WHO'S IN CONTROL?

WHO’S IN CONTROL?

Today, I read the following insightful and inspirational article written by Paul Michael Vacca; and I just want to share it with you.

“Life can be a roller coaster. There are ups, downs, curves, and all sorts of twists and turns that you cannot anticipate or control. However, the roller coaster is still headed to its designed and designated end. We like having a sense of control over our lives, but control is really just an illusion. All it takes is one bad doctor report, a rebellious child, a car wreck, a pandemic, an error at work, or a downturn in the job market to reveal how little control we really have over our lives.

The point where our control ends is the place where we find peace and assurance in the faithfulness of God. While life might at times seem like a roller coaster, God is purposefully bringing us to His desired end. And His faithfulness will see us through – always. What we truly need is a very strong conviction in the faithfulness of our God, the One who is actually in control.

When I learn to give up my illusion of control and truly trust God, I find that I can relax and enjoy the ride much more. I do not mean that all my troubles somehow fade away, but I have an abiding confidence that God is bringing the ride of my life to His desired end. Are you holding on to the safety bar of life with clinched fists, terrorized by your own lack of control? Or will you let go and embrace the truth that God uses all the ups and downs in life to bring you to His desired end?”

Our gratitude is extended to Mr. Vacca for this practical wisdom.  My friend, prayerfully ponder.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

AMERICA, WHERE ARE WE HEADED?

AMERICA, WHERE ARE WE HEADED?

Unfortunately, the current state of our union can be accurately characterized as a destructive descent into widespread deception and unprecedented division.  The following insights of Georgia Anne Beyer are entirely apropos for serious self-reflection in this challenging and corruptible hour. 

“I have come to the conclusion that it is impossible to have a moral community or nation without faith in God, because without it everything rapidly comes down to “me,” and “me” alone is meaningless.  Today Americans have stopped acting in terms of their own moral, ethical and religious beliefs and principles.  They've stopped acting on what they know is right -- and the “me” has become the measure of everything.  However, moral societies are the only ones that work.  If anyone thinks there is not a direct and invaluable relationship between personal integrity in a society and that society's prosperity, that person has simply not studied history.  Great moral societies that are built upon faith in God, honor and the law blossom…because people respect their fellowman…because they have a common belief in something beyond themselves.  It simplifies life immensely; you do not waste and spend your days fighting for turf, for privilege, for money and for power over your fellowman.”

My friends, let us remember and reflect on the sage words of King Solomon: “Righteousness exalts a nation.” (Proverbs 14:34)  If we are to survive and thrive, individual and collective repentance is required; and it must begin with the people of God. (II Chronicles 7:14) 

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION...

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION…

The “Cathy” cartoon strip pictured a lady trying to lose weight while struggling with temptation.  Perhaps it’s applicable to other issues of life as well.

Frame 1: ‘I will take a drive, but won’t go near the grocery store.’

Frame 2: ‘I will drive by the grocery store, but will not go in.’

Frame 3: ‘I’ll go in the grocery store, but will not go down the aisle where the candy is on sale.’

Frame 4: ‘I will look at the candy, but not pick it up.’

Frame 5: ‘I will pick it up, but not buy it.’

Frame 6: ‘I will buy it, but not open it.’

Frame 7: ‘Open it, but not smell it.’

Frame 8: ‘Smell it, but not taste it.’

Frame 9: ‘Taste it, but not eat it.’

Frame 10: ‘EAT, EAT, EAT, EAT, EAT!’

Hmmm….lesson learned!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

DO YOU HAVE HURRY SICKNESS?

DO YOU HAVE HURRY SICKNESS?

Today I read something hilarious but true, written by John Ortberg in his book, “The Life You’ve Always Wanted.”  He highlighted our human disposition to hurry up in practically every situation.  Speak to us, Mr. Ortberg…:

“If we have hurry sickness we’re haunted by the fear that there are not enough hours in the day to do what needs to be done.  We read faster, talk faster, and when listening, even nod faster to encourage the talker to accelerate.  We find ourselves chafing whenever we have to wait.  At a traffic light, if there are two lanes and each contains one car, we will find ourselves guessing – based on the year, make and model of each car – which one will pull away faster.  At the supermarket, if we have a choice between two check-out lanes, we find ourselves counting how many people are in each line and multiplying that number by the number of items in their shopping carts.  If you have a really bad case of hurry sickness, even after you commit to a check-out line you keep track of the person who would have been you in the other line. If you get through and the other person who would have been you is still waiting, you feel elated.  ‘Ha…I won!’ But if the alter-you is walking out of the store and you’re still in line, you feel really frustrated and depressed. If you can relate to any of those symptoms, you have a fairly bad case of hurry sickness!”

My friends, it's something to think about, right?  Let’s learn to slow down…

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

UNDERSTANDING THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD (Part II)

UNDERSTANDING THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD (Part II)

Yesterday’s devotional recounted the events of May 25, 1979, which took place during the COGIC International Women’s Convention in Chicago.  American Airlines Flight 191 crashed on take-off and 273 people lost their lives.  That evening, Presiding Bishop J. O. Patterson announced that his assistant, Bishop Junius A. Blake (father of later Presiding Bishop Charles Blake) had been scheduled to fly with his wife to Los Angeles.  While checking in, the Lord strongly impressed Bishop Blake to avoid taking that flight; he changed to another one, avoiding a terrible tragedy.  Our God is amazing! 

But that’s not the end of this story.  Another minister, scheduled to return to Los Angeles on that same flight, experienced an unusual delay in New York which prevented him from catching Flight 191 in Chicago.  He later rejoiced at the phenomenal timing and grace that was clearly demonstrated in this situation, being firmly convinced that it could only have been the result of divine intervention.  

However, a clergyman named Edwards Elliot, the beloved pastor of California’s Garden Grove Orthodox Presbyterian Church was also booked on Flight 191.  He too experienced a delay on a connecting flight in Pennsylvania, but his journey had a radically different outcome.  A friend who flew with him to Chicago but had a different connecting flight, recalled seeing Edwards “dashing forward” in the terminal to make his connection with Flight 191.  He later wrote this assessment of what occurred: “I just had to let you know about one of God's great saints who ran to make Flight 191--and made it!” 

Although his family and friends were initially tempted to question the providence of God, at the funeral Mrs. Elliot and her four adult children made the following remarks: “Although our husband and father didn’t know it, while he was running through that airport he was actually running to Heaven.  He made it!”  Their optimistic faith perspective and their triumphant testimony about the sovereignty of God warmed and comforted the grieving congregation.

There can be no doubt – Our God is Sovereign!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

UNDERSTANDING THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD (Part I)

UNDERSTANDING THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD (Part I)

On Friday, May 25, 1979, an amazing thing happened while I was an attendee at the COGIC International Women’s Convention held in Chicago, Illinois.  As a staff employee of Bishop H. Jenkins Bell, we were together promoting Presiding Bishop J. O. Patterson’s efforts to actualize the building of Saints Center.

I remember that amazing day like it occurred yesterday.  In the evening service, the presiding bishop was slated as the speaker.  In his opening remarks, he sadly announced that American Airlines Flight 191 (a DC-10 aircraft) had crashed on take-off and all 273 people aboard had lost their lives.  However, what he said next both astounded and delighted the convention congregation.  The second assistant presiding bishop, Bishop Junius Blake (the father of Presiding Bishop Charles Blake) had been scheduled to take that flight to Los Angeles, along with his wife.

While they were in the process of checking in, the Lord strongly impressed Bishop Blake not to board that flight.  And, against all common sense and logical reasoning, he went through the trouble and expense of changing to another departure time.  Our God is absolutely amazing!  The lives of these two believers were saved from that horrible airline crash because of the sovereignty of God and their sensitivity to hearing His voice. 

More to come tomorrow…regarding that same flight and other passengers who were similarly impacted.

God is sovereign!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

SHORT-CIRCUITED BY SELF

SHORT-CIRCUITED BY SELF

This humorous story is reflective of how many people tend to cut off potential blessings by projecting personal pressures and false perceptions onto others, and then actually believing them.

One dark rainy night a salesman had a flat tire on a lonely road.  But to his dismay he had no lug wrench.  Seeing a nearby farmhouse, he set out on foot.  Surely the farmer would have a lug wrench, he thought.  But would he even come to the door?  And if he did, he'd probably be furious at being bothered.  He’ll say, “What’s the big idea getting me out of bed in the middle of the night?”  This thought made the salesman angry.  Why, that farmer is a selfish old clod to refuse to help me!

Finally the man reached the farmer’s house.  Totally frustrated and drenched, he banged loudly on the door. “Who's there?” a voice called out from a window overhead. 

“You know good and well who it is,” yelled the assuming and angry salesman.  “It's me!  And you can keep your old lug wrench!  I wouldn’t borrow it if it was the last one in the county!” 

Never assume the worst; always look for the best.  If the worse-case scenario actually occurs, you can then make the necessary adjustments.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD...USE YOUR HEAD!

DON’T LOSE YOUR HEAD…USE YOUR HEAD!

Have you ever taken the bait and entered an argument in which there was no possibility of success because the other party showed little or no possibility of actually hearing your point of view?  Well, the next time that occurs, refuse to ‘lose your head’ and enter into an argument; use your head.

For example, Karl Benz drove his automotive invention through the streets of Munich, Germany in 1886.  He had named his car the Mercedes Benz in honor of his daughter, Mercedes.  However, his automobile angered the citizens because it was quite noisy and scared the children and horses.  Pressured by the citizens, local officials established a speed limit for “horseless carriages” of 3.5 miles per hour within the city limits and 7 miles an hour outside.  

Benz knew he could never develop a market for his car and compete against horses if he had to creep along at such slow speeds, so he invited the mayor of the town for a ride.  The mayor accepted.  Benz had arranged for a milkman to park his horse and wagon on a certain street and, as Benz and the mayor drove by, he would whip up his horse and pass by with a mocking laughter.  The plan worked perfectly because the mayor became quite furious and demanded that Benz overtake the milk wagon.  Benz apologized but said he was not permitted to go any faster because of the speed law.  Very soon afterwards that law was changed. 

My friends, don’t be confrontational or argumentative; instead use your head.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

EXAMINE YOUR WANTS

EXAMINE YOUR WANTS

Years ago, I attended a dynamic corporate sales seminar, and the topic was “Be careful what you really want because you’ll surely get it.”  We learned that the human will is incredibly powerful and predictive.  Indeed, it is a truism that if we can see it, we can be it.  Therefore, it is of great importance that we exercise considerable discipline and control over what we ponder, wish, and speak.  Of course, appropriate action must follow.

Recently, I read the following comedic tale by an unknown author.  Although it’s fictional, it conveys an important truth.  Three men were marooned on a desert island. As the days slowly went by, they dreamed of what it would be like to be at home with their friends and family, to be back at their jobs doing the things they loved.

Eventually one of the men found a bottle that contained a genie. He opened the bottle and the genie announced that he would grant each of them one wish. One man immediately shouted, “Boy, I want to be back in Seattle with my wife and kids.” POOF--he was gone. The second man chimed in, “I want to be back in Portland with my fiancé,” and POOF--in a flash he was gone. 

The third man was left all alone sitting on the sandy beach. He said, “Boy, it really is lonely with my friends gone. I sure wish they were back here with me again.

And POOF…   😊

Hmmm…  Be careful what you really want because you’ll surely get it!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

OUR MINISTRY OF LISTENING

OUR MINISTRY OF LISTENING

Writer Charles Swindoll found himself with too many commitments in too few days.  He got really nervous and tense about it.  “I was snapping at my wife and our children, choking down my food at mealtimes, and feeling irritated at unexpected interruptions throughout the day,” he recalled in his book entitled “Stress Fractures.”  He continued, “Before long, things around our home started reflecting the rhythm of my hurry-up style. It was becoming unbearable.”

“I distinctly remember the words of our younger daughter, Colleen, after dinner one evening,.  She wanted to tell me something important that had happened to her at school that day.  She began hurriedly, ‘Daddy, I wanna tell you somethin' and I’ll tell you really fast.’

“Suddenly realizing her frustration, I answered, ‘Honey, you can tell me -- and you don’t have to tell me really fast.  Say it slowly.  And I’ll never forget her answer: ‘Then listen slowly, she said.”

My friend, take time (quality and unhurried time) to attend to the needs of others.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

NEVER JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS

NEVER JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS

The urge to jump to conclusions must be conscientiously and consistently avoided because, as in so many matters of daily life, haste typically makes waste.  Let’s prayerfully consider the following story:

John was driving home late one night when he picked up a hitchhiker.  As they rode along, he began to be suspicious of his passenger.  John checked to see if his wallet was safe in the pocket of his coat laying on the seat between them, but it wasn't there!  So he slammed on the brakes, ordered the hitchhiker out, and shouted, “Hand over the wallet immediately!”  The frightened hitchhiker handed over a billfold, and John drove off.  When he arrived home, he started to tell his wife about the experience, but she interrupted him, saying, “Before I forget, John, do you know that you left your wallet at home this morning?”  Oh my!!! 

My friend, think before your leap, and remember this: ‘Always engage brain before opening mouth.’

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

PRAYER IS MISSION CRITICAL

PRAYER IS MISSION CRITICAL

John Wesley taught this very wise principle: “We can do nothing without God…and God will do nothing without prayer.” 

William Barkley wrote, “When we pray, we must remember the love of God that wants the best for us, the wisdom of God that knows what is best for us, and the power of God that can accomplish it.”

C. S. Lewis frames the need for prayer in this way: “The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals.  And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back, listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view.”

John Bunyan concluded on a very practical note that “he who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day.”

And my good friend, Dr. Ron Eagleton, informs me that he never leaves home without first asking God where he should be going, what he should be doing, and for an infusion of spiritual wisdom to speak the Word of life into whomever God places in his path.

All of these Kingdom principles illustrate the absolute importance of maintaining open lines of communication with our Creator. 

My friend, you must never neglect prayer because ‘seven days without prayer makes one weak.’

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

PREPARE FOR CHRIST'S RETURN (Part V)

PREPARE FOR CHRIST’S RETURN (Part V)

Much confusion surrounds the events of the second coming because the Bible actually describes two separate and distinct phases of Christ’s return, and there is a tendency to blend them together and distort the prophetic message.  Phase One is the Rapture of redeemed believers, living and dead.  Phase Two is the global and glorious appearing of Jesus Christ.  Let’s briefly highlight both.

The Rapture is for a select group of people.  That is, Christ returns solely for His church, and reveals Himself only to those who have been redeemed by believing on the crucified and risen Savior.  This event is accomplished in secrecy, meaning much of the world will not physically see Christ or His people as they are caught up in the air.  However, they will certainly witness the profound effects of the Rapture as they collectively wonder about the cause and effects of this sudden mass disappearance. (Matthew 24:37-42)  At the Rapture, Christ arrives mid-air to receive His covenant people and to transport them to “the Father’s house” in fulfillment of His promise. (John 14:1-3)  There redeemed and raptured believers will appear before “the judgment seat of Christ” (also known as the Bema) and they will participate in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. (II Corinthians 5:8-10 and Revelation 19:1-10)

In contrast to the Rapture, The Glorious Appearance is a totally public and globally observed event, which occurs at the close of the 7-year Tribulation Period.  In this instance, “every eye shall see Him.” (Revelation 1:7)  Christ returns to earth with great glory (bringing victorious believers with Him) and sets down with awesome power on the Mount of Olives in Israel.  Then Christ totally defeats Satan, the Antichrist, the False Prophet and all of their followers in the Battle of Armageddon.  Afterwards, He judges unredeemed humanity with the assistance of the redeemed saints.  And He governs over the earth, first during the 1,000-year Millennial Reign of Christ, and thereafter “forever and ever.” (Luke 1:33 and Revelation 11:15)

My friends, being Rapture ready is a life-or-death choice. So what is your personal response to the gospel of Jesus Christ? Think soberly. Evaluate honestly. And if you haven't done so, repent and accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Then read, honor and obey His Word; and pray without ceasing.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

PREPARE FOR CHRIST'S RETURN (Part IV)

PREPARE FOR CHRIST’S RETURN (Part IV)

In Paul’s letter to Titus, the Rapture is described as a highly anticipated future event.  According to Paul, true believers “look for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)

In that scripture passage, the word “hope” does not mean some nice event that we imagine or suspect might happen someday.  It is a certified fact, promised numerous times in God’s unfailing and holy Word.  In this regard, “hope” means a confident expectation of an absolutely certain event.  This hope has sustained believers for two millennia.  When redeemed individuals transition from this mortal plain, we await the first resurrection when the dead in Christ will rise, and along with living believers, we will be transformed and taken away to live forever with the Lord.  Then, we will return at His glorious appearing to judge the world. (I Thessalonians 4:14 and I Corinthians 6:2)

Some critics argue against the Rapture because the term, “Rapture,” does not appear in the scriptures.  Actually, it is an English transliteration of the Greek word, “harpadzo,” which affirms that believers will be “caught up.”  Indeed, there is a scriptural precedent for this Rapture experience.  “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” (Genesis 5:24)  If God did that for one righteous man, He will surely do it again for all those who have been declared to be “the righteousness of God.” (II Corinthians 5:21)

So who will participate in the Rapture?  Paul contends that Christ will return for “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing…holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27)  Therefore the Word warns us that now is “the time that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (Peter 4:17-19)  Whew!

Unfortunately, our righteousness alone is little more than “filthy rags” in the sight of a just and holy God. (Isaiah 64:6)  That being the case, how can we possibly be saved?  Bottom Line: We receive atonement for sin “by grace” and “through faith.”  Mercifully and thankfully, “It is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)  My friends, I rejoice in the scriptural truth and gracious reality that the only view God has of me is through the blood of Jesus.  I am covered; I am forgiven.  Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

PREPARE FOR CHRIST'S RETURN (Part III)

PREPARE FOR CHRIST’S RETURN (Part III)

Regarding the exact timing of the Rapture, Jesus Christ stated “that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:36)  Therefore, it is impossible for any human being to predict the precise day and hour of Christ’s return.  Nevertheless, end-time signs clearly point to His imminent return.

For your information, there are three major perspectives pertaining to the general timing of the Rapture: The Pre-Tribulation Rapture, The Mid-Tribulation Rapture, The Post-Tribulation Rapture.  Each refers to the approximate timing of the Rapture as it relates to the seven-year Tribulation Period.

Mid-Tribulation proponents believe that Christ will return for His church approximately 3½ years after the signing of a major mid-east peace treaty, which the prophet Daniel portrays as the confirmation of the Abrahamic covenant.  This will likely be a global peace treaty, but it will directly involve two specific entities, Israel and the Palestinian Authority.  Those who hold this view firmly believe that the church must pass through a severe period of persecution.

The Post-Tribulation view holds that Christ will return for His church at the end of the seven-year Tribulation Period.  But this is an error based largely on the belief that the last trumpet or the trumpet of God (recorded respectively in I Thessalonians 4:16 and I Corinthians 15:52) is the same event as the angel’s trumpet (recorded in Revelation 11:15).  But these are two separate and distinct events.  The first pertains to the Rapture.  The latter pertains to the beginning of “the third woe” of God’s wrath, which is poured out on the Earth during the Tribulation.

The third view, the Pre-Tribulation Rapture, states that Christ will return for His church at or near the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation Period.  This is my personal view and also that of the majority of prophecy scholars.  Most importantly, it is clearly supported in the Word of God.  What will that historic event actually be like?  At Christ’s coming, deceased believers will be resurrected and living believers will be changed instantaneously from mortality to immortality. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)

What’s most important is a readiness response to the warning of Jesus Christ: “Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:40)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

PREPARE FOR CHRIST'S RETURN (Part II)

PREPARE FOR CHRIST’S RETURN (Part II)

It’s never my intention to instill fear into anyone, but I must be perfectly candid concerning our future circumstances because one’s readiness to meet and be judged by Christ is actually a matter of eternal life or eternal death. (Matthew 25:41)

In Warren Wiersbe’s book, “Meet Yourself in the Psalms,” he recalls a frontier town where a horse bolted and ran away with a wagon carrying a little boy.  Seeing the child in danger, a compassionate young man risked his life to catch the horse and stop the wagon.  The child who had been saved grew up to become a lawless man, and one day he stood before a judge to be sentenced for a very serious crime.  The prisoner immediately recognized the judge as the man who had saved his life years before.  So he pleaded for mercy on the basis of that earlier life-saving experience.  But chilling words from the bench completely silenced his plea: “Young man, then I was your savior; today I am your judge, and I must sentence you to be hanged.”

One day Jesus Christ will come again.  And His verdict for rebellious sinners who refuse his sacrificial atonement will be something like this: ‘During your long day of grace, I was your Savior, and I would have forgiven you.  But today I am your Judge.  Depart from me into everlasting fire!’  Oh my!

My friend, where will you spend eternity?  It’s something to seriously and prayerfully consider. 

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

PREPARE FOR CHRIST'S RETURN (Part I)

PREPARE FOR CHRIST’S RETURN (Part I)

My friends, I am firmly convinced that we are now living in the end-time.  That is, the return of Jesus Christ and the Parousia (the Rapture of faithful believers) are imminent.  Unquestionably, the biblical signs of the end-time are clearly converging everywhere.  The prophetic admonitions of Christ accurately describe contemporary global events: “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” (Matthew 24:7)  Indeed, according to the Apostle Paul, the entire creation is now groaning in anticipation of the return of Christ and the Rapture of His church: “The earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19)

I am deeply concerned that much of the Christian community has somehow been lulled into a state of ease and unreadiness regarding what is to come.  Our preparation to peacefully and joyfully experience our Lord’s return should be the most important item on our individual and collective agendas.  To wit, the book of James poses an essential and sobering question for our prayerful consideration: “For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14)  Life is extremely short.  We are only here for 25,500 days or so (our promised 70 years), but whether saved or lost, we will surely inhabit eternity with its just consequences.  Therefore, we must remain watchful, prayerful and ready for the most significant event in human history.

Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

CONFESSION IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL

CONFESSION IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL

God’s Word encourages open and honest confession.  An applicable admonition is recorded in James 5:16 which says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.”

Consider this true story.  In 1884, Grover Cleveland was running against James Blaine for the U.S. presidency.  Blaine’s supporters discovered that Cleveland, a bachelor at the time, had fathered a son by Maria Crofts Halpin, an attractive widow who apparently had been on friendly terms with several politicians.  Subsequently, Republicans tried to pin an immorality tag on Democrat Cleveland by distributing handbills showing an infant labeled “One more vote for Cleveland” and by having demonstrators chant, “Ma, Ma, where’s my Pa? Gone to the White House, Ha, Ha, Ha!”

It was a fiendishly clever political ploy.  However, it backfired badly.  Instead of denying the alleged intimacy, Cleveland decided to tell the truth and openly admit to his immoral misdeed.  Unexpectedly, his candor served to actually defuse the issue, and Cleveland was elected president. 

Lesson learned.  We must avoid any attempt to cover our sins.  The sage, King Solomon, penned apropos advice: “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)  My friends, honesty IS the best policy.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

WHY BE CHEAP WITH YOURSELF?

WHY BE CHEAP WITH YOURSELF?

It’s a sound decision not to become a spendthrift.  Saving for a rainy day is substantially good advice.  However, anything can be done to an extreme. 

For instance, one of America's most miserly millionaires was John G. Wendel, who died in 1915 at his home in New York City.  Seeking to keep their inherited fortune in the family, Wendel and five of his six sisters remained unmarried.  He instilled such frugality in his sisters that when the last one died in 1931, it was found that, although her estate amounted to more than $100 million, she never had a telephone, electricity, or an automobile. Her only dress was one she had made herself and worn for nearly 25 years.  Wow!

In my view, it is wise and necessary to take a vacation, or plan a family outing, or go on an occasional shopping expedition.  Moderation is the key. (Philippians 4:5)  Just don’t overdo – but plan to be good to YOU. 

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE GOD-MAN WHO SAVES US

THE GOD-MAN WHO SAVES US

John 1:14 presents an intriguing mystery, i.e., “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”  The concept of Emmanuel, or God with us, the incarnation of God in human flesh, was a challenging truth for the early Christian church to comprehend and communicate.  In a word, how could one being (at the same time) be both human and divine, both God and man?

So in 451 A.D., the Council of Chalcedon grappled with this issue.  Although they failed to fully understand the deep mystery of the simultaneous divine and human nature of Christ, they offered the following four precautions to protect believers from error when contemplating Christ:

1. Attribute true and proper divinity to Christ.

2. Attribute true and proper humanity to Christ.

3. Do not so mingle the human and divine that you end up with a being neither human nor divine.

4. Do not dissect Christ so that there are two persons in one being. 

Certainly, since Jesus Christ is Emmanuel, both God and man, he is positioned and prepared to become our High Priest, one who can be “touched with the feeling of our infirmities.”  That is, as man, he fully related and connected to the human condition because he was “in all points tempted as we are.”  But as God, He navigated every human situation victoriously, “without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)  In the words of the Apostle Paul, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.” (II Corinthians 5:19)  Indeed, HE is Very God and Very Man.

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

EDIFY ONE ANOTHER

EDIFY ONE ANOTHER

According to Dictionary.com, the word “edify” means to uplift.  Throughout 2023, all of us should remember that every person…everyone…stands in need of occasional injections of affirmation and appreciation.  All people need to receive heartfelt recognition for their value and accomplishments.  However,  few people have made that need known quite as clearly as the little boy who said to his father: “Let's play darts.  I’ll throw, and you say ‘Wonderful!’”

It's a bit humorous, but actually so true to our basic human need.  Instead of succumbing to the temptation to become critical, or even cynical with others, make up your mind today to breathe new life into someone’s day simply be sharing kindness and encouragement.

others, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

RESTING ON YOUR LAURELS

RESTING ON YOUR LAURELS

As we begin 2023, let’s all remember this.  It’s quite wonderful to have the opportunity to celebrate past accomplishments, but we should avoid becoming so transfixed and focused on them that we lose our motivational impetus to move ahead.

Consider this true story. Over 2,000 years ago a young Greek artist named Timanthes studied under a highly respected tutor. After several years, his teacher’s efforts seemed to have paid off when Timanthes painted an exquisite work of art. Unfortunately, he became so enraptured with the painting that he spent days gazing at it. One morning when he arrived to admire his work, he was shocked to find it blotted out with paint. Angry, Timanthes ran to his teacher, who admitted he had destroyed the painting. “I did it for your own good. That painting was retarding your progress. Start again and see if you can do better.” Timanthes took his teacher’s wise advice and thereafter produced Sacrifice of Iphigenia, which is regarded as one of the finest paintings of antiquity. 

Whether it was marvelous or messy, one should never get stuck in the past.  Let’s move forward.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!