Even When We’re Twisted
June 23, 2011
by HLB (His Little Bird)blogger of knowing His name
My heart was in the wrong place. All twisted up, tight, distracted.
Clutching what I should be releasing, resisting who I should be loving.
During worship.
Trying, struggling, confessing to loosen the grip. Praying for His help. Wanting to sing clean. For Him.
He is Holy.
And the song came. My head shook, disbelief, then relieved. Really? Now? How can you let me do this?
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” (Rev 4:8)
They, around His throne, were singing it then, too, for Him. And now.
We sang together!
That He would allow me to sing with the angels, creatures and elders who kneel in His presence and “day and night they never stop saying…”
Never stop! (read Rev 4 ).
The rainbow surrounding His throne, enveloped by 24 more thrones. Lightening, rumblings, peals of thunder, blazing lamps, a crystal sea.
Are you picturing it? Do it. Its important.
He let me join in that. They do it without stopping, so when I was singing in church, they were, too. He let me sing with them, for Him, even when my heart was twisted up wrong. Because Jesus hung, took my place. How can I possibly understand that?!
He welcomes us to His throne, even when we’re twisted up wrong.
You can post a comment below or visit HLB (His little bird) at knowing His name
Are You a Spirtual Do-Gooder”?
June 5, 2011
by John ImlerJohn is an RVchurchesUSA Ambassador and author of It’s Never Too Late As I waited in traffic for the light to change my eyes fell on the license plate of the car in front of me. Its message, DU GOOD, was simple, yet it challenged me.
This term was at one time used by non-believers to not so graciously refer to believers. Most generally it was not received with appreciation by believers. However, as I recalled the term, I began to realize that it should not have been offensive to believers but considered a compliment.
In 1 Peter 2:12 we are admonished to “live such good lives” that the non-believers around us “may see your good deeds and glorify God.” What a challenge for us as believers!
Over and over the Bible admonishes us to “do good.” It starts in Psalms 37:3 with the words “Trust in the Lord and do good.” Proverbs 11:27 promises that “he who seeks good finds goodwill,”
Christ urged us to even “do good to those who hate you” in Luke 6:27. The apostles continued this theme in various passages as the following:
“having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8)
“Let us not become weary in doing good” (Gal. 6:9-10)
“Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil” (I Thes. 5:21)
“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds” (I Tim 6:18)
We are also warned to be careful as to what we call good in Isaiah 5:20: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” And we are admonished by Paul in Romans 12:9 to “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
While we are admonished to do good things (works), these will not earn us salvation or eternal life. That must come by believing in Jesus Christ as God’s perfect sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 9:28). However, once we have done that, as His followers, He becomes our example for doing good (Acts 10:38). The good we do is the result of that faith (James 2:18).
In light of the above, it should cause us as believers to reevaluate our own standard of good and evil as related to those things which we once considered evil but now have begun to tolerate in our world.
Join John next time when he examines “Our Hope”.
John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com
Does God Really Love Me?
June 3, 2011
by John ImlerJohn is an RVchurchesUSA Ambassador and author of It’s Never Too Late
We have all heard since childhood “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” Yet at times many of us have questioned if those words were really true. When all is going well in our lives, it is so
easy to repeat those words with a feeling of assurance. However, when things seem to be going south on us—we have lost our business, our job, perhaps our homes, and we don’t see any light at the end of our tunnel—don’t we sometimes question those words.
This may shock you, but I have been there. My wife and I were sitting at our kitchen table when she said, “I love you.” My response to her was, “I know you do because you show me in so many ways but, the way things are going, I’m not sure God loves me?”
I was in a state of despair. All earthly visible signs were growing worse and, without my being aware of it, Satan was in control of my mind at that moment. He is so cunning that we must be on our guard constantly so that “Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes” (2 Cor. 2:11).
At that moment I had lost awareness of Satan’s schemes. He was using the same old scheme of getting me to question God. The same scheme he used on Eve in the Garden of Eden: “Hath God said?” But I wasn’t listening to God’s Word or to any of His promises. I was like others, even His disciples, whom He said were of “little faith” (Matt 6:30).
However, later that evening, as I sat in my doubt and unbelief, my mind reached heavenward. I thought of Christ on the cross. Now feelings of remorse swept over me as I recalled His words, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18).
How could I have doubted God’s love for me even for a moment in my despair? Yes, Jesus loves me! It was for my sins that He willingly laid down His life. My sins were included in His atonement, so that I though unworthy might have eternal life with Him.
Yes, Jesus does love you and me. Our faith in that love must convince us with Paul that “nothing in all of creation” will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).
There is more to this story. Join John next time for the rest of his story.
John welcomes your comments either below or email him directly at john@faithrescued.com
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