Roseville Church of the Nazarene

Greetings in Christ,

  We have all done it.  We have said I just wish we could all get along.  It is a desire we have in making this statement and to some degree we wish it were true, but the reality of life sinks in and we know it will not happen.  We find ourselves in situations where some of the people we deal with we get along while others are a challenge to even say hello to them.  As hard as we try people will find a way to get under our skin and frustrate us.

  We consider many times it would be nice if we could get along especially in those situations where the frustration levels get so high.  No matter the course we take it just seems difficult to manage the feelings we have inside towards that person or those people.  We often put them into their own category and separate ourselves from them hoping our method of separation works to alleviate the frustration we are feeling, but reality sinks in once more reminding us we are just fooling ourselves.

  What if we all could get along?  What if we could work with the fellow co-worker on the job and make work hours pleasurable?  What if dealing with people it became so easy there were no more arguments?  I think that is where we go in our minds when we face those times of frustration.  What would it be like to just get along?  As nice it may sound, it may be an easy out for us.

  We live in a world that is hard and frustrating to get along with other people.  Ever since the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden God has promised living on earth will be hard.  There will be nothing achieved on earth without sweat and toil on the part of those working to maintain life.  When you have people sweating and toiling side by side tension will run high.  Anger will present itself.  People will argue.  People will not always get along.

  But what if we could get along?  If we could all get along here on earth it may be our downfall.  We may just get big heads and say look at what we have done.  We will pat ourselves on the back and give big awards for our efforts and give ourselves so much praise we would think we had arrived on our own strength.  We would eventually push out God in our lives.

  We will someday be able to get along, but that will be when Jesus calls God’s children home for eternity.  It is that hope of one day which should drive us to look to God for our strength to live out each day here on earth.  It is only by His strength we can face those who make our day frustrating.

  Paul writes to the Romans telling them to remain diligent in prayer and to love each other.  Bless those who persecute you, and to return evil with love, and to be at peace with all men.  Above all let God have the revenge, for it alone is God’s to wrath on those He created.  Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. 

  Jesus is talking to the people about judgment day.  Jesus talks about the separation of the sheep and the goats; the righteous and unrighteous.  They will be judged on how they had interacted with other people.  Those who tried to get along and take care of those who did not have food or clothing verses those who only thought about themselves.  Those who displayed love and care will be considered righteous, and those who did the opposite will be considered unrighteous.  Their actions on earth determine their future in eternity.

  It would be nice if we all could get along, but we know while we still live here on earth that will not happen.  It is only going to be through God’s strength and the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us we will be able to love those who give us those frustrating times.  It is only by God’s strength and the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us we will be able to bless them, feed them, and clothe them.  It is only by God’s strength and the Holy Spirit dwelling in us we can have the reassurance we will get along in heaven for eternity.

  “Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in holy array.  The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord is over many waters.  The voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the Lord ; is majestic.  The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.  He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.  The voice of the Lord hews out flames of fire.  The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.  The voice of the Lord makes the deer to calve and strips the forests bare; and in His temple everything says, “Glory!”  The Lord sat as King at the flood; yes, the Lord sits as King forever.  The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.”  Psalm 29

  Lord may we love in Your strength and may You find us righteous.  Amen

  Blessings,

Greetings in Christ,

  Have you ever met someone who thinks they cannot accomplish anything?  They feel as if everyone and everything is against them.  They look at other people’s success and they try to outdo other people in their effort to get ahead of the other people’s success, while all the time they are working harder and achieve nothing.  They struggle at what they are trying to achieve only to fall back further in their attempts to get ahead.  It is like watching a person who does know how to swim struggling in the water trying to stay afloat.  The more effort they expend the more they sink.

  Saul found himself in that situation looking at David’s success.  Saul had been on top of the world as king, but he let the power of being king go to his head.  David seemed to arrive out of nowhere and had instant success in everything he did.  It started with killing Goliath.  David was not a big man and by no means had any advantage over Goliath, but he went out to face Goliath with his faith in God knowing God was on his side.  Saul became jealous of how David seemed to have the success Saul was seeking to gain.

  Saul had been making mistakes by doing things on his own.  He had let the idea of being king give him the authority to make decision on his own and expecting things to go well for him.  What Saul forgot was he did not have God’s blessing on what he was doing in most of the decisions he was making.  Saul was forgetting to ask God for His help and was trying to achieve favorable results on his own effort.

  David on the other hand was asking God for direction and His blessing before he moved forward with any decision.  David knew he was not capable to achieve anything on his own, and it was through God’s strength he could do anything.  This was the secret to David’s success, and the reason for Saul’s jealousy. 

  Saul had been so wrapped up in his own desire to achieve success he lost sight of what he was really trying to accomplish.  He left God out of his life and began to look at David’s success and became jealous of what David was accomplishing.  Saul wanted the people to cheer him and pat him on the back for what he had accomplished.  He wanted the fame and man’s applause instead of God’s blessing in his life.

  Matthew records Jesus’ words in regard to the end of times.  Jesus warns the people not to be led astray by the ones who call themselves Jesus.  Those who claim to be Him will lead many astray even those who claim to be Christians.  It will be easy to get caught up in the success they appear to have while they are rising in power, and many will try to emulate them in their desire to succeed.  It will be a mistake to follow what seems to be success.

  Paul writes to the Romans telling them to make sure they are presentable sacrifice to God.   “Therefore, I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.   And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

  David’s success was preceded by his asking God for His direction and blessing.  David only acted on his decisions when God had given him His blessing to act on them.  David kept himself as a living sacrifice before God which God in return strengthened him to do the things which he could not do on his own.  Saul looked at it as David’s success, but David looked at it as God’s blessing on his life.

  We can never go wrong when we ask God for His blessing in our decisions.  It is when we act on own, we get into trouble.  It does not mean God will bless all our decisions, and it is important we only act on those which God has given us His blessing.  It is only when God is working in us and through us, we will have true success.

  “O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wonderful things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.  The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.  He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.  Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.  Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.  With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully before the King, the Lord.  Let the sea roar and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it.  Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.”  Psalm 98

  Lord may we be a presentable sacrifice to You in all we do.  Amen

  Blessings,

  Greetings in Christ,

  As a human, we can be hard to convince of some fact at times.  We want proof of something before we try to believe.  We want proof in the pudding before we attempt to allow our minds to process the information in our understanding something is possible.

  There are scientists constantly working to prove things do exist, and how they were formed or created.  They do not rest until they come up with some formula or physical proof of how the earth was formed, or how matter has progressed.  They cannot accept that things just happened because a supreme being decided to form the earth or create mankind.  There must be a process which can be traced in the development of mankind and the earth.

  When we have a disagreement with someone, we go to great lengths to prove one side is right and the other wrong.  For example: just last night I was eating dinner out in a restaurant with my wife (Sue).  I was telling her I need to see a chiropractor to work my shoulder and back.  She knew of a chiropractor in town, but she could not remember his name.  She wanted to drive by his place of business to get his name and number.  I made the statement what if he does not have his number on the sign.  She said he should have his number on the sign.  Sue was not going to rest till we drove by the place of business to get his name and number.  Needless to say, we only saw his name on the sign.  The proof had to be sought before we could go home.  We had to have that tangible evidence.

  You may be chuckling at my story, but you have been there just as we have.  We all try to prove a point, and we do not let it drop until we have evidence we are right.  We must have that tangible physical evidence before we believe or to prove our point.  We look for something we can hold or touch before we believe in something or at least try to process it in our mind.  We want tangible evidence.

  The Pharisees had the same problem.  They did not believe the prophets who came to announce God plan for mankind.  They did not agree with the prophets because of one thing or another.  The prophets did not fit into their idea of whom they were or where they came from.  They were prophesying the wrong message which conflicted with the Pharisees plans or thoughts.  Instead, the Pharisees killed off those who opposed them and acted like they had done no wrong.  Jesus was reminding them of the blood they had on their hands by killing the prophets, and how their need for tangible evidence was working against them.

  Paul writes to the Romans telling them they need to rely on faith in their quest for salvation.  They need to believe in Jesus Christ and call on His name.  Paul on one hand tells the Romans to have faith, but also tells them to confirm it by confessing it with their mouth.  Paul understood the nature of mankind and gave the Romans a way to have faith, but also to have tangible evidence of salvation in their lives.  By confessing with their mouths, they have confirmed to the world of the action which had taken place in their life. 

  We as humans have a hard time accepting things on faith.  We do not always accept things without proof or tangible evidence, but there is something powerful in the proclamation of what God is doing in our lives to others.  It gives others hope, and it is something tangible to understand.  God understands our need for tangible evidence to grasp.  He wants us to proclaim Him and what He has done so we can overcome our weakness so we can live by faith.  Our proclamation of what God is doing in our lives is our tangible evidence of God working in our lives.  Let us shout out what God is doing!

  “Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights!  Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts!  Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all stars of light!  Praise Him, highest heavens, and the waters that are above the heavens!  Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for He commanded and they were created.  He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away.  Praise the Lord from the earth, sea monsters and all deeps; fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling His word; mountains and all hills; fruit trees and all cedars;
beasts and all cattle; creeping things and winged fowl; kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth; both young men and virgins; old men and children.  Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above earth and heaven.  And He has lifted up a horn for His people, praise for all His godly ones; even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him.  Praise the Lord!”  Psalm 148

  Lord may we proclaim You goodness to the world!  Amen

  Blessings,

Greetings in Christ,

  I like to work with wood.  I like the texture of the wood and how it looks with its grains running through it.  One of the benefits of wood it is can be turned into something different than it was in its original form.  Many different varieties of wood make the imagination unlimited in the designs a person can create or dream of making out of wood.  So, when a piece of wood stands out it is sought out by many to create something new and exciting out of the wood that has caught their eye.

  In my time living in Colorado, I had the opportunity to see what a tree looked like that grew of the side of the Rocky Mountains.  On the outside it looked normal as it was growing, but when the tree died or had to be removed, the inside of the tree told another story.  A cross section of the tree revealed another detail that was not known as the tree was growing. 

  Normally the tree rings in the cross section of the tree form and grow evenly as it grows.  The trees which grow on the mountain have a different growth pattern to it.  The rings in the tree are tighter on one side than they are on the other side.  The front side which is subject to the wind form tighter rings than on the back side of the tree which gives the tree a different look when you see a cross section of the tree.  Many find it interesting to look at, but to a wood worker it sparks a different appeal.

  The way the tree grows as it is subject to the wind creates something which the woodworker desires to work with.  It sparks an interest to create something new and work with the design to make a unique design.  It is also desired because of its tighter ring pattern because it can stand more stress when building wood working projects.  The wood which comes from the tree(s) can be very costly depending on the ring pattern.  This wood is highly desired by those who know the value and understand what it took for the tree to form its rings.  The stress the tree had to endure in its time of growth makes it valuable to those who create wood working projects.

  We do not always consider the things which something has to endure to make it more valuable to those who appreciate what it does to its formation in its life.  We do not think of trials and tribulations as something which builds strength in a person’s life.  Paul touches on this in Romans by writing about tribulations a person must endure in their life.  Paul states trials and tribulations builds character in a person, which character strengthens a person’s ability to stand the stress it must endure, but it has to be based upon the faith in which they trust God to give them the strength. 

  We do not always consider it takes many trials and tribulation to build those layers of strength to have the ability to stand against the pressure of life.  Just as the tree rings form in layers, the more rings it develops the more strength it must stand up against the wind in has to endure.  The tree’s inner makeup is to stand up straight despite the wind trying to force it to bend. 

  With God living in us we have the desire to stand up against the force of life not to bend despite the trials and tribulations of life.  It is the living God inside of us which gives us the strength to develop those rings of strength.  It is those rings of strength which God desires to use to create something more beautiful in us, and they are more valuable in God’s eyes.  God knows what it took for us to develop those rings of strength, and it is those rings of strength God uses to create something new and exciting in us or out of us depending on His design for His creation.

  One day when God calls for the trumpet to be sounded for His children to come home, those trials and tribulations will be rings of strength Gods sees as beauty in His eyes.  He will look at what He has created as something very valuable, and He will treasure them for eternity for He knows what it took to create those rings of strength.

  “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and praise is becoming.  The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel.  He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them.  Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.  The Lord supports the afflicted; He brings down the wicked to the ground.  Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises to our God on the lyre, Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who provides rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.  He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens which cry.  He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.  The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His lovingkindness.”  Psalm 147:1-11

  Lord may we look at trials and tribulations as rings of strength in You.  Amen

  Blessings,

  Greetings in Christ,

  I remember a union issue I was part of at work.  I was the union president at work, and it was my duty to stand alongside a member when they get into a situation which they may need some advice or counsel to guide them through.  It was one of those situations where things started out good but spiraled downward quickly.  The individual did not have faith in the system which had to be followed, and they chose to take their own path to seek the results they felt they needed to achieve.  The situation became more difficult for all parties involved in trying to resolve the issue.

  It was one of those times I had to stand back and let the individual do their own thing and hope I had the patience to give advice when I could, and then take no offense when they do the opposite.  It became frustrating and I began to question my ability to reach that individual with the advice I must give, and/or hope common sense will shine through at one point of time.

  It did not fare well for the individual in question.  No matter how hard this individual fought to clear their name, the guilt of the offense shined through in many places which was hard to deny.  The funny thing about it was the guilt was admitted at first, but the individual tried to cover up the offense by denying afterwards any guilt by blaming others.  The continued denial and blaming others created more trouble for the individual than the offense itself.  The denial made the individual look bad and created a more serious result for the individual in the end leaving others no recourse.  In the end truth won over denial.

  If the admission of guilt would have remained as the reply to the offense, things would have been worked out for the individual far better than they did.  The situation would have been over, and people would have moved on.  People would get over what had happened like it never had happened, and the individual would have retained what they were trying to retain in the first place—integrity. 

  This individual did not grasp the concept of admission to guilt.  It was by admission the process of recovery could take place.  It should have been a time of forgiveness and healing. It is in the admission submission can follow.

  The process to be a Christian is the same.  Admission must take place for submission to happen.  Admission is the time for recovery to take place before submission can happen.  It is a process which leads to true integrity for the individual who chooses to allow the process to take place.

  Admission—time of recovery, healing, and forgiveness.  Submission—time for the Holy Spirit to move in.

  Saul was a man who was going to find out what submission was going to feel like.  Samuel was preparing Saul to become king, and it was important for Samuel to instruct Saul on how he was going to be Spirit filled.  Saul was already found to be righteous, but he was not filled with the Spirit.  Samuel told him he would be a completely changed man when the Holy Spirit would fill him.  Saul followed the instruction of Samuel and the Holy Spirit entered Saul and he instantly felt the change.  Even the people who knew Saul’s disposition prior witnessed a dramatic change in him.

  The individual at work did not let admission of guilt really take place and missed out on submission where the offense would have gone away.  It was a process which should have taken place before true integrity could happen for the individual. 

  Admission to guilt is the first step in the process of being a Christian.  The admission leads to healing and forgiveness, and submission leads to completely wiping out all past offenses and guilt leaving the individual feeling fresh and renewed.  Submission is the infilling of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and soul making us feel more alive than we ever could imagine.  It is a time when true integrity shines which everybody can see.  We cannot skip or delete the steps.  Our effort to try to work it out on our own leads to disaster.  It is by admission then submission we will find the truth we seek and need to live a righteous life filled with God’s integrity.

  ”I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever.  Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever.  Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.  One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.  On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, and I will tell of Your greatness.  They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness and will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.   The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.  The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works.  All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord, and Your godly ones shall bless You.  They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power; to make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts and the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom.  Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.”  Psalm 145:1-13

  Lord may we live a life of submission and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Amen

  Blessing,

Greetings in Christ,

  I forget to step back and take measure of my life.  I forget to step back and see the wonderful things that surround me.  I forget to step back and take measure of the beauty which has been part of my life.  I forget to step back and see the wonderful people who I have the pleasure of knowing, even the ones who seem to get under my skin.  I forget to step back and see how truly blessed I am.

  It has been easy to get acclimated to the things the way they are.  It has been sort of expected on my part just because I felt I deserve it, or that I have worked hard to acquire it, or I have learned a new technique or skill.  My reasoning is I have been given a gift from God so I should have it, or be able to do it, but I fail to step back and truly fully understand just why I have been blessed in my life.

  It is not that I am something special, or am I outstanding in what I do, or I excel beyond others to set myself apart from the rest.  It is not because I have two Christian parents, or have Christian siblings, or have a Christian wife and children.  It is because I have been chosen by God to be His child.

  What I am or what I can do has nothing to do with why God has chosen me.  He has chosen me because I am His creation.  He has equipped me to be able to do things which He has designed for me to do to help build His kingdom.  God has a reason for me to be a part of His kingdom, and out of His willingness to see His creation succeed He has blessed my life.  I forget to step back and take measure of how blessed I am and to give Him the praise for all He has done for me.

  God had a warning for the Israelites as they were to move into the Promised Land.  God warned them not to forget Him because they were going to enter a land which had a special place in His heart and His plan for mankind.  It was a land which they did not have to struggle because He cared for it, and He made sure the vegetation had plenty of water and sunshine to grow.  The Israelites were not going to have to work hard to feed their families as they had in Egypt.  They were going to receive God’s blessing on their lives so they could flourish.  All they had to do was to praise and worship Him.

  I think it easy to get acclimated to the way things are and become complacent thinking there should be more and not be happy with what I have or can do.  Instead, I should be stepping back and taking measure of the fullness of God in my life, and to give Him thanks for how He has blessed my life.  The more I step back and see just how God is working in my life my focus changes from me to Him, and if I truly understand why God has done what He has done I realize the things I think are important seem so trivial.

  The more I get to know God the more I realize I do not praise Him enough, and that is a mistake on my part.  God’s praise should be on my lips all the time no matter what I am doing no matter the circumstances for I am truly blessed.

  “Praise the Lord!  I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart, in the company of the upright and in the assembly.   Great are the works of the Lord; they are studied by all who delight in them.  Splendid and majestic is His work, and His righteousness endures forever.  He has made His wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate.  He has given food to those who fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever.  He has made known to His people the power of His works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.  The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are sure.
They are upheld forever and ever; they are performed in truth and uprightness.  He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments;
His praise endures forever.”  Psalm 111

  Lord may I never forget to give You the praise You so deserve for You have truly blessed my life.  Amen

  Blessings,

Greetings in Christ,

  Many of us have worked on a project which started from nothing to something, and it required many hours of hard work.  It takes time and patience to build or create a project.  I had crafted a fireplace mantel for a friend.  In the process of crafting the mantel I wanted to make sure I had picked out the best wood.  All the grain had to look the same and align in the process of building it.  There could be no warped boards; they had to be straight and flat.  They all had to be the same thickness in order to align in the crafting of the mantel.  I was trying to be careful to start with the best material I could find.

  During the cutting of the boards, I took the time to make sure I did not measure incorrectly, and sometimes checking three or four times.  Once the wood had been cut it could no longer be the same, and it would not work for the designed purpose.  It would be a waste of material, and a waste of time.

  All through the process of crafting the mantel I made sure I did all the right things.  It was during the assembly of the mantel it would be evident the measurements had been correct.  Even during the assembly there were some thoughts of how to correct the wrong if the mantel did not resemble the drawings created before the project.  My mind had gone through many things during the assembly, but as the mantel was being assembled my mind had been put to ease for it looked like the drawings, but it needed some final touch up to look good.  Some sanding, staining, and polyurethane and it was done ready to be hung on the wall.

  I share this project with you because it reminds me of what Jesus may have gone through in His mind as He created us.  As He was with the Father when the clay was selected from the earth, He made sure it had all the qualities He wanted.  It had all the minerals and sustenance it needed to be molded into a man.  It had to be able to withstand His breath of life in order to be created in His image.  It had to be shaped into an image we see as mankind.  It had to be able to think and enjoy beauty.  It had to have knowledge in order to make decisions, but it still needed some touch up.

  The process of shaping mankind was a much longer process.   God gave the law to the people for them to realize they were living in sin, but it became very cumbersome to keep all the laws.  God sent Jesus to personally shape mankind into the desired form God had intended when He came up with the plans to create mankind.

  Jesus had to go back to the drawing table and bring with Him the plans to show mankind the original intent of what God had in mind.  The knowledge mankind thought they had was nothing compared to the knowledge of God.  They thought they knew how to love till Jesus showed compassion for the sick, the hurting, and the lost.  Jesus had some sanding to do and, in the process, He was able to bring mankind back into shape and resemble the original design.

  Just as I wanted to see the mantel turn out just like the drawing, Jesus wants us to turn out just like God’s design.  We may need some more sanding in our process, but I am sure if we let Jesus bring us into the shape that resembles the original drawing, we will look like the image God created. 

  “Praise the Lord!  Praise, O servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord.  Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forever.  From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised.  The Lord is high above all nations; His glory is above the heavens.  Who is like the Lord our God, Who is enthroned on high, Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth?  He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people.  He makes the barren woman abide in the house as a joyful mother of children.  Praise the Lord!”  Psalm 113

  Lord thank you for loving us so much You came to earth to bring us back to the original design You intended for us.  Amen

  Blessings,

Greetings in Christ,

  “How is going today” is a common phrase spoken to others in passing, and it often said as my place of employment.  More times than not the response given is, “I’m living in paradise.”  Now we all know it is a sarcastic reply and it is the exact opposite of what the person responding really means.  It is a way to diffuse the frustration of the day that person is having, or about to go through as the day progresses. 

  We have all had those days when it seems nothing goes right and just about everything bad happens.  Frustration builds, our patience wears thin, and we do not want to deal with other people.  We want a release from it all looking to find another way to deal with the troubles of the day.  We find ourselves at our wits end trying to stop the onslaught on the things going wrong, or at least find some place to hide to avoid any more disaster. The mind wants to go somewhere it does not have to deal with the troubles of the day.

  We have dreamed of that place where everything goes right.  We have other people waiting on us as we sit on the beach looking at the ocean relaxing in the lounge chair.  We do not have a care in the world.  We enjoy food cooked and ready for us to eat at any time.  We are taking in the beauty of the surroundings as we relax.  Paradise, right?  At least we may think it is paradise.  What does paradise really look like?

 Webster defines paradise as a place of great beauty or happiness.  We connect with this definition of paradise.  It is where our minds go when we look for release of the troubles of the day, or just the troubles of life.  We want to be in a place of beauty and happiness where everything goes right.  We do not want a care in the world.  We want our minds to be free of anything that makes us think or work hard to accomplish what we want for ourselves.  We look to this being our paradise.  The funny thing about this definition, it is listed as the fourth definition in the dictionary.

  The first definition of paradise is heaven, as the final abode of the righteous.  We do not typically attach this definition of paradise; the final abode of the righteous, but it fits what God has in mind for the righteous.  A place where there are no troubles, no sorrow, and no pain.  All of those things we deal with on a daily basis which give us so much trouble is gone forever.  Isaiah describes it this way.  “And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them.  Also the cow and the bear will graze,
their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.   The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den.  They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” 

  We should know the reason many troubles come our way is because we live in world full of sin.  We cannot avoid things which trouble us here on earth, but we can get all the help we need to live a righteous life in order to get to paradise.  Paul gives some advice to the Corinthians telling them true wisdom is not held by mankind, but it is revealed to mankind through the Holy Spirit.  “For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.  For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,  which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”

  Jesus also gives some advice to the disciples.  “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.  If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.  He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.  These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.  Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

  We know living here on earth has its troubling times for us.  We learn to deal with them as they arise, but we do not have to face them alone.  We have the Holy Spirit to guide us and to help us make the right decisions to follow Jesus’s commands keeping us righteous.  We may not be living in paradise, but we can live like we are going to paradise, and when we live like we are going to paradise we do not fear the troubles we face, but rather let God take control trusting Him to bring us through. 

  The sarcastic response “Living in paradise” can be given by those who dream about being there, but for those who can be called righteous they can claim they will be there one day.

  “I will extol You, my God, O King, and I will bless Your name forever and ever.   Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever.   Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is unsearchable.  One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.  On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
Men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts, and I will tell of Your greatness.  They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness and will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.  The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.  The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works.  All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord, and Your godly ones shall bless You.  They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power; to make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts and the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom.  Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.”  Psalm 145:1-13

  Lord thank you for sending Your Holy Spirit.  May we listen to the Holy Spirit and apply the wisdom to our lives as we live righteously before You.  We are looking forward to spending paradise with You.  Amen

  Blessings,

Greetings in Christ,

  Imagine if you will, God came to you in a vision and told you He was going to reveal His plan for your life.  In this plan, you were going to be His mouthpiece to the people and in doing this you could be held responsible for any wrongdoing they may do, but in this plan your tongue will be stuck to the roof of your mouth.  Sounds like a no-win situation for anybody to have to endure, even if it was only a test of character.

  Ezekiel had been called by God to be His mouthpiece, and in this plan for Ezekiel God had some guidelines he must follow in order to be qualified as the spokesperson for God.  God had told Ezekiel to speak out against any wrongdoing no matter if the people were unrighteous or righteous.  Everybody was to be warned by him, and God was going to hold them accountable for their actions.  If Ezekiel did not warn them of their wrongdoing, he would suffer the consequences of those people’s actions.  The only catch to the plan God was going to make Ezekiel’s tongue stick to the roof of his mouth.

  God knew the people would not like to hear what Ezekiel had to say.  The people would bind Ezekiel and put him into a place where he could not be free, or to be able to speak freely to the people.  God was going to make Ezekiel dumb so he could not rebuke them for their actions of binding him.  God knew that if Ezekiel had the opportunity, he would warn the people before God had the right moment for Ezekiel to proclaim just what God had for him to say to the people.  In a way, God was telling him not to fear what the people will do to him, but to fear what He may do to him and the people.

  Jesus had a similar approach to the people as He told them to proclaim to the people what they knew.  Jesus began by telling them they are not above the master.  “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!  Therefore, do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.  What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.  Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

  The approach God and Jesus took was different, but the message was the same.  Proclaim the good news!  It also reveals the accountability we have for not speaking out against the wrongdoing others commit.  We take for granted people have heard the word of God, but not all people have been exposed to the truth.  Ezekiel’s terms and responsibility for the wrongdoing of others may not be relevant today, but if we deny God when the opportunity is given to us to present the truth we may answer for our neglect.  We are not to be afraid of what people may say to us, but to fear what God can do to us.

  Paul writes to the Ephesians these words, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.  But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus   for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” 

   Paul reminded the Ephesians they too were sinners.   It was through the words of someone else they heard the truth spoken to them, and it was by the grace of Jesus they were saved.  They received a gift from God and Jesus, and it was not for them to hold onto, but to give away freely just as it was given to them.

  We too were sinners.  We have been given a gift wrapped in grace.  We should be willing to pass it along to someone else who needs it just like we did.

  “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.  The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.  The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.  They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.  Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.   Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not rule over me; then I will be blameless, and I shall be acquitted of great transgression.  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”  Psalm 19:7-14

  “God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us—Selah.   That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations.  Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.  Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth. Selah.  Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.  The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us.  God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.”  Psalm 67

  Lord we thank you for the gift of salvation.  May we share the truth with those who need to hear and receive the gift of salvation.  Amen

  Blessings,

Greetings in Christ,

  It gets complicated and hard to believe there is a God who can know the future in every detail before it unfolds.  It can be especially hard to grasp this concept on a personal level, and how it can be applied to the individual lives of people.  It even gets more complicated when you consider the number of people which occupy the earth.  Just how can one God be able to keep track of the activities which are happening daily correct and straight, and yet He is able to understand and know the future?

  People have been puzzled by this for many years, and they have come up with many versions of what they think is the answer.  The result is many doctrines of belief which has led to many ways people think about the past, present, and the future.  Some of those doctrines believe the harder you work the more you will be rewarded with a place in heaven making it a choice on mankind’s part to control the future.  They will receive favor from God, and He will tell St. Peter to allow them to pass through the pearly gates of heaven.

  There are others who do not believe in God at all.  They refuse to believe in a supreme being who can create such a wonder as the earth and mankind.  The earth and mankind are the result of atoms in the world colliding forming the earth, and out of this chance of everything coming together created mankind from the overflow of matter.  This force of nature is still driving the formation of the earth and mankind, and the future depends on mankind and their intelligence.

  What it really comes down to is not individual intelligence, but to accept on faith who God is.  It is the lack of intelligence which has driven mankind crazy trying to figure out how the earth and mankind were created.  It is the same lack of intelligence that becomes the stumbling block for mankind to accept on faith God created the earth and mankind.  It is those who accept on faith who can move forward with the reality that there is a sovereign God who has created them.  It is this belief in a sovereign God Who can understand the future.

  Matthew gives us an example of Jesus talking about the future as He tells the parable of the wheat and the tares.  Jesus tells the parable of the farmer who plants his wheat seed in the field, but in the night an enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat.  The farmer is alerted to the fact tares are growing among the wheat, and the concern arises the tares will affect the wheat.  The farmer tells those who are concerned to let the wheat and the tares grow together in the field, and when the time comes for the harvest, the tares will be gathered and burned.

  Jesus knew some people would not choose to follow Him.  They would choose their own intelligence to go another direction.  Jesus was there when everything was created, and He knows the makeup of the heart and soul of mankind giving Him the inside track and be able to understand mankind’s future.  It was and is the unwillingness of mankind to accept on faith what Jesus had to say on behalf of the God the Father that was and is their downfall.

  It is only through faith mankind can accept the sovereignty of God.  It is through faith mankind accepts God created mankind, and it is through faith mankind accepts God can know the details of every person on earth.  It is through faith mankind allows God to guide them into the future knowing He holds the future in His hands.   

  “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul will make its boast in the Lord; the humble will hear it and rejoice.  O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together.  I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.  They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed.  This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.  The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and rescues them.  O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!  O fear the Lord, you His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want.  The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.
Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.  Who is the man who desires life
and loves length of days that he may see good?  Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.  Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.  The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.  The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.  The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.  He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken.   Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.  The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.”  Psalm 34

  Lord thank you for Your sovereignty, creating us, and having the future in Your hands.  Amen

  Blessings,