You Can be Sure

             So you are a Christian. You might have become a Child of the King years ago or days ago. How can you really know the prayer you recited worked? After all, you might not have felt any different. Sometimes you look at the chaos around you and wonder if there really is a God who loves and cares for you.

         My sweet friend, I am here to tell you that you can be absolutely sure of your salvation.

        John, the disciple Jesus loved, wrote 1 John to show us the blessed assurance of salvation.

There are usually signs of things happening around us. One sign of spring is budding trees. A sign of inclement weather is gathering storm clouds. Below are only a few signs of salvation.

•           Are you a sinner? If you are, you are probably saved. John tells us that if we say we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and His word is not in us (1 John 1:10).
•         Do you love the things of the world? John reminds us that loving the world and the things in the world - the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life – are signs that the love of God is not in us (1 John 2:15-16).
•          Have you given up your pet sin? 1 John 3:6-10 tell us that we are of the devil if we keep sinning after salvation. Those are pretty harsh words, but it does not mean that Christians will be perfect. It means we will give up that which grieves God. We will stop drinking, swearing, smoking, lying, and the thousand other things God brings to our minds. Not because we have to, but because we want to please God.
•         Do you believe Jesus Christ came in the flesh, was fully God, and fully man? Jesus is not just a good teacher or a moral leader; He is God Almighty, and according to 1 John 4:2-3, if you do not confess that, you are not of God.
•          Finally, do you love? Not just your spouse or children, but the noisy neighbor down the street, the homeless woman on the corner, or your co-worker who spreads rumors about you. Do you say you love, or do you show you love? Jesus showed His love by dying for us; John says we show our love, not in word or talk, but in deed and in truth (1 John 3: 18).

My friend, how sweet it is to trust in Jesus, to have the blessed assurance that God loves us, to know we have eternal life. Now we can have the confidence of knowing that we can ask God anything according to His will, He will hear us because we are His beloved children (1 John 5: 13-14).

Dear Lord God,

I praise you for the Blessed Assurance

For the gift of mercy and grace

For the love you give me, so I can love others

I pray for the blessing of certainty for each person reading this today.

In Christ alone, Amen

But I expected...

 Expectations are funny things. They are often reciprocal. Some expectations are met, some are not. 

Teachers expect students to turn in their work on time and according to directions. Students expect fair grades.

Parents expect their children to behave. Children expect rewards for good behavior.

Employers expect a full day's work from employees, and employees expect a fair day's wage. 

When expectations are spelled out, it is much easier to have them met: XX number of dollars for an hour's work for example.

What happens when expectations are not spelled out? Chaos, hurt feelings, bad tempers, maybe years of separation. Hurt feelings over expectations are most often found in families and good friends.

What about caring for aging parents? Will mom or dad go to a home somewhere or will the children care for them? Is a family member who is well off expected to support a family member who is struggling? Do parents expect child care needs to be met by siblings? What happens when these expectations are not met or are not met in expected ways?  

What about related adults sharing housing? In my opinion, it depends on the relationship. Is it a familial relationship or a tenant relationship?  If my adult relative is living with me rent-free, I am feeding them and occasionally doing their laundry, then I would expect a "my house, my rules" relationship. If my adult family member is paying rent, buying their own food, and doing their own laundry, then I would expect to treat them with the same respect as any other tenant. They are free to come and go at will with no expectation of housekeeping or yard work. (I expect this situation to arise in my family, I guarantee we will discuss our expectations beforehand!)

Expectations are dangerous things. I cannot expect my friend to care for my pets when I am on vacation just because they did it once. I cannot expect the person driving down the road to always stop at a red light, especially when it is icy. I cannot expect others in my study group to do their part of the assignment. I need to acknowledge my expectations and, if necessary, change them. I have heard it said that you should never expect anything, then you would never be disappointed. Maybe I am too cynical but I seldom expect people to keep their word; I am happily proven wrong quite often. 

Who can we always count on? Who is always there for us, even in unexpected ways? God! He is the same, always! (Heb. 13:8). That means if He brought Moses through the desert and was with Daniel's friends in the fiery furnace, He will be with me in whatever I am going through. I can count on God to be my comfort (Ps 94:19, John 14). 

God is the only one who will meet your expectations, man will fail you. Do not rely on man for your peace, comfort, or joy. Seek the only one who truly has your best at heart, 

Resurrection Sunday

I have had this song running through my mind all day. I think it is the perfect song for Resurrection Sunday. O Praise the Lord, by Hillsong Worship.

It has a somber, haunting quality. We remember why Christ died that Good Friday so many years ago.  He died so that I might live with Him in heaven. 

 Make no mistake, your soul, that part of you that makes you who 

you are, will live forever. Your soul, your spirit is eternal. 

God does not reject people, people reject God. 

God does not send people to hell, we are already headed 
there, God accepts people into heaven. 

 "Then on the third at break of dawn, the Son of heaven rose again!" Resurrection! He came back to life and hundreds of witnesses attest to the fact. Thousands, millions, have given their lives to proclaim Jesus is Alive. Billions have believed and many more will believe. Death, where is your sting? Jesus Christ has the keys to life and death. He alone knows when, where, and how you will die. You do not want to face judgment without Jesus standing in your place. 

The Bible says, "all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God" (Romans 3:23). All is me and you. We are not good enough, none of us.  "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Paul is not talking about physical death; he is talking about spiritual death, and eternal separation from God. But God did give us Hope. Romans 5:8 tells us, "even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus died for my sins 2000 years before I was born. He knew I would be born, and I would need a Savior; He died for me and you long before we knew we would need Him. 

So you know you are a sinner, you know you need a Savior, now what? Paul tells us in Romans 10:9-10 that all we need to do is "confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." He goes on to tell us that everyone who calls on Jesus will be saved. 

Jesus is coming back. "He shall return in robes of white; the blazing sun shall pierce the night." We do not know when He will come back, but we know it could be soon. The Bible tells us that "every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord" (Romans 14:11). Whether or not you accept Jesus as Lord and Savior before your physical body dies, you will confess He is Lord when He returns for the judgment. 

The choice is yours. Continue on the road to hell and damnation, or confess and accept Jesus as Lord. Do not wait. If you have questions, please leave me a comment. 

Lord, I pray for each person reading this, 

for those who do not know you, for those still

questioning. Lord, open the eyes of their Soul.

Show them You in a real, undeniable way. 

Thank You for dying for me, 

Thank you for the witnesses who saw You alive again. 

For endless days, I will sing Your praise. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

All the Earth will sing

 When we lived in the Bush, we lived on a small Lake we called Paradise. It still does not have an official name on the topographical maps, but our house and outbuildings are clearly visible. It was living out there that I learned that, as the song says, Heaven and Nature Sing. Nor is it outside the realm of possibility that the stones would cry out in praise, as described in Luke 19.

In the winter, it got cold, really cold, for long periods of time; -20 for several days was common.   It must have been late in the season because I remember sitting in a snowbank like it was a recliner, just staring in awe. 

The Aurora, the Northern Lights were out. 

They were gliding across the inky black sky in shimmering greens, reds, and blues. Swirling around, first one way, then another in a beautiful waltz. The Lights were the brightest, most vivid display I had seen until that time or since. The colors! Green would flash to white, the red would suddenly be magenta, and blue was ribboned around Aurora as she danced in the night. 

What made this performance truly remarkable was that we could hear the song of the Aurora as she danced across the sky. We could hear hissing and popping as it kept time with the Lights, sometimes so soft it was barely audible, other times very clear, but never loud. It was not exactly static electricity or the radio being almost tuned, but that is the closest I can come to describing the music of the night sky. 

A more common song was sung by the lake in early winter, just after freeze-up. As the ice grew thicker and deeper, it would expand and icy fissures would explode onto the surface of the lake. The music would sound like the deep rumble of a guitar string humming across the surface of the lake. During break-up, the wind would push the rotten ice to and fro, and the tinkling of the ice sounded like God's wind chimes. 

As I contemplate Holy Week, what this week means to me, and indeed to all of history, I am reminded that Luke 19:40 tells us that if the people stop praising God, the stones that lined the path would shout, cry out, and cheer with praise. God created us to praise and worship Him. If we stop, other parts of His creation will take over the praise. Listen to the music God created. It is in the babbling brook, the roaring ocean, and the breeze through the leaves. 

Lord God, I will always praise You!
 I will praise you with music; I will praise You with voice and instrument. 
Thank You for reminding us that all of creation will sing Your praises. 
As we remember this, the Holiest week in history, 
may we never stop Praising You. 
This week ends with Your death for my sins. 
I praise You and Thank You for my salvation. 
In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.  

Frustration

I get frustrated way too easily.

There is a litmus test that is only a bit of a joke. To find the true character of a person, give them slow internet. 

My frustration today was not slow internet but my own faulty memory. Passwords! 

In the computer age, we have passwords for everything. Some of them must be updated periodically, others never need to be changed. They all need to conform to a specific combination of capital letters, numbers, and symbols.  Some have to be a certain length too. 

I have not needed this specific password in some time and naturally did not have it saved correctly. I knew I knew the password and did not need to change it. I must have typed and retyped for close to a half-hour before I accepted that I did not remember the correct combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.

I am so grateful that God does not require passwords. I can upload praises, thanksgiving, and requests by simply talking to Him, praying. Pray without ceasing! (1Thess 5:17). Paul is not telling the Thessalonians, or us, that we have to be in a constant state of head bowed, eyes closed, thee and thou praying. We should always be ready to talk to God though. Thank Him for the sunshine, snow, and Northern Lights. Praise Him for the uneventful trip to the grocery store. Ask Him for guidance, for help with the work issue, or homework that is plaguing you. 

Downloading from God is just as easy! Open the Bible, read what He has to say about any subject, any time. There are some fantastic apps that will help with systematic reading, devotionals geared toward specific topics, and different versions of God's Word. (I love YouVersion!)

Best of all, no passwords, no slow connection, no buffering, no waiting. God is always there, ready to hear from His beloved Child - You!

Lord God of the Universe. I thank You and praise You for always being available. You never make me wait, You never are too busy. Forgive me for not listening to You as quickly as I should, forgive me for repeatedly trying it on my own and only giving it to You when my frustration level peaks. Help me Lord, to remember to turn to You first, not last. In Jesus' precious name I pray, Amen. 

Sin is Forgiven

I am a sinner, saved by grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone. When we become Christians our sins are forgiven and forgotten. Never again to be held over us.

John 8:44 tells us that Satan is a liar and is the father of lies. Satan will keep poking the bear, he will keep bringing up sins that have been forgiven and forgotten by God. 

He is a liar! Never forget - Satan is a liar. He cannot have your soul any longer so he wants your peace and joy. He glories in our misery. Satan will use our past to deaden our present and ruin our future if he can. 

Repentance is turning away, turning your back on your old nature, and being a new creation in Christ Jesus. 2 Cor. 5:17 tells us "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." Paul did not say this person will be a new creation, might be, should be, no - he said this person, you dear Christian, ARE a new creation. 

The old things have passed away. Turn your back on your old nature. Confess and repent. Do not confess to me or any other person. No human has the power to forgive sin, that is God's area of expertise. 

Which sins can be forgiven? All of them.

• Were you an alcoholic? Forgiven
• Drug abuser? Forgiven
• Have an abortion (or have a girlfriend/wife who did) Forgiven
• Thief? Forgiven
• Murderer? Forgiven
• liar, disobedient to parents, ran the red light? All forgiven

Once God forgives sin, He forgets it as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12). Think about that for a minute. One can measure the distance from the North to South Poles (12,436.12 miles) but can we measure how far it is between East and West? If we travel north to the pole and continue in a straight line, there is a place where we begin traveling south. But If we travel west, there is no point at which we begin traveling east.  

There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. He loves you with an everlasting love, nothing you do can change that, nothing you do can make Him love you more or less. 

Thank you, God, that you are the Father of truth and that You love me even when I stumble. Thank you for removing my sin as far as the East is from the West and that you remember it no more. We praise you for dying to save all those who will call on Your name. I know, Lord, there is nothing I can do to earn salvation and nothing I can do to lose salvation. I praise You for this free gift, available to anyone who asks. Set a hedge of protection around us to keep Satan and his lies from penetrating our hearts and minds. I love you Jesus, Amen. 

It is a balancing act

One of the fun things about living in the bush was traveling in small, single-engine airplanes. I have flow in everything from a two-seat Super Cub to a multi-passenger Beaver. I have more take-off and landings on water or ice than I do on paved runways.  Most of the time, I have been the only passenger and the rest of the area was taken up by supplies. The plane I flew in the most is a Cessna 206, the SUV of the flying world. It can carry six passengers and haul around 1500 lbs. 

One cold winter morning, I had a full load coming home. We always weighed our stuff because we did not have to leave anything behind. As was normal back then, the airstrip our favorite charter service was using at the time was gravel and uncontrolled. There is no such thing as baggage handlers. When I arrived with my truckload of supplies it was still dark, and well below zero.  The pilot was chatting with a couple of friends and enjoying a hot cup of coffee. I asked if I could do anything to help get my load ready.  Laughing, he said I could load the plane. 

Understand, I had handed supplies to the pilot as he loaded the plane for years. I had watched him and others seemingly play a game of Tetris fitting everything in the airplane as if in a jigsaw puzzle. I am a pro at packing boxes to get the most in and wasting the least space but had never loaded an airplane by myself.  I reminded the pilot I had not done that alone and asked if there was anything I needed to know. He said to distribute the load evenly and do not put anything on the rudder cables. OK, easy-peasy.

A half-hour later, the sun barely peeking over the horizon, I told the pilot I had loaded the plane and we were ready to go. He came out of the office, took one look at the 206, and asked what had I done! The 206 has a trike configuration in its gear, one ski at the nose and two under the wings.  The front ski was still on the ground, but barely, the tail was still off the ground, but the plane was not level. I told him I had loaded the plane, like he said, the weight distributed evenly. 

We both learned valuable lessons that morning. He learned to be clearer in his instructions and I learned that in the aviation world, even distribution means only over the wings, not nose to tail.  He quickly rearranged a few heavier items and soon we were airborne. The stall buzzer sounding the whole trip. 

Sometimes the stress and burdens in our lives can seem like a heavy load, too much to handle. We get wise counsel on how to carry the weight but sometimes the advice can be off, just a little, and everything is out of balance.  

Jesus invites us to come to Him, all who are weary and heavy burdened, He will give you rest, His burden is light (Matt. 11:28). Paul tells us in Galatians 6:2 to bear each other's burdens. 

So which is it, light burdens or so heavy someone else has to carry the load?

It is both. Sometimes our burdens are too much to bear, we are nearing the breaking point and one more thing will break us in half. When that happens, we are to go to our brothers and sisters and redistribute the load. 

The young mom just needs a couple of hours of quiet.....volunteer to babysit

The elder is not sure how they are going to make their SSA stretch this month....take them food

The teen has devastating news to tell their parents.....sit with them as they confess

If we do not know what the burden is, how can we help? Have accountability partners. Trusted mentors and friends who can come alongside you and give wise counsel and practical help. This is what sharing burdens look like. 

Lord, help me not to be too proud to seek help when the burden is too great

Help me to see those who you love, as You see them

Show me where I can ease another's burden

I praise You for the gift of Life. 

I love you Jesus, Amen