Suffering With the Thorn - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

    I’d like to apologize first for not having written in some time. I’m currently going through a health crisis. Since early April I have been suffering with Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease. The pain (in my left leg and lower back) has brought me to the point of exhaustion and tears on more than one occasion. While I continue to suffer from this age-related malady I also pray continually for relief. My faith remains in Christ Jesus and the power of the Cross.
    When Paul revealed his buffeting “messenger of Satan,” he was clearly referring to an issue of continuing trauma in his life. Whether it was a physical malady or perhaps a false teacher in the midst of his Corinthian congregation, the suffering with the thorn, while remaining constant and debilitating, kept Paul’s pride in check. Imagine how easy it would be for us who are believers to boast in ourselves being gifted with irresistible grace by our Lord and God! No, pride must be set aside along with the old man if we are to be effective at transmitting the message of the Cross. Christ’s work and the glory of God can only be focused upon when we push it to the front and we remain fragile imperfect humans relegated to the background.
    I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13.  Despite my current suffering I will continue to pray earnestly that it is God’s will that is accomplished . . . not mine. In my weakness I can lean harder on Christ, knowing that as long as I lean on Him I will always be stronger with Him than without Him!

The Double Blessing of Forgiveness - Matthew 6:14-15

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”   - Matt 6:14-15.

    We often fail to remember that the spirit of forgiveness is not simply a motion on our part to overlook the slights another has made against us. Forgiveness is so much more than that. Forgiveness is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling of us. Without the fruit of the Holy Spirit actively effecting our spiritual lives we would be incapable of forgiveness!
    Think about it - all nine fruits of the Spirit are required for true forgiveness of others: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  - Galatians 5:22-23. Each one of these fruits are essential to us if we are to be truly forgiving. How could one not have the spirit of forgiveness given all the fruit of the Holy Spirit? But that isn’t all forgiveness means to us as Christians.
    Which of us can boast of never having needed the forgiveness of others? Were it not for their forgiveness what miserable wretches we would be. Forgiveness is the balm that heals our hurts and our relationships damaged by careless words and actions. That is what happens when we forgive what others have done to us. By forgiving them we find ourselves at peace, while those who refuse to forgive continue to experience the pain and wince from the hurt of one trespass as though it were a legion of many.
    When we forgive, God grants us compensation for the pain others have caused us. It becomes a blessing to us when we forgive those who have hurt us. By forgiving those around us we enjoy God’s heavenly blessing. And it is part of our repentance. In fact, forgiveness is so deeply entwined with true repentance that they are barely separable in the parable of the debtor in Matthew 18:23-35.
    When we read the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew we see forgiveness at the core of the prayer. We see it as the prayer’s main “talking-point” in Matthew 6:12 -  And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors. It is further intensified by Matthew 6:14-15, thus making it a pivotal requirement for our forgiveness by God.
    Our ability and desire to forgive others through the Holy Spirit and God’s forgiveness to us, a result of His unconditional grace and love is a double-blessing by any standard.
    May we always live in the spirit of forgiveness, both ours for others and that shed upon us by our merciful and loving God.   

Whom Are You Seeking? - John 20:13 -16

 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” - John 20:13-16.

    Mary Magdalene worshiped her Lord while he was alive and present with her. She held fast to her faith in Him even before He was crucified. Scripture tells us that she was a fixture among the disciples during Christ’s last days (Luke 8:2, John 19:25).
    Mary had been exorcized of seven demons by Christ. To all of us whom have been saved in Christ - how many demons has He exorcized from our lives? It is little wonder that Mary worshiped Jesus; the miracle had left an indelible faith in her heart. She gladly would have followed Jesus to the ends of the earth. But His time was at hand. Prophecy had to be fulfilled. There had to be a way for reconciliation to take place between man and God - Christ was to be both the fulfillment of prophecy and that reconciliation.
    What transpired upon the cross was not only the temporary death of Christ’s humanity, but the divine defeat of death itself!  The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. - 1Corinthians 15:26.   
    Christ had told His disciples of His impending “death” and resurrection.  From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. - Matthew 16:21. The apostles were fully aware of Jesus’ words, yet they still, somehow, didn’t understand. For them, to die was final; to die was the end of life, not the beginning.
    Twice, Mary was asked, “Why are you weeping?” Her answer reflected her heart-felt angst and that of the rest of His disciples - “They have taken away my Lord.” The sorrow and confusion of that moment were fed by the fact that Mary anticipated seeing her Lord and Savior in the state of death, not alive and standing before her. Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. - Mark 16:1. It was common in those days for the departed to be embalmed, as it were, with expensive herbs and spices. This passage and its parallel in Luke 24 is evidence that Mary believed Christ to be dead.
    After Christ asked Mary why she was weeping He added one more question - “Whom are you seeking?” Still under the haze of disillusionment Mary mistook her Lord for the gardener until Jesus called he by name. It was though a pall was lifted from her eyes as she saw the risen Lord, Jesus Christ, standing before her - in the flesh!
    Jesus knew whom Mary was seeking all along. Her deep-felt longing for Him was evident in her very demeanor. And in those moments when we find ourselves disillusioned with our faith because of life’s circumstances we must never fall into such despondency or hopelessness. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:13.
    Like Mary Magdalene, let us constantly be seeking the Lord with all our heart. Let us ‘go out quickly from the tomb with fear and joy and bring His Word,’ to all the world! Happy Resurrection Day! Happy Easter.

Palm Sunday

   “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” - John 12:12-13.

    Yes, “they” took branches of palms and went out to meet our Lord and Savior, Jesus. When saw Him they shouted an old Judaic expression of praise and adoration - “Hosanna!” And less than a week later this same adoring crowd would be calling for His death by crucifixion. So intent were they upon killing Christ that they even freed a known criminal, Barabbas, rather than free our Lord.
    The last week of Jesus’ life began with the crowd adoring the Messiah sent by God and ended with them calling for the death of one they considered no more than a blaspheming man.
So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” - John 19:5. On Palm Sunday, the crowd celebrated the arrival of “he would comes in the name of the Lord.” By Thursday of the same week He was reviled by the same crowd.
    We all need to think of Christ in our daily walk, not just on Sunday. Are we ready and willing to follow His example and walk in “the Way?” And when we fail to do so - aren’t we, who praised him on Sunday, reviling Him the rest of the week?
    So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. - James 4:17.
May we always walk in the way, even on those other days of the week.

It’s Nothing Personal . . . - Romans 8:15-16

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” - Romans 8:15-16     I often find myself in those “situations” where I’m compelled to make a comment on the graciousness of our Heavenly Father. Inevitably, I get “the look.” To be fair, I am seldom told by anyone, “I don’t believe in God.” So. I pursue it. Then I see the squirms and the uncomfortable glances until one of the group quietly remarks that, “Well . . . a person’s faith is . . . a very personal subject.” Read: not up for discussion! My acquaintances need to understand - it isn’t personal now, but it soon could be very personal.     I don’t know what faith they are talking about but my faith - faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is not a forbidden subject due to it’s personal implications. "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.'" - Mark 16:15.     I don’t really know why these people don’t want to discuss - SHOUT- the grace of God through Jesus Christ at every opportunity, but I fear there may be a component of vacillation on their part - not a good idea!  "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels." Luke 9:26. Or maybe they simply aren’t “believers.” For these people I continually pray that the Holy Spirit will one day illuminate their minds and hearts and souls. As for those who claim to believe, the excuses for not witnessing in the name of Jesus vary from fear of rejection to sheer ignorance of the Gospel. But Christ, Himself, has instructed us - “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” - Acts 1:8.     As far as those who simply refuse to speak boldly of their faith in Jesus Christ goes ? “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” - Matthew 10:32-33. So you see; maybe, just maybe, it is personal.     May God, by the Holy Spirit, always strengthen our voices to speak boldly of the grace we have received through Jesus Christ.

The Unbroken Chain of Evidence - Nehemiah 9:6

“You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.” - Nehemiah 9:6


    Christians are constantly being regarded as “delusional.” But contrary to this popular secular opinion, evolutionists and “Big Bang” theorists represent the epitome of delusion. Nothing created something? Effects without causes? They are very quick to deny ‘design’ in the scheme of creation and life. In fact, they’re quick to deny design . . . period! Unless, of course, we were to receive a radio signal, ala the film, “Contact.” Then the hands go up and they immediately declare unanimously that someone or something had to have “sent” the signal! Suddenly intelligent design has a life of its own.
    One of the most glaringly obvious realities of the universe is the fact that it has a creator.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.- Genesis 1:1.  Honestly, how much more ridiculous does it sound when someone like Stephen Hawking suggests “bubble universes?” I’m not kidding - not a bubble universe but universes! Now there are millions of universes, according to these brainiacs.
    So I ask you - which position demands the most unfounded delusional faith that the human mind can muster; the position of the Creationists or the position of the Evolutionists?
And before you think through your answer consider this: how would like to be convicted of a crime on the veracity of the evidence that evolutionists claims explains it all? How would you like to be convicted on “a theory?” I can hear the prosecutors arguing their case now - “Well, you see, the defendant is a living human being present in the universe and as such ‘could have been - might have been- possibly was’ perpetrator of the crime!” Really?
    No thanks, I’ll stick with God, whose word hasn’t changed since it was given to us as opposed to science which apparently changes . . . daily! And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;” - Hebrews 1:10.

And the Winner Is . . . . - 2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. - 2 Timothy 4:2

    Didn’t watch the Academy Awards - I never do. With all the anti-Christian rhetoric that represents the Hollywood heart. I don’t want to hear it. But I wish I had watched Matthew McConaughey’s acceptance speech for Best Actor. You see, he gave credit (glory) to God for his successful career! That’s right! You heard it right - he thanked GOD!
    Naturally, all the pundits and rabble-rousers hated his speech. But guess what - Matt is now a Best Actor winner among Hollywood’s elite . . . and he credits God Almighty for his success! I just wonder how they’ll ever manage to “marginalize” Matthew now.
    I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that he had this planned for many a year now. He was just waiting to win the big award. Then he could use that opportunity to preach! Praise God! He waited, knowing that if he’d  “come out” earlier in his career, he may not have had a career! What can the Godless pantheon of Hollywood possibly do to him now?
    Now some would suggest that Matthew was hardly ready to preach "out of season" and that is why he waited for an opportunity like the Academy Awards. But I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and suggest in opposition that perhaps he may have just recently felt the indwelling and conviction of the Holy Spirit.
    I can only hope and pray that Matthew’s gutsy revelation that he attributes all his success to God will inspire others in “tinsel-town” to speak out! “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” - Act 4:31
    Thank you for speaking out boldly, Matthew! May we all aspire to do the same.