A Baby, a King and a Kingdom

A Baby, a King and a Kingdom

“But He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose  I have been sent.” Luke 4:43

            The air was cold that night and the group of shepherds huddled together by the fire trying to keep warm.  It was an ordinary night in the hills outside of Bethlehem.   They talked about their families and the fear they held for King Herod.

            In Bethlehem, the inn keeper was still grumbling about all the people he had to deal with.  He was happy to have so many staying with him, but now it was full and he had to turn away several.  The young couple stayed on his mind.  The woman looked so tired and it was obvious she was about to deliver a child.  Out of the goodness of his heart, he let them stay in the stable, but what a terrible place to give birth to a child.

            In the stable, Joseph piled clean straw as far from the animals as he could.  He then took off his cloak and laid it over the mound of straw.  Mary quickly lay down and Joseph covered her with her cloak.  He could see the tears in her eyes; tears of fear.  She was young and inexperienced; wishing her mother could be there.  She would know what to do.

            This is the way it was that first Christmas; everything was set in place for the greatest event in history.  The angels were gathered together in anticipation of what was about to take place. One angel was surrounded by a great light that shone all around them.  Joy was on the face of each angel as they sang praises to the Almighty One.

            Back in Bethlehem, out of the stillness of the night a baby’s cry rang out.  It woke the innkeeper from a restless sleep who smiled sleepily and fell into a peaceful sleep.  Other people in the inn woke up to a bright light shining in their faces only to look out at the brightest star in the sky they had ever seen.  

            We all know the story of the shepherds coming to worship the new born baby. Then possibly two years later there were wise men (Magi) who came to the house where Joseph and Mary lived with their child, Jesus. From there they traveled to Egypt and lived until King Herod died.  Joseph heard in a dream that they should return to Israel but go into Galilee where it was safe for Jesus and they turned aside and made their home in Nazareth.  Joseph was a carpenter and Jesus also learned that trade while growing up. Matthew 13:55-56 tells us that Jesus had brothers and sisters.  The brothers were James, Joses, Simon and Judas, and his sisters were not named. Jesus started his ministry when he was about 30 years of age.  When Jesus went to his home town of Nazareth and began to teach, they rejected him because they knew his whole family and couldn’t understand the wisdom he spoke. He did little works there because of their unbelief. They knew him and they knew his family, but he was rejected. 

             Jesus continued on throughout Israel teaching, preaching and healing. He called on people to “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” He taught about repentance and forgiveness; how to walk in righteousness and truth.

 He also taught about living a life of Love and Peace in a world of darkness.  Jesus, a Baby who came to die, a King who came to Rule and a Kingdom for all eternity.  All people have existence, but all do not have true life, for you can’t have it without Jesus. 

            Now is the time to fall on your knees and worship the one who paid the price for our sins and gives us eternal life.

Jesus and John

Jesus and John

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,” Luke 4:18

As we enter into all the festivities of the upcoming season, we seem to speed up from our usual pace.  Gifts, cards, parties and all the activities of the holidays, seems to keep our minds busy and before we know it, Jesus slips to the background.  We often make contacts with friends and family members we haven’t seen in a long time.

It reminds me of a story in the Bible – the first time Jesus and his cousin John met (John and Jesus were related through their mothers Mary and Elizabeth).  John, the baptizer, as he was called, was baptizing people in the Jordan River and they confessed their sins and were saved through baptism.  He told the people of the One who was coming who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  One day John looked up and he saw Jesus coming to be baptized and John told Jesus that he should be baptized by Jesus, but Jesus said no, it should be done by John according to God.  So Jesus was baptized by John and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove and settled on him.

Immediately, John knew who Jesus was, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.”  John 1:29-30.  When Mary, the mother of Jesus went to visit Elizabeth, John’s mother, the Bible tells us what happened at that meeting.  “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.”    Luke 1:41-44

It appears that Jesus and John first met while still in their mother’s wombs.  “With God, all things are possible.” After the baptism of Jesus, they were never to meet again.  John’s preaching was that of Salvation by baptism.  He was preparing the way for Jesus to come as the Savior of the world.  Jesus preached the Kingdom of God. “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15.

Now John was in prison and heard of the things Jesus was doing.  He sent a note to Jesus asking if He was the One who God was sending.  Jesus answer about covered everthing in Matthew 11: 4-5.  “Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”  Jesus then turned to preach to the crowd and said this about John the Baptist, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.”

Later when John was beheaded by Herod, the disciples came and told Jesus. He wanted to go off by himself, but the crowds followed him.  “And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.”   Matthew 14:23.  His grief was visible in that he needed to get with the Father by prayer. Thus was the story of Jesus and John.

A Baby is Born

A Baby is Born

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:14

When someone is coming near the time of birth, it is usually a time of excitement and preparation.  When the mother’s labor begins in earnest, mother and dad rush to the hospital and the mother is given help to reduce the pain that comes with birth.  They already know if they are going to have a boy or a girl, so when the baby is born, it’s no surprise. When my children were born I had no idea what the baby would be.  It seems like the surprise was the most exciting part of it. 

Going back over 2000 years ago, when Mary was pregnant she already knew she was going to have a baby boy.  She knew his name would be Jesus. She didn’t have a hospital to go to; there was nothing to help her give birth or to help ease the pain. There was nothing clean or sanitary about the stable she was in. However, Jesus was born a healthy baby.  The shepherds made their appearance in the stable that night and there was much praising and rejoicing. 

The little family left the stable after Jesus birth and went to a house; it may have been a relative’s home, but we know it was in a house. (See Mathew 2:11)  Jesus was probably about two years old at the time.  It was there at that house the wise men came and found the ‘Child’, not a baby.  It was here they worshiped the Savior of the world and left expensive gifts for him.  Because three gifts were left with Jesus does not mean there were three Wise Men, it only mentions the three gifts.

It was after that, the angel told Joseph to take his family and go to Egypt. Because of the gifts they probably could afford to stay in Egypt until they were safe from danger.  When they did return, they went back to Nazareth where Joseph set up his carpentry business. Mary already knew what his occupation would be when he grew up.  What she didn’t know was that he would spend his grown up years healing people and saving their souls for the Kingdom of God. She didn’t know there were already people who wanted him dead.

Watching him grow from a baby to a man, must have made her do a lot of wondering.  He became a carpenter working alongside of Joseph and their life was no doubt the average for those times. Although, there must have been times Mary saw things in Jesus that made her believe he had power to do things that others couldn’t.  In John 2:4, Mary and Jesus, along with others, were at a wedding in Cana and the host ran out of wine.  Mary turned to Jesus and told him they had no wine. “Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with me; my hour has not yet come.”

Mary told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do.  Jesus had them fill big urns with water and take it to the host.  It was wine and was the very best wine.  Jesus was obedient to his mother but I believe it was done very quietly because he wasn’t ready to begin his ministry.  I’m sure there were some who wondered about this young carpenter and the men who followed him.  However, the disciples were also invited to the wedding which showed of good standing in the community.

Turning water into wine was the first miraculous sign that Jesus did.  Later on Jesus and the disciples went to Jerusalem and thus began his ministry. 

A Baby was born just like any normal babe and he had to go through a childhood as did any other child. It is obvious that simple carpenter walked with God and he soon learned what lay before him.  Like his mother, Mary, he was willing to completely give himself for the Glory of God and followed his heavenly Father’s command for his life on earth.

“Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Luke 2:10-11

Mary, Do You Know?

Mary, Do You Know?

“Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”   Luke 1:30

            I have often wondered about Mary and what she felt when the angel appeared to her and told her what was going to happen to her.  We don’t know their entire conversation, but she said to him, “Let it be according to your Word.” Luke 1:37.  Her complete surrender to God at that time has thrilled me each time I read it.

            “Mary, do you know what your futures holds for you?  What do you think Joseph will say; will he publically humiliate you and let you be stoned?”  She must have thought of these things, and yet she still willingly trusted God completely and fully. How many of us would respond as Mary did?

            I know there are times in my life that God told me to do certain things and in my heart I said no.  How many times have you said “no” to God and felt guilty later?  In the book of Acts, Paul was ministering to people in Caesarea when the Holy Spirit directed him to go to Jerusalem.  A man told him if he went he would be bound and given over to those against him.  “But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 21:13 (NLT).  To have that kind of faith has to be amazing.  It’s the kind of faith that says “Do what you will with me, Lord!”

I remember hearing a story when I first became a Christian, about giving everything to God.  This man had just given his heart to Jesus and he began praying, “What do you want me to do, Lord?”  God answered him and said, “I want you to give me your house.”

“I don’t know about that,” he replied, “Where would I put my family?”  Then said the Lord, “Give me your car.”  “I can’t do that, Lord, I would have no way to go to work and I must work to take care of my family.”  “Well, then give me your wife,” God asked.

“I can’t do that, Lord, “My children wouldn’t have a mother to take care of them and they need their mother.”  “I’ll tell you what I’ll do then, Lord, please just take me.”  “That is all I wanted in the first place,” said the Lord.  You see, that’s what God wants from each of us; to give him our whole self for whatever and wherever he wants to use us.

Mary (insert your name here), do you know how God wants to use you for his glory?  Are you willing to answer as Mary did, “Let it be according to your Word?”  If you really mean that, you should feel such a release in your spirit and a freedom in your soul.  This is what it means to be a follower of Jesus in this ungodly world. 

Mary must have felt this so strongly that she willingly lay down her life before the Lord.  Will you say this prayer?

“Dear Lord, Maybe I haven’t been willing before to give not only my heart to you, but to give you my entire life.  Use me in any way you want to and help me to be strong when I am weak.  I know, Lord that you have a plan for my life, whether I am young or old.  I am willing to go where you lead me and to say, as Mary did, “Let it be according to your Word.”   Amen!

Be blessed as we enter into this journey of the Christmas Season.

The Day After

The Day After

“If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat.”

Proverbs 23:2 (NLT)

This is a pretty drastic statement in Proverbs about eating.  In actuality, this verse along with other verses is talking about being greedy; not about killing yourself.  People on the whole are generally greedy.  If we have, we want more.  It seems as though we can never have enough to be satisfied.

When we eat too much we pay by either feeling sick or blowing the diet we are on.  Now we are headed into the Christmas season; are we going to repeat what we just did or learn from it? We learn at an early age to want more and more and more. I want to share a poem I wrote many years ago for my children when they were young and it’s about being greedy and what happens later.

A Boy’s Thanksgiving Day

I awoke with a start and remembered, “Hurray”; today is here, it’s Thanksgiving Day!”

Grandma is coming with Aunt Bess and Aunt Kate. They’ll bring something good; I just can’t wait.

I sniffed and I sniffed; oh what was that smell? Down the stairs I ran with a whoop and a yell.

After breakfast they said, “Now go out and play.”  Now how could I do that on Thanksgiving Day?

All I could think of was the turkey and pie, but “Out” said my mother with a frown and a sigh.

I know that they’d think I’d be under their feet, looking and smelling and teasing to eat.

I’m not like that, I just want to see.  Gosh, weren’t they ever little like me?

I went round to the window to peek in a little and wondered was in that big shiny kettle.

Mother opened the oven and pulled out a pan. I got so excited I could hardly stand.

I knew what it was and I wasn’t wrong. That great big turkey looked six foot long!

My eyes got bigger as I pressed hard on the glass.  I went through that window with a terrible crash.

Oh, that didn’t hurt me, but it wasn’t much treat, when Dad finished up, I had to stand up to eat.

The mess was cleaned up; things soon settled down, but the hands on the clock just wouldn’t go ‘round.

‘Toot, toot’ went a horn; It was Aunt Bess and Aunt Kate. I knew I didn’t have much longer to wait.

Finally we gathered around the big table.  I sat down very slowly, the best I was able.

There was turkey and potatoes, squash and pie, rolls and salads; I thought I would die.

We all bowed our heads and gave thanks for the day. I was most thankful, that I can say.

Never a word I said as I ate my dinner.  I just felt fatter and fatter and the turkey go thinner.

Mother said I ate like a pig, but was glad I was quiet, and I bet next week she would be on a diet.

Well after I had my third piece of pie, excused myself and told my Aunts good-bye.

I went up the stairs and lay down on my bed.  I didn’t feel very good from my feet to my head.

Couldn’t understand, I felt good before dinner. It happened about the time the turkey got thinner.

Then in came my mother with a bottle in hand, I had a strange feeling she could understand.

She held my nose;  I opened my mouth; dropped something in; it was castor oil and then she grinned.

“You’ve had a hard day, son,” she tucked me in, "but I understand" and kissed me on the chin.

I felt a little better, but I just want to say, I won’t eat like this again ‘til next Thanksgiving Day.

Praying you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and that you enjoy the coming Christmas Season.

The First Thanksgiving

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Here we are – a few days before Thanksgiving.  Many of us are busy shopping for turkeys, making pies, baking squash and whatever is needed for a great Thanksgiving dinner.  Family and friends gather around a sagging table; a short prayer is said to thank God for the food and then we dig in.  We all eat too much and that calls for a nap.  Why do we do this every year?

            Our kids know a little about it from school and the teacher explains about the Pilgrims and the Indians and somehow a turkey gets added to the picture.  I found this article on the web and it reminded me about our forefathers and their struggles so in the future people like us could sit around our tables and enjoy all the food.

            There is so much more we should think about and remember on Thanksgiving Day and be doubly grateful to the God who has provided for us.

             Many Americans think of Thanksgiving as a wonderful time to celebrate getting out of school for a long weekend, and eating a great dinner. Or, maybe they think it is the start of the Christmas holiday season. What is the real meaning behind Thanksgiving? Catherine Millard writes:  We can trace this historic American Christian tradition to the year 1623. After the harvest crops were gathered in November 1623, Governor William Bradford of the 1620 Pilgrim Colony, “Plymouth Plantation” in Plymouth, Massachusetts proclaimed: "All ye Pilgrims with your wives and little ones, do gather at the Meeting House, on the hill… there to listen to the pastor, and render Thanksgiving to the Almighty God for all His blessings."

            This is the origin of our annual Thanksgiving Day celebration. Congress of the United States has proclaimed National Days of Thanksgiving to Almighty God many times throughout the following years. On November 1, 1777, by order of Congress, the first National Thanksgiving Proclamation was proclaimed, and signed by Henry Laurens, President of Continental Congress. The third Thursday of December, 1777 was thus officially set aside:   for solemn thanksgiving and praise. That with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their Divine Benefactor;… and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them (their manifold sins) out of remembrance… That it may please Him… to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety under His nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consists of 'righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost'…"

            Then again, on January 1, 1795, our first United States President, George Washington, wrote his famed National Thanksgiving Proclamation, in which he says that it is…our duty as a people, with devout reverence and affectionate gratitude, to acknowledge our many and great obligations to Almighty God, and to implore Him to continue is… our duty as a people, with devout reverence and affectionate gratitude, to acknowledge our many and great obligations to Almighty God, and to implore Him to continue and confirm the blessings we experienced…"

            Thursday, the 19th day of February, 1795 was thus set aside by George Washington as a National Day of Thanksgiving.

            Many years later, on October 3, 1863, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed, by Act of Congress, an annual National Day of Thanksgiving "on the last Thursday of November, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwells in the heavens." In this Thanksgiving proclamation, our 16th President says that it is… announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord… But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, by the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own… It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people…" 

            So it is that on Thanksgiving Day each year, Americans give thanks to Almighty God for all His blessings and mercies toward us throughout the year.  Let’s remember why we have the freedom today to be blessed.  However, we must realize that as we look at our nation today, we see a great division in our country.  As we think about the first thanksgiving, we see a very grateful people who have survived only by the Grace o God.                                                                                                               One of my ancestors came to America on the Mayflower, Edward Samuel Fuller.  If he hadn’t trusted God and took the risk of coming here, I would not have been alive.  I am thankful for my ancestors and for God Almighty for keeping them safe. Being thankful isn’t just about how much money you have or the big house you own; it’s about everything in your life that God has provided including your family.

            This country is so blessed and we should be thanking God for it, not devising ways to tear it apart.  If we as a nation want God to keep blessing us, then we need to be giving Him thanks for all we have here.  Remember, on Thanksgiving Day, to thank God we live in America.

            

Going to America

Going To America

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.  Genesis 12:1 NIV

[A True Story about my daughter as printed in Guidepost magazine, His Mysterious Ways, 2013]

In 1952, Rev. Walter Teeuwissen was kneeling in prayer at his home in the Netherlands. During this time the Lord gave him a vision of a small church with a white steeple rising above the treetops in a village in the USA.  The following morning he told his wife they were leaving their homeland and going to America.  Not yet knowing the purpose of God’s calling, they were obedient and a short time later arrived in New York City.  From there, he called on a minister he knew, who told him of the need of a pastor in a small town in Michigan.  

When he and his wife came to the village limits and looked down the hill, they saw a white steeple rising above the trees and he immediately recognized the place as the one in his vision.  He and his wife were soon accepted as the new ministers of the First Presbyterian Church of Hesperia, Michigan.

            I was brought up in the church and now married and attended it with my husband and two children, Sheryl Ann, age 4 and Debra, 1 ½ years old.  My mother, who lived nearby, was an elder in the church and made sure my eldest daughter attended Sunday School when she was able.

          Sheryl Ann had been ill most of her four years.  At six weeks old she contacted meningitis, which left her in a weakened condition and by age four, had been in the hospital thirty-five times with pneumonia.  At seven months, she was still not able to sit up by herself and after taking her to the University Hospital in Ann Arbor, the doctors there told us she had also had polio.  We never knew for a certainty whether it was the meningitis or polio that crippled her back and left her with severe scoliosis.  She was fitted with a back brace and then began the months of therapy along with her many trips to the hospital.  Most of the time she needed oxygen in order to breathe and this continued year after year.

The summer before her fourth birthday, she became very ill and we took her to a nearby hospital.  In those times parents could not remain overnight with their child as they now do and so we were sent home.  Early the next morning her father left for work about 40 miles away and I was taking care of my younger daughter, when the phone rang.  It was the doctor at the hospital and he told me I should come right away, because Sheryl Ann was failing very quickly.

Family members took my youngest child and I drove to the hospital to find my little girl in an oxygen tent, lying on large ice packs.  She was so still and her skin was so transparent, you could see her veins standing out.  There was a small trickle of blood coming from her nose and blood in both ears.

The doctor came and stood at my side and told me her temperature had been so high for such a long time that I shouldn’t wish for her to live because she would be in a vegetative state.  I was very young myself and my mind couldn’t accept that my little daughter was dying.      Shortly after, my husband arrived and we just stood by her bedside unable to even talk.

Then my father and mother arrived at the hospital and upon seeing Sheryl Ann in such a condition, my mother suffered a heart attack and was immediately hospitalized.  By then I think I was in shock, but what followed will remain as vivid in my memory as the day it happened.

Someone had called Rev. Teeuwissen and he walked into the room behind the doctor and heard the doctor say after examining my little girl, that it was over and how sorry he was.  There was no sound in the room except that of the oxygen going into the tent.  My husband and I stood with our backs to the wall, stunned beyond belief, but Rev. Teeuwissen walked to her bed and reaching under the tent, took my daughters hand and in his broken English lifted his head toward heaven and began to pray.  I looked at this man calling on God to bring life back into my child and I saw a glow around his head and over his tear-soaked face.

Suddenly, he beckoned me to the bedside, “Vanda, Vanda,” he called to me, not able to speak my name clearly.  As though in a dream, I walked over to the bed and looked at my child, who a minute ago was no longer breathing.  As I watched, a rosy, pink color began slowly coming creeping out from under her little gown and moving into her neck and then her face.  Her eyes fluttered and then opened and she looked at me and said, “I want a drink of water, Mama.”  

I shall never forget that moment; Rev. Teeuwissen was praising God and we were all crying and laughing at the same time.  The doctor came running into the room and the first thing he said was, “This could only happen through God.”  My father, who I always thought was an unbeliever, because he never went to church, told everyone he met he had seen a miracle of God.  It wasn’t the end of illness for Sheryl Ann who was to undergo years of braces, corrective shoes and several spinal surgeries and fusions, rods in her back, but the hand of God was upon her and brought her through all of it.  

            Today, Sheryl is married to a minister, Pastor Verne Wright and they have two grown daughters and five grandchildren.  Sheryl has traveled on mission trips to Viet Nam and several trips to the Philippines, sharing the message of Christ’s love.

            Recently, after returning from one of the trips, she was showing pictures to the church and telling of the hurting people she had ministered to.  It was then I came to the realization that an amazing thing had taken place.  God had called a man from the Netherlands all the way to a small town in Michigan to pray life into a dying child who would one day travel the world bringing the hope of Jesus Christ to the lost.

When my mother passed away in 1991, we found a picture of Rev. Teeuwissen on his bicycle. He had returned to the Netherlands a short time after Sheryl was healed and wrote to my mother to tell her that he had Sheryl’s picture on his desk and he rode his bicycle all over the Netherlands telling everyone how God brought this little girl back to life.  

Sheryl Ann, her husband and a team of 17 from their church just returned from a 2-week mission trip in Nakuru and the surrounding area in Kenya, Africa. If Rev. Teeuwissen could see Sheryl today, he would be amazed by this beautiful woman who serves God with her whole heart.  She is the Praise and Worship leader at her church, Shiloh Tabernacle in Muskegon, Michigan. No one hearing her can believe she sings so beautifully and with such volume because she really has but one lung.

            God weaves our lives together in such an amazing way; we can never begin to imagine what far reaching effects it will have.  I only know this; His pattern for each of our lives is beautiful and all things really do work together for the good.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who 

 love God,  to those who are called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28

Examine Your Heart

Examine Your Heart

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

Are you constantly thinking about money; enough to pay your bills but still wanting more?  Perhaps you deal in stocks and bonds and are agonizing over the stock market every day?  Do you find yourself getting deeper and deeper in debt? That can be enough to worry and worry about it.  In fact, it can take over your heart to a point it drowns out the voice of God speaking to you in your heart.

Did you know God created us so we would never have to worry about material things?  If you doubt that, read Matthew 6:26-34.  First he tells us that God will provide us with food. “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Then he tells us that worry itself cannot change anything. “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”

Then in verse 28 he tells us about our clothing. “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”  God goes on to tells us that we shouldn’t worry about food, drinks or clothing because he already knows what you need.  It isn’t always what we want, but it is always what we need!

He tells us that if we seek God and try to live in his righteousness, he will give all these things to us (vs 33).  This is the time to examine your heart; to see where your treasure is, because then you will understand what shape your heart is in.  When we talk about our treasure, we aren’t talking about riches. A treasure can be something as simple as a collection of old buttons, or rare coins.  It can also hold what is the closest to your heart. For some people it really is all about money or things.

Many years ago when I was a young mother, I took on the job of paying the bills.  It was very difficult, because there was never enough money to go around.  I would sit at my kitchen table and go over and over the bills trying to manipulate what little we had to pay everything.  We had very little as far as household things, and we had a very sick child with Polio and thousands of dollars in doctor bills.  I worried until I made myself physically ill, but it didn’t do any good.

Years later when I had given my heart to Jesus, I learned to give all of me to the Lord.  My children were grown with children of their own when I finally realized what the treasure of my heart was.  It wasn’t money because I would never be wealthy; it wasn’t what I had in ‘things’, it was that God loved me so much he gave his only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for my sins.  How amazing is that?  Then I learned to tithe and no longer ‘rob’ God (see Malachi 3:8).  From that time on God has provided for us.  It is so amazing to see how He has worked in our lives; we will always be thankful to Him for what he does daily in our hearts and in our lives.

There are two scriptures you should write down.  One is in John 11:22, “But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you”.  The other is in Matthew 21:22, “Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”  Use the faith God has given you.  Ask God and believe he will give what you ask.  He does not lie; He wants to help you because he loves you.  Personally, I want God to take hold of my life and lead me where he wants me to go.  I want to believe every word he has said and to have the faith to believe it.

Examine your heart and you won’t have to search for the treasure because you already have it.  Give your heart to Jesus and become His treasure.

The Hallow in Halloween

The ‘Hallow’ in Halloween

“I am the LORD your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them;
 hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.”   Ezekiel 20:19-20

The word Hallow means to “make or set apart as holy” and to respect or honor greatly; revere.  Jesus himself told the disciples an example of prayer is what we call “The Lord’s Prayer” and he used these words; “hallowed be thy name.”  It is obvious that the word ‘Hallow’ is directly linked to God [our Father which is in heaven].  How did this word change to Halloween and the way it is celebrated today?

Originally this celebration was an unholy ritual used by the Roman’s and the Celtic Druids [you can look this up anywhere on the internet]. During the Middle Ages (about 600 years ago), the Roman Catholic Church at that time, decided to make the change-over from pagan religion to Christianity a bit easier, and therefore they allowed the new converts to maintain some of their pagan feasts. It was agreed, however, that from now on they would be celebrated as "Christian" feasts. So instead of praying to their heathen gods, they would now pray to, and remember the deaths of saints. For this reason the church decided to call November 1 the "Day of All Saints”.  The mass was to be celebrated on that day as "All Hallows Mass." In consequence of this, the evening prior to this day was named, "All Hallows ", which subsequently was abbreviated as "Halloween." In spite of this effort to make October 31 a "holy evening," all the old customs continued to be practiced, and made this evening anything BUT a holy evening!

As we know, Halloween is definitely not celebrated as a Holy Day or Eve.  It tends to be directed toward things of evil which are against Christian beliefs, because of the comparison of a Hallowed God, the Father and the Hallow of evil practices by the cults.  It also brings the danger of young people dabbling in things of evil spirits.

Is there anything wrong in our children dressing up in costumes and going out to gather up candy?  Probably not in itself, because most of these children are not thinking they are doing anything evil; they are just having fun.  Knowing the history of Halloween, it is up to parents to decipher the pros and cons for their children.  The Bible says we should train up our children in the ways of the Lord. If you feel this does not oppose the Word of God, you will probably let your children ‘Trick or Treat’.  However, as time goes on God is being taking out of most holidays, including Christmas.

However we can see how this worldly approach turns Holy things of God into Evil things. We have alternatives to Halloween such as Harvest Parties, Family Get-togethers or School activities.  Kids can dress up like cartoon characters, Bible characters or animals, but dressing up like something dead or evil should not be something you should select for your children.   Some of these things must be so offensive to our heavenly Father, like pregnant angels, or pregnant nuns; cute little devils or ghosts.  How about zombies?  They might sound funny to some, but are against the Word of God. Should we as Christians even consider Halloween, or try to make other things to take its place?  Why would we want to appease our children by doing the same thing the world does, only in different way? Don’t forget who you are dealing with, Satan himself, and he is not without power.  Maybe you should read your Bible.

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” [Hebrews 9:27]  People are not going to wander around half dead and half alive. The Devil isn’t cute!  God’s heavenly creation – angels, are not going to be pregnant for they are neither male nor female.  Let’s be real; there is nothing funny about evil! 

Shall we continue to enjoy what seems to be harmless activities?  When are YOU going to make a stand for God, Our heavenly father?

A word of advice, when you are out trick or treating on Halloween and you get a creepy feeling that someone or something may be watching you, or following you, you are probably right.  Just remember these spirits are not from God, so where do you think they come from? They are not 'hallowed', so they must be 'hollow', which means ‘empty’.

Read what Jesus tells us in Luke 8:26-36.  We’ve made movies about demons; we’ve made jokes about demons; we’ve called our children ‘imps’ which are demons.  We love being scared by demons on Halloween and so Satan has won another round be making people not believe demons are real.  If you like being scared, then believe what the Bible says; Demons are real!  Satan is real!

God's Phone Number

God’s Phone Number

“Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”  Jeremiah 33:3

Why is it that we think we can take care of everything by our self?  Don’t you realize that God is closer than the nearest phone?  When you call his number the answer is right there, “I am here and there is so much I want to show you; things that you don’t know anything about.”  There is nothing that he can’t help you with; you don’t have to face things alone.

Years ago when I first began ministering, it was so exciting that I didn’t even realize that I put my plans in motion and then told God what I was going to do.  One day I prayed and asked God if he would tell me what was in the future for my ministry.  I called on God and he answered me, but he didn’t show me great and mighty things. His answer to me was, “If I told you what was to come, you would get in my way”!

That taught me a great lesson; don’t get ahead of God.  This is a struggle for me because I am of a strong nature and I love planning and advancing quickly with my ideas.  Then I am reminded to not leave God out of the equation.

In Old Testament days, if people still weren’t sure what they should do they would send out a fleece. Example was Gideon in Judges 6:36 when he lay the fleece of a lamb or goat on the ground and asked God that when morning had come that the ground would be dry but the fleece would be wet.  Then he would know that he was doing what God wanted him to do.  The fleece was all wet in the morning, but still Gideon was not sure so he tested God again. Again God gave Gideon the sign to go ahead with what God wanted him to do.

In the New Testament God gave his people instruction on matters of decision. 2 Corinthian 13:1 says it like this, "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established."  I found this to be true many years ago.  When we were first saved, my husband and I decided to study the Bible, we found in Malachi that we should be tithing.  Neither one of us knew anything about tithing 10% of our income to the church. We weren’t quite convinced that we should tithe because we had a really tight budget and I mean tight.

The next day I received a Christian magazine in the mail and it had a big article about tithing.  I went to work that morning and when I turned on the car radio, a man was talking about blessings of tithing.  That evening we were at the dinner table, and the TV was on in the living room which we could see from where we sat.  Would you believe a man was speaking on tithing?  All three of these encounters in one day spoke about Malachi 3:8-10 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.”

From that day on, so many years ago, we have not missed a tithe and God has blessed us in so many ways.  I would not dream of ‘not tithing’, even if we could not be in church, we made it up the following week.  I have heard many say, “We just can’t afford to tithe.  I look at it this way, I can’t afford to not tithe!  We called on God and he answered us.  We must accept his answer.  It’s always the best thing to do. 

Most of us make big decisions as we travel though life.  Don’t move on these things before calling on God.  He has the best answer.  We are in the process of wanting to move and we need to sell our house before we buy another one.  We have had two witnesses that I believe are from God and I’m waiting on the third one.  I have asked God about it and if he says ‘no’ that will be it, but if there is a third witness we will know to go ahead with the plans.

God loves us so much he wants the very best for our lives, in fact in  3 John 1:2 he gives us this message “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”

Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

Isaiah 55:6