“Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit” - 1 Peter 3:18

 God is the Creator and Sustainer of everything in the universe. He is eternally powerful and infinitely wise. We were created by God and for God (Genesis 1:27). Being made in His image, we are designed to have fellowship with Him. But there is one problem – one BIG problem.

Sin restricts us from having a relationship with God, which is what we were created to do. Being sinners by nature, we all sin all the time. YOU have sinned, and so have I. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). When we die, we will reap our due reward. As a worker deserves his wages, so the sinner deserves eternal separation from God in hell. That is very bad news. Hell is real, and it is a terrible place.

God does not desire that this happen, so He became a man in Jesus Christ. In the greatest display of love in all of history, Jesus took on the punishment we were to receive by dying a painful death on the cross. “He Himself bore our sins” (1 Peter 2:24). In essence, God punished Jesus instead of punishing us. Three days after His death, He rose from the grave, proving His victory over sin and death, and securing the way of salvation.

Salvation, however, is not guaranteed to everyone. Jesus told people that they must “Repent and believe the good news” in order to be saved (Mark 1:15). You must turn from sin and run to God to receive His free gift of salvation. Then, He will grant you forgiveness and the unspeakable joy of being in a right relationship with Himself. God’s grace through Jesus Christ is not just a ticket to heaven; it is an ability to defeat the power of sin, and ultimately to be with God for all eternity. True and everlasting joy is only found in God through Jesus Christ. This is the good news.  Repent and trust Christ today!

What if Jesus were to visibly appear to me tonight and tell me, “I am sending you into the world to be a witness for me; to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world; to boldly proclaim the good news that I am the Christ; to preach the Gospel to my people and to disciple my followers; to live a life in pursuit of holiness; to find your joy in my glory.”  What if He said something like that?  That would probably inspire me to a new level of godliness and devotion.  But…

 He did say these things to me.   

 John 20:21 says, “Peace be with you!  As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  Specifically, Jesus is addressing His disciples at this point.  But generally, I am His disciple and this is a commission to every one of God’s children.  I often feel somewhat removed from the comisssions and exhortations in Scripture, but for no good reason.  Whatever God has spoken into the pages of my Bible should be received as if God had audibly spoke it into my ear.  I am not removed from the commands and decrees of Scripture, for time and original audience should make no difference (most of the time).  The Bible was written to me, and I should read it as if God had hand-written it to me.  Because in a sense, He did. 

John 18:37  You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

In this passage Christ is heading toward the cross. Pilate is trying to figure things out. Christ doesn’t deny being a king~that king that the Magi were searching for in Matthew 2:2. Christ gives His reason for leaving heaven and being born as a human. It was to testify of the truth.

Christ’s reason for being born is the same as mine. I was born to testify to the truth…the truth that will set people free (John 8:32)…the truth that will help to make anyone be a better person by making them more holy (John 17:17). I am reminded of Ephesians 2:10  that says I am God’s workmanship created to do the good works He has for me to do. One of those tasks is to spread the word about the truth. Christ came to earth to pay the price for my wrongdoings! He came to do the same for everyone on this planet! His death that paid the price allows me a life of inward peace on earth even with the turmoil around me and promises me an eternity in heaven.

The last statement of this verse hits me today. “everyone who is on the side of truth listens to me.” This is saying that some didn’t listen to Christ as he shared the truth…those not on the side of truth. I shouldn’t be discouraged if some don’t listen to me as I try to share. After all, unlike Christ, I am an imperfect person who makes mistakes and says or does things out of selfishness (I am sad to admit). Even Christ, sinless and perfect, wasn’t listened to by all.

What I need to focus on is not the results that come from what I share but the reason for why I was born and for why I share about Christ. I should be sharing through my words and my life about the inward peace I enjoy each day and the eternity in heaven that I look forward to because of Christ’s death. That is how I can testify about the truth. Christ did the same. He helped me to discover the truth through His life and words. That was His reason for being alive. That is why I have been given this day to be alive. May I remember why I was born each time I see a manger with a baby in it this season. His reason is my reason. He is MY king.

Lord, open my eyes to the ways I can testify to the truth. Open my eyes to the sin in my life that causes me to not tell or show about Jesus (the truth) and the inward peace that He gives. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me (Psalm 51:10). Thank you for being such a loving, powerful, approachable, and humble king. I want to be like you so that others can know you and be set free. Oh, the great things you pour out on those who love you! Thank you!

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:5-7

You cannot please God by attempting to accomplish godly things in ungodly ways. The way you do things is as important as which things you choose to do. No matter how politically correct or socially fashionable you wish to be by not downplaying other people’s differing religious beliefs; there is one and only ONE way to the Father, and that is through the Son, Jesus Christ. Your life as a follower of Christ is a journey on a long road, not crossing from one side of the street to the other. The Greek word for “way” used here is hodos and refers to a literal road or, metaphorically, a course of conduct… a way (i.e. manner) of thinking, feeling, or deciding.

These are a few of the things I have learned about this section of John’s Gospel over the years. Jesus explains the way we should live. Jesus demonstrated how we should go about serving God and serving others. Jesus is the very road that leads to the Father, and eternal life. We all need to walk that road the way Christ told us to, because the way we travel on that road is as important as being on the right road. Verse 15 seems to reinforce that.

Praise God for the second half of this chapter. God’s Holy Spirit has been sent to help us on the Way. Comforting us when the Way gets tough (which it will). Jesus, help us to act as your Body in this world in a way you would be proud of; guide us by your Spirit into obedience and away from sin.

Ezekiel began a his career as a priest, having been raised and trained by his father, Buzi, in a Jerusalem temple. Unfortunately his career was short lived. In 598 BC he was taken, along with his contemporary Daniel, into captivity in Babylon. Daniel was hauled off to the court of the king while Ezekiel was led with others to live by the waters of Babylon.

Unable to perform his duties of the priesthood Ezekiel sat down with the others. But as they sat down and wept, Ezekiel looked up. (Psalm 137:1-2) “By the waters of Babylon, there we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.” (Ezekiel 1:1) “While I was by the river Chebar among the exiles the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.”

In the midst of difficult situations we are usually faced with two choices - we can “sit down and weep” or we can look up and see God. There certainly is a time and place for weeping. (Ecclesiastes 3:4) But the Israelites hung their harps in the trees (Psalms 137:2) and fell into despair. Solomon said in Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

As believers our “vision” is often a spiritual understanding of what God would have us to do according to His Word in the midst of our situation. Without His wisdom we despair.

God gave Ezekiel a new mission. He was no longer priest, but prophet. (Ezekiel 2:3-5) “I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have rebelled against me….As for them, whether they listen or not…they will know that a prophet has been among them…”

I am encouraged and comforted that my God will answer when I call, that I will be found by Him when I seek Him. I just want to remember to look up, to be a visionary, to trust Him and be full of hope. I want to see and reflect His glory even in the toughest of times.

Lord, help us all to keep looking up.

My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.  Bind them on your fingers: write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister, ” and call understanding your kinsman…  Proverbs 7:1-5

First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”(although the law required them to be made).  Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second.  And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  Hebrews 10: 8-10

The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this.  First he says: This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord.  I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”  Then he adds:  “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”  And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.  Hebrews 10:15-18

For my birthday this month, my husband asked me what I wanted…I want wisdom, I thought…how does someone else wrap that up for you!? On my way to the Starbucks journaling group I heard on the radio some words about wisdom. It was a reminder that pain can create beauty in our lives. That got my attention! The oyster takes it’s little irritations and wraps them up over and over in a sticky substance, that eventually forms a thing of beauty…a pearl. Hhmmmmm…a pearl of wisdom. Then the pastor continued to say that we can have all of the knowledge that we want to spend time gathering…and it will not be wisdom until we apply it…to our little irritations in life!!

I decided that I wanted a pearl ring…A constant reminder, bound on my finger. I have the connection to the covering. My life is covered by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. He has taken my filthy rags (covering) and given me his covering of righteousness. I can “apply” that to my irritants!!! The knowledge of this is imparted to me as I seek it through the word… that is alive. It is written on the tablet of my heart! Oh that wisdom would come from my mouth!!!!

I need to keep my life under the blood. I am the pearl of great price to Jesus. Matt 13:46 Who am I to not apply that to my life and my circumstances. My life can become a thing of beauty when it is covered by Him.

Lord please help me to remember that you have already provided the way for my life to be a thing of beauty…to glorify You. Thank You for Your word, and thank you for the simple illustration of a pearl. I long to be a woman of wisdom. Thank you for the shedding of your precious blood. Just as Abraham was obedient to Your call in Genesis, I pray that I will answer you quickly when You call on me. Lord, here I am.

With all of the complications that our life and upbringing and society and culture and sin bring to the table as we prepare to study God’s Word… there is at least one plain truth that I feel confident needs little translation. 

Jeremiah 3:22    “Come back, wandering children! I can heal your wanderlust!” -the message 

“Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.” -NIV
“Return, O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness.” -NASB 

God is able and willing to heal.  To restore.  To make whole what we have willingly and sometimes enthusiastically broken.  God reconciles us to Himself through Jesus Christ.  The Psalm reading for today mentions some of the amazing things The One True God does on a regular basis: He is the Maker of heaven and earth, He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, gives sight to the blind, lifts up those who have fallen, loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the foreigner and takes the side of orphans and widows.                   The LORD reigns forever. 

We really messed ourselves and our world up with the fall in the Garden of Eden.  We continue to mess things up… regularly.  Fortunately the reading from Titus tells a little bit more of the plain truth I mentioned above:  But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

The plain truth of it is simple.  The kids in the children’s program can tell you…  Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.  The song simplifies, but does not water down what we will spend an entire lifetime learning, relearning, wrestling with, and deepening in understanding: Because of who The Lord is, I am loved by Him and He pursues me with reckless grace.  Thank you God, may we all remember this and never feel as though the Good News is somehow “simple” and “old news.”  Amen.

I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land….Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.  Psalm 143:6,8

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction….For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Tim 4:2,6,7

Interesting scriptures that stand out to me this morning. I just finished the Portland Marathon on my 50th birthday…last Sunday. This was not a race for me It was a way for me to get myself out the door and to exercise…be a good steward of my body, and have fellowship along the way…Drinking water during the marathon was important…they say that by the time you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated.

In my life,work,play,service, I desire to quench the thirst of my soul before I am all dried up. I am so encouraged by the passage today that the Lord will meet me in the water of His word to refresh my soul. It is my responsibility to take myself to the fountain to dip my heart in the stream of life.

That was evident to me yesterday…All day, the idea to have a tea party at Wednesday night bible study kept coming to mind…I did not have the time to pack a tea party up when I started out the door. As the day progressed, the time opened up, and I stepped out in faith…We were studying Genesis chapters 17,18. When we arrived at the table set before us, there was a sweet fellowship…a pouring out of tea, and an overflow from our hearts. I realized that I need to be in the word to have a pouring out of my heart. Those women all brought to the table, the Master’s table, the wisdom and fruit from their hydrated hearts.

I am in this marathon of life…much longer than 26 miles…and may it not be in the desert of a parched soul. I want to be a woman that finishes the race, keeping the faith. I am grateful for the glimpses of faith from others along the way…The water of the word.

Lord, I want to be a strong finisher. I do care how I finish this race. I want to come to you long before my soul is parched, to be refreshed in you word. Lord please use my life to pour out to others. I do not want anyone to miss out on You. You are the oasis in a dry land, and thank You for your provision and strength.

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Isaiah 50:4 “The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.”

The Lord has given us an amazing gift of His Word in our language, easy to access, and with lots of good Bible teachers to help us understand. And yet, how often do I try to start my day without learning something new from it? He awakens me each morning with the option, out of my free will, to open His Word & learn or to just rush headlong into a busy day without His wisdom. When I take the time to read & listen to Him I am always blessed. Often I am able to encourage a weary person along the way with some treasure I read in the morning. When I miss this time I miss having an instructed tongue, I miss the chance to encourage with His wisdom, which is the only wisdom that works.

Lord, please help me stay in Your Word daily. Thank you for the many blessings I have received, and for the many times I have been blessed by sharing Your truth with others. Help me to only share Your truth.

But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love….Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.  For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.  How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 1 Thessalonians 3:6a-9

I just read my last blog entry. It was right before the Lord took my mom home to be with Him. I caught a vision of my own faith. I know that God provides that faith for us when we need it…manna for that time. We were talking about that last night at our first discussion in the Beth Moore Patriarchs bible study. We were reading about Abram’s faith in God… to leave his country based on the promises given to him by God.

Our time on earth causes us to leave alot of “familiar countries”. My mom was a “familiar country”. How in the world do folks get through the loss of a loved one without the rock solid knowledge of eternity, and the one, true living God? My mother is tucked in heaven with Jesus. The aftermath of someone’s death continues with people wondering how you are after the loss…I can comfort them by letting them know that she is no longer suffering When I blogged about God’s provision in July, before moms passing, I was experiencing faith, hope and love in a new way…Now I can reflect that in a different way because I know, I supernaturally know that I will see my mother again

What a gift, a growth, to see God’s glory revealed…to encourage and strengthen others along the path of such a gut wrenching time. The gut wrench (distress) of such a time can be used to build our faith, and to build it in others at the same time. What a blessing you all are when you are seeking the Lord, and depending on him for peace, faith, hope, love, compassion…I learn from you. I can see how to finish the race. Thank you for seeking His faith. You have shown me the way, and I did not know at the time…but I was giving you a glimpse of heaven because my dear mother was on her way there.

It gets better I am overwhelmed by all of the little details, signs, that God is in control, and that he has a plan…In the last few days I was not facing mom in her room, I was sometimes laying beside her, looking out the window of the nursing facility. The perspective out the window that she stared out for those months in bed. There was a sweet little church…I saw it each time outside… but it was right in front of her view out the window (while in bed). The name of the church was not on it…In big letters it said FAITH HOPE LOVE CELEBRATE THE SAVIOR! That was her pre-heaven view while still on this earth….wow

Hey, while we are here…we might as well look to the Lord to provide, stay on the path with each other to eternity. We can be such a blessing to others, and you have been. We need to see the truth of the bible walked out and lived out on the face of this earth…as long as we are here…This passage made me realize how blessed we are in the trial, and watching the trial…glimpses of the Lord at work right before our eyes.

Lord thank you so much for faith. I know that you want me to have it so that I can be close to You. Please help me to be a clean willing vessel to reveal your glory to other believers. Thank you so much for caring about all of the details, and help me to have eyes for the eternal. I pray that the time that I have on this earth can be used to further others in their walk with you, their faith, hope and love. I need you Lord Jesus. AMEN

Today I want to stay under the spout where the blessings pour out. Remember, there is a desert out there!