Thursday, March 31, 2016

                                  “Right Living”

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does
the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love
kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?  (NASB)

     What we have in our Creator is a holy and righteous God—a living God who requires people to be holy as He is holy—to be other than that of the world.  He calls us to live righteous lives that are gracious and just and motivated by love.   But because of our fallen nature it is difficult for us to act justly and to always show kindness to others.  We are a selfish, self-centered, and pride filled people who find it hard to humbly believe that we are not in control and are subjected to a higher being, who is the living God who calls us to obedience—to either live His Way and follow His rules, or suffer the consequences.  And until you believe and understand who God is and who you are not, you will live in utter darkness until you wake up in the pits of Hell.  
     It doesn't take a superior mind of great intellect to comprehend the simple Truth of God, it simply takes a humble and contrite heart.  Unfortunately, people who have never accepted the Bible as the  inherent Word of God that is absolute in its Truth, believe they are the captains of their souls and in charge of their destiny, and it's the ways of the world that they must submit to.  For those who deny the existence of God, it's survival of the fittest that fuels their motivation and unbeknownst to them, the Devil is their god.  Satan is the God of this world and his ways are pure evil and wickedness.  He is the most powerful enemy of God, and he is directing most of the people in this sinful world away from God.  Humanism stands against the very fiber of God’s holiness, but when the Holy Spirit of God fills the hearts and souls of human beings, their hardened hearts will soften, and living justly and loving others will be their new way of living—walking humbly with our God and living to please Him.  

                                             A Whisper of Hope
Listen closely, dear child...and I will teach you a new Way to live.  For the ways of this fallen world are deceiving in their nature and will rob from you the joy of living.  Don’t believe the lies of the Enemy and his wicked followers, because their lies may sound good in the moment, but they are poison to the mind and deadly to the soul.

2 Chronicles 30:9
“For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful,
and will not turn His face from you, if you return to Him.”  (NKJ)


                The LORD is righteous in all His ways 
                        and kind in all His works.
                                        (Psalm 145:17)


Wednesday, March 30, 2016

                           “Unending Grace”

Joel 2:21, 23
Don’t be afraid, my people!  Be glad now and rejoice, because
the LORD has done great things.  Rejoice in the LORD your God! 
For the rains He sends are an expression of His grace.  (NLT)

     The vast majority of people living on this earth find themselves not only struggling to survive, but a good many of them are allowing their dire circumstances get the best of them.  Christians are certainly not immune to the hardships that that come with living in this fallen world, but the difference between Christians and all others, is that God's children know, without a doubt, that the Lord is in control and they also know what the future holds.  A Christian knows that no matter what this fallen world does, they are never left alone to fight the battle, because they have the Word of God and His promise of salvation.   Our Almighty God and Savior gives us His Word that He will make all things new and perfect forever for those who are called by His Name.  For those who belong to the world, all they know for sure is that their death is immanent and they can only guess at what lies beyond the grave.  
     The world, in its current state of decay, chews its people up and spits them out dazed and confused, but for the chewed up Christian there is always the hope for a much better tomorrow.  This is but one of the reasons that most Christians can rejoice and be glad in their troubles.  As new Christians begin to understand their undeserved gift of salvation and eternal life, they begin to focus on the hope they have in the Lord, Christ Jesus, rather than focusing on themselves and what this dying world can give them.  We live in a dangerous world that threaten us every day, but with Jesus living in your heart, your troubles will not keep you discouraged or fearful for very long, because just as the rain God sends to sustains us, so too, do the everyday miracles of the Lord's gracious favor.

                                      A Whisper of Hope
Walk boldly with Me, dear child...for I have overcome this fallen world.  Do not be afraid or worried, because the world cannot take away your joy in living, and the eternal joy to come.   Oh, the plans I have for you, plans that you cannot imagine—plans that have no end!

Romans 8:38
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. 
Death can’t, and life can’t.  The angels can’t, and the demons can’t.
Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers 
of hell can’t keep God’s love away.  (NLT)


                         My grace is sufficient for you,
            for My strength is made perfect in weakness.
                                (2 Corinthians 12:9)


Tuesday, March 29, 2016

                                    “Light Rescue”

Psalm 56:13
For You have rescued me from death, you have
kept my feet from slipping.  So now I can walk in
Your Presence, O God, in Your life-giving Light.  (NLT)

     What a profound, life-changing revelation this is, especially for those of us who have journeyed down the dark paths of destruction; those lost and desperate souls searching for something that would relieve the pain and shame.  Many of us have found ourselves trapped in a world of deception, selling our souls and walking hand in hand with the Devil—the Destroyer of lives and the killer of souls.  This world is manipulated by the  lies of Satan, which he uses to draw us into his web of sin and self-destruction.  Satan has used his power to convince the world that God is either dead or He doesn't care—that this life is all there is, so we must get what we can while the gettin' is good.  But this is not the truth, my friends, for we have a loving and merciful God who knows the mess that sin has created for our world.
     Our Lord God and Savior so loved the world that He left the glory of Heaven to save us from the darkness and give us the hope for a bright and glorious future that has no end.  He suffered at the hands of mortal evil men and died hanging naked on a tree for the sins of the world.  Christ Jesus paid the full price for our salvation.  Our Mighty God defeated sin and death so we could escape sins deadly sting.  Lord Jesus is the only life-saving Light that rescues us from the eternal grave of darkness that embracing this fallen world brings.  By simply knowing and embracing this Truth, my friend, will brighten the path of your life-journey so you can find your way Home.
                                                               
                                                  A Whisper of Hope 
I AM, the Light of the World…the only Light that brings you life.  When you walk in the Light, dear child, there is no reason to fear the wrath that awaits those who live and thrive in the darkness of this sinful world.  The Light from Heaven will keep you safe.  My Light is your only Hope!

Ephesians 5:8
For though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full
of the Light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it.  For this
Light within you produces only what is good and right and true.  (NLT)

                                           
                             “I am the Light of the world.
                                    If you follow Me… 
              you will have the Light that leads to life.”
                                                    (John 8:12)


Monday, March 28, 2016

                                  “Victory King”
 Psalm 44:4, 7
You are my King and my God. You are the One
who gives us victory over our enemies.  (NLT)

     Jesus Christ is the King of the universe and Lord of creation.  And it is our victorious King who gives us our victory over sin and death—the two deadliest enemies we have because they take our lives and kill our souls.  When we humbly submit our lives to the care and control of our eternal King, He becomes the Lord of our lives and He not only helps us overcome the attacks of the Devil and his evil forces, but Lord Jesus also helps us keep them at bay.  It is through God’s Word that He opens our eyes to the truth about the deadliest of all wars—the unseen, spiritual war against the Lord God and His Church—evil against godliness, sin against holiness. 
     When you combine the infinite Wisdom of God with His Omnipotent Power, Satan and his evil cronies will crumble at the mention of His Name.  But in order to fight the good fight, my friend, and stay on top of God’s Victory Plan, you must join the King's army and draw from His wisdom and strength, rather than fighting bravely on your own.  For when you are one with the King, you will taste victory, for the key to defeating sin and death can only be found in the blood of the Lamb.  But until the King returns to put an end to this war forever, the everyday battles will continue to rage on; battles that must be fought one day at a time with the King of Victory covering your back side.

                                        A Whisper of Hope
Victory is yours, My child…when you put your life in My hands.  There is no other way to win the battles for your heart and soul but with My help.  There is no One greater than I, for I defeated sin and death once and for all.   When you follow the victory plan I have for you, you will be victorious.

1 John 5:4-5
For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ
to give the victory. And the ones who win this battle against the
world are the ones who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.  (NLT)
                   
                         How we thank God 
          who gives us victory over sin and death.
                                    (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Sunday, March 27, 2016

                   “Truth Be Known” 
 Isaiah 55:6
Seek the LORD while He may be found, 
Call upon Him while He is near.  (NKJ)

     Although we face many unknowns as we move through this short life, there is One Known that is perfect and true.  This Truth never changes, nor does it ever deceive us.  This Truth lights our way through the darkness of this wicked world and protects us from our enemies.  It is the only Truth that saves innocent lives from the hungry jaws of Satan.  Our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ is that Truth and it is through our redemption in Christ Jesus that we discover the truth about what is known and what is not; about life and death.  It is through God's Word that we learn we only have this present life to decide where we want to spend eternity, because the moment we die, we will either be trapped in the dark pits of Hell or in the Presence of our glorious God.   The false truths of Satan have had thousands of years to twist and manipulate God's Truth to the point that most people are so uncertain they don't know what to believe.  The devil has cleverly disguised the truth to fit neatly into all lifestyles and all world views, including the Christian world view.  
      As a Christian we must always remain alert and ready for anything that the world and Satan throws our way.  We must put on the armor of God every day for protection.  We must feed on every word of God to give us the strength and courage to fight the battles for our heart and minds.  The Lord wants no one to perish into Hell because of our rebellious nature to sin—that is why He came and died to save us.  Our gracious God is giving us time to choose; Him or Satan; life or death; Heaven or Hell, but the time, dear friend, will soon run out and so will the opportunity of an eternal lifetime.  Don’t refuse God’s gift of salvation, for if you do, you will forever regret it!

                                                   A Whisper of Hope
Believe Me, dear child...for My Word speaks nothing but the Truth.  It is only through Me that you find life and the way Home.  Discover the Truth and you will shine with the goodness of God that points the Way for all to see.   Traveling the rough roads of this life-journey in the Truth is never easy, but the final destination is indeed, Heavenly!

Psalm 33:4-5
For the Word of the LORD holds true, and everything
He does is worthy of our trust.  He loves whatever is just
and good, and His unfailing love fills the earth.  (NLT)


                               Hold to the truth in love, 
             becoming more and more in every way like Christ.
                                       (Ephesians 4:15)


Saturday, March 26, 2016

                       “One God Only”
 Isaiah 44:6,10
The LORD Almighty, says: “I am the First and the Last;
there is no other God.”  “Who but a fool would make his
own god—an idol that cannot help him one bit.”  (NLT)

     I believe the first thing we must do in order to find peace, purpose, and understanding about this difficult life-journey that no one gets to volunteer for, is to believe in the only True and Living God who left the glory of Heaven to live and die so we could die and live.  Christ Jesus became a man of flesh and blood to become the final sacrificial Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world.  God is not the earth or the moon or the sun or the whole universe or anything else in creation or anything we can create with our hands or minds.  Throughout the history of the world, man has foolishly made many different things his god or gods—gods that are all fakes—man made gods that deceive the world in Satan’s favor.  There are many foolish people who try to replace the Living God with the worlds gods, but none of them can give us life, nor can they save us from our sins and the condemnation that is due. 
     It is not my objective to condemn people for living foolish lives worshiping false gods, because I, too, was once living this life foolishly drinking and smoking the gods that controlled my life.  Most people who do not know and love the Lord our God and Savior have probably never really heard or understood the Truth and so they view God and His redemptive plan for mankind and the world as science fiction or simply crazy.  Because we love our little gods that give us pleasure, they control the way we live.  And  even though I spent most of my adult life indulging in the gods of this fallen world, deep in my heart I was searching for the truth about this cursed life that gnawed at my heart and tormented my soul.  The world's gods failed to give me the answers that I so desperately hungered for and I, like many, was left empty and hopeless, for there is only One God, One Truth, and One Answer—Jesus Christ!

                                           A Whisper of Hope
There is only One God…My child.  I AM He.  And I can tell you that all of Heaven rejoices when anyone comes to understand and believe this essential Truth.  This deceitful world has filled your mind with too many lies for much too long.  But as you learn the Truth, so, too, will you find life in Me.

John 17:3
And this is the way to have eternal life—to know You,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One You sent to earth.  (NLT)


                    But the LORD is the only true God, 
                                   the Living God. 
                       He is the Everlasting King!
                                (Jeremiah 10:10) 


Friday, March 25, 2016

                                          “It is True”
 Isaiah 35:1-10
     Even the wilderness will rejoice, in those days.  The desert will blossom with flowers.  Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy!  The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel’s pastures and the Plain of Sharon.  There the LORD will display His glory, the splendor of our God.
     With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees.  Say to those who are afraid, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.  He is coming to save you.”  And when He comes, He will open the eyes of the blind and unstop the ears of the deaf.  The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will shout and sing!  Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the desert.  The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land.  Marsh grass and reed and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived.
     And a main road will go through that once deserted land.  It will be named the Highway of Holiness.  Evil-hearted people will never travel on it.  It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there.  Lions will not lurk along its course, and there will be no other dangers.  Only the redeemed will follow it.  Those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return to Jerusalem, singing songs of everlasting joy.  Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be overcome with joy and gladness.  (NLT)

The hope and encouragement that this Scripture brings to those of us who believe that the Bible is God’s inerrant Words of Truth is priceless.  Because in this fallen world, that breeds nothing but hopelessness and death, this 2,000 plus year old message from God can light up the deepest darkness and bring life to the dead and lifeless.   The Lord our God; the King of the Universe, is coming soon my friends, to rightly claim what is His and disregard all that is not.  Since God’s Word is His Truth, we have no time to waste in sharing this Good News.   Jesus brings Light where there is only darkness, and life to those who have lost it.  Christ Jesus is the Hope for everyone who is searching for something more than death, who are struggling just to survive, and hoping for some blessed peace in their life.  This encouraging and wonderful Hope that we find in our Lord God and Savior, is the only Hope that will help guide us safely Home with joy in our hearts and a smile upon our face.  Come Lord Jesus!

                                          A Whisper of Hope
I AM the Truth…and when you believe in Me and all that I have written down for you, and when you obey My commands, you will have a glorious new and everlasting life, in a glorious new and everlasting body, in a glorious new and everlasting Home.

1 Thessalonians 5:2-4
For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come 
unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.  When people are saying, 
“All is well; everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will 
fall upon them…And there will be no escape.  (NLT)
                      
      
                      And He who sits on the throne said, 
                 “Behold, I am making all things new.” 
                                       And He said, 
           “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 
                                           (Revelation 21:5)

Thursday, March 24, 2016

                                   “Our Provider”
 Psalm 145:13, 14
The LORD is faithful in all He says; He is gracious in all He does.
The LORD helps the fallen and lifts up those bent beneath their loads.  (NLT)

     It has been said that a Christian’s faith is nothing more than a crutch to be leaned upon or a cop-out when things get too tough to deal with.  What many unbelievers refuse to acknowledge is that we, a very weak and tiny being, live in a dangerously vast universe so big we cannot even imagine its enormous size and we are extremely helpless and vulnerable when compared to the incredible power it holds.  We are also incapable of defending ourselves against the unseen forces of evil that hate God and want to destroy all that is His—principalities and powers that exceed any and all human ability.  The truth is, my friends, we need someone greater than ourselves, the universe, and Satan to save us from the destruction that is eminent when we stand alone.  And that some One is our Creator, Jesus Christ. 
     The Lord God keeps the entire universe in precise order by the Power of His Word, to protect our tiny planet that houses the most precious of all He has ever created; human life.   Mankind would not survive for a moment if it were not for our gracious and Almighty God.  We would never survive in this vast universe that is always on the move, nor could we withstand the attacks from Satan’s evil powers when they rear their ugly heads.  As God’s created people, we must depend upon His great power to survive. We need His gracious favor to sustain the bodies we live in, and we need the power of His Holy Spirit to keep our souls alive.  It is only because you have a loving, gracious, and merciful God, that you even wake up in the morning or make it through the entire day.  Our sovereign God, Creator of everything seen and unseen, has carefully and personally designed us with His mighty skillful hands.   The Living God wants only what is best for every person He blesses with the breath of life, and He does this by perfecting in us what we were originally designed to do—to glorify and honor Him by the way we live our lives.

                                            A Whisper of Hope 
You are, dear child…the most precious of all My creation and I will care for you above all else.  But in order for Me to do this, you must trust Me with your life.  Remember that the world hates Me and all those who follow My Way.  But fear nothing, for I have overcome the world and will protect you until it is time to come Home.  I Am your Provider, Protector, and Redeemer.  And even in the midst of your darkest hour, remember; I AM GOD.

2 Peter 1:2-4
As we know Jesus better, His divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.  He has called us to receive His own glory and goodness!  And by that same mighty power, He has given us all of His rich and wonderful promises.  He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in His Divine Nature.  (NLT)

                               
            He Himself gives life and breath to everything, 
                    and He satisfies every need there is.
                                        (Acts 17:25)

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

                         “Forgiven and Redeemed”
 Isaiah 48:17
The LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says;
I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good
and leads you along the paths you should follow.  (NLT)

     The LORD created us to be able to come into His Presence as Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden, but when sin entered into the equation, the relationship was broken and mankind began to depend on themselves and could no longer be in a close relationship or walk in His Presence.  But because of God's great love for human beings, He came into this broken world as a man of flesh to remove our sins, take our just punishment, and to reestablish the broken relationship.  Our Lord and God not only reconciled the relationship so we could enter into the holy Presence of God, but after ascending back into Heaven He sent the Holy Spirit into the world to help guide and protect us while travel this difficult journey on the road to Heaven.
     When you humbly ask God to forgive all your sins, He will.  When you ask Him to make you a new person, He does.  When you ask Him to be the Lord over your life and will, He accepts.  Christ Jesus chose to pay the ransom that freed us from the power of sin that leads to darkness and death.  When you surrender to the One who created you and also saved you, He removes the blinders from your eyes and softens your heart so you can better see and understanding the world around you.  He teaches you the Truth—what is right and what is not—what is good and what is bad, because the world teaches you  just the opposite.  And as you trust the Lord of your life, He provides both the power and motivation to transform your old, sin-filled life of darkness and doubt into a brand new life filled with everlasting hope and peace.  Our awesome God and Savior is the Sovereign King of the universe and He invites you to be a part of His holy family as His adopted child, and you will receive the crown of everlasting life, walking and talking with the Author of Life, as you were created to do.

                                               A Whisper of Hope 
My dear child…listen closely for My voice, for when you hear Me calling, follow the path that brings you back into My Presence.  You live in a dangerous world and you need My Spirit to protect and safely lead you home.  Your journey in this fallen world will be hard and exhausting, but your struggles and pain will shape your eternal character and prepare you for a heavenly journey unlike anything you can ever imagine!

1 Timothy 2:5, 6
For there is only One God and One Mediator
who can reconcile God and people. He is the man
Christ Jesus.  He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone.  (NLT)


                                          So Christ has really set us free.
                                                                      (Galatians 5:1)


Tuesday, March 22, 2016

                                  “Know the Truth”
 Psalm 139:1
O LORD, you have examined my heart
   and know everything about me.  (NLT)

     Our Sovereign LORD is as much a personal God as He is Holy and Perfect in every way.  He is not a God who stands apart from His creation, but a loving and gracious God who wants only what is best for people.  It is so amazing that in the scheme of who God is; the Great and Awesome Creator of an unending universe and life itself, that He takes the time and the resources He created to personally reach out and touch individual people so they can know who He is and what He has planned.  He makes every person uniquely different, each with their own personal qualities and purpose—a purpose that is made to fit who we are and what we can manage with God’s help.  The Lord knows firsthand what it’s like to carry the weight of the world upon our shoulders and He knows all of the burdens that we try to manage on our own. 
     How wonderful it is to have an all-powerful God who knows and loves us so dearly that He allowed Himself to be tortured and nailed to a wooden cross by mere mortal men.  The Lord knows our pain and the burdens we bear; even the most secret shame and remorse that we carry deep inside our hearts; things we fearfully keep hidden in a darkness so deep that we think God Himself has no idea what they are. You cannot hide anything from the One who created you.  And you should never underestimate His power.  When you exclude the Lord from your life, the burdens you try to hide and carry on your own will eventually become so great that you will collapse under the weight, much like I did.   But as I sunk deeper in my guilt and shame, oblivious to the love and grace of our God and Savior, He reached down at just the right moment and slowly began to remove the burdens that I was not created to bear.  When living apart from God, my friends, it is impossible to bear the burdens brought on by this fallen world; we are not gods, merely mortal human beings touched by the decadence of sin and death.  But we all have the same merciful God who not only saved the world from destroying itself, but also saves us from the eternal consequences of our sin.

                                     A Whisper of Hope
I know you, dear child… better than you know yourself.  I know all the things you try to hide in the darkness and I will forgive you if you ask, for I love you and I want to take your burdens so you can enjoy this life.  You can do nothing that surprises or shocks me, for I AM GOD.  Do not hide in the dark.  Rather, bring your burdens to Me and find My eternal peace for your weary burdened soul.

Hebrews 4:16
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. 
There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace
to help us when we need it.  (NLT)


                Give your burdens to the Lord, 
                 and He will take care of you.
                              (Psalm 55:22)


Monday, March 21, 2016

                                        “God Hears”
 Habakkuk 1: 2, 4
How long, O LORD, must I call for help? 
But you do not listen!  I cry, but you do
not come to save. (NLT)

     Evil and the decadence it brings is eating the people of our world alive, causing a lot fear, anxiety, and uncertainty about the future.  People are crying out for anything or anyone in this world that would give them some hope.  Sadly, their crying out is futile, because nothing from this world is capable of fixing this decaying world—fixes that are too big for human wisdom or power.  Most people of this world are either too busy struggling to survive or they are simply too focused on getting all they can, while they can to know about the only One who can fix the problems that the world faces.  These lost souls don’t know or even seem to care that our Lord God Jesus Christ, will come again to clean up the mess caused by thousands of years of sin and rebellion against the living God.  The King of the universe will return with fire in His eyes to destroy all that is evil and those who oppose the Word of God.  King Jesus will then rule and reign on Earth where people will live in peace and prosperity.  There will be no more war or sickness or death; life will be good for the first time since our falling away from God.
     The lost and desperate souls of this fallen world don’t know God's Plan because the Devil and his loyal followers have distorted the Truth so much that most people don’t know what to believe; they simply go with the flow, live for the moment, and hope for the best end result.  The Devil has convinced the world that God is not gracious or merciful and that He doesn't care what happens to us.   Many believe that God is off doing other God things and has a deaf ear when it comes to our desperate cries for help.  This is not so, my friend, the Lord hears your every cry and He knows how you suffer in this fallen world that groans to be fixed.  Our loving Creator cares deeply about each and everyone of us.  We have a Savior that has defeated death for us.  We have a Redeemer who hears our every cry.  And one day soon, He will make all things new and no one shall ever cry again!

                                          A Whisper of Hope
I hear you…My child and I know your pain and fear, for I see and hear all things.  I came into this fallen world to save my people and give them hope.  I came to save you!  I AM God your Redeemer and you must trust the plans I have for you, for they are good and true.

Romans 8:21-22
All creation anticipates the day when it will join God’s children
in glorious freedom from death and decay.  For we know that all creation
has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  (NLT)

                                        “Fear not, I will help you.”
                                       (Isaiah 41:13)


Sunday, March 20, 2016

                                     “Promise Keeper”
 Psalm 119:49-50
Remember Your promise to me, for it is my only hope.
Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.  (NLT)

     Before I surrendered my sin-filled life to the Lord, I was taught to put all of my hopes and dreams in the things and ways of the world, leaving God out of the equation altogether.   And after many years of working hard and thinking like the world, I discovered that the things of this world could never fully satisfy, nor could they last.  Unfortunately, most of us go through a process I call humanistic osmosis; blindly following the world unaware of the dire consequences when this life is over.  Like so many, I lived my life believing the way to happiness and contentment was found by traveling the roads that the world paves.  And unbeknownst to me, I spent most of my adult life running with the world and feeling short-changed, which left me empty and depressed.   Little did I know that God was allowing me to discover the truth about this fallen life the old fashion way of trial and error, allowing me to make humanistic decisions that lead to failure, hoping I would learn from the consequences.
     There usually comes a time when many of us finally realize that the world with all its resources cannot satisfy the desires of our hearts and soul, nor can they fully satisfy the hungers of our sinful flesh.   And it is with this discovery that I begin to wallow in my hopelessness, succumbing to the weakness of my sinful flesh, and I began sinking into the darkness of defeat.  If ever you find yourself in this dark place, my friends, don’t give up or give in to the lies of this wicked world, because there is promised hope in the Savior of the world, Christ Jesus.  And when you come humbly to the foot of the Cross and nail your old life of sin to it, you will be given a new life that is right with God and forever lasting.   You will experience the promised victory over this fallen world that offers you everything, but delivers only the darkness of death.

                                             A Whisper of Hope
I Am, dear child... the Keeper of promises.  I came to save you from this deceitful world that seeks to destroy your heart and kill your soul.  The world can promise you nothing that is good or lasting, but what I promise is beyond your imagination and is forever!  I promise you a piece of Heaven's glory that I paid for with My blood and death. 

2 Peter 1:3-4
As we know Jesus better, His divine power gives us everything we need for 
living a godly life.  He has called us to receive His own glory and goodness!  
And by that same mighty power, He has given us all of His rich and wonder-
ful promises.  He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around 
you caused by evil desires and that you will share in His Divine Nature.  (NLT)

               Without wavering, let us hold tightly 
                        to the hope we say we have,
           for God can be trusted to keep His promise.
                                  (Hebrews 10:23)


Saturday, March 19, 2016

                                 “God of Creation”
 Isaiah 45:18
For the LORD is God, and He created the heavens
and earth and put everything in place.  He made the
world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos.
“I am the LORD,” He says, “and there is no other.”  (NLT)

     The world’s view of creation is nothing more than an accident caused by a mysterious big bang—that there is no creator—that living matter formed by some chemical reaction that cannot be explained.  There are many lost souls who think there are many kinds of gods for different kinds of circumstances.  There are others who believe in a god who created everything, but then abandoned it to evolve and survive on its own.  Some believe that everyone is a god.  And then there are those who foolishly make whatever suits their fancy the god of their choice.  But when you set aside all the utter foolishness of man-made gods and get down to the seriousness of it all, the only thing that makes any sense at all, is that there is, not only an intelligent Designer, but One who is a caring, loving, all powerful, and all knowing Creator—a living God who skillfully designed the universe, the earth, and life.  And this incredible Creator is none other than the One Living God of the Bible, the Almighty Lord God, the King of the Universe, and our merciful Savior. 
     The Lord created a Divine Order, my friends, and by the power of His Word the universe is held together in perfect harmony; a harmony that reveals the Majesty and Glory of the Living God.  We have a triune God in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who knows and cares about the condition of His creation, especially the human beings that He made in His likeness.  God knows how easily we can destroy ourselves because of our love of sin, so He has provided the Way for us to avoid the road that leads to Hell.  But sadly, most of the people in this world are drifting further and further away from their Creator and Savior to embrace the way of the Devil, who has duped and blinded them from knowing the Truth.      

                                          A Whisper of Hope
Listen to the Truth, dear child…it will open your eyes and set you free from the fear of death and the darkness that engulfs this world.  I not only made you, but I have also saved you from a world of lies that plots your demise.  Remember that the Creator is always greater than what He creates!

Isaiah 45:5,7
I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God besides
Me.  I create the light and make the darkness.  I send good times
and bad times.  I, the LORD am the One who does these things.  (NKJ)

                                    
                  “I am the LORD, who makes all things.”
                                  (Isaiah 44:24)