“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

            -2 Corinthians 5:20

Over the past week or so this verse has been on my mind more than ever before. As Christians, Paul reminds us that we are each “ambassadors for Christ” and that everything we do, whether it be good or bad, ultimately affects the world’s estimation of Christ Himself. Now I don’t know about you, but I know that there are at least a few things in my own life that simply do not belong and fail to represent Christ accurately. Of course we know from Romans 3:23 that every human on the planet falls short of God’s glory, but we are all nevertheless instructed to submit ourselves completely and totally to Christ’s authority and allow Him to live in and through us (2 Corinthians 4:10). When we do that, we can rest assured that God will be pleased in how He is being portrayed.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
                                               -Psalm 139:23, 24

Wherever and whoever you are, I believe it’s time for God’s people to come to a place of humility and soul-searching as we seek to be the best ambassadors for Him as possible. We do this, not because we desire to be saved, but as an act of sincere gratitude for the salvation we have already obtained. It is only when we do this that we can begin to fully know the indescribable joy that obedience to the Word of the Lord brings (John 13:17).

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

            -James 5:16

Over the past two years, it seems as if we’ve made it a family tradition that at least one loved one must be in the hospital at Easter time. Last year it was my grandma with severe nosebleeds, and this year it’s my Great Grandma with a broken leg and heart trouble. Here’s what happened:

Yesterday we were over at my cousins’ home celebrating Easter when, right before we were about to eat, somebody called to let us know that they’d found my Great Grandma lying in the floor with a broken leg. Apparently she had issues with her phone at the time and was unable to call for help, and thus had to lie there in pain for five hours before someone arrived to check on her. Normally they would’ve found her before church, but since their services were cancelled due to flooding it was near or after noon before she was helped.

Anyway, they quickly called an ambulance and were later told she would need immediate surgery to correct a broken femur with metal screws. The surgery didn’t start until much later in the day, but when it was all finally finished they noticed irregular heart patterns resulting from the surgery which has given them a whole new level of concern. From what I’ve been told, her mechanical heart beat is doing just fine, while her electric heart beat has been very abnormal.

We’ll be going down to the hospital later this afternoon, but I still wanted to pass along this prayer request to you guys since she is 80 years old and hasn't been in the best of health apart from this anyway. Please ask God to touch her body and relieve any pain, but, most importantly, pray that His will would be done and Himself be glorified. We must realize that God has a purpose in this and believe that “all things work together for good to them that love God.”   (Romans 8:28)

UPDATE: Thanks everybody for praying! My Great Grandma is home from the hospital now, but is still in need of periodic visits from nurses and physical therapists in addition to constant care from family members. She still has a long road of recovery ahead of her as she tries to regain her mobility, so please continue to remember her in your prayers.

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

             -Romans 5:8

If you want to be amazed, then stop and think for a few moments on the incredible love of God. Few things are as unbelievable, and yet even fewer things more real. Though the Scriptures tell us He was “despised and rejected of men” (Isaiah 53:3), He nevertheless endured the cross on our behalf  that we might be reconciled to God through His blood and enjoy everlasting life with Him (Hebrews 2:17; John 17:2, 3). He demonstrated the greatest kind of love one can possess despite our obvious inability to ever earn grace or forgiveness, and promises that many more blessings will follow to those who put their trust in Him.

What makes this kind of love so amazing? The simple fact that we don’t deserve it. As humans, we are all members of a fallen race (Romans 5:12-14) and the thought that an infinite, holy, and eternal God would even take the time to notice – let alone die for – us should baffle our minds completely. We have nothing to offer Him that He doesn’t already possess, because, as Matthew 5:48 so plainly states, He is perfect. We don’t complete Him, but are in desperate need of His grace and mercy to complete us (Colossians 2:10).

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”

                         -I John 4:9

On this Good Friday, when people around the world are commemorating Christ’s death on the cross, let each of us be reminded of the amazing and undeserved love that was demonstrated by God the Son on that day some 2,000 years ago. He did what no one else could do and what few others would do: He died for us (Romans 5:7). God, in all of His power and glory, stooped to our level so that we could be raised up to His (Ephesians 2:6). That, my friend, is amazing love.

“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”

          -Proverbs 15:13

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Q: Which Old Testament character was known for having a foul mouth at a young age?

A: Job - He cursed the day he was born. (Job 3:1)

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Q: Where is baseball mentioned in the Bible?

A: - In the big inning (Genesis 1:1)
    - Genesis 3:6- Eve stole first and Adam stole second
    - Numbers 11:32 "Ten homers"

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Q: What man in the Bible had no parents?

A: Joshua, the son of Nun

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Q: If Moses were alive today, why would he be considered a remarkable man?

A: Because he would be several thousand years old.

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Q: How do we know that Job went to a chiropractor?

A: Because of Job 16:12, "I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces…”

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Q: What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden?

A: Your mother ate us out of house and home.

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Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?

A. Pharaoh’s daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

               -Proverbs 4:23

The choices you make on a day-to-day basis are always influenced to some extent by the condition of your heart. As Solomon reminded us in this wonderful passage of Scripture, the issues of life that require any kind of decision making at all will be affected by whether or not our heart is in its proper place, and it thus behooves each of us to guard it above all else with diligence.

So how does one actually go about guarding their heart? Well, the first step is in realizing that your own efforts simply won’t be enough and relying completely on God to do what you cannot. Ask Him to remove what does not belong and to “set a watch” on the doors of your lips and heart to keep them pure (Psalm 141:3), while always being careful to obey the exhortation of 2 Corinthians 10:5 by “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” When we make His will and His holiness and His blood the only filters of our heart, we can then rest fully in the promise of Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.”

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

               -Ezekiel 36:26

Once we see the human heart as it truly is, salvation by works will appear to us precisely as it appears to God: impossible. We can do nothing to save ourselves, but instead must put our faith fully in Christ and His atoning sacrifice in order to obtain redemption. It is only then that the blackness of our heart can be washed white as snow, and the righteousness we seek be imputed to our account (Isaiah 1:18; II Corinthians 5:21).

“Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,”

                       -John 2:7-9

Read the Bible, and one of the first things you’ll notice is that God rarely chooses the rich and renowned to accomplish His purpose here on earth (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). Instead we find story after story of our Lord using people that were considered by everyone else to be under par, and yet through them doing things so great that only He can receive the glory for it. He used David, the youngest of his family and a mere shepherd boy at the time, to defeat Goliath and become the greatest king Israel would ever know (I Samuel 16-17). Joseph, despised and rejected by his brothers, became the only one who could save the people of Egypt and even his own family for a terrible 7-year famine (Genesis 37-41), and a young boy with only a basketful of food had all the faith necessary to provide thousands of people with a meal in the wilderness (John 6). God doesn’t look for people who can offer Him the most, but for those to Whom He can offer the most.

Just like the people we read about in today’s Scripture, oftentimes what we’re able to offer God personally seems so insignificant when contrasted with the enormous task at hand that we wonder how God could possibly use us to accomplish anything. We feel so unworthy, and yet fail to realize that it’s faithfulness and humility God seeks in His servants – not power and prestige, or the ability to handle things on our own (I Corinthians 4:2; I Peter 5:5). As it has been often said, God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

                    -Zechariah 4:6

Maybe God has placed a calling on your life that seems far beyond your perceived capabilities. Like Moses did so many times when leading God’s people out of Egypt and into the Land of Promise, perhaps you feel completely overwhelmed by your questions and uncertainties while wondering if and how you’ll ever measure up to what it is you’re being asked to do. If so, just remember that it’s not your place to provide the miracle. All you must do is open yourself up completely to God and them watch Him make a miracle out of your vessel full of ordinary.

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest Thou not that we perish?
And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”

                                                      -Mark 4:37-40

For someone who writes as much as I do, if I’m going to be honest I must admit that it doesn’t come easily to me at all. Sometimes I can sit down at this desk and pour my heart out to you guys in a matter of only 30 minutes or so, while there’s other times – like this one – when God lays something so heavily on my heart that I just can’t find any words to express it. I don’t know why, but I feel more so than ever before that this post is meant for somebody who really needs to be reminded of God’s faithfulness.

With more than 300 followers, I think it’s safe to assume there’s at least a few of you going through the worst moments of your life. Some of you just lost your best friend to death, or your parent to divorce. Maybe faith has been close to your heart, and yet peace far from your mind as you wonder if that loved one will ever be saved, that prayer ever answered, or that need ever met. The promises of God are there for you in big, red letters, but perhaps it seems more as if they are mere words on a page than something written to bring you the individual blessing you so desperately need.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

                                                  -Philippians 4:13

Wherever you are in life, know that it’s the same Jesus Who walked on water that offers His everlasting presence and protection to you today. It’s the very same Lord Who turned water into wine that can turn your curse into a blessing (Deuteronomy 23:5), and the One who raised Lazarus from the grave longs to resurrect the shattered pieces of your broken heart (Psalm 34:18). His grace is sufficient to supply all your needs, and it is only through our own weakness that His strength is made perfect (Philippians 4:19; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

In Psalm 46:1, God is described as “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Like a modern-day storm shelter built to protect us from the physical elements of nature, our God is One Who provides us with a spiritual shelter when trials come even though the storms themself often continue to rage around us. He doesn’t speak peace to every wind that blows our way, but offers His continued presence and protection even during the most difficult of circumstances (Matthew 28:20).

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him."

                                                       -James 1:12

Trials, believe it or not, are some of the most important moments of our life according to Scripture. If our faith was never tested, how would it grow? If our hope remained unchallenged, how would we ever know it to be real? Even the crown of life promised to those who love the Lord is, as James wrote, something that only trials allow us to obtain. Of course we shouldn’t go around looking for valleys to walk through, but, when we do find ourselves in one, we should realize that it was sent our way to bring about patience and completeness in our walk with God, and continue to praise Him for Who He is (James 1:2-4). After all, God wouldn’t have reminded us through His Word to praise Him as many times as He did if it were always an easy thing to do (I Thessalonians 5:18).

Perhaps lately it seems as if the “valley of the shadow of death” has become your permanent home (Psalm 23:4). The rain won’t stop pouring, and it feels as though this trial will never end. Don’t worry; it will. God will one day wipe away all tears from the eyes of His children, and there will be no more death, sorrow, pain, or crying (Revelation 21:4). In the meantime, though, let us learn to cast all of our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7); He cares for us more than we’ll ever know.

“Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. ”

                                                 -Ecclesiastes 5:18

This time of year is always one of the most busy seasons of life around our home. The grass is growing and needs cut; the flowers are blooming and need weeded; the weather’s nice, and you can’t help but notice that the shed could really use a fresh coat of paint. All of a sudden the days of hot chocolate and sled rides come to an end, and we quickly come to the realization that there’s about a million and one things we did last spring that somehow came undone over the winter months. With toolbox in hand, we thus set out to rid ourselves of any degree of spring fever while silently hope we don’t kill ourselves in the process.

Of course there’s nothing at all wrong with some good, hard work. In fact, Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 2:24 that “there is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour.”  The problem we must avoid, however, is in allowing our ever-growing list of things to do distract us from that which is truly important in life (see my last post). Even though most spring chores usually can’t be postponed for very long at a time, I truly believe these moments are some of the best for intimate fellowship with God since it is in these moments that our true character really begins to shine through. Once we learn to walk with God while tilling the garden, it won’t be so hard to walk with Him through the valleys of this life.

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”

                                                   -Ecclesiastes 9:10

What will you be doing tomorrow? Cutting the grass? Then sing songs of praise to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19). Raking the leaves? Then meditate on God’s Word or talk to Him in prayer (Psalm 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Whatever we do we are commanded to all to the glory of God (Colossians 3:23), and there’s few better ways to do this than in acknowledging you can’t go a minute without Him by your side. It is only then that we can experience the fullness of joy His presence brings (Psalm 16:11).

“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed.”

                                                           -John 6:27

This is a hard post for me to write. It’s hard, not necessarily because of what God has led me to post about, but because of the fact that I know this is one area of my own life that still needs a lot of work. Too often I allow things that don’t really matter to get in the way of what does, and spend my time “laboring for the meat which perisheth” rather than keeping my eyes stayed upon Jesus, “the Author and Finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2) It’s not that I spend my life following after vain pursuits; it’s just that, on a day-to-day basis, it can be so easy to become distracted from what really matters. Perhaps you can relate.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

                                                        -Psalm 90:12

John Piper once said that one of the greatest uses of Twitter and Facebook in our generation will be to prove that Last Day prayerlessness was not due to lack of time. And even though I’m someone who doesn’t have a Twitter account and has never joined Facebook, these words still serve as a humbling reminder to me that God gives us all the time we need to do all He calls us to do. He will never give us conflicting responsibilities, and if we run out of time because we failed to schedule or utilize it properly we can’t blame Him for our irresponsibility. Even though it would sometimes be nice if there were 30 hours in a day, God knew what He was doing when He gave us 24 and we must do our best to make the most of them.

What are the responsibilities God has placed in your life? Pastoring a church? Providing for your family, or doing a few household chores? Whatever they are, recognize that it’s how well we fulfill our current obligations that will ultimately determine how much God entrusts us with in the future (Luke 19:17). We can’t expect Him to use us in the “big” things if we aren’t fulfilling today’s calling.

A few days ago we studied the rebuilding of the Temple as told by Ezra. We saw that, even though God’s timeframe is usually very different than our own, He is always faithful to finish what He begins and will not forget the plans He’s made for us (Philippians 1:6; Jeremiah 29:11). Yet in spite of the fact that God often tosses our own agenda to the side and forces us to wait upon Him, I believe it’s important for us to realize that the Lord still has a work for us to do today that’s far more important than any plans we’ve made for ourselves. Even if it means doing nothing more than simply worshipping Him, it is our Lord’s desire that we “redeem the time” He’s given us and utilize it for His glory (Ephesians 5:16).

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”

                                                     -Psalm 40:1

Romans 8:28 reminds us that, if you a Christian, God will ensure that all things work together for your ultimate benefit. This doesn’t mean everything we go through in life will be easy or even enjoyable, but that, in the end, God can and will use it for His glory and our betterment. What we so often struggle with is realizing that, even during the times when He seems so distant and our hopes so uncertain, the Lord still has a plan for us that’s already been set in motion. Just because we seem to be at a standstill doesn’t mean that God is; He is always working, and will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

Perhaps life has found you in the same place it found the Israelites some 2,600 years ago. You look around and see nothing but unfinished temples and incomplete promises, all the while wondering what on earth it is you’re supposed to be doing while you wait. If this is you, here’s a simple suggestion : “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:5)  He’s up to something bigger than you are.

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

                                                       -II John 1:7

I recently attended a homeschool expo that comes to our area every year, and one of the most intriguing classes I attended throughout the course of our trip was given by a former police officer and Army veteran. Though the class was aimed primarily at illustrating how to “put on the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11), he did find time in his hour to share with us how difficult it was, even as a police officer, to distinguish between counterfeit money and the real thing. He said that one time he finally decided  just to ask the people at the Treasury Department how they can tell the difference when both look so similar, and was amazed by their simple response: “We just study the original.”  The truth is, even though they often look completely authentic, when you’ve spent hours and hours studying the real thing you’re not going to be fooled by a counterfeit very easily.

The same is true in our walk with God. As John reminded us in his second epistle, “many deceivers are entered into the world” and it’s absolutely necessary that we learn how to “discern between the righteous and the wicked” (Malachi 3:18). In the same way that a piece of currency is paralleled with the original to test its authenticity, so we must compare whatever we hear with the doctrine of Christ and see if it lines up to the Holy Scriptures (II John 1:9). Of course we may not always have the opportunity to flip through the pages of the Bible looking for an answer, and that’s why we are reminded time and time again of the importance of hiding the Word of God in our hearts (Joshua 1:8; Deuteronomy 6:6). If it lines up with what God has said, you can take it to the bank every time.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”

                                                    - 2 Timothy 2:15

In a world where there seem to be more counterfeits than true believers, it’s more important now than ever before that we know how to tell which is which. The Word of God gives us those answers, and all we have to do is bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (II Corinthians 10:5) Of course, I’ve always been told that another way to identify a counterfeit bill is by holding it up to the light, but I’ll save that for another post.

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

                                                         -II Peter 3:8

In the book of Ezra, we read the story of God’s people returning from their captivity to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem. This was probably one of the most joyous occasions in their nation’s history since the exodus from Egypt, and yet their efforts for the Lord were brought to an abrupt halt no sooner than they’d laid the foundation when adversaries of their work wrote a letter full of lies to king Artaxerxes of Persia (4:11-16). For fear of losing his authority as king, Artaxerxes immediately put an end to their efforts, having been fully convinced that the Jewish nation was nothing more than a group of insubordinate rebels who would “endamage the revenue of the kings" by neglecting to pay taxes or submit to his leadership (4:13).

For fifteen long years no progress was made on the temple, and I imagine that every time a Jew passed it by he was reminded of the incomplete work everybody had been certain God began. Shouts of joy when the the foundation was laid (3:12) were now replaced by tears of sadness as they wondered if they would ever again be able to worship God in peace. The question on everybody’s mind was the same: “Why did God let us start if He wasn’t going to let us finish?”

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

               -Philippians 1:6

Just like in the days of Ezra, oftentimes God operates on a very different timeframe than we would like Him to. We look around and see all the things He’s started in our life and wonder if He’ll ever complete them, though seemingly forgetting that our Lord is far beyond the constraints of time and earthly circumstance. What He begins, He will always finish. Even if it takes years and years of waiting, God will complete the work He has begun in you and fulfill every word of the promises He’s made (I Kings 8:56). Just have faith.