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I am sitting in my rocker this morning. We are doggy-sitting our daughter’s dog, Bennie. Bennie and I have played catch, had breakfast, and I did sneak him an extra treat that I wasn’t supposed to do until this evening. But, hey, grandparents are known to spoil! Bob is over at the church spraying more wasps’ nests found recently. Bennie is sleeping under the window. Occasionally he awakens and runs into the back yard when he thinks he hears something that should not be there.

I’ve been looking out the front window, the sun is shining, there’s a gentle breeze and except for Bennie’s occasion bark, all is quiet. It’s a beautiful day.

As I sit here the greatest sense of peace is rolling over my soul. I would like to describe what I’m feeling at this moment, but I doubt I have the words. I’m thinking about Jesus, my Savior and LORD. I am marveling in His grace and beauty. I can truthfully say, I am at peace with God.

Isn’t that an amazing experience – to be at peace with God. We are told that this peace is ours because of what Christ Jesus did for us on Calvary’s cross. “We have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” [Romans 5:1]

I am simply in the moment, in His Presence, at peace with my Father. Amen and Amen.

I’ve heard it said that everyone can serve as an example for others … some showing what to do; others showing what not to do. In other words, there are good examples and bad examples and we need to carefully choose which to follow.

Paul invited the Corinthian church to follow his example. He then told them why – because he was following the example that Christ Jesus left. “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” [1 Cor 11:1]

I heard one minister say that Paul must have been pretty arrogant to invite others to follow or imitate him. I don’t think it was arrogance that prompted that invitation. I think it was the realization that whether we like it or not, if we claim to be Christian, others are looking at us. They want to see just how much we resemble this Jesus we claim as LORD and KING.

Jesus chided the leaders and rulers of religion in His time for not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. We had better know both and display both while here on earth! [Matthew 22:29]

God our Father is also setting us forth as an example for the future ages. Remember the Scripture verse? “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” [Eph 2:6-7]

Our Father God is using us as an example for all the ages to show the riches of His grace and His kindness given to us in Christ Jesus. Wow. Let us, by the power of His Spirit in us, strive to be the best example of God’s glory that we can be. Amen.

I will be off line from April 30 to May 6 – see you on the 7^th!  Have a great week, pray, grow closer to the LORD, listen for His voice. God bless you abundantly!

April 10 – April 15 OFF LINE

I will be offline until April 16.  See you on the 16^th.  God bless

Cameras are everywhere.  Practically every person you see has a phone with a built-in camera. You find cameras in stores, businesses, parking garages and lots. About the only place you don’t find them are in public restrooms or dressing rooms in stores … and to be honest I’m not sure about that.

Attached to many of the cameras are people hoping to catch something that will give them 15 minutes of fame. They want their pictures or videos to go viral, hoping they’ll be picked up by the national news and broadcast for the world to see.

The insidious problem with that is that a video that runs a few seconds or minutes often takes things out of context; it doesn’t allow for what came before that might explain what is happening. Nor does it show what comes after. It’s an isolated bite of time which can be and often is misinterpreted. It can also damage a reputation or ruin a life.

The news media is on the hunt for just such things and will run stories without getting facts. The goal to report the news is often tainted by the demand for ratings higher than their competitors.

Fame. Ratings. This is what drives the media. It is not, however, what is to drive God’s beloved.  When God looked out on the nation of Israel at the height of their idolatry, he gave the prophet Jeremiah a message for the nation. “Therefore, say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the LORD its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.’” [7:28]

That message could very well be for our nation, our church, our time – truth has perished. Beloved, let’s be careful in everything we read and see that we seek the truth before we respond, share, or pass anything on to someone else. It is imperative that we find the truth and speak the truth.

One last though from Titus (at least I think it is one last thought). One of the most beautiful sentences ever written is found in Titus 3:4-5: “When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”

At a district council when I received my license to preach in Idaho, I heard a song for the very first time.  It was “Mighty to Save.”  It was written by Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan and part of the repertoire of Hillsong Church. The rights to the song are registered for Hillsong Publishing. The Chorus says, “My Savior, He can move the mountains, My God is Mighty to Save, He is Mighty to save.”

The rights to the song “Mighty to Save” may be owned by Hillsong Publishing, but that wonderful title of God, “Mighty to Save,” comes from the book of Isaiah and is owned by God!  He said, “I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” [63:1 NKJV]

Some translations have a second occurrence of “Mighty to Save” in Zephaniah 3:17: “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.” [NIV]

The Hebrew word for mighty is different in both translations (rab in Isaiah, gibbowr in Zephaniah) but both definitions mean strong, champion, chief, powerful, abundant, etc.

God’s kindness and love prompted our salvation—not because we deserved salvation but because our God is merciful. But behind His kindness, love and mercy, is both the power to save us and the power keep us—He is “Mighty to Save.” Praise His Holy Name!

I will be offline for a few days. I am going to enjoy time with my family, and delight in my LORD. I pray for each and every one of you. May this year end with the peace of the Savior in your heart and mind. God bless all!

My heart is heavy and yet it is light. My heart sorrows and yet is full of joy. How can that be? I see so much need, so many hurts, so many lonely and struggling. And then I see the manger and the Christ Child … I see Jesus and my heart grows light with joy.

I see the manger and the Magi and the shepherds and hear in my imagination the angelic hosts proclaiming and I am filled with pleasure. Then I remember the cross, the crown of thorns, the whipping and mocking and spitting and I mourn for a world that rejected their Savior.

The cross gives way to the empty tomb. I see the surprise on the faces of the disciples, I see the delight in a mother who embraces a son that she thought was forever gone from her. I rejoice in a life that death cannot conquer.

And I see a world that still does not know its salvation, a world that abides in turmoil and struggles. I see the homeless man leaning on his cane outside the Dollar Store, fearful even to make eye contact with me as I went by. I see the children who have nothing and expect nothing even during this time of year. And my heart breaks.

But deep inside I hear the prophet remind me. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.” [Isa 9:6]

The government—the rule—is  on His Shoulders, not mine. I can allow my heart to break with the things that break His and rejoice in the things that give Him delight. My Savior, my LORD, loves me. And He loves you. Today, that is enough.

If there is anything that being blessed should do in us, it is to cause us to become people of joy and praise, people who exalt in who God is and what God does.

“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness.” [Ps 89:15-16]

“Acclaim” in the original language indicates a roar of joy or a battle-cry (KJV joyful noise) – both fit the Christian walk. I love to hear the saints of God worship and praise their Savior. I love to see hands in the air, hear the clapping and shouts, singing and joy.  There is something that ministers deeply in us when we rejoice.

The psalmist reminds us that we are to rejoice in the Name of the LORD all day long! It is not just a Sunday-Morning-Go-To-Meeting rejoicing. We exult God in every situation and setting.

When I drive to and from work each day I pray for a safe trip, that I might be a good Christian witness and that I might go in the strength of the LORD through my day. Then I rejoice. And when I rejoice, I sense God’s presence with me. My car becomes filled with the praises of God, those “How Happy!” (blessed) shouts of joy.

Thank you, LORD, I am blessed to praise You and rejoice in You. Amen.