NEVER LOSE HEART

NEVER LOSE HEART

No matter what goes on, in or around your life, endeavor to maintain faith, balance and perspective.  During your crisis moments, consider the story of the shipwrecked survivor who was the only person left alive on a remote Pacific island.  He prayed fervently every day, asking God to send someone along for rescue.  Day by day, he looked for Heavens help, but simply could not find it.  Growing weary of waiting, he decided to construct a crude and meager shelter to protect himself and his few possessions.  However, after foraging the island for food, he returned one evening to find his shelter completely consumed by fire.

Everything he owned was now burned up.  The castaway sailor was totally confused and terribly angry with God.  In despair, he shouted loudly at God: “WHY?  Why did you do this to me?”  Then he fell into a deep sleep on the sandy shore.  Before dawn, he heard the sound of a boat rapidly approaching the island.  At long last, his rescuers had arrived!  He asked them how they knew he was there on the island.  The rescuers said they saw the huge fire and the smoke signals he had made the night before.

It is so easy to feel angry, confused or hopeless whenever things seem to go wrong for us.  But we should never lose heart, because GOD is always up to something behind the scenes.  So remember…the next time your ‘house’ is on fire, it might actually be a divine smoke signal deployed for your personal deliverance. 

Finally, we must reflect prayerfully on the example of Jesus, and draw continual inspiration from it.  He suffered the agony and humiliation of public crucifixion.  Yet, while despising the shame, he endured the cross and won ultimate victory for all who believe.  During your darkest moments,  “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2-3, NIV) 

In truth, we are constantly comforted and sustained by the promises, plans and purposes of God.  His Word is our beacon, our rescuer and our reward.  “For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for good and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

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

CHILDREN'S LETTERS TO GOD

CHILDREN’S LETTERS TO GOD

Our children are fascinating and extraordinary jewels, as these letters to God indicate:

Dear God,

I bet it’s very hard for you to love everybody in the whole world. 

There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it.

Nan

Dear God,

Thank you for my baby brother. 

But what I prayed for was a puppy.

Joyce

Dear God,

I am American.  What are you?

Robert

Dear God,

I think about you sometimes even when I’m not praying.

Elliott

Dear God,

In the Bible times did they really talk that fancy?

Jennifer

Dear God,

I think the stapler is one of your greatest inventions.

Ruth

Dear God,

I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church.  Is that OK?

Neil

Dear God,

If you watch in church on Sunday I’ll show you my new shoes.

Mickey

Dear God,

I would like to live 900 years like that guy in the Bible.

Love,

Chris

Dear God,

If you give me a genie lamp I’ll give you anything you want except my money and my chess set.

Raphael

Dear God,

Please send Dennis Clark to a different camp this summer.

Peter

Dear God,

We read Thomas Edison made light.  But in Sunday School they said you did.  I bet he stoled your idea.

Sincerely,

Donna

Dear God,

Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each so much if they had separate rooms.  It works with me and my brother.

Larry

In the poetic words of the Psalmist, “Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing.” (Psalm 126:2) 

My friends, keep on smilin’…it’s phenomenal medicine for your body and mind!

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

PENTECOST: THE BIRTHDAY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

PENTECOST: THE BIRTHDAY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

On this coming Sunday, all of Christendom joyously celebrates PENTECOST.  Originally, the FEAST OF PENTECOST was given by God to the Israelites (through Moses) to be celebrated on the 50^th day after their deliverance from more than four centuries of Egyptian oppression and slavery.  So, the FEAST OF PENTECOST, which means “fifty,” was divinely appointed to be celebrated exactly 50 days after the FEAST OF PASSOVER.

PENTECOST has a Hebrew name, “SHAVUOT” [pronounced Shaw-VOO-oh], which is interpreted “WEEKS.” Therefore, PENTECOST is also known as THE FEAST OF WEEKS.  Since SHAVUOT is the anniversary of the day GOD gave THE LAW on Mount Sinai, the original observation of SHAVUOT (PENTECOST) is considered by some Jewish scholars to be THE BIRTHDAY OF ANCIENT ISRAEL.  The first-century observation of SHAVUOT (PENTECOST) is considered by most Christian scholars to be the BIRTHDAY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.  The former Pentecost occurred at MT. SINAI, but the latter Pentecost occurred, figuratively, at MT. ZION.  The former Pentecost was THE REVELATION OF GOD TO HIS PEOPLE, ISRAEL.  The latter Pentecost was THE REVELATION OF GOD TO HIS CHURCH, approximately 1,477 years later.

THE FEAST OF PENTECOST is a complex feast.  Once they were situated in the Promised Land, God’s people would present the FIRST-FRUITS OF THE HARVEST on that day, along with one lamb for a burnt offering.  The priest would symbolically wave two loaves of leavened bread, baked from newly harvested grain.  This would be done on behalf of the congregation as an act of gratitude to God.  Unlike the loaves of UNLEAVENED BREAD (prepared in haste) which the Israelites used to celebrate PASSOVER and their rapid departure from Egypt, PENTECOST utilized LEAVENED BREAD, a sign that GOD had been good and gracious in their harvest. This would be followed by the burnt offerings of seven lambs, two rams and one bullock.  This, in turn, would be followed by the SIN OFFERING of a kid, a young goat.  And this would be followed by a PEACE OFFERING of two lambs, made on behalf of the entire congregation of Israel.

During PENTECOST, God’s people were also directed to be sensitive to the needs of the poor, i.e. not to completely harvest their fields, that is to leave some behind for the poor and the strangers among them. (Leviticus 19:9-10)  Thus, PENTECOST should also be a time when we remember and respond to the needs of the least of our brethren.

A well-known HERMENEUTIC PRINCIPLE (interpretive principle) goes something like this: “The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed; and, the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.”  Thus, everything pertaining to the spiritual life of those Old-Covenant-observing and wilderness-trekking Israelites was actually pointing to the New Covenant.  For all of Heaven’s spiritual and prophetic pronouncements ultimately point to JESUS CHRIST and HIS CROSS.  It was (and is) all about JESUS! 

Even THE TABERNACLE, the temporary dwelling place of YAHWEH (JEHOVAH), was all about JESUS.  For everything that GOD ordained in The Tabernacle was a reflection of GRACE and a prophetic heralding of THE COMING REDEEMER, JESUS CHRIST.  From the LAVER for cleansing…to the DOOR OF ENTRY…to the TABLE OF SHEWBREAD…to the GOLDEN LAMPSTAND…to the ALTAR OF INCENSE…to the ARK OF THE COVENANT…to the MERCY SEAT…all the way from the OUTER COURT…to the INNER COURT…to THE HOLY PLACE…to the MOST HOLY PLACE.  It all signified and spoke about THE COMING REDEEMER, JESUS CHRIST. Even THE VEIL that separated THE HOLY PLACE from THE HOLY OF HOLIES…spoke of THE MINISTRY of CHRIST, who frees us from the curse of law and delivers us into GRACE AND TRUTH. (Luke 16:16)

Even THE WILDERNESS CAMP CONFIGURATION of the TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL was ALL ABOUT JESUS!  The design of the Israelite camp, i.e. the way that the twelve tribes were situated by GOD inside the camp, was laid out in the SHAPE OF THE CROSS.  Even the high priest, who would lead them in tabernacle worship, was a symbol (or type) of THE HEAVENLY HIGH PRIEST who would eventually arrive and be the pivotal point of all human history. (Hebrews 4:14-16)  Indeed, HISTORY is HIS STORY.

Unlike the HUMAN HIGH PRIEST, who would enter the Holy of Holies annually on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, to reconcile the people back to God, our HEAVENLY HIGH PRIEST represents a constant connection between earth and Heaven.  His cross, with its vertical post stretching toward GOD and its horizontal beam extending toward man, is an absolute revelation of this truth.  It is the GOD-MAN bridging a vast spiritual chasm, providing and everlasting AT-ONE-MENT with the Father.  Through Christ, time touches eternity and eternity touches time. (Hebrews 7:25)

Just as the original FEAST OF PENTECOST was ordained by GOD to be celebrated exactly FIFTY DAYS after the FEAST OF PASSOVER and the Israelite’s divine deliverance from Egyptian slavery, the first-century Christian celebration of PENTECOST occurred precisely FIFTY DAYS after the miraculous resurrection of JESUS CHRIST and our divine deliverance from the power and penalty of sin via the vicarious atonement of God’s Son!  At the ascension of JESUS CHRIST (40 days following His resurrection), 120 disciples were directed by Jesus Christ to The Upper Room to prayerfully await the arrival of the HOLY SPIRIT.  He appeared as promised (10 days later) and granted an inward endowment of spiritual authority so they would be able to do “greater works” than their Lord – not qualitatively, but QUANTITATIVELY greater – since multiplied millions of believers would then be empowered, deputized and dispersed for global ministry. (Acts 1:8 – Acts 2:1-18 – John 14:12)  Thus, THE FIRST CENTURY CHRISTIAN DIASPORA was not merely politically orchestrated; it was supernaturally ordained!

The indwelling HOLY SPIRIT or HOLY GHOST (both titles are appropriate) provides TRUTH, COMFORT, GUIDANCE, SPIRITUAL FRUIT and SPIRITUAL GIFTS to enable disciples to establish the KINGDOM OF GOD in the earth realm. (John 16:13 – John 14:26 – Galatians 5:22-15 – I Corinthians 12:4-13)

As the Third Person of the Trinity, the HOLY SPIRIT, moves and ministers in the earth on behalf of THE FATHER and in the stead of THE SON.  Therefore, the HOLY SPIRIT is MISSION CRITICAL to the FULFILLMENT OF COVENANT and the ACHIEVEMENT OF KINGDOM.  His manifold grace and operation include the following:

THE HOLY GHOST is our Convictor. (Acts 8:12-13)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Regenerator. (John 3:6-8)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Sanctifier. (I Thessalonians 5:23)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Power Source. (Acts 1:8 ~ Mark 16:20)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Paraclete, the One who walks alongside. (John 15:26-27)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Communicator. (Ephesians 6:19 ~ II Thessalonians 3:1)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Spirit of Truth, i.e. our Lie Detector. (John 14:19 ~ I John 5:6 ~ Acts 5:1-5)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Deliverer. (Acts 12:3-11)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Healer. (Acts 3:1-9)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Discerner. (I Corinthians 2:14)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Miracle Worker. (Acts 2:43)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Problem Solver. (Acts 15:1-3)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Assurance, Confidence and Boldness. (I Thessalonians 1:5 ~ Acts 4:29-31)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Joy. (I Thessalonians 1:6)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Living God. (II Corinthians 3:3)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Resurrection Facilitator. (Romans 8:11)

THE HOLY GHOST is our Kingdom Fulfiller. (I Corinthians 4:20)

QUESTION: “Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?” (Acts 19:2) 

Like every other gracious endowment of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, every beneficiary (that’s you and me) must simply believe and receive.  “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:13)  

SO JUST ASK FOR THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST!  And thereafter, live, walk and live victoriously under the empowerment and impartation of the awesome HOLY Spirit of Almighty God! (Galatians 5:16;25)

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

BLESS THE LORD

BLESS THE LORD

Our God is s-o-o-o-o good…that all I can say today is “Bless the Lord!” 

The Psalmist David expresses the sentiments of my heart:

Psalm 103

¹ Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

² Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

³ Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases;

⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 

BLESS THE LORD! 

And while you are doing so, remember that God actually inhabits the praises of His people.  Therefore, while you are blessing, i.e. praising Him, you are simultaneously bringing His healing presence and omnipotent power into your life situation.

BLESS THE LORD! 

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

THERE IS HELP...ALONGSIDE

THERE IS HELP...ALONGSIDE

Jesus Christ presents a powerful promise, a phenomenal privilege for every believer: “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.” (Matthew 28:20b)  Wow!  It simply suggests that there are no problems, no pains and no pressures which will totally overwhelm believing disciples who pursue and practice the presence of the Lord. 

I’m often encouraged by Christ’s departing decree to his disciples (and by extension to us): “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:18)  Since He is the high priest who is constantly concerned and intimately involved with us, Jesus Christ indeed shows up to engage and enlighten us (in every day and in every situation) as The Paraclete, the One who walks alongside for fellowship, direction and comfort.  We never need seek alternatives or substitutes, because in “the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)  Indeed, we have The Real Thing.  As Jehovah Shammah, “the Lord is there”…all the time. (Ezekiel 48:35) This inspiring truth recalls an intriguing story I once read.

In a rural area, a poor farmer was tending to Buddy, his horse, when a stranger walked up, in desperate need of the farmer’s help.  This stranger had lost control of his vehicle and ran off into a ditch.  He asked the farmer if his horse could somehow pull the vehicle out of the ditch, and assured him that his vehicle was very small.  The farmer said he would come along, bring his horse, and take a look, but could not promise he would help if his horse might be injured in some way while pulling the vehicle out of the ditch.  

The farmer saw that the stranger was correct in that the vehicle was indeed small, so he fastened a strong rope to the vehicle and to his horse.  He was confident that Buddy would be able to pull the vehicle out of the ditch in no time.  The farmer then shouted, “Pull, Casey, pull,” but the horse would not budge.  The farmer then called out, “Pull, Bailey, pull,” but the horse would not budge again.  The farmer then screamed, “Pull, Mandy, pull,” but once again his horse would not move.  The farmer then said, “Pull, Buddy, pull,” and the horse quickly pulled the vehicle out of the ditch.  The stranger was quite grateful, but puzzled.  He asked the farmer why he had called his horse by four different names.  The farmer replied, “Buddy is blind, and I had to make him think he had a lot of help pulling the car out of the ditch or he might not have pulled at all.”

Interesting and applicable, isn’t it?  Whenever WE embrace the mistaken notion that we are somehow incapable of accomplishing Christ’s Kingdom mission and mandate for our lives (because we ‘see’ ourselves as alone, or weak, or weary), we too wind up living far beneath our predestined position, power and privilege.  Although we were designed to live in connection and community with others, we must never forget that the One True Source of Our Help is Almighty God.  No wonder the Psalmist David exclaimed with such commitment and confidence, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)  GOD is the ever-present HELPER.  So trust Him.  Amen?  Amen!  Amen!  Amen!

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

WISDOM + JUSTICE = SOUND LEADERSHIP

WISDOM + JUSTICE = SOUND LEADERSHIP

Consider the strange tale of a wild pig living in the jungles of Tripura.  She lived happily with her children. One day, while foraging through the jungle for food, she noticed a weeping tiger cub behind a bush.  Finding no trace of the cub’s mother, she thought that the tigress might have been killed by hunters.  The mother pig immediately took pity on the cub and thought, ‘How can I leave this orphan cub in such a condition?  After all, I am a mother.  I shall take the cub with me and rear him up.’

The mother pig began to look after the cub, along with her own children, as best as possible.  Thus that tiger cub became a member of the pig family.  He and the piglets played together, ate together, roamed together and slept together.  

The days passed on and eventually the mother pig died.  The cub was, by then, a full-grown tiger and the piglets were no longer little; they were big fat pigs.  By nature, a tiger lives on flesh, so a deep desire for eating flesh gradually developed in the tiger.  He was tempted to devour the pigs, but a direct attack could earn him a bad name as they had grown up together.  Therefore, he mapped out a subtle plan.

One day, he said to one of the pigs, “Brother, last night I had a dream.  In my dream, I saw I was eating you up.  As you might imagine, it is a sin to dishonor a dream.  Therefore, I have decided to kill you and eat your flesh.  I am ready to fulfill your last desire, if there be any, before killing you.”

The terrified pig tried his best to make the tiger see that his dream had nothing to do with reality.  But the tiger was adamant.  By then, the pig realized it would be difficult to escape from the clutches of the huge tiger.  At last, the pig said, “If you kill me, other pigs will defame you.  I think it would be better if three animals accept your argument before you kill me.”

The tiger agreed to the proposal.  So first of all, they went to a monkey and explained the entire story.  The monkey supported the tiger.  Then, both of them met a hen who also supported the tiger.  The tiger was very delighted, but the pig was understandably upset.

Finally, they took their case t0 a bat.  After hearing the claim of the tiger, the bat realized his intentions right away.  However, he disclosed nothing and only said, “It is a complicated matter.  I would ask you to go to the king for proper judgment.”  The bat informed them that he would appear in the king’s court at the time of the hearing of their case.

Both the tiger and the pig appeared before the king in his court and narrated the whole episode.  The pig informed the king that a witness would appear very soon.  The king asked them to wait while he handled other royal business.  Suddenly, the bat fell from the ceiling of the royal court on the ground and began to dance with joy.  The king warned the bat not to misbehave in the royal court.  The bat begged forgiveness for his behavior, saying “My lord, I fell asleep while waiting on the ceiling of the court.  At that time, I had a dream but I am afraid to reveal it,” the bat said, trembling with fear.  The king told him, “Don’t worry, you can disclose your dream without fear.”

The bat said, “In my dream, I saw myself marrying the princess.” He pleaded that the king would fulfill his dream by arranging a marriage to the princess.  The king became angry and warned the bat not to press for such an absurd demand. “It is not proper to put forward a proposal on the basis of a dream,” insisted the king.  “A dream is a dream and has no connection with reality.”

The bat seized the opportunity and asked, “Since that is true, how could the tiger kill the pig and eat his flesh on the strength of his dream?”  The king accepted the bat’s arguments and rejected outright the foolish proposal of the tiger.  He also ordered the tiger and the pig to live separately, thereafter, in the jungle.

Lesson learned.  If you are a leader in any capacity, it is of paramount importance that you develop a sharp sense of discernment.  Additionally, you must be always open to hear and consider the viewpoints of others, recognizing that leaders do not possess a monopoly on insight, understanding and wisdom.  Finally, in every deliberation and decision, you must be consciously fair and conscientiously just.  

The final words of King David summarize these truths so well:

II Samuel 23:1-3 (NKJV)

Now these are the last words of David.  Thus says David the son of Jesse; thus says the man raised up on high,
the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel: “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue.  The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: he who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.”

In a word, wisdom plus justice is an indispensable prerequisite for sound leadership…always.

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

BUILD WISELY

BUILD WISELY

An elderly carpenter was approaching retirement.  He told his employer, a building contractor, of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife and family.  He would certainly miss the paycheck, but desperately needed to retire.  Somehow, they would get by.

His employer was quite sorry to see such a good worker leaving the business and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor to him.  The carpenter said “yes,” but his heart was no longer in his work.  He lost his enthusiasm and resorted to shoddy workmanship and inferior materials.  It was an unfortunate way to end a truly productive career.

When the carpenter finished his work and his boss came to inspect the new house, the contractor handed the front door key to the carpenter.  “This is your house,” he said, “my gift to a wonderful employee!”

What a shock and what a shame!  If that carpenter had only known he was building his own house, he would have constructed it very differently.  Now he had to spend his retirement years in an edifice he had built none too well.

So it is with us.  We can build our lives in rather distracted ways, reacting rather than acting, often willing to give (and accept) far less than our best.  At important points, we may not invest maximum effort.  Then, with ironic shock, we look at situations we have created and find we now live in houses we’ve built for ourselves.  If we had only realized, if we only been wide awake, we would have done it all quite differently.

Think of yourself as the carpenter.  Think about your house.  Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall.  Build wisely.  It is the only life you will ever build.  Even if you live in it for only one more day, that day deserves to be lived with growing godliness and grace.  Consider this. Your life today is the result of every attitude and choice that makes up your past.  And your life tomorrow will be the result of all the attitudes and actions you exemplify today.  In the words of the prophet Haggai…: 

Haggai 1:7-8

⁷ Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

⁸ Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.

My friends, you and I are the spiritual temples of God, so we belong exclusively to Him. (I Corinthians 6:19)  To wit, each of us is issued a divine directive to “take heed how” we are building. (I Corinthians 3:10)  As we traverse the days of this life, let us maintain a heavenly focus and resolve to build wisely to maximize God’s plans and purposes.

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