25 April 2014 “Believe what you do? Or do what you believe”
Colossians 1:28-29 
So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

There is nothing worse than people who profess to be Christians and then completely deny, negate, and countermand it by their lifestyle, actions, and words.

If we really believe what we believe, we are desperate to share!

I don’t want to be like Al Gore. In ANY way! Explanation: He is engrossed in preaching his religion of Environmentalism. He is passionate about the subject. YET, he is continuously and constantly being videoed getting off big jets with just his wife as the only other passenger, and then they shuttle off in a big hummer limo. If his lifestyle matched his spoken passion about reducing the “carbon footprint” of all humans, he would be riding his bike to his speaking engagements. Prince William is the same way. These guys are big proponents of their “religion” that appeals to their out of touch elitist mentality. But their hypocrisy is sickening. They want regular people to live a certain way while they themselves have no intention of living that way at all. If they were truly convicted in their beliefs they wouldn’t be contradicting their beliefs with their lifestyles.

I don’t want to be a sick hypocrite. Granted, there are plenty of pastors out their who preach one thing and live another way. But that isn’t from God at all. Believers, like Paul, want to tell everyone about Christ. Warn them. Teach them. Not just try and sell books about him.

Penn Jillette, the magician-comedian and hardcore atheist, says he always appreciates it when a Christian tries to share their faith with him. He understands that to the Christian he is perishing in his sins, and, unfortunately, he is. Jullette says, “How much to do you have to hate a person” not to share what you believe with them? We must teach and warn because we really do know people whose sins are still being held against them because they do not believe in Jesus. There really are high stakes here in what we share not at all like the made up theories about a supposedly expiring planet.

Jesus said, in John 13:35, that the world will know us by our love. Our love for HIM and our love for others makes us different. Or it should anyways. The world will not know we belong to him by what we say. What we do has to match. (So Al Gore and Prince William are no Environmentalists!)

James 2:18 says some have faith and some do stuff. Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by what I do!

And what are Believers supposed to do? Love.

Showing love is being patient, kind, not jealous, not boastful, not proud, or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

This is what we teach and this is how we should be living.

Dear God,
Thank you that Jesus is for EVERYONE! Thank you for the wisdom and warning found in your Word. Help it to be evident that I am a Believer by my love for others. Let my actions and my words match that today. I praise you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

23 April 2014
Hebrews 13:8 “Same Jesus”
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

He doesn’t change. The Jesus I read about is the One I will see. The compassion he showered, the forgiveness he offered, and the love he expressed hasn’t faded or expired. He doesn’t change. 

I have noticed that as people age, what used to bug them doesn’t bug them so much anymore. Some married people claim to “fall out of love” with their spouse. And some children who used to be loving and grateful somehow turn into conceited and selfish adults. It’s because we change. Our personalities adapt to social situations, and we also are easily influenced by the latest things. But not Jesus. He doesn’t change. 

I know well meaning Believers who unintentionally make claims about the consistency of Jesus. For instance, he used to heal, but he doesn’t anymore. But look at what Jesus actually said when he healed someone. “So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.”Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home! “ (Mark 2:10-11) And he said things like, “And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road. (Mark 10:52)

He is giving physical proof of the invisible qualities of his authority and of faith. And since his Resurrection, he has given us his Holy Spirit to teach and remind us (John 14:26) of everything Jesus said and did. And Romans 10:17 clearly explains that faith comes from hearing the Good News about Christ. Jesus is still the same as he was, but now we have the Holy Sprit and God’s Word as proof.

I don’t need Jesus to heal all sickness for him to prove who he is. The Resurrection PROVED that beyond a shadow of a doubt. 

To Paul, a Believer, God said, “My grace is sufficient for you” when Paul asked to be physically healed 3 times. But to Saul, the unbeliever, God removed the scales from his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. (Acts 9:18)

So Believers with illnesses must not conclude that Jesus has changed, or that he used to care but doesn’t anymore. Jesus is the same. He has healed us and made us whole once and for all by the Resurrection.

1 Peter 2:24-25
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He hasn’t changed his mind or loved this generation less. He just no longer must prove who he is to me or anyone else because of the power of the Resurrection (Philippians 3:10). I believe in the Resurrection. I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe in the Word of God. And I believe his grace is sufficient for me too for any present troubles (which) are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17) And that was true yesterday, is true today, and will definitely be true forever!

Dear God,
Thank you so much for displaying your power once and for all through the Resurrection of your Son, Jesus. Thank you that that makes me well and whole and healed in every way. Thank you for the Holy Spirit and for your Word. Thank you that I didn’t have to live way back in the first century to know Jesus and experience his compassion, forgiveness, and love. Thank you that the SAME JESUS is with ME today, right now and will be forever! I love you and praise you and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

PS. And he does still heal the sick, by the way! I've seen it and am so thankful!

22 April 2014
Romans 1:20 “What I Need”
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

No excuse. To deny the existence of God is to betray all logic and common sense. One cannot look outside their window and conclude that mountains, trees and flowers just evolved. It takes more faith to believe that than to believe in the Creator. But people do it; they purposefully with hardened hearts ignore the completely visible qualities of God.

It’s because we want what we want. But only God has what we need!

It’s interesting that the Rich Young Ruler, who encountered Jesus, went away from Jesus feeling sad. It’s interesting because this guy had EVERYTHING he wanted, so why did he walk away sad? Why not just walk away indifferent, perplexed, or annoyed? But sad???

Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
“Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man asked.
And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.  (Matthew 19:16-22)

Why did he go away sad? He still had all his stuff in tact? He may have had all he wanted, but only Jesus has what this guy NEEDS. 

Jesus gives us what we need, yet we only love what we want. But it’s very simple to simply ask him to help me love what I need. 

We don’t need God to fix our nation, solve all the crimes, and heal our every discomfort. Believe me, I want that, but that isn’t what we all need. Author Tim Keller says that “we need pardon and reconciliation so that God can come back to earth and bring an end to evil without putting an end to us!” He’s paraphrasing 2 Peter 3:9-10. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. To give us what we want (an end to poverty, sickness, and evil in the world) would be to get rid of most of us! 

I’m so glad God focuses on giving me what I need instead! I need Jesus and that’s all. The Rich Young Ruler should have tried it; maybe he did later - I hope so. I’m so thankful for Jesus. I love him! And I find that if I just tell him I love him over and over that the JOY of the Lord is my strength (Psalm 28:7), and I actually prefer what I need over what I want. 

I prefer Jesus. And I’m so thankful that God made his presence and existence as plain as the sun in the sky and the leaves on the trees and literally the nose on  my face. And I pray for those who look at these things and deny he is real because they will be sad. They will have all they desire and live how they wish, but they’ll still be sad because only Jesus has what we NEED!

Dear God,
Thank you for the visible qualities right in front of my face that prove you are real. Thank you for giving us Jesus. Thank you filling up any holes in my heart with YOU and your love and your forgiveness and your hope! I love you so much. And I’m so thankful that I am not sad. Please turn my unsaved friend’s and family’s hearts towards YOU so they can have what they need too. Even though they think they have all they want, they are admittedly sad and unfulfilled. Thank you for filling every inch of my heart with you! I love it!! And I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

18 April 2014 “Believing and Confessing and Believing and Confessing Some More”
Romans 10:9-10 
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

I say this all the time (because I’m so happy about it!): There are NO hoops to jump through to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. In sports, one has to be athletic enough to make the team. In high school, one has to be popular enough to be on student council. In life, one has to be rich enough to go to college, buy a car, a house, a boat... In this world we’re required to do something in order to get what we want. And that’s bad news for the un-athletic, unpopular, and poor!

But God doesn’t want anything from me, yet wants to give me EVERYTHING! Isn’t that amazing! He decided that all I need to do is believe to be made right with him. He surely knows how un-athletic, unpopular, and un-rich I am! I’m also too undisciplined, rash, and impatient to rack up enough good deeds to please him as well. So he doesn’t intend on saving me after I try and save myself first. He just saves me by telling me that he’s not holding my sins against me if I would believe in his Son, Jesus (Romans 3:22). That is a marvelous exchange for me!

Since I know God is perfectly aware of what I lack in ability, willpower, and self-control (and he doesn’t count on any of those things for me to be right with him), God must also be willing to use this believing and confessing system in other areas of my life as well.

When we hear Christians say they are trying not to do things in their “own strength” anymore, what exactly is the alternative? If I’m not “good” enough to make up for my sins, how can I live to please God now that I am saved? I believe it’s back to the believing and confessing system for us. 

Believe. Instead of relying on my own ability to have willpower and self-control, I believe that God is finishing the good work he started in my heart (Philippians 1:6), and he is working all things together for my good because I love and trust him (Romans 828).




Confess. Instead of explaining and defending myself, I will use my mouth and tell (confess) Jesus that I love him. That’s it. Not, “I’ll try harder, Lord.” But, “I love you, Jesus, I love you, I love you, I love you!” And let the joy of the Lord be my strength (Psalm 28:7)- not my strength be my strength. Remember, if I had enough strengths God wouldn’t have implemented the believing and confessing system in the first place.




It is by believing and confessing that I am saved, and it is by believing and confessing that I obtain God’s strength to live that way!




Dear God,

Thank you for making it possible not only for me to be saved, but also for me to please you because know I lack the capabilities to do that too. You are great and greatly to be praised and I am so grateful for the believing and confessing system that has saved me in every single possible way. I love you so much and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

10 April 2014 “The Utterly Helpless”
Romans 5:6
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

Before Jesus came, the whole of mankind was utterly helpless. God had given his people righteous requirements to follow, but, as Hebrews 10:4 points out the obvious, “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” We were utterly helpless. There is nothing we can do to makeup for our sins. Nothing. 

BUT! Hebrews 10 goes on to say in verse 10, “God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” Once. That’s it. 

If you’re going to do something just once, the timing better be spot on! Christ came at just the right time. That means out of all the time in history or in the days yet to come, when Jesus lived on the earth, died on the cross, and resurrected from the dead, that was the perfect time. Before that happened, there was no option for mankind except to follow our sinful human nature.

BUT! Jesus brings us options. Before Jesus, all people could do was follow their sinful nature. But now we have a choice to follow or sinful nature or to follow Jesus. “The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires (Galatians 5:17).” People living without Jesus only have one choice - following their sinful nature, and that makes them STILL utterly helpless.

There is no worse trap than for one to think they can do everything themselves or be moral enough that surely they don’t need a Savior. It is so ironic that these self-reliant unbelievers think they’re free, but in reality they live with only one option - doing what their sin nature dictates. And they think they don’t need any help, yet they are the ones who are still utterly helpless and don’t have to be.

Dear God,
Thank you for your Son and the option he brings to my life not to be utterly helpless anymore and forever separated from you. There’s nothing I can do myself to make up for my sinful nature. Thank you for seeing me as righteous because of what Jesus did. Thank you for giving me options, help, relief, and eternal life. I love you so much and thank you in Your Son’s name, amen.

9 April 2014 “God Expressing”

Hebrews 1:3

The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

When we go to an art museum we experience an artist’s expression. Entire books, lectures, and classes exist to delve into the mind of the classic artist because of their body of work. What was the artist communicating? The conjectures are just guesses at best. No one knows for sure what that smirk on the Mona Lisa is all about, right? Well, Jesus is the expression of the very character of God. If we want to know what God is thinking, we just need to look to Jesus.

Unlike an artist, God is able to communicate every single bit of his character and his will through  his creation. Romans 1:20 says, Through everything God made, (we) can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So (we) have no excuse for not knowing God. We learn a lot about our Creator by looking at what he created. Imaginative (rainbows), intricate (centipedes), nurturing (mommy elephants), intelligent (people), protective (momma bears), playful (otters), gentle (flowers), strong (trees), and powerful (waves of the ocean). 

Now, to understand our Creator’s will is no mystery for us either because he sent us his Son, Jesus. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

I have lots of ideas in my head. Sometimes it’s hard to express them. Our Easter choir is practicing at church right now and there was a little fancy echo I wanted a couple of ladies to do. I had to go through a lot of hoops to effectively communicate my idea. I had to sing it, play it, and demonstrate it for them. What if I could show them something that expressed all my thoughts perfectly? God can. His Son is full of His Truth and His Grace. There’s no mystery; there’s no guessing, no confusion. Jesus, and all he did and spoke, expresses the very Character of God. All I have to do is read about him in my Bible, talk to him in my prayers, and listen to him through the Spirit that he left us to teach us and remind us of everything Jesus said (John 14:26).

Dear God,
Thank you that there is no guesswork, no wondering, no hypothesizing needed. You are able to express who you are in your Son. And he is WONDERFUL! Everything about you is wonderful. The world has a really inaccurate view of you, but Jesus makes you very clear to me and I’m so glad we can have a relationship together because of him. I love you and praise you and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

8 April 2014 “Potential Friends”
Romans 5:10
For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.


Facts that jump out at me from this verse at first glance:

1. God is my FRIEND!
2. God is my friend because of what Jesus did.
3. Jesus made a way for all people to be friends with God - even the people who don’t ask him.
4. I love seeing the word “certainly!” I am not believing in a fairy tale or wishing on a star. I’m not just saved, I am not just friends with God; I am CERTAINLY saved and CERTAINLY friends with him!

The other day in Jr. High Girls’ Bible Study class at church we were talking about another truth about God. He is slow to anger and rich in love (Psalm 103: and many other places). Someone who provides a way for his enemies to be saved certainly is slow to anger and rich, rich, rich in love.

2 Peter 3:9-10 says:
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

God’s day of judgement for all who do not take him up on his offer of Salvation by believing in Jesus is certainly coming. And just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it isn’t going to happen. The reason it hasn’t happened yet is because God is so patient and so slow to get angry and so full of love. He is waiting for people to restore their friendship to him because he does not want anyone to be destroyed.

I love knowing that God is slow to get angry and rich in love towards ME and those like me who love and trust him and believe in his Son, Jesus. But think about it! God is slow to get angry with EVERYONE. Even with the people whom I feel God needs to pour out wrath on right now. 

The day of judgement hasn’t come yet because God is slow to anger and rich in love with ALL people, not just Believers. I bet that’s why Jesus tells us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44)because God is holding out hope that they will turn and repent and become his friend!

Dear God,
I thank you for who you really are. You are a FRIEND. You are MY Friend. You are full of patience and love to EVERYONE and that is fascinating to get my brain around since I am only like that to people I think deserve my love and patience - and sometimes not even towards them!!! Thank you that you are nothing like the world paints you. You are not our enemy firing darts at us; you are holding back judgement for everyone’s sake - even the ones who don’t know you yet. WoW! Help me not to be like Jonah wanting to wait around for you to zap people I think you should zap. Help me to pray for the enemies of God so that they might repent and become your friends too. I love you and praise you and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.