Week 1, May 2020

 A Virtual God?

May 4, 2020

So....I was headed in a different direction for this morning....and then had to take a break for my first Virtual Doctors Appointment.
AND it led me here!
So this thing that we are having to get used to; virtual classrooms, virtual meetings, virtual church, virtual doctors appointments....it has been around for a bit....colleges have used the technology some,  global businesses as well.  BUT I am guessing the designers of  Zoom® (and some of the other face to face technologies that are out there) didn't have any idea a year ago, that the demand...the NEED for such technology would explode as it has in the midst of this global crisis.
I am grateful for it!  I also wonder how much of it will remain in use once this crisis has begun to recede.
I don't mind a virtual doctors appointment!  But I know that not all doctors and all appointments can be the virtual kind!
AND in this time of virtual interaction we long for a personal/in-person connection.

Virtual

ADJECTIVE

1. almost or nearly as described, but not completely or according to strict definition.

2. 
   

   computing

   not physically existing as such but made by software to appear to do so

3. 
   

    carried out, accessed, or stored by means of a computer, especially over a network.

   
   

It got me thinking about our relationship with God, our Lord and Savior....
Do we have a virtual relationship with Him?  Does it feel like we do? 
Like it is ALMOST but not completely...
or He doesn't physically exist....just appears so in Scripture?
He is only accessed over a network?

We have a God that is REAL, He created this earth and all that is in it.
📖 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth Genesis 1:1

📖 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13

we have faith that He is who He says He is.
📖 God said to Moses, “I am who I am. ” Exodus 4:14a
📖 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”  John 8:58

He physically was here as a man, and gave us the Holy Spirit to be with us now.
📖 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man. Philippians 2:7-8a

📖 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

He said He will never leave you or forsake you
📖 As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5b

and will be with you until the end of the age
📖 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

And we have access to God any time, any where, out loud, in our minds, with others, alone, when we are happy, when we are hurting, 
Cry out to the Lord and he will hear you
morning noon and night 

📖 As for me, I call to God,
and the Lord saves me.
17 Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice. Psalm 55:16-17

📖 pray continually, 1 Thessalonians 5:17


I know you may be saying...yes...but I want to SEE HIM!
All you have to do is LOOK 👀 and you can....
👀 When some one reaches out to you in the love of Christ...with a kind word, or gesture, meets a need maybe even before you knew it was a need.
👀 Those who are around you who love you for who you are, flaws and all
👀 Those who pray for you
There are blessings all around, we just have to open our eyes and let God show us.

Someone is REAL to us when we spend time with them.....

Spend time 🕰with Him today.
🕰Read what He has to say to you,
 🕰spend time meditating on it, 
🕰respond to what it says to you, 
🕰 speak with Him, listening to songs that praise Him, 

🕰take a walk with Him in the beautiful world He gave us, 
🕰reach out to someone who needs to know just how much God loves them, even if it is a virtual visit, or a 6 foot visit....it let's someone know that you are real, your love for them is real, and that God's love for them is real as well!

God is not a virtual reality....He is with us right now...as real as we allow Him to be!

📖 But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,  Isaiah 42:1-3a

That sounds like a God who is REAL to me!!
🎵 Fear Not

🙏 praying you spend time in the reality of God today!♥️


PS - my appointment went well!  I am healthy!😃

Week 4 April 2019

 Lessons From A Thief

April 22, 2919

Last week we talked about what we believe. ..and how that can bring us to Christ's saving grace.
And that the thief on the cross showed you didn't need a special prayer, or to be in a special place, or even be with any specific person.
It seems only appropriate that the day after we celebrate Jesus resurrection we talk about this man and some lessons that I see in his story.

📖 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar  and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:32-43

Just as I said last week....we can do nothing to gain entry to heaven but BELIEVE...and my proof for that is right here in these verses...in the story of the criminal on the cross.

📖 Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 

He acknowledged he was a sinner receiving the punishment he deserved.
He understood who was on the cross next to him...and His connection to God.

📖 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."

📖  If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

He believed....he confessed....not even saying "save me", but saying what a humbled heart would say....simply "remember me". In saying that he acknowledged who Jesus was to the other thief and to Jesus Himself.

The thief also believed Christ would have victory over death...in saying "remember me" he acknowledged that Christ would some how be alive again.  He understood Christ's Kingship....as he said "when you come into your kingdom"

Because of the belief he had and the faith in what he believed.....he was promised paradise! promised he would be in Jesus company! promised salvation! that very day!

It is all in Perspective... the two thieves saw the 3rd man hanging on the cross with them from different perspectives
A sweet friend of mine reminded me of perspective last Sunday during praise time at church.
The day before, she and I, my oldest daughter and her 3 little ones and another good friend were working at church, cleaning and preparing for Palm/Easter Sunday.  She shared what a blessing it had been to be at church working, and what a sweet place it is to be, and how we are blessed to have such a place in which to go to worship.
Perspective; instead of the drudgery of having to clean but the joy of the place and company.
We were also moved as her young daughter was teaching my little granddaughter "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on the piano.  She shared how she heard that song with a new perspective....Mary had a Little Lamb...the Lamb of God!

Perspective thief 1: what can you do for me? "Get me down from here if you are who you say"
Perspective thief 2: what have I done to you?!  He understood he was guilty of his crimes, yet Christ, who was guilty of nothing, was receiving the same punishment.
Jesus had already taken on everyone's guilt...every name and every sin ...even that of both thieves....only one chose not to believe it and the other did.
And we have that same choice....
God what can you do for me?
OR What have I done to you!?
 My sin is why You were punished and crucified!  Please forgive me..."remember me!"
So the lessons I learned:
At any time as long as we are drawing a breath....we can believe and confess. It is never too late!
There is nothing we can do...no good deed, no "work" that will save us. It is what we believe in our hearts.  The thief was nailed to a cross....he wasn't about to do anything to gain entrance into heaven but believe!
And it is immediate....confess with your mouth and you are saved, and when you take your last breath....you will be with Him in Paradise!

But why wait?...why not believe and confess today!  Because ...we never know when that last breath may be.   AND why not live a life in Christ while we still are breathing!!??

📖 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.  Luke 9:22-26

Week 3 April 2019

 Do You?

April 15, 2019

I had someone ask me Saturday night for help with some "brief things" to share with someone who was dying and did not know Christ.
My first thing to do was to open Biblegateway.com, my go-to online bible....and the "verse of the day".....

📖 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

ISNT God AMAZING!!
This is first verse used when following The Roman's Road to Salvation (a scripture map to lead someone to a decision for Christ.  I have a short video clip at the end)

As I started putting it all down I realized that it is something that we all need to hear and reflect on once in a while, and maybe someone out there reading this needs to hear it for the first time!
And what a perfect time to think on our salvation through Jesus Christ....during the Easter Season.


📖 Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9


Every one sins, none of us that walk this earth is perfect….except Christ and He became the sacrifice for my sin...your sin...everyone's sin.

If you believe God, the all knowing creator of the universe, sent His only Son as a baby, to live on earth to spread His Father’s love and be a perfect example, came to die a cruel and ugly death on a cross, for your sins.  If you believe that He didn’t stay dead but was resurrected, came alive again 3 days later….walked, ate and talked with His followers…and then was taken up into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven. If you believe He gave the Holy Spirit to those who believe as an advocate, to teach and remind us.

📖 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  John 14:26 

If you believe what He did for you saves you from the punishment for sin that would otherwise separate you from God for all eternity.....

📖  If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.  As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."  Romans 10:9-13


A Prayer

🙏🏼Lord, I know that I am a sinner, and with that sin I can not even approach God’s throne.

But because His Son Jesus Christ chose to die on a cross and take my sin as His own, His blood covers my sin and shame so that I am clean before Him.

I know that I need You in my life, in my heart, to save me from an eternity in hell, separated from God.

I love you Lord, want to live a life that is pleasing and honoring to you.  Save me Lord!

for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”    AMEN♥️

^📖 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,  in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Ephesians 2:4-10

There is no specific prayer, no particular place, no person you need to be with...

the thief on the cross proved that...(more about that next week!)

There is nothing WE can do to get into heaven, except BELIEVE!

Newsboys have a song which says it so perfectly!

We Believe

Newsboys

In this time of desperation
When all we know is doubt and fear
There is only one foundation
We believe, we believe
In this broken generation
When all is dark, You help us see
There is only one salvation
We believe, we believe

We believe in God the Father
We believe in Jesus Christ
We believe in the Holy Spirit
And He's given us new life
We believe in the crucifixion
We believe that He conquered death
We believe in the resurrection
And He's comin' back again, we believe

So, let our faith be more than anthems
Greater than the songs we sing
And in our weakness and temptations
We believe, we believe

We believe in God the Father
We believe in Jesus Christ
We believe in the Holy Spirit
And He's given us new life
We believe in the crucifixion
We believe that He conquered death
We believe in the resurrection
And He's comin' back again

Let the lost be found and the dead be raised
In the here and now, let love invade
Let the church live love our God will see
We believe, we believe
And the gates of hell will not p
the power of God, has torn the vail
Now we know Your love will never fail
We believe, we believe

We believe in God the Father
We believe in Jesus Christ
We believe in the Holy Spirit
And He's given us new life
We believe in the crucifixion
We believe that He conquered death
We believe in the resurrection
And He's comin' back
He's comin' back again
He's comin' back again
We believe
We believe

Songwriters: Jeremy Lynn Epperson,Matt Hooper,Richie Fike

🎵 We Believe Newsboys   Click on the link to listen

I BELIEVE!
Do YOU???
My prayer is you do!!

Short Roman's Road video
📺 Roman's Road to Salvation

IF you have made a decision after reading this I would love to celebrate with you! OR if you have any questions please message me here on this blog or private message through Facebook.
I am praying!🙏

Week 2 April 2019

 Running Behind

April  11, 1029

Photo by Rachel Ramsdell Photography

Do you ever feel like you are a "day late and a dollar short"?
that the "clock is running away from you"?
that you are "running behind"?
Like me this week!
It was all if a sudden Wednesday!  And I hadn't done my blog....and then it was Thursday!!
I shake my head! We have calendars and clocks, watches we wear, watches we carry, clocks in our cars and clocks on our phones...yet we loose track of time!
Sometimes because we are so busy, sometimes because we are caught up in the joy of the moment, and sometimes maybe we are so ill....physically or emotionally we haven't any idea of day or time.
But God never looses track of time, He never runs behind.
📖 As for God, his way is perfect: Psalm 18:30a

His timing is spot on!
📖    There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,    a time to tear down and a time to build,

  a time to weep and a time to laugh,

    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

  a time to search and a time to give up,   a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There is a song we sing at church ...How Great Is Our God
And one verse in it is:

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end  Songwriters: Chris Tomlin / Ed Cash / Jesse Reeves

No matter how you are feeling about your time...today...this week or even for your life.
YOUR time can be in His hands!

📖  But I trust in you, Lord;

I say, “You are my God.”

My times are in your hands;

deliver me from the hands of my enemies, 

from those who pursue me.

Let your face shine on your servant;  save me in your unfailing love. Psalm 31:14-16

The one thing we don't want to do is waste it!  IF you haven't given God your life...placed all your time in His hands...
Maybe NOW is the Time!!

📖  For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
    and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation   2 Corinthians 6:2

If you have done that...just now...or in the past.... sing with me!
How Great is Our God      by Chris Tomlin (click on link)

Photo by Rachel Ramsdell Photography