Sacrificial Life

 Spent some time with two of my amazing Aunts this past weekend.  (I have many amazing Aunts!) 

I am so appreciative of the hospitality...it got me thinking.

One gave up her room,  her bed and bathroom for six of us to sleep. They both gave up their routine and peacefulness of the house for the time we were there.

The sacrifice of people is humbling, gives a person a warmth, a feeling of being loved and valued. 

And I know there a many examples of sacrifice. 

Every day small sacrifices; giving up your seat on the train, those who give their vacation days and or pay to those who are need at their place of work, giving your meal to someone more in need. You can think of many others, I am sure, of people who sacrifice their time and resources to those who need.

Then there are those who are willing to give their lives

Soldiers, Missionaries, and the other services where people are willing to step up for those they don't even know. Some sacrifice a comfortable, safer life to protect, serve or minister.

Jesus said

📖 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:12-14

What makes Christ's sacrifice greater than all the rest?

Any sacrifice here is for those we serve; an individual, a people group, maybe even for a country.

But Christ's sacrifice was for all, for all time.

📖  The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. Romans 6:10

 📖  Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered  and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

His blood was the payment for all sin...even for those who chose to reject Him and His sacrificial love. Hebrews 5

📖 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10

Our sacrifices, no matter what they cost us, are just our expression of His love for us. We are "paying it forward " in a way that we can.  It allows us to try and be more like Him. 

🙏🏼Lord, I pray that we can live a life of sacrifice, sacrifice that points to Him and His great sacrifice. ❤️

Seeking What Is Lost

Do you feel we spend much of our time looking for lost items? Car keys, which I dont seem to misplace. But the "other" sock, the "other" earing, a shirt I haven't seen since last fall. You can add your own.  It frustrates me when I am SURE it was right here...or there!

Jesus told a parable about time spent looking for something lost. 

📖 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:1-7

Jesus was speaking to EVERYONE. Sinners and tax collectors (lumped together of course), but the Pharisees and other important men were present as well.

📖 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation hast come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:9-10

Jesus came to seek and to save.

📖 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. Ezekiel 34:11

We are far more precious to God than any material thing we could be searching for.

He came searching for sinners.

📖  Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 1 Timothy 1:15

Not to condemn but to save

📖  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16-18

And though He seeks us out....we MUST turn to Him...not try and hide like Adam and Eve.

📖  Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:8-9

( Side note: even as they hid God was calling for them. )

Or keep our stiff backs turned to Him.

📖 those who turn back from following the Lord and neither seek the Lord nor inquire of him.”  Zephaniah 1:6

📖 My people are determined to turn from me.

    Even though they call me God Most High,

    I will by no means exalt them. Hosea 11:7

We need to seek Him, cry out to Him, He is there. He has already sought you out.

📖   if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  2 Chronicles 7:14

Just ask....

📖 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

🙏🏼 Lord, I pray we all turn our faces toward You, we run to Your open arms! Because, there we will find all we need. 

Jesus does not consider it a waste of time to seek each of us....I pray we take the time to seek Him. ❤️

Simon Says

 📖 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:18-20

So Simon, otherwise known as Peter, was called by Jesus to be one of His followers.  

Peter followed Jesus even out into the water....until he lost sight, lost his focus.

 📖 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.   But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”     

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14: 25-31

Then after Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to His followers and had a deep discussion with Peter, using his name Simon.

📖 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”  The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” John 21:15-19

After Pentecost when something inexplicable and supernatural happens Peter explains to an unbelieving, cynical crowd, in what is considered by some  to be the first sermon of the New Church.

📖 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says,

    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

 Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions, 

your old men will dream dreams. 

Even on my servants, both men and women,

 I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

 and they will prophesy. 

I will show wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and billows of smoke. 

The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood  

before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.  

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:

“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
    Because he is at my right hand,
    I will not be shaken. 
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest in hope, 

because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    you will not let your holy one see decay. 
You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ 

 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.  But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy   Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand 
until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”’  “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”  Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”  With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:14-40.  

Simon Peter is knowledgeable in Jesus's history and linage as well as Old Testament history. He quotes the Old Testament.  He is knowledgeable and uses it to present persuasive arguments.
Peter spells it out. He speaks the truth.  He pleads with them until 3,000 are saved!

Just like the children's game...Simon Says "believe, repent and be baptized".

Do as Simon Says and you WIN.  If not...you're out, you lose. 

🙏🏼Lord God, we thank you for Simon and his willingness to follow You. For his clarity in presenting the gospel. I pray we use him as an example to share with others. I also pray that if someone is reading this and has not done what Simon Peter said; to Believe in the saving power of the resurrection of Jesus and to repent of our sins and to be obedient in baptism, that they are moved to do it today. AMEN.♥️

I'm Not Okay

 There is a song I keep hearing on the radio. It is on the country station "I'm Not Okay" I didn't know who sang it until recently...Jelly Roll????🤔

But...what I want to bring out is what that song made me think about.

I am not okay
I'm barely getting by
I'm losing track of days
And losing sleep at night
I am not okay
I'm hanging on the rails
So if I say I'm fine
Just know I learned to hide it well

I know, I can't be the only one
Who's holding on for dear life
But God knows, I know
When it's all said and done
I'm not okay
But it's all gonna be alright
It's not okay
But we're all gonna be alright

I woke up today
I almost stayed in bed
Had the devil on my back
And voices in my head
Some days, it ain't all bad
Some days, it all gets worse
Some days, I swear I'm better off
Layin' in that dirt

I know, I can't be the only one
Who's holding on for dear life
But God knows, I know
When it's all said and done
I'm not okay
But it's all gonna be alright
It's not okay
But we're all gonna be alright

Gonna be alright
Gonna be alright

I know one day
We'll see the other side
The pain'll wash away
In a holy water tide
And we all gonna be alright

I know, I can't be the only one
Who's holding on for dear life
But God knows, I know
When it's all said and done
I'm not okay
But it's all gonna be alright
It's not okay
But we're all gonna be alright
I'm not okay
But it's all gonna be alright

The first time I heard it...I thought what "an honest song", not your feel good fuzzy. But not a song of despair either. 

I'm not okay...but it's all going to be alright. 

There is honesty and hope. 

And though it isn't a Christian song...that is the way I hear it. Especially the lines

I know one day
We'll see the other side
The pain'll wash away
In a holy water tide
And we all gonna be alright

Go with my line of thinking...

We all have struggles and bad times.

📖 ...in this world you will have trouble...

📖 ...even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...

📖 ...enemies persecute you...

📖...crushed,...perplexed,....persecuted,...abandoned...

As believers we have a tendency to say..."oh, everything is fine," "I am fine." "What would people think about my faith if I said I wasn't OK?"

But that isn't scriptural. 

Those verses, and many more speak of troubled times, but they also tell of the hope that comes with our relationship in the Lord.

📖 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

📖 Even though I walk

    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

📖 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Romans 12:14

📖 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 8-9

Jesus was honest about how He was feeling. 

In the Garden of Gethsemane.

📖 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Matthew 26:36

And to His Father while still in the garden

📖  “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  Luke 22:42

And on the cross

📖  About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Matthew 27:46

In the Psalms written by David, he was very honest with God. 

As was Job.

We need to be honest with each other. 

📖  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Romans 12:15-16

📖 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.  James 5:14

📖Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 1 Thessalonians 5:25

It isn't easy or comfortable to be vulnerable. 

Not a "victim", but vulnerable. 

"Acting a victim" (using the term as it is used in some circumstances now, not the noun (which is someone who suffers from a circumstance or at the hands of another) but the verb) implies that you blame everyone else for your situation and typically won't accept any solutions or assistance.  

The difference is when you are vulnerable you are aware of your sorry state, not always caused by your own actions, but acknowledging when they are. Admitting you need help

📖  Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 1 Timothy 1:15

But know that you need others, we need Christ

📖 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  Galatians 6:2

God uses our vulnerability to do great things 

📖 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

There is hope with vulnerability. 

 

🙏🏼Lord, I pray we can be honest with those around us, those closest to us, with God. To say I am not okay and find hope in that, knowing God will use those around you, use whatever He likes...to lift us up.♥️

📖 Even youths grow tired and weary,

    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31