Category: Belief

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A Loving Savior

Awaken by the Holy Spirit to share these meditations by C. H. Spurgeon with you.  I am on a course to move forward with more decisiveness and purpose when compelled by His Spirit. I am honored to be a very, very humble servant.  So in recognition of my position as a child of God, and understanding the need to be responsive and obedient I present their beautiful message (written in Old English).  I suspect someone, within this small circle of faith needs them as much as I did.  As you read them, and may His loving Spirit guide you today in all truth, justice, power and love.  Blessings.

He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.”—Isaiah 40:11.

HO is He of whom such gracious words are spoken? He is THE GOOD SHEPHERD. Why doth He carry the lambs in His bosom? Because He hath a tender heart, and any weakness at once melts His heart. The sighs, the ignorance, the feebleness of the little ones of His flock draw forth His compassion. It is His office, as a faithful High Priest, to consider the weak. Besides, He purchased them with blood, they are His property: He must and will care for that which cost Him so dear. Then He is responsible for each lamb, bound by covenant engagements not to lose one. Moreover, they are all a part of His glory and reward.
But how may we understand the expression, “He will carry them”? Sometimes He carries them by not permitting them to endure much trial. Providence deals tenderly with them. Often they are “carried” by being filled with an unusual degree of love, so that they bear up and stand fast. Though their knowledge may not be deep, they have great sweetness in what they do know. Frequently He “carries” them by giving them a very simple faith, which takes the promise just as it stands, and believingly runs with every trouble straight to Jesus. The simplicity of their faith gives them an unusual degree of confidence, which carries them above the world.
“He carries the lambs in His bosom.” Here is boundless affection. Would He put them in His bosom if He did not love them much? Here is tender nearness: so near are they, that they could not possibly be nearer. Here is hallowed familiarity: there are precious love-passages between Christ and His weak ones. Here is perfect safety: in His bosom who can hurt them? They must hurt the Shepherd first. Here is perfect rest and sweetest comfort. Surely we are not sufficiently sensible of the infinite tenderness of Jesus!

“Joint heirs with Christ.”—Romans 8:17.

HE boundless realms of His Father’s universe are Christ’s by prescriptive right. As “heir of all things,” He is the sole proprietor of the vast creation of God, and He has admitted us to claim the whole as ours, by virtue of that deed of joint-heir-ship which the Lord hath ratified with His chosen people. The golden streets of paradise, the pearly gates, the river of life, the transcendent bliss, and the unutterable glory, are, by our blessed Lord, made over to us for our everlasting possession. All that He has He shares with His people. The crown royal He has placed upon the head of His Church, appointing her a kingdom, and calling her sons a royal priesthood, a generation of priests and kings. He uncrowned Himself that we might have a coronation of glory; He would not sit upon His own throne until He had procured a place upon it for all who overcome by His blood. Crown the head and the whole body shares the honour. Behold here the reward of every Christian conqueror! Christ’s throne, crown, sceptre, palace, treasure, robes, heritage, are yours. Far superior to the jealousy, selfishness, and greed, which admit of no participation of their advantages, Christ deems His happiness completed by His people sharing it. “The glory which thou gavest me have I given them.” “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” The smiles of His Father are all the sweeter to Him, because His people share them. The honours of His kingdom are more pleasing, because His people appear with Him in glory. More valuable to Him are His conquests, since they have taught His people to overcome. He delights in His throne, because on it there is a place for them. He rejoices in His royal robes, since over them His skirts are spread. He delights the more in His joy, because He calls them to enter into it.

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Trust God in the Dark

“And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul.”—1 Samuel 27:1.

HE thought of David’s heart at this time was a false thought, because he certainly had no ground for thinking that God’s anointing him by Samuel was intended to be left as an empty unmeaning act. On no one occasion had the Lord deserted His servant; he had been placed in perilous positions very often, but not one instance had occurred in which divine interposition had not delivered him.

The trials to which he had been exposed had been varied; they had not assumed one form only, but many—yet in every case He who sent the trial had also graciously ordained a way of escape. David could not put his finger upon any entry in his diary, and say of it, “Here is evidence that the Lord will forsake me,” for the entire tenor of his past life proved the very reverse. He should have argued from what God had done for him, that God would be his defender still. But is it not just in the same way that we doubt God’s help? Is it not mistrust without a cause? Have we ever had the shadow of a reason to doubt our Father’s goodness? Have not His lovingkindnesses been marvellous? Has He once failed to justify our trust?

Ah, no! our God has not left us at any time. We have had dark nights, but the star of love has shone forth amid the blackness; we have been in stern conflicts, but over our head He has held aloft the shield of our defence. We have gone through many trials, but never to our detriment, always to our advantage; and the conclusion from our past experience is, that He who has been with us in six troubles, will not forsake us in the seventh. What we have known of our faithful God, proves that He will keep us to the end.

Let us not, then, reason contrary to evidence. How can we ever be so ungenerous as to doubt our God? Lord, throw down the Jezebel of our unbelief, and let the dogs devour it.  C. H. Spurgeon

Our mighty God will never leave us nor forsake us.  Our God is able.  Remember and rejoice in His power and unfailing love.  Love never fails.

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The answer is

God's Power

“This I declare about the Lord; He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him”. (Psalm 91:2 NLT). 

Psalm 91 was one of my grandfather’s favorite scriptures.   I recalled my grandfather would sit in his favorite chair reading the Bible.  There was always a calming presence about him during these special times.  When faced with a challenge, his reply was simple, seek the Lord.  It reflected his complete faith in God.  As the song writer once said, “A Mighty Fortress is our God”. He alone is our refuge and strong tower.

No matter the circumstance God is the answer.   No matter how many disasters God is the answer.  No matter the trial or tribulation God is still the answer.    The only answer to the problems in the world, in our lives, and in our homes is God.

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2014

2014 has arrived with all the usual fanfare, a party in New York Times Square, fireworks, parties, parades, and of course football games.  These elaborate demonstrations are over.  Here is the question of the day.  Have you already broken a new year resolution?  Researchers report the first Monday after new year’s is the most depressing day of the year. People are back to work and depressed they had to go back to the job.  Many have already given up on keeping the new year’s resolution to stay fit.  Others are despondent because they didn’t get what they wanted for Christmas, or are sad due to the lost of a loved one.  Whatever the reason the party is over, and now things back to “normal.”    For many normal is not good.

However, we are called to shine a bright light for those who are experiencing dark days and moments.  God sent a million, million lights of love in the world – that would be us.  “God doesn’t call the qualified He qualifies the called.”  We are “the called.”  Share your bright light and the love of God today.  Someone out there needs it.

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Mountaintop

Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top.

Exodus 4 records a discussion between Moses and God, as Moses was receiving his commission to return to Egypt and freed the Israelites.  Moses voiced several concerns during this exchange.  1) What if they don’t believe me? 2) Who should I say sent me? 3) I don’t speak well. 4) Finally, I can’t be the one, send someone else.

Disbelief, confusion, lack of qualifications and just plain fear sums up Moses’ objections to God when confronted with his commission.  He questioned and challenged God’s decision.  He couldn’t possibly be the one.  All the evidence pointed to the contrary.  The mountain was huge. Didn’t he realized that  Pharaoh had sought to kill him when he ran away after committing murder.  Moses had found sanctuary, started a new life and thought he had it made, until he turned towards the burning bush.  Didn’t God realized it?  Maybe he needed to remind God of his limitations, and the size of the mountain.  So Moses began explaining to God that mountain was too big.  How could he possibly reach the top?

Think of it!  Being told by God you must go back, and face trouble with a capital T; face uncertainty, ridicule, and possible death.   The mountain was enormous.  However, God never tells us to look at the mountaintop.  Instead He tells us to look at HIM and peer into the power and majesty of who He is.  This is what God told Moses to tell the Israelites if they questioned him.  Tell them I AM sent you.   The great I AM who surpasses all mountains has sent you to free my people.

Our mountains are covered with all the same emotions Moses experienced; guilt, shame, doubt, fear and sin.  But those same mountains, while covered with the stains of Adam’s sin can never reach beyond our God.  As you go to the mountain, you will find the cross of Christ shining brightly, solidly anchored above the guilt, shame, doubt, fear and sin.   Take the word of this phrase “Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top” to heart.  As Moses looked past the mountain into the face of God, he was able to begin his commission of serving as God’s liberator for his people.

Don’t measure the mountaintops with its challenges, obstacles, pitfalls, roadblocks, missteps just begin climbing.  Our God has already scale the highest mountain, so you can reach the top.  Amen!

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Confession of Hope

Hebrews 10: 23-24 (NKJV)
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”

My husband and I just finished a whirlwind trip through two states seeing family and friends. At every encounter, I was reminded of God’s faithfulness, and provision, particularly during some of the most difficult periods in our lives. His grace markers were evident as I held hands with our first grandson, looked into the faces of family and friends, and saw the delight in their eyes. God has so blessed us. He has been faithful through all the trials and tribulations, and all the wrong decisions made. Through the Prophet Isaiah God said, “…Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me, Hear and your soul shall live;…(Isaiah 55:2b-3a). God promised his plans for us would give us a future and a hope. God promised to never leave us nor forsake us. God promised us to give us the desires of our hearts. These promises and more are a testament to the faithfulness of our Lord. His promises are true; because God does not lie. His grace is sufficient. Hold fast to your hope for our God is faithful. Listen carefully to Him.  Incline yourself to His word. Trust Him. Pursue Him with your whole heart, and encourage others to taste and see that the Lord is good.  For we have a hope, a magnificent hope.

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Trust in God’s Faithfulness

We’ve been studying Genesis for the past several weeks.  Each time I read the accounts of Adam and Eve, Noah and Abraham I see God’s hand miraculously working.  I see the promises, the covenants, and the fulfillment of those promises, and it gives me hope, even when I’m feeling hopeless.   So, despite a world fraught with tragedy, natural disasters, economic upheavals, constant concerns, you and I can exercise faith in God when all seems to be against us. The Bible constantly reminds us that God uses difficult circumstances to show Himself faithful.  Abraham and Sarah are listed in Hebrews Chapter 11 as members of the elite group of faith believers who trusted in the word of the Lord.  Theirs is one of the “trust standards” for us to learn from and to follow.  Just as He promised Abraham and Sarah that they would conceived the “child of promise” in their old age, God is able to do all things according to His divine plan.  He knows the thoughts He has towards us, thoughts of good and not evil, to bring us to an expected end. (Jeremiah 29-11-13 paraphrased).    He promised Noah he would never again destroy the earth with a flood.  He promised Abraham land, nations, a promised child, and blessings.   He promised us a Savior.  Although, today you and I might be struggling with the cares of this world, God is not.  He knows us, and the plans He has for us.  He is the Lord our shepherd, and He makes us to lie down in green pastures; besides the still waters, and He will restore our souls.   Is there anything too hard for God? God asked Sarah this question when she laughed at the thought of her situation.  Has your situation blinded you to the omnipotent, omnipresence, omniscience of God?

Don’t despair.  Don’t doubt even for a moment.  There is nothing in heaven or on this earth that is too hard for our God.  Today, my brothers and sisters trust in the faithfulness of God.

Psalm 19:14

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

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Morning Meditation

1 John 4: 7-21 NIV

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

 

May your life this day represent the most powerful thing in the universe-love.

Blessings.

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Seed

I love old science fiction movies, and television shows.  The idea of creating something new, and exploring the unknown, and other worlds has always fascinated me.  Recently, I came across on Netflix an old series, The 4400, which is a story about a group of individuals returned to Earth after vanishing for years.  As the story progressed, it was discovered these individuals came back with specific gifts designed to help Earth’s future.  They were “seeded” or re-planted to correct present day anomalies.

When you go back and re-watch old movies and shows, you see or hear things that might have escaped you the first time.    What caught my attention this time was the term “seeded”  which has several meanings, including to plant seeds for growth.  However, in meteorology concepts, it also means to sprinkle with particles in order to disperse it, or to produce precipitation.  In sports, the term is used to describe the process of arranging positions, so that more skilled contestants meets in the later rounds.  Seeds brings up images of multiplication, growth, development or advancement.  Plants flourishing under the right conditions.  The more and more I thought about “seed, seeding or seeded“,  the more I began to draw an analogy to the church, and us.  In the Gospel of John, chapter 15, Jesus identified himself as the “true vine” and you and I as the branches of that vine.  We, the branches spring up from the “righteous seed” of Christ with a divine commission to first remain connected to the vine, and then to bear MUCH FRUIT.   As in the tale of the 4400, we are called to use our unique gifts and talents (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 27-31) to facilitate the building of His Kingdom on Earth, and share the gospel message. We were called to sprinkle or “seed” the Word of Life and Truth across the entire planet.  We were called to plant or “seed” ministries, churches, missions, schools, businesses all for the glory of God.  We were called to  “seed” or arrange ourselves and others to successfully meet the challenge of evil in these latter days, and show the world an even better way.  We were called to be “seed“; growing together in the love and admonition of the Lord, and staying knitted together in Christ.  By faith in Christ, we are the “seed” for the building of the Kingdom.   Isn’t it interesting how in the Great Commission, Jesus told his disciples to spread the gospel to the uttermost parts of the planet; to sprinkle the particles [the whole] of truth in order to disperse it, and to produce the divine precipitation upon the dry, desert of lost souls, so they too, can experience the life giving seeds of God’s amazing love.

This is not science fiction but a divine truth which can’t be ignored by us.  You and I were ordained before the beginning of the world to be “seeds” for the Master’s work.  If you don’t feel like you are a “seed”, read St. John Chapter 15, and 1 Corinthians 12, and let the Holy Spirit re-seed you today.  Amen.

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Freedom

“The liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.” Galatians 5:1

A morning devotional by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

This “liberty” makes us free to heaven’s charter-the Bible.  Here is a choice passage, believer, “When thou passest through the rivers, I will be with thee.” You are free to that. Here is another: “The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee;” you are free to that. You are a welcome guest at the table of promises. Scripture is a never-failing treasury filled with boundless stores of grace. It is the bank of heaven; you may draw from it as much as you please, without let [delay] or hindrance. Come in faith and you are welcome to all covenant blessings. There is not a promise in the Word which shall be withheld. In the depths of tribulations, let this freedom comfort you; amidst waves of distress, let it cheer you; when sorrows surround thee, let it be thy solace. This is thy Father’s love-token; thou are free to it at all times. Thou art also free to the throne of grace. It is the believer’s privilege to have access at all times to his heavenly Father. Whatever our desires, our difficulties, our wants, we are at liberty to spread all before him. It matters not how much we may have sinned, we may ask and expect pardon. It signifies nothing how poor we are, we may plead his promise that he will provide all things needful.  We have permission to approach his throne at all times – in midnight’s darkest hour, or in noontide’s most burning heat.  Exercise thy right, O believer, and live up to thy privilege. Thou art free to all that is treasured up in Christ-wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It matters not what thy need is, for there is fulness of supply in Christ, and it is there for thee. O what a “freedom” is thine! freedom from condemnation, freedom to the promises, freedom to the throne of grace, and at last freedom to enter heaven!

Amen.

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