Choose Life--Part Three

Just imagine for a moment, God dealing with us on the basis of  "do we deserve it or not."  How many of us would actually be alive?  How many of us would make it past the first act of forgiveness?  Very, very few I could safely presume.

Yet, God does not treat us as we deserve.  (His mercy has a lot to do with that.)  God knows our diminished capacity as a result of sin, so, He is compassionate towards us.  If that were not so NONE OF US would have formed in our mothers womb.  God did not say "on such and such day Darryl will commit murder" (because I had hatred in my heart for someone else.)  "Therefore, why allow him (me) to be created?"  God knows I will someday do something sinful.  God is a Holy God, meaning He is perfect in all ways.  I/we are not perfect.  Imperfection mars our path.  However, Jesus willingly took our place on the cross and we are now able to come before God and ask Him for forgiveness and (my greatest hope for you) eternal life.  Talk about a win-win situation.

Over the past few weeks my 'spiritual senses' have taken a beating.  I really cannot explain it and I will not try.  But in the barest of words, God is trying to get the attention of the inhabitants of this earth. My heart grieves for people who do not know Jesus as Lord and savior.  There is such a sense of urgency within me and even in the sky above a great event appears to be on the horizon.  It will both be good and bad, depending on your point of view--godly or ungodly.

Let me quote from I John 5:12 "He who has the Son (of God) has life; he who does not have the Son (of God) does not have life." 
My life used to consist of the things of this world and myself.  But now, my life consists of giving others the opportunity to "choose life" for themselves in the person of Jesus Christ.  Is it easy?  No.  But eternity is a long time to worry about "what if".  

Think about the words sung in the opening line of the song in part two of this series: 

 

A choice is set before you now

living or dying, blessing or cursing

You know, the time has come around

to turn from your fighting

and rest in His mercy.

 

Choose life, that you might live

the life that He gives you forever.

Choose life, the way that is true

from the One who chose you

your Father in heaven.

Choose life



 

Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life." 

What will you choose?

  

Choose Life--Part Two

 

 

Here is part two of  the "Choose Life" series.  This song

is by a band that I greatly admire and miss,

Big Tent Revival. 

It is appropriately titled

"Choose Life" 

 

 

 

 

 

Choose Life--Part One

God is described in the bible as All-powerful (Jer. 32:17,27), Ever-present (Psalm 139:7-12) and All-knowing (1 John 3:20).

It is with these three scriptures that I will form the basis for this post, with the help of two other verses also.  Can you guess what they are? (Write them down and let me know in a comment the verses you chose.)

It is the third God-attribute that I would like to touch on for this blog post--All-knowing.

God, in Genesis chapter one, created all things for the benefit of mankind.  God created the earth for man to inhabit and populate.   God also created the sun, moon, stars, vegetation, land animals, birds and other fowls of the air and sea creatures.  Everything that we could possibly need was "made" in the first days of creation. That is the All-powerful God.

God transcends time and space as we know it.  He is not bound by it like we are.  God can be in multiple places, everywhere, at the same time.  Time zones mean nothing to Him.  God is the Alpha and Omega--the beginning and end of all things.  God is only limited by how we perceive Him.  Because we are limited in our thinking and body, we could never phantom who God really is or truly grab hold of how He can be everywhere at once.  That is the Ever-present God.

We have established the fact that God can do anything, all-powerful.  God sees everything we do, ever-present.  As noted above, these FACTS are supported by scripture. 

Now, let us look at the all-knowing God.  Ephesians 1:4 says, "God has chosen us in Him before the foundations of the world (creation of), that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love."
God is saying that He wants what is best for us.  With or without sin this plan was God's plan since the before beginning of time.  As we know mankind was created 'perfectly' in His image.  Fast forward about 600 years (don't quote me) to Jeremiah 1:5.  God speaking again, "Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came out of your mother's womb I sanctified you (set you apart for a special purpose)."

God knows everything about us before we do.  He knows how our day will go, He knows how many hairs will fall out of our head, what we will say, think, eat and when we will draw our last breath.  In between the breath of life and the last breath of our lives, God essentially lets us choose how we will live.  Once again, God is all-knowing.  (Remember that.) 
God knows all of the sins we have committed and will commit.  God knows of our fears, failures and mistakes, our successes and victories.  Yet, in His abundant mercy and infinite wisdom He still chose to give us life, knowing the kind of life we will lead.  Is it a life that glorifies Him?  Is it a life that rejects Him?  Each individual person has to answer that question.    Regardless of your life now, God has provided a way for you and I to inherit eternal life.  That life can only be attained through His Son Jesus Christ and the blood He shed for you and I on the cross of Calvary over 2,000 years ago.  Without God's forgiveness we cannot gain eternal life.  It is even less likely without Christ going to God on our behalf.  
Think about the decisions we have made that have caused other people to feel less than human?  Or, decisions that have cost others their lives?  God takes all of that into account while we are here on this earth.

Choose a life that is centered on the One who created you.  Choose a life that will benefit others and glorify God.  Choose life by choosing Jesus Christ. 

          
   

 

Kiss Your Feet

I have no oil to pour upon Your head.  My steps are unsure and weak.  How can I come before You filled with such dread?

I am a sinner and my sins are great, my tears are greater.  They flow with an ease that belays my soul.  I need Your touch to make me whole.  My heart is broken and my spirit is sorrowful. 

Lead me to Your light.  Lead me O King eternal, please lead me.

In Your presence I stand.  The eyes of the people are upon me, and their tongues lash against me.  You are my focus, You are my center.

All I have in this life is in my hands and they are empty.
I live because of You, now I want to live for You.
I was born to give You praise.
Take my life.  Take it all.

I'm bowed down, continually weeping.
You touch my crown, more weeping.
I no longer run and hide, Your freedom has taken away the pride.

Touching Your glory my tears become sweet.
I was born to kiss Your feet.

An earthly crown shall rust and decay, but You my Lord become my savior today.
I was born to kiss Your feet.

My sins are forgiven, my life secure.
I was born to kiss Your feet.

The same love that brought You to me, draws me to You. 
For this love, I was born to kiss Your feet.

Road Trip-Part 3

(This post is actually from Saturday July 6th.)
On my way home from Lennox rest area.  God truly is a miracle worker.  Although my shift is over, I feel a twinge of sadness coming on as I leave.  Not because of 'something I did not do' but because I want to always be a part of what God is doing in the world and I feel as if I am missing out.  Jesus commanded the apostles to "Go out into the world and preach the gospel to every creature."  Once again we are living out the word.  Just as the men of old did who carried the message before me.  I cannot wait until the harvest is brought in.  That is, the harvest of souls joined with God, through the cross of Calvary, men and women drawn by the Holy Spirit.  Will I see you there? I pray so. My soul sings now and will rejoice all the more when we all get to heaven.
Here are a few more pics from the outreach.  Enjoy.

Soli Dios Gloria

Road Trip-Part 2 (interlude)

What a MAGNIFICENT day!!!!  Can you see the excitement in the words? Can you hear the excitement in the words?  Much, much, much (one more) much fellowship was wrought today.

Every time we go to the rest stops we are blessed.  By God yes, but more so the people we encounter and the "theme" we often work under as we are there.  

If I could title this Fourth of July outreach it would be 'draw me close'.  The believers who came through asked for prayers of encouragement to draw closer to God in their relationships and to not give in to what the world says is good for them.   Many, who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus, came seeking Him.  They had a spiritual hunger and wanted the "Bread of Life".  Glory to God.  

The message of salvation was shared THE SEED WAS PLANTED.  Or watered.  Amazing!!!!!!!

God is faithful and His word will not return void, says so in the scriptures.  I know lives were changed this morning and this afternoon and all the glory goes to Jehovah.  This is what it is all about---souls for the kingdom of heaven.  

(I apologize for the picture bugs)

Road Trip

On our way to I-81 Lennox rest stop to serve coffee and hot dogs for the travelers.  Here is a early hour picture of the PA mountain range.  More to follow.