Jesus

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Christmas Every Day!

Was Jesus born on December 25th. Anything is possible but it’s hardly likely. It really doesn’t matter because Jesus should be celebrated every day!

It’s a shame that so many don’t recognize that and only think of the Savior on Easter or at Christmas.
He is not recognized as the Lord of all!

Not long after His birth something wonderful happened.

Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” Luke 2:22-24

He was taken to the Temple. Now remember He is only about 6 weeks old or so.
While at the Temple a man named Simeon and a elderly widow named Anna recognized this Baby as the Messiah.

Both spoke and prophesied over Him,

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Luke 2:33

It is a shame that more did not recognize Him as Messiah at that time.
It is a shame that more do not recognize Him as Savior and Messiah today!

Those two in the Temple that day, weren’t around to celebrate the birth of Jesus at the manger. They won’t be around to celebrate with the Wise Men. But they did celebrated Jesus forty days after His birth.

He is meant to be celebrated each and every day!

Abba, every day I see the Savior in all the things around me. Christmas and all that comes with it, reminds me of the Savior, but then I choose to be reminded! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Christmas Trees Rejoice Before the Lord

There is a Christmas tree in my living room. It’s not a real tree, though I do love the smell of a fir.

We have lights on our tree and there are ornaments on it. Some of the ornaments are the baby pictures of me, my wife, children and grandchildren.

I’ve said previously that the lights remind me of the twinkling stars that shine in the night.

But is my tree a pagan symbol?
Many think so!

For the customs of the peoples are futile; for one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers so that it will not topple. Jer 10:3-4

This was not a Christmas tree in Jeremiah. Christ had not come. Were they worshipping the tree?
It’s likely. They also cut wood and stone and made little statues to worship.

I’ve cut wood and have made things but never worshipped them. Neither do I worship the Christmas tree.

What I am reminded of is that a tree got us in trouble and a tree got us out of trouble.

It was a tree that Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat it’s fruit. They did. It was called sin and it has affected everyone.

It was another tree that was cut down, put in the shape of a cross, and upon it was nailed the Son of God.
This act on the second tree took away the reproach of the first.

I often think how cruel people can be with what God had created; and I often wonder what kind of tree became the wood of the cross.

I think of how the Bible says,

The trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord, 1 Chron 16:33

What a joy that the trees rejoice before the Lord. I rejoice before the Lord too!

Abba, all of Your creation is beautiful to me. I love the change of leaves in Autumn and I love the budding of green in Spring. I love the beauty of snow (or ice) on the pines around my home. I rejoice in your creation, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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A Great Deal!

It’s Black Friday and I know there are scores of people standing in line and fighting the crowds around the nation for a good deal on a gift.

We did it yesterday evening after the turkey was eaten and while the Dallas Cowboys were losing. We decided to go down and get a new TV so we could better watch the Cowboys lose! 😉

Linda and I stood in line for an hour talking to other shoppers. We were about a hundred in line according to one of the store managers that was doing a head count.
And the line kept on growing with around 300 by the time it was over.

Our line was for just one size TV. There were lines for many other things around the store.

I don’t know why this is called Black Friday when the stores make so much green!

But I’ll give you another deal – a Red Deal. And you don’t have to stand in line.
Even better – it’s FREE.

It’s salvation.

If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

I’ve noticed that this line is never crowded, though it should be.
There is no fighting to get a hold of it.
There are no tickets handed out.
And according to the verse, it’s well lit and you can still have fellowship with those around you.

You won’t find this deal in the sale paper because salvation is FREE and you don’t have to wait for it.
It can be yours now!

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom 10:9-10

Abba, I have had many things over the years that have broke, been repaired, or I returned. Salvation is not one of them. Thank you for this free gift given to all, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Thanks Giving It Up

What would you willingly give up for another person?

I know some people that have given a kidney or bone marrow to help someone. But my question leans more towards what lifestyle would you give up to help someone.

Would you give up drinking and never touch another drop if it would rid your mom of Alzheimer’s?

Could you give up bacon or seafood if you knew it would cure a child you know of leukemia?

What about church? Would you never miss another service if it made grandma well again?

What are you willing to give up for your children or spouse to insure they are happy and safe?

The things you say you would give up are the things that Jesus did give up!
He never got drunk, never committed adultery, and never ate bacon or seafood. He did not lie, steal, murder, or back talk His parents.
He was never jealous or envious. He did not cuss or take God’s name in vain. He never missed the opportunity to worship God with others in a synagogue or Temple.

And He did this all for YOU!
Then He did something else!

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Cor 5:21

Jesus took upon Himself the sinful things you weren’t willing to give up so you could be made whole.
So you could be made perfect.
So you could have a more abundant life!
So you could have eternal life with Him in heaven someday!

Paul testifies of the things he was willing to give up after he accepted Jesus as his Savior.

I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; Phil 3:8-9

Abba, on this Thanksgiving Day I am reminded of what I am most thankful for – that you gave up the opportunity to sin so that I can live. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Liberty in Christ

To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Luke 4:18

Liberty is freedom!

The Founding Father’s were all about liberty and freedom. Reading the Declaration and the Constitution will give you a real sense of the liberty they meant for all that live in these United States.

But liberty and freedom doesn’t not give people the right to loot, pillage, and destroy property.

There are laws pertaining to these crimes. There are thousands of laws pertaining to all kinds of crimes. Still people continue to freely disobey the law.

How can the death of a young black man by a policeman justify the burning of police cars and the stealing of television sets?

What people need is Jesus – not more protesting and rioting.

If you feel oppressed, it is Jesus that can give you liberty.

I am free to do anything – ANYTHING in Christ Jesus. But the Holy Spirit keeps my spirit in submission on what that anything is! I am not free to sin but am set free not to sin.

This country (and the world) needs the liberty of Jesus against oppression.

Abba, I pray for those that are oppressed by sin and seeking liberty through crimes, drugs, hurting themselves, suicidal tendencies, or excuses. I pray that I may deliver the message of deliverance to those I meet, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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God Still Saves

Sunday was a great day at Crossroads. I was honored to baptize a 73 year old man.

I’ve known Bobby for years, as he is Brock’s dad – Brock being my brother-in-law. Brock had been actively talking to his dad about salvation and often asked us at church to pray for him.

Last Wednesday, Brock’s mom passed away.

This devastated the family.

When another son, Brent, began talking with his dad about things, Bobby realized that he would never see Betty again, not here and not in eternity. With that thought came the reason why he would not see her – he was a sinner that had never given his heart to Jesus.

That changed last Saturday night when he asked Jesus for forgiveness and invited Him into his heart.

It is written,

if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom 10:9-10

I am witness and testify that Bobby did exactly that! He confessed with his mouth and told me that he meant every word he prayed – he believed in his heart. He further made a public profession of his faith by being baptized.

It was a glorious day and a great reminder that GOD STILL SAVES!

Abba, I am blessed that Bobby gave his heart to You. I am thankful for the change I see in his family because of his decision. And I pray that his salvation will affect many others that need Jesus as Savior. YES&AMEN

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The Warning and the Way!

Last time I said that your love for another person will excuse their sin. They can be living an abomination but because you love them, you will overlook what they do.

Let me shed some light on this in a different way by using a familiar verse.

You are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. Rom 2:1

You often think of judging when someone points out the sins of another in a condemning tone.

But what happens when you overlook the sin of another person. You are judging that there is no severity in their sin. You will let them live without the knowledge that sin is punishable by the Great Judge.

To not inform someone about the danger of sin is to condemn them in their sin.

Ezekiel was given this charge by the Lord God:

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Ezek 3:17-19

I will admit that I am guilty of overlooking the sin of someone I love. But in doing so I may be condemning us both.

We need to be a watchman and just shout the warning. That’s all God requires from me and you.

Abba, You love me so much that You told me my sin would be punished by death. Then You provided a way for me to live through Your Son. Thank You. Give me wisdom in giving the warning and the way! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Love Overlooks and Excuses.

Love has an amazing affect on people.

Love is able to transform sadness to happiness; it changes loneliness into hope.
The Bible has much to say about love – how it is so patient and kind.

While,

Hatred stirs up strife, Love covers all sins. Prov 10:12

“love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

Love also overlooks sins.

There is a husband that’s an alcoholic but the wife loves him and makes excuses for him when he doesn’t show up with her at a party.

There’s the child doing drugs but the parents don’t want to believe that because they love her and just want to believe she’s going through a phase.

I can go on and on and this may be happening in your family. Your love is not covering their sins – it’s overlooking those sins.

You will overlook the sins of those you love!

You nor that person you love can ever, ever cover those sins.
But Jesus can because He covers those sins in forgiveness through His own blood.

Your sin isn’t overlooked or excused – it’s forgiven, washed away, removed, gone, and never to be remembered.

Abba, thank You for covering my sin. I would still be in a bad shape had you just overlooked it. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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The Funeral

I’ve done many funerals in my time as a pastor. Each varies in length with how much the family tells me about someone, how much I know about the deceased, and what God lays on my heart.

I like to honor the one that has died, which is easier and much more joyful when the person knew Jesus as Savior.

It’s really not much different from a sermon – taking anywhere from twenty to forty-five minutes.

So I was a bit surprised by the amount of time the Bible spent on the death of a great man of God – a Patriarch of the Hebrews, Abraham.

Just forty-three words.

This is the sum of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived: one hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. Gen 25:7-8

But when you think of the words of Jesus, who said,

“Have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Matt 22:31-32

Abraham did not have a funeral – but a homecoming!

And so it is with all that die in this life to wake up in NEW LIFE!
Death is not the closing of one’s eyes and seeing the darkness – it is closing your eyes and seeing the Light!

And Abraham’s life speaks for itself in the descendants he left behind, including a Child born into his family under the family of Judah – Jesus!

Abba, when I die, may the words at my funeral be “He lived for Christ!” YES&AMEN

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Seeing Clearly

Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. Mark 8:22-23

All of us know someone that needs healing. Despite some of my infirmities, there are others that need healing more than me. That’s not to say that I would turn down a healing.

But the healing of this blind man is a lesson for all to learn.

And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. Mark 8:23

Don’t get caught up in the spit. I’ve read and heard a lot of things about this – things like spittle was considered medicinal or that it was used to moisten the eyelids, which may have been stuck together because of natural eye secretions that hardened over time.

To set your mind at ease, Jesus could have had the man use his own spit on his own eyes.

Nevertheless, he was asked what he saw.

And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” Mark 8:24

It’s true the man was no longer blind!
Neither can he really see.

It’s a reality that exist today – people not blind but not clearly seeing.

Far too often Christian’s close their eyes to many things – the poor in need of food or shelter, the prostitute or addict in need of a loving friend, a child in need of authority, and even God!

God’s own people can have their eyes wide open and not see clearly the gifts of the Spirit, the miracles of God, or the outpouring of grace available to everyone.

Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. Mark 8:25

Only a touch of Jesus can open your eyes and give you real sight.
Only a touch from Jesus can allow you to see what was always right in front of you.

I do not see all that is of God but I see more than I use to!

I can repeat the same words of the old hymn Amazing Grace, which reiterate the words of another blind man,

One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see. John 9:25

Abba, open my eyes that I may see You more clearly in all things. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN