In a few days, we celebrate the beginning of a new year. We sometime look at this as a symbolic wiping of the slate, clearing away all that came along in the previous year, and beginning again with a fresh outlook and a promise on our lips to do better this time around.
Le 23:27 "The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the LORD by fire.
Le 23:28 Do no work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God.
Le 25:9 Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land.
This is the way God wants us to celebrate the new year.
Not with empty “resolutions” that we break almost as soon as we make them, but with atonement which is a reconciliation between God and man, such as forgiveness and repentance of sin.
So, got any resolutions for this year?
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
Acts 17: 22 – 34
You here them everyday. Stories of people who felt an unknown presence in their lives, just when they needed it. Not all of these people are Christian, and not all of them know that there is a good.
Their stories usually end with the phrases, “I knew it was going to be alright”, “It was like a miracle or something”. At this time of year we may see on TV a story of a “Christmas Miracle”, where something, or someone, unknown has changed the lives of an individual or family.
In Athens, Paul was looking at the places and articles of worship, when he found a small shrine dedicated to an unknown god.
22 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.
23 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.
Paul went on to proclaim the Glory of God to all standing there, and as we often find today, most scoffed and walked away, while a small group wanted to know more.
Like I've said in the past, everybody wants to know about a god. Even the Atheists, and Secular Humanists know and fear Him. They know that once their own members have children, these people have a tendency to leave the movement in search of the presence of God in their lives.
So while many search for and feel His presence when they need him, few remain to seek him further.
Today is the eve of the day we achieved victory. As the book of Isaiah tell us, unto us a child is born.
That child was the living embodiment of the living God. Sent to redeem the world. So today, and whenever we get a chance, we should tell the people who tell us of the “miracle” times in their lives, of the one true God, that “unknown god” that Paul described to the men of Athens.
Paul said that God is at work among people of all nations “so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope 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” (Acts 17:27-28).
We should be alert for the Lord’s presence where we least expect to see Him. Jesus may invite Himself to any Christmas party. After all, it’s His birthday.
You here them everyday. Stories of people who felt an unknown presence in their lives, just when they needed it. Not all of these people are Christian, and not all of them know that there is a good.
Their stories usually end with the phrases, “I knew it was going to be alright”, “It was like a miracle or something”. At this time of year we may see on TV a story of a “Christmas Miracle”, where something, or someone, unknown has changed the lives of an individual or family.
In Athens, Paul was looking at the places and articles of worship, when he found a small shrine dedicated to an unknown god.
22 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.
23 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.
Paul went on to proclaim the Glory of God to all standing there, and as we often find today, most scoffed and walked away, while a small group wanted to know more.
Like I've said in the past, everybody wants to know about a god. Even the Atheists, and Secular Humanists know and fear Him. They know that once their own members have children, these people have a tendency to leave the movement in search of the presence of God in their lives.
So while many search for and feel His presence when they need him, few remain to seek him further.
Today is the eve of the day we achieved victory. As the book of Isaiah tell us, unto us a child is born.
That child was the living embodiment of the living God. Sent to redeem the world. So today, and whenever we get a chance, we should tell the people who tell us of the “miracle” times in their lives, of the one true God, that “unknown god” that Paul described to the men of Athens.
Paul said that God is at work among people of all nations “so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope 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” (Acts 17:27-28).
We should be alert for the Lord’s presence where we least expect to see Him. Jesus may invite Himself to any Christmas party. After all, it’s His birthday.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
INVISIBLE?
John 14: 5 – 20
Seeing is believing. I must have heard that phrase a million times, maybe more, and I must admit I have taken it as a truth. Now comes the interesting bit. I believe in God, yet I have never seen Him. Some how these things don't seem to add up.
I know that I have felt the presence of God in my life, and have seen the changes that he has made in the lives of others. I guess what I am saying is that I, if not all of us, have the same feelings and experiences the Apostles had.
5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
9 Jesus answered: "Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
That whole seeing is believing thing just keeps raising its ugly head doesn't it?
We must remember that God is not like the “Invisible Man” from those old movies. He is not playing some great game of hide and seek, taking off his outer wrappings and disappearing from our sight.
We perceive that God is distant, far off, inaccessible, and hidden. But we need a God who is accessible, and we wonder how to have a meaningful relationship with Him.
We will never fully comprehend what God is like. Yet He Himself is accessible to us. In part, that is why Jesus came, to “show us the Father” and to bring us close to Him, because “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation”
Our God is an invisible God, beyond our limited comprehension. Thankfully, Jesus came to show us how near to us He really is.
Seeing is believing. I must have heard that phrase a million times, maybe more, and I must admit I have taken it as a truth. Now comes the interesting bit. I believe in God, yet I have never seen Him. Some how these things don't seem to add up.
I know that I have felt the presence of God in my life, and have seen the changes that he has made in the lives of others. I guess what I am saying is that I, if not all of us, have the same feelings and experiences the Apostles had.
5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
9 Jesus answered: "Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
That whole seeing is believing thing just keeps raising its ugly head doesn't it?
We must remember that God is not like the “Invisible Man” from those old movies. He is not playing some great game of hide and seek, taking off his outer wrappings and disappearing from our sight.
We perceive that God is distant, far off, inaccessible, and hidden. But we need a God who is accessible, and we wonder how to have a meaningful relationship with Him.
We will never fully comprehend what God is like. Yet He Himself is accessible to us. In part, that is why Jesus came, to “show us the Father” and to bring us close to Him, because “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation”
Our God is an invisible God, beyond our limited comprehension. Thankfully, Jesus came to show us how near to us He really is.
Monday, December 22, 2008
MIRACLES
Revelation 22: 1 – 5
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
December is a month when people celebrate miracles. The Jewish tradition of Hanukkah, the Holiday of Lights, commemorates the time when a small amount of oil lasted 8 days and kept the light in the temple from going out. And Christmas celebrates the coming of the “Light of the World,” God in human form, Jesus.
A miracle is generally thought of as something that contradicts nature. But a true miracle is the introduction of God’s supernatural power into our world in a way that suspends the laws of physics as we understand them.
God is always in control. It is rather odd, don't you think, that December is the month chosen to celebrate miracles of the old, and new testaments about the coming, and establishment, of the light of God?
In the secular world, song writers and poets, have used the months not only to show the passing of a year, but also the stages of life, (Ever heard about a May, - December relationship? )
when we reach the December of our lives, we look forward to our coming time with The Lord. Even those who are not saved hope for the next life in heaven.
Deep down we all want to think of the end of death disease and pain.
So isn't it cool that God, who understands all our needs and desires, should put a book filled with such comfort at the end of his word to us. Yeah I know Revelation can be kind scary too with all it's prophecy of the end to come, but it is there as a warning, a last gasp plea as it were for us to repent and to come to Jesus.
Let's enjoy our December celebrations. Let us also remember the miracles behind them.
Now that advent is over, I can truly say-
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
December is a month when people celebrate miracles. The Jewish tradition of Hanukkah, the Holiday of Lights, commemorates the time when a small amount of oil lasted 8 days and kept the light in the temple from going out. And Christmas celebrates the coming of the “Light of the World,” God in human form, Jesus.
A miracle is generally thought of as something that contradicts nature. But a true miracle is the introduction of God’s supernatural power into our world in a way that suspends the laws of physics as we understand them.
God is always in control. It is rather odd, don't you think, that December is the month chosen to celebrate miracles of the old, and new testaments about the coming, and establishment, of the light of God?
In the secular world, song writers and poets, have used the months not only to show the passing of a year, but also the stages of life, (Ever heard about a May, - December relationship? )
when we reach the December of our lives, we look forward to our coming time with The Lord. Even those who are not saved hope for the next life in heaven.
Deep down we all want to think of the end of death disease and pain.
So isn't it cool that God, who understands all our needs and desires, should put a book filled with such comfort at the end of his word to us. Yeah I know Revelation can be kind scary too with all it's prophecy of the end to come, but it is there as a warning, a last gasp plea as it were for us to repent and to come to Jesus.
Let's enjoy our December celebrations. Let us also remember the miracles behind them.
Now that advent is over, I can truly say-
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
PRAYING FOR OTHERS
Ephesians 1: 15 – 23
I have a daily thing, where I set the clock on my I touch to ring every hour. This give me the opportunity to pray for those people around me. Rarely do I pray for myself in these times. Now I don't mean to be speaking pridefully by telling you this, all I want to do is show by example what Paul was talking about in his prayer for the Ephesians.
16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Doing things like this(praying for others) recharges our batteries. There is an old saying in AA , If you need help to get through the day, help someone else. You'd be surprised how well this principle works. God works in many and mysterious ways, through people and other supernatural ways, and knowing that the steps and principles of 12 step recovery programs are Biblically blessed, I can't help but think that the simple deed of praying for others kinda helps us too.
(That was a long sentence)
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
God bless you .
I'll be praying for you.
I have a daily thing, where I set the clock on my I touch to ring every hour. This give me the opportunity to pray for those people around me. Rarely do I pray for myself in these times. Now I don't mean to be speaking pridefully by telling you this, all I want to do is show by example what Paul was talking about in his prayer for the Ephesians.
16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Doing things like this(praying for others) recharges our batteries. There is an old saying in AA , If you need help to get through the day, help someone else. You'd be surprised how well this principle works. God works in many and mysterious ways, through people and other supernatural ways, and knowing that the steps and principles of 12 step recovery programs are Biblically blessed, I can't help but think that the simple deed of praying for others kinda helps us too.
(That was a long sentence)
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
God bless you .
I'll be praying for you.
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