Faith or misguided actions?

Faith or misguided actions?
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

"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 

Where is your faith?
Next question, Is your faith true faith or misguided actions?
As I write this we are at the height of the pandemic here in Canada. It’s Sunday March 29th 2020. Government officials have asked all places of worship not to meet. So far I have not heard of any churches here in Canada at least ignoring the ban.
South of the border in the United States I have heard in news reports of some churches that are planning to hold services. They are “claiming that God will protect them”.
I suppose it hasn’t occurred to them that God could be using the civil authorities to keep them safe.
That being said we need to look carefully at our actions. After all God gave us common sense to use and we should use it.
Matthew’s gospel records this incident between Jesus and Satan,
"If you are the Son of God," he (Satan) said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: " ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.''" 
Jesus answered him, "It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.''" Matthew 4:6,7.
We should be aware of these words of Jesus “Do not put the Lord your God to the test”.
While we are to have faith in God. We need have faith and realize that God can, and does use those around us to protect us. Even the government.
Thus I would ask is are you using the common sense God has given your to protect not just yourself but those around you?
Please think about it.

Where does your faith lie?

Where does your faith lie?
The psalmist writes,

"I lift up my eyes to the hills— 

where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the LORD, 

the Maker of heaven and earth." 

                                        Psalm 121:1,2

Where does your help come from?
This pandemic will test the faith of all who claim to be believers in Christ Jesus. Bad times usually show who’s the true believer and who is not.
Thus I would ask you where is your trust. Can you sing with the Psalmist,

"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

Are you trusting God to bring you through this crisis?  Where does your faith lie?
Please think about it.

Prais God

Praise God
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

Many years ago when I was young I performed in a gospel group. We were somewhat successful on a local level. Managing to perform at various venues from coffee houses to churches around southern Ontario.
Our performances consisted of music, theatre, and interpretive dance.
A couple of fond memories I have of back then is that rehearsals were more like a praise meeting. As was meal times. Rather than saying grace we sung it. Singing

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts.

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

We sang not just because we were a gospel group. We sang because we believed what we were singing. We believed that no matter the situation we were in, God was worthy of being praised.
It is something believers in Christ Jesus need to be doing especially in these uncertain times.
Please think about it.

How Important?

How important?
In the book of Deuteronomy we read,
“Here, O Israel: The Lord our God is one.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
These commandments that I give to you today are to be upon your hearts
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, and when you lie down and when you get up.
Tie them as a symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Write them on the doorframes of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
In proverbs we read,

“Train a child in the way he should go, 

and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 

                                                         Proverbs 22:6.

I firmly believe we should be teaching our children to worship God. We should be teaching them to trust God no matter what happens. They need to know that God is in control even in uncertain times.
That being said we should be teaching them to use wisdom and common sense also. After all God gave us wisdom and common sense to use.
Still trust in God should be so much a part of our everyday life that both in word and in deed, something we do it for lack of a better term, without thinking about it.
Saying a quick prayer silently or audibly should be second nature to us, whether that prayer is for something we need, or praising God.
In Jewish culture Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is called “The Shema” and is recited in some households first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
In Christians culture there is no expectation of reciting this portion of scripture. However doing such a thing with a pure heart is a good thing. It reminds us of just who God is.
By reciting it morning and evening shows us how important God is in our life. Important enough that He is the first one we speak to of in the morning and last one we speak to at night.
Thus my question to you. How important is God in your life? And. Do you show how important God is in your life to your children in word and in deed?
Please think about it.

Blessed is the One

Blessed is the one
The Psalmist states,
“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—the LORD, who remains faithful forever. Psalm 146:5-6.
Where is your trust? Is your trust in yourself, in your own strength,  in the government, or in God?
I have been blessed with several incredible pastors and biblical teachers over my now sixty-five plus years on this earth. Pastors and teachers that have helped me lay a spiritual foundation for my life.
What they taught me at the time seemed at times somewhat academic. Still slowly quite often without me realizing it I put the teachings to work in my life.
Years later when I received a cancer diagnosis and later blood clots on my lungs that almost took my life. Those teachings gave me the peace I needed to weather the storm.
The psalmist states,
“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—the LORD, who remains faithful forever. Psalm 146:5,6.
I can honestly say I have found these words of the Psalmist to be true. God has remained faithful to me.
That being said I know during these unprecedented times amid this pandemic I know God will be faithful to all who trust in Him.
Thus my question to you is. Is your trust truly in God?
Please think about it. 

Trust

Trust
In Proverbs we read

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight."

                                                         Proverbs 3:5,6

Let us face it we are in extraordinary times. What we are going through is far from normal. If ever there was a time to put our trust in God it is now.
We as believers need to take to hart the words of the apostle Peter who wrote,

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, 

that He may lift you up in due time. 

Cast all your anxiety on Him 

because he cares for you.” 

                               1 Peter 5:6,7.

One thing I am certain of is bad times either draws someone closer to God or pushes them away. Thus the choice is yours.
Are you in these uncertain times drawing closer to God or moving away from Him?
Please think about it.

My Fortress

My Fortress
The Psalmist writes,
“I love you, O LORD, my strength. 
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:1,2.
Over my sixty plus years on this earth I have had a lot of things happen to me. Everything from my house burning down leaving my family and I with literally just the clothing on our backs, to a cancer diagnosis, to blood clots on my lungs that almost took my life, among other things.
During that time I had two choices. I could have called out to God and said, “Why me. Why am I going through this.” or “Lord in you I put my trust.”
I chose to say the latter, Lord in you I put my trust.
Now I’m far from a spiritual superman. I am simply an ordinary man who makes mistakes and falls short of what God would ask of me many times. That being said, I have been blessed with excellent men and women of God who have helped me with their teaching to build my house on The Rock in the good times.
It, I firmly believe is precisely because of this that I have got through the bad times. Times when I could have easily died.
Looking back there is one other thing I was willing to say to God. “God not my will but your will be done”
Jesus while in the garden of Gethsemane knowing what he was about to suffer prayed,
"...My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." Matthew 26:42b.
I firmly believe that as Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus we must put our lives entirely in the hands of God. Without any kind of reservation.
We must remember that while this mortal life we live is finite, with a beginning and an end. We are destined to live throughout eternity. Thus the only thing that ultimately matter is where we will spend that eternity.
So dear reader are you certain of where you will spend eternity?
Please think about it.

It Seems Crazy

It seems crazy
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.

I know it may seem crazy to some to say praise The Lord in the midst of the worst pandemic in modern history. But as Christians we should be praising the Lord.
The apostle Paul and Silas praised God in bad times. The book of Acts records,
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.  
Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.  
The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.  
But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  
He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:25-31.
While Paul and Silas were not in the midst of a pandemic. They were in a Roman jail in what was most probably very miserable circumstances not counting the earthquake they went through. Yet these men of God were praising The Lord.
Another man of God Job. A man who endured a lot of hardship, who had unwavering faith in God said,

“Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;...”

                                                                Job 13:15a.

So it should be with all who call themselves Christians. Amidst our troubles we should be not only putting all our trust in God but taking time to praise God also. Not for the bad things that are happening. But for all that God is and the Salvation He has sent into our lives through His One and Only Son Christ Jesus.
Please think about it. 

Make sure

Make sure
The Psalmist writes,

“I wait for the LORD,

 my soul waits, 

and in his word I put my hope.” 

                                    Psalm 130:5  

If you claim to be a Christian, where is your trust. Billy Graham the American evangelist wrote,
"Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ, and seek to follow Him every day. Don't be swayed by the false values and goals of this world, but put Christ and His will first in everything you do." Billy Graham.
In Proverbs we read,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight.” 

                                                        Proverbs 3:5,6.

Here is a question for all who claim to be followers in Christ Jesus. Do you truly “trust in the LORD with all your heart?”
Please think about it.

2.5%

2.5%
The book of acts speaking of the early church states,
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42.
The apostle Paul wrote,

“Be joyful in hope, 

patient in affliction, 

faithful in prayer.”  

                      Romans 12:12.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus do you Pray?
Here’s something to consider,

God gives you 1440 minutes every day.

A good nights sleep takes up 480 minutes.

An average round trip commute to and from work here in North America 

can take 120 minutes.

Work takes up 480 minutes.

That leaves you with 360 minutes.

      Thus the question becomes are you willing to tithe ten percent of that time to prayer?

Just 36 minutes each day.

2.5% of all the minutes God gives you each day communing with Him.

Please think about it.

Give thanks to The Lord

Give thanks to The Lord

The writer of 1 Chronicles states,
“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 
Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. 
Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,...” 1 Chronicles 16:8-12.
As I write this we are living in unprecedented times. A pandemic the likes of which we have never seen in our generation. Thousands around the world are dying. Sadly many without hope.
There are some people who ask the question why does God let such things happen? Frankly I don’t know.
What I do know that hard times either pull individuals toward God or turn them away. Hard times test the individuals faith.
In Psalm 23 we read,
“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.” Psalm 23:4,5.
This is what a true believer can honestly say and I wont deny that saying such things in hard times is very difficult for some people.
Still in good times and in bad times God asks us to have faith in Him. The writer of Hebrews stating,
“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.
The writer of Hebrews defining faith as,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see.” 

                                                        Hebrews 11:1.

As believers in Christ Jesus we must be willing to put our full trust in God. We must remember that no matter what happens God has a plan for us. The apostle Paul writing,

“And we know all things work together for good 

to those who love God to those who are called according to His purpose.” 

                                                                                                     Romans 8:28 

Please think about it.

I will Praise you O LORD

I will Praise you O LORD
The Psalmist writes,

“I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;

 I will tell of all your wonders. 

I will be glad and rejoice in you; 

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”

                                                                             Psalm 9:1,2.

As I have said in a previous blog. I write these blogs a week or two in advance. So as I write this it is March 17th 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic is well underway both here in Canada and around the world.
    Because of our age and other things, I and my wife are in a high risk group. Thus we have chosen to follow the directions given by Canada’s health agency.
That being said the pandemic as extremely serious as it is will not cause our faith in God to waver. We and I am sure all believers in Christ Jesus. All Christians can say,

“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

It is my sincere hope and prayer that anyone reading this will not be effected by this virus. At the same time it is my sincere hope and prayer that you will put your trust in God to be your shepherd no matter what happens.
Please think about it.