Jesus Makes All the Difference!

"So now we have a high priest who perfectly fits our needs: completely holy, uncompromised by sin, with authority extending as high as God's presence in heaven itself.  Unlike the other priests, he doesn't have to offer sacrifices for his own sins every day before he can get around to us and our sins.  He's done it, once and for all: offered up himself as a sacrifice." Hebrews 7:26-27 (Message)

I love the end of that verse that says, "once and for all..."  Jesus became the final sacrifice for our sins.  There is nothing you or I can do to secure our salvation other than accept the final sacrifice.  Jesus makes all the difference.  If it were not for Him, we would still have to bring a sacrifice daily to cover our sins, but when we come to Jesus and accept Him as our Lord, He forgives us our sins, past, present and future. 

No wonder Jesus' last words on the cross were, "It is finished!"

He Is Risen!

Easter always rises within me feelings of extreme gratitude.  When I think of all the Savior gave up to bring a lost sinner like me home, I cannot help but be overwhelmed.  Who was I or who were you that He would go to such lengths to reclaim us.  When we look at our lives, there is nothing that we have ever done or will ever do that should merit such love, but as the scripture says, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

I just want to thank Jesus for giving me the chance to serve Him.  Being redeemed is the greatest privilege anyone could ask for.

Have a Blessed Easter.

For What Am I Recognized?

"I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Master Jesus, which brims over to other believers.  And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it."  Philemon 1:5-6

What do people keep hearing about us?  If our name comes up in a conversation, what is the tone in which it was spoken?  Do people recognize that we are true servants of Jesus?  What actions or deeds can we do this week that will have people recognize Jesus in us? 

Paul, even though he was locked away in prison, still heard great things about Philemon.  The testimony of his good deeds had reached his ears.  May our life be a reflection of those words of Paul: "And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it."

God Is Able

"God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 
2 Corinthians 9:8

Let's face it!  The world has come upon hard times and everything you read and hear in the news speaks of ever increasing disaster.  If we are not careful, we can take all of these things into our heart and become discouraged, dispondent, and disheartened.  Over time we can become lithargic and lose our dreams and focus for what God wants us to accomplish in us and through us.

But, let's change our focus.  These times are the greatest times in history for more people are open to the gospel of Jesus Christ than ever before.  And, our God, still "owns the cattle on a thousand hills" and is "able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 

God is not taken back by the calamities of the world.  He has not been thrown a curveball or been sidetracked, His plans are right on target and you and I have been strategically placed at this point in history to be used by Him in an unprecendented way!

Don't lose heart!  God's grace will abound in you.  He will give us all we need to accomplish His will.  I promise...better yet, He promises.

You Are In For a Lot of Trouble!

"Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there's no getting around it." 2 Timothy 3:12 Msg.

Anyone who has served Christ for any length of time will say "Amen" to that scripture.  And, anyone who tells you that serving Christ is easy is either a new believer or needs a "straight jacket."  Why?  Because serving Christ is not easy and fighting against our flesh and the workings of the enemy (Satan) is an everyday affair. 

I love how Paul, in Chapter Four, verse 4, of the same book urges Timothy to "keep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant."  If he were talking in our modern language he would say..."Just hang in there!"  "Keep on keepin on."  Those are words I need to remind myself of often.  Because times do get hard and we do loose our focus on the most important tasks.

Be encouraged today, Paul also said in this book, chapter 4, verse 1..."God is looking over your shoulder..."

My Rock!

^{Psalm 61:
1} Hear my cry, O God;
   listen to my prayer.
 ² From the ends of the earth I call to you,
   I call as my heart grows faint;
   lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
³ For you have been my refuge,
   a strong tower against the foe.

There are times in life when our feet feel like they are on sinking sand.  It becomes increasingly difficult to find solid footing and we feel like we are expending a lot of energy trying to move forward, but getting no where.  If you have ever been to the sand dunes at Pismo Beach in California or the White Sands in New Mexico you know what I am talking about.

But our scripture this morning makes it clear that Christ is our solid rock. Let's get our feet firmly planted in Him.  The Psalmist tells us that "He orders our steps."  So rather than trying to walk quickly through the sand and get no where, why don't we just sit for awhile, wiggle our toes in the sand, and enjoy the view.  It could be the sand is right where we need to be for the moment.  In the sand we can find that he is our high tower and our strong refuge.