Jesus Song

If Jesus were to have written a song for His people to sing, I think it would have gone a lot like this:

Let me be a little kinder, let me be a little blinder
To the faults of those around me let me praise a little more.
Let me be when I am weary just a little bit more cheery
And think a little more of others and a little less of me.

Let me be a little braver when temptation bids me waver;
Let me strive a little harder to be all that I should be.
Let me be a little meeker with the brother that is weaker.
Let me think more of my neighbors and a little less of me.

Let me be when I am weary just a little bit more cheery;
Let me serve a little harder for those I'm striving for.
Let me be a little meeker with the brother that is weaker
And think a little more of others and a little less of me.


May we all take these words to heart and let them guide us into the life of Jesus Christ. May we esteem others as greater than self; May we love our neighbors as ourselves; May we always have a pleasant smile and be able to offer words of encouragement to everyone we meet. And may this song be brought to mind every time we don't.

Proof

Proof is never enough for the man who refuses to be persuaded. If a person does not want something to be true bad enough, no amount of proof will change their mind. That person will never acquiesce to truth.
Some Christians think they have to prove that there's a God. But, God doesn't command us to prove His existence. God says in Romans that everything He has created proves His existence and no man has a legitimate excuse to doubt His existence. We are called to preach the good news of Jesus and the good news of the kingdom of God. Trying to prove God's existence is unnecessary and, as far as some people are concerned, impossible.
If there is a God, then He has the right to make demands upon His creations. He has the right to rule over them. If a person doesn't want to be ruled over, then that person doesn't want there to be a God who can rule over them and therefore will not accept your proof of God no matter how legitimate or compelling it is.
Tell people the good news of Jesus the Christ and let the Holy Spirit do His part. He is the one responsible for convicting the world of sin, not you or me. Pray and preach, leave the rest to God.

Loving Jesus

I love Jesus. Now, I know that as a professing Christian, that's what I'm supposed to say. But I don't say it because I'm supposed to or because I am expected to or even to sound all religious and pious; I say it because I mean it. I love Jesus.
I've never seen him. I've never heard his voice, at least not with my human ears. I just believe that the Bible is true and that Jesus is real. I believe He died on the cross and rose from the dead and sits on the throne of Heaven. I really believe it. Call me crazy, call me naive, call me foolish; I don't care. I believe what I believe. And further more, I believe that what I believe will be proven true in the end, the end of time that is.
It's not true because I believe it. I believe it because it's true. If God didn't exist, all my faith and belief wouldn't be enough to create him. But he does exist and all the unbelief and sarcasm in the world can't destroy him. I believe it because the Holy Spirit has proven to me that it's true. I heard the good news, I searched the scriptures with an open mind, I looked at the evidence with my head and my heart and I believe!
I don't know what to tell you if you don't believe, other than maybe you should look into it again. It's important enough for a second look. We're talking about eternity here; the consequences of being wrong are horrible and the stakes are too high to not reconsider. Look for Jesus and the Bible says you will find him.
I love Jesus. I could talk all night about why I love him, but I don't know that you would understand. It's such a personal thing. I love him and I know he loves me. And he loves you too.

Faith Crisis

As we all know, it's one thing to have faith when all is well and another thing altogether when you're sick or having a life crisis. When you've been sick a while and you've prayed and prayed for deliverance and nothing happens, it's easy to start wondering if you really believe everything you say you believe.
Head faith and heart faith are two different things. Head faith seems to abandon you when things get really bad, but heart faith is with you always! We read the Bible and listen to the sermons on faith and it all makes sense. But if it never travels from your head down to your heart, you're going to be in trouble when the hard times hit!
We need to be sure that we "know that we know" and believe in our hearts before something come up. It is so easy to "lose your head" when times get tough! Give your faith a good examination today and make sure it's settled in your heart.

Hupomeno

James 1:3 says "For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow." The greek word translated endurance (or patience, in other versions) is hupomeno - a remaining behind, a patient enduring. So, James is telling us that when trials come, when our faith is being tested, one of the things God is trying to do for us is give us the ability to "hang in there"! I don't know about you, but when I encounter a trial in life the first thing I look for is the way out! But God wants us to be able to bear up under pressure. He knows we will need that ability sooner or later. He's always doing what is good for us, even when it may "feel" bad.
I believe the time is coming soon when Christians will really need to patiently endure some things. The world is changing and becoming increasingly hostile toward Christianity. But then, Jesus said that would happen, didn't He? Things are going to happen that will require us to patiently endure and I'm afraid many won't be able to. I pray that I will be able. I don't like trials; I don't enjoy uncomfortable things happening to me. But if God wants me to learn patient endurance and trials are the way to learn, then let it be.

Pain

C.S. Lewis once said "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." It is unfortunate that God's children let things get to this extreme. But, it underlines just how much God loves us, that He would go to such lengths to get our attention.
I don't believe God ever causes pain, but I know that He uses pain. None of us are innocent, all have fallen short. There is no telling how many times God holds back judgment when we sin choosing instead to show us His mercy and grace. But sometimes, when we have lost our focus and are heading for dangerous territory, I believe He lets the repercussions of our sin catch up to us to awaken us to reality and teach us. I know He has with me. I'm not saying that all pain and suffering is God's chastisement or His teaching moment, but we need to check ourselves and make sure.
God could just let us wander off into the tall weeds of the world and get hopelessly lost, but He loves us too much for that. He loves us even when we forget how much we love Him! He holds onto us even when we get distracted and let go of Him!
God is the author of love and the author of tough love as well. He knows what we need and He knows how to get our attention. The Bible says "He will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee...", but when our minds stray and we wander off into danger, look out! The Good Shepherd, the Perfect Father will do whatever it takes to protect His child!

The Choice to Love

God commands us to love people. He commands us to love one another. He even commands us to love our enemies! If He commands us to do it, we must have the ability to do it. But we don't always have the desire to do it.
Love is a choice. We must choose to love people. We must choose to love people not when we think they deserve our love, not when we "feel" emotionally inclined to love them, not just because they love us and not only when they are "lovable"! We must choose to love them because God commanded us to and because they are made in God's image and because God loves them!
If we are waiting for that fuzzy, warm feeling to hit us before we love people, we are obeying our emotions and not our God. Choose today to love everyone no matter what. It isn't easy, that's for certain. But it is God's will for us and His commandment to us. If we love Him, we will obey Him.
Jesus said that the world will know we are His "because we love each other"! Love is the trademark of God's children! God is love and His children will exhibit love toward people because God's love has been shed abroad in their hearts!

Christmas Present

Do you know what I would really like for Christmas? I would like to hear the trumpet sound and then look up into the eastern skies to see Jesus coming in a cloud with His holy angels! I'm ready for things to be as they should, the way God intended from the very beginning. I'm tired of the hate, the fear, the disease, the pain, the suffering, the hunger, the wars, the selfishness, the racism and all the other evil that plagues this Earth! I'm ready for everything to be made right!
I know that the end will not come until the very last person who will be saved is saved, and I know that no one knows when that will be. But I say the sooner, the better! I'm ready for Jesus to have Satan tossed into the lake of fire for all he's done to people. I'm ready for sickness and death to be thrown in after him. I'm ready for the new Jerusalem to come down and Jesus to take His place on the throne of David to reign forever. I'm ready for a new Earth under new Heavens; a place where there's only peace and love and mercy for all eternity. I'm ready to lay aside all this mortal baggage and be made incorruptible and immortal. I'm ready for REAL life to begin for us all!
Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly!

Forgiver and Forgiven

The Bible tells us we must (not should...must!) forgive. The Bible tells us that God forgives forgivers. Conversely, God doesn't forgive those who won't forgive. If we refuse to forgive, we sin by not doing what we're told to do. Unforgiven sin will keep us from the presence of God and hinder our prayers. OK.... that seems pretty simple to follow. So, why is it that we keep asking God to hear our prayers and bless us when we know there are people we are holding grudges against?!
Do we think He doesn't know? Or maybe we think He knows you were wronged and that you have a right to hold that grudge and therefore He'll overlook it? Wrong!! God knows our thoughts, so we can't hide anything. And He tells us to forgive those who mistreat us, even our enemies!
We all need to search our hearts and forgive and release those we have been holding something against. When we do, we'll begin to see an outpouring of God's blessings on our lives.

Keep Saving Me

I try to be so tough
But I'm just not strong enough
I can't do this alone, God I need You to hold on to me
I try to be good enough
But I'm nothing without Your love
Savior, please keep saving me ~ Josh Wilson "Savior, Please"

I know Jesus saved me.... but sometimes I find myself asking him to keep saving me. I try hard. I live my best. But I see that my righteousness is filthy rags and on my own I'm a miserable failure. I need Jesus' strength, Jesus' companionship, Jesus' righteousness. Please, Savior, keep saving me.