Category: Salvation

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Living to the Full

Last night Dave and I watched the most current episode of a series we got hooked on. It has 23 seasons…yes, 23 seasons. It’s a British CSI type show.

One statement in this episode stood out among the rest. “I have spent enough time among the dead, it’s time I focus on the living”. This was spoken by one of the lead characters.

When I went to bed my head was filled with verses on life and death. I knew what I was supposed to share with you this morning. The Bible has so much to say about life:

“If anyone wants to keep his life safe, he will lose it. If anyone gives up his life because of Me, he will save it. 26 For what does a man have if he gets all the world and loses his own soul? What can a man give to buy back his soul?” Matthew 16:25-26 NLV

Jesus said the Father loves us so much that He, Jesus, was sent to bring us everlasting life. Life here on earth is temporal but life with the Father is eternal. Jesus wasn’t just concerned about our eternal life. Everyone who placed their trust in Him as their Savoir saw a dramatic change in their lives here.

“A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.” John 10:10 CEV

Full and good!

Listen to the words of Moses. He is addressing the children of those who were deliverred from Egypt, they were on the verge of entering the promised land.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLT

We have a God-given choice between life and death and just in case there is any doubt to which one is correct Moses says choose life. “This is the key to your life…love and obey the Lord and you will live long”. Sounds like the right choice to me.

When Mary and the women went to the tomb of Jesus on the resurrection morning. The tomb was empty, then the angels asked a question: “…they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus, 4 and they did not know what to think. Suddenly two men in shining white clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were afraid and bowed to the ground. But the men said, “Why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive? 6 Jesus isn’t here! He has been raised from death. Remember that while he was still in Galilee, he told you” Luke 24:3-6 CEV

Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life”. I choose Jesus, I choose life!

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Never Satisfied!

Thank you for coming along on our adventures.

For the eighteen months you have been sharing our RV outings. We were blessed when we purchased our neighbors older 5th Wheel in December of 2019. For Dave and I it was a dream come true.

Since the time of purchase we have remodeled the inside to make it us! New flooring, walls and cabinets painted, colors added, furniture changed out, new window coverings, etc. It’s our Bunk House!

About two weeks ago we began working on the exterior. The decals were weathered and had oxided badly. That was the first step. But removing the oxidation didn’t restore the color the way we had hoped. Next step, we found a product that removes the decals completely. It was much easier than we expected and so for the last few days we have removed the nose cap decal and half of the decals on each side. Waiting for more product and then all the decals will be removed.

New decals have been ordered. A fresh new look. Dave will be washing, buffing and waxing before we head out on our next trip. All will be made new.

As we talked last night on the patio, we both expressed how happy we are to have our mobile Bunk House and began talking of all the places we want to go. We want her to be well stocked and well traveled, looking good!

God is so like that!

He takes what we were and makes us new: “Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.” II Corinthians 5:17 CEV

He equips us for service: “God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are.” Ephesians 2:10 CEV

He sees that we are well supplied: “I pray that God will take care of all your needs with the wonderful blessings that come from Christ Jesus!” Philippians 4:19 CEV

He wants to enjoy the journey: “The robber comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came so they might have life, a great full life.” John 10:10 NLV

He wants to go with us every step of the way and keep us free from fear: “God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never run away from you.’ 6 So we can feel sure and say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. People can do nothing to me.'” Hebrews 13:5-6 ERV

He takes care of us because He loves: “‘Don’t fear, little flock. Your Father wants to share his kingdom with you.'” Luke 12:32 ERV

Our Father does a much better job at “make overs” than we ever will. We can trust the outcome when we put ourselves in His hands.

“ Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God. 2 Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.” Romans 12:1-2 CEV

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34.9 Million Years?

Dave and I have been camping at City of Rocks State Park in New Mexico. It’s a beautiful place – peaceful and secluded.

The rock formations are spectacular! Out in the middle of nowhere, these stately spires rise. After a long walk, not quite a hike, yesterday morning we stopped in at the Visitor Center.

The writing on the walls told of a great volcanic eruption and the lava flow that formed the huge boulders. They provide many niches for camping and trails for hiking. Also written there was the information that all of this occurred 34.9 million years ago. A brochure that I picked up and took back to the trailer stated that it has been 33 million years ago.

34.9 or 33 million doesn’t seem to be the point. I’m not sure about either of those dates but I am confident of one thing.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters…Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. 10 God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:1-9 NLT

Every time we go out on a trip like this I am reminded again and again that God is the one who created this beauty. He has been here from the start! He created all of this for our enjoyment. And Jesus was here too.

“But about His Son, He says, “O God, Your throne will last forever. Whatever You say in Your nation is right and good. 9 You have loved what is right. You have hated what is wrong. That is why God, Your God, has chosen You. He has poured over You the oil of joy more than over anyone else.” 10 He said also, “Lord, You made the earth in the beginning. You made the heavens with Your hands. 11 They will be destroyed but You will always be here. They will all become old just as clothes become old. 12 You will roll up the heavens like a coat. They will be changed. But You are always the same. You will never grow old.” Hebrews 1:8-12 NLV

There is not a moment of this planet’s existence that God doesn’t know about. He was here at the creation and He will be here when it is gone – however many years that will be.

He will always be the same!

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 NLV

His love, goodness, mercy, grace and kindness will always be – that will never change. He has been reaching out to every generation with His plan of salvation.

These rock formations will someday be gone. But 34.9 million years in the future the love of God will be the same!

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What Are You Looking For?

I know I’ve told you that I really enjoy “hidden object” search games. Even when I was young I liked doing the word search pages in the newspaper or magazines.

Down the side of the page would be a list of words that were hidden somewhere in the maze of letters. If I was really feeling confident I would do them with an ink pen. These were the earliest versions of computer games before there were computers.

We all seem to be on a search, one way or another. It can be a search for fame and fortune, the perfect mate, a healthier lifestyle – any one of a vast number of things – all in hope of making life better.

My search was complete when I found Jesus!

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NKJV

Seek, search for Me, and you will find Me! This was the Lord’s instruction hundreds of years ago and it’s still valid today. The Lord isn’t trying to hide. We find Him in plain sight. The shepherds found Him in a stable. The wisemen found Him at His house with His mother. His mother found Him in the temple teaching.

Zacchaeus went searching for Jesus. He even had to climb a tree to get a better vantage point. What Zacchaeus didn’t know was Jesus was also searching for him.

“Jesus said, “Today is the day for this family to be saved from sin. Yes, even this tax collector is one of God’s chosen people. 10 The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them.” Luke 19:9-11 ERV

After His resurrection Jesus found his disciples behind closed doors. He came to them just like He comes to us. He came searching for those He loves. When we are in our darkest hour He comes. He comes to bring life, light, hope and joy.

Jesus searches to save the lost. We seek a Savior. When we meet, the search is over. No point to look any further.

“Look for the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the sinful turn from his way, and the one who does not know God turn from his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have loving-pity on him. Let him turn to our God, for He will for sure forgive all his sins.” Isaiah 55:6-7 NLV

When we find Jesus our search ends, we are complete in Him!

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Softly & Tenderly

Happy Easter everyone. What a wonderful day – celebrating the resurrection of Jesus! Amazing. Simply amazing.

I always try to put myself in the different stories I read in the Bible. I feel I have been with the disciples in the storm at sea; I followed the woman who had been caught in adultery as she was drug through the streets by her accusers. I’ve eaves-dropped on the conversation between Jesus and the little boy with a lunch of five loaves and two fish and I’ve stood at the foot of cross to see Jesus crucified.

But the story that I can relate to the most – the one that leaves me speechless – occurred on that first resurrection morning.

“Mary stood outside the grave crying. As she cried, she got down and looked inside the grave. 12 She saw two angels dressed in white clothes. They were sitting where the body of Jesus had lain. One angel was where His head had lain and one angel was where His feet had lain. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord. I do not know where they have put Him.”

14 After saying this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 He said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” She thought He was the man who cared for the garden. She said to Him, “Sir, if you have taken Jesus from here, tell me where you have put Him. I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned around and said to Him, “Teacher!” John 20:11-16 NLV

That morning a group of women had gone to the tomb with additional spices to entomb Jesus’ body. They found the stone rolled away and ran back to the disciples to tell them the stone had been moved. Peter and John ran to the tomb ahead of her and found it empty. They went home but Mary stayed.

Heartbroken and alone, she stayed. Crying she stayed. Why would anyone steal her Savior’s body? The angels tried to speak words of comfort but she turned and walked away, dejected.

As she was leaving she encountered a man that she thought was the gardener. She spoke through her tears and asked “have you taken Jesus, please tell me where he is”.

At that moment, that sorrow filled moment, Jesus spoke but one word, softly and tenderly.

“Mary”.

At the sound of her name she knew instantly that this was Jesus! Her heart was bursting with joy. He’s alive! He called my name. He met me in my sorrow. I’m not alone, I will never be alone again. Jesus has called my name!

His death on the cross paid the price for the sins of all mankind but if I had been the only one to ever live on planet Earth, Jesus would have died just for me. He loves me that much. Salvation is exclusively inclusive. It’s for everyone and yet this gift is offered to each of us personally.

I identify with Mary. At my lowest point, heart filled with sorrow, I have heard Jesus softly and tenderly call my name. Jesus loves me, I will never be alone again.

I know if you will listen, you will hear Him call your name as well.

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At the Cross

Our Easter weekends used to have a way of being a bit abnormal.

When the kids were small we founded an outreach ministry to the working cowboys and their children. One Easter Sunday we had folks preaching at four different rodeo arenas in AZ. Those were wonderful days of seeing the Lord meet the needs of the cowboy community!

How I praise Him for giving us that opportunity to take His good news to these special folks. Everyone needs to have someone tell them about Jesus’ love, his forgiveness and his wonderful plan to give us life everlasting. That was our way of taking the gospel into all the world.

Our world was alfalfa and cotton fields, youth rodeo arenas and ropings. Your world may be a medical office, an IT programming center, the front seat of a big rig, a classroom or a bank lobby. No matter the occupation or career we are all welcome at the foot of the cross.

He died so that we could live, He was oppressed so we could live free from fear and anxiety, His body was bruised and wounded so ours could be healed, His heart was broken so we could live in an unconditionally loving relationship with the Father. There is only one place to find this free gift and that’s at the cross of Jesus.

“He was hated and rejected; his life was filled with sorrow and terrible suffering. No one wanted to look at him. We despised him and said, ‘He is a nobody!’ 4 He suffered and endured great pain for us, but we thought his suffering was punishment from God. 5 He was wounded and crushed because of our sins; by taking our punishment, he made us completely well. 6 All of us were like sheep that had wandered off. We had each gone our own way, but the Lord gave him the punishment we deserved. 7 He was painfully abused, but he did not complain. He was silent like a lamb being led to the butcher, as quiet as a sheep having its wool cut off. 8 He was condemned to death without a fair trial. Who could have imagined what would happen to him? His life was taken away because of the sinful things my people had done.” Isaiah 53:3-8 CEV

The verses above describe what Jesus went through to pay the penalty for our sins. He was sinless and deserved none of it but He took our place. His death on the cross was only part of the story. Three days later, Easter, He rose from the grave victoriously. His life’s mission was complete. Our mission is to spread the news of what He has done.

“We are Christ’s missionaries. God is speaking to you through us. We are speaking for Christ and we ask you from our hearts to turn from your sins and come to God. 21 Christ never sinned but God put our sin on Him. Then we are made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.” II Corinthians 5:20-21 NLV

All are welcome at the cross!

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Eyes of Love

As we start this Easter week, I would like us to focus on the depth of Jesus’ love – His love for the Father and His love for us. He served the Father with loving obedience and He freely gave His life so that ours could be redeemed. He knew what His future held.

JESUS KNEW!!!

He knew what was going to happen to him and He didn’t open his mouth to defend Himself! He knew and he didn’t destroy the soldiers who came to arrest Him in the garden. He knew and he didn’t demand that His disciples die with Him or come to His aide, He simply asked them to pray with Him that He would stand strong to face the trial that was ahead.

He knew He would be separated from God. He knew the torture that He would face. It was all prophesied in the Old Testament. He knew and He loved us so much that He chose to face this awful death.

HE KNEW!! He knew the prophesy.

“My God, my God, why have you deserted me? Why are you so far away? Won’t you listen to my groans and come to my rescue?…15 My strength has dried up like a broken clay pot,and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You, God, have left me to die in the dirt. 16 Brutal enemies attack me like a pack of dogs,tearing at my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones, and my enemies just stare and sneer at me. 18 They took my clothes and gambled for them. 19 Don’t stay far away, LORD! My strength comes from you, so hurry and help…31 People not yet born will be told, “The Lord has saved us!” Psalm 22

He knew and He experienced the pain!

“At noon the whole country became dark. The darkness continued for three hours. 46 About three o’clock Jesus cried out loudly, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” This means “My God, my God, why have you left me alone?”47 Some of the people standing there heard this. They said, “He is calling Elijah.”48 Quickly, one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled the sponge with sour wine and tied the sponge to a stick. Then he used the stick to give the sponge to Jesus to get a drink from it. 49 But the others said, “Don’t bother him. We want to see if Elijah will come to save him.” 50 Again Jesus cried out loudly and then died…The army officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus saw this earthquake and everything that happened. They were very afraid and said, ‘He really was the Son of God!’” Matthew 27:45-50

He knew!! He had a purpose.

“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. 4 You are struggling against sin, but you have not had to give up your life for the cause.” Hebrews 12:2-4 ERV

HE LOVED – HE KNEW – HE CAME – HE DIED – HE ROSE – HE LIVES!

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No Data Found!

If you’re like me most of your computer knowledge comes from trial and error. Lots and lots of error!!

In the early days of my computer ownership I had a dear friend help me with some inputting and formatting I was trying to do. He gave me some advice I still use. “When working in a document or on a page, play around as much as you want but if you don’t like the result, close the file but don’t save. Everything will revert back to the previous version.” Words to live by for sure. It has saved me tears and frustration, not to mention many hours of trying to recreate something that I had messed up.

However, there are circumstances when I’ve been glad to hit delete and see everything on the screen or in the file completely disappear. No longer can it be found. This takes intentional thought – it’s gone with no way to retrieve the information.

I can hear someone say “perish the thought, that would be horrible”. In many cases that would be true. Yet, I would like to relate a situation where this is amazingly welcomed.

“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. 15 There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.” Colossians 2:13-15 CEV

Before we come to Christ our lives are spiritually dead. Our sins separate us from a life with God. But when we come to Christ He gives us life by forgiving all our sins. It’s then that God, the Father, hits the delete button on the file with all our transgressions and failures – they are wiped out! No search will find them, they are gone, vanished as if they never existed.

How great is that!

The greatest system failure of all time is for our benefit! In place of our failures and sins there’s a new file with a one word name – “Forgiven”!

But He doesn’t stop there, although that would certainly be enough. Christ goes on to defeat all the powers and forces that would like to defeat us and hold us captive to our past. Then He puts them on display, for all to see, they are defeated.

We are now alive in Christ, totally forgiven and the list of sins, the charges against us, are wiped out!

Praise God! There is no data found.

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Where’s Jesus?

This year I scaled back on my Christmas decorating but this little nativity is front and center. It has such meaning to me. I’ve shared this story before but it’s worth repeating.

In our area we have beautiful, brightly colored pottery which is made in Mexico and it is known as talavera.

For years I have purchased pieces to use in my decorating; cups, bowls, plates, canisters, etc. Each piece brings an atmosphere of gaiety and joy to the room. Several years ago, I was shopping in Tubac, an artisan community near us, when I saw the talavera nativity sets. I knew I had to have one. 

Most of my decorating at Christmas is done with nativity sets and angels. I studied each figure in the set; their smiling faces, their clothing, the shape of the stall and then I realized there was no baby Jesus! Where did He go? What happened to Him? 

The shop that we were in had many different size nativity sets and they were all missing the Christ child. And then I saw the handwritten sign…If you buy a nativity, ask for Jesus. 

Ask for Jesus!

Wasn’t that the Father’s intent from the beginning? He wanted us to recognize that our lives were not complete without Jesus. 

Ask for Jesus?

When I asked the shop owner why there were no baby Jesus figures he told me this. We never have any problem with theft in this shop except for the baby Jesus. We keep Him in the back until a nativity is sold and then bring Him out and add Him with the rest of the pieces. 

Who would steal the baby Jesus?

That is completely counter to the reason He came. When Jesus was born the angels filled the heavens with the announcement. The shepherds were told to go find Him. The wise men saw and followed His star. Everyone was welcome to come see Jesus!

Jesus came to forgive the sins of all men, even the ones who would steal the baby Jesus.  Jesus wasn’t born in a palace where only a few of the elite would be allowed to enter. He wasn’t born in a monastery where only the religious and the holy would be. No, He was born in a barn; anyone – man, woman, child, elite or poor, educated or unlearned was welcomed at the manger. 

“‘Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.’ 13 Then a huge army of angels from heaven joined the first angel, and they were all praising God, saying,

14 ‘Praise God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace to the people who please him.’

15 The angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this great event the Lord has told us about.’

16 So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box.” Luke 2:11-16 ERV 

I want to encourage you to put Jesus on display. Don’t hid Him, let the world see that He lives in you. Love the way He did; reach out to everyone the Father brings your way. The sign on our lives should be Jesus is free to all who ask.

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Creation – Salvation – Inspiration

Three words came to mind first thing this morning – creation, salvation and inspiration.

Even though we don’t live in an area with a brilliant autumn pallet I’m so glad that I can enjoy the beauty that is captured by a photographer’s lens.

It’s breath-taking!

Hopefully, when we see nature’s beauty we stop and thank God for creating it for our enjoyment. There are so many things that attempt to distract and divert our attention to the mundane and unattractive. It’s refreshing to be able to “enjoy the view”.

I’ve told you before that some of the first thoughts that come to mind when I wake up are to tell my heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit that I love them. To me, there’s just no better way to start the day.

This morning those thoughts were followed by these words: “Thank you Holy Spirit for inspiration, thank you Jesus for my salvation and thank you Father for your creation”. A heart filled with gratitude just starts the day out right.

God’s creation teach us: “The heavens keep telling the wonders of God, and the skies declare what he has done. 2 Each day informs the following day; each night announces to the next. 3 They don’t speak a word, and there is never the sound of a voice. 4 Yet their message reaches all the earth, and it travels around the world.” Psalm 19:1-4 CEV

The Holy Spirit inspires us: “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. 27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:26-27 NLT

Jesus is our salvation: “Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone.” Acts 4:12 CEV

I don’t know what my day has in store, neither do you, but I do know that when we start our day with praise and thanksgiving we start from a position of power and strength.

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