Category: Salvation

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No Room

Have you had those moments when a simple conversation has become a profound lesson?

We had moved back to Arizona from Montana, and we lived close to a small artisans’ community called Tubac. It became my favorite place to shop. We were decorating our home, and I found so many unique pieces there.

For years, I have collected angels and nativities. The shops had a myriad of those two items, but I found one thing very strange. In one particular shop there were nativities from around the world but there were no baby Jesus’.

Then I saw a small handwritten sign. “Please ask for the baby Jesus.” So, I did. I asked Max, the shop keeper, where’s the baby Jesus? He told me they had to keep them under the counter and in the back area of the store because people would steal the baby Jesus.

Steal the baby Jesus! Yes. Who would steal the baby Jesus? I couldn’t imagine that.

“ While they were there in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth to her baby. 7 Her first son was born. She put cloth around Him and laid Him in a place where cattle are fed. There was no room for them in the place where people stay for the night.” Luke 2:6-7 NLV

I was taken back by the thought of someone stealing Jesus but I shouldn’t have been. Remember, that first Christmas when Jesus was born? There was no room for them except in a stable.

If the Innkeeper had known that Mary was carrying the Messiah would he have evicted one of the other guests and given her a room? But there was nothing about this young expecting couple that set them apart as holy and God-chosen. They were just weary travelers.

No room.

A stolen baby Jesus.

People have been taking Jesus out of the picture for years. He’s been replaced by Santa, stolen from society by the Grinch and an Elf. Yet, He still comes to each heart looking for a place to stay.

“See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and we will eat together.” Revelation 3:20 NLV

Don’t let Jesus be stolen from your Christmas celebration. May we always have room for Jesus!

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A Son is Given

It’s so hard to have your children or your grandchildren leave when they have been for a visit.

I can only imagine what the conversation must have been like when our Heavenly Father and Jesus spoke about His coming to earth. Coming in the form of a baby who would grow into a sinless man.

“A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 CEV

No parent likes to see their children leave. Those of us parents who have had children join the military or enter other “dangerous” occupations know the heart ache, the apprehension and even the worry of having our children go off into the unknown, into hostile and harmful circumstances.

But if you’re God…

You’re Son has been with you every moment from eternity past. You have created universes together; you have intervened in the lives of your creation in a powerful way. Never a cross word spoken, never a rebellious thought or action – your Son is your dearest friend, He’s a part of all you do and have ever done.

He’s leaving now – headed to earth. He will be loved by some, treated with ambivalence by most and hated by others and they will plot to kill Him. Although You know all this, You still choose to let Him go and even more than that You choose to let Him die so that He can provide reconciliation for all those who are incapable of providing for themselves.

“17 When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! 18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. 19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people.” II Corinthians 5:17

And all of this was not because of our great value or importance but because of His great love.

“Christ died for us when we were unable to help ourselves. We were living against God, but at just the right time Christ died for us. 7 Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person.But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.9 We have been made right with God by the blood sacrifice of Christ. So through Christ we will surely be saved from God’s anger.” Romans 5:6-9

“Unto to us a Son is given”!

Would you be willing to give your son? Aren’t you glad He did!!

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Add A Little Twinkle

The hardest part of living in a “tiny home” is being quiet in the mornings when we have the littles here for a sleepover.

Their play/sleeping room is the loft, open to the living room and kitchen below. That’s where I sit each morning to read, pray and write. Not wanting to disturb them I try to sit as quietly as possible. No lights on except a night light that will aid them on their descent down the stairs and the glow of my laptop monitor. The only noise is the sound of the coffeemaker and my fingers on the keyboard.

We had a wonderful day yesterday. Turkey was a little slow cooking, but we had more food than we could possibly eat, the weather was perfect, the family time was wonderful, and the kids decorated the tree while Kaci and I cleaned up the kitchen and put away the leftovers. (Forgot to get the decorating pictures from Stephen but I’ll do that today).

The tree and the nativity on the back deck twinkled all night long. The kids did a great job.

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,

Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine.

The holy-days (holidays) are a wonderful opportunity to let the light of Jesus shine through us to the world.

For those who are alone, it can be overwhelming. Movies and television specials show happy families, neighbors taking care of one another, love and generosity. Yet, many feel empty, frustrated and lonely.

That’s where we come in. I encourage you to be mindful of the reason we celebrate, it’s Jesus. Let His light shine through us to the world. His birth was announced as “good news to all people”.

“Do everything without complaining or arguing 15 so that you will be blameless and pure, children of God without any fault. But you are living with evil people all around you, who have lost their sense of what is right. Among those people you shine like lights in a dark world, 16 and you offer them the teaching that gives life...” Philippians 2:14-16a ERV

Now go shine and add a little twinkle to those in your world.

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Just As You Are

Yesterday Dave and I worked hard the entire day. We had planned to get together with friends in the evening but ended up staying home, feet propped up and watching a movie on tv.

It was a movie that made me cry. No, not a Hallmark movie. The movie title is “A Carpenter’s Prayer”. Very good, I recommend it.

The premise – a drunk, who has carpentry skills, helps a church who is building a new complex. They love him just the way he is. They help him with work, food, friendship and finding Jesus. I won’t tell you how it ends but at one place in the movie the man realizes that Jesus will accept him just the way he is.

I went to bed remembering my own experience and realization that Jesus loves me just the way I am and that I needed a Savior. I’m so thankful that we don’t need to be “good enough” to be saved.

“God did this so that his kindness to us who belong to Christ Jesus would clearly show for all time to come the amazing richness of his grace.

8 I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. 9 You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about.” Ephesians 2:7-9 ERV

We come to relationship with Christ just as we are.

We don’t wash our cars before we take them to the car wash. That would be silly. It isn’t our good deeds that get Christ to love us. His love is unconditional; His grace is unmerited; His sacrifice paid the price for everyone.

“When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! 18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. 19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people. 20 So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is like God is calling to people through us. We speak for Christ when we beg you to be at peace with God. 21 Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God.” II Corinthians 5:17-21 ERV

I grew up hearing “I’m just an old sinner saved by grace” nearly every Sunday evening. But that’s not true. We WERE old sinners but once we are saved we are a new creation. We are now called saints; we have become a child of God.

“ All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. 24 But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.” Romans 3:23-24 CEV

God doesn’t want us looking back to who we once were, that part of our life is dead. He wants us looking forward to who He created us to be.

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Talking About Jesus

Really my favorite thing to do is talk about Jesus.

My day was hectic, but the bright spot was spending a few minutes talking about Jesus and His goodness. Well, you can’t talk about His goodness without talking about the sacrifice He made for all of us.

“2 Christ is the sacrifice that takes away our sins and the sins of all the world’s people.” I John 2:2 CEV

His sacrifice took away my sins, your sins and yes, the sins of the whole world. No one was left out; no one needs to experience the punishment for sin because Jesus took it for us.

“But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God’s right side, 13 and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. 14 By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God.” Hebrews 10:12-14 CEV

Christ willingly offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. That was His life’s mission while He was here on earth. It was His eternal destiny from the beginning of the age. He was born to die.

“The Lord isn’t slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.” II Peter 3:9 CEV

As my friend and I were talking we both said how amazing it is that God not only forgives our sins, but He chooses to forget them, as well. He doesn’t remind us of our sin, in fact, He wants us to be free of a guilty conscience.

“Then he says, ‘I will forget their sins and never again remember the evil they have done.’ 18 And after everything is forgiven, there is no more need for a sacrifice to pay for sins.” Hebrews 10:17-18 ERV

“ Sprinkled with the blood of Christ, our hearts have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. So come near to God with a sincere heart, full of confidence because of our faith in Christ.” Hebrews 10:22 ERV

As I child, I often sang a hymn without really understanding the meaning. “Calvary Covers It All” seemed to be a theme of our church. Now, that song has such great depth of meaning to me.

“Far dearer than all that the world can impart

Was the message came to my heart;

How that Jesus alone for my sin did atone,

And Calvary covers it all.

Chorus

Calvary covers it all,

My past with its sin and shame;

My guilt and despair

Jesus took on him there

And Calvary covers it all.”

No fear, no condemnation, no guilty conscience. Only forgiveness, confidence and peace. Yes, let’s talk about Jesus and how grateful I am for His everlasting love!

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Followers, Friends, Family

I wish you could sit with me in the mornings and hear the words that the Lord drops into my heart. Although they can’t be heard audibly, they thunder in my soul.

“‘Wash yourselves clean! I hate your filthy deeds. Stop doing wrong 17 and learn to live right.
See that justice is done. Defend widows and orphans and help the oppressed.’

An Invitation from the Lord

18 I, the Lord, invite you to come and talk it over. Your sins are scarlet red, but they will be whiter than snow or wool. 19 If you willingly obey me, the best crops in the land will be yours.” Isaiah 1:16-19 CEV

When the Israelites were delivered from Egypt they had God’s promise, “I will be your God and you will be my people”. (Exodus 6:7, Leviticus 26:12)

But they forgot to serve God and went their own way and served other gods and also their own selfish ambitions. However, God did not forget them. He invited them to come, sit with Him, talk things over and He would forgive their sins and make them clean again. They were followers.

Jesus also had a group of people who were faithful followers and before He died Jesus elevated their relationship to one of friendship.

“14 And you are my friends, if you obey me. 15 Servants don’t know what their master is doing, and so I don’t speak to you as my servants. I speak to you as my friends, and I have told you everything my Father has told me.

16 You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. 17 So I command you to love each other.” John 15:14-17 CEV

For three years they had followed Jesus. They had their up’s and down’s; Jesus taught them how to honor the Father. They had seen many miracles. Their time on earth together was coming to an end. Jesus reminded them that they had been chosen, we too have been chosen. He also reminded them that the Father would be attentive to their prayers.

Followers become friends. Friends become family.

“Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children. 15  God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. 16 God’s Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. 17 His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him.” Romans 8:14-17 CEV

Family.

We have been invited to become family. Our heavenly Father is just, kind, and good. He is faithful, all-knowing, all-powerful, unconditionally loving. Nothing can separate us from His love. (Romans 8:35)

Christ suffered persecution and rejection. His words were misunderstood, and He was ridiculed for saying that God was His Father. We will experience some of the same because we are His family.

Since we will share some of the same challenges and hardships, we have His promise of help.

“ Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:15-16 CEV

We are family and God, our Father, is always there for us.

Followers, friends, family. I was a follower who became a friend but then I was adopted and now I’m family. Family is the best!

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Cleansed

The definition I found of this word is simple and succinct.

“make (something, especially the skin) thoroughly clean”

Thoroughly clean. What an amazing thought!

“So now anyone who is in Christ Jesus is not judged guilty. 2 That is because in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit that brings life made you free. It made you free from the law that brings sin and death. 3 The law was without power because it was made weak by our sinful selves. But God did what the law could not do: He sent his own Son to earth with the same human life that everyone else uses for sin. God sent him to be an offering to pay for sin. So God used a human life to destroy sin. 4 He did this so that we could be right just as the law said we must be. Now we don’t live following our sinful selves. We live following the Spirit.

5 People who live following their sinful selves think only about what they want. But those who live following the Spirit are thinking about what the Spirit wants them to do. 6 If your thinking is controlled by your sinful self, there is spiritual death. But if your thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace.” Romans 8:1-6 ERV

When we were in Greece last year, we spent a lot of time walking on the beach. The waves would roll in and when they receded our footprints had been completely removed. The seashore was once again cleansed of our trespass.

That’s what God’s love and provision of salvation does for our lives. It cleanses us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)

“ But if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. We can trust God to do this. He always does what is right. He will make us clean from all the wrong things we have done.” I John 1:9 ERV

“ He died to make the church holy. He used the telling of the Good News to make the church clean by washing it with water. 27 Christ died so that he could give the church to himself like a bride in all her beauty. He died so that the church could be holy and without fault, with no evil or sin or any other thing wrong in it.” Ephesians 5:26-27 ERV

When we come to the Father, confessing our sin, He cleanses us. Washes us clean. His word says that He not only forgives our sin but He forgets it as well. God will never remind us of our past transgression. He removes it from us.

“I, the Lord, am the one speaking to you. Come, let’s discuss this. Even if your sins are as dark as red dye, that stain can be removed and you will be as pure as wool that is as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18 ERV

God forgives and forgets however; we often dwell on the things we’ve done wrong. We need to have our guilty conscience cleansed so that we can live in the freedom Christ died to bring us.

“Jesus Christ did the things God wanted him to do. And because of that, we are made holy through the sacrifice of Christ’s body. Christ made that sacrifice one time—enough for all time...22 Sprinkled with the blood of Christ, our hearts have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. So come near to God with a sincere heart, full of confidence because of our faith in Christ.” Hebrews 10:10 & 22 ERV

Because of Christ we can have a clear conscience and confidence in our relationship with God.

“And when our hearts make us feel guilty, we can still have peace before God, because God is greater than our hearts. He knows everything.” I John 3:20 ERV

My dear friend this is the good news of the gospel – we are not condemned. We are cleansed – made thoroughly clean!

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Crazy Stuff

This morning when I opened my computer, I had a notice from “Meta”. I think it was spam and reported it but just in case it isn’t, I would like to ask if you enjoy reading this blog every morning and are blessed by it that you go directly to the website www.arizonakristi.com and go to the blog page and subscribe for the daily emails.

I will continue posting on Facebook for as long as I can but I will not change the message of God’s goodness, grace, forgiveness and unconditional love. He forgives, He loves and He saves! This is the good news the world needs to hear.

“Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.” Matthew 28:19-20 CEV

This is my world. You are my world. God has called me to teach and this is the platform I have. I will use it as long as I am able and without apology.

“ How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them? 15  And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news. 16  Yet not everyone has believed the message. For example, the prophet Isaiah asked, “Lord, has anyone believed what we said?”

17 No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.” Romans 10:14-17 CEV

My goal each day is to build faith in the life of every reader.

God’s goodness cannot be stopped and it cannot be contained. He offers it freely to all, to everyone who will believe.

“ God doesn’t take back the gifts he has given or disown the people he has chosen.” Romans 11:29 CEV

“They replied, ‘Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved!’ This is also true for everyone who lives in your home.” Acts 16:31 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

One of the most famous verses in the Bible is John 3:16

“God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.” John 3:16 CEV

Our heavenly Father is an all inclusive God. He always has been, and always will be. Whoever, anyone, who comes to Him and believes in Him and what He provides for us will be saved.

“ I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering. 12 You will turn back to me and ask for help, and I will answer your prayers. 13  You will worship me with all your heart, and I will be with you” Jeremiah 29:11-13 CEV

In this crazy world the love of God must continue to be preached. I will “go to the world” and you are the world I have been sent to.

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Make Today Count

Dave and I were sitting on the deck last night and talking about what is to come in the future. The end of next week we have two different families whose children are getting married. These are kids we saw growing up – now they are starting families of their own.

Dave said it will be a long time before we have another wedding in our family. The older grandkids have started their lives and homes, but the littles are still years removed from that. We wonder, will we be here to be a part of it. Only God knows that answer.

This week some of those close to us have lost loved ones to death.

It makes us ever more aware that we should be living each day with purpose and making the most of the days we have.

When we read the book of Romans it’s almost as if the Apostle Paul was reading the headlines in yesterday’s paper. His instructions are so direct and timely to the world we are living in. There is nothing “old fashioned” about his teaching.

“You know what sort of times we live in, and so you should live properly. It is time to wake up. You know that the day when we will be saved is nearer now than when we first put our faith in the Lord. 12 Night is almost over, and day will soon appear. We must stop behaving as people do in the dark and be ready to live in the light. 13 So behave properly, as people do in the day. Don’t go to wild parties or get drunk or be vulgar or indecent. Don’t quarrel or be jealous. 14 Let the Lord Jesus Christ be as near to you as the clothes you wear. Then you won’t try to satisfy your selfish desires.” Romans 13:11-14 CEV

It’s time to wake up! Making each day count.

Time to live the life that Jesus has called us to live. The Lord’s coming back soon. Yes, that’s been said since the time that Paul was on the earth but look how much sooner it is now than it was then. Look how much sooner it is than just 5-10 years ago.

Why the delay? I know but one answer to that question.

“Dear friends, don’t forget that for the Lord one day is the same as a thousand years, and a thousand years is the same as one day. 9 The Lord isn’t slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost. 10 The day of the Lord’s return will surprise us like a thief…” II Peter 3:8-10a CEV

God, the Father, is being patient and loving as He waits for everyone to respond to His love.

We have been given the opportunity to be light in this world, let’s make today count and fill it with His goodness.

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Catch and Release

I like something I saw some time back. It went like this:

Religion is a man sitting in church thinking about fishing – Relationship is a man fishing thinking about God!

I believe in Christian fellowship and I believe in attending church but if it’s done from ritual or tradition it really isn’t profitable. However, when it’s done because of relationship with the Father church attendance is a wonderful place of strength and growth and it is also a wonderful place of service. But I’m not here to talk about church attendance.

I’m asking you today to see how many times you find yourself thinking about the Father and how many times you find yourself reaching out to someone in a gesture of His love; not in a religious, preachy sort of way but just genuine caring and concern? A smile, a hug, a phone call or a note, being patient with someone who you feel is incompetent or unprepared; taking time to help someone else even if it means you are detained from doing what you “want” to do – look for the God directed interruptions to your day.

Jesus was a fisher of men. He was always looking for those who had been “caught” up in the world’s entanglements and “release” them into the loving arms of His Father.

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you…40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” Matthew 25:34-40 NJKV

Many times the Father interrupts our day with His thoughts and reminders that He cares about the smallest details in our life; a creative thought that makes work more efficient, a friendly stranger giving us their place in a long line, finding something we need for less that we expected to pay, a great parking space, a smoother flow of traffic, a call from a friend, a smile or soft word of love from someone we hold dear. These are all ways the Father reaches out to us.

We might think that God doesn’t really care about the little things but we’d be wrong – He’s the master of the tiny details.

“Aren’t two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground. 30 Even the hairs on your head are counted. 31 So don’t be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31 CEV

If He sees the sparrow fall and He does; He knows the smallest detail about our life and He is invested in showing us His love!

He caught us and is releasing us to be ambassadors for the kingdom of His love.

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