From the Cradle to the Cross

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

His name will be called Wonderful- 

When Jesus was born, God became flesh, he was born sinless because he was born of a virgin. Scholars and nay-sayers try to postulate this is impossible. Matthew 19:6 with God, all things are possible. He was the only baby that was older than his mother yet younger than his father. He had to be born without spot to be our savior. To be born without sin, he had to be born through immaculate conception. 

Counselor- 

Goodness. Most counselors organize your hang ups so you'll be unhappy more effectively. Good Christian counselors are priceless. They have to be good communicators but none were as effective as Jesus. "Never a man spake as this man." Come on to me and I'll give you rest. He spoke of authority and not as other men. Many people speak to hear their own voice. Some speak because they sincerely think they are right, and are convicted of their belief. You can be convicted and be wrong. Jesus was goodness in action. 

 

The Mighty God-

The vicarious death of Jesus. He became our substitute. If you stop at the cradle, you will lose the meaning of the birth. You have to go all the way to the cross. He was born to die for us, so we would not have to suffer for our sins. It is easy to forget the misery of the cross. Scourging his back before they put him on the cross with a cat-o-nine tails made of bone and nails on the ends of the whips. They mocked him, spit on him, put a crown of thorns on his head and him unrecognizable. They then hung Him on the cross to die, he suffocated from the weight of his own body. He was mocked, and scorned, poked with spears as he hung there on that cross. Even with all the indignity, all that pain, suffering injustice for a perfect life, He prayed not for himself, but for us, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." 

Everlasting Father-

If you are a true child of God, the good news is you will never die. Your physical death is just the end of your life on Earth. He was born a sinless birth, lived a sinless life, and died in our place to pay for our sins. You can't wash your hands of Jesus. Each and every one of us has to face Him. They took Jesus down from the cross and guarded his tomb. But we know He didn't stay dead. With Him in your heart, the love will flow through you. 

 

Prince of Peace-

Brother Terry ran out of time before he got here, so I have to go out on my own on this one. Jesus is the Emmanuel, Peace giver, the one who brings mercy. Why should we hope for mercy? We are wretched sinners who could never earn His favor. Our best day is still a pile of dirty rags without accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior. He was born into this world, sinless and guiltless only to die for a wicked and sinfilled world so we may be saved from the wrath of God that we so rightly deserve Romans 5:6-9 6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.. Peace is found only when we turn from our sinful nature and accept God as our Lord. 

 While we are told not to judge each other, we are also warned to not take a man at his word of being a Christian. We are to judge by the fruits of his works. If you say that you were saved but it didn't change your life, you didn't mean it. Being washed of your sins, accepting Him into your heart, it is metaphysical. There is an inward and outward change. There is a glow that warms your entire being and fills every cell in your body. I always thought that people who talked like this were out of their minds. That was until it happened to me. I have a physical need to hear God's word spoken. I never understood why people went to church on Wednesday and twice on Sunday. I now understand that it's so I can learn more about His love for me. So I can be with people that feel like I do. So I can be in His presence and feel His love. I used to think that I didn't have to be in church to be a Christian, but there are several verses as to why we are to meet. I don't think that it is for any ceremonial reasons, but so that we can continuously renew our relationship with God. 

I hope that my message helps someone. Even if no one else reads it, I can go back years from now and remember where I came from.

Election Day Sermon

                                        Plumb Line

Amos was a minor prophet. Not that his message was insignificant, but that his book was short. He has three visions: locusts to which he prayed for redemption for the people and God relented; fire to destroy the lands to which he prayed for redemption for the people and God relented. His third vision is of God holding a plumb line next to a wall. The wall is our government and the people. Are the people in our building our government to the standard of God, straight and true? God gave us a litmus test to show if someone is truly a Christian. 

Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 20 Thus by their fruit you will recognize them. 

So you have to ask yourself, if I am going to vote for the person who is to lead the country that is a world power, what do I use to make that decision? Do I vote by party lines because that is what my parents always did? Or because my friends do? It's cool? Or to somehow absolve myself of the guilt my prior generations have bestowed upon me? How about voting for the person who is going to take the same moral stands you make? God has told us that we are to not live in the world, but to be above it. Are you afraid to vote for the right candidate because you're afraid you might pay more taxes? Does your candidate vote pro-life? Does he reinforce family values? Does your candidate believe in the Biblical definition of marriage? Does your candidate recognize our responsibility to Israel?  

Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I stand on no party line. I am a Christian conservative who wishes to see our country restored to the splendor of yesterday. I saw a quote recently "Don't set our country back 50 years!" We need to get back to the basics from years past from when people worked for what they had, when you took care of your old people, when you intervened when someone was being wronged. When need to get back to when God came first and was in everything we did, that morality was how we governed, the government was for the people and not the other way around. 

If you still truly believe that a Democrat is the one on your side, I can't change your mind. But know that any man that has the host of his speaking engagement cover a picture of Jesus as part of his negotiations to speak is not a man working for God. When the Democratic National Convention voted twice to have God removed from their platform, they booed when  the Mayor of Los Angeles over-rode them and kept God in the Convention. They booed God.  

There's a Fountain Flowing Deep and Wide

One of the sweet ladies at church took my husband aside and told him that she could tell that he and I were still in love after 10 years. She could see that we were a truly happy couple. He and I are best of friends; I share everything with him and he with me. I am most comfortable when I am with him, call me co-dependent.

If someone from the outside can tell that we are not only together but completely and totally happy, we are projecting our love outward. We should have that sort of relationship with God. Others should be able to see us and know that there is a deeply personal relationship with our Lord. We should all be most comfortable when we are with Him. Since He is always with us, we have only to realize this and all our anxiety would wither.

The fountain of Christ's love is deeper and wider than any love we have ever known before.

John 15:13 NIV

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

1 John 3:16 NIV

New International Version

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

 

I did a search for "Love" on my favorite Bible site and it returned with 500 hits. I don't need a search engine to tell me that God loves me five hundred times over. I feel it every day. I know that when I rely on Jesus, I am at peace. Brother Terry said that when we are truly born again that our lives change. I can't remember back that far if my heart was different. I have had to block out a lot of my childhood. I do know that since I have rededicated my life to Christ, that it is wonderful to be in His house. It bothers me to find myself in the sins of my past person.

Everyone needs to be able to look at us and know that we love our Father with all our hearts. We need to be a daily reminder to them that He loves them, too. I hope that I am that Christian in other's eyes, but I really do try.

Helping Others and Blessings Will Rain

A co-worker (and friend) and his wife are in a fight for her life. She complained of a lump that was being irritated by the underwire of her bra, not a normal place for a lump. The xray and manipulation indicated that it was most likely a cyst and not to worry. The lumpectomy and subsequent lab work changed everything. It was not just breast cancer, but she has lymph nodes in her breasts (rare again,) the lump was close to the bone, and she has a familial history of breast cancer. The choice had to be made for chemotherapy first then mastectomy or vice versa. They chose chemo first. His wife is a tiny woman so she gets cold easily...not a problem I've ever had! So I decided that I would make a quilt with encouraging scriptures t wrap around herself, metaphorically and physically. 

This project taught me scriptures I didn't know. I now have people who don't know her sending out their prayers, too. My daughter saw what I was doing and hopefully is encouraged to do something selfless for someone else.

I hope my friend gets as much comfort from this as I have.
God Bless You Shawn.

If You Can't Something Nice

Today's sermon has nothing to do with what is on my mind. Yesterday was a day of fun and uplifting with my daughter and I spending the day out. I made a concerted effort to say something encouraging to everyone I encountered that day. Let me rewind for those who have just joined the program. My name is Dana and I am a sarcastic-wicked witted-smartmouth. It's a disease. Part of it comes from being the youngest and having to defend myself, also from being bullied mercilessly, and it's also genetic. I come from a long line of smart-alecks. I used to be quite proud of how quickly I could retort, and often with a laugh from the peanut gallery.



As I have grown older (and wiser?) I have been instilled with the knowledge that not everyone appreciates this gift. Looking back, it has been a curse more often than not and that I should hone the ability to encourage those around me instead of hurting those around me. It is irrelevant the pain inflicted as I cannot control others actions. I can pray they come to their own epiphany they need to change. I can pray I react in a way they see the folly of their actions, but not so I hurt them in the process. It isn't mine to make others to bend to God's will. I don't know what His plan is for them. I have only my own log in my eye in which to remove. I can't judge others and I can't make them behave, no more than I can make someone else's kid stop acting like a heathen. I am not their parent and I can't discipline them, only intervene if bodily harm might befall them. Do my nerves scream bloody murder every time they do, oh you betcha! But I will not intervene again.

God's children are his to discipline, not mine. If you are not walking, or talking, with God, only you and He can decide that.

Judging Others

7:3-5pp -- Lk 6:41,42

1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

Psalms 1-41

1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Inspiration Strikes Back

My husband has inspired me to get back into my graphic art design hobby. Since I have never been paid to create anything, it is just a hobby. He has been on fire for the Lord since the passing of his grandfather, and has recently been certified as a peer counselor. I was inspired by the host state's logo for their chapter, and this is what I came up with. I don't have a problem with anyone using this for personal use, but please, do not use it for monetary gain.

Submission to the Authorities

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

The Secrets of a Great Church

Acts 2:31-47
37 When the crowd heard this, they were deeply troubled. They said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Change your hearts and lives. Each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is for you, your children, and for all who are far away—as many as the Lord our God invites." 40 With many other words he testified to them and encouraged them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." 41 Those who accepted Peter's message were baptized. God brought about three thousand people into the community on that day.
42 The believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. 43 A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. 44 All the believers were united and shared everything. 45 They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. 46 Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. 47 They praised God and demonstrated God's goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved. 

  
1. The church must be a converted membership. Each of the members of the church have to be saved and not just folks with a name on a church scroll. Do you know without a doubt that your name is written on the Lord's Book of Life? 
the call of salvation is by the Lord. God takes the initiative for our salvation. Have you heard the call? Have you responded to or ignored the call? We are all here by divine appointment.
Divine conviction: God touched their hearts as he touches ours when we are saved. You have to know you are lost before you can be found. You have to know that you are a sinner and have been convicted of our sins before we can accept and appreciate the divine salvation. 
Our sins are responsible for the death of Jesus. When you realize this and come to know Christ as your savior, this knowledge should break your heart. 
What shall we do?