Tag Archives: Jesus Christ

Christian faith, General, Healthy Relationships

Only Prayer

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As I watch the news lately, I can hardly believe all the horrible things that are happening throughout the world. Innocent children used as pawns at the border crossing. Children and other civilians used as human shields in Gaza. The horror of war. The desperation of Israel, just trying to exist while surrounded by people who hate them so much that they want every Jewish person annihilated. And then there’s the religious persecution of Christians.

What can we do? The needs are endless. My resources are few.

I can send money. But then, what?

I can make these needs known in my small corner of the world.

I can blog about it. Perhaps my words will move someone else to do what they can to bring attention and aid to these poor suffering people.

Sometimes I forget my most powerful weapon: PRAYER.

Jesus left us the perfect example of the man or woman who walks closely with God. He went off to a quiet place each day to talk to His God. I hope we also do that daily, not only for our own spiritual sustenance, but to entreat Him for mercy and provision for the victims of evil.

Yesterday I was reading in the book of Revelation. In Revelation chapter five, the Lamb: Jesus Christ, is worthy to take the scroll from God. As He does so, twenty-four elders fall down before Him. They are holding harps (for musical worship) and vials filled with incense (containing the prayers of the saints.)

The prayers of the saints.

Never think that our worship and our intercession for others is insignificant to God. If they are mentioned in heaven, then they have indeed reached Jesus, who intercedes for His saints.

I was struck by this mention of our prayers. They are precious to our Lord.

The Lord listens to the prayers of His saints. The Word of God promises it.

Lets pray and pray and pray for the world, for those who are victims of horrible, hateful religious fanatics, and for those who hate God and want to throw off His yoke—however righteous and gracious it is— forever.

Pray for Israel.

But also pray for those who hate Israel.

Pray for the persecuted and those who are being used.

But also pray for the haters and those who only value their own profit and power even at the cost of many innocent lives.

Lets fall on our faces before our precious Savior and intercede for the whole world. Lets pray every day and as often as we hear of more trouble.

“Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open.”( Ephesians 6: 23 The Message)

Christian faith, Healthy Relationships

Short People

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I’m short. Five foot one, to be exact. That makes me needy.

“Honey, could you get me that glass on the top shelf?”

“Mr. Store Stocker, could you please get me that two liter bottle of Diet Coke on the top shelf?”

And the worst one of all: “Honey, I need to sit on the end of the aisle so I can see the (actors, dancers, orchestra, speaker)  on stage.”

I’d love for church builders to construct extra seats built slightly out into the aisle. Oh, not enough to obstruct, but just enough so that us short people—yes, the seats would actually be designated for people, say five foot two and under— can actually see what’s going on.

Because, inevitably—it doesn’t matter which seat I’ve chosen—some tall person sits right in front of me and I’m doomed to an hour or two of seeing nothing on stage.

You would think that the tall person who seats himselfSept 10 Fall River Road 076 or herself in front of me would look back and say, “Oh, excuse me, I just noticed that you’re short; I’ll move over to this seat. And would you like me to put my coat and purse on the seat in front of you so no one will sit there? I’ll just say I saved it for my (cousin, husband, pet alligator).”

But no. Sigh. That never happens.

I can really relate to little Zaccheus. Remember the children’s Bible song? “Zaccheus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he.”

The man was so desperate to see Jesus pass by that he climbed up into a sycamore tree. Now there’s a thought. I could carry my own sycamore tree around any time I can’t see something because of all the tall people blocking my view.

Zaccheus, no doubt, was a needy man. He needed to see Jesus and to answer the question: Who is this Rabbi that heals the blind, deaf, lame, and casts out demons, and makes the religious authorities so angry and defensive?

We each have questions that we passionately want answered. Our neediness drives us to seek. My being physically short is nothing compared to my being short in spirit.

It’s what drove me to seek out answers. And I found them in Jesus, the Christ. I discovered that all of my falling short….my “spiritual shortness,” is remedied by Jesus’s work on the cross and the  daily grace given me by God’s Holy Spirit.

In a sense, Jesus is my sycamore tree, giving me a lift into tall branches where I can glimpse what’s happening on the world’s stage.

My Lord, thanks for the lift.

Christian faith

God’s Not Good Enough

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I’ve talked to so many people lately who equate spirituality with being in a right relationship with God.

I remember a conversation I had with a close relative about the subject of salvation. She said, “Don’t go preaching to me about Jesus Christ. I’m much more spiritual than you’ll ever be.”

How sad that she thought her own spirituality was equal to the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

It’s not. You can be very spiritual. In fact, we humans were made by God in His image to be spiritual beings with the capacity of thinking and wondering about spiritual matters.

Even people who claim to know about God and who pray to Him don’t necessarily know God.

There are a lot of spirit entities hovering about in this world, ready to mislead and deceive people into believing that they are a god to believe in. Worse, these spirits also try to deceive some people into believing that they do not need a god because the people themselves are gods!

So don’t be comforted, Christian friend, just because a dear friend or relative who’s about to die says “I pray to god every day so I’m going to heaven.”

Just what god is your friend praying to?

If your friend has not confessed Jesus Christ as his or her only payment for sin, then find a way to explain to them the way of salvation.

Just any God is not good enough. Only Jesus Christ paid for your sin. Think about all the major religions of the world. Which founder made the claim that he can cover all your sin? Completely and forever?

Which of these founders came back to life after being confirmed dead?

None but Jesus.

My spirituality will not save me. My spirituality is only evidence that a loving God made me in His image.

Many spiritual people are going to hell!

So when someone tells you he or she prays to God, find out which IMG_3165God. Not just any god will do.

“Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God.”  (1 John 1: 7-9 NIV Bible)