Jesus

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Lessons From a Baby

There was a baby dedication service at our church this Sunday. One of the babies in attendance was unusually alert. She had an amazed look on her face as she gazed around the room trying to take everything in. It struck me that she looked shocked by her surroundings. She had lived in comfort, safety and darkness over the last 9 months. Content because she knew nothing else. Suddenly she was in a new unfamiliar and wonderful world that was full of new sights and sounds. She knew the voice of her mother, her father. Now she could see them face to face. She could interact on a whole new level.

I wonder if that is how we will be when we get to heaven? We are comfortable where we are now and live as if there is nothing else, but one day we will wake up to a whole new and wonderful world. A world where our Savior will wipe away our tears and banish sickness, pain and trouble. His name will be written on my forehead. Proof that I belong to Him. A world where gold is used as pavers for the streets. A world where there is no longer any night. A world where there is a crystal clear river that flows from the throne of God. A world where the tree of life will grow on both sides of the river and bear 12 different kinds of fruit, one each month. The same tree will have leaves that heal the nations. But most of all, a world where I will see my Savior face to face and have the priviledge of serving Him.

I am reminded of an old Hymn – “Oh, That Will Be Glory” by Charles H. Gabriel

1.When all my labors and trials are o’er,
And I am safe on that beautiful shore,
Just to be near the dear Lord I adore,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

  1. Refrain: Oh, that will be glory for me,
    Glory for me, glory for me,
    When by His grace I shall look on His face,
    That will be glory, be glory for me.
  2. When, by the gift of His infinite grace,
    I am accorded in heaven a place,
    Just to be there and to look on His face,
    Will through the ages be glory for me.
  3. Friends will be there I have loved long ago;
    Joy like a river around me will flow;
    Yet just a smile from my Savior, I know,
    Will through the ages be glory for me.

…”Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. – Revelation 22:20

I Corinthians 13:12

Revelation 22:1-5

Revelation 21:10-27

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Do I Matter to God?

While reading a book about prayer I ran across the question: “What would you love to sit down and talk about with God?“

I thought about it for two days before I finally wrote down: “Why do I matter to you?”

It puzzles me. I don’t have a poor self image, but I am not extraordinary in any way, not strikingly beautiful and not a genius. Yet I matter to God. Why?

No answer was immediately forth coming. Did God hear me? Should I not have asked the Creator of the universe such a question?

A week later I remembered something that I had put away in a box in my closet years ago. It is a rag doll I made out of a sock when I was about 10 years old.

I found the instructions in my parents’ Worldbook encyclopedia. (Yes, I still have the encyclopedias.) As you can see it is not the most beautiful doll ever made, but it is one of the first things I made without any help. Over the years I have made much better ones. Why have I kept it all these years? I simply love it because I made it.

I started to think of other things I have made over the years. Quilts, paintings and other miscelaneous things. I love each one and made them with a purpose in mind.

Back to my question for God. “Why do I matter to you?” He answered me in very clear terms. He simply loves the things He makes. I matter because He made me. My value is wrapped up in who loves me. To be loved by God is extraordinary.

If I love a misshapen old doll how much more does He love me? How much more does He love you? Take heart. He is not silent. We just need ears to hear.

For Further study:

Genesis 1:31 “And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good….”

Genesis 5:1 “when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.”

Psalm 139:14 – “I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are your works, and my soul knows it very well.”

Isaiah 43:4 “Since you are percious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you,”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

I Corinthians 1:26-28 “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong. And the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are,”

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Death of a Good Man

A good man just died. We think he died too soon. He was a necessary part of my sister’s life, of his children’s lives, of all of our lives. He was a man of integrity who had a big laugh and a gentle spirit. He was wise, kind, inquisitive, determined, generous, and most importantly he followed hard after God.

Why do good men die too soon? I have known several that were called home sooner than expected. We ask why and God seems to be silent. Rather, I think we don’t want to hear. God has a right to call those who love Him home. They belong to Him, after all, not to us.

Enoch is a case in point. It appears he was closer to God than any of the others mentioned in Genesis, but his time on earth was less than half the length of others. It says “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. “ (Genesis 5:23)

Elijah was another example of someone who went home sooner than expected, much to the dismay of Elisha. (See II Kings 2) Elisha knew God was calling Elijah home. He refused to leave his side. When other prophets told Elisha that his master was going home, he told them to be quiet. Elijah’s homegoing was a little more spectacular than normal. A chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them and Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind…and Elisha grieved. He didn’t celebrate; he tore his clothes.

So too, those of us left grieve. We know God has a right to call them home, but we grieve our loss. We put our head down and stumble on. We answer we are ok when people ask, but it will take us awhile to be ok. Our comfort comes in knowing they are home with the God who loves them. They are no longer struggling with sin and this world. They don’t have pain or sorrow; for God has wiped away their tears.

It says in Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His godly ones.”

God calls home those who have served him well to give them rest. Their work here is done.  Their new life has begun. We should not wish them back here.  We should pray that the God of all comfort would give us the comfort and grace we need to continue to serve Him well in their absence.

“Have I not given you your orders? Take heart and be strong, have no fear and do not be troubled; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”           Joshua 1:9 BBE

In memory of my brother-in-law Dennis J, Schilling (August 8, 1953 –  March 7, 2024)

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Even in My Old Age

I was sitting on the floor on Sunday when a little boy sat down next to me and said.

Boy: “What’s wrong with your eyes?”

Me: “What do you mean?”

Boy:  “You have lines.”

Me: “Those are wrinkles.”

Boy:  “What are wrinkles?”

Me: “That is what happens to your skin when you get old, it crinkles up.”

Boy: “Does it hurt?”

Me: “No”

The conversation continued as the boy continued to stare at me with concern in his eyes. Funny how I forget I am old until reminded by one who insists that the lines on my face certainly must hurt. I must admit that some of the events that led to the wrinkles hurt, but the wrinkles themselves are badges of honor. I have lived through trouble and am still standing. Why am I still standing? It has nothing to do with my ability or gumption it is God alone who has kept me moment by moment, day after day, year after year.

I look forward to someday leaving the trouble behind and gazing on the face of my Redeemer who rescued me. To see my God face to face who was with me in good times and bad and made me just as I am, wrinkles and all.

For further study:

Isaiah 46:4

Psalm 71

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When I am Afraid

I was afraid of the dark when I was little. My Dad, who knew me well, was aware of my fear. One night when he was saying good night to me I heard a banging on our house that made me shudder. My dad took my hand and said, “come with me.” I followed him down the stairs and out the back door of our house. He pointed up to a tree whose rustling branches were hitting the top of our house. He wanted me to see what made the noise so I wouldn’t be afraid. He took me back up to my bedroom and tucked me in. The noise no longer bothered me because my Dad, who knew I was afraid, had helped me.

When I was about 8 I climbed a tree in our front yard. As I climbed I broke off one of the branches I had used to climb up. I couldn’t climb up and I couldn’t climb down. There I was hanging in mid-air. My Dad heard my cry and came running to where I was. He patiently helped me down from my precarious perch. 

My Dad was able to help me because he knew me. He knew I needed His help. He knew I wasn’t always strong enough to get down from trees I had climbed. He knew I was afraid of the dark and of noises that were unfamiliar, but he not only knew me he loved me. He loved me enough to help me.

There is someone who loves me even more than my Dad did. God knows me inside out. God made me and loves me more than anyone else can. He knows I need His help. He hears me when I cry.

As I think about trouble around the world and in my everyday life I often become alarmed…then I remember that God is there to help me with the perceived threats (rustling branches) and the real threats (broken branches). He knows that we are weak and fearful people. He knows we need His help. No matter the circumstances, real or imagined, God has promised to be with us. He doesn’t promise to fix the problem, but promises to be with us. For it is by trusting Him through the darkest times that we learn to lean heavily on Him. If there was never trouble, we wouldn’t know our need of Him.

So the next time you are afraid or feel alone, remember God hears your cry. God loves you. God knows you better than anyone else.  God has promised to be with you.

For further study:

“The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.” Psalm 34:15

“but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.” I Corinthians 8:3

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine!”…

“Since you are precious in My sight. Since you are honored and I love you…

Do not fear, for I am with you;”  Isaiah 43:1, 4-5

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Time is Short

Fall is in full color. Another year is winding down. What a year it was. January was uneventful until the end when I had a stroke. I spent some days in the ICU. The hospital wanted to keep me 2 more weeks, but I convinced them I needed to get home. I was able to do just that with the help of my family. After several weeks of therapy I am semi-normal. Some things will never be the same, but I am thankful to be here.

When you are faced with death you think of all the things you want to say to all the people you love.

This is such a letter.

My life is made up of so much more than what you see on the outside. Yes, I am a wife, mother, grandmother, and teacher that enjoys hiking, making music, making art, going to auctions, cooking and a good cup of tea.

However, my life is held together by one thing. My relationship with God. Any good you see in me is because of Him. Any bad you see in me is because of my failure…yet He still loves me and calls me His own.

I have known Him for about 58 years. I first learned of him by listening to my parents as they told Bible stories using flannel graph figures and when my father read the Bible to us at the breakfast table and often after supper.

Then there was the music. Hymns and songs that still come back to me with word perfect clarity.

I am so glad that our Father in Heav’n Tells of His love in the book He has giv’n

Wonderful things in the Bible I see, This is the dearest that Jesus loves me.

I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me,

 I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me.

If I forget Him and wander away, Still He doth love me wherever I stray;

Back to His dear loving arms would I flee, when I remember that Jesus loves me.

There are more verses and many more songs. Many with deep theology, some with poor theology. But the point of them all is how much God loves us.

Why does He love us? The short answer is … because He made us.  We might not like our nose or our hair or any number of things we think of as defects, but He made us just so, to serve a purpose, to worship Him and bring glory to Him, but instead we have turned our back on Him. We try to make our own way. These efforts have gone horribly wrong.  The point is we need God. We are nothing without Him. Our best efforts belong on the garbage heap.

So why does He love us? Such wretched creatures surely aren’t worth His time. But you see God is a master artist and we are His masterpieces. We have gotten twisted and ruined, but if we come to Him; He can restore us to how we were meant to be.

Our sin should have meant the death of us, but instead Jesus came to take our place.

To die for us.

To rise for us.

To ascend to heaven to intercede for us.

This is no small thing. This should make us daily fall on our knees in worship and awe. We have been bought with a price. We can choose to continue in our ruined state or we can accept His gift of salvation and watch His transforming power.

There is nothing I can do to earn heaven. It is a simple act of repentance and accepting the free gift.

Don’t delay. None of us knows how long we will be here. Decide before the opportunity passes you by.

I love you, friend, but there is someone who loves you more. Get right with Him today.

“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”…for Whoever will call upon the name of the LORD will be saved.”  Romans 10:9-11, 13

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Forgotten

Go Cart Track by Cered is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

I sat patiently at the table…positioned so I could see our driveway and the gravel road that led to it.

Being 11 years old, I had never been go-carting before and was more than a little nervous. My money was tucked carefully into my pocket. I felt it just to make sure.

They should be here any minute.

And so I waited, patiently waited…and waited.

They must be running late. I just needed to be patient.

My eyes, which were glued to the driveway, occasionally strayed to the clock on the wall.

5…10…15 minutes late.

Maybe I misunderstood?

30 minutes later I went up to my room and put my crumpled money away. I had been forgotten.

The next day at church there were stories of how much fun they had. I said nothing.

I determined then that I would never forget someone who was counting on me.

Now I wait…patiently…5…10…15 years. Waiting for Christ to come back again and take us home. My goal is to use my time well. To warn others of His soon return.  I don’t know when, but I am sure He is coming as He promised. There is no worry that He has forgotten me.

“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am there you may be also.” John 14:3 (See also Acts 1:9-11)

He has already come once. To seek and to save that which was lost….me…you. (Luke 19:10) He calls us to Himself. He is delaying so more will respond to His tender call. He is waiting so you will respond. He is patiently waiting, but He will not wait forever. Time is running out. Won’t you respond in faith today?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

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Be Ready

It was a morning ritual for her. Our daughter, Anna, would run to the window, pull back the curtains and announce. “I don’t see Jesus coming today!”

It made me smile, but now at the memory it makes me hopeful. In Luke 12 Jesus tells the disciples to be ready, watchful… Do I live my life as if He might come back today? How is my life different because of it?

Do I look for opportunities to tell others of the hope that lies within me? Do I live my life absorbed in His word? Do I live my life furthering the gospel or my own bank account? Is my life lived for the here and now or am I looking to a better country?

Jesus has some startling words for the inattentive servant who is taken by surprise. (Luke 12:45-47) Those who expect an inheritance and yet do nothing to serve their King will have a rude awakening. A true servant wouldn’t be sitting down on the job. A true servant wouldn’t be filling his own pockets without any regard for the needs around him. A true servant would be sitting at the feet of their Lord daily…like Mary in Luke 10:38-42.

So today I recommit my life to that end. To be a faithful servant, watchful and ready for Christ’s soon return. Jesus might come today.  Are you ready?

For further study:

Luke 12:35-48

Romans 10:9-11 “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed,”