Jan 2010
The Sacrifice of Praise
31/01/10 18:36
Moses was
instructed by the Lord to tell the Israelites,
“If someone’s offering is a fellowship
offering and he offers an animal from the herd,
whether male or female, he is to present before the
Lord an animal without defect.”
In the Old Covenant, God had continually demanded that the offerings that were to be presented before Him, required the giver to follow certain regulations or else the offering would not be accepted. Throughout Israel’s history the Lord put up with men who didn’t consider the importance of these regulations. Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu paid with their lives because they offered unauthorized fire upon the altar. And the Lord spoke to Aaron and said, “Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.”
In the days of the prophet Malachi, God confronts the Israelites once again with their careless attitude toward God, “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me? Says the Lord Almighty. It is you, O priest, who show contempt for my name. But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ You place defiled food on my altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ By saying the Lord’s table is contemptible. When you bring blind animals for a sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?”
Now, the writer of Hebrews likens the praise from our hearts to the sacrifices of the Old Covenant. Because Jesus was offered up to God as a lamb without blemish, we, through Jesus, continually offer up to God the sacrifice of praise, -the fruit of our lips that confess His Name. Therefore, this tells me that when I offer up my praise and worship to the Most High, I must be careful to offer up praise without blemish and worship without defect. In, other words, just any old praise is not sufficient for worship. It must come from clean hands and a pure heart. My mind and heart should not be distracted by worldly allurements. I shouldn’t be thinking about the latest ball game that I watched, or the neatest techno-toy that I recently purchased.
My mind should be on the love that God has shown me through Christ Jesus and the greatness of my God in all things. My fellowship offering is a sacrifice of praise that is lifted up in the thankfulness of my heart. If there is no gratitude in my heart, then my praise is blemished and defective. If there comes into my mind any thoughts that speak of my praise being somewhat of a sacrifice (because it cost me something) then, I should find myself at the altar asking my Lord for His forgiveness. If I consider my praise and worship to God to be something of a duty or a chore, then may He chastise me severely, so that I may worship Him rightly. David said, “Lord accept the willing praise from my mouth.” I believe the only worship that the Lord accepts is the praise that comes from a soul who worships Him in Spirit and in Truth and from a heart that is pure and thankful. Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His Holy place? Those of a pure heart and clean hands and who offers up to God the continual freewill offering of praise from a grateful heart.
In the Old Covenant, God had continually demanded that the offerings that were to be presented before Him, required the giver to follow certain regulations or else the offering would not be accepted. Throughout Israel’s history the Lord put up with men who didn’t consider the importance of these regulations. Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu paid with their lives because they offered unauthorized fire upon the altar. And the Lord spoke to Aaron and said, “Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.”
In the days of the prophet Malachi, God confronts the Israelites once again with their careless attitude toward God, “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me? Says the Lord Almighty. It is you, O priest, who show contempt for my name. But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ You place defiled food on my altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ By saying the Lord’s table is contemptible. When you bring blind animals for a sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?”
Now, the writer of Hebrews likens the praise from our hearts to the sacrifices of the Old Covenant. Because Jesus was offered up to God as a lamb without blemish, we, through Jesus, continually offer up to God the sacrifice of praise, -the fruit of our lips that confess His Name. Therefore, this tells me that when I offer up my praise and worship to the Most High, I must be careful to offer up praise without blemish and worship without defect. In, other words, just any old praise is not sufficient for worship. It must come from clean hands and a pure heart. My mind and heart should not be distracted by worldly allurements. I shouldn’t be thinking about the latest ball game that I watched, or the neatest techno-toy that I recently purchased.
My mind should be on the love that God has shown me through Christ Jesus and the greatness of my God in all things. My fellowship offering is a sacrifice of praise that is lifted up in the thankfulness of my heart. If there is no gratitude in my heart, then my praise is blemished and defective. If there comes into my mind any thoughts that speak of my praise being somewhat of a sacrifice (because it cost me something) then, I should find myself at the altar asking my Lord for His forgiveness. If I consider my praise and worship to God to be something of a duty or a chore, then may He chastise me severely, so that I may worship Him rightly. David said, “Lord accept the willing praise from my mouth.” I believe the only worship that the Lord accepts is the praise that comes from a soul who worships Him in Spirit and in Truth and from a heart that is pure and thankful. Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His Holy place? Those of a pure heart and clean hands and who offers up to God the continual freewill offering of praise from a grateful heart.
Have a God blessed week.
Pastor Jim
|
Something to Think About
24/01/10 11:07
Paul writes a warning
to Timothy that in the latter days people would not
put up with the sound doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. “In the presence of God and of Christ
Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in
view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you
this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season
and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage
–with great patience and careful instruction.
For a time will come when men will not put up with
sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires,
they will gather around them a great number of
teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn away from the truth and turn aside to
myths.” 2Tim.4:1-4
I think we make a big mistake when we only apply this warning to those we think are sitting under modern day theologians and have all but replaced the Word of God with their own vain imaginations. Sure, we can clearly see the fallacies of the prosperity message and the power of positive thinking messages, and every other doctrine that displaces the authority of Jesus Christ. If we are in a Bible-believing Church that the Pastors clearly hold to the truths of God’s Word, we feel safe enough. But are we? Paul tells us that there are some who gather around them, a great number of teachers who will teach them what their itching ears want to hear. I wonder what he meant by “a great number”? Do you not know, that when you listen to someone’s word of instruction, that they have just become a teacher of sorts? Maybe it’s just for a particular thing, but never the less, when you follow their word of instruction they have become your teacher. For instance, I know my Brother John Eckelberry is very knowledgeable in plumbing, heating and things of that nature. When he instructs me about these things, he becomes my teacher in these particular areas. When people want to know about the Bible and applying it to their daily lives, they ask me, and I become their teacher, in this particular way. (That is, if they listen! )
But sometimes people don’t listen to the sound doctrine of the Bible because it’s too hard to adhere to. They would rather slack off on some of the harder sayings and live something a little easier. I have often instructed unmarried couples not to live together. But because it is easier to do so, they get instruction from other places that either condone it or say something appealing like, “God understands your situation.” Here’s one for you: The Bible says that, “He who is born of God does not continue in sin. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” 1John 3:6 But now you have Christian brothers and sisters telling you that we all sin everyday and everyone sins a little bit. This is just what people who want to hold on to a little of their sinful nature long to hear. It allows them to sin a little bit because, after all, everyone sins because no one is perfect. The sound doctrine of the Bible says that if anyone is born of God they cannot go on sinning, because God’s seed remains in him. I think those “teachers” who say that Christians sin everyday, are themselves trapped by sin. Or else they are looking for an excuse to continue in some sinful way. If I was instructing someone on how to live as a Christian, I think I would be very careful that what I said lined up with the sound doctrine of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. These “great number of teachers” that Paul speaks about come in all shapes and sizes; they can be your brother, sister, friend or parent. They can be closely related to you, or just someone you have seen on television. So dear friends let’s us make sure that our calling and election is sure. Let us possess the qualities and virtues that the Word instructs us in and the Spirit bears witness to. Let us throw off everything that so easily entangles us to this world and run the race with perseverance –keeping our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ!
Have a God blessed week. Pastor Jim
I think we make a big mistake when we only apply this warning to those we think are sitting under modern day theologians and have all but replaced the Word of God with their own vain imaginations. Sure, we can clearly see the fallacies of the prosperity message and the power of positive thinking messages, and every other doctrine that displaces the authority of Jesus Christ. If we are in a Bible-believing Church that the Pastors clearly hold to the truths of God’s Word, we feel safe enough. But are we? Paul tells us that there are some who gather around them, a great number of teachers who will teach them what their itching ears want to hear. I wonder what he meant by “a great number”? Do you not know, that when you listen to someone’s word of instruction, that they have just become a teacher of sorts? Maybe it’s just for a particular thing, but never the less, when you follow their word of instruction they have become your teacher. For instance, I know my Brother John Eckelberry is very knowledgeable in plumbing, heating and things of that nature. When he instructs me about these things, he becomes my teacher in these particular areas. When people want to know about the Bible and applying it to their daily lives, they ask me, and I become their teacher, in this particular way. (That is, if they listen! )
But sometimes people don’t listen to the sound doctrine of the Bible because it’s too hard to adhere to. They would rather slack off on some of the harder sayings and live something a little easier. I have often instructed unmarried couples not to live together. But because it is easier to do so, they get instruction from other places that either condone it or say something appealing like, “God understands your situation.” Here’s one for you: The Bible says that, “He who is born of God does not continue in sin. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” 1John 3:6 But now you have Christian brothers and sisters telling you that we all sin everyday and everyone sins a little bit. This is just what people who want to hold on to a little of their sinful nature long to hear. It allows them to sin a little bit because, after all, everyone sins because no one is perfect. The sound doctrine of the Bible says that if anyone is born of God they cannot go on sinning, because God’s seed remains in him. I think those “teachers” who say that Christians sin everyday, are themselves trapped by sin. Or else they are looking for an excuse to continue in some sinful way. If I was instructing someone on how to live as a Christian, I think I would be very careful that what I said lined up with the sound doctrine of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. These “great number of teachers” that Paul speaks about come in all shapes and sizes; they can be your brother, sister, friend or parent. They can be closely related to you, or just someone you have seen on television. So dear friends let’s us make sure that our calling and election is sure. Let us possess the qualities and virtues that the Word instructs us in and the Spirit bears witness to. Let us throw off everything that so easily entangles us to this world and run the race with perseverance –keeping our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ!
Have a God blessed week. Pastor Jim
Longing for Something More!
17/01/10 17:09
My very first
recollection of a desire in my heart was when I saw
an aquatic boat that was offered on the back of the
cereal box of my favorite morning delight, Sugar
Frosted Flakes! I don’t know if I was even able
to read the offer, but the boat sure looked cool and
the picture of the kid playing with it in his bathtub
sure looked like he was having fun. All I needed to
do was save three box tops of my favorite cereal.
“No problem,” I thought, “I could
eat three boxes of this stuff right now!”
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing; you could get a totally cool aqua-boat for practically nothing. “I’ll have another bowl, please!” So, I ate, and I ate and I saved box tops. I cut the back out of one of the boxes so I could keep a picture of the boat. I wanted to keep my eyes on the prize! My first hurdle of three box tops was easy to jump; the $2.25 that I had to send along with those box tops was another thing. I never saw that! I had such wishes to have that boat in my hands, such desires to play with that thing forever, that I never noticed I needed two dollars and twenty-five cents.
Man, was I bummed. I’ll never be able to get that much money. You have to understand, Kelloggs might as well have been asking me for a million dollars. I was ready; I had the box tops, the envelope was addressed and mom had put on the stamp. Well, I don’t remember how I earned the money (It was for sure that it wasn’t just given to me.) but I remember going to the mailbox every day, while waiting for my package from Battle Creek, Michigan to arrive! Day after day, I waited for the mailman with an unbridled longing. Six weeks is a lifetime for a seven year old!
I am fifty-two years old now, and I have had many longings and desires since then. But I possess in my heart now a longing that reminds me of that very first one. I long for Heaven! I long to see Jesus and I desire for Him to hold me in His arms. I want to see God and the Holy City whose maker and builder is the Lord! I want to meet the patriarchs of old and the saints from the early Church. I want to walk on the streets of gold and pass through the gates of pearl. I long for a life of complete freedom and for a spirit that craves the righteousness of God. I long for peace and love between man and for a time when people are genuinely concerned for one another.
I long to see Robin’s face the first time she is embraced by the Lord. I long to see you rewarded by the King of kings. I long to see your face as you meet your loved ones in the Lord. I long for the time where there will be no more pain and no more suffering and I long for the time when joy will be ever increasing, unspeakable and full of glory! I long for God to fulfill His promise and make His Covenant with Jesus Christ complete! I will wait. I will wait for as long as it takes; because I have a longing for something more. Thank God!
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing; you could get a totally cool aqua-boat for practically nothing. “I’ll have another bowl, please!” So, I ate, and I ate and I saved box tops. I cut the back out of one of the boxes so I could keep a picture of the boat. I wanted to keep my eyes on the prize! My first hurdle of three box tops was easy to jump; the $2.25 that I had to send along with those box tops was another thing. I never saw that! I had such wishes to have that boat in my hands, such desires to play with that thing forever, that I never noticed I needed two dollars and twenty-five cents.
Man, was I bummed. I’ll never be able to get that much money. You have to understand, Kelloggs might as well have been asking me for a million dollars. I was ready; I had the box tops, the envelope was addressed and mom had put on the stamp. Well, I don’t remember how I earned the money (It was for sure that it wasn’t just given to me.) but I remember going to the mailbox every day, while waiting for my package from Battle Creek, Michigan to arrive! Day after day, I waited for the mailman with an unbridled longing. Six weeks is a lifetime for a seven year old!
I am fifty-two years old now, and I have had many longings and desires since then. But I possess in my heart now a longing that reminds me of that very first one. I long for Heaven! I long to see Jesus and I desire for Him to hold me in His arms. I want to see God and the Holy City whose maker and builder is the Lord! I want to meet the patriarchs of old and the saints from the early Church. I want to walk on the streets of gold and pass through the gates of pearl. I long for a life of complete freedom and for a spirit that craves the righteousness of God. I long for peace and love between man and for a time when people are genuinely concerned for one another.
I long to see Robin’s face the first time she is embraced by the Lord. I long to see you rewarded by the King of kings. I long to see your face as you meet your loved ones in the Lord. I long for the time where there will be no more pain and no more suffering and I long for the time when joy will be ever increasing, unspeakable and full of glory! I long for God to fulfill His promise and make His Covenant with Jesus Christ complete! I will wait. I will wait for as long as it takes; because I have a longing for something more. Thank God!
“Trust in the Lord and do
good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you
the desires of your heart.”
Psalms
37:3
Have a God blessed week.
Pastor Jim
Destined for Glory
10/01/10 17:09
In the
fifteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul
makes his argument for the resurrection. It seems
that there were some who couldn’t even believe
in the resurrection of Jesus Christ because they
couldn’t understand how God would be able to do
such a thing. Hear what he has to say concerning
this,
“For if the dead are not raised, then Christ
has not been raised either. And if Christ has not
been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in
your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in
Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope
in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all
men.” 1 Cor.15:16-19
I can never understand how or why a person could live in this life while thinking that this life was all there is. What a disappointment! Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my life (I wonder if Christ has anything to do with that? ) but if this was all there was for me, I would have felt cheated. I have never been rich, famous or powerful. “I have been subjected to the ills of the common man and I will die the death of all” It is no wonder why those who do not believe in the resurrection take up the philosophy, “Eat, drink, and be merry; for tomorrow we die.”
When a people throw off the restraints of the Gospel, they throw out the hope that it offers as well. If Christ is not raised –then we are still in our sins and our faith is futile. Then, what I have believed is worthless and my whole life has been a lie -if Christ has not been raised. But if He has, then my sins are forgiven! God, the Father has seen and approved the death of Jesus Christ for the propitiation of my sins. If Calvary wasn’t sufficient, then Jesus wouldn’t have arose. So, because He did, this proves that my sins are forgiven.
Now, Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit coming to those who believed. He said that it was important that He go away (die, resurrect and ascend) for if He hadn’t, then the Father would not have sent the Holy Spirit. The coming of the Holy Spirit is another proof that Calvary was sufficient and that God had indeed resurrected Jesus Christ. Therefore, I can know that there is a resurrection and all those who fall asleep (die) in Christ, has the hope of participating in that resurrection. But how? Paul goes on to tell us that God has given us a body for this life, one that is subjected to corruption, pain, hunger, temptation and sin.
But in the resurrection God has prepared a body that is not, nor ever will be subjected to those things. Jesus Christ is the first-fruits of this glorious resurrection and we who are waiting for Him to bring everything under His control are also waiting for Him to transform these lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. We were created for Heaven; we were not created just for this life on earth. Flesh and blood could never endure the glories of Heaven. And just as God chose the fullness of Deity to be veiled in the body of Jesus Christ so He also chose to veil the glory of His Church while she awaits her Bridegroom.
The Church is triumphant, because Jesus triumphed on the Cross. The Church is glorious because the Father glorified the Son. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” Rom. 8:29
Have a God blessed week. Pastor Jim
I can never understand how or why a person could live in this life while thinking that this life was all there is. What a disappointment! Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my life (I wonder if Christ has anything to do with that? ) but if this was all there was for me, I would have felt cheated. I have never been rich, famous or powerful. “I have been subjected to the ills of the common man and I will die the death of all” It is no wonder why those who do not believe in the resurrection take up the philosophy, “Eat, drink, and be merry; for tomorrow we die.”
When a people throw off the restraints of the Gospel, they throw out the hope that it offers as well. If Christ is not raised –then we are still in our sins and our faith is futile. Then, what I have believed is worthless and my whole life has been a lie -if Christ has not been raised. But if He has, then my sins are forgiven! God, the Father has seen and approved the death of Jesus Christ for the propitiation of my sins. If Calvary wasn’t sufficient, then Jesus wouldn’t have arose. So, because He did, this proves that my sins are forgiven.
Now, Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit coming to those who believed. He said that it was important that He go away (die, resurrect and ascend) for if He hadn’t, then the Father would not have sent the Holy Spirit. The coming of the Holy Spirit is another proof that Calvary was sufficient and that God had indeed resurrected Jesus Christ. Therefore, I can know that there is a resurrection and all those who fall asleep (die) in Christ, has the hope of participating in that resurrection. But how? Paul goes on to tell us that God has given us a body for this life, one that is subjected to corruption, pain, hunger, temptation and sin.
But in the resurrection God has prepared a body that is not, nor ever will be subjected to those things. Jesus Christ is the first-fruits of this glorious resurrection and we who are waiting for Him to bring everything under His control are also waiting for Him to transform these lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. We were created for Heaven; we were not created just for this life on earth. Flesh and blood could never endure the glories of Heaven. And just as God chose the fullness of Deity to be veiled in the body of Jesus Christ so He also chose to veil the glory of His Church while she awaits her Bridegroom.
The Church is triumphant, because Jesus triumphed on the Cross. The Church is glorious because the Father glorified the Son. “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” Rom. 8:29
Have a God blessed week. Pastor Jim
New Things begin with a New Heart
03/01/10 21:47
When I woke
up on Saturday morning, I realized that I
wasn’t going to stop 2010 from coming. It came
in hard and cold at twelve degrees with snow on the
ground. A momentary thought of, “Two more
months of this stuff?” only added to the same
old –same old, attitude. Saturday morning with
one day of the New Year under belt and I feel no
different –I feel the same. I want a change. I
want something new.
Maybe I’ll move to… I know, I’ll get a puppy. I’ll go back to school. I’ll change my hairstyle! The thing is, and I know it all too well, that no matter what thing a person does differently on the outside, if they are no different on the inside, then it is no different at all. It’s still the same me doing different things and living in different circumstances.
Let me give you an example: I like to play billiards; I even have my own table. I’m fairly good at the game but I would like to play better. I’ve had my table for years now, and you know something, I wouldn’t change how I feel about playing the game if I got a new table. So, I would play billiards on any table and in any circumstances the same way that I would right now. Now, if I got a new table maybe I would think I would need new sticks and balls. I would probably treat these new things with a little more care (only because that is what we do with new things) and I would want others to be just as careful. But I still haven’t changed how I feel about playing billiards.
In order for my sentiments about billiard shooting to change, I would necessarily have to have a change of heart. I realize that, as it is with billiards, so it goes with everything in my life. In order for something to be completely new, there must also be a change of heart.
The difference is as contrasting as day and night. I used to really like smoking marijuana. In fact, I loved it and centered my life around it at times. But twenty-five years ago Jesus Christ changed my heart and now I despise marijuana and have for the last twenty-five years. I used to think it was the greatest stuff on earth and I believed that I thought like this only because of my love for it. Actually, I loved what it did to me. But, when Christ changed my heart, I began to see more clearly what that stuff was really doing to me.
God told the Israelites that He would take their old hearts of stone and give them new hearts of flesh. When a man or woman becomes born-again, this is exactly what takes place –God creates in that person a new heart and renews a right spirit within him/her. He makes them new creations and the old things pass away. A man or woman who has surrendered themselves to God’s workmanship, sees new mercies everyday, has a new song in their heart, a new hope for living and a new goal to strive for.
If you know God, then you know that He is into change, “See, I am doing a new thing!” and again, “From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you.” When God changes a man’s heart He is actually giving him a new life. The sun is brighter, the horizon more holy, the night sky more telling and humanity more glorious. God gives a new hope that is more substantial than the ground that he is standing on.
And when a man or woman has that hope, things now even though the same –are new and different. Only the surrendered in heart will know and understand. Only those who have placed their full trust in God their Savior, can relate to these things and acknowledge that this new hope is Divine. This year is going to be new for me. This year I want to stop leaning on my own understanding and acknowledge Him in all my ways, in all those things 2010 shall bring to me. I believe that if I begin seeing things through the eyes of Christ, my whole world will change!
Have a God blessed week. Pastor Jim
Maybe I’ll move to… I know, I’ll get a puppy. I’ll go back to school. I’ll change my hairstyle! The thing is, and I know it all too well, that no matter what thing a person does differently on the outside, if they are no different on the inside, then it is no different at all. It’s still the same me doing different things and living in different circumstances.
Let me give you an example: I like to play billiards; I even have my own table. I’m fairly good at the game but I would like to play better. I’ve had my table for years now, and you know something, I wouldn’t change how I feel about playing the game if I got a new table. So, I would play billiards on any table and in any circumstances the same way that I would right now. Now, if I got a new table maybe I would think I would need new sticks and balls. I would probably treat these new things with a little more care (only because that is what we do with new things) and I would want others to be just as careful. But I still haven’t changed how I feel about playing billiards.
In order for my sentiments about billiard shooting to change, I would necessarily have to have a change of heart. I realize that, as it is with billiards, so it goes with everything in my life. In order for something to be completely new, there must also be a change of heart.
The difference is as contrasting as day and night. I used to really like smoking marijuana. In fact, I loved it and centered my life around it at times. But twenty-five years ago Jesus Christ changed my heart and now I despise marijuana and have for the last twenty-five years. I used to think it was the greatest stuff on earth and I believed that I thought like this only because of my love for it. Actually, I loved what it did to me. But, when Christ changed my heart, I began to see more clearly what that stuff was really doing to me.
God told the Israelites that He would take their old hearts of stone and give them new hearts of flesh. When a man or woman becomes born-again, this is exactly what takes place –God creates in that person a new heart and renews a right spirit within him/her. He makes them new creations and the old things pass away. A man or woman who has surrendered themselves to God’s workmanship, sees new mercies everyday, has a new song in their heart, a new hope for living and a new goal to strive for.
If you know God, then you know that He is into change, “See, I am doing a new thing!” and again, “From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you.” When God changes a man’s heart He is actually giving him a new life. The sun is brighter, the horizon more holy, the night sky more telling and humanity more glorious. God gives a new hope that is more substantial than the ground that he is standing on.
And when a man or woman has that hope, things now even though the same –are new and different. Only the surrendered in heart will know and understand. Only those who have placed their full trust in God their Savior, can relate to these things and acknowledge that this new hope is Divine. This year is going to be new for me. This year I want to stop leaning on my own understanding and acknowledge Him in all my ways, in all those things 2010 shall bring to me. I believe that if I begin seeing things through the eyes of Christ, my whole world will change!
Have a God blessed week. Pastor Jim