May 12, 2012

 

 “One Way Home”

Proverbs 15:3

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. (NKJ)

There are some who believe there is a creator but after creating the universe decided to abandon the creation to evolve on its own. They believe this creator god is an impersonal being who has moved on to other things, thus, allowing the creation to function on the laws of probability and chance. Many religions in the world believe in a god or god’s who do interact with human beings but are not infinite in their nature, while other religions have a god who is so superior in his nature that it is impossible for him to react in a way that humans make a difference, or even matter to him. But Yahweh, the LORD God of the Bible, is not only an infinite God in His knowledge and power and being, but He is actively involved in His creation as well, especially in and for the lives of people. He is the Creator who provides for every living thing He creates. He is the only God who gives His people everything they need for healthy living in this life as well as the one to come (Isaiah 42:5). He is a God who protects and comforts all those who seek shelter under the shadow of His Wings (Psalm 57:1). But most importantly, He is the only living God who has the ability to save us (Psalm 80:3) from the self-destructive consequences of our sinful nature and give us a new life that never ends. The LORD our God carefully watches over His entire creation. He sees all things; nothing can hide from His Presence. The LORD hears every word spoken and every thought that formed—He knows what’s in every heart and every mind. God is both the beginning and the end of all things. We have a Holy God who has personally set a standard for us to live by and provides the Way for us to stand holy in His Presence. But unfortunately for those who refuse His way, He is also righteously just in His condemnation of all those who refuse His Way to follow the world’s ways. If by knowing these things about our Triune God makes you feel uncomfortable, they should, because believing in the Truth holds you personally accountable for all your thoughts as well as all your deeds. No one can escape the Truth. God’s eyes are always open, His ears are always listening. Will you to choose to hide from Him in the darkness of this world, hoping to escape His just punishment, or come boldly into His Light just as you are—broken and in need of His mercy and grace? There is only One choice that makes any sense at all; all other choices are foolish ones indeed. But remember this, my dear friends; that our living God is always Home, and His door is always open, for our kind and loving and merciful God is patiently waiting for all His children to follow Him Home.

A Whisper of Hope

I Am everywhere, My child…nothing is hidden—all is in the Light. My heart aches for all those who try to hide in darkness. And although it is foolish to hide, I wait patiently to lead them Home.

Isaiah 42:5

Thus says God the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breathe to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it. (NKJ)

Psalm 57:1

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by. (NKJ)

Restore us, O God.
Cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!   (Psalm 80:3)

May 5, 2012

“Truth Seeker”

Psalm 105:4

Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore. (NKJ)

Because this world is in a fallen state of sin and rebellion against the Holy God of creation, our lives are in constant conflict; not only to overcome the battles for our hearts and minds and the eternal life of our souls, but it is also an everyday struggle to physically survive as well (1 John 2:16-17). There is not a person alive that doesn’t face these very real and very difficult realities; realities that are reaching new heights with each passing day. Nothing that God has ever created was meant to survive on its own without the sovereign power of the Creator to hold it all together (Colossians 1:15, 17). Everything creation is depends upon God alone to maintain its existence. There is no One or anything else that has the power or the ability to sustain all that has been created, especially the delicate balance it takes to keep mankind alive and breathing. We are weak in our physical strength, small in our stature, and powerless against the sin that holds every soul captive and in chains—a bondage that is impossible to break by human power alone. Many persons have tried and all have failed. The power of sin is often disguised not as sin, but as human rights—to take all that the world has to offer and seek its pleasures at all cost. Many try to fulfill their worldly lusts by ignoring the Provider altogether and seek only those things that satisfy the flesh, and then live in constant fear of loosing it, or they feel duped in their failure and hate life. There are still others who, in their pride, think they have gained it all, but wake up one day to find themselves eternally separated from God and trapped in a place of utter hopelessness, pain and suffering, and darkness. The best solution to this life’s hard realities, my friends, is to seek God, and do it before it’s too late. Seek to learn who you were created to be. Seek the knowledge of who God is and why He created what He did. Seek His strength in everything you do and you will gain the peace that overcomes this sin-filled, difficult life-journey. And as you seek the only True Living God you will discover that we are all equally created to spend our life-journeys seeking God’s Face, His Heart, His Will, and praising His Holy Name. And although all the Honor & Glory belongs to God alone, He will share His Honor & Glory with everyone who faithfully becomes a loyal and trusted Truth seeker (Romans 2:10).

A Whisper of Hope

Seek what is True and Holy…dear child, and beware of the false truth that this unholy world proclaims. It only leads to false hope and ends in emptiness and regret. But when you seek Me, your Creator and God, I will open the eyes of your heart and lead you to the only Hope there is, which ends in fullness and thanksgiving. Seek My Face and the New World to come is yours.

1 John 2:16-17

For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God you will live forever. (NLT)

Colossians 1:15, 17

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation. He existed before everything else began, and He holds all creation together. (NLT)

But there will be glory and honor and peace from God
for all who do good. (Romans 2:10) 

April 28, 2012 

 

“News Worthy”

Psalm 98:1
Oh sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. (NKJ)

Before the LORD rescued me from drowning in a sea of self-loathing and pity, the only song I was able to sing was one of regret, defeat, and disdain for the Author of Life—the Living God who created me to live a miserable existence (so I thought), for I was unable to see any of the marvelous things that God had done for mankind, especially in my own life. I lived the majority of my life in doubt and depression because I believed in the lies of this fallen world that taught me to focus on myself first and then on how much I could accomplish and gain in the shortest amount of what little time I had. But as I began to act upon these falsehoods I began to question the world’s defining reasons for this cursed thing called life; reasons which seemed to be both shallow and short sighted, and quite meaningless when it was all said and done. And so my desires to excel and gain what the world classified as “the good life” slowly began to dissipate and my desire for the real truth began to fester. Although I gained a few of the goals that I had set for my life, I always had this gnawing feeling in my gut that there was so much more to life than what I had been told, for a small still voice was whispering to me that something was missing—that something was terribly wrong here. Where was the “Joy in Living” that my heart longed for? Why did I always feel either incompetent or incomplete? What was wrong with me? What was wrong with the world? What was the point in living anyways? For all the hard work and pain and suffering, where was the reward and where did it all lead to? A little contentment, a little happiness, but in the end it would all be taken away. And it seemed that no matter what I did or what I accomplished, it never felt good enough, nor did it leave me with the peace that my heart had always longed for. And then, out of the blue, the Living God whom I thought hated me reached down from Heaven and with His Mighty Right Arm saved my precious life (a life that He carefully knitted together in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13) from self-destruction. The Lord then cleansed me (1 John 1:7) and blessed me with the vision to see this fallen world as it really is, not as I saw it. He carefully explained the reason He sent His Son to the Cross and what this selfless act of love accomplished. This blessed hope that most people long for can only be found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And when you have Jesus, my friend, you have it all; unconditional love and forgiveness; peace of mind and heart in spite of all the troubles; the Way to stand blameless before God; the Truth to live righteously, and last but not least, you have the promise of Heaven on Earth where all God’s people will walk with Him in all His glory—Face to face, Hand in hand—for eternity. There is no news that is more exciting or better than this—News that is worthy of sharing (Revelation 5:12).

A Whisper of Hope

I bring you Good News…dear child, please listen. Don’t let the world’s news drown out the News that makes this difficult life worth living. The news of this world deceives. My News brings you the Truth. Worldly news brings death and destruction into your life. My Good News brings joy and life everlasting.

Psalm 139:13

For You formed my inward parts;
   You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. (ESV)

1 John 1:7

The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (NKJ)

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain 

(Revelation 5:12)