Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
*** I wrote the following devotional in 1996. I am pulling it out to honor not only my mother but all mothers today.
Mothers. Where would we be without them?
I guess we could jokingly say that we wouldn't be here if it weren't for them, for they had the anatomical pleasure of going through that nine month metamorphosis we more commonly know as pregnancy. Have you ever thought of the sacrifices a mother makes even before a child is born? The morning sickness, changes in diet and body shape, numerous trips to the doctor to ensure all is progressing well, and all the planning and preparation for our arrival into the world. We often tend to forget about the readiness that took place before our birth.
Sure, Dad had a stake in the whole process as well, but seriously folks....who was picking out the drapes, the blankets, the outfits, etc...so the baby would look adorable and presentable…like the most, beautiful baby on earth? Mom...that's who.
Face it guys, we have a brief moment to get the conception train rolling, but ladies handle the rest unless we start to talk about demanding duties such as assembling the crib, the stroller, or the walker. We could even talk about a man’s penchant for driving like a veteran NASCAR star when it comes to getting the wife to the hospital. Frankly, these pale in comparison to having a living, breathing child within you…a child who brings out the best (and sometimes worst) in the soon-to-be mom as she goes through delivery. And it’s during delivery that a mother makes her greatest sacrifice, bearing great pain and physical strife to bring not just their child but God’s child into the world. Oh, the love of a mother.
Upon our birth, we enter a world, strange and foreign. Our existence depends on the care given us by our parents. We are fed, nurtured, loved tenderly, taught to walk, to talk, to know the difference between right and wrong, hopefully to know how to say a prayer where we come to know God. We certainly would go nowhere after birth without the guidance and instruction of Mom and Dad.
And although both parents are involved in this process, the mother has that extra special bond with her child. Somehow, a mysterious connection is made during a pregnancy that draws the mother and child together in a way that transcends reason...something far beyond a physical connection. This link is almost spiritual in a sense. A mother seems to have that ability to hold you just the right way, to give you that sense of security and safety. Again guys, how many times has junior just been screaming his or her little head off and nothing seems to please him or her enough to get them to stop. But just hand the child to mom and immediately........almost automatically ... mysteriously, dare I say magically....the child stops crying. Ever happen to you? I just have two questions ladies...how do you do it? I’m convinced that the answer can be found in their unique connection to the baby....that bond…that special love. Oh the love of a mother.
As we grow, we tend to more and more gain our independence. We go to school...we develop relationships outside the home and apart from our parents...we learn to exist on our own, apart from our mother and father. But even though we may have learned a lot about branching out into the brave new world we saw outside the home, we were too often slow in developing independent living skills around the house. Our rooms often were hazardous zones to enter into, we rarely picked up after ourselves, we left a lot of dirty dishes in the sink (confident I think that they would clean themselves and be back in the cupboard in the morning). All along, our moms worked very hard cleaning up our messes…cooking for us…doing our laundry…taking care of us so we could experience that place which we learned to call "home". Question: How often did we take the time to say thanks then?
Probably not near enough. That's why I feel that in this hectic world in which we live, it's a real blessing to have a day to remind us of our mothers. For their job is too often a thankless one and we don't realize it fully until we've moved away and mom isn't there anymore. Or maybe we gain our own experience of having a child or two. Then, we definitely start to relate to what our parents went through and appreciate all that our mother did for us. Oh, the love of a mother.
The more I think about mothers, I can’t help but think of Jesus as well for they have a lot in common. Let me explain..................
You see just as our mothers endured pain and suffering to deliver us into this world, so Jesus endured the pain of being nailed to the cross, suffering a slow, agonizing death so that we might find our salvation. Mom delivered us into the world, but Jesus delivered us from that point forward...not just to life but life eternal.
And just as we moved away from home, we too often move away from Jesus. We sometimes come to realize a spiritual independence and begin to live like we can do it without Him. And we too soon discover that just as we found it was hard to live without mom taking care of us, we learn that’s it’s impossible for us to live without Jesus.
Just as we don’t show enough gratitude to our mothers we sometimes don't take the time to stop and give the Jesus thanks as well. He blesses us so much and too often gets nothing in return. I've come to learn from experience, that just as we didn’t appreciate our mothers until we moved away, so too do we fail to fully appreciate Christ and all He does for us until we try to live without Him. The good news for me and I'm sure countless others as well is that Jesus had left the key under the mat so I could come back home. I give thanks daily for that. The Lord's love is so great that he will never turn his back on you, even if you do on him. Is there a greater love than that?
And just as our mothers nurtured and fed us to help us grow, so does our Jesus. Through the study of how Jesus lived as found in the Gospels, we satisfy a different brand of hunger, a need for direction as to how we should conduct ourselves in a world just as indifferent as the Israel that Jesus walked. He is the ultimate role model, a blinding ray of light in a dark world. He is a security blanket for each of us. Just as we found a special comfort physically in Mom, we find that same peace and serenity spiritually through Jesus Christ who one day we’ll reside with.
Although we are distant from our heavenly home, our faith in Jesus works to bridge the gap and bring us closer to our Savior. Asked to give the greatest commandment, Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." If we’re not sure how to do that, we need look no further than our mothers and Jesus and the way they have loved us. For when I think of Mom, I see that Jesus placed in her a special love...a part of Himself.
Truly, we’re blessed with the love of a mother, and the love of Jesus....a love like no other.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
CARRIED THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
"One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life. This really bothered him and questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. However, I noticed that during the most troublesome times of my life there was only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me." The Lord replied, "my precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you during your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints it was then that I carried you."
Carolyn Joyce Carty
"God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
Sometimes I take a break from my Old Testament writings when the Lord speaks to me on another subject that needs highlighted. Today is one of those days.
I don’t know if you heard about it this last week but last weekend something truly remarkable happened on a softball field in Washington state where two Division II schools, Central Washington and Western Oregon squared off in a doubleheader. Western Oregon had won the first game, 8-1, and there was no score in game two as Western Oregon came to bat in the second inning. They got a couple of runners on when a diminutive, part-time outfielder, senior Sara Tucholsky, came to bat and did the unexpected…she hit a home run. Excited and thrilled because she had never hit a home run before, she missed touching first base and as she turned to go back and touch it, she tore her ACL in her knee. She crumpled to the ground, unable to get up and run the bases.
The umpires said that it was against the rules for any of the Western Oregon coaches or trainers to help the injured player go around the bases. They could only put a player into the game in her place and the home run would get changed to a single. It appeared that Sara’s special moment was going to fade as quickly as it happened. But then the improbable happened.
Central Washington senior, third baseman and home run leader, Mallory Holtman, asked the umpires whether she could carry Sara around the bases so she could score and her first home run count. The umpire said there was nothing in the rules that would prevent it. So Mallory and the Western Washington shortstop, Liz Wallace, picked up Sara and carried her around the bases, pausing momentarily at each base to allow Sara to gingerly touch her foot to it. When they reached home plate, Sara’s teammates were waiting for her and took Sara from the Western Washington players. Sara might have hit the home run but the real scoring came in the way the Western Washington players displayed such incredible sportsmanship and humanity in helping someone in need. Western Washington would go on to lose the game 5-2 but they weren’t losers in anyone’s eyes this day.
(full article on this can be read at http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/columns/story?columnist=hays_graham&id=3372631)
I couldn’t help but think about the Lord when I heard of this story. For how many times do we fall down in the course of life, sometimes in the midst of what were good times and then in the blink of an eye, hardship or tragedy strikes. I have always loved the writing titled "Footprints in the Sand" penned by author Carolyn Joyce Carty because it reminds us that we truly do serve a Lord who never leaves us nor forsakes us. When we feel like we might be walking alone with only one set of footprints visible, we need to be reminded that the Lord is the Owner of those sincle set of footprints and is right there with us, carrying us through times of difficulty and helping us get to home plate…just as Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace did for Sara Tucholsky.
My prayer is that we all can learn a lesson from the selfless, loving actions of these college girls and others. For in doing what they did, they truly reflected the Spirit of Jesus, a Spirit that has told us that when we do unto the least, it is as if we are doing it unto Him. (Matthew 25:40) Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
"One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life. This really bothered him and questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. However, I noticed that during the most troublesome times of my life there was only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me." The Lord replied, "my precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you during your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints it was then that I carried you."
Carolyn Joyce Carty
"God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
Sometimes I take a break from my Old Testament writings when the Lord speaks to me on another subject that needs highlighted. Today is one of those days.
I don’t know if you heard about it this last week but last weekend something truly remarkable happened on a softball field in Washington state where two Division II schools, Central Washington and Western Oregon squared off in a doubleheader. Western Oregon had won the first game, 8-1, and there was no score in game two as Western Oregon came to bat in the second inning. They got a couple of runners on when a diminutive, part-time outfielder, senior Sara Tucholsky, came to bat and did the unexpected…she hit a home run. Excited and thrilled because she had never hit a home run before, she missed touching first base and as she turned to go back and touch it, she tore her ACL in her knee. She crumpled to the ground, unable to get up and run the bases.
The umpires said that it was against the rules for any of the Western Oregon coaches or trainers to help the injured player go around the bases. They could only put a player into the game in her place and the home run would get changed to a single. It appeared that Sara’s special moment was going to fade as quickly as it happened. But then the improbable happened.
Central Washington senior, third baseman and home run leader, Mallory Holtman, asked the umpires whether she could carry Sara around the bases so she could score and her first home run count. The umpire said there was nothing in the rules that would prevent it. So Mallory and the Western Washington shortstop, Liz Wallace, picked up Sara and carried her around the bases, pausing momentarily at each base to allow Sara to gingerly touch her foot to it. When they reached home plate, Sara’s teammates were waiting for her and took Sara from the Western Washington players. Sara might have hit the home run but the real scoring came in the way the Western Washington players displayed such incredible sportsmanship and humanity in helping someone in need. Western Washington would go on to lose the game 5-2 but they weren’t losers in anyone’s eyes this day.
(full article on this can be read at http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/columns/story?columnist=hays_graham&id=3372631)
I couldn’t help but think about the Lord when I heard of this story. For how many times do we fall down in the course of life, sometimes in the midst of what were good times and then in the blink of an eye, hardship or tragedy strikes. I have always loved the writing titled "Footprints in the Sand" penned by author Carolyn Joyce Carty because it reminds us that we truly do serve a Lord who never leaves us nor forsakes us. When we feel like we might be walking alone with only one set of footprints visible, we need to be reminded that the Lord is the Owner of those sincle set of footprints and is right there with us, carrying us through times of difficulty and helping us get to home plate…just as Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace did for Sara Tucholsky.
My prayer is that we all can learn a lesson from the selfless, loving actions of these college girls and others. For in doing what they did, they truly reflected the Spirit of Jesus, a Spirit that has told us that when we do unto the least, it is as if we are doing it unto Him. (Matthew 25:40) Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Sunday, April 20, 2008
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER...GUARDIAN AND PARENT
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
Since I finished the Book of Leviticus yesterday, it seemed like a good time to share with you a message the Lord imparted on my heart last week while I was in worship at my home church, Bayside Baptist Church in Virginia Beach (and I hope you might visit us in worship if you’re ever in the neighborhood).
I was sitting in the pew holding my precious little grandson of less than a month, Maddox, during the pastor’s sermon. He was asleep and laying there in my arms so peacefully…his face almost angelic. This was a markedly different Maddox from the one my daughter would tell me about. The Maddox who when awake yearned to be cared for nearly non-stop. The Maddox who seemed to never stop eating. The Maddox who cried out loudly and consistently if he didn’t get what he needed.
Indeed, many things were rushing into my mind as I sat there, listened to the sermon which discussed the wonder of our salvation and looked into the sleeping face of my grandson.
I began to think of how absolutely helpless babies are when they are so young. They can’t do anything for themselves and are totally dependent on the care of another. Little Maddox left alone anywhere would not survive long if he had no one to care for him. He would cry only to have no one to come and comfort him. He would hunger only to have no one to feed him. He would lie completely vulnerable only to have no one to protect him. Truly, his very survival and existence relied on the care of his parent.
As the pastor continued to talk about salvation and the sad truth that there are many in this world who are lost and hopeless because they don’t know or accept Jesus, I couldn’t help but see a parallel to baby Maddox and his vulnerability.
For those who have no relationship with Jesus have no relationship with the Father for Jesus Himself said that no one comes to the Father except by Him. And with no relationship with the Father, a person is helpless and hopeless. Without the Father’s care, they stand vulnerable with little chance against the attacks of Satan. They cry out in their lives for help and guidance only to find no real help or guidance because they don’t have a relationship with the only true Parent that can help them and guide them. They find themselves hungering for wisdom and understanding only to slowly starve without the Daily Bread that comes from the Word of God, their Father. And through all this, they fail to see that their survival and existence relies totally on the care of their Heavenly Father.
Friends, we need to never tire in seeking out the lost and helping guide them to spiritual survival and revival. Just as we would never walk past an innocent baby who might be lying unattended, so too should we never just walk by someone who doesn’t have a relationship with the Lord. My prayer is that this week and beyond, we approach our evangelistic efforts with a different sense of urgency, understanding fully what’s at stake. For it truly is a matter of life or death…survival or demise.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Since I finished the Book of Leviticus yesterday, it seemed like a good time to share with you a message the Lord imparted on my heart last week while I was in worship at my home church, Bayside Baptist Church in Virginia Beach (and I hope you might visit us in worship if you’re ever in the neighborhood).
I was sitting in the pew holding my precious little grandson of less than a month, Maddox, during the pastor’s sermon. He was asleep and laying there in my arms so peacefully…his face almost angelic. This was a markedly different Maddox from the one my daughter would tell me about. The Maddox who when awake yearned to be cared for nearly non-stop. The Maddox who seemed to never stop eating. The Maddox who cried out loudly and consistently if he didn’t get what he needed.
Indeed, many things were rushing into my mind as I sat there, listened to the sermon which discussed the wonder of our salvation and looked into the sleeping face of my grandson.
I began to think of how absolutely helpless babies are when they are so young. They can’t do anything for themselves and are totally dependent on the care of another. Little Maddox left alone anywhere would not survive long if he had no one to care for him. He would cry only to have no one to come and comfort him. He would hunger only to have no one to feed him. He would lie completely vulnerable only to have no one to protect him. Truly, his very survival and existence relied on the care of his parent.
As the pastor continued to talk about salvation and the sad truth that there are many in this world who are lost and hopeless because they don’t know or accept Jesus, I couldn’t help but see a parallel to baby Maddox and his vulnerability.
For those who have no relationship with Jesus have no relationship with the Father for Jesus Himself said that no one comes to the Father except by Him. And with no relationship with the Father, a person is helpless and hopeless. Without the Father’s care, they stand vulnerable with little chance against the attacks of Satan. They cry out in their lives for help and guidance only to find no real help or guidance because they don’t have a relationship with the only true Parent that can help them and guide them. They find themselves hungering for wisdom and understanding only to slowly starve without the Daily Bread that comes from the Word of God, their Father. And through all this, they fail to see that their survival and existence relies totally on the care of their Heavenly Father.
Friends, we need to never tire in seeking out the lost and helping guide them to spiritual survival and revival. Just as we would never walk past an innocent baby who might be lying unattended, so too should we never just walk by someone who doesn’t have a relationship with the Lord. My prayer is that this week and beyond, we approach our evangelistic efforts with a different sense of urgency, understanding fully what’s at stake. For it truly is a matter of life or death…survival or demise.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Sunday, February 24, 2008
THE SHEEP AND THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
In lieu of an entry from Exodus today, I am posting the sermon I delivered at my parent’s church, Good Shepherd United Methodist, in Hazen, Pennsylvania. Hope you enjoy it.
The Sheep and the Good Shepherd
Since Lent is supposed to be a time of reflection about Jesus and how we can change our lives to be more like Him, I began to reflect on what to write about and say to you today. I began to think about your church and how it’s been such a blessing to my family now for around 15 years. And as I thought about the church, the first thing that came to mind is its wonderful name…Good Shepherd United Methodist.
It was this name that led me to today’s message as I began to think about this congregation as a flock under the guidance and protection of the Good Shepherd and so my remarks today are intended to focus on our place in Creation and our purpose under the Almighty Protector and Provider you have named your church after…the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
But before we can start talking about a shepherd…any shepherd, let alone the Good Shepherd…we need to talk about sheep. I mean after all, isn’t a shepherd a little useless without sheep. To use a Naval analogy…it would sort of be like a Navy Captain with a mighty ship and no Sailors to man it.
So let’s talk about sheep…and when we discuss sheep, we need to see how we share things in common with them. After all, why would the analogy be drawn in the scriptures if we didn’t have a lot of similarities. So bear with me a few moments as I talk about sheep, some of their core behavioral traits and how this connects to us.
First, sheep have a strong instinct to follow. They will follow a shepherd or, in the absence of a shepherd, they will follow another sheep if it decides to stray away from the flock. Bad things typically happen when a sheep tries to lead the flock without a shepherd. In fact, more than a few flocks have fallen off cliffs or drowned in lakes because they followed another sheep who led them the wrong way. Recently, 400 sheep died in eastern Turkey when one of the sheep tried to cross a deep ravine. The rest of the flock followed it.
Like the sheep, we don’t do too well either when we follow someone other than the Good Shepherd. Many people have been led astray and into harm’s way by someone they thought were leading them in the right way. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, warned us to be on the lookout for false teachers and what did He say about them? That they would be wolves in sheep’s clothing. Indeed, we need to be careful to make sure we’re following the Good Shepherd, not Satan…the deceiver who comes as the wolf wearing sheep’s clothing.
The second thing about sheep is that they like to stay together in the company of one another. Or in other words, they like to flock. They do so for companionship and protection because there is power in numbers and they are far less likely to be attacked by a predator when they stay together than if they scatter and stray.
We too are social in nature. We like to have companionship and be around others. We find a sense of comfort and protection when we’re together…far more than we do when we’re alone. In worship, we gather as a flock and bring praise to our Good Shepherd while learning where He wants us to go. Remember that we are followers by nature.
A third thing about sheep. Sheep have a tendency to stray and get lost…and when they do, they are in danger and very vulnerable to attack. We too stray and lose our way. Maybe you can relate. If you’ve strayed in the past, you can testify to how Satan had His way with you while you were out of the care of the Good Shepherd. I know I can. If you are straying right now, run and run as fast as you can back into the arms of Jesus. Because trust these words of Peter when he said: "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Don’t offer yourself to the devil as a main course. Run to the waiting arms of the Good Shepherd and never stray again.
Finally, sheep devote more time to eating and sleeping than anything else. As for us…Do I really need to tell you how much we’re alike them in this category? smile
You get the point…we’re more like sheep than we might want to admit and it’s obvious that we are in need of a shepherd just as much as sheep. Praise God that in Jesus, we have a Good Shepherd and we know we have Him because the bible tells us so. Let’s turn to the scriptures to see what they have to say about the Good Shepherd.
Please turn with me to the Gospel of John, Chapter 10, verses 1-16:
"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."
From this scripture we see four main points about the Good Shepherd and in place of using the word "sheep" I will insert words that refer to us so we can glean the intent that Jesus meant as He shared this message:
The Good Shepherd leads us…and those who are part of His flock listen to His voice. We know our Shepherd because the Shepherd spends a great deal of time with his flock. He loves His flock and will do anything to ensure they are cared for properly, even if it means dying for them…I’ll touch more on that later. In fact, this Good Shepherd knows us so well that He knows us by name and He leads us to special, holy places.
Please turn with me to six of the most beloved verses in the Old Testament…the 23rd Psalm. David wrote this Psalm over 2,000 years ago and those in Christ Jesus can attest to the truth of His words to this very day. Hear this word of the Lord:
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
This Good Shepherd knows us by name and leads us to green pastures…Where we are always nourished and able to rest. When we follow the Good Shepherd, we will always find ourselves fed and resting in comfort.
He also leads us besides quiet waters…and it’s here that we find peace and quench our thirst for holiness…a holiness that can only be found in Him.
He guides us on the paths of righteousness…The Good Shepherd always leads us on the right path. We need not worry about where to go because He guides us where He wants us.
And He is such a strong protector that we can even be led through the valley of the shadow of death and not be fearful. For our Shepherd has a powerful Rod and Staff that will ward off any enemy and no matter how precarious our walk might be with Him, He always knows how to steer us through trouble.
Shouldn’t we just praise God that we have such an awesome Good Shepherd who leads us!
But that isn’t all…
For our Good Shepherd also saves us.
Listen again to the words of our Shepherd from John 10 as He says, "…I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
When we decide to follow the Good Shepherd and pass through His gate to join His Flock, we are saved! Alleluia! We come in…and go out…and find pasture…not the dead fields of desolation we walked through when we were lost and without purpose but the green pastures of hope we now have through the saving deliverance of the Good Shepherd…the Good Shepherd who came to give us life and life everlasting.
And this leads to the third main point about the Good Shepherd…He willingly died for us. Once again, hear these words from John’s gospel:
"The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep."
Notice that we can only be saved by the Good Shepherd. Anyone else who might claim they can save us is no more than a hired hand who will flee when real danger comes near. Only Jesus, the Good Shepherd, can have victory over Satan…who is akin to the wolf who wishes only to attack, scatter and devour the flock. Indeed, the Good Shepherd did lay down His life for us, His sheep…willing to pay the price for our sins and in doing so, delivering us from certain death to life…and He did so willingly because He loved us. Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah who spoke about the Good Shepherd before He even existed. Isaiah said in Chapter 58, verses 6 through 8:
"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him (the Good Shepherd) the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away."
Indeed…falsely accused, mocked, beaten, bruised, broken and crucified, the Good Shepherd laid down His life for His sheep…His sheep who had gone astray…for all of us. But even death could not stop the Good Shepherd…No! Because this is no ordinary shepherd…this is a Shepherd who was also the Messiah…our Savior,Redeemer and Friend.
And we know that death could not keep this Good Shepherd…our Good Shepherd in the grave. In fact, our Good Shepherd is still looking to add to His flock. For Jesus said in John 10, "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."
Jesus, the Good Shepherd was not stopped at death. Truly, He was just getting started.
So how does this Good Shepherd bring more sheep into His flock? Well, He guides us, His sheep, to help Him find other sheep. Here’s the direction He has given us…I’ll be reading from Matthew 28, verses 16 to 20:
"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
The Good Shepherd still leads us to green pastures, quiet waters, along paths of rightousness and through the valley of the shadow of death…and all along the way, He has us seek other sheep to join the flock. These sheep have the same opportunity to enter through His gate as we did, the same opportunity to find their own salvation. And once through the gate, they too will come to know and listen to His voice and seek to join us in expanding the flock even more.
So Jesus…the Good Shepherd…leads us, saves us, He died for us, and still seeks to add to His flock through us but there’s one other important point about the Good Shepherd that we must remember. For one day, He is going to return and lead His flock again here on earth. And we know He will return because His word tells us so. Turn to Matthew 25, verses 31-33:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left."
Friends…the Good Shepherd may have laid down His life for His sheep but He is returning for His flock at a time when He will gather them for the last time. Never again will they be scattered or lost but they will gather with Him for all eternity.
Question: Are you one of the sheep in the flock of the Good Shepherd? Do you even know Him? If not, today you have a chance to meet Him at the gate, entering the flock and into His care.
If you’re in the flock, how well have you been following the Good Shepherd in your life? Have you strayed and found yourself vulnerable and under attack by Satan?
Well today, I have good news for you. For you can run back into the arms of the Good Shepherd who is ready to take you back into the flock and rejoice over your return.
Friends, your church has a wonderful, blessed name...Good Shepherd. Let us ever praise God for His Son, Jesus, the eternal Good Shepherd…and praise Him as well for watching over and keeping this flock. May He continue to bless you and provide for you all. Amen.
BENEDICTION FROM HEBREWS 13:20-21
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
In lieu of an entry from Exodus today, I am posting the sermon I delivered at my parent’s church, Good Shepherd United Methodist, in Hazen, Pennsylvania. Hope you enjoy it.
The Sheep and the Good Shepherd
Since Lent is supposed to be a time of reflection about Jesus and how we can change our lives to be more like Him, I began to reflect on what to write about and say to you today. I began to think about your church and how it’s been such a blessing to my family now for around 15 years. And as I thought about the church, the first thing that came to mind is its wonderful name…Good Shepherd United Methodist.
It was this name that led me to today’s message as I began to think about this congregation as a flock under the guidance and protection of the Good Shepherd and so my remarks today are intended to focus on our place in Creation and our purpose under the Almighty Protector and Provider you have named your church after…the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
But before we can start talking about a shepherd…any shepherd, let alone the Good Shepherd…we need to talk about sheep. I mean after all, isn’t a shepherd a little useless without sheep. To use a Naval analogy…it would sort of be like a Navy Captain with a mighty ship and no Sailors to man it.
So let’s talk about sheep…and when we discuss sheep, we need to see how we share things in common with them. After all, why would the analogy be drawn in the scriptures if we didn’t have a lot of similarities. So bear with me a few moments as I talk about sheep, some of their core behavioral traits and how this connects to us.
First, sheep have a strong instinct to follow. They will follow a shepherd or, in the absence of a shepherd, they will follow another sheep if it decides to stray away from the flock. Bad things typically happen when a sheep tries to lead the flock without a shepherd. In fact, more than a few flocks have fallen off cliffs or drowned in lakes because they followed another sheep who led them the wrong way. Recently, 400 sheep died in eastern Turkey when one of the sheep tried to cross a deep ravine. The rest of the flock followed it.
Like the sheep, we don’t do too well either when we follow someone other than the Good Shepherd. Many people have been led astray and into harm’s way by someone they thought were leading them in the right way. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, warned us to be on the lookout for false teachers and what did He say about them? That they would be wolves in sheep’s clothing. Indeed, we need to be careful to make sure we’re following the Good Shepherd, not Satan…the deceiver who comes as the wolf wearing sheep’s clothing.
The second thing about sheep is that they like to stay together in the company of one another. Or in other words, they like to flock. They do so for companionship and protection because there is power in numbers and they are far less likely to be attacked by a predator when they stay together than if they scatter and stray.
We too are social in nature. We like to have companionship and be around others. We find a sense of comfort and protection when we’re together…far more than we do when we’re alone. In worship, we gather as a flock and bring praise to our Good Shepherd while learning where He wants us to go. Remember that we are followers by nature.
A third thing about sheep. Sheep have a tendency to stray and get lost…and when they do, they are in danger and very vulnerable to attack. We too stray and lose our way. Maybe you can relate. If you’ve strayed in the past, you can testify to how Satan had His way with you while you were out of the care of the Good Shepherd. I know I can. If you are straying right now, run and run as fast as you can back into the arms of Jesus. Because trust these words of Peter when he said: "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Don’t offer yourself to the devil as a main course. Run to the waiting arms of the Good Shepherd and never stray again.
Finally, sheep devote more time to eating and sleeping than anything else. As for us…Do I really need to tell you how much we’re alike them in this category? smile
You get the point…we’re more like sheep than we might want to admit and it’s obvious that we are in need of a shepherd just as much as sheep. Praise God that in Jesus, we have a Good Shepherd and we know we have Him because the bible tells us so. Let’s turn to the scriptures to see what they have to say about the Good Shepherd.
Please turn with me to the Gospel of John, Chapter 10, verses 1-16:
"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."
From this scripture we see four main points about the Good Shepherd and in place of using the word "sheep" I will insert words that refer to us so we can glean the intent that Jesus meant as He shared this message:
The Good Shepherd leads us…and those who are part of His flock listen to His voice. We know our Shepherd because the Shepherd spends a great deal of time with his flock. He loves His flock and will do anything to ensure they are cared for properly, even if it means dying for them…I’ll touch more on that later. In fact, this Good Shepherd knows us so well that He knows us by name and He leads us to special, holy places.
Please turn with me to six of the most beloved verses in the Old Testament…the 23rd Psalm. David wrote this Psalm over 2,000 years ago and those in Christ Jesus can attest to the truth of His words to this very day. Hear this word of the Lord:
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
This Good Shepherd knows us by name and leads us to green pastures…Where we are always nourished and able to rest. When we follow the Good Shepherd, we will always find ourselves fed and resting in comfort.
He also leads us besides quiet waters…and it’s here that we find peace and quench our thirst for holiness…a holiness that can only be found in Him.
He guides us on the paths of righteousness…The Good Shepherd always leads us on the right path. We need not worry about where to go because He guides us where He wants us.
And He is such a strong protector that we can even be led through the valley of the shadow of death and not be fearful. For our Shepherd has a powerful Rod and Staff that will ward off any enemy and no matter how precarious our walk might be with Him, He always knows how to steer us through trouble.
Shouldn’t we just praise God that we have such an awesome Good Shepherd who leads us!
But that isn’t all…
For our Good Shepherd also saves us.
Listen again to the words of our Shepherd from John 10 as He says, "…I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
When we decide to follow the Good Shepherd and pass through His gate to join His Flock, we are saved! Alleluia! We come in…and go out…and find pasture…not the dead fields of desolation we walked through when we were lost and without purpose but the green pastures of hope we now have through the saving deliverance of the Good Shepherd…the Good Shepherd who came to give us life and life everlasting.
And this leads to the third main point about the Good Shepherd…He willingly died for us. Once again, hear these words from John’s gospel:
"The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep."
Notice that we can only be saved by the Good Shepherd. Anyone else who might claim they can save us is no more than a hired hand who will flee when real danger comes near. Only Jesus, the Good Shepherd, can have victory over Satan…who is akin to the wolf who wishes only to attack, scatter and devour the flock. Indeed, the Good Shepherd did lay down His life for us, His sheep…willing to pay the price for our sins and in doing so, delivering us from certain death to life…and He did so willingly because He loved us. Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah who spoke about the Good Shepherd before He even existed. Isaiah said in Chapter 58, verses 6 through 8:
"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him (the Good Shepherd) the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away."
Indeed…falsely accused, mocked, beaten, bruised, broken and crucified, the Good Shepherd laid down His life for His sheep…His sheep who had gone astray…for all of us. But even death could not stop the Good Shepherd…No! Because this is no ordinary shepherd…this is a Shepherd who was also the Messiah…our Savior,Redeemer and Friend.
And we know that death could not keep this Good Shepherd…our Good Shepherd in the grave. In fact, our Good Shepherd is still looking to add to His flock. For Jesus said in John 10, "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."
Jesus, the Good Shepherd was not stopped at death. Truly, He was just getting started.
So how does this Good Shepherd bring more sheep into His flock? Well, He guides us, His sheep, to help Him find other sheep. Here’s the direction He has given us…I’ll be reading from Matthew 28, verses 16 to 20:
"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
The Good Shepherd still leads us to green pastures, quiet waters, along paths of rightousness and through the valley of the shadow of death…and all along the way, He has us seek other sheep to join the flock. These sheep have the same opportunity to enter through His gate as we did, the same opportunity to find their own salvation. And once through the gate, they too will come to know and listen to His voice and seek to join us in expanding the flock even more.
So Jesus…the Good Shepherd…leads us, saves us, He died for us, and still seeks to add to His flock through us but there’s one other important point about the Good Shepherd that we must remember. For one day, He is going to return and lead His flock again here on earth. And we know He will return because His word tells us so. Turn to Matthew 25, verses 31-33:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left."
Friends…the Good Shepherd may have laid down His life for His sheep but He is returning for His flock at a time when He will gather them for the last time. Never again will they be scattered or lost but they will gather with Him for all eternity.
Question: Are you one of the sheep in the flock of the Good Shepherd? Do you even know Him? If not, today you have a chance to meet Him at the gate, entering the flock and into His care.
If you’re in the flock, how well have you been following the Good Shepherd in your life? Have you strayed and found yourself vulnerable and under attack by Satan?
Well today, I have good news for you. For you can run back into the arms of the Good Shepherd who is ready to take you back into the flock and rejoice over your return.
Friends, your church has a wonderful, blessed name...Good Shepherd. Let us ever praise God for His Son, Jesus, the eternal Good Shepherd…and praise Him as well for watching over and keeping this flock. May He continue to bless you and provide for you all. Amen.
BENEDICTION FROM HEBREWS 13:20-21
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Thursday, February 14, 2008
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
____For God so loVed
______the world thAt
______the world thAt
___He gave His onLy
Son so that whosoEver
______believeth iN Him
_________shall noT
_____________perIsh
Son so that whosoEver
______believeth iN Him
_________shall noT
_____________perIsh
__but have everlastiNg
______________lifE. (John 3:16)
We love only because He first loved us.
Happy Valentine's Day from Grace and I
In Christ,
Mark
______________lifE. (John 3:16)
We love only because He first loved us.
Happy Valentine's Day from Grace and I
In Christ,
Mark
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
THE SEASON OF L.E.N.T.
Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark
Today marks the first day of one of the most significant periods of the Christian calendar…the season of Lent. Beginning with Ash Wednesday, Lent is a 40 day period of prayer, fasting, reflection and repentance lasting until Easter with the 40 days symbolizing the time Jesus spent in the wilderness after His baptism by John…a period which culminated in Satan attempting to tempt Him.
So as we prepare for the death and resurrection of our Savior, I wanted to offer the following exposition of the word Lent…turning it into a holy acronym. Enjoy.
1. L = Look inside.
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…" Isaiah 30:15
Lent is a time of special self reflection…a time to take account of anything inside of you that would draw you away from God’s will and way for your life. We all have room to improve because we’re all sinners and imperfect. We all fall short of God’s grace and favor…but the good news is that we can grow ever closer to Him and the person He wants us to be if we just commit to model ourselves after the One He sent to walk among us in perfect righteousness…His only Son Jesus. And this leads me to "E".
2. E = Examine Jesus.
For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?" 2 Corinthians 13:4-5
Lent is a great time of year to focus in on the life and ministry of Jesus for if we are truly going to be His disciples and carry out His Great Commission (and in doing so His work) then we had better examine Him and seek to be just like Him. After all the very root of the word Christian is Christ. Jesus is supposed to be at the heart of every person who professes to be of Him. And yet, we too often proclaim Him and yet not represent Him properly. This Lenten season, make it a priority to read the New Testament gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The key to knowing Jesus is contained within them and we can’t possibly be like Him if we don’t know Him. Hopefully, our prayerful study will take us to the "N" in my Lent acronym.
3. N = New focus.
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:11
As we study Jesus, we see our flaws exposed and are able to renew our efforts to correct our shortcomings to be more like Jesus in every way. In other words, we gain a new focus on areas of our lives that need correction. Whether that focus is on our sinfulness…our hopelessness without Jesus…His teachings, mannerisms, and power…His sacrifice for us…His victory over death…or hopefully all of the above and more, we come to a place of greater appreciation for what He has done for us and a clear set of initiatives to become more like Him. And this will take us to the final letter "T".
4. T = Turn toward righteousness.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30
As we see our weaknesses exposed and the places in our lives that need corrected, we see our dire need to repent and give thanks for God’s grace, mercy and salvation…all possible because of His only Son Jesus. And as we repent, we see the need to turn from the way we were into a new way of righteousness…all through living our lives as Jesus lived His. This commitment toward holiness will not only lead us to the proper appreciation for all that Jesus did for us but also lead us to a life that emulates and honors Him.
Question: What are your plans for this Lenten season? Will it be just 40 days of business as usual? Or will you see your obligation to give Jesus your full and undivided attention…your very life? For that is just what He gave us.
Have a blessed Lenten observance everyone and thank you Jesus for all You have done, all You are doing and all You have yet to do to save us.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Today marks the first day of one of the most significant periods of the Christian calendar…the season of Lent. Beginning with Ash Wednesday, Lent is a 40 day period of prayer, fasting, reflection and repentance lasting until Easter with the 40 days symbolizing the time Jesus spent in the wilderness after His baptism by John…a period which culminated in Satan attempting to tempt Him.
So as we prepare for the death and resurrection of our Savior, I wanted to offer the following exposition of the word Lent…turning it into a holy acronym. Enjoy.
1. L = Look inside.
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…" Isaiah 30:15
Lent is a time of special self reflection…a time to take account of anything inside of you that would draw you away from God’s will and way for your life. We all have room to improve because we’re all sinners and imperfect. We all fall short of God’s grace and favor…but the good news is that we can grow ever closer to Him and the person He wants us to be if we just commit to model ourselves after the One He sent to walk among us in perfect righteousness…His only Son Jesus. And this leads me to "E".
2. E = Examine Jesus.
For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?" 2 Corinthians 13:4-5
Lent is a great time of year to focus in on the life and ministry of Jesus for if we are truly going to be His disciples and carry out His Great Commission (and in doing so His work) then we had better examine Him and seek to be just like Him. After all the very root of the word Christian is Christ. Jesus is supposed to be at the heart of every person who professes to be of Him. And yet, we too often proclaim Him and yet not represent Him properly. This Lenten season, make it a priority to read the New Testament gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The key to knowing Jesus is contained within them and we can’t possibly be like Him if we don’t know Him. Hopefully, our prayerful study will take us to the "N" in my Lent acronym.
3. N = New focus.
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:11
As we study Jesus, we see our flaws exposed and are able to renew our efforts to correct our shortcomings to be more like Jesus in every way. In other words, we gain a new focus on areas of our lives that need correction. Whether that focus is on our sinfulness…our hopelessness without Jesus…His teachings, mannerisms, and power…His sacrifice for us…His victory over death…or hopefully all of the above and more, we come to a place of greater appreciation for what He has done for us and a clear set of initiatives to become more like Him. And this will take us to the final letter "T".
4. T = Turn toward righteousness.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30
As we see our weaknesses exposed and the places in our lives that need corrected, we see our dire need to repent and give thanks for God’s grace, mercy and salvation…all possible because of His only Son Jesus. And as we repent, we see the need to turn from the way we were into a new way of righteousness…all through living our lives as Jesus lived His. This commitment toward holiness will not only lead us to the proper appreciation for all that Jesus did for us but also lead us to a life that emulates and honors Him.
Question: What are your plans for this Lenten season? Will it be just 40 days of business as usual? Or will you see your obligation to give Jesus your full and undivided attention…your very life? For that is just what He gave us.
Have a blessed Lenten observance everyone and thank you Jesus for all You have done, all You are doing and all You have yet to do to save us.
In Christ,
Mark
PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
http://www.faithhopeandlove.info/
Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com
Monday, January 28, 2008
AMAZING GRACE
My wife and I attend Bayside Baptist Church in Virginia Beach VA (please stop by and worship with us if you're ever in the neighborhood).
This morning, we watched a quick video concerning the song Amazing Grace, one of my most favorite hymns. I wanted to share this with you and hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMF_24cQqT0
In Christ,
Mark
This morning, we watched a quick video concerning the song Amazing Grace, one of my most favorite hymns. I wanted to share this with you and hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMF_24cQqT0
In Christ,
Mark
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