Just Believe To Be Saved

Luke 23:39-43 "One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: 'Aren't you the Christ?  Save yourself and us!'  But the other criminal rebuked him.  'Don't you fear God,' he said, 'since you are under the same sentence?  We are punished justly, for we are getting what are deeds deserve.  But this man has done nothing wrong.'  Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'  Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'

I can't imagine what it must have been like to be the believing criminal.  To hear the Lord speak such words when you know you are in your final hours must have been amazing!  His hope was in nothing until that point.  I can imagine the self-condemning thought process for someone like him that must have gone on.  And yet, in one way I do know what he was feeling.  Today and tomorrow are not guaranteed.  I had NO hope until I trusted in the Lord and He changed my life.

Another thing I really like about this passage is that it shows the truth about how one is saved and goes to heaven.The man simply had to believe and trust that Jesus was who he said he was and could do what he said he could do.  And now he gets to rejoice in heaven!  How AWESOME!

John 14:6 "Jesus answered, ' I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.' "


Some churches have taught that you must baptize your child (along with other requirements) if that child is going to get into heaven.  Many people struggle with it.  This passage in Luke clearly negates that thought.  The believing criminal never got baptized.  But look what Jesus said to him.

We are to believe and THEN be baptized.  Baptism is only an outward sign of what God has done on the inside.  It's you speaking out and saying to others that you are going to live your life for the Lord because He has changed you and made you new.  Water can't save you.  Being washed by the Holy Spirit and saved by the blood can.

To Be Like Clay

Paul says, "I have learned to be content...."
No, no I haven't.  Look at all the trials Paul went through to be at the point where he said that.  Oh, I do not want to be like Paul.  The end result was amazing and beautiful.  But why can't I find contentment in all things right now- without the pruning... without the sifting... without the tears...?  
And even as I say this my head is spinning.  I want to learn to be content right now.  But the motive is wrong.   I want this so that I can get back to where I want to be.  In circles I run.... over and over again.  Where is the finish line?

Psalm 51:16-17
"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise."

Mmmm..... I am starting to break, Lord.    I am not complete yet, but it feels good to be accomplishing something.  I know you want to use me Father.  I know my life is not something that can be used fully yet.  What do you have for me?  Please show me.  I want to be like wet clay; easily molded, shaped just right.  There are days I want you to speed up the process.  But then I know I will only break and you will have to build me up again.  Chisel away what needs to be taken off.  Keep me centered on you.  Your timing it best.  You are never early and never late.  Please help me to find contentment in your timing, contentment in current circumstances, contentment  in your will.  With contentment I shall find joy.  I want your joy Lord!  I can have joy because I'm saved and going to heaven.  I know this.  Please help it to be deep in my heart.  For what more do I need?  My home is not of this earth.  My citizenship is in heaven.  Keep me heavenly minded. 

God, My Closest Friend

Luke 18:35-43

     As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.  When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.  They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
     He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
     Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
     
     Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him.  When he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?"
     "Lord, I want to see," he replied.
     Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you."  Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God.  When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

The message here is awesome!  Jesus knew what the blind man wanted as the man called out.  Jesus didn't stop to ask the man what he wanted because he didn't know.  I guess He wanted to see the man's faith out loud.  It was a testimony to others.  It offered the opportunity for others to see God's glory and to praise Him!

The same is true in my life.  Sometimes the thing I need (or want) is pretty obvious.  Besides, God knows everything!  He doesn't need me to tell him in order for him to know.  But sometimes the Lord wants me to ask.  He wants communion with us.  And God wants to be glorified in everything.  When we are a living testimony and speak out loud about what we need and then others can see how the Lord was faithful, it can be a powerful testimony.  But remember, 2 Corinthians 10:17 "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."  When the Lord does answer prayer, the glory needs to be given to him.

I think of the friends I'm closest to and why I'm closest to them.  I talk to them, spend time with them, pray for them, etc....  Where there is no investment there is no gain.  God should be my closest friend = I should be spending the most time with HIM.  People know who my close friends are.  I talk about them and lift them up in conversation.  So people should know that God is my closest friend and ally.

Eternity Possible with God

Luke 18:18-30

"A certain ruler asked him 'Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?'... 
'You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'  
'All these I have kept since I was a boy,' he said.  
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, 'You still lack one thing.  Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.'  
When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.  Jesus looked at him and said, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!  Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'  
Those who heard this asked, 'Who then can be saved?'  

Jesus replied, 'What is impossible with men is possible with God.'  

Peter said to him, 'We have left all we had to follow you!'  
'I tell you the truth,' Jesus said to them, 'no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.' "

We can't do it with our own strength, good intentions, or imperfect will.  Jesus makes all things possible.  I am thankful.

Content in Life

Ecclesiastes 1:6-8  "The wind blows to the south and turns to the north, round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.  All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full.  To the place the streams come from, there they return again.  All things are wearisome, more than one can say.  The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing."

Beautiful words...can we ever be satisfied?

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25  "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work.  This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?"

1 Timothy 6:6-8  "But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."

Oh, To find contentment in all things, in any situation, and in any circumstance of life.  God has amazing things planned for us right where we are.  

The Older Woman's Wisdom

So, I've started the book of Titus now.  And BAM!  Good stuff right from the start!  :)  Titus 2 really spoke to me this morning.

vs. 3-5 "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."

The Lord showed me a few things in these verses.
1.  There is a cause, effect and a final result.  It really helped me to be able to look at it this way and piece it apart in order to come back to the whole.  2.  There is a lot of value in seeking out the guidance and wisdom of an older woman who possesses these godly traits.  Young women, we should be praying for this type of older woman in our lives.  Arrogance is probably the main reason we think we know more and don't need to be taught anything by "old people" who are just "old fashioned".  Guard against this attitude.  It doesn't honor God.  3.  Whatever we do in this life, the ultimate goal is that we promote, back-up, and solidify the word of God through our walk.

vs. 11-13 "For the grace of God... teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ..."

Even if we feel like we don't have a strong, godly woman to look up to, God's grace, His Word, and wisdom - which He gives freely to those who ask (James 1:5) - is sufficient.  So we are without excuse.  I have been blessed with many older godly women in my life from family members to friends.  My challenge?  Pray for them.  Seek them out.  Learn from them.   But first and foremost, seek out God.  The Holy Spirit is called the great counselor (John 14:26).  No person's wisdom is greater than His.  It can be too easy to say a quick prayer and then just go and talk to someone about whatever is going on in life.  Rather, we need to be counseled by God first.  Then we will be best equipped for when he does use people in our lives.  We will be more discerning for when questionable things come up.  Our understanding of what our mentors are saying will be increased.  And ultimately it enhances our walk with the Lord and our testimony to others.

Do Not Be A Stumbling Block

Luke 17:1-3 "Jesus said to his disciples, 'Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.  It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.  So watch yourselves.' ..." (NIV)

Romans 14:13 "Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another.  Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." (NIV)

1 John 2:10 "Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble." (NLT)

We are told that we are set free from bondage of the old law because of what Christ did once and for all on the cross.  Eating an idol-sacrificed piece of meat is not sinful.  Having one drink of wine is not sinful.  Galations 5:1 says that we are free and we are not to entangle ourselves in a yoke of slavery because of the old law any longer.  However,

1 Corinthians 8:9 "But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble." (NLT)

Do not judge others because they have not fully accepted the freedoms from the old law.  If they have a conscience that says they should not do something and you entice them to do it because you think it doesn't matter, then you have sinned and you have caused them to stumble.

Trust in God, Not Mortal Men

Psalm 146
"Praise the Lord.  

Praise the Lord, O my soul.  I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
  

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.  When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them - the Lord, who remains faithful forever.  He upholds the cause of the oppressed the Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.  The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.  

The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.  

Praise the Lord."

John 12:43

"For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

Where do I put my trust and hope?  Where do I find my worth?  From God alone.  He is the God who was, who is, and who is still to come.  There is nothing he does not know and I can put my trust fully in him.  He calls me beautiful and holy.  I am a daughter of the King.  My worth is in the Lord and how grateful I am for that!  Look to the Lord for the praise you need.  Seek out His will to know if you are doing well.  For only He can satisfy.  His opinion is worth for more than we can hope.  Man's opinion is worth so little.  

Father, help me to cling to you.  All that I am and all that I do should be for you and you alone.  Remind me of who I am in you.  Let my discouragement go by the wayside.  You are true, just and loving.  I praise you!

Daughter of Eve, Heir of Christ

Hebrews 4:12-13 "For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."  And then there is the encouragement.  I do not answer to a dead god or to a priest who doesn't understand or who plots my destruction because I am not holy enough.  Hebrews 4:14-16 "...let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Someday I will give an account for what I have done in this life.  Nothing will come as a surprise to God.  I lay bare before him.  My heart is open.  Nothing I do can cover up.  Adam and Eve tried to hide and put makeshift clothing over their bodies as though it would keep the Lord at a distance.  Can I learn from their mistakes?

A daughter of Eve, but an heir of Christ.  That is what I am.  

I have been adopted into the family of Christ and that is where I must reside.  My life, body, mind, everything that makes up this child - it belongs to God.  HIS WORD.  That is where I find out who I am.  It's the place I can go to seek out the answer to life's hardest struggles.  It's the place I can always be assured of God's passion for my life.  How beautiful it is to know the truth.

He Holds

Lord, draw close to me.... Hold me, 
that I may not pull away.  

I am yours, Father.  No other place for me but in your arms.  Gazing heavenward.  

Seeking your Scriptures.  

Let there be nothing in me to hinder Your work.  Use me, mold me, guide me.  

Your love is amazing....

Holy, devoted, unrelenting pursuit.

My heart sings a new song!  

Speak truth into me. No lies from the devil.

                        Thank you for not forgetting...

Forgetting to Give Thanks

"Suppose for a moment," Reardon had said, "that God began taking from us the many things for which we have failed to give thanks.  Which of our limbs and faculties would be left?  Would I still have my hands and my mind?  And what about loved ones?  If God were to take from me all those persons and things for which I have not given thanks, who or what would be left of me?"
An excerpt from 'Out to Canaan' by Jan Karon

Remember to give thanks!  Do not take for granted the small, seemingly insignificant things that have a great deal to do with who we are, what we do, and how we live.  God is a giver of good things.

Point to Jesus

In Bible times the Lord often gave his disciples the ability to heal the sick, cast out demons, etc...  I can't imagine what that must have been like!  Luke 10:17-20 says, "The seventy-two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.'  He replied, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven,  I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy, nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.' "  Jesus is encouraging them to keep their focus where it should be.  So often our flesh get us into trouble.  Rather than giving all the glory to the Father and keeping a humble and grateful attitude, we get a big head.  With out God, we are nothing and we have nothing.  But without keeping a heavenly, God-centered mind set, we begin attributing the gifts, qualities and benefits to ourselves instead of pointing others to Jesus.  It's a very dangerous road to travel!  So slippery.  Satan knows how pride loves to rule in our hearts.  It's one of the quickest ways to put distance between you and Jesus.  The farther you move from Him, the closer you move to Satan.

Another thing I notice about this passage is this: "...I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven... rejoice that your names are written in heaven."  I have to wonder if Jesus was eluding to the fact that when Satan fell, it was a scary, horrifying thing.  The fact that they belong to God is something to never cease rejoicing about!  How awful and scary to belong to Satan!
Thank you Jesus for saving me and loving me when I am so undeserving!