Category Archives: Salvation: A New You

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September 28, 2015

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Challenges & Difficulty, God's Grace & Love, God's Plan, Salvation: A New You, Trusting God, Wisdom & Guidance

ROAD REPAIRS

God’s business is putting things right; he loves getting the lines straight, setting us straight. Once we’re standing tall, we can look him straight in the eye. [Psalm 11:7 (MSG)] 

old world wisconsin-129webIllinois really has only two seasons: winter and road construction. The intersection by my northern home was under construction for nearly three years. In an effort to make a five-way intersection into a four-way, one road was closed entirely and another was straightened, roads were widened, and turn lanes and new lights added. During this time, there was no easy way to get anywhere from my house. I had to go east before going west, north before going south, and allow an extra twenty minutes to get where I used to get in five. No one enjoyed the slow traffic, detours, closed lanes, delays, missing driveways, and closed roads. Unfortunately, they all were necessary to straighten out a road in a dangerous intersection. The work is finally done and I was pleased at how smoothly traffic flows in the new configuration. Of course, as a result of this improvement, I’ve had to make some changes in my life since the road I used to take home is closed; fortunately, a new one was opened. Unfortunately, since this is Illinois, there is more construction on the same road, just a few miles further north so more delays are likely for the next few years.

Like IDOT and roads in need of repair, sometimes God has to straighten us out. Chances are we won’t like it any more than we like road construction. We won’t be able to continue doing things the same old way but, on the plus side, He’ll offer us a new way and better way. Like the intersection by my house, our lives will be vastly improved once God has set us straight. And, just as the state never seems to stop with the road work, God is never quite finished with us. There’s always something to straighten, smooth out or repair. It’s best if we just let Him do the work.

What a God! His road stretches straight and smooth. Every God-direction is road-tested. Everyone who runs toward him makes it. [Psalm 18:30 (MSG)]

A tribute to God when he comes, When he comes to set the earth right. He’ll straighten out the whole world, He’ll put the world right, and everyone in it. [Psalm 98:9 (MSG)]

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September 16, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Joy, Love & Works, Salvation: A New You, Sharing Our Faith, Thanks & Praise, Today: Make it Count

LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! [Psalm 145:10 (ESV)]

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. [Isaiah 60:1 (ESV)]

“I Sing a Song of the Saints of God” [Lesbia Scott]
I sing a song of the saints of God, patient and brave and true,
Who toiled and fought and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, and one was a shepherdess on the green;
They were all of them saints of God, and I mean, God helping, to be one too.
They loved their Lord so dear, so dear, and his love made them strong;
And they followed the right for Jesus’ sake the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest, and one was slain by a fierce wild beast;
And there’s not any reason, no, not the least, why I shouldn’t be one too.
They lived not only in ages past; there are hundreds of thousands still.
The world is bright with the joyous saints who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, on the street, in the store,
In church, by the sea, in the house next door;
They are saints of God, whether rich or poor, and I mean to be one too.

cathedral of st francis - Santa Fe8546webAs a girl, one of my favorite hymns was, “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God.” I joyfully sang of the doctor (Luke), queen (Margaret of Scotland), shepherdess (Joan of Arc), soldier (Martin of Tours), priest (John Donne), and the one slain by a beast (Ignatius of Antioch). Although I wasn’t anxious to be devoured by lions, the thought of being in company of such a stellar cast of Christians gave me great joy. The fact that I, simply by knowing Jesus and by loving to do His will, could be one, too, was even more exciting.

Although it’s been years since last singing it, I thought of that hymn when touring the Cathedral Church of St. Francis in Santa Fe recently. Several saints had been beautifully depicted in the stain glass windows. It was a sunny day and the light shone magnificently through the colored glass. I was reminded that the saints of the New Testament weren’t dead; they were living individuals who had dedicated themselves to the worship and service of the one true God as revealed through Jesus Christ. In fact, all Christians are called to be saints of God—to live their lives in a way that reflects their faith in Christ. We all can be saints of God if we allow the Son’s light to shine through us as brilliantly as the sun did in those windows.

Saint: one separated from the world and consecrated to God; one holy by profession and by covenant; a believer in Christ. [Easton’s Bible Dictionary]

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. [Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)]

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September 1, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, God's Grace & Love, God's Plan, Knowing Him, Obedience, Salvation: A New You, Today: Make it Count

INVITATIONS

The Angel said to me, “Write this: ‘Blessed are those invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.’” He added, “These are the true words of God!” [Revelation 19:9 (MSG)]

IMGa_8372webI love seeing those thick envelopes in my mail that signify a special invitation. Usually included with the invitation is a request to RSVP. In spite of providing the invitees with a stamped pre-addressed envelope and a response card that requires only a name and check mark, most hosts spend several frantic days shortly before the event trying to track down the people who rudely haven’t bothered to reply. Worse manners, however, are exhibited by the guests who accept an invitation and then fail to attend. Justifiably, the host becomes annoyed; he probably has to pay for the absentee guests whether present or not. Moreover, those people may well have taken the place of others who might have truly appreciated the invitation.

Jesus was dining at the home of a Pharisee. When a dinner companion commented that it will be a blessing to feast in the Messianic kingdom to come, Jesus responded with a parable about a man who hosted a great banquet. Although the initial invitation to his feast had already been accepted, when the host sent his servants to tell the guests the banquet was prepared and ready to be served, the invitees used flimsy excuses about being too preoccupied with their everyday lives to attend. This was a major breach of etiquette; they’d already accepted, animals had been butchered, food was prepared and now the guests rejected the invitation! To add insult to injury, that all of the guests declined at the last minute implies some collusion among them to insult the host. Angry at their rejection, the master of the house, determined not to have an empty table, sent his servants out to bring in the poor, blind and lame—the people who normally would never be invited to such a feast. When that was done, since there was still room at the large table, the master sent his servants beyond the city gates to summon everyone else to his banquet. The host also vowed that not one of those who had been invited and rejected him would ever be invited again; they would never be allowed to dine at his table!

This story was Jesus’ way of warning the Jews that, since they didn’t accept His invitation of salvation, everyone else who came to him by faith would be welcome at His table. Anyone who chose to reject His offer, however, would never dine in God’s Kingdom. This parable, while specifically aimed at the Pharisees attending the banquet, still has meaning to us over 2,000 years later. Jesus reassures us that, while we are totally unworthy to eat at God’s banquet, He will welcome us. All we have to do is accept his invitation and show up when we’re called. The parable also serves as a warning if we don’t accept. God has given us an invitation and, being a gracious host, He’s prepared a heavenly banquet for us. How will He feel and what will He do if we reject his generous offer? I’m not planning on being a “no-show,” how about you?

“All things are ready,” come to the feast! Come, for the table now is spread;
Ye famishing, ye weary, come, and thou shalt be richly fed.
“All things are ready,” come to the feast! Come, for the door is open wide;
A place of honor is reserved For you at the Master’s side.
“All things are ready,” come to the feast! Come, while He waits to welcome thee;
Delay not while this day is thine,Tomorrow may never be.
“All things are ready,” come to the feast! Leave ev’ry care and worldly strife;
Come, feast upon the love of God, And drink everlasting life.
[“Come to the Feast” by Charles H. Gabriel]

Taken aback, Jesus said, “I’ve yet to come across this kind of simple trust in Israel, the very people who are supposed to know all about God and how he works. This man is the vanguard of many outsiders who will soon be coming from all directions—streaming in from the east, pouring in from the west, sitting down at God’s kingdom banquet alongside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then those who grew up ‘in the faith’ but had no faith will find themselves out in the cold, outsiders to grace and wondering what happened.” [Matthew 8:10-12 (MSG)]

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August 24, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, God's Grace & Love, God's Word: The Bible, Salvation: A New You, Today: Make it Count

NO DO-OVERS

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” [Luke 23:42-43 (NLT)]

apache plume-Glenn Canyon-Lake Powell, AZ 033aweb

Sometimes people say things like, “In my next life, I’ll study harder in school,” or “Next time, I’ll be sure to marry someone wealthy,” or even, “I want to come back as a dog.” Others say they remember past lives they’ve lived. Make no mistake about it: this is our first and only life and there isn’t going to be a next one here on earth. We won’t be returning as different people or animals; there won’t be a second chance. Jesus didn’t tell the repentant criminal hanging on the cross that death afforded him an opportunity to be better as another person in the future. Jesus told him he’d see him in heaven that very day! This is it for us and we better get it right the first time; we die once and face judgment. Indeed, today is the day of our salvation!

Each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment… [Hebrews 9:27 (NLT)]

For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. [2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT)]

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August 6, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Obedience, Salvation: A New You, Temptation & Sin

BY ANY OTHER NAME

Blessings accrue on a good and honest life, but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse. A good and honest life is a blessed memorial; a wicked life leaves a rotten stench. [Proverbs 10:6-7 (MSG)]

Juliet: What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.” [From “Romeo and Juliet” (Shakespeare)]

IMG_6949web“Where do you work in town?” my husband asked the young man who’d joined us in the gondola. He hemmed and hawed a bit before saying, “I’m an agricultural entrepreneur.” After more prodding, we learned the vague term actually meant that he grows marijuana. His response got me thinking about all of the other euphemisms we use in life. A car is “pre-enjoyed” not used, “genuine imitation leather” is really vinyl, that “courtesy call” received during dinner is anything but courteous, and do any of us actually take a rest in the “rest room”? Having a “negative cash flow” means we’re broke, and having a “frank discussion” with the boss means we got into an argument with him which led to our being “downsized” and now we are “pursuing other interests.” Euphemisms usually make bad things seem more acceptable, or at least less terrible. Torture is described as “enhanced interrogation,” genocide is “ethnic cleansing,” pornography is “adult entertainment,” if it “fell of the truck” it’s stolen, and someone who is “economical with the truth” is simply a liar. Let’s not fool ourselves about sin by using nicer words to disguise it. Gossip, pride, adultery, callousness, pride, envy, viciousness, greed and the like are far more than lapses in judgment, blunders, missteps, weaknesses, character flaws, slip-ups, moments of madness, or indiscretions. When we equivocate about our sins, we’re lying to ourselves and God. We may manage to assuage our guilt by using euphemisms but God will not be deceived. No matter what we call it, a rose will still have the sweet smell of a rose and, no matter what we call it nor how we disguise it, that which we call a sin, by any other name, will still have the stench of sin.

“Euphemism” is a euphemism for lying. [Bobbie Gentry]

These people gag me. I can’t stand their stench. Look at this! Their sins are all written out—I have the list before me. I’m not putting up with this any longer. [Isaiah 65:5-6 (MSG)]

God, you know every sin I’ve committed; My life’s a wide-open book before you. [Psalm 69:5 (MSG)]

 

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July 28, 2015

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Church & Worship, God's Grace & Love, God's Word: The Bible, Knowing Him, Salvation: A New You, Sharing Our Faith, Wisdom & Guidance

CONFUSED?

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. We believe with our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we declare with our mouths that we believe, and so we are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.” [Romans 10:9-11 (NCV)]

meerkat-LPZoo5webAt my favorite ski resort, the lift line crew often posts riddles or trivia questions on a board at the bottom of the lift; the answers are usually revealed at the top. One day last winter, the question was, ”What is greater than God? The poor have it, the rich need it and, if you eat it, you will die!” I pondered the riddle while riding to the top of the run and was perturbed that someone would think anything or anyone was greater than God, even in a silly riddle. Seeing no answer posted at the top, I skied back down to get it. When I complained that nothing had been written on the upper board, the lift op replied, “You’ve just said the answer!” Duh! I’d completely ignored the obvious response while concentrating on the second part of the riddle. By focusing on the rich, the poor and some sort of poison, I’d missed the first and obvious response. Nothing is greater than God! The poor have nothing, the rich need nothing, and if we eat nothing, we’ll die!

I made a simple riddle far more complicated than necessary, something we often do with our faith. For example, during Bible study someone asked what would happen to our dogs during the Rapture. While it made for a fascinating discussion (did you know some non-Christians offer “After the Rapture” pet care?), the various Christian views about the end times are perplexing. As for me, I’m not going to complicate my faith by worrying about pets during the Rapture. We have a loving God and I’m sure He’s got everything planned out quite thoroughly.

It’s admirable that some people want to dig deep into questions of theology, doctrine and dogma. It’s incredibly easy for us, however, to get bogged down in complex and unclear issues that make Christianity and the Bible far more difficult than they need be. Our relationship with God won’t suffer if we can’t hold forth on subjects like the Rapture and tribulation, annihilationism, predestination, Calvinism, Arminianism, and the various doctrinal differences between denominations. Trying to come to terms with the minute details can keep us from the big picture: having a relationship with God the Father, believing in his Son Jesus Christ, and feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

We don’t have to be theologians to be Christians; we just have to be followers of Christ. It’s not necessary to know Greek or Hebrew to read or understand the Bible. Attendance at seminary isn’t a prerequisite for prayer; it’s no more difficult than talking on the phone. We don’t have to take lessons in how to worship to be able to lift our hearts in praise and no evangelism seminar is required for us to share God’s message of love. Remember, we have a God who designed caterpillars that become butterflies, doesn’t repeat fingerprints, keeps our solar system functioning flawlessly, turns tiny acorns into giant oaks, gives us incredible rainbows, and made crying babies loveable. Certainly the Lord, being that powerful and resourceful, was able to create us in such a way that having faith, understanding His word, saying a prayer, offering praise and thanksgiving and sharing His message are well within our capabilities.

God made the earth by his power. He used his wisdom to build the world and his understanding to stretch out the skies. [Jeremiah 10:10 (NCV)]

I alone am the Lord. I made the light and the darkness. I bring peace, and I cause troubles. I, the Lord, do all these things. [Isaiah 45:6b-7 (NCV)]