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TerryLema

One Scary Thought …

by TerryLema

Isaiah 55 is a beautiful chapter in that book. It begins with an invitation to come and ends with a picture of all nature breaking out in joy and rejoicing. But right in the middle of those 13 verses is one scary warning.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call to Him while He is near.” [Isaiah 55:6 HCSB]

I am so waiting for the LORD’s return. I do not know if I shall see Jesus through death, through a Rapture, at His Second Coming. I just want to see Him. I want to be in His Presence. I want the things of earth that torment and harm to be forever behind and only the glorious vision of Jesus ahead.

As I say that, I am aware, however, that so many do not know Him. I understand there is coming a time when the LORD will no longer be near, when He will no longer be found. That is the scariest thought.

That thought alone should motivate us to pray for those who do not know him … even for those who had set their hearts against him. It should motivate us to model Christ to our generation. It should motivate us to speak to others about the blessings and delights found in Christ Jesus. It should drive us to our knees in intercession for our nation.

I know my feelings often get in the way. I find it easy to pray for and intercede for those I love that do not know Christ Jesus … even for those I do not know but who seem like such nice people. I want them to be saved and have the wonderful blessing of one day standing in the presence of God and finding acceptance and love.

I do not always feel the same for those who shake their fist in God’s face, who shout “I do not want this Man to rule over me!” And yet, I know God wants me to also pray for them. Know anyone like that? Met anyone in politics like that? Read any Facebook posts from people like that?

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call to Him while He is near.” [Isaiah 55:6 HCSB]

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Feeling Blessed Yet …

by TerryLema

Blessings. They are so abundant in Christ Jesus. They span the range of every part of life. There are, however, some blessings that I could probably do without. One of those is found in Matthew 5, in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

“You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  [Matthew 5:11-12 CHSB]

I do not usually find insult, persecution, and slander much of a blessing. At least not so much of one that I rejoice over it, but that is exactly what Jesus tells us to do. When we see this kind of opposition, we are “to be glad and rejoice.” He gives us two reasons for that response.

It means our reward will be great in heaven, and it means we are in good company. We are in the company of the prophets of God (people like Moses, and Elijah, and Elisha, and Jeremiah, and John the Baptist) who came before us and were not well received because of their loyalty and faith in the True God.  Being in their company is reason enough to rejoice.

There is one caveat, however, to Jesus’ blessing. It is found in three little words in that Scripture above. We are blessed when we are insulted, persecuted, and slandered “because of [Jesus].”  We will not be blessed if we are insulted, persecuted, and slandered because we are full of hate, or act stupidly, or our responses to others are based on selfish, or self-serving actions.

So, let us be careful, beloved, with our impulses. Our blessing will flow from a holy and truthful heart motivation acting under the direction of God’s Spirit only.

Amen.

 

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Thank you LORD for the things You have done …

by TerryLema

One final thought this week on that wondrous name of Jesus. Thanksgiving.

We have entered the final three months of the year. It is a time when we are refreshed with thoughts of thanksgiving. We are reminded in the Scriptures that our thanksgiving is offered in “the name of Jesus.”

“Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” [Ephesians 5:20]

I am always amazed when I am reminded to be thankful … I am amazed that I could forget all the things God has done for me. But I do forget. The world gets loud. My infirmities of body, soul and mind push to the front. Circumstances, griefs, discouragement, and hordes of other things want my attention. Then suddenly, I read a reminder in God’s Word or feel the Holy Spirit’s whispering “be thankful,” and I am amazed I could have forgotten to be so once again.

When we stand in thanksgiving before God in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, not only do we honor and glorify our God, we testify to the world about the blessings of God. We remind the world that we stand with God in everything, no matter the circumstances or trials, no matter the successes or failures. We are one with our Father because Christ Jesus has made the way for us to be one with Him.

I am so blessed. Father God wanted me. Me! Father God found me. Father God saved me. Father God adopted me into His family and made me a “Child of the Living God!”  Father God sent His Only Son so I might have life and that more abundantly. How can I forget so often to thank Him?

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your gentle reminders of all I have, all we have, because of Christ Jesus. May I always remember to be thankful. Amen.

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In Jesus’ Name, we pray … Amen!

by TerryLema

More thoughts about the name of Jesus today. Shortly before Jesus’ death He instructed His disciples to use His Name when praying to the Father. He told them to pray with the expectation that Father God would answer their prayers.

“I assure you: Anything you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.  Until now you have asked for nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.” [John 16:23b-24 HCSB]

But, what really does it mean to pray “in Jesus’ Name?”  Is it just adding those three words to the end of our prayers as some sort of magical charm?

To pray in Jesus’ name means praying with His authority and asking God the Father to answer our prayers because we come by faith in the Person (the Name) of His Son Jesus.

It means also, and this may be the most important part to remember, that we pray in complete agreement with Jesus’ character and His will. Our prayers are a mirror, a true representation of Who Jesus is.

Our prayers should be compassionate, full of love, caring, unselfish, and always glorify and honor Him. There is no room for egotism, greediness, vengeance or hate in our prayers.

In that wonderful name of Jesus we have the authority to pray … and to serve and work … believing in His saving power, and aligning ourselves with the will of God.

How precious that name. Jesus.

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Thinking on His Name …

by TerryLema

I have been thinking more about the name of Jesus. Thinking about all the amazing and wondrous things we have in that name.  The name Jesus was a quite common name in first-century Israel. The one thing that sets apart the name of Jesus of Nazareth, however, is the Person it belongs to and what He did for us. We are saved, healed, protected, justified, and redeemed because of the Person and Work of Christ Jesus.

When we see Jesus, we see the fullness of God. Paul tells us in Colossians 2 that “the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ,” and then goes on in his next thought to remind us that “[we] have been filled by Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” [V9-10 HCSB]

The writer of Hebrews also reminds us that Christ Jesus, the Son of God, “is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word.” [Hebrews 1:3 HCSB]

How many times I have read those verses and they still thrill my heart. The world may look at Jesus as a great teacher, a good man, a self-help guru, self-esteem builder, a political liberator or transformer of cultures. They may think of him as progressive, caring, resolute, or determined.

But I know He is so much, so very much more. He is God in human flesh who came to save the lost, forgive and redeem the sinner … of which I am.

He brought the love and glory of Our Father God to us, and now He sustains all things ll, just as He created all things, by His powerful word.

No wonder the Person and the Name of Jesus is so precious to us. Amen & Amen.

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Life and Death and Viruses …

by TerryLema

I was thinking about life and death the other day. We apparently are experiencing a third wave of COVID19 in Idaho and there are always the “warnings” that people who are old or compromised are most at risk. I am old – not as old as some but old enough to fall into that risk category. I also have three, yes three, auto-immune diseases which affect my risk factors, one of which has the potential for blindness, strokes, aneurisms. Thinking about life and death is not such an odd phenomenon for me.

For a couple hours the enemy was trying to install fear in my heart about leaving the house, exposing myself to “the virus.” Then I realized what was going on and who was trying to influence my heart. I remembered that no matter what happens to my body, I have life in the name of Jesus.

“But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.” [John 20:31]

Life in Jesus’ Name. That life given to me by the Son of God when I placed my faith in Him and surrendered to His LORDship is eternal. It cannot be taken from me because it is provided and guarded by the One in whom all power and authority resides.

Yes, my body might fail … yes, my body will fail. It may fail from age, from disease, from a virus, or from an accident. It may fail today, tomorrow, or in two decades. But life … the life in His name, cannot fail.

Will I do everything I can to avoid risks while I am most vulnerable now – of course. Not because of fear of death, but because I do not think my time of ministry is done yet. When it is, I will take my eternal life and go to see face-to-face the One who provided it.

What a glorious day that will be. Amen & Amen

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What’s in a Name …

by TerryLema

I was able to go on a Worship Walk the other day. Not the three miles I used to do, but long enough that it ministered to my soul. As I listened to my music I was touched by the song, “Your Name.” (Link below)

What is in a name?  As Christians, we speak the name of Jesus with great love and respect. We acknowledge that our salvation is “in the name of Jesus.”

Acts 4:12: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people, and we must be saved by it.” [HCSB]

We must, however, realize that there is nothing magical in those five letters … J E S U S. All power for salvation given to the name of Jesus is found in the Person of Jesus.

We trust the Risen Christ Jesus, the one who came to us from God the Father, who lived His life among us in the flesh. He lived that perfect life and then offered it on the cross on our behalf, for our sins and the sins of all who would place their trust in Him. He rose again to bring us eternal life and to destroy any barriers to that life. Had he not rose from the dead, we would not even know His name.

The power for salvation comes from true faith in who Jesus is and what He did for us.

Where there is no faith, no relationship, or no submission to His lordship, the name Jesus is nothing but a word.

 

 https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=song+your+name+is+a+strong+and+mighty+tower&view=detail&mid=1C2E465F5303721D30AC1C2E465F5303721D30AC&FORM=VIRE0&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dsong%2byour%2bname%2bis%2ba%2bstrong%2band%2bmighty%2btower%26form%3dANNTH1%26refig%3db519b33a625d4486b52975814cf9d274%26sp%3d8%26ghc%3d1%26qs%3dRI%26pq%3dyour%2bname%2bis%2ba%2bs%26sk%3dPRES1RI7%26sc%3d8-16%26cvid%3db519b33a625d4486b52975814cf9d274

 

 

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A Given …

by TerryLema

Recently at a city in Northern Idaho, a church gathered to have “Psalm Sing” in front of City Hall. They had been granted permission to do so. At one point, they apparently disobeyed the “social distancing/mask wearing” guidelines and police showed up. It made the news, of course. There was a bit of disagreement over whether the church provoked the response it got. I was not there, so cannot judge.

However, they came back a second night and other churches joined them. This time there was no police presence, several state legislators took part, and it was a peaceful “Psalm Sing,” – except for one thing. This time protestors surrounded them with drums and acoustic instruments to try to disrupt and drown them out.  From what I understand, those gathered just kept on singing.

The protestor’s response was nothing new. It has happened before. There are ample instances in the Bible where those who oppose the message and work of God have tried to discourage God’s people.  When the remnant of Israel returned from captivity in Babylon, they set about to re-build the destroyed temple and city. That annoyed those non-Israelites who were now occupying Jerusalem and they sought to disrupt the work.

Ezra 4:4-5: “Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.”

 Opposition is nothing new. Opposition to our Creator God has been around since the Garden, and two of the main tactics the enemy of our soul uses are discouragement and fear. I think that is why the Scriptures contain so many references to “Fear Not,” and commands to “encourage one another.”

So beloved, do not be surprised if you find opposition to your walk with the LORD in this world. It is a given!

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A Lost Passion? A New Anointing?

by TerryLema

Last Saturday, during a Day of Repentance, we had a prayer meeting at Church from 8 AM to Noon. I had the first shift, 8 to 9 AM. I got there early, set up my computer and the projector with a PowerPoint presentation of reminders of things to pray for during our time.  When my shift was over, I left for a couple hours rest at home, before returning for the last shift from 11 AM to Noon.

I realized that I was looking at this as a chore, rather than a delight. I was tired and grumpy. My neck hurt. My fatigue in overdrive. I confessed to God that it felt as if I had lost my passion, or perhaps just did not have the energy for it anymore. I wondered if I should just quit and let someone young and energetic take my place – lead this church into the next revival and awakening.

Close to noon and winding everything up, there were three of us left, a married couple and me. I felt God telling me to ask them to pray for me … and just as I turned toward them, they were walking toward me asking if they could pray for me.  One of those God “coincidences” maybe?

As they prayed, the husband said two things. First, he said that God was going to give me a new and fresh anointing. That touched my heart. Even more though, he spoke of God’s love for me. That broke my heart. I was not feeling very loveable at the time. I felt like I had disappointed God with my attitude. I felt like I had saddened God with my wanting to run away from responsibilities and just let someone else do it.

As wretched as I thought of myself, God was not coming down to join my pity party! (Smile!) He led others to me to pray and lift me up to Him instead.

I am waiting on Him now for that refreshed anointing. I am silent before His love for me. “Lord, You have searched me and known me…You understand my thoughts from far away…You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me.”  [Psalm 139:1-5 HCSB]

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Lost Your Focus …?

by TerryLema

The last day of September. Three-quarters of 2020 are behind us. So far, it has been a most memorable year—one that none of us expected I am sure. None of us expected a pandemic. None of us expected the economy to shut down. The phrase “social distancing” was not even part of our vocabulary. I might also add that perhaps our focus was not on the LORD as much at the beginning of the year as it is now—now that we are desperate for God to move.

Helen Howarth Lemmel was born in England but came to the United States at age 12, settling in Wisconsin with her parents. She was a brilliant singer, studying voice for four years in Germany. In the early 1900’s she regularly traveled giving concerts in many churches.

She married a European who was quite wealthy. She taught voice at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago before teaching in Los Angeles. During her lifetime of 98 years she composed over 500 hymns and poems and even authored a children’s book.

But in the middle years of her life things changed dramatically and she was dealt a couple of big blows to her faith. Helen became blind and her husband abandoned her. Life became a struggle for her. Then someone sent her a pamphlet with words that changed her life. She took those words to heart and wrote a song we all know well. That song was “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.”

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

 2020 has been difficult for many of us. Maybe circumstances have hurt us, or someone has abandoned us and left us wounded. I genuinely believe that when we are at our lowest, if we but turn our focus to Jesus, asking for His comfort, peace, and grace, He will not deny us. We will find as Helen did, that the things of earth “will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”  

 https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=turn+your+eyes+upon+jesus&docid=608004452610868981&mid=42A8767EFACCD5481D2942A8767EFACCD5481D29&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

 

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