A New Year

2008 is behind us and we have begun 2009. As we start this year out it is a great time to reflect on last year and ask ourselves some questions.

• How have I served God in the last year?
• Have I reflected my Lord and savior Jesus Christ in my life?
• What failings and mistakes have I made and have I confessed them to God?

Ask yourself “How have I served God?” “What have I given back to the Lord?” and “What sacrifices have I made?” God loves to see us use our gifts to spread His message. Not everyone is gifted to teach or go and witness to strangers. Not everyone has been given monetary wealth by God, but He has given everyone a gift and wants to see us use it. Some people are gifted with a smile. It is amazing what a smile can do for someone who is having a bad day. Some people are gifted with the ability to make a stranger feel right at home. Some people are gifted with planning or designing abilities. There are many gifts God can use. Take a moment and pray that God will show you your talents and how you can use them to serve Him. (Romans12:6-8)
When people see you do they know that you are a Christian? Can they tell that there is something different about you? Is the hope that Peter talks about visible in you? As a Christian you have a part of Christ living inside of you. Do you let that part show, or do you hide it? Our lives should be a living testament to the Lord! Paul said “Do you not know that your bodies are God’s holy temple?”(1 Corinthians 3:16)
Now think back over the year. Ask yourself “How have I failed God in the last year?” “Have I carried it to Him in prayer?” God knows we are human and that we will sin. (Romans 3:23) That is why He sent His Son to die for our sins. God wants us to confess to Him so that we will think and reflect on our sin. We must realize that we are sinners and a holy God cannot look upon sin. We must know that we don’t deserve God’s love before we can truly see it.
So take few minutes go to God in prayer and talk to Him about the last year. Let Him know that ‘yes, Lord, I am a sinner and I have not been everything I could be for you. Father I have not served you in every way as I should. Lord, there have been times when I wasn’t reflecting your glory as I should have. Lord I thank you for your forgiveness and grace. I thank you for sending your Son to be my Lord and Savior. Search me and give me a pure heart. Show me how you would use me. Lord may I be found faithful in the end. Amen.

MSW

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My Anniversary Prayer

Today is my fourteenth wedding anniversary. As I look back over the last fourteen years I can truly say God has blessed my fountain. I have had the pleasure of a loving doe, whom's love I will be lost in forever. (Proverbs 5:18-19) I look at what Paul says in Ephesians 5:25 and believe that this is the perfect example of what true marriage should be. Just as Christ loved the church and would die and sacrifice Himself for it, a man should love his wife and be willing to sacrifice for her.
In the apocryphical book Tobit. The angel Raphael tells Tobias about the woman (Sara) he is to marry "for she is appointed unto thee from the beginning" ( Tobit 6:17) I have always felt that Amy was the one God appointed to me from the beginning of time. I look at how we met, the way we came together, and the way we raise our family, and know that God knew that we would complete each other.
In the 1996 movie Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise tells Renée Zellweger "You complete me." It's hard to believe that Hollywood could get something so right, but they actually nailed God's plan for marriage on the head with that one. Look at Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. (KJV)
God wanted us to have someone with us. Someone to be a part of us. Someone we can confide in. Someone to share our life with us.
When God created the animals He formed each from the ground. (Genesis 2:19) They were each according to their kinds, but man was to be male and female. (Genesis 1:24, Genesis 1:27) Mankind was special. God could have done woman just like man and formed her from the ground and breathed life into her nostrils. (Genesis 2:7) He gave man a special gift though. He took one of Adams ribs and made Eve so that out of man came woman. (Genesis 2:21-23)
There is a special significance in this. When a man marries a woman they become one flesh. They are no longer two separate people but one individual in Christ. (Genesis 2:24) The woman completes the man. This is why marriage will always be one man and one woman.

and He also said: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate." Matthew 19:5-6 HCSB

Heavenly Father I praise You for the way Your creation works . How You gave man such a special place. Lord, not only were we created in Your image but You gave us a counterpart that would complete us. Lord I thank You for choosing Amy as my wife. Lord, I pray that You will help me to be the husband I should be. Lord I pray that my marriage will represent my Lord Jesus Christ's marriage to the church. Father I thank You for the blessings You pour out on my marriage and Lord, I ask that You continue to bless us . Father I thank You for the gift of my three children and Lord I pray that I will teach them in the way that they should go. Lord I pray that mine and Amy's marriage will be an example to them and that they will find the same happiness and joy in who You chose for them. Father I pray for those who have not found this same joy and that Lord You would call them and show them what you intended for them. Father I thank You for the fourteen years I have shared with Amy and pray that You will allow us many more. May I be found faithful. Amen
MSW

Amy, I love you!
Happy Anniversary!
Your husband Scott

Since the reference tool I use does not link to the Apocrypha I'm putting a link here for the KJV in pdf format for anyone who does not know what I'm referring to.

One In A Sea Of Faces

To see the analogies I am talking about, you need to read Tim’s Post that I have linked to below.

Back on December 15, Tim Challies posted a beautiful piece entitled One in a Sea of Faces. It is about the healing of the invalid from the book of John 5:1-15. The end of the post relates this to Calvinism. I realize in the blogosphere Calvinism reigns, and I read many Calvinistic bloggers but I cannot buy into the theology they use on Election.
I started to post on his blog but decided I would rather take a little more space and speak here instead. I do not believe that anyone should use the theology of Calvinism vs Arminianism as a reason to attack each other personally. It really is a small point as long as you don’t believe that because of Calvinism you should not go out and witness. Jesus makes it perfectly clear in the great commission (Matthew 28:16-20) that we are to go out and try to bring souls to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 Paul makes it clear that we should be united in Christ and not different views of religious leaders.
If you read in Calvin: Commentaries Chapter VII, Calvin resorts to name calling to prove his point. “Some Theologians would make foreknowledge the mother of election and that very foolishly and childishly.” When someone has a legitimate argument name calling is not necessary. I guess I go with the foolish and Childish theologian Peter. an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:( 1 Peter 1:1-2 ESV) (emphasis is mine).I also believe the great theologian Paul when in Romans 3:22, he said "the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:" Or John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Notice all and whoever in these verses. These words are used because God offers salvation to all that believe.
God saw my life from the very beginning. He knew every mistake I would make. He knew every sin I would commit. He knew the exact date that I would be saved by the knowledge of God’s mercy through the death of Jesus Christ. He knew when I would answer His calling on my life. Nothing I have done or could do will get me into heaven. When God spoke I answered. Did I have a choice? I had the same choice Adam had when Eve offered him that apple. I could follow death or follow eternal life through Jesus Christ. God does not make any follow Him. There are many that know of Jesus that will perish in Hell because they do not know Him.(Matthew 7:22-23)
I have heard the “what do you make of Romans 9?” argument before. If you interpret Romans 9 with the rest of the book of Romans, you will see a pattern of Paul teaching that salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ. In Chapter 9 he is referring to the Jews who believe that they can be saved by following the law. (Romans 9:3-4) (Romans 9:30-31) He is speaking of the Jews that do not feel it is fair for God to grant mercy to the gentiles who did not seek mercy.
As for the shipwreck analogy that Jessica pointed out, yes it would be like God sitting on a raft saving those who ask for help. Do I have to deal with the hell issue in defending my belief? No, God tells us in 1 Timothy 2:3 He wants all to be saved by coming to the knowledge of the truth. Sometimes my kids are struggling with something and I offer to help and they refuse. Does it hurt me to see them struggle? Yes! Do I want to help them? Yes! Should I force them to let me? Not if it is something they need to do.
Curtis I love your analogy of the courtroom. It is the perfect picture of God’s Grace. The only problem is God doesn’t just go in and pay the fine because He has the money. He received the money through His insurance policy on His Son. If the guilty people will believe that His son gave His life so that Dad would have the cash to pay their fines He will pay them. Yes, God and the Son still get the glory.
I have done nothing to deserve grace. I deserve to burn in Hell for all eternity. I thank God that He loved me so much that He gave me a way to be with Him.

I did not write this post to insult anyone or to criticize their beliefs and theology. Calvinism gets the largest share of Blogs and for those who are struggling with the truth they need to see both sides. I would love comments on this post but I do not want to see anyone attacking anyone just explaining beliefs.
MSW

Clean Garments for the High Priest

Zechariah 3:1-10 HCSB

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?"
Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes."
Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you."
Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.
The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.
" 'Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes [on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.
" 'In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,' declares the LORD Almighty."

This was the fourth vision that Zechariah had. It concerns Joshua the high priest. (Haggai 1:1, Ezra 2:36) It also shows us God's grace when we stand in judgment. Joshua means Jehovah saved. We will be saved by God through the death of His Son Jesus. We will stand in front of the throne of Christ. Satan will be there saying "He is mine. He is nothing but a sinner."
I will stand there knowing Satan is right and has every reason to call me his, but my savior Jesus will say “No, he is Mine.”
I was snatched from the fire when I accepted Jesus as my savior. I will stand filthy and stinking in front of Jesus, and He will say " Take off his filthy clothes! See I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you."
When we accept Jesus, (v7) we are to walk in His ways and keep His requirements, so that we may be given a place among the saints. Let us all be found faithful in that day.

Reread these verses and place yourself at the judgment. None of us can make it through the judgement on our own. We must have our Lord Jesus Christ's redeeming blood to wash our sins away. This is a picture of what is to come for those of us that have been snatched from the fire.
MSW

Are You Real

On my way to work earlier this week Kj52 Are You Real played. As I was listening to the lyrics, it got me thinking. When we first start out as a Christian we are always looking for God. Our old sin nature tries to make us doubt. As we mature we start seeing God working everywhere. I imagine we have all heard someone say if God was real, why doesn't He show Himself to us. Once we believe through faith God will show us He is there. When we give our lives over to God to run for us, we can almost here Him ask "Are you real?" Are you really ready to turn your life over to Me to serve My goals and not yours.
Read the lyrics below and think about it. Are you proving to God that you are real!
MSW

So much stress keeps running through my mind now.
Fell into a mess that I that wish that I could climb out.
I guess I hide it so nobody'll find out,
The way everyone thinks that everything is fine now.

At home things are messed up with mom and dad,
And at school all my friends stab me in the back.
No one is real anymore; I hate the way they act.
There's so many things that I wish I had.

So God if your there do u understand?
Don't you care about anything that's happenin?
It's not fair to put me through all this junk again.
You see that I'm scared, so help me if you can.

So please speak loud and clear 'cause I'm listenin'.
I need to know that you're real 'cause I'm strugglin'.
You need to show that your here 'cause I'm stumblin'.
Show me that you care this is why I'm saying this

Are you real?
I want to know (I want to know)
Are you real?
Then let it go (you got to let it go)

Are you real?
I want to know (I want to know)
Are you real?
Then let it show (you got to let it show)

It was right then, when everything began to change.
I started looking at these things in a different way.
I saw life through God's eyes and it wasn't the same,
And it was right at the time I called on your name.

Then I saw all these lies that was thrown away.
I recognized that I need you and on that day,
I cried out and seek you, that was when you came.
Now that I see you, I've been through a major change.

And I believe that you're real 'cause its so plain.
I finally feel I can make it through anything.
It don't matter what they speak or if they hate.
They can't keep me down no more 'cause I seen your face.

And for now on never will I be the same
'Cause I'm staying strong and I won't bend this way.
Now that I know that you're real, it's gonna be ok.
Yeah, you're speaking in my ear and this is what you say

Are you real?
I want to know (I want to know)
Are you real?
Then let it go (you got to let it go)

Are you real?
I want to know (I want to know)
Are you real?
Then let it show (you got to let it show)

See there's a war that's going on outside,
And you can try to ignore and just run and hide.
But everyday more and more people die.
See the battles for souls, we're on the front lines

So many souls, just too scared to fight
They're too worried about what people thinking of their life.
How can you fight if you don't lay down your pride?
And how will anyone see if you won't shine your light?

So many of your friends walking around blind
You got the source that can open up their eyes.
It's y'all's choice what you do with your lives,
But I'm gonna go to war 'cause I made up my mind.

Jesus gave us life when he went and died.
So the least that I could do is give him all of mine.
So how many of y'all are ready to fight by my side?
'Cause this is what he's saying right now here tonight.
Come on!

Are you real?
I want to know (I want to know)
Are you real?
Then let it go (you got to let it go)

Are you real?
I want to know (I want to know)
Are you real?
Then let it show (you got to let it show)

Christmas

How can we praise God during this year’s holiday season? What can we do during the rush of the season to remember that praising Jesus is the most important thing in our lives? What should be a joyous time for all is sometimes the hardest time of the year for many.
As our economy has taken a down turn, many have found themselves unemployed. High fuel prices all summer and still high gas prices for heat this winter have made people take a second look at their financial priorities. The commercialization of Christmas and trying to live up to the expectations of times past adds another monetary burden for many.
It all starts with Black Friday, as the Friday after Thanksgiving has come to be known. From this point to Christmas every store will be advertising holiday or x-mas sales as it is not politically correct to use the word Christ. People will be decorating trees and setting up yard ornaments. Yet none of this glorifies God. None of this brings praise to Jesus Christ. This commercialization leads us away from Christ and into depression and more financial burden. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus tells us “Come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.”
While not going into the subject of how Christmas came about or what its purpose really was, let’s look at the view most people perceive for Christmas. If you asked the majority of people why we celebrate Christmas, they would tell you to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Now ask them, “So how do we celebrate?” If they don’t stand there staring at you in surprise of your question, they will probably say by giving gifts to each other. So how is that celebrating the birth of your savior?
If you do celebrate, how can you do it in a way that will glorify the Son? This season is the perfect chance to witness. It gives an excuse to open up dialogue with a lost soul. During fellowship with family take time to reflect on why the birth of Jesus is a day to celebrate to you. Most of all take the time to reach out to others.
MSW
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

Thanksgiving Prayer

Happy Thanksgiving! What a great time to take a few minutes and thank the lord for all the blessings He has given us.

Heavenly father I thank you for this day.
Lord I praise You for all the blessings You have given me.
Lord I want to thank You for the family You have given me.
Lord thank You for the three wonderful kids You have placed in my care.
Father I pray I may raise them in a way that brings glory to You.
Lord I thank You for my wife, who is always there for me to provide love and encouragement.
Lord I pray that I may be everything to her that she is to me and Father I pray that we may have a marriage that shows worship to You.
Lord I thank You for providing for all my needs. Lord You bless me with a roof over my head, food on my table and clothes to wear.
Father I thank You for the blessings You provide me in allowing me to serve You. Lord I pray You will increase those blessings and that I may be found faithful in Your service.
Lord I thank You for providing me with a job in these tough economic times that are going on.
Lord I pray for those who are less fortunate. Father I pray that You will bless them and take care of them during this time.
Lord I thank You for the movement of Your spirit that I can see in my life.
Lord I thank You for the things I have seen You do in the lives of those I have prayed for this year.
Lord I thank You for the trials I have had to face and how when I did not thank I could carry on You always would provide something in Your Word to give me strength and encouragement.
Lord I thank You for Your Word which speaks to me and gives me comfort and guidance.
Father I thank You for your Son Who came down from heaven in the form of man to take my sins upon Him and die in my place.
Lord I thank You for Your grace and mercy that is so undeserved.
Father I pray for those who don’t know You. Lord those who don’t see the blessings You have given them.
Lord I pray that You will use me to help spread Your name.
Father I thank You for my church and church family. Lord I pray You continue to bless us
Lord I pray You give strength and encouragement to all the church leaders who Sheppard your flock.
Father thank you for this life I have been given and all the blessings that I may take for granted.
Lord I pray that my life may bring glory to Your Name.
It is in Jesus’ precious name that I pray. Amen
MSW

View From Above

I love this time of the year. This is a time I truly get to enjoy God' s creation. As I sit in the dark in my deer stand and wait for God's creation to wake up I feel so alive in Christ.
Before dawn I get to watch the creatures of the night interact with each other. I can see how God provides for even the smallest of his creatures (). As God starts the day with his sunrise, I can enjoy the spectrum of colors he blessed his creation with.
Normally the squirrels are the first daytime creatures to stir. It's such a pleasure to watch how they scamper through the woods finding and hiding nuts. Then a chase will start as two squirrels playful chase each other through the woods.
As I patiently wait, often while reading my bible I will hear the leaves as a deer carefully walks through the woods. What a marvel of God's creation? A few steps and they attentively look around. Even if you don't hunt to there is no better way to enjoy God's creation than to watch it wake up from it's nightly slumber.
Lord I thank you for the blessing you allow me in the chance to see your creation in all it's splendor. Lord thank You for the view from above. Amen

MSW
Psalm 8:3-9

When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:

all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Walking Together With Christ

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Amos 3:3 KJV

Amos said this while prophesying against Israel. What a verse for us to think about today! As I was studying this verse I read a commentary by Vernon McGee. He said he was watching a young couple walk together, when suddenly the girl turned and went the other way. They were walking together until they were no longer in agreement then they could no longer go in the same direction.

Now picture your walk with Christ. He is never going to change direction. So if we are in agreement we are walking together, but sometimes we decide “Hey God I can handle this on my own”, and we head off in a separate direction. Once we realize we can’t we turn back to God and we again are in agreement and walking together.

Do you remember doing potato bag races as a kid? You and a partner would each place one leg in a bag and one outside. Then you would race other teams to the finish line.

To succeed you and your partner had to be in agreement on when to move the leg that was in the bag. If either one of you moved at the wrong time you would stumble and fall!

As we walk with Christ we are in that potato bag with Jesus, if we walk in step with Him we do fine. It’s when we try to get out of step with Jesus we stumble and fall short of God’s Glory.

So as you go through the day ask your self “Am I walking in agreement with God?”

MSW

Light for my path

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:05)

The Bible is such a joy to me. It is a way to listen to what God says to me. Often I will pray and then open up my bible saying LORD talk to me. It never ceases to amaze me, no matter how many times I may read the same thing over. God will have something new to show me each time. A lamp to my feet. During power outages I often use an old oil lamp to find my way and to light up a room. If I need to walk through my house I can hold the lamp up and see the choices of directions I can go in. Being able to see what is in each direction allows me to decide which way I should go. The bible shows us the way we are to go. It shows us the choices we have. A light for my path. Once I decide which way to go, I can see what lies in my path. The light will allow me to see what is ahead of me. The light will give me security in the darkness. Isn't it amazing how the bible can give us that same security as we walk through a dark world. It shows us how to find the light in this world.

The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5)

MSW

The Bronze Snake

In John 3:1-21 Jesus is talking to Nicodemus. In John 3:14-15 Jesus says “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

This had to be confusing to an already confused Nicodemus. First he is saying I have to be born again, now He is talking about Moses and snakes. Just imagine the understanding he received after seeing Jesus on the cross and hearing of the resurrection.

In Numbers 21:4-9 we read about the bronze snake. As the Israelites were traveling through the desert they started to complain and speak out against God. They complained that while God was supplying for there needs, it wasn’t good enough. How often do we complain to God that we are not satisfied, even though he meets our every need?

God sent venomous snakes amongst them and many died from the bites. They confessed their sins and prayed that the LORD would take the snakes away. (Numbers 21:7)

God answered “The LORD said to Moses, ‘Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived. (Numbers 21:8-9)

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” John 13:14-15

The Israelites were dying in their sin, just as we were dying in our sin. (Ephesians 2:1) If they looked upon the bronze snake on the pole they gained life. If we look at the sacrifice Jesus Christ made upon the cross, we gain life.

MSW

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3:16-18

True Understanding

LXII.

I did not learn my divinity at once, but was constrained by my temptations to search deeper and

deeper; for no man, without trials and temptations, can attain a true understanding of the Holy

Scriptures. St Paul had a devil that beat him with fists, and with temptations drove him diligently

to study the Holy Scripture. I had hanging on my neck the pope, the universities, all the deep-learned,

and the devil; these hunted me into the Bible, wherein I sedulously read, and thereby, God be

praised, at length attained a true understanding of it. Without such a devil, we are but only speculators

of divinity, and according to our vain reasoning, dream that so and so it must be, as the monks and

friars in monasteries do. The Holy Scripture of itself is certain and true; God grant me grace to

catch hold of its just use.

From

Table Talk

By

Martin Luther

Abraham Believed God

Romans 4:1-5

Paul said “If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.” (Romans 4:2) Abraham lived a Godly life. If God spoke it, Abraham did it without question! God told him to pack up and move and off he went. (Genesis 12:1-4) God told him to sacrifice his son and off he went. (Genesis 22:2-3) When Kedorlaomer and the kings that were allied with him attacked Sodom they took Lot captive. Abraham retrieved him. Even though the king of Sodom offered everything recovered to Abraham, he gave a tenth to the priest Melchizedek, then the rest he gave to the King of Sodom. (Genesis 14)

That isn’t what justified Abraham in God’s eyes though! “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

We can brag about the amount of time we spend in prayer or studying the bible. We can boast of what we give to the church, or how much we do. We can seek offices and good standing. We can build ourselves up with man all we want. This is just show. (Matthew 6:1-18) It does not make us righteous.

If we work for something, we feel something is owed us. (Romans 4:4)We feel we have earned it. Then we start to build ourselves up, because we deserve what we have gotten. Salvation is through faith. (Romans 3:24) We can’t earn it and we definitely don’t deserve it. It is freely given and all we have to do is believe.

“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:3)

When we believe Jesus Christ came down from heaven as a man, and we believe that He suffered humiliation, beatings and death, just so our sins could be forgiven. Then we have gained righteousness. Then we can be at peace with God (Romans 5:1)

MSW

Repent

Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.
Matthew 3:2 NIV
The word repent is found throughout the old and new testaments. When Jonah prophesied in Nineveh, they repented. (Matthew 12:41) God says in Ezekiel 18:30 KJV “…Repent, and turn [yourselves] from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” On and on the Word of God tells us to repent, but what exactly does repent mean? I turned to old Mr. Webster and he said it means to turn from your sin. We know what sin is we have the Ten Commandments to show us that (Exodus 20:1-17) Jesus showed us that lust is the same as adultery and Hate is the same as murder, so we know the standard God uses to measure sin. To repent means to turn from sin. Does that make sense? Jeremiah 18:8 says “If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.” God is saying He will repent. God can’t sin. He is Holy.
The Greek word for repent is metanoeō (met-an-o-eh́-o). It means to think differently or reconsider. How are we to think differently? What is the difference in turning from sin and thinking differently about sin? John the Baptist was the voice in the wilderness telling us our savior Jesus Christ was here. (Isaiah 40:3; Mark 1:4) In Acts 19:1-4 when Paul met the disciples at Ephesus he asked if they received the Holy Spirit upon baptism. When they told him it was John’s baptism. He told them that John’s was a baptism of repentance and baptized them in the name of Jesus Christ. John’s baptism was being reborn to a new way of thinking. Before Jesus the Jews went by the Mosaic Law. That was the way to righteousness. We know that no one other than Jesus can live up to God’s expectations of obedience to the law. (Romans 3:10) This new way of thinking was that God’s Son Jesus had come from Heaven as flesh and blood and became the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Today a typical response of a lost person as to why God should allow them into His Heaven is “I’m a pretty nice guy.” Just like the rich man in Matthew 19:20, they are trying to make it to Heaven by the law. They can’t! This new way of thinking is realizing that Jesus is the way the truth and the life (John 14:6) In Acts 5:32 we learn that Jesus grants repentance and forgiveness. When we accept Jesus as our Savior we are forgiven of our sins and given a new way of seeing things. We see that Jesus is the only way to Heaven because we cannot defeat sin on our own. We see that Jesus is a light unto our path. He will lead and protect us if we just believe. In 2 Timothy 2:26 we see that God grants us repentance so that we may know the truth. If you start thinking that you are one of God’s children, if you set your eyes on the goal of pleasing God, by worshiping His Son Jesus Christ, then turning from sin will be automatic.

MSW

One Vote

When I started this blog I told myself I was not going to do anything Political on it. In 7 days America will be making a choice in one of the most important presidential elections of my lifetime. Not because of either candidate, but because of who they may appoint to the Supreme Court. I am not going to endorse either candidate because everyone needs to pray about it and make that decision on their own.

Romans 13:1 KJV Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Paul is telling us to submit to authority because it is God who appoints that authority. In America God has blessed us even more. He allows us to vote for a leader. In my opinion He puts a great responsibility on us as Christians. We are that city on a hill. (Matthew 5:14) and our vote tells the rest of America and the world how we feel about God’s commandments.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD: Psalm 33:12

AFA Voter Guide

The Fall & Sacrifice

The Fall

Adam and Eve were in paradise. They had everything they could want. God provided for their every need. The only thing he asked for in return was obedience. All they had to do was to avoid one tree. (Genesis 3:3) The bible mentions two specific trees in the middle of Eden. (Genesis 2:9) The tree of life led to salvation. The tree of knowledge of good and evil led to damnation. We have this same choice today! We can follow Christ to salvation or the world and Satan to damnation. Just as God instructed Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of knowledge, we are instructed by the bible to avoid the sin of the world. (Genesis 3:1-5) Satan tempted Eve the same way he tempts us. He uses pride, doubt, confusion and self satisfaction to deceive us. Instead of doing what God wanted Eve did what satisfied her. Genesis 3:6 says “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was…pleasing to the eye.” Sin is often pleasing to the eye and makes us desire it. The Devil has many ways of making sin look appealing. Many times when we plan to do evil we will try and talk others into sinning with us like Eve carried Adam into sin with her. (Genesis 3:7) “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked” When we sin we realize we have failed God and feel shame. (Genesis 3:8) “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God…, and they hid from the LORD God.” We should be happy that God seeks us out, but when we are in sin we are terrified and hide from His presence. (Genesis 3:9) “But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"” God knows when we sin yet He still seeks us out and while He knows what we have done He wants us to confess to Him. (Genesis 3:12-13) When Adam was confronted with his sin he blamed Eve who turned and blamed the serpent. When we are confronted we often try to blame our sin on others and if all else fails, “The Devil made me do it!” In Genesis 3:16-19 God tells them what there punishment will be. When we sin and dishonor God we will be punished.

The Sacrifice

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
Genesis 3:21
This verse points us to our salvation. We can’t cover our sins with something we do anymore than Adam and Eve could cover their’s with fig leaves. The leaves did not hide their sin from God’s eyes and neither did the garments he made them. It was the sacrifice of the animal that atoned and brought forgiveness for their sin. The Old Testament repeatedly mentions a sin offering. In the New Testament we receive the perfect offering that ended the need for sacrifice. Jesus’ blood is our sin offering, all we do is accept it. Just as Adam and Eve needed the sacrifice to remove their sin, we couldn’t be forgiven without the crucifixion of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
MSW

Thank You

I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you to everyone who comes to this blog regularly. I pray that something I write may be a blessing to you. This blog has been a blessing for me and knowing that there are several people who read it regular gives me encouragement to keep on. Posting this month will probably be slim as work has picked up and I'm looking in to some side projects. I have two essays I'm working on that are requiring a lot of study. Hopefully I'll get them up soon. Again thank you and may God Bless you.
MSW

Fireproof

I finally got to take my wife to see fireproof. If you haven't seen it I recommend it.
It is an awesome movie with Christian values and many ideas that can help even a strong marriage. In this day when Hollywood rarely has a movie that strengthens Christian viewpoints instead of tearing them down we should throw all our support behind this company
Go to Sherwood Pictures for more information about this movie and their others.

Britney by Bebo Norman

A few months ago I started to write about how it annoyed me some of the stupid stuff celbrities do. Children look up to them and want to be like them and they lead them down a hard road. I didn't feel like God wanted me to write it so I didn't. I heard this song a few weeks later and realized why. Many of our young celebrities do not know Jesus and they have no one who will show them Jesus. Many people want to see the bad things that happen to these celebrities and the media won't show the positive things. When all you ever hear people say about you is bad, it tears you down. So as you listen to this song think about the celebrities our children look up to and pray for them. If their is anyone you know who has been torn down by gossip pray for them also.

Noah's Ark

I received an email the other day with pictures of a biblical sized replica of Noah's Ark. Its located in Schagen Netherlands and was built by a dutch contractor. I thought I'd put a few pictures up. I'm going to include the text from the Email since it appears to be accurate.

Working Replica of Noah's Ark Opened In SCHAGEN, Netherlands . The massive central door in the side of Noah's Ark was opened the first crowd of curious townsfolk to behold the wonder. Of course, it's only a replica of the biblical Ark , built by Dutch Creationist Johan Huibers as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible. The ark is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide. That's two-thirds the length of a football field and as high as a three-story house. Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold. A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine. Biblical Scholars debate exactly what the wood used by Noah would have been.

Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools and with occasional help from his son Roy. Construction began in May 2005. On the uncovered top deck - not quite ready in time for the opening - will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs and chickens, and goats, and one camel.

Visitors on the first day were stunned. 'It's past comprehension', said Mary Louise Starosciak, who happened to be bicycling by with her husband while on vacation when they saw the ark looming over the local landscape.

'I knew the story of Noah, but I had no idea the boat would have been so big.' There is enough space near the keel for a 50-seat film theater where kids can watch a video that tells the story of Noah and his ark. Huibers, a Christian man, said he hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands.

The Gift

Many new and some longtime Christians have a hard time grasping the fact that all God asks us to do to gain eternal salvation is confess with our mouths and believe with our hearts. (Romans 10:9) When you look back at all the sins you’ve committed, it’s hard to believe that you don’t have to do anything, but accept Jesus into your heart to be saved. God came down from Heaven in the form of a man to be beaten and crucified just so you can live eternally in heaven with Him. Many Christians feel there has to be something else you have to do. This causes them to doubt whether they were ever saved. They start to ask questions like: “Am I truly Saved?” “How can I know?” These doubts build frustration and the frustration can lead us away from our savior.

How can you know yes I am truly saved? Look at Romans 10:9. That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Okay, you say I did confess and I do believe Jesus died and arose on the third day. But He has to expect something out of me and I try to be perfect but I Can’t. God realizes we can’t be perfect Romans 3:10 "There is no one righteous, not even one; What you must realize is your salvation is a gift from God. Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! If you’re a Christian you should know that your fleshly body is evil. Now let’s apply this verse to the gift of salvation. You give a gift to your child, not for any reason other than you love them. What do you expect in return? Think about it for a minute. A thank you is nice, but you aren’t going to take the gift back because you don’t get one. An “I Love you!” is nice, but again you aren’t going to take it back if you don’t get one. Your Child cleaning their room without being told as a thank you is nice, but you didn’t’ feel they owed it to you. We are evil and this is how we feel about giving a gift. Think about how much more our Heavenly Father loves us.

To me the greatest joy in giving a gift is in seeing the joy of the one who receives it. This is the reason God gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins. (John 3:16) He gave us a gift! He expects nothing in return. It was a gift to show that He loves us. God loves it when we worship and praise Him, but salvation is a gift with no strings attached. Realizing this, it is easy to be sure of your salvation and start showing God you love Him.

MSW

Gods Holy Temple

Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 HCSB

I had do my testimony in front of the church a couple of weeks ago. As I thought on what I was going to say, I realized I had fought a fifteen year alcohol addiction that ended with five words. Lord, take this from me! Since then I have heard of two people I care about going down the road of drug use. So as I write this and use the word alcohol or drunkenness it also applies to drug use.
Why should we not drink? I have often times heard people say stuff like I don’t have a problem, I just drink socially. If you didn’t have a problem you wouldn’t feel you should have to justify it! Second while you have the right to do anything, not everything is beneficial. (1 Corinthians 6:12) So why do it? Even if you don’t feel you have a problem what about your brother that does? Look at Romans 14:21 It is wrong for a person to do anything that causes a brother or sister to stumble. Then in Romans 14:22 we are told blessed are those who do not condemn them selves by what they approve. In 1 Corinthians 5:11 Paul is talking about immorality among members of the church. “But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with any who claim to be fellow believers but are ...drunkards ... With such persons do not even eat. ” Acts 17:24 tells us God does not live in temples built by hands. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 tells us we are God’s temple and that He will destroy anyone who tries to destroy His temple, which is exactly what drugs and alcohol do. This is why God allows us to destroy ourselves once we take the freewill to do alcohol or drugs. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states again that our bodies are God’s temple and that we should honor God with our bodies. Destroying ourselves with drugs and alcohol is not how God wants us to treat His Holy temple. Besides defiling God’s temple Ephesians 5:18 tells us that getting drunk leads to debauchery. In Genesis 9:20-25 Noah’s drunkenness allowed Ham to sin. In Genesis 19:31-38 Lot’s drunkenness allowed him and his daughters to sin. Drugs and alcohol will always lead us to sin. Think of how many people you have heard talk about getting drunk and waking up with someone they did not know. No matter what anyone tries to tell you alcohol and drugs are addictive and what ever we are addicted to becomes our master.2 Peter 2:19 and we cannot serve two masters or we will hate the one and love the other. (Matthew 6:24) So how do you stop an addiction? You can’t! It takes God and you have to ask Him. Jesus told the Pharisee in Matthew 23:26, “First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” If we let God into our Hearts, the outside will become clean and no addiction can hold us. Galatians 5:16 says walk by the spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. If you call on God and ask him to help you leave your addiction behind, He will!
MSW

My Servant Nebuchadnezzar

In Matthew 20:1-16 we have the parable of the workers. This parable is about a man who hires workers at four different times during the day. At the end of the day he pays them all the same amount. The ones who worked the longest were upset because they thought they would get more even though they had agreed to the amount they received. The owner of the vineyard showed his generosity to everyone the same. This parable isn’t really about money though. It’s about God’s gift of eternal life and how He shows His grace to those who come to Him at the end of their life, just as He does to those who come early.
I studied the book of Jeremiah last month and while I found nothing about bullfrogs or joy to the world, I did find mention of wine. (Jeremiah 25:15) If you didn’t get that joke you are making me feel old. Anyways I spent most of my time studying Jeremiah in the book of Daniel. All because of two words. Before I start let me say I believe the Bible is the Divine Word of God written by God through Man. I also feel every word was intentional and used for a reason. When I study I try to look at each word individual and see why it was used. When I saw Jeremiah 25:9 refer to My Servant Nebuchadnezzar; I had to wonder why God referred to him as His servant. No mistake about it again in Jeremiah 27:6 under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar appears. Okay why is He calling Nebuchadnezzar His servant. Nebuchadnezzar is an evil man, he throw men in furnaces, (Daniel 3:11) kills children in front of their father before poking his eyes out,(2 Kings 25:7) his army bashed in the heads of babies,(Nahum 3:10) oh yeah and he encourages worship of an idol that requires them to put their children through fire. Yeah we have a real saint here. Most of the commentaries quickly say that this just shows God uses evil people to do His will. Okay that makes sense, but I’m still not ready to bite. If that is the reason then there has to be another occurrence of the words My servant talking about someone who does evil to achieve Gods purpose. There isn’t. So to see who old Neb really was I went to Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel ruler over his kingdom and allowed Daniel to appoint his friends to offices. I believe Daniel was fond of Nebuchadnezzar. When he interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, He said “if only it were your enemies.” (Daniel 4:19) Daniel 4 is written by Nebuchadnezzar near the end of his life around 562 BC. Look how it starts in Daniel 4:1-3 "King Nebuchadnezzar, to those of every people, nation, and language, who live in all the earth: May your prosperity increase. How great are His miracles, and how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation." "I am pleased to tell you about the miracles and wonders the Most High God has done for me.", sounds like the beginning of a testimony to me. Now look at Daniel 4:34 “But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. Then I praised the Most High and honored and glorified Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion. and His kingdom is from generation to generation." Now jump to Daniel 4:37 "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of heaven, because all His works are true and His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride." That sounds like a man who has had God turn his life around.
Now back to Jeremiah 1:5 "I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations." God knew whether or not we would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus before long before our creation. Now look at the beauty and grace in these three words: My Servant Nebuchadnezzar. To God Nebuchadnezzar was already His servant twenty something years before he called on God. Even before we decide to confess and repent God considers us one of His own. Look back at your life and all the sins you've committed and think the day I was born God looked down and referred to me as His servant.
Heavenly Father I praise Your glorious name. Lord I thank You for all You do in my life. Father to see Your Grace and Forgiveness demonstrated in the book of Jeremiah with such simple words as My Servant. Lord it brings Joy to know that You forgave me before I even knew the mistakes I would make. Father thank You for the grace You have shown me. Father I thank You for Your Word to give encouragement. In Your Son’s Holy name in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen

MSW

The Devil Among Us

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8 KJV

This line in 1 Peter is often mentioned when talking about Spiritual warfare. I doubt any Christian would deny that the devil has turned Earth into his playground. You can’t turn on the TV without being tempted by sin. You can’t go out on Friday night without seeing it everywhere. If you work in the secular world, someone is always talking about how drunk they got or the one night stand they had or their extramarital affair. Yet these invites and temptations are easy to resist, because we know they were put there by Satan.

Now let’s look at war. For many centuries one foe gathered on one side the other gathered on the other side. Then they tried to see who could kill the most. It’s a little more complicated now with tanks, aircraft, missiles and bombs. Still the object is to do enough damage so that the enemy surrenders. But these are just battles not war. War takes place a long ways off from the battlefield. It takes place in our military headquarters. Generals are planning each and every battle. They place men in strategic locations with very specific missions. The most powerful weapon any military has is it’s spies. The intelligence gathers. They let the adversary know where their enemy is going to be and they stir up confusion. There is a show on TV called the Mole where a team has a task they are supposed to do, yet the whole time one member of the team is trying to sabotage everything. The object of the game is to determine who the mole is. This also is Satan’s most powerful tool. Just about any book I have read where a pastor talks about the biggest problem in their ministries, it is from within. The gossipers, backbiters, and slanderers are what destroy ministries. That is what spiritual warfare is. It is fighting Satan when he is amongst us. I just finished reading The Ten Offenses by Pat Robertson. In it he mentions a man that had his life ruined by a little gossip. He lost his wife, his reputation, and his business went bankrupt. All this was because another Christian started a little white lie, and other Christians passed it on.

Now I want to look to the bible. I’m going to start with David. Think back to Absalom’s Conspiracy (2 Samuel 15) it hurt David that his son turned on him, but he knew that it was God’s judgment on him and accepted it. What hurt him though was Ahitophel’s betrayal. (2 Samuel 15:31) In Psalm 41:9 David says even my close friend, someone I trusted…has lifted up his heel against me. David understood his son’s greed for power. He understood God’s punishment on him. But the one person he thought he could count on betrayed him.

Job had lost everything. In one day he lost his livelihood and all his children. (Job 1:13-21) Then to top it off he became sick! (Job 2:7) What did Job need; a friend to encourage him, a shoulder to lean on. Instead he got three friends that proceeded to tear him down.

Even Jesus was betrayed by someone he loved. Yes, he knew what was going to happen yet he still loved Judas. (Matthew 26:14) We are told to encourage one another. (2 Corinthians 13:11) We should try to lift one another up. We should try to help each other and not tear each other down. Our old sin nature and adversary the devil wants to see us tear each other down.

I imagine everyone of us knows a fellow Christian going through a hard time. Do we reach out and help or do we hurt them as Job’s friends did him.

MSW

Thomas Bilney

A while back I was reading about Thomas Bilney. He is not well known among the reformers, but he led many of the well known reformers to their belief in Salvation through Christ, not works. While many other martyrs suffered worse deaths than he did his story and testimony just jumped out at me. I believe it’s important for us to study the persecution of Christians in the past. Here in America we really don’t have an understanding what it would be like to suffer pain and death for our religious beliefs. We need to realize that we are truly blessed in being allowed to worship freely without persecution. The early Christians did not have that luxury and in many countries today they still do not. The news media does not show us the violence that missionaries and Christians in countries like Iran, Africa, Iraq, India, Pakistan, and many others have to suffer. Second it doesn’t matter if you believe in rapture before, after, or during the tribulation, Our Christian brothers and sisters will suffer during that time! The testimonies and faith of the Martyrs help us see that God will take care of those brave enough to die for Him.

Rather than tell Thomas Bilney’s story I will just place some links at the bottom of this post for anyone who would like to read more about him. Bilney was born in 1495 and became a catholic priest in 1519. He performed all the rituals, rites fasting, purchasing of indulgences, but like many other reformers he did not feel secure in his Salvation. The Priest had forbidden him to read the Greek New Testament, but his curiosity (or God’s Grace) got to him. After getting a copy, he locked himself in his room and opened it up to 1 Timothy 1:15 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.(KJV)” This verse changed his life. This verse Saved him! If Jesus died to save Paul then his death would also save Bilney. I remember when I read this verse I probably felt the same way as Bilney did. “Oh Paul you just don’t know, I’m going to have to take that Chief sinner title from you.” I love how when I’m having doubts about myself, my salvation or just how my life is going God will use a simple verse to say “Hey get out of your pity party and look! I’m here for you! I love you!”
So Bilney was now truly saved and he prayed for others to come to that same saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. He talked with his friends about his new found faith. As God took his shyness away he started preaching publicly. Then just as happens with us Satan set him up for a fall. In 1527 he was arrested and charged with heresy. The typical practice in that day was if you denounce your heresy then you would be allowed to live. As he sat in his cell his friends begged and pleaded with him to denounce his teachings so he would escape execution. He gave in and as his punishment he had to publicly burn a stack of Tyndale Bibles. He did this and because of his denial of Christ, his life lost its meaning. I understand his pain. I know what it’s like to feel you have failed your Savior. To feel you have crucified Christ all over again! Then just as he did with Peter Jesus called him into service again. (John 21:15-19) In 1531 he was arrested for heresy and sentenced to be burnt at the stake. The night before his execution as he sat talking with friends he stuck his finger into the flame of a candle and left it till it was burned to the bone. When his friends asked what he was doing he read from Isaiah 43:2 “…when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (KJV)” The next day he was tied to a stake and as his flesh melted from his body he called Jesus! and I Believe!
Would you go out and witness to the lost if you knew you would be burned alive? How about being tied to a red hot iron plate? If you read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs you will see being burned at the stake was not the worst means of execution. The Romans and The Catholic Church were very creative with pain and death. As I read Foxe’s Book I noticed that as the martyrs were dying they all seemed happy and at peace. Many even asked God to forgive their persecutors, just as Stephen did. (Acts 7:59-60) You may have seen video on the news or the internet of Muslims beheading their victims. The crime of being a Christian is still punishable by death in many places. As you reflect on this or as you study the Martyrs, remember the souls under God’s throne waiting for vengeance (Revelation 6:9-10) and pray for those who dare to take the word of God to these violent places that don’t know Jesus. Pray for those who live in these areas and are brave enough to trust in Christ.


Lord I pray for those who have been willing to give their lives for you. Those who sacrificed their bodies to ensure your word would make it to me. Father I pray that while I live in a country where I can worship you freely, where I can write about you, and be a witness to others of your grace and gift of salvation, that I will not waste my opportunities to serve you. Father I pray that You will remind me of those less fortunate who risk death just to call on Your Son’s Holy name. Father I pray for those with the courage to go to the countries that are hostile to Your gospel. Lord I pray that You will protect them and Lord those who must die in Your name Father I ask that you comfort them in their time of pain just as You did with Stephen. Lord I thank You for Your grace and love. In Your Son’s name I pray. In the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen
MSW
www.Thomasbilney.org

www.williamtyndale.com

chi.gospelcom.net

www.banneroftruth.org