So many choices…

In the world religion arena there are many religions which vie for our attention. Many of them seem to have more clout than others yet with so many choices out there how do people choose which one to follow? Some follow the religion that their parents and grandparents followed just because it’s the way they have always followed so why change now? Some people choose to look at all avenues and try to pick the one that fits them instead of fitting into a religious system that demands more than they want to give. It seems that many people fit into that last category more than any other because they want a belief system that is comfortable for them and for their lifestyle.

The problem with how people pick and choose their particular “religion” lies in the picking and choosing. Religion was never supposed to be a custom fit but with all of the choices out there today, like it has been for thousands of years, confusion causes more problems in people’s lives more often than not. Also, the only way to gain entry into heaven is not a religion in reality, it is a lifestyle. Living your life as a Christian is a daily walk that you wake up with every day and as Jesus said “…you must take up your cross and follow Me”.

Taking up your cross doesn’t mean what many think it means. Because some see this as choosing to be on the firing line of persecution and ridicule from the first day until you die and that isn’t what it means at all. We must bear our cross as Jesus did, willingly laying down our old lives and habits and follow Him into a new life of being or straining toward the goal of being more like Him every day. For some it is more of a strain than it is for others because of what they are giving up to be like Him. For others it is a choice that makes the life they live more bearable and sometimes joyful.

Jesus told His disciples that “the way is broad which leads to destruction but the way that leads to eternal life is narrow”. I paraphrased His words but you get the idea.

Finding the way to a place of joy and peace is much like this. There are pathways that are easy to walk and comfortable to stay on but the end or the destination is not the one that most people were looking for. The path which leads to eternal life and peace is the pathway that is not very wide and it has a few briers and brambles and rocks strewn all in it but the destination is far better than anything we could possibly imagine. The destination is to be in heaven with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Heaven is a place that few who were allowed to see even a little of it could describe it in ways that we can understand. Some say that the colors are “just more than the colors on Earth”, “deeper blues and more spectacular greens”. Why can’t we describe heaven? Because it is the real place that Earth is only a reflection of, that’s why. The beauty that we see all around the world is a dim reflection of the beauty in heaven.

Strive to be more like Jesus Christ. Seek Him out as your Savior and Lord while there is time to do so. Life here is short but once you have given your heart to Him, eternity awaits you without boundaries or limits.

Joy to the World!

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10‭-‬11 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.2.10-11.KJV

Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem a little more than two thousand years ago. His message to all of those who will believe in Him is “I’m with you all until the end of the age”. Merry Christmas to all who read this and especially those who have given their hearts to Jesus!

What Child came to us?

The Child of Bethlehem was Jesus Christ. He came because God decreed it to be. In order for mankind to be forgiven for our sins, Jesus had to pay the price for all of mankind and He did. So why are there so many people who still insist that He didn’t come or rather that they don’t believe in Him at all? The reason for this is simple…humanity has been convinced over the years that the Bible is false and that it contains errors. Some even believe that the entire Bible is a lie.

So why do I believe that God’s Word is the Truth and that it is trustworthy? Well, consider the authorship of the Bible. It was written over thousands of years by over forty different authors when you include the New Testament writers too. Yet, the message of the Bible is pointing toward a Savior from Genesis to Micah, then from Matthew to the Revelation the New Testament shows the fulfilled prophecies of the Old Testament in Jesus Christ and His birth, His life, His teachings, His miracles and His death on the cross and His resurrection.

Forty authors could not put together a lie that would be convincing enough for people to die for their faith in Jesus. The disciples of Jesus wouldn’t have been so adamant about His miracles and His teachings if they hadn’t witnessed them firsthand. They all died by horrible torture except for the apostle John who died of old age.

The Child born in Bethlehem of a virgin, foretold hundreds of years before, laid in a manger, worshipped by the magi who came to give Him gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold to show their knowledge that He was a King. Frankincense to show that He was to be our Priest, and myrrh which would be one of the spices to be placed on Him at His burial. Our Lord and Savior fulfilled all of the prophecies which were written by the prophets many years before His birth.

So to answer the question in the title: the Child was God’s only Son. Given to redeem mankind from their sins and their sinful nature so that we could be adopted into God’s family. Read God’s Word with a prayerful heart and an open mind so that His Holy Spirit can touch your heart and Spirit and bring you into His family. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Our God is gracious towards us

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.2.14.KJV

God has shown His favor towards us and yet we turn away from Him. We think that we can do all good things without Him. Seek the Lord while there’s time.

Jesus Christ came to save us 🙏

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.1.14.KJV

What do you want?

During this holiday time period we hear this a lot. From children and family members we try to determine what we should get them for Christmas. But what do we want from our Christian walk with Jesus? Are we looking for forgiveness or an “OK” to keep doing what we’ve been doing? Do we want a deep relationship with our Creator and our Savior and if we do how do we get to that point?

All of these are valid points and questions but where do we find the answers? Can we ask our pastor or do we need to find a Bible study that explores the questions that we want to be answered? One more question: do we really want the answers? In some of our lives, we do want these answers but we are afraid of seeking them because of what they might reveal about us. God loves each of us and He wants what is best for us in life and in our walk with Him.

So…how do we find the answers to those questions? Seek Him and the wisdom that praying through the Bible can bring. I know it sounds like it might take a long time doing it this way but truthfully it is the best way to find the answers that you are looking for. By praying about your problem, whether it is financial or physical or spiritual, God’s Word and His Spirit can and will provide the answer to you. But you must pray about your specific problem while you are reading the Bible. Ask Him for the answers you are seeking and you will find them. It may take reading through the whole Bible or you might find your answer in the chapter that you start on but the answer will come.

In our lives outside the church and away from “corporate worship” as we are during this pandemic, your Spirit is still longing for a close relationship with God. Sometimes this can be a good thing because you can seek Him and His wisdom during your personal Bible study time. Getting into the habit of seeking His Word and wisdom is not hard to do but it is a habit that you can glean the most positive wisdom from rather than reading other novels or other books.

Will God hear your request for learning more about Him? Yes, I believe He will. Even if you aren’t a Christian yet I think that He will hear your plea for His wisdom and give you the faith to seek it in His Word. Why do I say that we have to have faith to get wisdom from God’s Word? Because if you don’t then you are just reading a book like any other book from a store or from the library. Faith allows your Spirit to speak to you and to God and His Word will mean so much more when all of them are in sync with each other. The Bible, God’s Word, is not like any other book out there and it doesn’t really matter which translation you have, because when you prayerfully seek His answers in His Word the Spirit will allow you to understand it regardless of the words on the page.

The Word reads you through your Spirit and your answers can be found by prayerfully and humbly seeking the answer from God’s Word. Take the time to quiet your mind and ask God to open the Scriptures to you so that you can find the answers that are waiting to be found.

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/php.4.4.KJV

Trust in Jesus Christ…

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.12.2.KJV

The Lord is my strength and my deliverer, whom shall I fear? He is my rock and my shield, my Protector and the Victor in all things.

God is God and there is no other!

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. But now, O Lord , thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Isaiah 64:4‭-‬8 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.64.4-8.KJV

Rejoice!

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16‭-‬18 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/1th.5.16-18.KJV