Thursday, July 17, 2025

ARE YOU ONE OF JESUS DISCIPLES


 


“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

“I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.

Luke 12:4-9

During the hours before the crucifixion, Peter said he did not know Jesus. Earlier, Jesus predicted it and told him after Peter denied Jesus three times, the rooster would crow! Immediately after the third denial, the bird welcomed the coming morning, and Peter went out and bitterly cried. 

Even today, when you acknowledge Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the temptation not to say His Name is close at hand. That night, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest’s. But later, when a girl asked Peter if he was one of the disciples, his courage fled away.

I knew an old man named Charlie Lanker, who asked everyone he met if they knew Jesus. One story about Charlie says that one day he saw a “telephone man” on a pole. Charlie yelled up to the man and asked, “Do you know Jesus?” The man on the pole yelled back and told Charlie he did! 

Peter spent the rest of his life telling everyone he met about Jesus, including the fact that he knew Jesus. Charlie did the same thing, and you can do that too.   

“Lord Jesus, guide me today to someone who needs to hear Your name and grant me the courage to speak Your name boldly, regardless of the consequences. Praise Your Holy Name now and forever. Amen!”

 

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Make Your Choice Now!


 

 

 

But if you don’t want to worship the Lord, then choose here and now! Will you worship the same idols your ancestors did? Or since you’re living on land that once belonged to the Amorites, maybe you’ll worship their gods. I won’t. My family and I are going to worship and obey the Lord!
Joshua 24:15

The word “choice” is big in today’s world. Many times, it refers to ending the life of an unborn child. Interestingly enough, beginning your life eternally with Jesus is also a choice. You have the choice to see his face, and to be obedient to Him or to turn to your own wicked ways!

You can choose to walk with Him, or you can choose to walk away from Him. Those are your two options. God will encourage you to choose Jesus, but this wicked world will work like the devil to draw you in the opposite direction.

In a sense, the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart every day and expresses his desire that you take steps to Jesus. The enemy of God speaks to your heart as well and wants you to walk away from Jesus. The choice is yours and you will go one way or the other!

There are many today who believe that these days are the Last Days before the return of Jesus! If that is true, there is no time for you to be slow in your response to his loving call. If you have never given your heart to Jesus, do it now and don’t wait because there may not be time to wait, even for an hour!

Lord Jesus. Search my heart today and see if there is any part of it that is not given over to you. If there is any part of my heart that I have kept for my pleasure, I give it to you now and forever. I praise your holy name always! Amen!

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Come Lord Jesus


 


 

 

The day of the Lord’s return will surprise us like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a loud noise, and the heat will melt the whole universe. Then the earth and everything on it will be seen for what they are.

Everything will be destroyed. So you should serve and honor God by the way you live. You should look forward to the day when God judges everyone, and you should try to make it come soon. On that day the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and everything else will melt in the heat. But God has promised us a new heaven and a new earth, where justice will rule. We are really looking forward to this!

2 Peter 3:10-13

Jesus said that only God knows when the second coming of Jesus will be. Maybe that is not such a mystery as we have tried to make it. Jesus will return when everything that God wants accomplished is done! 

If Jonah had gone straight to Nineveh instead of taking a detour in the belly of a Great Fish, the time-line might have been different. Jonah’s sin did not change the purpose of God, but the timing changed a bit.

In these verses from 2 Peter 3, the Holy Spirit clearly says that we can hasten the return of the Lord. Our role is to be obedient to Him every moment of every day. Then when everything on earth is done, He will come. 

Even as there is a final shot fired in a war, there will be a final act of obedience that God will use. To repeat the Words of Jesus “It is finished” and then the End will come!

Perhaps that moment will be determined by today’s “Jonah” and whether he goes to Nineveh or spends time in the Great Fish first!

“Lord Jesus, thank You for letting me bask in Your Love so fully expressed on the Cross. Let me know what I can do today to hasten Your return! Praise Your Name Now and Forever. Amen!”

 





Wednesday, June 4, 2025

FOREVER WITH JESUS!


 

 

In the future, the mountain with the Lord temple will be the highest of all. It will reach above the hills, and every nation will rush to it. People of many nations will come and say, "Let's go up to the mountain of the Lord God of Jacob and worship in his temple."

The Lord will teach us his law from Jerusalem, and we will obey Him. He will settle arguments between distant and powerful nations. They will pound their swords and their spears into rakes and shovels; they will never again make war or attack one another. Everyone will find rest beneath their own fig trees or grape vines, and they will live in peace. This is a solemn promise of the Lord all powerful. 

Micah 4:1-4 CEV 

The Lord himself promises of time of "Peace on Earth." War will come to an end. It will be a season of peace like never before if you want to be a part of what God is doing in the world, let Him put His Peace in your heart! Let the love of God and the peace that passes understanding rule in your life. 

Then you will look at everyone and see them with the eyes of God. The Creator loves every object of his creation. Every human being formed and fashioned in the image of God has a longing place in the heart of the maker of us all. 

Don't fear or panic that the "End of All Things" may be coming soon!  For those who follow Christ it will be the beginning of "Forever with Jesus," and it may be just around the corner!

"Lord Jesus, You are the greatest Peacemaker of all time. Spread Your Love and Peace in the hearts of all those who open the door when they hear You knock. May You, Jesus be praised now and forever? Amen." 

Saturday, December 7, 2024

Money Food and Faith

 

 

 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

John 6:5-7 NIV

When Jesus told Philip He wanted to give the people something to eat, the disciple immediately responded that they didn’t have enough money to do it. The question was not one of finances, but FAITH!

Also, when Jesus tells you what He wants you to do for Him, never question the fiscal resources. Jesus always wants you to accomplish things for Him that are far beyond your ability or even training. All Jesus wants is for you to give Him the little that you have and trust Him to use it and provide the power and provision to make it happen.

Despite our talents and abilities coming from God, we are tempted to be proud and seek praise from others when we use them.

But when we stand in awe and see Jesus feed 5000 people with two loaves of bread and two small fish, we can rightly claim no credit for the deed.

I cannot do what Jesus wants done in this world today, but I can give Him what I have and watch Him feed the world with His Love!

“Lord Jesus, You are the same today as You were here 2000 years ago. Let me watch You today as You touch the hearts of men and women of every nation! Praise Your Name now and forever. Amen!”

 


Friday, November 1, 2024

Listen for the Lord - From 8 years ago!

 

 

Then the glorious Lord All-Powerful ordered me to say to the nations that had raided and robbed Zion: Zion is as precious to the Lord as are his eyes. Whatever you do to Zion, you do to him. And so, he will put you in the power of your slaves, and they will raid and rob you. Then you will know that I am a prophet of the Lord All-Powerful.  City of Zion, sing and celebrate! The Lord has promised to come and live with you.  When he does, many nations will turn to him and become his people. At that time you will know that I am a prophet of the Lord All-Powerful.  Then Judah will be his part of the holy land, and Jerusalem will again be his chosen city.  Everyone, be silent! The Lord is present and moving about in his holy place. 

Zechariah 2:8-13 

When I was a small child I remember how comforting it was to go to sleep while hearing my mother and father moving about in the house. The noises they made and the conversations I heard filled my heart with peace. Every sound they made let me know that I was being watched over by my parents who loved me dearly!

Today, as a grown man, when my spirit is quiet I can hear the Lord moving about in the world which He made. I can see Him when I look at the heavens or the face of a new born baby who was made in His image. If you have never heard or seen the Lord moving about in the world around you, it is time that you got quiet and listened!  Just a little while ago I stopped and listened as a thunderstorm passed over our house.  Only God can rattle the windows and comfort my soul at the same time.

So as you move through this day listen for the sound of God "moving about in His holy place."  It will comfort your soul in these  very troubled times!

"Lord Jesus I can be at peace when I hear and see that You are near.  And may You be praised forever.  Amen."

 This post was written and posted about 8 years ago in 2016. Given what is happening today in 2024 I thought it appropriate to share it again!

Listen for the Lord!

 

Then the glorious Lord All-Powerful ordered me to say to the nations that had raided and robbed Zion: Zion is as precious to the Lord as are his eyes. Whatever you do to Zion, you do to him. And so, he will put you in the power of your slaves, and they will raid and rob you. Then you will know that I am a prophet of the Lord All-Powerful.  City of Zion, sing and celebrate! The Lord has promised to come and live with you.  When he does, many nations will turn to him and become his people. At that time you will know that I am a prophet of the Lord All-Powerful.  Then Judah will be his part of the holy land, and Jerusalem will again be his chosen city.  Everyone, be silent! The Lord is present and moving about in his holy place. 

Zechariah 2:8-13 

When I was a small child I remember how comforting it was to go to sleep while hearing my mother and father moving about in the house. The noises they made and the conversations I heard filled my heart with peace. Every sound they made let me know that I was being watched over by my parents who loved me dearly!

Today, as a grown man, when my spirit is quiet I can hear the Lord moving about in the world which He made. I can see Him when I look at the heavens or the face of a new born baby who was made in His image. If you have never heard or seen the Lord moving about in the world around you, it is time that you got quiet and listened!  Just a little while ago I stopped and listened as a thunderstorm passed over our house.  Only God can rattle the windows and comfort my soul at the same time.

So as you move through this day listen for the sound of God "moving about in His holy place."  It will comfort your soul in these  very troubled times!

"Lord Jesus I can be at peace when I hear and see that You are near.  And may You be praised forever.  Amen."

 This post was written and posted about 8 years ago in 2016. Given what is happening today in 2024 I thought it appropriate to share it again!