We think about Jesus coming to earth and all that He did while on the earth.   We celebrate Jesus at Christmas because that is what Christmas is all about.

When we look at the world around us and how the world celebrates Christmas we seldom if ever hear about Jesus.  We see sales, people buying things, maxing out there credit cards, and decorating.  There is something missing in the way the unbelieving world celebrates Christmas and the way Christians celebrate Christmas.   Jesus is missing of course from the in believers view of the Christmas Holiday.   Without Christ people miss the true meaning of Christmas. 

We all give and receive gifts at Christmas time.   The greatest gift you could possibly give is to lead someone to Jesus Christ.  He is the greatest gift that anyone could ever receive.  Jesus will change your life and He will give you a reason and a purpose to live.   Our focus changes off of ourselves and material things and onto Christ when we turn our hearts over to Him.

When I think of how generous God has been to me and to other believers I am in awe of who He is and how great He is.  He blesses us more abundantly with more than we could ever ask for or think of.  The Lord God is so very good to us and He is rich in mercy and grace.

So if God has been so generous toward us should we not be generous as well toward those all around us.  If we are truly following Jesus and we say we believe in Him shouldn't we open our hearts in love towards our neighbors and all of those we come in contact with everyday.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 says,

"6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

References for 2 Corinthians 9:6

• Cross References

• 14 9:6 - Pr 11:24,25 ; 22:9 ; Gal 6:7,9

7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

References for 2 Corinthians 9:7

• Cross References

• 15 9:7 - Ex 25:2 ; 2Co 8:12
• 16 9:7 - Dt 15:10
• 17 9:7 - Ro 12:8

8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

References for 2 Corinthians 9:8

• Cross References

• 18 9:8 - Eph 3:20
• 19 9:8 - Php 4:19

9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”^a

References for 2 Corinthians 9:9

• Cross References
• Footnotes

• 20 9:9 - Mal 3:10
• 21 9:9 - Ps 112:9

• p 9:9 - Psalm 112:9

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

References for 2 Corinthians 9:10

• Cross References

• 22 9:10 - Isa 55:10
• 23 9:10 - Hos 10:12

11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

References for 2 Corinthians 9:11

• Cross References

• 24 9:11 - 1Co 1:5
• 25 9:11 - ver 5
• 26 9:11 - 2Co 1:11 ; 4:15

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.

References for 2 Corinthians 9:12

• Cross References

• 27 9:12 - 2Co 8:14
• 28 9:12 - S 2Co 1:11

13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

References for 2 Corinthians 9:13

• Cross References

• 29 9:13 - S 2Co 8:4
• 30 9:13 - S Mt 9:8
• 31 9:13 - S Heb 3:1
• 32 9:13 - S 2Co 2:12
• 33 9:13 - ver 5

14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.

15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"

The Lord has been so generous toward us in many ways.  He is our great provider.  He always provides for all of our needs no matter what hardship we may find ourselves in.   When God blesses us we should share that blessing with others.  If the Lord has blessed us financially we should be generous with that and us it to build up His Kingdom.  

We should share what the Lord has provided us.  God loves a cheerful giver.  When we give ourselves and our resources to proclaim the Gospel and help those in need the Lord will indeed be honored and that is always a good thing.

We owe the Lord everything because He has done so much for us by giving us the best gift ever that is found in Jesus Christ.  Through Jesus we obtain forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with Him if we are trusting in Him.   Even though we die, we will live if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ.

This world needs Jesus Christ.  I need Jesus Christ and you do too.  Trust Him and go out and be a blessing to others.

I have a prayer request before I close this posting.  I was in the middle of writing this blog post when I had to take my mother to the Hospital where she is right now.  She is doing a little better now, but I ask that you would pray for her and my brother and myself.  I know the Lord will watch over her and all of us.  The Lord is truly Awesome and loving even in the most painful heart wrenching moments.  God is still God and nothing is to difficult for Him.  I will trust Him even when things don't make sense because He holds the future and He is the greatest gift.

Are you trusting Him?

Lord,

I pray for my mother's healing and I pray that You would touch her with Your loving presence.  

I ask that You touch all of those who are going through hard times and draw them to You.

Help us to be a blessing to others around us.

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen.