Tweet Will this be my last post ever? It will be according to a recent prediction. It’s been the buzz all week, so perhaps you heard it. Christian radio host…
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I see a growing interest in encouragement to sacrifice everything for the sake of the Gospel. I love that kind of passion. We see so many examples of it in Scripture and many are listed in the chronicles of faith in Hebrews Chapter 11. There have been a few times in my life where I’ve sensed a specific call to do something so drastic, so seemingly bizarre, so faith-stretching, that even thinking about those decisions today seems scary.
I wonder, however, if that expectation is unrealistic when applied to all of us at all times. Is it okay, should God allow it, to live a “normal” faith at times…to not feel like everything is on the line…but rather feel like you’re in a safe place…depending on a regular paycheck, in a steady job, with a healthy church…for example? Would that be considered okay and still be considered radical in your faith?
Just asking…
Recently I was reading John 7:1,
Tweet This week I encountered several people living in the bondage of the law. They were beating themselves up for not being able to maintain every rule, many of which…
A recent college graduate from our church sent me an email recently. She’s struggled with her spiritual past. She became a believer early in life, got off track for a while, and now she’s on fire for God, Her dilemma is whether she lost her salvation during that time. She wonders what would have happened to her eternally had she died during her time of wandering. She wanted to know why I believe in eternal security.
I realize I’m stepping in dangerous territory with this discussion question. This issue divides people theologically as much as any other. Some of my closest believing friends would disagree with me here, believing that one can lose their salvation, but I believe in eternal security.
Here is my quick answer to my friend:
But even if my life is to be poured out like a drink offering to complete the sacrifice of your faithful service (that is, if I am to die for you), I will rejoice, and I want to share my joy with all of you. Philippians 2:17 NLT
Would you be willing to die for another person’s spiritual growth? I’m not sure I’m with Paul on this one yet, because as much as I like to see people growing spiritually, I don’t know if sacrificing my life for their growth is yet an option.
Paul, though, was seeing life through an eternal perspective. Remember he said earlier in the same letter, “for me to live is Christ and to die is great gain.” He recognized that the purpose of his life was to encourage others in Christ.
I’m reminded of an old song. Perhaps you’ve heard it. I don’t think it is copyrighted, but here goes:
There are some songs that stick with you forever. Music has a way of speaking to our hearts and minds in ways the purely spoken word can’t seem to penetrate. I’m so thankful God gave us the enjoyment of music.
Recently I was listening to Fernando Ortega sing “Jesus Paid it All”. Instantly, there was an equally powerful emotion. It was as if I’d never heard it before and as if I’d written the song. The truth, the comfort, the confirmation, and the joy of this song flooded my heart.
In case it’s been a while since you considered these words written by Elvina Hall (1822-1889) in 1865, spend a few minutes reading them now. Let the words sink deep into your heart and mind. It’s even okay if you sing them aloud…I don’t care.
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 2 Kings 6;16 NIV
God is bigger than any obstacle in your way today!
There, I have said my point for the this post.
Small children put great faith in their fathers (and mothers). When my youngest son was only a few years old, I remember hearing him brag to one of his friends about what I could do. I didn’t correct him, but he was far over-selling my abilities. He believed, however, that I was fully capable of handling all of his problems.(He’s since learned how limited I am!)
Jesus said we are to come to Him with the mind of a child. The good news here is that you can brag about the abilities of your Heavenly Father. He is God! What more needs to be said? He created the tallest mountain, the fluffiest cloud, the sweetest apple, the highest wave, the fastest horses…and He created you! He shaped the trunk of an elephant and painted the spots on a ladybug. He is the designer and orchestrator of everything in the Universe! He has more power in a single word, than a 10,000 armies have in all their armaments.
Let me ask you a very serious question today?
Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that His love has not been perfected in us. 1 John 4:18 NLT
Evidently, according to this verse, if we could have perfect love for God, we could get rid of all fear. The challenge comes in having perfect love.
I’m not sure I understand the concept completely, especially as it relates to a God I cannot see, but the best way I know of is to compare what I don’t understand to something I do understand.
I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? Psalm 121:1 NIV
When you are in the valley, I mean really, deep in the valley, the only place to look is up!
Life has a way of placing you in the valley for seasons. Have you ever been there before? Are you there now?
Have you ever lifted up your eyes, heavy, burdened with guilt, mourning with hurt, drooping from the strain of sorrow, to see the mountains where your heart longs to be again?
Have you ever been so low that you barely have a dream of what it is like to be on top?
All of us will one day have a heart that needs to be filled. Each of us find ourselves at times expereincing that empty painful, awful hole in our heart, the size that only God can completely fill.
In those times, it’s important, more than ever, to remember where your help come from. Your hope lies in a Savior, in a man like no other man, who came, who loved, who shared, who died, and who lives again! Your hope is in Jesus! Your help is found in Jesus! In that most desperate moment…there is no substitute!
If you are in the valley today…look to the hills….look to Jesus!
Can my readers and I pray with you about an issue? Leave a comment on this post.
This has been a wild winter…
“They” say it’s not our worst…not even close…but it certainly has seemed to be more intense than usual this year…
Every morning I look at my Google Home Page and see the current and future weather forecast. Seeing the 4 degrees this morning caused my initial reaction to be “Wow!” I was bummed. I’m ready to get outside. It could have affected my mood for the day (probably will to some extent), but then I looked a little further into the weather future forecast. Do you see that number? 54! Fifty-Four degrees! My thought was “Yippee!” If I can hang on a few days, it’s about to get wonderful outside!
I wonder how many times we do that in life. That weather picture could also serve as a picture of our life at times. Some days it’s cold and dreary…other days it’s bright and sunny. We struggle during the rough weather seasons, forgetting that this day will change. When we only look at our current situation, we can be disheartened, but a new day is coming! As believers, we have the promise of a greater future. If not today, or tomorrow, soon and very soon! I’m reminded of a couple favorite verses of truth.
However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— 1 Corinthians 2:9
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
Do you need that reminder today? Take your eyes off today and look a little further down the road. Good days are coming. If you’re in difficult days, I’m praying God brings better days soon, but He has promised that the best days are yet to come!
Let me hear from you…
Are you currently living in a 4 degree time of life…or is it 54 and sunny in your world during this season of your life?