Religion & Spirituality

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Trees

I love trees!

But about eight years ago a storm and straight wind pushed several over around our acreage, including the top of one pine that landed on the house. It was at that time Linda said she wanted every tree cut that could fall on the house.

That task was finally started and finished over the past few days, with the last few trees cut yesterday evening. Fourteen trees in all.

Now had all these been big majestic oaks or a bunch of fruit trees, I would be sad. But every tree was a pine, some as tall as fifty or sixty feet. Pines don’t give a lot of shade and needles and cones fall every where so I don’t count it as a great loss.

You know trees are mentioned throughout the Bible, beginning with the Tree of Life as well as the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Noah made an ark from wood cut from trees. Daniel interpreted a dream about a tree that was cut down but the stump remained.

The Psalmist says that anyone that reads and meditates on God’s word,

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Ps 1:3

It is written how the trees rejoice and praise God.

Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord. Ps 96:12

And the Lord Jesus both cursed a fig tree and was later hung on a tree.

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), Gal 3:13

What a sad day it must have been for that tree – that the Creator was killed upon it. But what a day for you to rejoice and praise God because Jesus did die upon that tree and three days later was resurrected.

Abba, Thank You for the sacrifice given on my behalf so that I may no longer live under the curse. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Lesson from an Ant

I have finally started cutting firewood. I’m just a tad behind my regular schedule of doing it, which usually starts in May/June so that it is well seasoned by the first fire!

It’s not that I’m lazy, I just haven’t felt like doing it, which may be another way of saying that I’ve been a bit lazy. I like to tell others that I’m not lazy – I’m just slow!

I’m also behind on redoing our bathroom. I bought a surround shower/tub and the wall board back in March. I haven’t done a thing with any of it.

I have not learned the lesson from an ant.

Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? Prov 6:6-9

I could make excuses about not getting anything done. I’m the praise leader and pastor of my church. So I’m responsible for getting the music and the sermons for Wednesday’s and Sunday’s, along with their presentation on multimedia. I also work full-time at two Christian radio stations.
Are you impressed?
Neither is my fireplace!

I’m not the only person that has this problem with laziness. I see it very often on Sunday’s.

In fact, I have some tell me that they wanted to come to church but just couldn’t get out of bed or just couldn’t get moving or just couldn’t get ready in time.

I’ll bet every excuse disappeared by work time Monday morning!

I will share some advice to those that just can’t make it to church and with those that just can’t get up to cut firewood – put one foot in front of the other and the body will follow!

Abba, I want to be more productive in these last days. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Narrow & Broad

Everyone wants it easy.

Women once scrubbed clothes on a rub board to get them clean and hung them outdoors to dry.
Men chopped wood by hand to fuel a wood burning stove for cooking or to heat the home by fireplace.

Many modern conveniences were created to make life easier. Washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwave, electric or gas stoves, and chainsaws and wood splitters make everything easier and more convenient than before those items were created.

Look around your home right now and you will see many things that did not exist fifty years ago and probably a lot of things that did not exist five or ten years ago.

The problem is that people want an easy and convenient way to God.

Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matt 7:13-14

When I think of narrow and broad, I think of a gymnast on a four inch wide balance beam doing handstands and flips. The balance beam is about the width of a landscape timber.
I certainly couldn’t do it. I would need something more broad like a 2×12.

In the same way, many evangelists and preachers have replaced the balanced beam way to salvation with a wider 2×12 doctrine – widening their “so-called” way to salvation.

Their way has become too easy and all inclusive.

The way of salvation doesn’t need to be made any simpler than what it is – faith in the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus.

Once you take that step you will realize the narrowness of the way. Yet the Lord will help you become sure-footed!

Abba, Your way is perfect and does not need me to improve or change it. I pray I will always tell others of THE way of salvation! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Grace is Greater

Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel — he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright; 1 Chron 5:1

Man’s sin is an epidemic but God’s grace is pandemic!

Reuben sinned against his dad, Israel. The firstborn right and blessing was taken away from him.

But he showed some redemptive qualities when he sought to spare the life of Joseph and was willing to sacrifice his own children to assure the safety of his younger brother, Benjamin.

God’s grace wipes out any sin you can commit.

And even though he has been dead for thousands of years, Reuben’s family is given redemption.

And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
…of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; Rev 7:4, 5

God’s grace out does anything you can do!

Abba, Your grace and mercy through Jesus are more than sufficient for me. YES&AMEN

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Chronicled

Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 1 Kings 14:29

Can you imagine having every act you do chronicled? A chronicle is like a daily journal or a diary.

It’s one thing for you to write about yourself, “Dear Diary, I was awesome today! …”

It’s another thing to have someone else writing about you with your good days – AND YOUR BAD DAYS!

In the case of most rulers, their people were only allowed to mention the victories and great accomplishments with long paragraphs of praise. The losses of war and the agonies of defeat were given a mere mention.

But you don’t have a choice of how your life is written up. God is keeping a record of everything.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Cor 5:10

Your deeds will follow you – even what you say!

I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. Matt 12:36

But Jesus says,

“Behold, I make all things new.” Rev 21:5

Trusting in Him as your Lord and Savior will erase the past –

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor 5:17

Accept Jesus as Savior and change what is recorded about you.

Abba, thank You for Your grace and mercy that wipes away my horrid past. Thank You for the fresh start in Jesus. YES&AMEN

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Sukkot

It’s another Feast Day and the second blood moon of four. This one falls on Sukkoth and the eclipse was early this morning in the states.

Sukkoth is also known as the Feast of Booths or Feast of Tabernacles.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord. On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it. Lev 23:33-36

It is a time of great celebration after the solemn Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement.

The Jews build temporary shelters to celebrate the occasion and Jesus was familiar with the day.

Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. John 7:2

You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come. John 7:8

Jesus has not yet fulfilled this Feast but the day is coming when He will.

It is written,

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Rev 21:3-4

To me, this is the final great act of God – to dwell with us and give us great comfort. It’s like coming home to security and reassurance.

Jesus is our Tabernacle.

Abba, I long for the fulfillment of the last three Feasts. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus. YES&AMEN

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Misunderstandings

Gen 21:25-26 Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized. And Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today.”

Misunderstanding can ruin a relationship just as quickly as a slap to the face.

Abraham was holding a grudge against Abimelech, for something Abimelech knew nothing about.

They eventually did resolve this misunderstanding.

How many times do you get angry when someone misinterprets what you say or misdirects your intentions?

Better yet, how many times do you misunderstand someone else?

Give others the benefit of the doubt and let God do a work to clear things up. And remember that you shouldn’t spread rumors about what you do not fully understand.
It would have been easy for Abraham to tell all his friends about how Abimelech was such a thief and a scoundrel and Abraham would have been wrong.

Today you have a marvelous principle from Jesus on clearing up relationship problems.

Matt 18:15 If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

Of course, there is the old-fashioned “forgive and forget” and don’t bother bringing it up!

Abba, there are instructions for all relationships in Your word. YES&AMEN

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Hoarders

There is a reality show called Hoarders about normal people that cannot or will not throw things away.
They stash, stack, stuff, push, cram, ram, and pile things like magazines, cardboard boxes, collectibles, photo’s; just anything they can.

Most have mere trails through the mountains of stuff so they can move around their home.

It’s ridiculous how many things these homes are crammed with.

Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. 2 Chron 29:5

There are Christian hoarders too.

They stash, stack, stuff, push, cram, ram, and pile things into their lives that are nothing more than rubbish. Things like unforgiveness, hate, anger, grudges, grief, griping, and the such, really have no place in the life of a Christian.

Like trash in your home, it needs to be taken out! Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and there is no room for that kind of rubbish!

Paul said this about it –

I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. Phil 3:8

Don’t hoard. Make room for more of Christ in your life.

Abba, let’s take out the trash today and clean house! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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The Next Shemittah – 5

This is my conclusion on the meaning of the shemittah.

The Law demanded the release of debt every seven years.

Deut 15:1 At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts.

The one indebt did not have to ask or beg for this release. It was given to the indebted at the end of the seven years by Law.

Likewise, we as Christians should be releasing those that are in debt to us. To say it better – Christians should be forgiving those that have sinned against us. It should be given without waiting for the offending party to ask.

Like the shemittah it should be automatically given.

Once the loan holder released the loan through the shemittah, he no longer had to worry about the debt owed to him. He did not have to worry about foreclosing on someone and ruining their life.
What a blessing it was to release someone’s debt.

And when you release someone through forgiveness, you no longer have to sit around ponder and grumble about it. You know longer have to feel wounded. You can be freed by releasing forgiveness.

How many times should you do this?

Matt 18:22 Seventy times seven.

Abba, I have been offended and I have forgiven. I have offended and pray I am forgiven. I do this release and receive this release in the name of Jesus. YES&AMEN

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The Next Shemittah – 4

Peter inquired about forgiving others involving the number seven, which is the number of years to forgive debt in the year of release – the shemittah.

Jesus replied and also involved the number seven.

Matt 18:22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Then Jesus tells a story about a certain king

…who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. Matt 18:23

Why would someone want to settle the accounts?
It could be because a shemittah year was at hand and he was looking to recover the loan before he was required by law to release the debt.

In the story it says the king

…was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. Matt 18:27

Released him, loosed him, forgave him the debt certainly sounds like shemittah.

You are in debt to sin. It has demanded a high price for you – death!

Jesus is the Shemittah! He is the One that can release you, loose you, and forgive you of that debt.

I do not know what will happen at the end of the next shemittah, which is September 13, 2015.

But I do know that putting your trust in Jesus will give you the peace and hope through any problems.

Abba, I am blessed that I have been released from sin’s debt. I will trust You to care for me no matter what happens. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN