Glory to the Lord Most High for His Mercy for Whosoever Will

Luke 2:14 EVS "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
Rev.22:17 KJ And the Spirit and the bride say , Come . And let him that heareth say , Come . And let him that is athirst come . And whosoever will , let him take the water of life freely.
Romans 9:11-16 ESV though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad--in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls-- she was told, "The older will serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
Romans 10:8-13 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Lord, I can not believe that you love us for we are wicked and willfully disobedient. But our ways are not Your ways and Your ways can not be explained in human terms because of Your Sovereignty. You are Lord over all and our Creator. You are gracious to save some of us for we are so undeserving. We are humbled by Your mercy and mystified by You. Teach us Your ways Lord for we long to be close to You. Your word is written in our hearts and we need to give Your hope to others. Help us share You by word and deed and show Your love to others. We humbly await Your return. Amen

Jesus the Guarantor of a Better Covenant

Heb.7:21-28 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'" This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermostthose who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. Heb.9:13-15  For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.Heb.9:22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.Heb.9:24-28  For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Lord God Almighty, praises to Your name. You alone are worthy! My soul cries out for You. Lord, forgive our land and heal our country. We need You. You are the only true and living God. Amen

Crucified with Christ

Gal.2:20-21  I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. Before the foundation of the world, God loved you! In His mercy, He called you! In His mercy, He has chosen You!  Bold statements, yes, but scripture backs it up! That is why we should always bow at the foot of the cross. We did nothing, we bring nothing, Christ did it all! However, we have a responsibility to believe or not to believe. That is what scripture means when it says," a free gift you can not earn". You do have a free will. You can repent and follow Christ or you can say, this is foolish. Before you make that choice, look around you. How do you think this place we call Earth came to be? The stars, sky, planets that hang in the milky way, and let us not forget the human body. These all are a marvelous creation of a living God, who is, was and will be. He has no beginning and no end. He is the first and the last! God wants you, do you want Him? You are one heartbeat away from eternity!
Eph.1:3-14 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,to the praise of his glory. Romans8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Eph.2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Rev.22:12-13 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Lord, thank you for my pastor. He has such a hunger for Your truth. Bless him and keep him in Your will. Give him Your truth to teach us so we can teach others. Help me to teach your truth in a way that all can understand and respond. This is my prayer, that You reap a bountiful harvest and receive honor and glory from the whole world. Lord, thank You for Your mercy. Forgive us when we fail You. Help us to have a strong faith that is unshakable! In Jesus name and for Your glory, Amen

Christ Follower, Expect To Be Hated By the World

Lord, forgive me, a sinner. Expose my sin so I can repent. Open Your word to my heart and bury it deep inside me. Thank You for Your mercy. Amen
Not too long ago I told some people that God's word says, "marriage is between a man and a woman" and I was called narrow minded. We were in a discussion about gay rights and about how they want the right to marry. I am glad that I spoke God's word and pray He will work on their hearts so that they will repent of sin. We all sin but there is a big difference in willfully staying in sin. I was blessed by hearing Kay Arthur speak on the book of Matthew last night at a womens' conference. This was one of the things she reminded us of in God's word. We will be hated by the world for standing on God's word.
Matt. 19:4-6 He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,  and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."
If we do not speak God's truth, how will others know that they are sinners? We are to love all people and speak the truth and God will change the hearts. Tell your story of how God's word changed you. And if you do not have a story, my prayer is that you will begin to read about God and will come to the realization that you need a savior and that God sent His Son, Jesus so that you will not perish but have everlasting life through Him. 
Acts4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Lord, today somone is wating to hear Your word. I may not see them but You do. Pour out Your power and touch their hearts today. Amen

Do You Know Someone Who Needs Help?

This is the season of giving, why do you think that is? This is a time of celebration of the birth of Christ who laid down His life for us. What is the most heart felt command that God has given?
1 Cor.13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
There is a theme through out the bible of love. God meant for us to love one another just as he first loved us, even while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, Romans 5:8.
Ps.10:14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless.
John 15:12-13 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
Matt.25:35-40 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Lord, I ask that our eyes be open to the hurting around us. Let us not be blinded by life and not see because we are too busy. Jerk our hearts awake and shake us if we turn away. We are Your servants and we must show Your love to the hurting. I ask in Jesus precious name, Amen.

Mystery and Victory

In the last blog I asked if death scared you. I know beyond a shadow of doubt that it is something we think about, but we think of it in a different way if we are redeemed. The redeemed trust in God for His promise of what is to come for us, while the unrepentant lost may think death ends all things. I would like to encourage you to read God's word to attain peace. God's word can change you and will!
1Cor.15:50-58 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1John 5:6-13 This is he who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.  And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. Praise God!!!

Does Death Scare You?

One of our many pastors at church preached last night. His sermon was from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. It was one of the best sermons I have ever heard. He read scripture that all of us need to hear. I think we often miss this wonderful message about our impending deaths and what it means to be a Christian. While it is true that we will feel the sting of death just as the lost, our eternity is to be much different. Open your hearts to this message and be encouraged and be sure to share it with others.
1 Thess.4:13-18 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. Here is some other scripture that will bless your heart.1 Cor.15:12-34 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.  Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? Why are we in danger every hour? protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."  Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals."  Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. I think it is time for a big hallelujah! Lord, thank You for Your word. It makes me sing. Thank You for the ones who will spread the gospel. Bless them and keep them. Amen