Joy Unspeakable

I witnessed something really simple, but heart warming this morning.  

While making my way to the bus station two cars passed me and a gentleman was walking behind me on my right.  

As he caught up to and passed me he said "Hello."

Making sure no more cars were coming answered back "hello."

Just as the second car was making the right hand turn at the stop sign a young man leaned out of the passenger side wide and (for all the work to hear)

"Heeey Andy how are you?  God bless you man."

Andy was the gentleman I had just spoken to.  

The young man had the biggest smile on his face I had seen in some time.  He was literally out of his seat with upper half of his body hanging out the window and waving with his left arm.  

Andy in full happiness waved back and said "God bless you too.", as the car disappeared into the shopping plaza parking lot.  

Having heard that exchange I smiled and thanked God.  

Moments of joy are fleeting these days and genuine joy all the more so.  

God bless

The Cross

I'm in Burger King right now looking at this cross.  A small reminder of something great.  The cross is with me everyday.  It is in my remembrance regarding my salvation, my forgiveness and my future hope.  

The cross tells the story of a man named Jesus, who over 2,000+ years ago was nailed to one of these for me.  For me!!!!

I cannot phantom it in my head.  I can recall the scene from several movies over the years, but they don't adequately display His pain and sorrow.  My heart is captivated by His sacrifice.  And His story.  

The bible says "when He was on the cross, I was on His mind."  

I cannot go back in time to that day and look upon His face, to listen to the words as He labored to speak them.  I cannot process his mothers pain as she gazed upon the son of her flesh.  Would she have traded places with Him if possible?  

Yes, if possible.  

However, God had something else planned.  This man and this death represented something far beyond human comprehension.  It represented something spiritual.  This day was reckoning day.  Gods desire for justice against the crime called sin required a sacrifice.

 

This cross presents two options to me.  It shows God making a way for me to be made right in His eyes once again.  Jesus' death on the cross bridges a gap that no works, words or means can transverse.  This cross tells me the work is already done.  All I need do is accept it.  

Believe.  Simply believe.

Confess.  Not just my sins, but my need for Him. 

Accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour of my life.  

Option two tells me I need to trust in someone else and not my own wisdom.

Many will reject the cross because their works will get them where they need to go.  The fruit of their labor will be there reward.  Why share with anyone else?  Prideful people they are.  They have their reward.  

I need Jesus.  Without Him I am literally a mess of a person.  I cannot find peace, joy or happiness in anything apart from Him.  

Sure there are days when I fall prey to the  desires of my flesh and temptation, but....

this cross says, I am free from the guilt of sin, if I confess my sin and turn away from it.  I struggle understanding the cross.  Yet, I find myself embracing it more and more everyday.  God has met a need within me that no earthly source can fulfill.  

THE CROSS.....

It spoke to me when I cried out.

It speaks to me now when I cry.

It comforts me when I look to it.

The cross transcends time and human 

wisdom.  

The cross has no barriers.  All are welcome to come to it.  Male, female, young and old.  

There is room for you.  Come beside me and see the Saviour.  Look upon the One who gladly gave so you and I could gladly receive. 

Come to the Cross and find forgiveness.

Come to the Cross and find once again your first love. 

Come to the Cross and rest for your weary soul.

Come to the Cross and rediscover Jesus Christ.  

Come to the Cross and know He did it all for you.  

God bless.

Praise Him

If Jesus is our banner, then let this song be 

one of the anthems we sing.

God bless.

God is Sovereign--P1

A few weeks ago during our Wednesday night bible study, I asked my pastor "What does sovereign mean?"

There were several others present and I got a satisfactory response.  

Sovereign means Supreme ruler and ultimate authority.  

That really does describe God.  

This morning while doing laundry I read from Psalm chapter 2.  As I read and re-read this psalm the Spirit of God said to me "sovereign".  

Here in this psalm we read the kings and rulers have joined together to and decided to come against God's anointed people. 

God however, is sitting on His throne in heaven laughing these men and their foolish plan.  

God's response is this "I have put this king on the throne of my people, upon my holy hill in Zion." Expounding a little more, "only by My word and authority shall he be removed. Not yours, but Mine." 

 

A great example of God's sovereignty can be found in the book of Daniel.  

In Daniel chapter 4 King Nebuchadnezzar says to himself as he looks out at his kingdom "is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?"  

Heavy words from someone, who a few chapters earlier attributed it all to Daniel's God.  

Before the words were completely out his mouth, God spoke to Nebuchadnezzar and said "your kingdom is taken from you."  

The king was thereafter told he would be removed from men and sent to live and eat in the field with the beasts of the land, as one of them, for seven years.  Verse 33 shows how he lived.  His body was wet with the dew of the heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles feathers, and his nails like birds claws.

At the end of this 7 year period Nebuchadnezzar lifted up his eyes to heaven and understanding returned to him and  in verse 34 "he blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him that lives forever, whose dominion an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation." Verse 37 "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase (make humble)."

It was a hard lesson for king Nebuchadnezzar to learn.  What is it like to live as an animals and eat as they do for 7 years?  

What did the people think when they saw the king, their king, living like a wild animal?  

I can only guess.  

However, his last words ring true "all those who walk in pride shall be brought low, by the hand of God."  

Going back to the second psalm, many nations today have kings and rulers who see themselves as a god and supreme being.  Their goal is to rule with absolute authority and demand vows of allegiance from their subjects.  God says otherwise.  It is God who moves men as pawns for His purposes.  Not the other way around.  No one can circumvent God and His authority.  He sits on the thone that is everlasting.  Sadly, just as Nebuchadnezzar had to learn this truth, many today will learn it and not all will acknowledge God as King of kings and LORD of lords.  

See you in part 2.

God bless