My Shepherd

My Shepherd
The Psalmist wrote,

“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.”

                                                                             Psalm 23.

Question. As we head into the new year 2019 is the Lord God truly the Shepherd of your life? Are you willing to trust God with your life this coming year?
Please think about it.

New Years Praise

New years Praise
The psalmist writes,

Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary;

 praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

 praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals, 

praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD. 

                              Psalm 150.

Today is the final day of the year. A time for some to look back on what has happened both good and bad.
For me personally I look at it as a time to praise God. Not everything that happened in the previous year was positive and not everything was negative. Still I can thank God for what has happened in the past year.
I can thank God for getting me through the bad time. For delivering me from various things.
At the same time I can praise God for the good things that have come into my life.
For His unfailing Love towards me. For giving me peace and the assurance that He is there for me all the time.
Thus my question to you is, Can you give thanks for all that has happened to you in the previous year?
Please think about it.

Shout

Shout
The psalmist writes,

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 

Worship the LORD with gladness; 

come before him with joyful songs. 

Know that the LORD is God.

 It is he who made us, and we are his; 

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to him and praise his name. 

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; 

his faithfulness continues through all generations. "

                                                                                                   Psalm 100.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus. A believer in God why not take time today to praise God?
Please do more than just think about it.

Faith

Faith

The writer of Hebrews states,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                   Hebrews 11:1

I believe having faith in anything is perhaps on of the hardest things an individual has to do. That is why I believe God asks us to have faith in Him.
God could have come with his angels in bodily form and shown his might calling on all the people of earth to worship Him.
Had he done it that way I firmly believe most if not all people would have worshipped Him. That however would not have produced true followers. Most would have worshipped God out of fear for what He could do to them.
On the other hand not showing Himself in bodily form requires and act of faith on the part of the individual. And people of faith are the strongest most dedicated followers no matter what they believe in.
Those who truly follow anything, be it God or any other cause will suffer and even die for what they believe in.
Having faith in God however costs us nothing and offers great gain. Blaise Pascal put it this way,
“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.” Blaise Pascal.
Thus the question becomes where will you place your wager.
Please think about it. 

You will find Him

You will find Him
In the book of Deuteronomy we find this quote,

“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, 

you will find him              

if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  

                                                                     Deuteronomy 4:29.

You have to be looking for God? C. S. Lewis states,
“He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others-not because He has favourites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition.” C. S. Lewis.
Lewis is right. Many who don’t believe in God are not really looking for Him. Many Atheist say I can’t see Him, touch Him, therefore he doesn’t exist. There minds are made up and nothing can convince them otherwise.
I admit I cannot prove God exists scientifically but I can see God’s handiwork in all creation.
The Psalmist tells us,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 

Day after day they pour forth speech; 

night after night they display knowledge. 

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” 

                                                                          Psalm 19:1-3.

When I look at the world around me and indeed the universe as a whole I see a perfect creation. A place where everything from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy is arranged in such a way as to allow life to exist as we know it.
I cannot believe this came into being purely by chance. That being said it takes faith to believe God exists.
God requires us to have faith in Him. The writer of Hebrews states,

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                       Hebrews 11:6.

Faith defined as,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                   Hebrews 11:1.

God however does not ask for blind faith. God shows himself through the universe he created. All we have to do is truly be looking for God.
As the writer of Deuteronomy states,

“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, 

you will find him              

if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  

                                                                     Deuteronomy 4:29.

Please think about it.

The Christian Message

The Christian message
Yesterday was Christmas day. The day we Christians celebrate our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’s birth.
Two thousand years ago give or take a few years, the Apostle Paul was invited by the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers of Athens to speak to them about Christ. The message he gave is as relevant for today’s audience as it was back then. It is the reason we Christians celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ this Christmas season.
The book of acts states,
“While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.  
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”  
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 
“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”  
At that, Paul left the Council. A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.” Acts 17:16-34
Thus the question becomes what do you think about Jesus?
Please think about it.

Thank you God

Thank you God
Luke’s gospel records,
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:8-14.
Luke also records this reaction of a man called Simeon, described as righteous and devout. Luke states,
“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  
Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 
For my eyes have seen your salvation,  which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”Luke 2:25-32.
Today is Christmas day. I and my family will gather together and exchange gifts. But the gifts while nice, and having family around is nice, it is our belief in Christ Jesus that is important to us.
We believe Jesus is the Son of God. The saviour of mankind. That he came to earth to point mankind to heaven. That Jesus died for our sins. As believers in Christ Jesus we believe what C. S. Lewis said,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”  C.S. Lewis.
We believe what the apostle Paul wrote when he said,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
We believe to quote C. S. Lewis again,
“He (Jesus) died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” C.S. Lewis.
For this we will praise God and thank Him for His amazing grace and our salvation that comes through Christ Jesus.
Can you say the same?
Please think about it.

A Special Birth

A Special Birth
Luke’s gospel records,
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  
And everyone went to his own town to register. 
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:1-7.
John’s Gospel states,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-4,14.
Both Luke and John are speaking of the same event. The birth of Jesus.
The core belief of Christianity is that Jesus is God incarnate. We Christians believe that God in the form of His one and only Son Jesus Christ came into the world he created.
The question I get quite often from those who are not Christian is why would God enter His creation?
The way I see it is this. He came into the world to show each individual how much he loved them. How far he would go in human terms to show His love for each individual. The apostle Paul wrote,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8.
The apostle Paul even admits this is at the very least unusual by human standards saying,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1Corinthians 1:18.
The key here is God does not necessarily do things the way man thinks he should. After all God could have showed His power and might by coming with thousands of angels. In effect saying “her I am come worship me”. That however would not make true followers. If God did such a thing people might well worship Him because they feared what He could do to them. Not because they truly believed and trusted in Him. God wants true believers in Him. Those who believe in Him by faith.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6.
True believers in any cause will endure anything for it. They will go to their grave for that cause. Thus it is with true believers in God.
There is also one more thing I believe why God entered the world.
In coming into the world to live as a man. God through Jesus found out first hand what it was like to be a human being.  He knew what it was like to have loving parents. To have friends. To go to weddings. He experienced first hand the mundane things such as the sun on his face, rain and the smell of dust.
Jesus also knew what it was to have enemies, to be beaten unmercifully and put to death in an horrific way.
In other words he experienced first hand the human condition. Thus when we as individuals stand before him on judgement day we can never say, “you have always been almighty therefor you cannot truly know what it is to be human with human frailties.” We cannot say that because Jesus does understand.
Having said all that the choice this Christmas season is entirely up to you. Do you believe Jesus is God incarnate, Saviour of mankind or not.
Please think about it.

Faith in God

Faith in God
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.” Abba Hillel Silver.
The Psalmist put it bluntly saying,

“The fool says in his heart, 

“There is no God.” 

                            Psalm 14:1.

I am a believer in God simply because it make more sense than the alternative. God through the Bible lays down a moral code for mankind to live by. Which in its simplest form is the ten commandments.
When God and His moral code is forgotten society falls into darkness and people suffer. We only have to look at Nazi Germany during world war two. Hitler and is henchmen lived by their own code. As a result it is estimated that over eleven million men, women, and children died in the death camps alone. While another estimated sixty million plus men, women and children died in the worst war in human history.
Mankind throughout history has a horrible record when it comes to following God’s commandments. Time and time again man has forgotten God’s commandments resulting in the death and suffering of thousands if not millions of individuals.
The psalmist writes,

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;

 all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

 To him belongs eternal praise.” 

                                                 Psalm 111:10

To my way of thinking if one does not recognize God then they can do anything they wish. Hitler is an extreme example of this. He had no fear of God thus he created the worst holocaust in human history.
The writer of Ecclesiastes states,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
The way I see it you can choose to believe the words of Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 or not. If I am wrong you have nothing to fear if I am right at the very least you have a lot to think about.
Please think about it. 

"Are you an Instrument?"

Are you an Instrument?
Jesus Said,
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:34-36.
As a Christian have you done anything like Jesus is telling us here in Matthew 25?
I was in the downtown of our city a while ago. The wind was bitter the temperature minus fifteen centigrade. A man in a dirty jacket was standing in between two doors that led into an office building begging for money.
Just inside the doors was a coffee shop and people were coming and going. Passing the man like he wasn’t their. 
I had no cash on me so I went in with the intention of at least getting him a gift card so he could buy a meal.
Before I could do it however a well dressed man walked out of the coffee shop with a hot coffee and gave it to the man. He then offered to drive him to the Salvation army where he could get a room for the night and a warm meal.
The man accepted and they left.
As they did I though of what a wonderful example of what Christ wanted us to do.
We can’t change the world but we can if it is within our power help one person.
The Jews have something they call Tzadakah. It is something I think Christians need to practice in their lives.
I got the following definition of Tzadakah from a Jewish website it states,
“Tzedakah is the Hebrew word for acts that we call charity in English: giving assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and the powerful for the benefit of he poor and needy.
The word “tzedakah” is derived form the Hebrew root Tzadei-dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness. In Judaism giving to the poor is not viewed as a generous, magnanimous act, it is simply and act of righteousness, performance of a duty giving the poor their due.”
According to Jewish scholars there are various levels of Tzedakah,
Giving begrudgingly
Giving less than you should, bu giving cheerfully,
Giving after being asked
Giving before being asked
Giving when you do not know the recipient’s identity, but the recipient knows yours
Giving when you know and the recipient’s identity, but the recipient doesn’t know yours.
Giving when neither party knows the other’s identity.
Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant. 
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love,

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 

                                                                            Francis of Assisi

If you claim to be a Christian are you truly an instrument of God?

Please think about it.

Christians

Christians
Mahatma Gandhi said,

“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - 

you are not like him.”   

                             Mahatma Gandhi.

I’m convinced that Gandhi did not see many true Christians. He saw people who claimed to be Christians. People who had a holier than thou attitude. People who certainly didn’t follow the teachings of Jesus correctly.
In our time I would say quite a few people in our society, claiming to be Christians are not. Jesus even said,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”  Matthew 7:22,23.
True Christians put into action the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus who said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12
The words of Jesus who when asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:37-40.
Jesus who said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous...”Matthew 5: 43-45
When it comes to Christian love the Apostle Paul defines it this way,

“Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,

 it is not easily angered,

 it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13

This is the kind of Love true Christians will follow,
Additionally a true Christian will not judge anyone outside the church that is God’s job. The apostle Paul writes,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
James the half brother of Jesus even warns Christians,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”  James 2:12,13.
A true Christian will be true to the words of Jesus who gave them their task on this earth when he said,
“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.”  Matthew 28:18-20.
It is the Christians job to tell anyone who will listen in a loving way, about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. They are to present it and let the individual decide for themselves. They will never to force their beliefs on anyone or Judge anyone.
Billy Graham the great American evangelist said,

It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge 

and my job to love, 

                           Billy Graham

This to me is what a true Christian is.
        And what a True Christian is called to do.
Please think about it.

Why I write

Why I write
Over the last four years I have written many, many, blog entries. Someone asked me why I write these blogs. I found the answer in 1John 1:1-4.
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  
The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.  
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.” 1John 1:1-4
I as a Christian truly believe the apostle John. John knew Jesus personally. As a result I believe I have a message that everyone in the world needs to hear.
God wants all people everywhere to come and know him on a personal level. He wants to have fellowship with the individual.
This is why I write the blogs.
I have no wish to force my beliefs on anyone. I simply place what I believe out there for people to read. The decision they make is entirely between them and God.
I am not their judge. I am simply a person who truly loves God and wants others to share in that same love.
A personal relationship with God, that offers peace that passes all understanding. A peace that lasts for eternity.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
I believe Jesus when speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
I believe the words of John when he wrote,
Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12,13
  I firmly believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven.
Jesus said,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
I firmly believe that we as individuals get to heaven by the grace of God. The apostle Paul writing,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Ephesians 2:8,9.
Ultimately however it is up to you. In order to possess the gift of eternal life, one must first accept it by faith.
Thus the question is will you accept the free gift of Salvation God offers you through Jesus?