Category: Forgiveness

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Made Right – Ready for Use

I know everyone has bought an item at one time or another and found one of those “inspected by” tags. Do you ever wonder who “inspected by No. 46” is? And if you find a flaw in the product, were they having a bad day and just didn’t do their job right? I know it’s silly but I wonder about those things.

However, I have never wondered if God was having a bad day when He told the Holy Spirit to put His seal of approval on us – we are made right and ready for use.

“It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.” Ephesians 1:13-14 MSG

This signet that Paul is talking about was the seal which was placed on every document that came directly from the king or ruler. Hot wax was pour on the parchment and the king’s ring was pressed in to it, leaving an impression to authenticate His approval.

We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit; this marking says we have been made right and are ready for use.

“So that one sin of Adam brought the punishment of death to all people. But in the same way, Christ did something so good that it makes all people right with God. And that brings them true life. 19 One man disobeyed God and many became sinners. But in the same way, one man obeyed God and many will be made right.” Romans 5:18-19 ERV

Made right! When God the Father sees us, He sees that we have been made right! No junk or second rate product here. We are completely new in our life with Him.

“When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new!” II Corinthians 5:17 ERV

We’re not good enough to do this on our own. No, we have to accept what Jesus has done. There was a time when we were so strapped financially that we couldn’t pay the electric bill. There wasn’t enough money and we didn’t know what we were going to do. A dear friend offered to pay it for us. We could have refused His offer but we didn’t and the bill was marked “paid in full”. Jesus paid the price for our sin and God has marked the account “paid in full”.

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” II Corinthians 5:21 NLT

Because of Jesus we have been “made right” and are ready for use!

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We’re Champions

We all want to feel special. We want to know there is something about us that “entitles” us to the little extras. A bigger piece of pie, an extra scoop of ice cream, more money per hour at work, the bigger bouquet, the nicer car, the corner office and the list goes on.

However, I’ve never been one to win the trophy buckle, to graduate valedictorian, be promoted to executive team or even win the state championship. But there is one thing I’ve done that puts me in the top group every time!

This trophy buckle pictured here is my husband Dave’s. When we were preaching on working ranches and at youth rodeos he wore it all the time. We wanted all who came to realize that when we have Christ as our Savior we are all champions. The first step is to kneel at the cross.

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. ” John 3:16 ERV

Yes, I’m a member of the world – I’m an everyone! That makes me a recipient of the Father’s love and a participant in life eternal.

“Training your body helps you in some ways. But devotion to God helps you in every way. It brings you blessings in this life and in the future life too. 9 Here is a true statement that should be accepted without question: 10 We hope in the living God, the Savior of all people. In particular, he is the Savior of all those who believe in him. This is why we work and struggle. 11 Command and teach these things.” I Timothy 4:8-11 CEV

Father God provides salvation for ALL but He’s given us a part to play. We must BELIEVE that Jesus provided our salvation as a free gift.

If I came to your house with a big box wrapped in beautiful paper and tied up with a gorgeous ribbon and I had put your name on the box, would that present be yours? Well of course it would!

If you took that present and set it on the dining room table and looked at it, each day, admiring how pretty it was and how nice it was of me to bring it, would it benefit you? No, not really. It’s not until you open the gift, fully accept it, that it truly becomes yours and is a benefit to you.

Many people have seen the gift the Father brought them; the gift of forgiveness and restoration but for what ever reason have failed to open it and appropriate it for themselves.

“My dear children, I write this letter to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone sins, we have Jesus Christ to help us. He always did what was right, so he is able to defend us before God the Father. 2 Jesus is the way our sins are taken away. And he is the way all people can have their sins taken away too.” I John 2:1-2 CEV

“no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. There is only one Lord, and he is generous to everyone who asks for his help. 13 All who call out to the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:12-13 CEV

So you see if you are a whosoever, an everyone, an “all people”, the gift is yours! Accept it and take advantage of what is being given – it definitely makes you a winner!

Christ has made us champions – we are victorious!

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Welcome the Day

Yesterday morning after I posted the blog, Dave and I headed over to the canyon’s edge for an unobstructed view of the sunrise. It’s amazing to watch the valley floor begin to lighten. The clouds were hanging low over the river, the pastures were green and a golden hue chased away the night’s shadows and welcomed the day.

As the sun rose over the mountains ridge we sat in the truck and thanked our heavenly Father for the beauty of His creation; we thanked Jesus for His sacrifice of death on a cross and we thanked the Holy Spirit for His constant companionship each and every day.

They, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, have an amazing impact in my life each day. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, I am forgiven and have a life that is reconciled to God the Father. The Holy Spirit leads, instructs and gives me guidance from God’s word. My heavenly Father has filled my life with power and purpose.

“For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” II Corinthians 4:6-7 NLT

God the Father has chosen to invest His power in our lives. He doesn’t want us living a defeated, contrary and worrisome existence. He wants our lives to be filled with hope, joy and peace.

“We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. 4 God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.” II Peter 1:3-4 CEV

The beauty of each morning’s sunrise is a testament to God’s faithfulness and power. He lights the world for the day’s activities and He has placed the light of His love in our hearts to be a ray of hope to all we meet.

Welcome the day with light of God’s love!

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See the Sonrise

I hope you will join me this morning for a virtual Easter Sonrise Service. It won’t be a streaming service but I pray that the light that Resurrection Morning will stream into your hearts.

I assume that the disciples sat alone and afraid in their homes honoring the Sabbath following the crucifixion but now it was the first day of the week. What would the days ahead hold for them?

The women had a plan. They would go to the tomb and finish preparing Jesus body for his burial. They left early – about sunrise and headed to the tomb where He had been laid. They were almost at their destination when there was a great earthquake. An angel appeared to roll away the stone from the opening and when the soldiers who were there guarding the tomb saw him they fainted dead away.

The women arrived to this strange scene. They were afraid. The angel spoke to them and told them that Jesus had been raised to life again. He invited them to look inside and see that the tomb was empty and then he gave them the honor of delivering the glorious message to the disciples.

“‘Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you.’ 8 The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples.” Matthew 28:7-8 CEV

This is really special to me. The first ones to preach the message of Jesus’ resurrection were women.

As the women were leaving the garden and heading back to tell the disciples that Jesus was alive, Jesus appeared to Mary in the garden. He called her by name.

“Jesus spoke to her, “Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?” She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, “Mister, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him.” 16 Jesus said, “Mary.” Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” meaning “Teacher!” John 20:15-16 MSG

He called her by name – that impacts me every time I read it. All through His ministry Jesus reached out to them in a personal way. Here in the garden, Jesus appears as the resurrected Son of God, in all His glory, and He hasn’t changed. He is still involving Himself personally into the lives of those who are hurting and afraid.

He called Mary by name. He knows each one of us by name too. He speaks to our hearts on a daily basis, sometimes we’re just too busy to hear Him.

I hope you will take time to listen today. Let Him speak to your heart and calm your fears. Let Him wrap you in His love. Receive forgiveness for your sin and be reconciled to the One Who died for you.

Celebrate Easter at Sonrise! Let Him rise to a place of honor in your heart.

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Good Friday – Great Day

I’ve been thinking about the significance of this day and my walk with the Lord. Evaluating where I’ve come from and how much farther I still have to go. A Bible teacher I know puts it this way, “I haven’t arrived yet but I’ve left”. He means that he has started on this journey called the Christian life but he hasn’t arrived at full maturity – that’s how I feel.

In fact I was talking about that very thing with my Mom just last night. I told her that I pray that we all change. She gave me a puzzled look and asked, “you think I need to change?”. I think we all need to change, to grow, to continue to mature in our walk with the Lord. None of us is perfect or will be until we get to heaven. That’s the beauty of our walk with Christ; we are all being changed as we allow the Lord to work in us.

I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was a little girl. I grew up loving the Lord but had little or no victory in my life. Seems the favorite saying of the people in our church was “when we get to heaven all of life’s trials and struggles with be worth it”. That is true but…I was tired of getting my teeth kicked in by those trials. There had to be more to my Christian life than I was experiencing! There had to be.

Let’s take a look at the life of Peter. His life was a wonderful example of how mine had been. He was tempestuous, quick to react (right or wrong), wanting to do big things and failing. He walked on the water and sank; he would minister to the sick and then be stopped by a boy’s seizure; he was ready to take on the whole Roman guard to protect Jesus and then denied knowing Him to a servant girl!

Good Friday was not a great day for Peter. He denied knowing his dearest friend, the man he called Lord.

He was up and down, up and down and no real victory UNTIL the day of Pentecost when he was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. After that day, Peter became faith-filled and fearless. He never looked back and he faced every day with the resolve that he would be a witness of the power of God and nothing would stop him from proclaiming the mighty name of Jesus. Beaten over and over, imprisoned, and persecuted he continued moving forward from one victory to the next.

When I saw this miraculous change in Peter, I said “Lord, this is what I want in my life. I want to live in your power and not my own; I want to be a victorious Christian and not one who is plagued with defeat. I want my life to reflect You and not be overcome by the circumstances.” Thank you Jesus – he heard and answered that prayer. I, like millions of other Christians, received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and became filled with God’s power. That was over thirty-five years ago!

Do I still have struggles – you bet. Do I always handle things right – not always. Do I face discouragement – some days it’s a constant battle. Am I victorious – ABSOLUTELY! Jesus said I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – He’s my strength, He’s the one who carries me when I feel weak and He’s the reason I will live and declare the works of the Lord.

I don’t read God’s Word and serve Him because it’s the right thing to do. I don’t live my life trying to please Him and get His love; I serve Him and follow His word because He loves me so much that it’s almost unfathomable. My faith is in God and Him alone. In His Word I find victory to overcome the world. Following God’s word isn’t so hard when we realize that He is the One with all the answers. We place our faith in Him and He always brings victory!

“We show our love for God by obeying his commandments, and they are not hard to follow. 4 Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory. 5 No one can defeat the world without having faith in Jesus as the Son of God.” I John 5:3-5 ERV

Good Friday – Peter came to the end of himself when he denied the Lord but just a few days later he met the Savior and received complete forgiveness. Jesus has made the same offer to us – come to the end of yourself, accept My forgiveness and walk in My victory!

The actions of Good Friday open the door to a Great New Day!

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The Lamb and The Shepherd

As we enter Easter week so many are focused on the crisis we are going through. That was true in Jesus day as well. He was focused on the events of His week. He came to earth to be our sacrificial lamb. We have His promise of forgiveness and a life-long relationship with our heavenly Father; we must keep our focus on that.

“We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying.” Hebrews 12:2-3 ERV

I saw a post on a friend’s FB page “Easter isn’t about the bunny; it’s about the Lamb”! Jesus is called the Lamb of God. He came to be the sinless sacrifice; the atonement for our sins.

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God. He takes away the sins of the world!” John 1:29 ERV

The Lamb of God is also our Good Shepherd. As the Son of God, He recognized that we are vulnerable as lambs and can easily be led astray. He promised to be our Good Shepherd, our protector and provider.

“A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good. 11 “I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 ERV

Jesus used this analogy to make his ministry and purpose easy to understand. Raising sheep was a common profession in that day, Jesus used something they were familiar with to teach his lesson. At night the sheep were kept in a gated pen for their protection and early each morning the shepherd would come and lead the sheep out to pasture. The sheep had become accustom to the shepherd’s voice and so when he called, they would follow. They wouldn’t follow someone who would sneak in and try lead them astray.

Jesus was telling them, and us, if they spent time with Him, listening to His word and getting to know Him, they would follow Him and keep His commandments. He would lead them “in green pastures” (Psalm 23).

As I mentioned in a previous blog, Jesus’ mission statement, His purpose, is to give us life and life more abundantly. He warns us that there is a thief who wants to kill, steal and destroy – that’s the devil. Everything that falls in one of those categories – stealing, killing and destroying – doesn’t come from God.

Those things that bring life, abundance and fullness to life comes from God. “Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing.” James 1:17 ERV

Our Good Shepherd gave His life for us. Let’s keep our focus on Him, following Him and living the life He has provided for us.

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Palm Branches Waving

The commemoration of Easter week is ahead of us. I’ve seen a post several times on Facebook of how we can celebrate what Christ did for us and not break our social distancing or self-isolation. Here it is:

“I’ve been thinking about this virus and the upcoming Easter season. What if we, as Christians, were to take red ribbons and pin or tape them to our door posts?…The bows would show this world and Satan that OUR GOD is still able to deliver HIS people from any and everything that tries to put us in bondage. We are HIS children. We are HIS favorites. We are HIS property, and HE loves us as no one else can. Let us show the world that we believe HIS word, and we are HIS. Cover those door posts, and stand on HIS promise of protection for HIS people. Passover starts April 8th -16th. Let’s get the word out!”

I have placed a red bow at my front door. Is anyone going to see it to ask me about it, possibly not? But I see it every time I come in and go out and it reminds me that the Lord has spared my life by taking my sin to His cross.

Today is Palm Sunday.

People came to Jerusalem this week to celebrate Passover and offer their sacrifices. What started on Palm Sunday ended with an empty tomb one week later.

“The next day a large crowd was in Jerusalem for Passover. When they heard that Jesus was coming for the festival, 13 they took palm branches and went out to greet him. They shouted, ‘Hooray God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! God bless the King  of Israel!’ 14 Jesus found a donkey and rode on it, just as the Scriptures say, 15 ‘People of Jerusalem, don’t be afraid! Your King is now coming, and he is riding on a donkey.’ 16 At first, Jesus’ disciples did not understand. But after he had been given his glory, they remembered all this. Everything had happened exactly as the Scriptures said it would.” John 12:12-16 CEV

These people were jubilant! They were so excited to see Jesus so they came running to the street with palm branches waving and voices cheering. There was something about Jesus and his compassionate ways that resounded with the common man. Everyone wanted to be close to Him, to hear His words and experience the miracles.

Just a short time before this Jesus had given His “mission statement” to a group who were following Him and listening to His teaching. Jesus declared that he would watch over us the way a shepherd does his sheep. A good shepherd fights off the predators and takes the sheep to good pasture.

“I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest. 11 I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep.” John 10:9-11 CEV

Provision and Protection. A full and abundant life.

That’s why people were cheering in the streets! Never, in their lifetime, had anyone been willing to make such claims and to demonstrate such love and commitment. His mission hasn’t changed – He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

He is our protector, our provider, our Savior. He is worthy of our honor and praise. Join with me and let’s lift our voices to say thank you and to express our love for the One who gave His all.

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Finding Love in Silence

A cool morning, a warm cup of coffee, a cozy blanket and quiet! Truly an enjoyable way to start the day!

Alone with just the thoughts of my heart and there is peace! I didn’t always enjoy being alone with just my thoughts. My heart would become anxious; I would turn on the tv or the radio – anything to block out the silence, anything not to focus on the unrest and the distress I felt churning inside.

Maybe you’re like that. You don’t want to get up and be “alone” with your thoughts or with the Father. You want to get up and get going right away to keep yourself from pausing in the quiet of the morning.

King David wrote in the Psalms to “be still and KNOW that I AM God”. To know means to be intimately acquainted with, a deep personal knowledge or understanding.

“God is our protection and source of strength. He is always ready to help us in times of trouble. 2 So we are not afraid when the earth quakes and the mountains fall into the sea. 3 We are not afraid when the seas become rough and dark and the mountains tremble. Selah…10 God says, “Stop fighting (be still) and know that I am God! I am the one who defeats the nations; I am the one who controls the world.” 11 The Lord All-Powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our place of safety. Selah” Psalm 46 ERV

This verse says to stop fighting where another translation of the same verse says be still. The psalm ends with the word Selah, which means to pause, reflect, take time to let what you just heard sink in.

I used to hate being alone with my thoughts. They told me I was unworthy, I was alone, I wouldn’t amount to anything. My thoughts pointed out all my failures and my shortcomings. I never measured up so why did I want a quiet time to reflect on all that was wrong with me?

However, when I began reading God’s word and taking time to sit silently and let it sink in, I found God’s love and peace.

“With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 ERV

When I come to His throne, in the quiet of the morning, I find grace, mercy, kindness and help. I find Jesus! I’ve had folks ask me why I get up so early – it’s not a chore, I’ve been doing it for years. It’s my place of peace and strength. I can’t imagine starting a day without this time.

In the silence I know that God is with me and He surrounds me with His love!

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Love Doesn’t Keep Track

Have you ever had one of those people in your life that think it’s their job to point out all the things you’ve done wrong or if it isn’t wrong they tell you how you could have done it better? They just have a way of letting the wind out of our sails, don’t they?

They not only have endless “good advice” but they are generally the people that have very long memories and often remind us of past failures and embarrassing moments.

Our God doesn’t do that!

“Love does not give up. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not put itself up as being important. Love has no pride. 5 Love does not do the wrong thing. Love never thinks of itself. Love does not get angry. Love does not remember the suffering that comes from being hurt by someone. 6 Love is not happy with sin. Love is happy with the truth. 7 Love takes everything that comes without giving up. Love believes all things. Love hopes for all things. Love keeps on in all things. 8 Love never comes to an end. ” I Corinthians 13:4-8a NLV

Our God, our loving heavenly Father, looks past our faults and sees our need. Our need for redemption, our need for renewal, our need for hope, our need for mercy, our need for victory, our need for love and He meets those needs, physical, spiritual and emotional. His grace, marvelous grace, placed us in right standing with Him and in Him our needs are met.

“You have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. Now keep on following him. 7 Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful…9 God lives fully in Christ. 10 And you are fully grown because you belong to Christ, who is over every power and authority. 13 You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God’s people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins.14 God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross.” Colossians 2:6-14 CEV

Have you ever been to the beach and written something in the sand? How long does that message last? It only lasts until the next wave comes in and washes it away. I imagine God’s love and forgiveness to be like that wave – He wipes out our sins and He doesn’t keep track of our failings.

Thank you Father for giving me new life in Christ. Thank you for not keeping track. Help me to be more like you and love without limit.

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Built on Love

Years ago Dave and I had the privilege to share God’s love with the working cowboys of Arizona, Nevada and even into California. Cowboys would gather, sometimes for just a Friday night or a Sunday and other times for a long weekend at what we called Cowboy Campmeetings.

I miss those days. The time with friends, the great Country Gospel music, testimonies of what God was doing on the ranches and in the hearts of the cowboys and the Word. The teaching of the Word was so rich; lives were changed. Folks were saved, baptized and freed from past sin and guilt.

We made dear and life time friends. But the thing that touched me most was the sincerity and simplicity of the faith of those who were there. There was no pretense, no hypocrisy. It was just genuine love for the Lord. Yes, I miss those days.

Wonderful times!

A song we use to sing in Cowboy Church was “I keep falling in love with Him over and over and over and over again. He gets sweeter and sweeter as the days so by – oh, what a love between my Lord and I; I keep falling in love with Him over and over and over and over again.”

This was and is still my daily ambition. Falling in love with Him and getting to know the depth of His love for me. That’s what the Apostle Paul prayed for the Christians who lived at Ephesus nearly 2000 years ago. It is my prayer for us today.

“I ask the Father with his great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through his Spirit. 17 I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. 18 And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.

20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. 21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:16-21 ERV

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