Praise 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

To day is New Years eve 2020 here in Canada and I for one am going to take a few minutes to praise God. If you consider yourself a Christian why not take time to praise God for all he has done for you.

Please think about it.

The Absence of Love

  The absence of Love

The apostle Paul writes,

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

Some say "if God created everything, then He created evil, which means God is evil.”

Not so. God set down some basic rules to live by as noted in the ten commandments. At the same time God gave each individual the freedom to do as they wish. Which means they have the freedom to follow what God commanded or not to follow what God commanded. 

Here is something Albert Einstein said about evil,

“Does cold exist?

In fact, cold does not exist. According to the laws of Physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat.

Does darkness exist?

Darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light.  Light we can study, but not darkness.

Evil does not exist. It is just like darkness and cold. God did not create evil.

Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart.”Albert Einstein.

Please think about it.

Christian Love

 Christian Love

The apostle Paul gives what has to be the most perfect definition of love when he writes,

"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.

If you claim to be a Christian. A follower of Christ Jesus you must be showing the kind of love the apostle Paul is talking about here. 

So I would ask; Are you showing true love to those around you?

Please think about it.

Live at Peace

  Live at peace

The apostle Paul wrote,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone.”

                                                         Romans 12:18.

Do you live at peace with those around you? If you claim to be a Christian you should. As Christians we should not be causing trouble for anyone whether you agree with them or not. 

In Matthews gospel we hear Jesus responding to this question,

 "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 neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40

Earlier in Matthews Gospel we read,

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour 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.  

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  

  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Matthew 5:43-47.

If we are truly loving those around us be they family, friend or foe then we will find ourselves living at peace with those around us.

So my question is; are you truly living at peace with those around you?

Please think about it.

In the Shelter of the Most High

 In the Shelter of the Most High

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.

Here is a simple question to all who call themselves Christians; 

Is God your refuge, your fortress, the one in whom you trust?

As Christians we should be trusting in God at all times. I know it’s easier said than done still it can be done. That being said it requires discipline. 

It requires us to go to God in prayer each day even if we don’t feel like it.

It requires us to thank God and praise Him daily.

We need to do this because it develops our trust in God so that in the bad times we go to Him instinctively knowing He will be with us in those bad times in the same way He is with us in the good.

Please think about it.

Incomprehensible but true

  Incomprehensible but true

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.

We have just celebrated Christmas the moment in time when we believers in Christ Jesus. When we Christians believe God entered the world He created in the form of His one and only Son, Jesus Christ.

The soul purpose in coming to this earth was to show in human terms just how far God would go to show each individual on this earth the way to heaven.

As incomprehensible as it may seem God became man, walked this earth and experienced everything it is to be human. Everything from the love of his parents, family and friends, to the daily mundane things like rain on his face, the smell of dust, to attending social event and more.

He also experienced what it was like to feel the worst of what one man can do to another. To suffer an inhuman beating and the death on a cross for a crime he didn’t commit. 

He did this all for you, for me and for every human being that has ever existed. C. S. Lewis said,

"He 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.

I know it is not what many would expect of an almighty God but it is true. Still to accept that truth takes an act of faith on our part and 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.

Question; do you have the faith to believe that Jesus died for your sins?

Please think about it. 

A Christmas Question

  A Christmas Question

Jesus speaking to Martha said,

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes Lord" she told Him, "I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world," John 11:25,26,27.

To day is Christmas day the day when billions of believers in Christ Jesus celebrate the birth of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

It is also a day when believers and non-believers must ask themselves just who they believe Jesus is.

Jesus claimed to be God. He claimed to be the Jewish Messiah. It is a claim we are asked to accept by faith.

The writer of Hebrews stating,

"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.

Thus today we Christians around the world celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour I would ask the question of anyone reading this who is not a Christian: 

Who do you think Jesus is?

Please think about it.

I will praise God

 I will praise God

“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.

Today is Christmas eve. The day we Christians believe is the eve of our Saviours birth. For that reason today and tomorrow especially I will sing praises to the Lord God Most High.

I will thank God for loving me and all on this earth enough to enter the world He created in the form of his One and Only Son Jesus Christ.

If you consider yourself a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus will you join me in this tonight and throughout the coming year?

Please think about it.

The Faith of a Girl

  The faith of a Girl

“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.  

“The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you." 

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God.  

You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." 

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God....  

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. Luke 1:26-35,38.

When I read this I marvel at Mary’s faith. At the same time being human she must have been nervous. In fact Luke notes “Mary was greatly troubled...” 

Still there is no doubt her faith in God, that must have been cultivated throughout her life kicks in allowing her to accept what was about to happen to her.

Mary’s faith did not simply happen overnight. Mary’s faith did not come about because she seen an angel. Mary’s faith was already present in her life long before she met that angel. 

I’m certain of this because God would not have placed the life of His one and only Son to the care of just anyone. 

Mary was ready and willing to do what God wanted her to do.

That being said, I wonder how many of us who say we believe in God. Who say we believe in Christ Jesus, are ready and willing to do God’s will?

Please think about it.

Do you believe?

 Do you believe

The gospel of John 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.

Here we have a statement that causes people to think. God the creator of the world entered into the world he created. God became a man.

This scripture is one of the cornerstones of the Christian faith. You either believe it or you don’t. If you do not believe it, I don’t believe you can be a Christian. So the question I would as you dear reader is, 

Do you believe Jesus is God? Do you believe Jesus is God incarnate? God in the flesh?

Please think about it.

His Handiwork

  His handiwork 

The Psalmist writes,

"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

“George Washington Carver wrote,

“I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.” George Washington Carver.

When I was born the internet was the stuff of science fiction. In the early 1950's when I was born there were no artificial satellites in space. No human being had even orbited the earth.

Looking back now over the sixty plus years I’ve lived on this earth the revolution in technology is incredible. With just the klick of a mouse this message you’re reading can be read all over the earth. 

From my cell phone I can do my banking, order food, watch a football game, or movie, take pictures and even talk to people on the other side of the world. 

The technology mankind has created is truly incredible. 

That being said all the technology man has made pales in comparison with what God has created. That being the universe and everything in it. All of it perfectly in tune. Thus allowing life as we know it to exist. 

Even Stephen Hawking one of the greatest minds that has ever lived stated,

"It would be very difficult to explain why the universe should have begun in just this way, except as the act of a God who intended to create beings like us,"

The fact is God exists. His fingerprints, His handiwork, can be seen throughout creation but only if you want to see Him.

Please think about it.

Your Roots

  Your roots

The prophet Jeremiah writes,

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 

They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. 

It dose not fear when heat comes; its leave are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7,8.

Where are your roots located? Are they in this world or in God? If you are a true believer in Christ Jesus your faith must be rooted in God. For God, and only God, can take you through the good times and the bad times.

For me my relationship with God can be summed up in the twenty-third psalm that reads,

“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

So dear reader is the Lord God almighty the Shepherd of your life?

Please think about it.