Mother Nature

Everybody talks about the weather.  It seems to be the Hot Topic, Idle Chit-Chat, the Opening-Line for a conversation.

We turn on The Weather Channel or our Local News, to hear about our forecast for tomorrow, or for the rest of the week, and you hear one Title:  Mother Nature.

According to Wikipedia, "Mother Nature" most likely stems from Greek Mythology.  "Natura" and the personification of Mother Nature were popular in the Middle Ages-as a concept, seated between the properly Divine and the human.

She was personified as a goddess.

Honestly, I don't understand how a person can refer to something or someone, who does not exist?

To me, this is just one more subtle distraction that Satan uses to deflect praise from our True Creator:  God.

Jeremiah 51:15-16 says-He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.  When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

Genesis 1 speaks of our Creator and everything He created.  And it was good!

Colossians 1:16-17 says- For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Our Creator God can calm the winds of the air, and the waves of the sea by a spoken word.  He brings the rain on the just and on the unjust, and He alone is our Sun.

The Marshall Family use to sing a song called, "I know it was God."  Part of the chorus says, 'There's no such thing as Mother Nature, I know it was God!"

I love that!

The next time someone mentions Mother Nature to me in a conversation, I will point them to the One True God, and give Him the praise only He deserves...

    But that's just me!

"God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars."  Martin Luther

Believe It!

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 11:24

Isn't it funny when a friend of yours will call you up on the phone and begin praising God for answered prayer, and in their excitement say, "I can't believe it!?"

That recently happened to me and I had to really ponder that expression.

Is it because we really don't expect God to answer our specific prayers?  Do we psych ourselves up to expect disappointment in case God doesn't answer us like we thought He would, maybe telling ourselves that it might not be His Will to answer this prayer?  Or is it because when God answers our prayers, He answers them in ways we never could have imagined He would and thus we exclaim, "I can't believe it!"

I believe it's the latter.

Why?

Because God answers every prayer.  Yes.  EVERY prayer.  Sometimes it's a 'yes,' sometimes it's a 'no' and sometimes it's 'wait,'   Honestly, even though it's hard when our answer is wait, I think I like those answers the most, because when we wait on God, Miracles occur.  We see His hand in a way that lets us know that God alone answered this prayer in a way that only He could, in His time, when it was best for us.

From now on, when I'm Praising God for answered prayer, instead of saying, 'I can't believe it!' I'm going to say, 'Thank you God, I knew you would answer!'

    But that's just me!

"Prayer delights God's ear; it melts His heart; and opens His hand.  God cannot deny a praying soul."

Thomas Watson

Believe For It

Verse 1 and Chorus

Cece Winans/Dwan Hill/Kyle Lee/Mitch Wong

Integrity Music

They say this mountain can't be moved

They say these chains will never break

But they don't know You like we do

There is power in Your Name

We've heard that there is no way through

We've heard the tide will never change

They haven't seen what You can do

There is power in Your name

So much power in Your name

Move the unmoveable

break the unbreakable

God we believe

God we believe for it

From the impossible

We'll see a miracle

God we believe

God we believe for it.

Perseverance

Vince Lombardi once said, "Winners never quit and quitters never win."

When I thought about that, this quote really isn't true;

Since Satan was cast down from heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15) He has been determined to deceive, destroy discourage and disengage as many people from the Lord and His Salvation that he can, beginning with Adam and Eve. Why?  Because our Accuser knows his time is short, and that this battle has already been won.  But he is not the Victor.  And yet, he doesn't quit.

    Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou?  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down in it.  Job 1:6-7

The sole purpose behind Satan's perseverance is to always destroy.  He tried to destroy Job, and he will try to destroy you. 1 Peter 5:8 says, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Satan doesn't quit!

So Christian...why do you?

Galatians 5:7 asks us a question:  "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?"

I like to ask myself, "Or What?"

Revelation 20:7 8a says, "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations.....

The Perseverance of Satan boggles my mind!  He will be in prison for a thousand years, and I'm sure with great anticipation, when released, he will pick right back up where he left off, but with more vengeance!  His time is short, but he refuses to quit in a battle he knows he has ALREADY lost!

Christians are quitting a battle THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN WON through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Webster's dictionary defines perseverance this way:  Continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition: STEDFASTNESS.

1 Corinthians 15:58 says- Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Satan wants to neutralize the very ones who have the greatest potential-

    I don't want that to happen to me, don't let that happen to you-

        But that's just me!

Don't give up-the Battle is already Won!

"By perseverance the snail reached the Ark."  Charles Spurgeon

Anonymous

As you enter through double doors leading into our church building, off to the left you will find a solitary table.  This small table has served many purposes throughout the years.  Church members often bring fruits and vegetables to share from their gardens.  Useful hand-made items are sewn with gifted hands to give away to those in need, and often it's a table holding extra Sunday Bulletins, prayer letters or crafts from Children's Church that are sometimes left behind.  But most of all, this table has held gifts and encouraging notes from Secret Sisters, friends, and family.  Gifts to remember birthdays, Anniversaries, Baby Showers, Weddings, or just a simple, 'thinking of you.'

It's there, for the past two weeks while walking out those double doors of our church, that I have found gifts and cards with my name on them.  It's not my birthday or anniversary, no special occasion to observe.  Just someone wanting to let me know that they are praying for me.

Someone, who for a time, wishes to remain anonymous.  The cards are simply signed, 'A Friend.'

I may not know the identity of this sweet lady who is encouraging me during this time, but I know her heart and I know that she loves the Lord. 

How?  Her heart is on display through her kindness.

2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us that God loveth a cheerful giver.

Galatians 6:10 says-As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Jesus has said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

This woman is not concerned about revealing her identity because she is doing unto others as unto the Lord.  And the Lord will bless her for it.

She has reminded me, that I too, can bless others without notoriety, because it isn't about me...

and it really isn't about her.

It's about loving one another in Christ.

May God help me be a blessing to others...for their sakes, not mine...

    But that's just me!

Oh-you know what else is on that table....a thank you note to 'A Friend.'

"In Jesus, the Service of God and the Service of the least of the brethren were one."  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Second Wind

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;  Hebrews 12:1-2a

I look around and I see a lot of tired Christians.  Weights and sins of the world have weighed them down and caused them to veer off the Course God placed them on (Acts 20:24)  They have either stopped along the road somewhere, taken another direction, or they have decided to quit.  The race no longer has meaning for them.

Why?

They have taken their eyes off the finish line.

Are you discouraged?  "And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee; he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee:  fear not, neither be dismayed."  Deuteronomy 31:8

Do you need strength?  "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee: yea; I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."  Isaiah 41:10

Are you weary?  Tired?  "He giveth power to the faint; and to the them that have no might he increaseth strength." Isaiah 40:29

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength:  they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary: and they shall walk, and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31

Do you battle a chronic illness?  "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."  2 Corinthians 12:9

It's time for Christians to use their Second Wind.  If you are a runner, you know what I'm talking about.  My friend and I used to run 2 miles a day, then enter 5K Runs at the Military Base where our husbands were stationed overseas.  When we would first start our run, we were so out of breath, we didn't think we would make it to the next block.  But your body does a funny thing when you decide to keep going.  Your breathing and heart beat begin to regulate itself in such a way, that eventually, you begin to think you could run forever!

It's called your Second Wind.  This is how Webster defines it:  Renewed energy or endurance.

And I love the example he uses:  'The sight of the Finish Line gave the runners a Second Wind.'

I love that!  James 5:11a says, "Behold, we count them happy which endure."

I want to encourage you today, that whatever you are facing in your Christian Race...DON'T QUIT!  The Finish Line is just around the corner!

Let's be like the Apostle Paul and finish our course!  I know I want to-

    But that's just me!

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"  2 Timothy 4:7

Co-Pay

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

Recently, I had an in-office, 15- minute medical procedure.  A week later, like clockwork, I received a Statement in the mail breaking down the total cost of the procedure, the amount my Insurance company paid, and what my Co-Pay would be.  Like most insurances, it will only cover a percentage of the total cost, but it will not pay the balance in full.

Religion does the same thing.  It does not pay your sin debt in full.  Religion always requires a work from you.  Let me give you a few examples:

Jesus plus Baptism-

Jesus plus Rosary Bead Prayers-

Jesus plus Confirmation-

Jesus plus you-fill-in-the-blank.

John 19:30 says, When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

In other words:  Jesus paid my sin debt in full.  Jesus paid it all.  No Co-Payment needed from me.

That, my friend, is the difference between Religion and True Christianity.

Jesus is enough.

Galatians 2:16 says, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

So, stop working and start trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ-

    I am...

        But that's just me!

"The child of God knows his good works do not make him acceptable to God, for he was acceptable to God by Jesus Christ long before he had any good works."  Charles Spurgeon

"Justification by religious performances and meritorious deeds, is nothing better than the old Pharisaism with a Christian name stuck upon it...that doctrine makes the Lord Jesus Christ to be practically a nobody; for if salvation be of works, then the way of salvation through faith in a Saviour is superfluous, and even mischievous."  Charles Spurgeon

Marked

Webster defines 'marked' as- Having an identifying mark, having a distinctive or emphasized character.

A 'mark' is an impression, such as a scar, scratch, or stain made on something.

The Bible talks a lot about marks:

The Lord set a mark upon Cain in Genesis 4:15

In Ezekiel 9:4 The Lord set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that cried against the abominations that were done in their midst.  It was for their protection against the wrath of God.  

Then you can read about the Mark of the Beast in Revelation 13:16, 14:9, 15:2, 16:2, 19:20 and 20:4.

We have a mark, and have been marked.  Marks made by others who discern our character by what we say and do.  Or, perhaps, by what we do not say and what we do not do.  I'm told to do the same concerning others.

Romans 16:17 says-Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Why?  Because evil communications corrupt good manners.  1 Corinthians 15:33

There is another definition for 'marked-'  it means being the object of attack, suspicion or vengeance.

My friend, we are marked by the Accuser.  Satan himself has a target on our backs, and his sole purpose is to destroy the Saints of God by ruining our testimonies, and by throwing obstacles in our path to make us want to quit the race.  1 Peter 5:8 tells us to Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour;

What 'mark' are you wearing?

I want my 'mark' to point others to Jesus!

    But that's just me!