Something to think about

Something to think about.
In the book of Proverbs we read

"For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, 

and He examines all his paths."  

                                                    Proverbs 5:21

We are living in unprecedented time. A world wide pandemic has engulfed the world the likes of which we who are living have never seen before.
In times like these we see average people as well as political and religious leaders at their best and sadly at their worst. We see who has true compassion for their fellow man.
In the Jewish Talmud we read,
“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?”  He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.” The Talmud.
I like that last phrase,
“God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
In this time of crisis all mankind not just Christians are called on to show love to those around them.
Our political and religious leaders especially have a duty to those around them to do their personal best to show love by helping all those in need of all faiths.
Within Christianity the apostle Paul defines love 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 definition of love is not just a Christian definition it is a definition of love every person on the face of the earth can agree with.
That being said I agree with the writer of Ecclesiastes when he writes,
"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." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
And make no mistake everyone will one day give an account of their actions in this life to God be they Christians or not. And I believe one of the things God will judge them on is whether or not they have loved their fellow man.
Please think about it.

My God in whom I trust

My God in whom I trust.

The Psalmist writes,

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

 will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 

I will say of the LORD, 

"He is my refuge and my fortress, 

my God, in whom I trust." 

                                                Psalm 91 1,2.

As a believer in Christ Jesus for over forty years. I have no doubt about who I trust. I trust in God to lead me through even the worst of times. I believe what the psalmist states, “He is my refuge and my fortress...”
In my life I have gone through many things, triumphs and tragedies and through it all God has been with me. I truly believe the psalmist when he writes,

 “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.

Thus my question to you; who is your God and can you trust him to be your shepherd through even the darkest periods of your life?
Please think about it.

Love and Faithfulness

Love and Faithfulness
In Proverbs we read,

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; 

bind them around your neck,

 write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” 

                                                                                                 Proverbs 3:3,4

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you” the writer of proverbs tells us. Love and faithfulness are the corner stones of Christian belief. You cannot be a Christian and not love family, friend, and foe alike unconditionally. You cannot be a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus and not have complete faith in God.
As Christians our faith should spur us on to Love as Jesus did unconditionally. Jesus went so far as to die for us on the cross. And while we may never be asked to die for someone in order to show our love for them we must still love those around us unconditionally.
I think one of the most famous prayers ever written, written by Francis of Assisi is one we all need to consider praying in sincerity. Francis writes,

"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 consider yourself a Christian. A follower of Christ Jesus...
Please think about it.

Many will say, Many are not.

Many will say, Many are not.
Jesus 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.
The other day I found a couple of interesting quotes. One from Lenny Bruce said,

“Every day people are straying away from the church

 and going back to God. Really.” 

                                      Lenny Bruce, "Religions Inc."

The other is from an unknown author it states,

I believe in God; I just don't trust anyone who works for him.”

                                                                               Author Unknown

Sadly here where I live in North America this is true. What passes for the face of Christianity particularly in the media is not that of true Christianity. Many who profess to be Christian pastors, evangelist and teachers are not. They are nothing more than charlatans quite often trying to separate people from their money.
The apostle Paul warned about these people when he wrote,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
The apostle Peter states,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”2 Peter 2:1-3.
God will eventually judge these people, as I quoted above Jesus 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.
I think for anyone who is not a Christian the way to tell a true Christian a true believer in Christ Jesus is to look at their life. Look to see if what the apostle Paul called the “fruits of the spirit” are active in their life. The fruits of the spirit being,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23.
For those reading this who claim to be Christians, followers of Christ Jesus, I would ask; Are you truly exhibiting the fruits of the spirit in your life?
Please think about it.

A Crown of Righteousness

A Crown of Righteousness.
The Psalmist writes,

"Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD 

who minister by night in the house of the LORD. 

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. 

May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion." 

                                                                                                Psalm 134:1-3.

Here is a call to all who believe in God to praise Him. To all who call themselves servants of The Lord lift up their hands and praise God.
I know these are hard times we are going through world wide. The pandemic has killed thousands and changed out lives possibly for ever. Still I feel we who love God should continue to praise Him. Knowing that He will bring us through all of this.
When I think of what we are going through I think of Job who lost everything yet Job could say,

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

                                                               Job 13:15a.

At the same time we can look at Jesus and his disciples all but one suffered a martyrs death. The apostle Paul suffered various hardships that eventually ended with his martyrdom at the hands of the emperor Nero. Yet through it all they trusted in God. Writing to Timothy Paul said,
"For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.  
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:6-8.
Irrespective of what happens to us be it in good times or in bad times those who truly love the Lord can be assured that there is a crown of righteousness awaiting them.
Are you one of those people?
Please think about it.

My Help

My Help

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.

Someone a long time ago told me that hard times, bad times, will either push someone toward God or away from Him.
Keeping ones faith in God in bad times shows who truly loves God.
Thus my question to you the reader. If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus, do you truly trust God?
Please think about it.

What is Life?

What is life?
In the book of Ecclesiastes states,

“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun;

 all of them are meaningless,

 a chasing after the wind.”

                                             Ecclesiastes 1:14

The poet writes,

What is a Man?

A woman?

Life?

Are they but an wisps in the eternal aether?

A momentary mist in time?

What is your life?

Your life, or mine?

What of the life of a man?

Of a woman?

What is the sum total of ones Life?

Is it a collection of bobbles bangles and beads.

A collection of artifacts past to the next generation?

Is all there is to life,

A gathering of things.

That you never can keep?

Is it a mans...

 A woman's duty,

to procreate,

Train the next generation,

then pass into oblivion?

Or

is life more?

Is life Eternal?

Destined to continue on through endless days?

At a place of our own choosing?

I believe it life is eternal.

I believe you have a choice.

The Jesus 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. 

Whoever believes in him 

is not condemned, 

but whoever does not believe 

stands condemned already 

because he has not believed in the name 

of God's one and only Son".

                                           John 3:16-18.

That's what I believe.

Please think about it.

Where do you stand?

Where do you stand?
The writer of Ecclesiastes writes,

“Whoever loves money never has enough;

 whoever loves wealth 

is never satisfied with their income 

this too is meaningless.” 

                                             Ecclesiastes 5:10.

The apostle Paul writes,

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 

Some people, eager for money, 

have wandered from the faith 

and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 

                                             1 Timothy 6:10

Now there is nothing wrong with having a lot of money. The problem arises when you put the wrong emphasis on money. When you love it. As the writer of Ecclesiastes states,

“Whoever loves money never has enough”

The apostle Paul telling us,

“Some people, eager for money have wandered from their faith

and pierced themselves with many griefs”

Money can buy you nice things in this world. Enough money can buy you anything material thing your heart desires. Money however cannot buy you true peace of mind or a place in heaven.
Jesus told this parable,
"Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 
And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  
He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 
"Then he said, ‘This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  
And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' 
"But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 
"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:15-21.
Matthew’s gospel records Jesus saying something we should all consider. Jesus said,

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, 

yet forfeit his soul?” 

                            Matthew 8:36.

Jesus 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.  
     Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:16-18
So where do you stand?
Are you certain of where you will spend eternity?
Please think about it.

Fix your eyes on God

Fix your eyes on God
The apostle Paul wrote,
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.
Where are your eyes fixed? Are your eyes fixed on God or on the things of this world? As Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus, we should have our eyes fixed on God.
We are in unprecedented times. Thousands of people are sadly dying around us. Governments are warning us not just about catching Covid-19, but of possible mental health issues that come from living in a pandemic.
Mental health issues is something I understand. I have lived most of my life with Bipolar affective disorder and an anxiety disorder that has caused me a great deal of grief over the years. Fortunately, now, after much anguish, my illness is kept relatively under control with medication.
Just a warning note here. It is my firm belief that anyone who thinks they have a mental health disorder should contact a doctor or their local mental health service. There is always hope for anyone in mental distress. Don’t try to handle it alone. Remember God allowed doctors and mental health professionals to exist to help those who need help.
That being said one of the many things that have helped me through the roughest times with my illness before I got help. Before I was diagnosed, was my faith in God.
With my moods swinging wildly and not knowing what was happening. With me quite literally thinking I was going insane, I turned to God for direction.
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.

My help did come from God. I am convinced that he directed me to the right psychiatrist and mental health programs that stabilized me. Allowing me to live a relatively normal life.
By faith I fixed my eyes on what was not seen, God, and God directed my paths.
He did it for me and He can do it for you.
Please think about it.

Please

Please
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:2.
We are going through difficult times, the likes of which we have never seen. The economy is at a standstill. Socialization is at a bear minimum. All because of a virus for which there is no cure.
Such times stretch our faith.
Here in the western democracies we are use to having our freedoms. To doing as we wish. Now however we are being asked to stay in doors. Keep our distance from those around us and even stay away from church.
At times like these I am reminded of our Christian brothers and sisters that are in parts of the world where being Christian is illegal. Where being a Christian can get you put in prison, attacked or even put to death.
At times like these for me the persecuted church is setting an example for us in the western democracies.
The persecuted church out of sheer necessity has kept it’s eyes on fixed on Jesus quite often in the most horrendous of situations. The persecuted church knows where their help comes from. They can say with the psalmist

"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.

It is my hope that we Christians. We believers in Christ Jesus here in the west can also say this and truly mean it.
It is also my hope that we here in the west will take time to pray for our brothers and sisters suffering persecution around the world, while at the same time dealing with the Covid-19 virus.
Please if you consider yourself a true follower of Christ Jesus, take a few moments to pray for those being persecuted for their faith around the world.
      Please Pray

From an expert

Form an expert.
 
The book of acts records this sermon from one of the best experts that ever lived on Jesus, the apostle Paul. While in Athens the book of acts states,
"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 17:17-34
Ultimately each individual must decide whether to believe what Paul is saying here, or to reject it. Thus the choice is yours.
Please think about it.

Your Choice

Your Choice
The Gospel of Matthew records,
"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  
The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.  
Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." 
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  
Suddenly Jesus met them."Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him.  
Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." Matthew 28:1-10.
Flavius Josephus, (Born: 34AD died 98 A.D.), a romanized Jewish historian. Wrote,
"About this time arose Jesus, a wise man, who did good deeds and whose virtues were recognized. And many Jews and people of other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. However, those who became his disciples preached his doctrine.    They related that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Perhaps he was the Messiah in connection with whom the prophets foretold wonders [Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII 3.2]
The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is something each person when presented with the life of Jesus must choose to believe or not. There is no middle ground here. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the cornerstone of Christian belief. You cannot be a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus and not believe in His resurrection.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13.
Thus my question to you is do you believe what Matthew and Paul are saying?
Please think about it.