Posts tagged Savior
May 22, 2012 · Filed under thoughts · Tagged Bible, Christ, Christian, clothing, dancing, death, emotions, eternity, foundation, gladness, humanity, Jesus, joy, Lazarus, life, Lord, love, mourning, sackcloth, sadness, Savior, soul, teardrop, tears, weeping
“Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)
Through His tears, we are strengthened by the humanity of our Lord’s emotions. Others, overcome with their grief over the death of Lazarus, deeply touched the heart of our Savior (who already knew that He would soon raise Lazarus from the dead.)
It is through these teardrops that we realize it is out of love that we weep for others. There is of course no one who can better exemplify this love than our Lord and Savior, Jesus – by His dying on the cross for our sins – to save us through Him………
When we truly love, we will weep for others, and along with others – and grieve from the depths of our own souls. Our teardrops of love will spill out from flowing wellsprings – watering humanity and cleansing it from the sadness which overtakes our emotions……..until that very sadness becomes the foundation from which joy can be found – the joy from Christ’s eternal cleansing of our souls.
It was Jesus who raised Lazarus from the dead, and turned “mourning into dancing – replacing sackcloth with the clothing of gladness.” (Ps. 30:11)
Let Jesus turn your sadness
into gladness!
May 6, 2012 · Filed under thoughts · Tagged Almighty, Bible, Christianity, creation, Day of the Lord, God, Jesus Christ, Judgment Day, King, light, Lord, moon, moonlight, Savior, second coming, witness
Certain times of the year the moon’s orbit comes closer to the earth. These are the times it looks the largest and shines the brightest. We all admire its dreamy beauty and the moonlight shadows which it creates.
In the book of Genesis we are told that God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years…….let them be for lights to give light on the earth; and it was so.” (Gen. 1:14-15)
The moon is a mighty player in God’s creation. Throughout the stories of the Bible we are told of its role in the marking of time -the designating of the seasons – the signaling of prophetic events. For thousands of years, for ancient cultures all the way to our own modern times, the moon has served as a beacon of God’s almighty power and majesty.
When the “Day of the Lord” is at hand, the moon once more will again take part in what could possibly be the most significant event in all creation:
“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and notable day of the Lord.” (Acts 2:20)
We will “all” then bear witness of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ – King of Kings————Judgment Day………
It’s not just “moon light” –
– it’s the “Almighty” light !
March 4, 2012 · Filed under thoughts · Tagged abundant, Apostle Paul, Bible, Christian, creation, faith, former, future, God, grace, Jesus Christ, Lord, love, new, past, resume, Savior, scandalous, sinner, unworthy
“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (1 Tim.1:15)
The apostle Paul, one of the “chief” writers of the New Testament of the Bible, declared himself a “chief” sinner. He confessed that he was formerly “a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man…” (1 Tim. 1:13)
But God chose him to be used in a mighty way, regardless of his former self. “But I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief and the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim. 1:13-14)
Our past doesn’t have to dictate our future. The Lord can step into our life at any time and present us to our Heavenly Father as a “new creation” – even though we are formerly as unworthy as the Apostle Paul………
Let’s rejoice that God shows no favoritism – that we might be overlooked because our record isn’t spotless – that the “resume” of our life shows us to be “under” qualified. On the contrary – some of God’s greatest works were made from former heaps of scandalous scraps!
Let Him re-create you from “your” former –
– to “His” future!
January 6, 2012 · Filed under thoughts · Tagged Bible, bondage, Christian, doctrine, freedom, God, Heaven, Hell, hope, Jesus Christ, Lord, lost, relationship, religion, salvation, Savior, tradition
Theology matters.
Studying doctrine of various religions will lead you to an awareness of differences. How to get to Heaven is a primary subject. Another is how to live out my faith, and still get to Heaven. Also, is Heaven an actual place – and what about Hell – does it exist?
Salvation is key. Wondering about the possibility of losing my salvation during my lifetime on earth can be troubling. Where will I go when I die and why? Is life here on earth all there is?
Jesus Christ offers us an intimate relationship with Him on earth, and on into Heaven. He shows us the way to do this by receiving the Holy Spirit. It is by love and grace that we receive our salvation – not by any works we perform. Jesus is our eternal intercessor – providing the “only” way to get to God. When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we no longer need to question our salvation or wonder if we will lose it.
Other religions do not offer the hope and free acceptance of a living God. True Christianity sets us free from heavy bondage and useless traditions which can be found in the theology of other religions. It is through relationship and not religion that we ultimately get to know God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
Think through your theology –
– if you get lost, ask Jesus to find you.
December 29, 2011 · Filed under thoughts · Tagged Bible, carol, Christian, Christmas, Father, generosity, God, Jesus, King, legacy, legend, Lord, poor, Savior, song, Wenceslas, wretched
“Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the Feast of Stephen………”
These are the words of a Christmas Carol, which, over the years seems to have fallen be the wayside. This Christmas Season, I don’t recollect it being played over the airwaves, or sung at church. I did a little research on Wenceslas and discovered that he was revered for his piety and generosity. He even became known as a “father of the wretched.”
It is nice to know that legendary names of people aren’t always fictional – that they did indeed exist and stood for what was proclaimed about them. Unfortunately, their legacy can fall by the wayside if not kept alive by writings, songs, movies, etc.
How interesting that the legacy of an obscure carpenter from Nazareth has not fallen by the wayside. Jesus walked the earth (without internet !), and influenced more people than can be counted. His holy name continues to pervade societies and cultures around the world.
The Bible provides an historical background and platform from which to get acquainted with Jesus – our Lord and Savior. His name and legacy indeed existed and still stand for what was proclaimed – in centuries past – and into the present – and on into the future……..
– never to fall by the wayside……..
December 15, 2011 · Filed under thoughts · Tagged advice, Bible, Christian, counselor, delight, eternity, God, Jesus Christ, life, Lord, Savior, testimony, treasure, wealth
“Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.” (Ps. 119:24)
The Word of the Lord – God’s Word – is His testimony of Himself. The Bible bears witness of who God is and what He has done and will do. We are to read and follow His commandments on a daily basis. We are to take delight in His counsel.
Reading God’s Word provides us with much needed advice to get us through our days. We can know with certainty that His advice is filled with absolute truth and His amazing love. No- where, or from no-one else, can that combination be found !
With today’s technology, we have incredible opportunities to dig into God’s Word and discover His treasury. Going deeper and deeper provides choice riches beyond compare. He promises us wealth greater than silver and gold.
“My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold and my revenue than choice silver.” (Prov. 8:19)
God’s wisdom illuminates our pathway to righteousness and eternal salvation – to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Our eternal destiny is the final pay out.
“For whomever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.” (Prov. 8:35)
Open the Bible and read God’s Word –
– and discover your “eternal” testimony……
December 7, 2011 · Filed under thoughts · Tagged Christian, Christmas, diet, healthy, ingredients, Jesus, Lord, mayonaise, message, recipes, Savior, side effects, wholesome
“Hold the mayo…….”
Those are usually my words most of the year, but since we are in the middle of the Christmas Season and tasty recipes – well………….
So while at the grocery store I found a reputable brand of mayonaise on sale, both the diet and regular brand were listed for the same price. At first I gravitated toward the diet variety, but then I wondered if it might not taste as good. Then I decided to read the labels for both the diet and the regular – hoping the information would help sway my decision. Calories and fat content were my focus. Much to my surprise, the calories were the same! The fat content wasn’t much different either – and in fact, the diet brand contained some undesirable fat, along with watered down ingredients. I decided to go with the wholesome choice and not settle for the watered down variety……..
Preparing the food for this Christmas Holiday reminds me that watering down recipes may seem good at first, but harmful side effects could be experienced later…………
This Christmas don’t let the message of the birth of our Lord and Savior get watered down or tainted with unhealthy ingredients………
– and oh yes, pass the mayo !!
November 2, 2011 · Filed under relationships · Tagged addictions, anger, behavior, Christian, connection, destruction, disease, emotions, fear, God, grief, health, hurt, Jesus Christ, joy, Lord, love, relationships, relief, salvation, Savior, sickness, sorrow
What are you withholding?
Are you holding back feelings of grief, sorrow, anger or even joy? Is fear a constant companion, and a prime culprit for a lack of connection to others, or even yourself?
Addictive behaviors to cover up the emotions within are a temporary relief – but then they need to happen over and over – and sometimes lose their effectiveness. Eventually, what was covered up becomes exposed – and this can lead to destructive behavior ……..and even lead to premature death.
The good news is that we can find healthy ways to get help. By reaching out to those who have found their way out of unhealthy lifestyles and establishing a loving relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ – we can turn away from destruction.
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Ps. 84:11)
We can freely receive His love and forgiveness, and walk in His light.
– then instead of “holding back”………we can freely “give” back !
October 5, 2011 · Filed under relationships · Tagged ally, anger, Christian, communication, God, Holy Spirit, hurt, intentional, intentions, Jesus, landmine, Lord, misunderstanding, misunderstood, perception, power, prayer, relationship, Savior
I had such good intentions – how could I have been misunderstood?
Have you ever asked yourself this question? And did you ask yourself this question because the other person either became hurt or angry, or both? I call this “stepping on a landmine” !
Sooner or later, we will inadvertently step on a landmine – it is inevitable. No matter how hard you try, there will come a time when you say or do something that rubs somebody else the wrong way.
If you think about it, we all come from varying backgrounds, families and circumstances. We have learned ways of communicating that may not be understood in the same way by everybody we meet. Our best intentions can be perceived as questionable.
When a situation blows up, picking up the pieces can be a difficult process. It takes time to repair the damage. Even then, our most sincerest actions and words can be misunderstood.
Without the power of prayer, we can be left with a life of ruined relationships – continually sorting through the debris.
By receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God promises to send us His helper, the Holy Spirit, to guide us through our world of landmines. With His help, our prayers become powerful allies –
– so we can be “well” able, and not “disabled” !
July 21, 2011 · Filed under thoughts · Tagged beginnings, Bible, cartoons, Christian, endings, eternity, friends, God, grief, Jesus Christ, joy, laugh, Porky Pig, Savior, strength
“That’s all folks!”
…………then that familiar theme song punctuated the above phrase in our brains…….for some of us – for a lifetime !
Porky Pig with his endearing stutter ended many Looney Tune cartoons by letting us know they were over. It was a lighthearted way to let us know that the fun had come to an end.
If endings could always be happy it would save us from a great deal of heartaches. We could laugh our way through life, and sing along with Porky Pig whenever endings came our way. But the truth is, some endings are terribly sad, and no amount of singing along with Porky Pig can heal the wound in our hearts.
The flip side is that whenever there is an ending, there is usually a new beginning around the corner. Moving forward in the midst of our grieving can bring us to the joy of a new start – and the new found strength we have gained from the whole experience.
Laughing along with Porky Pig and his friends of yesteryear may seem like a silly proposition – but the episodes of his cartoon career were based on humorous adaptations of real life. When it came time for the “final” episode, Porky was done – but we don’t have to be……..we have eternity to look forward to, with our Lord Jesus Christ. And we won’t have to hear——-
“That’s all folks !”
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