Monday, January 5, 2015
Verse For the Week
John 4:14--"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Thoughts On A Sunday Afternoon
Hello, I hope that everyone is having a wonderful Sunday. Thankfully, the weather was not bad today, so I am here at the library. The photo above is a picture of my friend Toby looking across the back yard to see what the neighbors were up to. It was taken on a cold day in the middle of winter much like today is in my part of the world.
When I saw this photo yesterday, the first thing that came into my mind is that it appeared as if Toby was looking off into the future. That got me to thinking about what the future holds.
Of course, no one can know for sure what 2015 will hold. We have our expectations and our plans, but only God knows if things will turn out the way we think they will.
As 2015 approaches, I find myself getting ready to start a new job on the 12th. I don't know what this will all amount to. Right now, my hope is that I can work this job, pay off my debts and start a larger ministry. That is the plan. I also hope to sell my house in 2015.
I just remember other years that I had plans, and things didn't turn out the way I expected. Once this happened in a very good way, and twice things went in a bad direction. I had had a great year in 1998 and 1999 was just rolling in. On January 2, my three year old dog named Colm was diagnosed with leukemia, and he wouldn't last through March. Later that year, I would become very sick with several autoimmune problems. Who knows what a year will bring.
A couple of years earlier while Tobe was still with me, we didn't expect him to make it too far into the new year. But, by the grace of God, he lived a long time.
In February of 2010, my Mom had been gone for only four months. My Dad and I were still upset about that, but we were trying to make some plans for the future. We were going to go to New England in the late Spring and check on some properties we were interested in. We were thinking about moving and getting a fresh start. However, by the end of February, my Dad would join my Mom in Heaven.
All we can do is try our best and hope for the best. Each day I pray that Jesus will guide me and that He will have His will and way in my life.
In some ways, as I have mentioned, the future is uncertain. However, those of us who are in Christ have a certain future that cannot be taken away from us.
Those who are in Christ are promised several things about their futures in the Scriptures. I would like to mention just a couple.
Those who have turned to Jesus as Savior and Lord have been promised in Philippians 1:6 "That he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." This means that Jesus will keep us and perform His transforming work within us until we are like Him in all ways. Romans 8:29-30 says it this way, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and them he justified, them he also glorified."
No matter what, the Lord has good things in the future for those who are His. First of all He predestined us. Then He has called us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Then we have been declared righteous and have received the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. Now we will be glorified when we see Jesus face to face. What a great day that will be. This is a future that those of us who are in Christ can count on.
Also, we can count on the fact that in the future, we will be with Jesus and we will see all those who have gone on to be with Jesus. Jesus said that He has gone to prepare a place for us, that where He is, we can be there too. Because Jesus is the Resurrection and Life, I know that my family is in Heaven with Jesus. One day in the future, I know for certain that I will be with Jesus and see my family again. Why? Because Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. He always kept His word and He always will.
This great future is not possible because of anything that I have done. There is nothing good or special in me. This future is only possible by the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ who loved me and gave Himself for me. He gave Himself that whosoever will may come.
If you want to have a sure future that no circumstances on earth can change, turn your life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ today.
I guess this post turned into the Weekend Sermon part II, but that's OK. I hope that everyone has a good day, and I will post a verse tomorrow, Lord willing.
Friday, January 2, 2015
Weekend Sermon-- Rehoboam and Joash
Welcome to this week's edition of the Weekend Sermon. I hope that everyone had a nice New Year's Day. Lately, I have been posting the sermon on Saturday, but the weather here is predicted to be terrible tomorrow, so I am posting today like I used to do.
I did not stay up this year to see 2015 in. I was just to tired after I got home from work. I am looking forward to the middle of the month when I start my new job. I would like you to pray that I will know what to do with a situation. I am considering staying with the job I have on a very part-time basis, if they will let me, as well as working the new job. I don't know if this will leave me any time for writing though. Please pray that I will know what to do in this matter. I would also ask for your prayers about a health matter. I have had arthritis since I was in my early 20's. In the last few weeks, the arthritis has become very bad in my left foot and ankle, and I have been in excruciating pain and having difficulty walking. Please pray with me that this situation might be relieved by the Lord. Also, please pray that the weather isn't really bad tomorrow.
In other matters, let us pray this week for peace. Iraq and Syria are a mess right now. Let there be peace. Also pray for peace in Afghanistan and Libya. Wherever there is war, violence and oppression let us pray for peace and justice.
Over the last few weeks, we have been doing a series of messages about some of the kings in the Bible. We took a break for Christmas and New Year's sermons, but we are resuming our king's series today.
Today, I want to focus on two kings who were separated by quite a few years, but they had one thing in common. These two kings are Rehoboam and Joash.
Rehoboam was the son of Solomon and the grandson of David. As we saw a few weeks back, Solomon didn't end his reign on a high note. Jeroboam was on the point of revolt when Rehoboam assumed the throne. The people came to Rehoboam and asked him to remove the heavy yoke that had been placed upon them by Solomon. At this point, Rehoboam took counsel as to how to answer the people. The older men who had been advisers to Solomon counseled Rehoboam to tell the people that he would be kind to them. Then they would not revolt against his rule. Rehoboam then turned to those his own age to ask their advice. They told the king to come down heavily on the people.
Rehoboam forsook the advice of the elders and listened to his contemporaries. The result was a massive rebellion in which Jeroboam split the kingdom taking the ten northern tribes and forming a new nation. Rehoboam retained the loyalty of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin only.
During the course of his reign, Rehoboam would not follow the laws of God, and he did not turn his heart to the Lord as his grandfather David did. Rehoboam and David were polar opposites. It's hard to believe that they were even related.
Joash had a rough start in life. When he was just a baby his father was killed. At this point, Joash's grandmother, Athaliah assumed the throne and killed all of the other contenders to the throne. She tried to find her grandson and kill him, but Joash was hidden by his aunt Jehoshabeath and her husband Jehoiada who was a priest.
When Joash was seven years old, Jehoiada led a successful revolt against the very wicked queen, and Joash was placed on the throne as the rightful heir. During the time that Jehoiada lived and counseled Joash, the king did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and was a very good ruler. He restored the worship in the temple.
However, Jehoiada died at the advanced age of 130. He was so respected by the people, that he was buried in the tomb of the kings. It wasn't long after this that Joash went astray. 2 Chronicles 24:17-18 says, "Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served groves and idols..."
In other words, Joash did not remember the good teaching and advice he had received from his uncle. He listened to bad advice, and he turned from the True and Living God to false gods.
Not long after this, Jehoiada's son Zechariah confronted the wickedness of the king. Joash had become so evil that he had Zechariah stoned to death.
Eventually, Joash would be assassinated. He was so unpopular, that he was not even allowed to be buried in the tomb of the kings.
Rehoboam and Joash had this in common. They would not listen to Godly counsel, and they suffered the consequences. This should be a lesson to all of us.
Rehoboam received good advice, but he would not listen. This should teach us to surround ourselves with wise people who will give us the right advice. For instance, as Christians, we should be seeking counsel from believers in the Lord Jesus and not from those who follow the way of the world. So many Christians will listen to financial advice or personal advice from this world, and they do not heed Godly counsel. This will only end in run. As the Bible says, what fellowship hath light with darkness. If we take counsel from the spiritually blind, we, like them, will end up falling in the ditch.
The same principle holds true as far as Joash was concerned. He did not keep in mind the memory of the good counsel he received from Jehoiada. If he would have remembered what Jehoiada had taught him, Joash would have had a successful reign. Instead, he listened to bad advice.
One thing that I have tried to do since my Dad passed away is to remember the things that he told me. My Dad didn't have a college education, but he was a very wise man. When he was alive, I would always ask his advice on the decisions I faced.
Since my Dad has been gone, I try to image what he would tell me now. This helps me to act and make better decisions.
As followers of Jesus, our source of counsel and decision making should be the Lord. He lived a perfect, holy and sinless life to be our example of how to act in any given situation. We should always ask the question, What would Jesus do? before we act.
The way we learn about what Jesus would do is by reading the Gospels and learning about the Lord. We can also discern the will and way of Jesus through prayer and meditation. We should also be diligent students of the Bible. In the pages of God's Holy Word, we will find the answers to the questions and problems we will encounter in this life. We must follow Godly wisdom and not the way that seems right unto man, but the end thereof is the way of death.
The best counsel that I can give to anyone is to turn your life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ if you have not done so already. Trust in His saving, forgiving and transforming power.
Next week, I will post the verse on Monday and a review on Wednesday. Look for the Weekend Sermon on Saturday, unless the weather dictates a change. May God bless you. Amen.
I did not stay up this year to see 2015 in. I was just to tired after I got home from work. I am looking forward to the middle of the month when I start my new job. I would like you to pray that I will know what to do with a situation. I am considering staying with the job I have on a very part-time basis, if they will let me, as well as working the new job. I don't know if this will leave me any time for writing though. Please pray that I will know what to do in this matter. I would also ask for your prayers about a health matter. I have had arthritis since I was in my early 20's. In the last few weeks, the arthritis has become very bad in my left foot and ankle, and I have been in excruciating pain and having difficulty walking. Please pray with me that this situation might be relieved by the Lord. Also, please pray that the weather isn't really bad tomorrow.
In other matters, let us pray this week for peace. Iraq and Syria are a mess right now. Let there be peace. Also pray for peace in Afghanistan and Libya. Wherever there is war, violence and oppression let us pray for peace and justice.
Over the last few weeks, we have been doing a series of messages about some of the kings in the Bible. We took a break for Christmas and New Year's sermons, but we are resuming our king's series today.
Today, I want to focus on two kings who were separated by quite a few years, but they had one thing in common. These two kings are Rehoboam and Joash.
Rehoboam was the son of Solomon and the grandson of David. As we saw a few weeks back, Solomon didn't end his reign on a high note. Jeroboam was on the point of revolt when Rehoboam assumed the throne. The people came to Rehoboam and asked him to remove the heavy yoke that had been placed upon them by Solomon. At this point, Rehoboam took counsel as to how to answer the people. The older men who had been advisers to Solomon counseled Rehoboam to tell the people that he would be kind to them. Then they would not revolt against his rule. Rehoboam then turned to those his own age to ask their advice. They told the king to come down heavily on the people.
Rehoboam forsook the advice of the elders and listened to his contemporaries. The result was a massive rebellion in which Jeroboam split the kingdom taking the ten northern tribes and forming a new nation. Rehoboam retained the loyalty of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin only.
During the course of his reign, Rehoboam would not follow the laws of God, and he did not turn his heart to the Lord as his grandfather David did. Rehoboam and David were polar opposites. It's hard to believe that they were even related.
Joash had a rough start in life. When he was just a baby his father was killed. At this point, Joash's grandmother, Athaliah assumed the throne and killed all of the other contenders to the throne. She tried to find her grandson and kill him, but Joash was hidden by his aunt Jehoshabeath and her husband Jehoiada who was a priest.
When Joash was seven years old, Jehoiada led a successful revolt against the very wicked queen, and Joash was placed on the throne as the rightful heir. During the time that Jehoiada lived and counseled Joash, the king did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and was a very good ruler. He restored the worship in the temple.
However, Jehoiada died at the advanced age of 130. He was so respected by the people, that he was buried in the tomb of the kings. It wasn't long after this that Joash went astray. 2 Chronicles 24:17-18 says, "Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served groves and idols..."
In other words, Joash did not remember the good teaching and advice he had received from his uncle. He listened to bad advice, and he turned from the True and Living God to false gods.
Not long after this, Jehoiada's son Zechariah confronted the wickedness of the king. Joash had become so evil that he had Zechariah stoned to death.
Eventually, Joash would be assassinated. He was so unpopular, that he was not even allowed to be buried in the tomb of the kings.
Rehoboam and Joash had this in common. They would not listen to Godly counsel, and they suffered the consequences. This should be a lesson to all of us.
Rehoboam received good advice, but he would not listen. This should teach us to surround ourselves with wise people who will give us the right advice. For instance, as Christians, we should be seeking counsel from believers in the Lord Jesus and not from those who follow the way of the world. So many Christians will listen to financial advice or personal advice from this world, and they do not heed Godly counsel. This will only end in run. As the Bible says, what fellowship hath light with darkness. If we take counsel from the spiritually blind, we, like them, will end up falling in the ditch.
The same principle holds true as far as Joash was concerned. He did not keep in mind the memory of the good counsel he received from Jehoiada. If he would have remembered what Jehoiada had taught him, Joash would have had a successful reign. Instead, he listened to bad advice.
One thing that I have tried to do since my Dad passed away is to remember the things that he told me. My Dad didn't have a college education, but he was a very wise man. When he was alive, I would always ask his advice on the decisions I faced.
Since my Dad has been gone, I try to image what he would tell me now. This helps me to act and make better decisions.
As followers of Jesus, our source of counsel and decision making should be the Lord. He lived a perfect, holy and sinless life to be our example of how to act in any given situation. We should always ask the question, What would Jesus do? before we act.
The way we learn about what Jesus would do is by reading the Gospels and learning about the Lord. We can also discern the will and way of Jesus through prayer and meditation. We should also be diligent students of the Bible. In the pages of God's Holy Word, we will find the answers to the questions and problems we will encounter in this life. We must follow Godly wisdom and not the way that seems right unto man, but the end thereof is the way of death.
The best counsel that I can give to anyone is to turn your life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ if you have not done so already. Trust in His saving, forgiving and transforming power.
Next week, I will post the verse on Monday and a review on Wednesday. Look for the Weekend Sermon on Saturday, unless the weather dictates a change. May God bless you. Amen.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
A Recommendation and Some Random Thoughts
First of all, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I hope that 2015 brings much happiness and joy to all of you who read the blog. I have several reviews planned for the upcoming months.
I also have some new series planned for the Weekend Sermon. After we conclude our series about kings, I think that I will begin a series of messages on I Peter. I also would like to do a series of messages on the parables of Jesus. I may do a series on another of the Minor Prophets, possibly Micah or Amos. It is all dependent on the leading of the Lord.
2014 was an interesting year for me to say the least. At the beginning of the year, I was sick and on the verge of homelessness. Writing work was scarce, and I could not find another job. In February, the Lord provided a job, and I worked at that job until November. That job helped me get back on my feet a little bit. Thankfully, although the old job is sadly over, Jesus has provided a new job starting in mid-January. Writing also has picked up nicely over the course of the year.
It is my goal in 2015 to sell the house and pay off the debts that I have. If there is any money left, I will save it to help finance my ministry I want to start. I hope to sell much of what I own, and then work a couple of years or so at the new job. This will give me the funds to finance a mission trip or a larger ministry whichever way Jesus leads.
In matters spiritual, 2014 had its ups and downs. I am still looking for a good church to attend on a regular basis. Much effort will be put into this in 2015. I don't believe that I made the most of all of the witnessing opportunities at my old job. I feel badly about this. I have definitely remedied this at the part-time job I have now, and I will endeavor to be a much more faithful witness at my new job. I will strive to continue to spread the message of the love of Jesus on this blog.
I had great fun writing the blog in 2014. I really enjoyed doing the Weekend Sermon series on the miracles of Jesus, and I am currently enjoying the series on kings. We also did a series on Hebrews. We had a lot of good books to review this year as well. Sometime in 2015, I will have a post on my animal book of the year.
Now on to the recommendation. Last week, I saw a fantastic DVD called "Lost Land of the Tiger". This was a National Geographic video that focused on the search for tigers in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. Dr. Alan Rabinowitz of Panthera led a group of scientists as they sought out tigers. The scientists used camera traps and visual observation to locate tigers. They even used a specially trained Labrador retriever to sniff out tiger poop. I won't tell you what they discovered. You will have to look at the DVD to find that out. I highly recommend this DVD.
Once again, Happy New Year to all. May God bless you. Thanks for reading the blog in 2014.
I also have some new series planned for the Weekend Sermon. After we conclude our series about kings, I think that I will begin a series of messages on I Peter. I also would like to do a series of messages on the parables of Jesus. I may do a series on another of the Minor Prophets, possibly Micah or Amos. It is all dependent on the leading of the Lord.
2014 was an interesting year for me to say the least. At the beginning of the year, I was sick and on the verge of homelessness. Writing work was scarce, and I could not find another job. In February, the Lord provided a job, and I worked at that job until November. That job helped me get back on my feet a little bit. Thankfully, although the old job is sadly over, Jesus has provided a new job starting in mid-January. Writing also has picked up nicely over the course of the year.
It is my goal in 2015 to sell the house and pay off the debts that I have. If there is any money left, I will save it to help finance my ministry I want to start. I hope to sell much of what I own, and then work a couple of years or so at the new job. This will give me the funds to finance a mission trip or a larger ministry whichever way Jesus leads.
In matters spiritual, 2014 had its ups and downs. I am still looking for a good church to attend on a regular basis. Much effort will be put into this in 2015. I don't believe that I made the most of all of the witnessing opportunities at my old job. I feel badly about this. I have definitely remedied this at the part-time job I have now, and I will endeavor to be a much more faithful witness at my new job. I will strive to continue to spread the message of the love of Jesus on this blog.
I had great fun writing the blog in 2014. I really enjoyed doing the Weekend Sermon series on the miracles of Jesus, and I am currently enjoying the series on kings. We also did a series on Hebrews. We had a lot of good books to review this year as well. Sometime in 2015, I will have a post on my animal book of the year.
Now on to the recommendation. Last week, I saw a fantastic DVD called "Lost Land of the Tiger". This was a National Geographic video that focused on the search for tigers in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. Dr. Alan Rabinowitz of Panthera led a group of scientists as they sought out tigers. The scientists used camera traps and visual observation to locate tigers. They even used a specially trained Labrador retriever to sniff out tiger poop. I won't tell you what they discovered. You will have to look at the DVD to find that out. I highly recommend this DVD.
Once again, Happy New Year to all. May God bless you. Thanks for reading the blog in 2014.
Monday, December 29, 2014
Verse of the Week
Luke 15:7 -- "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Weekend Sermon -- New Year
Welcome to this week's edition of the Weekend Sermon. I hope that everyone had a merry Christmas.
I had a nice Christmas. We had a nice holiday party at work. I spent Christmas day with my brother, my sister-in-law, my nephew and his wife. We had a good time. As I have mentioned already this week, I received a really nice Christmas present due to the fact that I was offered a great job with good benefits. That job starts in mid-January. Thanks be to God.
As you go to prayer this week, let us all pray for peace on earth. I was thinking a lot about this this week. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and He call all of us to be peacemakers. There is so much war and violence in this world. Let us pray for peace in Syria, Iraq, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Libya. Wherever else in this world where there is violence and turmoil, Lord, let there be peace.
Today's sermon may seem somewhat disjointed. Please bear with me as I have some things to say that may not seem related, but I will attempt to draw it all together. I hope.
As I approach each new year, one passage of Scripture that is important to me is found in Philippians 3:13-14. In this passage Paul states, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
This verse is important to me each new year because it reminds me to forget about the bad things that may have happened in the year before. As many of you know, 2014 held good and bad things for me. During this year, I reached one of the lowest points in my life. The year started out with me in desperate financial shape and on the verge of homelessness. Thankfully, I got a job, and I thought that things were looking up. Unfortunately, that job didn't turn out to be what I expected it to be or what I was told it was going to be.
Over the course of the year, events transpired at that job that hurt me a great deal. I don't think that I can express how badly I felt about all that happened. People that I thought were my friends turned out to be nothing close to that.
Thankfully, I found a small job to keep me going until I found something else that was better. Praise be to God that He has provided for me with a new job. Also, writing has really picked up, and I have had quite a bit of work lately.
As the new year approaches, it is time to lay aside the hurts of 2014. The past is past, and it is now time to go into 2015 with the hope of new possibilities. I feel that it is important to try to forget the hurts of the past for two reasons. For one thing, people can be very mean and do things that hurt you. When this happens, I remember what Joseph said to his brothers in Egypt. They meant what happened to Joseph for evil, but God meant it for good.
Joseph had a bad time of it. His brothers sold him into slavery, and then he was falsely accused of a crime and thrown in prison. But, God meant it for good. Joseph rose to become the savior of the nation of Egypt and his family.
This year, people wanted bad things to happen to me. They wanted me to lose my job. Things looked bleak. People meant it for evil. However, out of that bad situation, the Lord Jesus brought good things. I found my love of writing again, and I am back working hard at it. I also have a much better job with better pay and benefits coming.
You may have faced something very negative and hurtful in 2014. I hope that you will try to put it behind you and move ahead to new and better things in 2015. It is not easy. Believe me I know. However, I know that if we ask the Lord Jesus to help us and guide us, He will assist us by the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome and get the victory.
Hebrews 12:15 is an important verse to keep in mind when dealing with hurts from the past. This verse talks about not letting a root of bitterness spring up in our hearts lest we become defiled by it. The past is the past. Letting the past hurts just keep churning through our hearts and minds just hurts us not the people who hurt us. It's best to let it go, and focus on Jesus.
I've had a lot of hurts and pain in my life caused by people. It hasn't always been easy. But as I have looked back over the course of my life, I have come to see that the Lord has brought good things from the bad. He had watched over me and caused all things to work towards His will for my life.
Along with me, let us all try to leave the bad of 2014 behind and trust in the goodness of the Lord as we move into 2015.
Now, the new year is also a time to reflect on what we want to do in the coming year. We have left the bad behind in 2014, so what are we going to do in 2015 that is positive and good for the service of the Lord.
One thing that I have resolved to do is to work harder at sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with those that I know. I want to be a witness to those that I know that Jesus saves. Right now, there is a man at work who has become a good friend in a short period of time. I am trying to share with him about Jesus. It is my goal that before I leave this job and move to my new one that I can really tell him about the love of Jesus.
In 2015, I also want to move ahead with my plan to serve the Lord by getting all of my debts behind me and getting into full-time ministry. This will take some time, but I can make significant steps toward that goal in 2015.
I also want to work more with the environmental and animal causes that I hold so dear. I am passionate about saving endangered species, and I want to work more in that regard as I did in the past.
These are just my ideas that I believe the Lord has placed upon my heart. I hope that you will ask Jesus what He wants you to do for Him in 2015.
Whatever we do in 2015, serving Jesus should be the goal. Jesus said that it doesn't profit a man to gain the whole world if he loses his own soul. He also told us to lay up treasure in Heaven and not treasure on earth. These are important sayings to keep in mind as we move into 2015.
Finally, Hebrews 12:1-2 are verses that I like to think about as the new year approaches. This passage states, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Let us keep running the race in 2015. Put aside the bad and the hurts with the help of Jesus. Lay aside anything that is holding you back from serving the Lord. Look to Jesus.
I said when I started that I had a lot of different things to say, but it all comes down to one thing. Wherever the new year takes us. Wherever life takes us. Let us keep are focus on Jesus. Serving the Lord Jesus is the greatest thing that any person can do in this life. If we keep our focus on Him, we cannot go wrong. Jesus will guide us. He will be with us, and He will show us the way as long as we keep our eyes fixed on Him.
If you have never asked Jesus to be the Savior and Lord of your life, the best thing that you could do to start 2015 off right is to come to Jesus. Jesus said that whosoever will may come. He said that whoever would come to Him, He would not cast out. You can repent of your sins and seek forgiveness and salvation from Jesus today. Make Him the Lord of your life, and He will lead you in the path that will take you to an eternal home.
Next week, I will post the verse on Monday. Hopefully, I can get a review in on Wednesday. I will post a new sermon on Saturday. Next week, we will continue our series on kings. May God bless you all. Amen.
I had a nice Christmas. We had a nice holiday party at work. I spent Christmas day with my brother, my sister-in-law, my nephew and his wife. We had a good time. As I have mentioned already this week, I received a really nice Christmas present due to the fact that I was offered a great job with good benefits. That job starts in mid-January. Thanks be to God.
As you go to prayer this week, let us all pray for peace on earth. I was thinking a lot about this this week. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and He call all of us to be peacemakers. There is so much war and violence in this world. Let us pray for peace in Syria, Iraq, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Libya. Wherever else in this world where there is violence and turmoil, Lord, let there be peace.
Today's sermon may seem somewhat disjointed. Please bear with me as I have some things to say that may not seem related, but I will attempt to draw it all together. I hope.
As I approach each new year, one passage of Scripture that is important to me is found in Philippians 3:13-14. In this passage Paul states, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
This verse is important to me each new year because it reminds me to forget about the bad things that may have happened in the year before. As many of you know, 2014 held good and bad things for me. During this year, I reached one of the lowest points in my life. The year started out with me in desperate financial shape and on the verge of homelessness. Thankfully, I got a job, and I thought that things were looking up. Unfortunately, that job didn't turn out to be what I expected it to be or what I was told it was going to be.
Over the course of the year, events transpired at that job that hurt me a great deal. I don't think that I can express how badly I felt about all that happened. People that I thought were my friends turned out to be nothing close to that.
Thankfully, I found a small job to keep me going until I found something else that was better. Praise be to God that He has provided for me with a new job. Also, writing has really picked up, and I have had quite a bit of work lately.
As the new year approaches, it is time to lay aside the hurts of 2014. The past is past, and it is now time to go into 2015 with the hope of new possibilities. I feel that it is important to try to forget the hurts of the past for two reasons. For one thing, people can be very mean and do things that hurt you. When this happens, I remember what Joseph said to his brothers in Egypt. They meant what happened to Joseph for evil, but God meant it for good.
Joseph had a bad time of it. His brothers sold him into slavery, and then he was falsely accused of a crime and thrown in prison. But, God meant it for good. Joseph rose to become the savior of the nation of Egypt and his family.
This year, people wanted bad things to happen to me. They wanted me to lose my job. Things looked bleak. People meant it for evil. However, out of that bad situation, the Lord Jesus brought good things. I found my love of writing again, and I am back working hard at it. I also have a much better job with better pay and benefits coming.
You may have faced something very negative and hurtful in 2014. I hope that you will try to put it behind you and move ahead to new and better things in 2015. It is not easy. Believe me I know. However, I know that if we ask the Lord Jesus to help us and guide us, He will assist us by the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome and get the victory.
Hebrews 12:15 is an important verse to keep in mind when dealing with hurts from the past. This verse talks about not letting a root of bitterness spring up in our hearts lest we become defiled by it. The past is the past. Letting the past hurts just keep churning through our hearts and minds just hurts us not the people who hurt us. It's best to let it go, and focus on Jesus.
I've had a lot of hurts and pain in my life caused by people. It hasn't always been easy. But as I have looked back over the course of my life, I have come to see that the Lord has brought good things from the bad. He had watched over me and caused all things to work towards His will for my life.
Along with me, let us all try to leave the bad of 2014 behind and trust in the goodness of the Lord as we move into 2015.
Now, the new year is also a time to reflect on what we want to do in the coming year. We have left the bad behind in 2014, so what are we going to do in 2015 that is positive and good for the service of the Lord.
One thing that I have resolved to do is to work harder at sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with those that I know. I want to be a witness to those that I know that Jesus saves. Right now, there is a man at work who has become a good friend in a short period of time. I am trying to share with him about Jesus. It is my goal that before I leave this job and move to my new one that I can really tell him about the love of Jesus.
In 2015, I also want to move ahead with my plan to serve the Lord by getting all of my debts behind me and getting into full-time ministry. This will take some time, but I can make significant steps toward that goal in 2015.
I also want to work more with the environmental and animal causes that I hold so dear. I am passionate about saving endangered species, and I want to work more in that regard as I did in the past.
These are just my ideas that I believe the Lord has placed upon my heart. I hope that you will ask Jesus what He wants you to do for Him in 2015.
Whatever we do in 2015, serving Jesus should be the goal. Jesus said that it doesn't profit a man to gain the whole world if he loses his own soul. He also told us to lay up treasure in Heaven and not treasure on earth. These are important sayings to keep in mind as we move into 2015.
Finally, Hebrews 12:1-2 are verses that I like to think about as the new year approaches. This passage states, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Let us keep running the race in 2015. Put aside the bad and the hurts with the help of Jesus. Lay aside anything that is holding you back from serving the Lord. Look to Jesus.
I said when I started that I had a lot of different things to say, but it all comes down to one thing. Wherever the new year takes us. Wherever life takes us. Let us keep are focus on Jesus. Serving the Lord Jesus is the greatest thing that any person can do in this life. If we keep our focus on Him, we cannot go wrong. Jesus will guide us. He will be with us, and He will show us the way as long as we keep our eyes fixed on Him.
If you have never asked Jesus to be the Savior and Lord of your life, the best thing that you could do to start 2015 off right is to come to Jesus. Jesus said that whosoever will may come. He said that whoever would come to Him, He would not cast out. You can repent of your sins and seek forgiveness and salvation from Jesus today. Make Him the Lord of your life, and He will lead you in the path that will take you to an eternal home.
Next week, I will post the verse on Monday. Hopefully, I can get a review in on Wednesday. I will post a new sermon on Saturday. Next week, we will continue our series on kings. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Merry Christmas
Since the library will be closed tomorrow, I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas today. This Christmas, I have really felt a feeling of great awe and wonder when I think of the fact that the God who created the universe came to us in the form of an infant on Christmas morning. What love Jesus has for us that He would do this. Thank you Jesus for your love. Happy Birthday to you Jesus. May your name be praised forever and ever. Glory be unto your name.
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