Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace

Today as I was listening to worship music, the old song Amazing Grace came on...as I sang along suddenly verse three stuck out, as if suddenly someone directed a spot light at it.  These words are so incredibly powerful!! 

"Through many dangers, toils and snares 

I have already come; 

'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far 

And grace will lead me home."

As I sang these words, suddenly I could see how God through His "amazing grace" had brought me through everything up till now.  Some of the "dangers, toils and snares" I know about...I can recall them like they just happened yesterday, some of them were yesterday!  But there are even more "dangers, toils and snares" I don't have a clue about.  Those things that Satan tried to use to bring about harm, only to have God shield me and protect me, without me even knowing about it.  Or those time when Satan set traps to make me fall, and God saw them and redirected my steps.  Times when maybe I didn't understand why I had to go the long way about an issue, but God knew the long way was the best way.  And just as God has been faithful to lead, guide and protect me for the last 30 years, I know without a doubt that He will be faithful to lead, guide and protect me until I finally walk those streets of gold and see my Jesus face to face!! 

God is so good!!

He's Pleading For You!

Romans 8:34
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 

 

 Here are the definitions I found for t

he word intersession:

1. an act or instance of interceding. 

2. an interposing or pleading on behalf of another person. 

3. a prayer to God on behalf of another.

Jesus Christ 

the only begotten Son of God, who died and then rose again on the third day, and ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of God...this same Jesus intercedes for us!   What an amazing thought!  No matter what is going on in this world we live in, no matter the situations we face...there is hope because we have the very Son of God pleading on our behalf!   WOW!   

God is so good!! 

Watchmen

Watchmen

Ezekiel 33:1-7

This passage of scripture jumped off the page to me when I read it this morning.  God says some pretty strong words to Ezekiel, words that, I believe, apply to us as Christians today...

God tells Ezekiel that God has placed Ezekiel as the "watchman" over Israel.  It was Ezekiel's responsibility to hear from God and take the Lord's message to the Israelites.  In Ezekiel's case, the message was one of repentance and warning of things to come if they didn't repent.  If Ezekiel shared that message with the people, and the people didn't listen, then they made their decision and it is on them.  But here is the catch...If Ezekiel decided he didn't want to share the message, when the people continued in their sins (because they hadn't heard the message), Ezekiel was the one who took the blame.  

So how does this apply to us?? 

We are called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, to share the good news, to proclaim the good things God has done. Acts 1:8 says,

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

*Witness means to bear witness; testify; give or afford evidence.*  

We are to be witnesses, we are to share, testify and give evidence of the Gospel.

As believers, we know the truth, we know that Jesus is the only way to be saved...the only way to eternal life in Heaven. (John 3:16, Romans 3:23)   We know that without a personal relationship with Jesus, the only option is eternal torment in hell.  

So, since we have a very important message that is a matter of life and death; we also have a responsibility to share that message.  If we choose to keep quiet, if we keep the good news to ourselves, then we become responsible, just as Ezekiel was responsible!  

My goal is not to cause you to feel like you've failed if you haven't shared.  But I do believe that it is an important job that we all have, and I don't want to be the one responsible because I chose to keep quiet when God asked me to speak!  I am sure there have been times when I could have shared, but I chose not to. I think it is safe to say that we all have kept silent at some point!  So, when we fail to obey, we need to remember, that God is gracious and forgiving.  

We are "watchmen", let's not keep silent, let's share the truth of the gospel whenever we have opportunity! 

We know and serve such a gracious, compassionate, merciful, and awesome God...

Let's not keep Him to ourselves!!! 

Our Pastor shared some thoughts on sharing the gospel last Sunday and what he said made so much sense! I encourage you to listen to the full message Here!

Psalm 121

Psalm 121

God the Help of Those Who Seek Him

A song of Ascents

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills-

From whence comes my help?

My help come from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel 

Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;

He shall preserve your soul.

The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in

From this time forth and even forever more."

Here is a great promise, a promise of shelter, 24 hour protection...God will not fall asleep on the job, God will protect, preserve, and help us.  I love the last part of this chapter...

"The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in 

From this time forth and even forever more."

This promise of 24 hour protection will not end...it is not just for a short time, it is from this time forward until eternity!!  I am so thankful today, for this reminder, that we can always trust that God is watching over us, and protecting us.

God is so good!!