Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts

Saturday, November 14, 2015

A Drop In A Bucket

If you are reading this, you know the tragedy of lives lost in Paris yesterday. You heard of the Russian airliner leaving Egypt that was brought down by an explosion. Other headlines prevail. You know the brokeness of human flesh as our friends prove their weakness and sinfulness every day. You have woken up to the shock and horror of your own sinful thoughts and actions, and your mind races.  You have seen the headlines. On tragic days, we are shocked and angry. We see how little we are and how BIG God is. There is hope for a renewal of our faith in God and a revival of our hearts during these times, but so often people completely miss looking to the Everlasting God who will judge the nations.  Will we acknowledge our sinful bodies, minds, souls, and receive the forgiveness that only Jesus Christ can give? He is the Everlasting God and no man can diminish His power and love. He reached out to you and to me and extended His arms. He opened WIDE His arms and died on a cross for our FREEDOM.

Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, 
And are counted as the small dust on the scales…
To whom can you compare God?
    What image can you find to resemble him?
 Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold,
    overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains?
 Or if people are too poor for that,
    they might at least choose wood that won’t decay
and a skilled craftsman
    to carve an image that won’t fall down!
Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand?
    Are you deaf to the words of God
the words he gave before the world began?
    Are you so ignorant?
 God sits above the circle of the earth.
    The people below seem like grasshoppers to him!
He spreads out the heavens like a curtain
    and makes his tent from them.
He judges the great people of the world
    and brings them all to nothing.
They hardly get started, barely taking root,
    when he blows on them and they wither.
    The wind carries them off like chaff.
“To whom will you compare me?
    Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.
Look up into the heavens.
    Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another,
    calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
    not a single one is missing.
O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?
    O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
Have you never heard?
    Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
    No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak
    and strength to the powerless.
 Even youths will become weak and tired,
    and young men will fall in exhaustion.
 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint.
The Holy Bible: Isaiah 40:15, 21-31 

Call out to the Everlasting God. Look to Jesus the Messiah in faith, receive His forgiveness for your sins. He alone will make this messy world right again. He alone can make our messy, dead hearts alive again. 

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Hymn of the Week


Jesus, Lover of My Soul
words: Charles Wesley, 1740

  1. Jesus, lover of my soul,
    Let me to Thy bosom fly,
    While the nearer waters roll,
    While the tempest still is high.
    Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
    Till the storm of life is past;
    Safe into the haven guide;
    Oh, receive my soul at last.
  2. Other refuge have I none,
    Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
    Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
    Still support and comfort me.
    All my trust on Thee is stayed,
    All my help from Thee I bring;
    Cover my defenseless head
    With the shadow of Thy wing.
  3. Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
    More than all in Thee I find;
    Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
    Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
    Just and holy is Thy Name,
    Source of all true righteousness;
    Thou art evermore the same,
    Thou art full of truth and grace.
  4. Plenteous grace with Thee is found,
    Grace to cover all my sin;
    Let the healing streams abound;
    Make and keep me pure within.
    Thou of life the fountain art,
    Freely let me take of Thee;
    Spring Thou up within my heart;
    Rise to all eternity.
  5. Here are two versions of these beautiful words:
  6. Jesus, Lover of My Soul new melody by Elysia
  7. Jesus, Lover of My Soul sung by Fernando Ortega

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The Storm

There is so much consolation in the thought that though we suffer in this life and face storms of many kinds, Jesus can sympathize with us because of the vast amount of suffering He experienced at the cross. Dr. Timothy Keller expounds on this thought in His free online sermon entitled "Jesus At His Father's Feast" about Jesus' discussion with the elders at the temple at age 12.

Keller says:

That’s why you should trust Him, because He absolutely loves and is totally committed to serving the people He confuses, His parents. But how much more is that a reflection of Him totally, totally dedicated to loving and serving us, who He often confuses.

When a storm comes up, don’t say, “Oh Lord Jesus, why are you letting me go through this storm? Don’t you care that I perish? Instead say, “Jesus, you bowed your head into a far worse storm than this, the storm of eternal justice, and you didn’t abandon me in that storm but you stayed in that storm for me. So, if you didn’t abandon me in that storm, you’re not going to abandon me in this storm. I don’t know why you are letting me go through it, but I know that you are committed to me, just like you were committed to your parents. You didn’t have to do it, it was voluntary, but you did it.”

-Dr. Timothy Keller in the sermon “Jesus at His Father’s Feast,” Dec. 25, 2005, Luke 2:41-52.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Christ is Risen!








Amy's dress is the only one I had time to make this year. I was not able to find a dress for her in an inexpensive way, so I took some cloth and a pattern that I got from my Grandma, and I turned them into a dress.

Easter was beautiful again this year. It was the first sunny day we had had in a while, and the air was warm. The music at church was very good, and the sermon was uplifting. Jesus is such an awesome reason to celebrate every year. He is alive, and His resurrection makes eternal life possible. Praise God for His power and victory over sin and death. The rest of the day was fun and enjoyable with family and friends. It will be a good day to remember.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

The Garden

“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42
Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will

5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:


“ Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’”[a]

8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.”[b] He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:5-10

The agony in Gethsemane is the agony of the Son of God in fulfilling His destiny as the Saviour of the world. The veil is drawn aside to reveal all it cost Him to make it possible for us to become sons of God. His agony is the basis of the simplicity of our salvation. The Cross of Christ is a triumph for the Son of Man. It was not only a sign that Our Lord had triumphed, but that He had triumphed to save the human race. Every human being can get through into the presence of God now because of what the Son of Man went through. --Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Hightest, April 5th

Saturday, March 20, 2010

What Was The Purpose of Donna's Life?

I just returned from the funeral of Donna Nokes, a friend of our family, and the church secretary at my parent's church. The funeral was an amazing expression of a life well-lived. Though her life was brief, only 57 years, she lived it for Jesus, her Savior. I would like to share the main points from Pastor Dan's message, "What Was The Purpose of Donna's Life?" because this message is one that reminds us of what is important. I am challenged to live a better life because of Donna's example.

1. To remind us that God is Sovereign.
Isaiah 40:13-15
James 4:13-17
Ex. 34:23-24
2. To remind us that people are more important than things.
What would happen if we spent more time guarding our relationships than in guarding our stuff? Donna cared more about people.
3. To remind us of God's love.
Donna lived through many tragedies and disappointments, but she did not become bitter or mean-spirited. Donna was able to empathize with many people.
Rom. 5:6-7
4. To remind us that God wants godly offspring.
Mal. 2:15
Donna shared Jesus with her kids. Donna poured her life into her children.
5. To remind us there are better days ahead.
1 Thess. 4