Tag:

Crowns

Crowns

by TerryLema

I have a pink straw hat that I wear when I walk outside in the sunshine. Still, I have never been much of a “hat” person, not like the English Royalty! Head coverings for the English Royalty take on a life of their own. I love the pictures of the ladies wearing their enormous hats during the Derby.

Queen Elizabeth always seems to have a hat that exactly matches her outfits. Then there are the high events when the Queen sheds her hats and dons a crown. When I see those occasions, I usually wonder how she can even hold her head up – that royal crown must be so heavy.

God promises crowns for His own in the Scriptures.  There are five.

The Imperishable Crown: This is the reward for living a spirit-filled, disciplined life. [1 Corinthians 9:24-25]

The Crown of Rejoicing: The reward for evangelism and discipleship. [1Thessalonians 2:19]

The Crown of Righteousness: This is the reward for those who live obediently in anticipation of Christ’s return. [2Timothy 4:8]

The Crown of Glory: This is the crown for those who have served the church as elders. [1Peter 5:4]

The Crown of Life: Finally, this is the crown for those who have endured trials and hardships without denying Christ or giving up their faith. [Revelation 2:10]

Our God loves us lavishly now and will lavish gifts on His own when we stand in His presence. A soft word spoken about His love to someone who does not know Him will earn a crown. Standing firm in the trials of life and remaining faithful to Him will earn a crown. Living obediently while longing for His Coming will earn a crown.

I can’t wait to see you wearing a crown!

0 comment
FacebookEmail

“Thank you for … “

by TerryLema

A couple days ago (October 31), I wrote about how God invites us alongside Him to work for His will and His purpose. He does it all, calls us, empowers us, gives us His vision, and then when we accept His invitation to work through us, we get the rewards. God gave me a demonstration of that the other day.

I had a tooth suddenly become sensitive to cold and hot. I called my dentist. He was booked solid, but his associate had an opening. After testing the tooth for sensitivity and taking x-rays, it was determined that I needed a root canal. I started an antibiotic and went back one week later.

The root canal was not all that bad. The dentist is very good, hardly felt anything. I had a delightful dental assistant who tucked a blanket around me and was kind and considerate, funny, and very caring. When the dentist completed the root canal, he patted my shoulder and said, “Thank you for letting me help you!”

I was stunned. After 16 surgeries, numerous procedures, numerous root canals, office visits, infusions, and other such stuff, I have never had a provider thank me for letting him/her help me. I have gotten postcards thanking me for my ‘patronage,” but never thanking me for allowing them to relieve my pain.

In those few simple words, I saw my Savior and LORD. He moves into our lives when we are without hope, without help, without a future. He relieves our pain and gives us life. And in the end, when we stand before Him in glory, He thanks us.

There are rewards in glory, there are even crowns in glory waiting for us. Five of them are mentioned in the New Testament. (The imperishable crown, the crown of rejoicing, the crown of righteousness, the crown of glory, and the crown of life.)

Isn’t it amazing! Our LORD will one day say, “Thank you for letting me help you.”

0 comment
FacebookEmail

My Baby

by TerryLema

Last Sunday as I was praying and waiting to head over to church, I thought about leaving The Way at year’s end and how hard it was to “turn my baby over to someone else.”

As I prayed about what I was feeling, I distinctly heard God say, “It’s not your baby, it’s mine.”

Ah. Yes. It is “His baby.” The only reason there is a church in Middleton, Idaho, is because God ordained it and provided the wisdom and the power to give it life.

In the Book of Revelation, Chapter 4, we are given a peak into the Throne Room of God. John looked around and tried to describe what he was seeing. There were rainbows, fiery torches, thrones, gold crowns, a sea of glass and four beings he can only describe as “living creatures” which worship God day and night.

Whenever these living creature give glory to God the elders cast their crowns before the One seated on the throne.

“Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, the One who lives forever and ever,  the 24 elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, worship the One who lives forever and ever, cast their crowns before the throne, and say: “Our Lord and God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You have created all things, and because of Your will they exist and were created.” [4:9-11 HCSB]

Some scholars claim we, the church, are represented in those elders. Whether or not that is accurate, it reminded me that the only way we have any reward, any crowns at all, is because our God shared “His babies” with us. He allowed us to be part of His vision for His church. He provided the encouragement, the power, the wisdom, the desires to work alongside Him. And because we accepted His invitation and allowed Him to use us, we receive rewards and crowns.

Amazing, isn’t it! He does it all and we get crowns.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

I Crown Thee …

by TerryLema

Rumors abound that Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain might step down this year. If that happens, Prince Charles, who has waited a long time will be crowned King. Prince William is waiting in the wings behind him for his shot at the crown, and his son after him. Then, of course, there was all the talk about Harry, who gave up his royalty and is now living in Hollywood with his wife and son (and if you read the tabloids, not too happy with the outcome of his choice).

I guess, that is life in the royal spotlight. I would not know much about it as I am not royalty – well, not British royalty anyway. The royalty I share with you is far different. There is no waiting in the wings to be crowned, we already have been.

“He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with faithful love and compassion. He satisfies you with goodness; your youth is renewed like the eagle.” [Psalm 103:4-5 HCSB]

My life began in the pit of sin and despair and it will end in the royal halls of heaven. When my Savior died on that cross, he opened the pit through His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to the Right Hand of the Father and made a way from that pit into the very presence of God Almighty.

We now abide in Him and have been crowned with faithful love and compassion. We are satisfied with His goodness and one day these mortal bodies which are so fragile here will become like His glorious body, never to diminish, fade, fail or die again.

I think, all things considered, I will take the royalty offered me by the King of Kings and LORD of Lords rather than anything this world might offer!  Ah, now that is a green pasture in which to rest today. We are sons and daughters of the King!  Amen.

0 comment
FacebookEmail