Life

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
II Peter 1:3

 This is one of my favorite verses. There is nothing we lack to have life, not just being alive as in “not dead.”  No, this means real life that goes beyond circumstances or income or position in your job or community. The word “life” here comes from the Greek word “zoe” and means, of the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical.  This is real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ. 

 So Jesus Christ has given us absolutely everything we need to live a life that is full and godly.  Yes, even godly.  We have everything we need to grow more and more like Christ.  So what is the key to having this life?  Does it just happen because we have chosen to trust the redemptive work of the cross?

It is “through our knowledge of him.”  This isn’t about being able to quote scripture or being a very good person.  This is about really knowing him like your best friend, because he is your best friend.  You can’t get this abundant life on your own.  You live it by spending time with him, reading and studying the scriptures with him, walking with him, talking with him, listening to him, laughing and crying with him, and being silent with him.

 

Where Have All the People Gone?

Looking at a Lake Michigan beach in the fall

Last night in our “Kingdom of God” class, a question arose. What happened to the people who walked around in Jerusalem after Jesus resurrection?

Take a look at Matthew 27:50-53.

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” NIV

Several possibilities were suggested, and more questions came to our minds. Where do you think these “holy people” went? Why do you think what you do?

 

“You have set up a banner for those who fear and worshipfully revere you, a standard displayed because of the truth.”  

Psalm 60:4

    ·        Banners are a rallying point for troops during a battle.

             

·        Banners show who you represent.

       

·        Banners herald an event.

     

·        Banners unify and direct worship to the glory of God and the defeat of our spiritual enemies.

·        Banners proclaim victories.

Under the banner of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah we can be confident and fearless. We have been given the Lord’s armor so we can overcome anything the enemy can throw at us.

The picture above illustrates a spiritual reality. Though natural eyes don’t see it, the Lion is always watching over us. Nothing gets past Him without His notice, and whatever happens in our lives He will work it out so it is of benefit to us. In that we cannot lose. He is Yahweh Nissi, the Lord our Banner. (Ex 17:8-16)

We are fearless because we know who He is and who we are in Him. We do not fear man but realize an awesome reverence for the most powerful El Shadday, God Almighty. (Gen 17:1-2)

So, put on God’s own armor; it is designed to fit every believer. Be fearless, for you are so loved that Jesus died to save you before you were even born. Know that His banner flies over you and identifies you as His very own.

Selah!

Love Like Christ

Ephesians 5:1 states, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love.”

 

Some LOVE keys from Ephesians:

 

·        The source of love is Jesus.

·        If Christ truly reigns supreme in my life, I will have no desire to satisfy the flesh and His standard for love will prevail.

·        Gratefulness is like a song of love.

·        Putting the welfare of others first is a demonstration of love and reverence for Christ.

·        Serving out of love is related to submission to the will of Christ. All is done out of a motive to love as Christ loves and to bring Him glory and honor.

 



His love so great!

 

     Today I was reading from a past journal. In the entry for March 6, 2008, I was expressing my apprehension about taking on a very challenging assignment. The Lord encouraged me to be unafraid to press beyond what I thought I was able. When I run out of what I already have is when He steps in to provide what is needed.

      I considered the widow’s small amount of oil and flour in I Kings 17:12. Elijah asked her to make him something to eat. “As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don't have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

      So when did the miracle take place? When did the flour and oil begin to multiply to provide food for many days? When the widow did her part first and obeyed the word of the Lord. The same principle is illustrated in Mark 6 when thousands were fed with five loaves of bread and two fish. That miracle also started with a young man first giving what he already had.

      It turned out that this challenging assignment the Lord had for me was indeed successful. I could not have done it without Him. He would not have been able to provide through me if I had not been obedient to start with what I already had.

 
     Do you feel overwhelmed with an upcoming project? Remember this: if God has called you to an assignment, don’t be afraid to step out with what you already have. He will take the little you already have and turn it into a miracle, and you will have the fun of being in partnership with Him for its success.

Covered With Love

Looking up while driving over the Mighty Mac to cross the Straits of Mackinac.



 

Proverbs 10:12 tells us that “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers over all sins.” NIV  

One of the things I love about our worship arts team is the absence of strife. When someone is wrong we are not afraid to admit it, because it is a safe environment for us to make mistakes in. Offences are extremely rare, because we consider the other people in the group before self.

According to I Corinthians 3:3, it is our own carnality that causes strife. I Corinthians 13 shows us a better way to live by the love and grace of God. By surrendering our lives daily to Christ we find love at work in our lives.  We are patient with each other and ourselves.  We are kind to each other. We do not envy each other, but seek the best for each other. We do not keep a list of mistakes or weaknesses of each other.  We defend each other and are glad when another is honored.

We are not perfect and sometimes we fall short, but it seems God is maturing each of us through His love.  As we grow in knowing personally the one who is love, we also grow in loving others. Sin can show up in any one of us from time to time, but love seems to cover the sin so that we can see the other person or even ourselves in a clearer light – the light of Christ and through the eyes of love.



Living Water



John 4:10 and 7:38

When speaking with the Samaritan woman Jesus said, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." (4:10)

When speaking of those who choose to follow Him Jesus said, "He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (7:38)

Jan and Debbie have made some beautiful banners that hang from time to time in our sanctuary. This three dimensional Living Water banner is just one that the Holy Spirit has given them vision to complete.  As the Spirit directs, they create displays in several areas of the sanctuary that represent a particular message. These prophetic displays give us a picture of what the Lord is doing or saying to us. We are so grateful to the Lord for the many giftings within our worship arts team, as well as our congregation at large.

God's Love

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39  NRSV

I love these verses because it means that God is always there for me, even when I mess things up. Unconditional love means I don’t have to live up to even His standards. How incredible is that?  It also means I can’t hide anything from Him either, though some people do try.  Wherever I am, whatever I do He is always there with love because He is Love.

To quote Billy Graham, “Life with Christ is endless love; without Him it is a loveless end.”

I AM, the Lord of the Dance

My husband and I enjoy dancing so much that we use to belong to a dance club which rented a hall regularly for dances. Our DJ was a very nice Christian man, and one night he played “Amazing Grace” arranged with a waltz tempo. My husband asked me if I would like to dance. I hesitated because I thought it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to dance to this, especially in a secular setting.  My husband said, “Do you want to dance or not?”

As soon as we began to flow together to this wonderful message of God’s incredible grace, I realized we were acting out a picture of the Bridegroom and His Bride. Who better should dance this song of grace than two very different people who are joined together by love and a commitment to the grace-giver Himself.  There is no sacred and secular even in dancing, I thought. All my moves are for Christ. Everything I do and say are centered in Him.

Though you may have two left feet and would never dance in public, your life is still a dance with Jesus. He leads, you follow. He chooses the dance, the song, the place, and the tempo.

There is a song that has been around for many years titled, The Lord of the Dance. A line in the chorus reads, “’Dance then wherever you may be; I am the Lord of the dance,’ said He.”  So enjoy the dance He invites you to join Him in. You just might find out something about yourself you didn’t realize was there.

God's Glory Declared

"The heavens declare the glory of  God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard."  Psalm 19:1-3