Grace, faith, and the light of God’s word are the thoughts that come to mind as I think about the historical significance of the Reformation. We are saved and justified by God’s Grace alone, through our faith alone, because of God’s plan of salvation through Christ alone. Our own good works and personal merit do not save us. We can’t be good enough, religious enough, or follow the law perfectly enough to be saved or justified by our own actions.
God wants to have a personal relationship with His children. He wants us to come directly to Him. He wants us to read the word for ourselves. He wants us to come straight to Him in prayer and conversation. We come to the Father in prayer, worship, and bible reading through our spiritual leaders such as priests and pastors, but we should also come to Him in personal, private worship. In history, prior to the Reformation, prior to the translation of the bible into English, and prior to the printing press, Christians didn’t have bibles in their homes like we have today. They depended on the church for scripture reading and explanations of the word. Today, God speaks to us directly as we come to Him in the privacy of our own homes.
Grace does not eliminate God’s laws. His laws set parameters and act as guides in our lives. But the law does not save! Our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ saves us through our faith, by God’s grace, alone. Through Jesus we are forgiven for not keeping the law. No one in his own ability or power is able to keep the whole law. “None are righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10). Without God’s laws, there are no absolutes and everything is permissible. With God in our personal lives and in the life of the society in which we live, there is righteous order. God’s promises, laws, words, and righteous order are absolutes.
God’s Grace gives us what we don’t deserve. God’s mercy spares us from what we do deserve. Jesus did it all for us! Jesus didn’t come to earth to start a religion. He came to show us the heart of God. He didn’t come to abolish the law; He came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17). When we try to follow the law and leave grace out, we become legalistic. When we follow Christ, we are set free; we are free indeed (John 8:36). There is liberty in Christ by grace through faith when we come to Him believing that He is who He says He is. Search the scriptures for yourself. We are justified by faith (Romans 5:1).
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
We all Experience Miracles in our Lives
The definition of a miracle is the occurrence of any event or happening which appears contradictory to or unexplainable by the laws of science or numerical odds. It is a marvel usually attributed to God. We see examples of miracles throughout the Old and New Testaments in the Scriptures. When we reflect on our own lives each of us can recall personal examples of these unexplainable events.
A few of the miracles recorded in the Old Testament were; the parting of the Red Sea, the water flowing from the rock which Moses struck, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remaining unharmed in the fiery furnace, Baalam’s donkey speaking, David slaying the giant with a sling shot, and Gideon’s fleece becoming wet or dry according to his request concerning God’s word to him.
In the New Testament Jesus turned water into wine, Jesus walked on water, He fed the multitudes with a few fishes and loaves of bread, He healed Jairus’ daughter, and raised Lazarus from death. The early church, Paul, and the disciples experienced many miracles as well.
Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What He did before, He is able to do today, and will continue to do in the future. The birth of a child is a miracle. My children and grandchildren are miracles in my life. I have experienced many unexplainable events and circumstances along the way. God uses His word, people, situations, and signs as I walk the path through my life’s journey. The greatest miracle is in knowing that Christ gave His life for me so that I could come to God through Him and know that I have been given eternal life; to be with Him and those who I love throughout eternity.
We increase our faith and raise the anticipation of miracles in our life when we remember the miracles of the past; personal and biblical. We must have an awareness to recognize the miracles in our life. When we recognize them we should recount them by talking about them or writing them in a journal. We must come to God in thanksgiving for the numerous little miracles and the greater miracles which we experience. We are to rejoice and celebrate the miracles. He is to be glorified for the work He is doing in our lives.
The keys to recognizing and experiencing the miracles in our lives are to stay connected to God through prayer, praise, and worship. His answers, blessings, and favor are the daily miracles which touch and change our lives
God does have His reasons for performing miracles. They become tangible proof that He is God and they help people to believe. They help Him to increase people’s faith. Miracles identify the person He is using as being sent by God. Miracles help to meet the needs of His people. Sometimes He uses miracles as judgment like He did with the plagues in Egypt. They arouse fear and respect for God. No matter who God uses as the vessel for His miracle, God must be the one to receive the glory. Our eyes are to be upon Him, not upon the miracle. To God be the Glory!
A few of the miracles recorded in the Old Testament were; the parting of the Red Sea, the water flowing from the rock which Moses struck, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remaining unharmed in the fiery furnace, Baalam’s donkey speaking, David slaying the giant with a sling shot, and Gideon’s fleece becoming wet or dry according to his request concerning God’s word to him.
In the New Testament Jesus turned water into wine, Jesus walked on water, He fed the multitudes with a few fishes and loaves of bread, He healed Jairus’ daughter, and raised Lazarus from death. The early church, Paul, and the disciples experienced many miracles as well.
Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What He did before, He is able to do today, and will continue to do in the future. The birth of a child is a miracle. My children and grandchildren are miracles in my life. I have experienced many unexplainable events and circumstances along the way. God uses His word, people, situations, and signs as I walk the path through my life’s journey. The greatest miracle is in knowing that Christ gave His life for me so that I could come to God through Him and know that I have been given eternal life; to be with Him and those who I love throughout eternity.
We increase our faith and raise the anticipation of miracles in our life when we remember the miracles of the past; personal and biblical. We must have an awareness to recognize the miracles in our life. When we recognize them we should recount them by talking about them or writing them in a journal. We must come to God in thanksgiving for the numerous little miracles and the greater miracles which we experience. We are to rejoice and celebrate the miracles. He is to be glorified for the work He is doing in our lives.
The keys to recognizing and experiencing the miracles in our lives are to stay connected to God through prayer, praise, and worship. His answers, blessings, and favor are the daily miracles which touch and change our lives
God does have His reasons for performing miracles. They become tangible proof that He is God and they help people to believe. They help Him to increase people’s faith. Miracles identify the person He is using as being sent by God. Miracles help to meet the needs of His people. Sometimes He uses miracles as judgment like He did with the plagues in Egypt. They arouse fear and respect for God. No matter who God uses as the vessel for His miracle, God must be the one to receive the glory. Our eyes are to be upon Him, not upon the miracle. To God be the Glory!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
I Needed to Rest in The Lord Today; and That is What I Did.
Last night, Saturday, we had dinner at Key Colony Inn. It is our most favorite restaurant in the Florida Keys, or for that matter, maybe the one we prefer over any other, any where. We consider the owners and their long time, hard working, attentive, staff to be our friends. When we came back home to Layton we were on the computer and watched some TV. I love Bill Gaither’s Old Time Gospel hour at 7PM on Saturday nights on TBN. After that, Richie and I watched Charles Stanley’s Sunday message and shut the TV off.
We must have gone to bed too early, because neither of us could fall asleep. It was senseless just lying there, so I got up to read. I took my bible off the table and looked at the index listing the books in the Old Testament and New Testament. The two books that I had in mind to read again are Nehemiah in the Old Testament and Hebrews in the New Testament. I decided to start reading the book of Nehemiah and before I knew it, it was 2AM and I had finished reading all of the chapters in the book. I found God’s message to Nehemiah, a cup bearer for the King of Persia in about 400 to 500 BC, to be applicable to 2011 AD. We can compare and apply God’s clear message, given to Nehemiah, to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem to the need to restore and rebuild America’s foundation today. Our country was built on Judeo-Christian principles, laws, and values. Just like the fallen walls of Jerusalem, our system is being torn down, economically, morally, socially, and spiritually. Political correctness and self-serving individuals have broken down our walls. The book of Nehemiah shows how God’s people, armed with God’s power and resources, can accomplish God’s plan for our individual lives and for our nation.
Nehemiah was a man who walked with God. He knew God, he talked to God, he mourned with God, he waited on God, he submitted to God in obedience, and he gave God all of the glory for everything in his life. I want to be like Nehemiah. I want to walk with God and saturate myself in His word before I find myself in the middle of a crisis. I want to be prepared to be used by God where He places me and where He needs me. God put a plan in Nehemiah’s heart. Nehemiah explained the plan to the Israeli people of Jerusalem who had returned from exile. One by one, group by group, they worked together to rebuild different sections of the total wall. The wall which was 2 ½ miles long and 8 feet deep was rebuilt in 52 days. God was in Nehemiah. God was in the plan. God gave His people the will, ability, and power to carry out His plan. They knew that God’s hand was upon them and upon the plan. When the wall was completed they all gave God the glory. God’s will, done God’s way, never lacks God’s provision. When we look at what God has accomplished, we are sure of what He can do, and we live in anticipation of what He will do next. Faith acted upon grows greater faith in our lives. We must be strong in the Lord when we face opposition against our plans and in our lives. We are not to be surprised or fearful when it happens because God is sovereign and will walk with us through life’s difficulties and oppositions.
I spent today talking to the Lord. I was in prayer for my family, loved ones, and friends; especially for those going through times of trial and sickness. I do pray The Jabez prayer for each of us and for America daily. I pray that God will Bless America. I pray that He will direct and empower His people and strengthen and expand her spiritual territory. I pray that His hand will be upon her and I pray that He will protect her from harm and from doing harm as Jabez had prayed. As instructed in Psalm 122:6, I also pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.
I spent time writing my blog and reflecting on the teachings found in the book of Nehemiah. In quiet meditation I praised and worshiped the Lord by myself. He hears me and He gives me His peace. He brings thoughts to my mind and He clarifies and confirms my thoughts, my plans, and my decisions. I fed my spirit by listening to a few internet sermons by the pastor of my daughter’s church in Pennsylvania. He is doing a sermon series on Nehemiah. He helped my understanding. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).
Life does get busy even when one is retired. I set my priorities and spend time daily with those I love; my Lord being on the top of that list. If you love someone, you want to spend time with them, know them, and connect with them emotionally and spiritually. We are comfortable with our loved ones. Peaceful rest in the Lord refreshes. I am refreshed.
Lord, fill me with your Spirit and continually refresh and renew my mind.
To God be the Glory as I rejoice in this day!
We must have gone to bed too early, because neither of us could fall asleep. It was senseless just lying there, so I got up to read. I took my bible off the table and looked at the index listing the books in the Old Testament and New Testament. The two books that I had in mind to read again are Nehemiah in the Old Testament and Hebrews in the New Testament. I decided to start reading the book of Nehemiah and before I knew it, it was 2AM and I had finished reading all of the chapters in the book. I found God’s message to Nehemiah, a cup bearer for the King of Persia in about 400 to 500 BC, to be applicable to 2011 AD. We can compare and apply God’s clear message, given to Nehemiah, to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem to the need to restore and rebuild America’s foundation today. Our country was built on Judeo-Christian principles, laws, and values. Just like the fallen walls of Jerusalem, our system is being torn down, economically, morally, socially, and spiritually. Political correctness and self-serving individuals have broken down our walls. The book of Nehemiah shows how God’s people, armed with God’s power and resources, can accomplish God’s plan for our individual lives and for our nation.
Nehemiah was a man who walked with God. He knew God, he talked to God, he mourned with God, he waited on God, he submitted to God in obedience, and he gave God all of the glory for everything in his life. I want to be like Nehemiah. I want to walk with God and saturate myself in His word before I find myself in the middle of a crisis. I want to be prepared to be used by God where He places me and where He needs me. God put a plan in Nehemiah’s heart. Nehemiah explained the plan to the Israeli people of Jerusalem who had returned from exile. One by one, group by group, they worked together to rebuild different sections of the total wall. The wall which was 2 ½ miles long and 8 feet deep was rebuilt in 52 days. God was in Nehemiah. God was in the plan. God gave His people the will, ability, and power to carry out His plan. They knew that God’s hand was upon them and upon the plan. When the wall was completed they all gave God the glory. God’s will, done God’s way, never lacks God’s provision. When we look at what God has accomplished, we are sure of what He can do, and we live in anticipation of what He will do next. Faith acted upon grows greater faith in our lives. We must be strong in the Lord when we face opposition against our plans and in our lives. We are not to be surprised or fearful when it happens because God is sovereign and will walk with us through life’s difficulties and oppositions.
I spent today talking to the Lord. I was in prayer for my family, loved ones, and friends; especially for those going through times of trial and sickness. I do pray The Jabez prayer for each of us and for America daily. I pray that God will Bless America. I pray that He will direct and empower His people and strengthen and expand her spiritual territory. I pray that His hand will be upon her and I pray that He will protect her from harm and from doing harm as Jabez had prayed. As instructed in Psalm 122:6, I also pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.
I spent time writing my blog and reflecting on the teachings found in the book of Nehemiah. In quiet meditation I praised and worshiped the Lord by myself. He hears me and He gives me His peace. He brings thoughts to my mind and He clarifies and confirms my thoughts, my plans, and my decisions. I fed my spirit by listening to a few internet sermons by the pastor of my daughter’s church in Pennsylvania. He is doing a sermon series on Nehemiah. He helped my understanding. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).
Life does get busy even when one is retired. I set my priorities and spend time daily with those I love; my Lord being on the top of that list. If you love someone, you want to spend time with them, know them, and connect with them emotionally and spiritually. We are comfortable with our loved ones. Peaceful rest in the Lord refreshes. I am refreshed.
Lord, fill me with your Spirit and continually refresh and renew my mind.
To God be the Glory as I rejoice in this day!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
The Key of Faith
The access to God is a door which is opened by the Key of Faith. Prayer turns this Key when we speak to God believing that He hears us and will answer us.
Christ knocks at the door of our hearts. I can remember singing a song in Sunday School, “One door and only one and yet there are sides of two; I’m on the inside, on which side are you?” My faith has unlocked the door to Christ’s heart and I have accepted him into my heart. We are connected. God is my power source, my battery. Christ is my way to the source, my redeemer, my rescuer. The Holy Spirit is the power in my life, God’s power within me.
Prayer turns the Key of Faith activating God’s power within us. A credit card does not do us any good if we don’t activate it. It must be officially connected to the source of credit. A car doesn’t run if the gas tank is empty. The gas in the tank fuels the car’s engine giving it the energy and power to operate. Our lives do not work on empty. Our lives become fruitful and productive when we are activated by God, in Christ, through the Holy Spirit. He is The Vine, we are the branches. I abide in Him and He abides in me. Read John 15:5.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Read His Word. Study His Word. Believe His Word. Faith is a gift (Ephesians 2:8). Receive God’s free gift of Faith. Come to God in prayer and turn the Key of Faith. You will have an encounter with God and you will experience His power in your life. Don’t be too proud to try it. He will prove Himself to you as He has to me.
Christ knocks at the door of our hearts. I can remember singing a song in Sunday School, “One door and only one and yet there are sides of two; I’m on the inside, on which side are you?” My faith has unlocked the door to Christ’s heart and I have accepted him into my heart. We are connected. God is my power source, my battery. Christ is my way to the source, my redeemer, my rescuer. The Holy Spirit is the power in my life, God’s power within me.
Prayer turns the Key of Faith activating God’s power within us. A credit card does not do us any good if we don’t activate it. It must be officially connected to the source of credit. A car doesn’t run if the gas tank is empty. The gas in the tank fuels the car’s engine giving it the energy and power to operate. Our lives do not work on empty. Our lives become fruitful and productive when we are activated by God, in Christ, through the Holy Spirit. He is The Vine, we are the branches. I abide in Him and He abides in me. Read John 15:5.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Read His Word. Study His Word. Believe His Word. Faith is a gift (Ephesians 2:8). Receive God’s free gift of Faith. Come to God in prayer and turn the Key of Faith. You will have an encounter with God and you will experience His power in your life. Don’t be too proud to try it. He will prove Himself to you as He has to me.
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