Tuesday, April 28, 2009

MIRACLE OF GRACE

May your heart be blessed at Easter,
as you think about our Lord.
All the things that He has done for us,
that cannot be ignored.

He took the stripes upon His back,
He bled for you and me.
He carried the cross through the town,
so that all of them would believe.

The crowds were there they laughed and mocked,
they just couldn't wait to see.
The man they had condemned to die,
to hang upon that tree.

They put Him on the cross,
they nailed His hands and feet.
They watched Him as He hung there,
and died for you and me.

He was buried in a tomb that day,
the rock was rolled in place.
Old satan thought he'd won this time,
but JESUS knew His place.

But just imagine what they thought,
when that stone was rolled away.
They didn't find His body there,
just the bench where He had laid.

It was just three days He rose and lived,
He was back for the world to see.
Death had no hold on our dear Lord,
He broke the chains and set us free!

It wasn't just a fairy tale,
to tell our kids one day.
It really happened to our Lord,
upon that fateful day.

You see my friend it all took place,
so that you and I might receive.
The wondrous miracle of grace,
He gave to you and me.

CLS
Copyright 2009
Posted by Reformed rebel at 12:34 PM

Monday, April 13, 2009

DREAMS

Did you ever have a dream and wonder what it might mean? They say if you have nightmares of being chased that you are insecure, or...you feel guilty or fearful. Another is, if you dream of falling it's because you have anxiety issues. Usually, if I dream it is in the form of a nightmare so I don't try to analyze it very much. When I do dream I tend to forget them not long after waking. This is generally true for most people. However, there is one dream I remember that I would like to tell you about. It happened about 2 years ago...

The first thing I noticed, in my dream, was that I was standing at the foot of a really tall ladder. Looking up, it seemed to go on forever. I never did see where it ended. While standing gazing up the ladder I noticed lots of small children coming down. Before I knew it, there were kids all over, running up and down the ladder and all around my legs. They were small children and they were all laughing and giggling like little kids do. I remember one little girl smiling at me and then running up the ladder. While I was watching her I noticed an adult coming down the ladder. They had on a long white robe with a sash around the waist. When they reached the bottom they turned and standing before me was Jesus. Of course I don't know what He looks like, but in my dream He looked like all the pictures you see that portray Him. He just stood and smiled at me and held out His hand. I didn't take His hand, I just stood there. He never said anything, but the children all ran to Him and stood looking up. Then He started talking to them and patting their heads. Some of them He hugged. One by one He placed them on the ladder and they all starting running back up, disappearing into the clouds. After He helped the last child He turned back to me. He held out His hand one more time and said, "Come on, I'll help you." I just looked at Him but never took His hand. Then I woke up.

At that time I was not a Christian. I wasn't even sure what to make of a dream like that. It was rare when I had a good, peaceful dream. While lying in bed thinking about it, all that came to mind was that Jesus was giving me a chance to accept Him and I chose not too. Since becoming a Christian what I think it meant was...He was just letting me know that He was there for me. If I would accept Him He would help me. I think all the kids were there to show me that even as a child He was with me. That He always loved me and took care of me even when I didn't think that He did.

While growing up there was a song we always sang in Sunday School...Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so, little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong. Think about that song for a minute, Jesus Loves Me! WOW!! No matter what...through all of our weaknesses...Jesus loves us! Whether we are small and weak or all grown up and strong...Jesus loves us! We know that, because His Word tells us He does. Even when we don't feel it...He does. All that we have to do is reach out and take His hand. He will help us. No matter what kind of lies satan tells you...don't believe him. JESUS LOVES YOU! Even if you don't feel anything. I know what it is to not feel. But...if you will hang in there, you will eventually feel something. It might not be anything big, but...you will feel His love. Just run to Jesus like a child and He will take care of you.



Matthew 19:14 (New Century Version)

14 but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these children."

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

THE BATTLE IS THE LORD'S

The world that we live in is nothing short of a war zone. All of us are soldiers in a battle, fighting for a cause. Many soldiers have fought this battle before us. We are just a few in a long line of predecessors. I normally feel that I am not even worthy to be a soldier in this army. For this is the grandest army of them all. It is THE LORDS Army! If you are a Christian you are a lifetime member. You will always be fighting in a battle. The one thing you need to remember is...The battle belongs to THE LORD. The LORD is the Supreme Commander of our army. In the midst of the worst battle "HE" is there fighting for you. Did you catch that? Not just with you but "for" you! When you are in a normal war you have others fighting along side of you, with you. The thing is, in the spiritual war zone...THE LORD is there...but HE is out in front of you. Taking all the worst blows. Absorbing the front line of the attackers coming at you. In this war the attackers are the worst to be found. It is the prince of darkness and all his soldiers. In the scriptures we are told that we are not fighting against people but against the unseen powers of evil. Satan is always there trying to trip us up. Make us fall. There is nothing he likes better than to beat us down and make us think we can't win. He'll bring up your past failures and addictions...anything that will hinder you in your walk with GOD. Satan will cause things to happen that will make you want to run back to your old way of living. Anything to make you forget what's going on and get some immediate pleasure. But remember...whatever it is only lasts for a little while. When it's all said and done the same things that were wrong before you went back are still wrong. Many times satan is just causing things to seem bigger than they are to get you to the point of failing. Don't let him do that to you. "Totally" rely on GOD. HE will get you through the rough times. HE won't ever leave you. HE is always there waiting for you to go to HIM with what is happening in your life. When you do, you will find that immediate pleasure that you were willing to look for in other things. Things of your past. Don't run there...RUN to your SAVIOR who is waiting with open arms!

We aren't always strong enough to fight this battle alone. We always need the help of our LORD. We always need to pray and read the Word. If you need to...ask for prayer from other's who are in this war with you. Pray for them also because everyone needs help to fight against satan in their lives. Above all...Be strong and stand up for GOD. Remember...HE stood up for you. HE hung on a cross for you so that today you can live for HIM.

Here are a few scriptures to read.

2 Chronicles 20:15 (New Living Translation)

15 He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.


1 Samuel 17:47 (New Century Version)

47 Everyone gathered here will know the Lord does not need swords or spears to save people. The battle belongs to HIM, and he will hand you over to us."



Luke 10:19 (New International Version)

19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.



Ephesians 6:10-12 (New Century Version)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his great power.11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can fight against the devil's evil tricks.12 Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world's darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world.


Hebrews 11:24-26 (New International Version)

24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.


Psalm 9:9-10 (New Century Version)


9 The Lord defends those who suffer;
HE defends them in times of trouble.
10 Those who know the Lord trust him,
because HE will not leave those who come to him.


Deuteronomy 31:8 (New King James Version)

8 And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”


Joshua 1:9 (New Living Translation)

9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. "For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”


Proverbs 18:10 (New Living Translation)

10 The name of the Lord is a strong fortress;
the godly run to him and are safe.

If you don't have the LORD to turn to in times of trouble you can change that. Believe that HE died for you. Pray to HIM. Ask JESUS to come into your heart and to forgive you of all your sins. Accept HIS forgiveness and begin to live for HIM. There is no better way. HE will give you the ultimate life you have been searching for all this time. Ask HIM to help you live for HIM, talk to HIM all the time, read HIS word and find a bible believing church to attend so you can get the strength you need to live in HIM.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

GOD'S LOVE

Hebrews 13:5 "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

What an awesome promise from an awesome God! Throughout our lives we have probably all had someone tell us they would never leave us. But the truth is...sooner or later they all do. Could be for a lot of different reasons. There's divorce, death, maybe they just moved...whatever the reason they're gone. We may not like it but it's a fact of life. That's where God is different. He is not bound by the same rules of life that we are. What He says never changes. God just can't change His mind and say He doesn't love you anymore and divorce you. He doesn't decide one day to move to another place because He doesn't like it where He is at. The best one is God will never die. He always was and always will be. And then the fact that...He doesn't lie. When He tells you something you can count on it. HE will always be there for you even when no one else is. You can trust Him when you can't trust anyone else.

The bible says in Psalms 9:10
10 Those who know the Lord trust him,
because he will not leave those who come to him.

Joshua 1:9

"Be strong and very courageous. The Lord
your God is with you wherever you go."

Another awesome thing about God is...how much HE LOVES YOU. In fact to me His love is the best thing. God will, at times, let you experience His love when you least expect it. His love is an awesome feeling. It will wash over you and fill you from the inside out. It makes you feel like you can't even contain it. You are just literally full of HIS love! There really aren't even words that can explain it fully. After recently having had such an experience, I know that I would never go back to my former way of living. There is absolutely nothing in my past life that can even come close to what the "Love of God" is like!!

Ephesians 3:17-19 (New Living Translation)

17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
1 John 4:19 (New King James Version)

19 We love Him[a] because He first loved us.



1 Chronicles 16:34 (New Living Translation)

34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.


1 Corinthians 13:13 (New Living Translation)

13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.



There are so many reasons we know that God loves us. The most important one being that He sent His son Jesus to die for us! Who else would give their life for you? Be nailed to a cross and suffer all that pain for you? I don't know anyone that would do that for me. John 19:17-30 tells us the story of the crucifixion. Because He did that for us we know the meaning of true love. I call it "Extreme Love." Jesus never regretted anything He did for us. He paid a great price dying on the cross for us. There's a saying...Christs cross...INTENSE. Christs love...IMMENSE. That hangs from the mirror in my car so that everyday I see it and it reminds me of what HE did for me. The thing is...He didn't only die for me. He died for everyone of us. You included. If you haven't made a decision to give your life to Him you can do that today. He loves you and wants to give you a new life. One that is worth living. All you have to do is believe that He is and that He died for you. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart. Tell Him you give Him your life and ask Him to help you live for Him. Then let Jesus help you to do that. Pray, read the word and find a church. You need other Christians to help you. Believe me, it's not easy to do. You will have struggles, but don't give up. God will help you.