​28 April 2016
No Matter What Bernie Sanders Says
Philippians 2:7
Instead, Jesus gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.

Jesus  actually is entitled to everyone’s love, devotion, and admiration. He also could literally take anyone out who doesn’t give it. He is God. He is not only extremely powerful, but he is the most powerful. This is how his power is described in Matthew 10:28... Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

But I don’t see people who reject him being zapped by lightning bolts. Why not? He is entitled to be served by everyone. It is because he is full of grace (James 4:6) while still being omnipotent at the same time.

If I want to be like Jesus, then I need to be like Jesus. I should do what he did. He is entitled, but doesn’t demand anything, AND he is full of grace. That is what Jesus is like.

So how do I copy that? Step One: I shouldn’t live like I’m entitled no matter what Bernie Sanders says. The model Jesus shows is serving others not being waited on. In Matthew 20:28 Jesus describes his mission: For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others. I should diligently be serving my family no matter how many Calgon baths the tv commercial says I’m entitled to have. 

Step Two: I should be full of grace. People who live with a sense of entitlement lack grace. It’s true. It’s very hard to hold on to both because entitlements are all about “me” and grace is all about “you.” But Colossians 3:13 instructs me to make allowances for the faults of others, and Galatians 6:2-3 teaches this: Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.  If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

If Jesus gave up his divine privileges, I can certainly give up my man-made, self-serving, thought up ones in order to be like him and be full of grace.

Dear Lord Jesus,
I am so glad you deal with me by your grace and not your entitlements. I thank you that you have loved me and forgiven me and that you keep doing it even though I have never deserved it. I love your grace. I love being part of your Family. I’m so glad you don’t give me what I deserve. Help me to cut the people I come in contact with a lot of slack because I want to be just like you. I love you and just can’t thank you enough for your grace, and I pray in your name, amen.

​26 April 2016
Showing Results
Hebrews 7:25
Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

Jesus lives forever to intercede forever on my behalf. That means what he did once for all covers my sins forever. He doesn’t continue to take the punishment for my sins; he already did it. And since he did not stay in a grave but was resurrected from the dead, he isn’t going anywhere. He still lives to this day doing what he promised as he has made peace between God and me possible for forever.

In 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 Paul shares the result of ministry (teaching people to live like Jesus)...
Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. 

When we live knowing our sins are forgiven forever, it changes life as we know it. No one can refute what Jesus has done for me, and no one can argue what he’s done in my heart and the effect it has on how I think and behave. Someone could demand proof from me all they want, but Jesus didn’t say, “Explain me,” he said, “Follow me.” (See Mark 1) And Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” (See 1 Corinthians 11)

That means when we follow Jesus (live how he taught us to live) he is being shown to the world. Everyone can recognize the result of what we’ve been taught. It is not marked on paper but marked on human hearts. Someone may refute an essay if they wish, but no one can refute the heart – especially a heart that Jesus freed!

Dear Jesus,
Thank you for what you’ve done to make peace between God and me. Thank you for the freedom that comes from following you and that I don’t have the pressure of trying to explain you just the delight of showing you. I love you so much and I just can’t thank you enough, and I pray in your name, amen.

​22 April 2016
Meaning of Life
Romans 1:20
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.

God wants everyone to know him, not because he needs it , but because we need to know him. He made us, so he knows how we are intended to function. God doesn’t need us to be honest, kind, patient, and forgiving; he just knows that humans function better when they operate his way.

So they have no excuse for not knowing God... It would be cruel if God knows what we need and didn’t make a way for us to get it or only make it available to some. But the earth and sky is all over the place. Everyone has an opportunity to look around and see the hand of our Creator.

"If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.  I will be found by you,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:13-14) God is not hiding. His invisible qualities are available for everyone to see, so he is available to everyone who seeks him. His invisible qualities are not placed in some isolated or remote location that only some people will find. Everyone has earth under them and sky over them because God intends for everyone to have a relationship with him (see 2 Peter 3:9) so we can function how we are supposed to function. 

God created people to be with him, and we let sin interfere. But if I were in a car accident and lost the use of my legs, I would endure surgery and rehab to get the use of my legs back, wouldn’t I? I am used to having my legs. I would do whatever it takes to get restored back to how my body is supposed to function. Same is true with God. I am supposed to have a real and personal relationship with God. That is how my Creator intended for me to operate. So, my life is all about having and pursuing this relationship so I can function properly, not for his benefit but for mine!  And it begins with acknowledging God exists and acknowledging who he is (see Hebrews 11:6).

The meaning of life is for mankind to have a restored relationship with God because he created us, and he knows exactly what we should be like.

Dear God,
Thank you for being so obvious to everyone that it’s obvious that you love everyone and you want everyone to be restored to you as you have always intended. Thank you so much for Jesus who makes a relationship with you possible. I love that you have shown me how to live through your Son and through your Holy Spirit so that I can operate in the best possible way, and that is for the benefit of my own heart and life. I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

11 April 2016
My Condolences
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.  For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 

The more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ... I am not saved more or loved more for suffering; I am not impressing God through it. The truth of this passage is that each time I am involved in suffering God matches it with comfort – every time!

When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us... I’ve had two friends recently watch their mothers die after long battles of illness. My mom’s girlfriend lost her husband last week, and my dear friend from church has a son who lost is cancer battle last week too. I’m so glad they were all Believers and are all with Jesus right now. What better comfort is there to give a mourning loved one than talking about the realities of that?! But we visit our sad friends and hug them because by doing so we are “Jesus with skin on” to them. God delivers his comfort to people through people. We don’t have to give any explanations or answers – just hugs.

God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort... How does one comfort another person who just lost a loved one? If they are not with Jesus, what comfort is there to offer? There is NO comfort in acknowledging that they will never enjoy the company of that person again, and absolutely NO comfort in knowing that the unbeliever’s destination is eternal punishment, for God only saves the ones who believe in his Son, Jesus (see Romans 3:22).

JESUS is the comfort God offers the world. There is no real and lasting comfort for those who do not believe in him. Jesus said this: I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart (be comforted & don’t worry), because I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Dear God,
Thank you for your comfort who is your Son! Thank you that he has defeated all the things that scare us. Thank you that all Believers see HIM one day and get to be united with Him and reunited with their loved ones. Thank you that my dear friends who have all lost someone this past week are enjoying this comfort right now. And even though they are incredibly sad, they are also incredibly glad right now at the same time. That is true comfort and hope – and only you can mix those all together. I love you so much and really appreciate your comfort that can’t be explained but certainly is experienced by those who love and trust in you. Thank you so much, and I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

​​1 April 2016
The First Step
Psalm 14:1
Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!

Fools think they know everything. That’s what makes them fools. It really is foolish to make absolute claims over something you have no authority over. Just because it’s said doesn’t make it true. It makes the one who said it foolish, for no person is omniscient. And how ironic it is to make omniscient claims over the One who actually is Omniscient!  
Unbelievers want poof God is real, and Believers require proof from unbelievers that God isn’t real. To us, it betrays all logic and common sense to assume that creation just exploded into being since no one has ever seen that happen since. But we have all seen a building and can Google the architect who drew up the plans. If there is a visible, tangible object, all logic and common sense dictates that Someone put it there (thank you, Ray Comfort).

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. (See Romans 1:20)

It is foolish to say, “There is no God” especially with trees, sky, sunshine and grass staring at you in the face while you say it! Someone had to put that stuff there. 

Even Albert Einstein, neither moral or religious, confesses this: My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.

Admitting that you don’t know everything is the first step towards not being a fool.

Dear God,
Thank you for what really is irrefutable evidence of YOU! Thank you for making yourself known and available so simply that even a child can understand. Creation is amazing and not accidental just like the things that get made today. Thank you that we can confidently know you and know real truth and not be deceived by our own arrogance as so many people are. I pray for my hard core atheist friends who make no room in their lives for you and are impressed with their own intelligence to the point it has blinded them to trees, grass and sunshine. You have make wonderful things, and I pray that you would work wonders in their closed hearts even as I pray for them now – let a bird or a flower give them a second to think and ponder the reality of YOU. You are so good to me, and I love you, and I want them to know you too and to not be fools anymore. Thank you for who you are and what you’ve done. I love you so much and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

PS. I do think Einstein was a fool. He treated his first wife horribly and admitted he was a terrible father too. He enjoyed popularity even though other scientists of the day promoted the exact same works and theories. Crediting a “superior spirit” is not the same as acknowledging the One True and Living God, and that is what made him a fool, therefore, he was corrupt (stealing credit) and evil (just ask his wives!) just as Psalm 14:1 claims.