Salvation, From Mom, Part Two

 Saved.  Luke 7:50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” 

From the Word Wealth in Mom's Bible:  heal, cure, preserve, keep safe and sound, rescue from danger or destruction, deliver. 

Saved.  We are "saved" from physical death by healing and from spiritual death by accepting Jesus as our personal Savior.    To give "new life" and to cause to have a new heart.  Admit we are sinners.  Ask for forgiveness through Jesus.  

The ABCs of Salvation.  

Admit you are a sinner.  Romans 3:23  For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Believe in Jesus Christ.  Acts 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”

Confess your faith.  Romans 10:9-11 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

Salvation.  

1.  Acknowledge you are a sinner and cannot save yourself.

2. Acknowledge Jesus Christ is the Son of God and only He can save you.

3.  Believe that Jesus' crucifiction was for your/my personal sins and that His death was on our behalf.

4.  Give Jesus your life and ask Him to be your Savior and Lord.

From me. 

That's it in a nutshell.  There is an afterlife.  There is only two choices for that afterlife.  Heaven or Hell.  God or Satan.  Jesus is the only way to Heaven.  And only His given path will take us there, will reconcile us to our creator, will give our lives purpose and will bring us joy and peace.  Becoming a Christian is easy.  It's saying YES to His gift.  Living as a Christian is a lifelong pursuit to become like our Savior. We put off our old way of doing things and learn to put on a new attitude.  Ephesians 4:20-2420 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.   Being a Christian doesn't deliver us from life's difficulties, but it gives us someone to hold onto through them and a hope for the future.   Will you accept the gift of salvation today?

Lord, open the hearts of anyone reading this who doesn't know You.  Open them up to Your love and salvation.  You alone are the One who saves.  You alone are the One who delivers.  We know being a Christian can sometimes bring persecution....from friends and family rejecting or making fun of us to imprisonment and death...but You will bring us through it all and into Your amazing Presence if we stay the course....and You will never leave us or forsake us, You will help us.  You gave Your all to bring us back to Yourself, the One who created and fashioned each one of us.  You yearn for a relationship with those You created, You yearn to call us sons and daughters.  Draw people all over to Yourself, to the promise of Your eternal Presence, the eternal life that You tell us about in Revelation 21:2-4   I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem. It was coming down out of heaven from God. It was made ready like a bride is made ready for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice coming from heaven. It said, “See! God’s home is with men. He will live with them. They will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will be their God. 4 God will take away all their tears. There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All the old things have passed away.”  This is the wonderful, eternal future for those who trust You.  Lord, please bring any readers that don't know You to this salvation.  And thank You a million times over for my own salvation.  I still shake my head in astonishment that You would save such a mess like me!  LOL  

Admit.  Believe.  Confess.  

Salvation, From Mom Part 1

Salvation--Releasing, deliverance, liberation.  Acts 28:28  So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept.  (forgiveness, healing, prosperity, deliverance, safety, rescue, liberation and restoration.  Luke 19:9 Jesus responded, "Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.  (soundness, prosperity, rescuing, deliverance, preservation, safety, restoration, liberation).

Christ's salvation is total in scope for the total man:  spirit, soul and body.

The word (salvation) is used both in a material, temporal sense and in a spiritual, eternal sense.  Salvation is a present possession with a fuller realization in the future.  

Luke 1:77  To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins,

Luke 19:9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Romans 13:11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

1 Thessalonians 5:8-9  But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Saved.  Believe the Scriptures

John 3:16 For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 5:13  I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

Ephesians 1:13-14 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Ephesians 2:4-7 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

Simply put, all God asks of us is to believe in His Son, Jesus, as your Savior.  Just place your trust in Christ, through faith, in His redeeming work on the Cross and resurrection from the dead.  Then God will take over and you will receive the sincere desire to tell others about the blessings of salvation.

From me.

Mom gives a lot a great Scripture for this beautiful gift of salvation given by our Creator.  It really is so simple.  We are not worthy to be in the Presence of a Holy God.  We sin, we get it wrong, we live in self seeking, self determining ways.  But He has provided a way to bring us back into fellowship with Him, restoring the relationship mankind once shared with Him in the Garden of Eden.  That way is Jesus Christ.  Acts 4:12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Putting our belief and trust in Jesus and His sacrifice is the only way to be saved, to have eternal life in Heaven, where we will live in peace, joy and wholeness beyond anything we could imagine.  The alternative is Hell.  A place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.  A place of despair, darkness and desolation, a place devoid of God's Presence and love.  

The Lord is so good.  We were the ones who screwed up, yet He is the one to fix it.  Praise His holy Name!!  

Lord, there are not enough words to express the joy and thankfulness for this gift of salvation.  We did, nor can do anything to earn it.  It is solely from Your love, from Your grace.  Lord, I can't even wrap my head around what You have given us.  Maybe once we get to heaven we will understand better, appreciate more....but for now, I just fall on my knees in thankfulness and awe.  Praise God!  Thank You Lord!  Amen and amen.   Psalm 18:46 The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted!  Psalm 40:16 But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”

If you haven't already put your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, pray about doing so now.  Open your heart to Him.  He's love is waiting to envelop you.  If you already walk with Him, take some time to meditate on these Scriptures and give thanks.  

Prayer Please

 

Prayer please.  We need prayer.  We need God's grace to reach our hearts and through our hearts to embrace the hurting, to be the peacemakers who draw others by His love and to His truth, to His Son Jesus Christ.  We need to seek righteousness, holiness and stand for truth (what the Bible says is truth, not the world's version), but we also need to love and walk a mile in each others shoes.  This world is desperate.  Shouldn't we be desperate too?  Desperate for the Lord to save each soul and be glorified in each life.  Lord, help us to be the ones You send to help, to share the Gospel, to love as You love.  Help us to kneel before You before we face the world.  We cannot stand against the powers of darkness raging through this world if we don't first fall on our face before You throne.  Help us to be salt and light.  Let Your children be known by their good works and their humble hearts.  Lord, we get apathetic, self-righteous, and tend to stay in our own little safe zones.  Get us brave!  Set us afire for the lost!  Give us passion for the things that move Your heart.  In Jesus holy and powerful Name.  Amen

I heard this song for the first time recently and though, yeah, we really need to be reaching out to the Lord.  This world is a dark place, and getting darker by the day....but good news, God is still in control.  

2 Chronicles 7:14  Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

James 4:7  So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Isaiah 6:8  Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people?  Who will go for us?"  I said, "Here I am.  Send me." 

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

We face uncertain times.  It's as if we are seeing the end times playing out right in front of our eyes. Sunday afternoon me and a family member were discussing this very thing.   Wars, rumors of wars.  Disaster, dissent, famine.  These all seem to be getting worse.  But we are told these things will come.  We sang a song Sunday morning for worship that I hadn't heard in a long time and it gave me a reminder that all would be well.  Not necessarily easy, but definitely well. 

This week's Beatitude taught on by my Pastor Sunday was Matt 5:10  God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.  Not only are we seeing turmoil and trouble in the world, in the United States alone we are are seeing an outright attack on anything Christian.  Our values are being ridiculed and met with anger.  Other countries face violent persecution.   All to be expected.  Jesus told us in John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

So this song was a great reminder that we are in good hands, safe in the Savior's care.  We may face many difficult situations in this world, see things falling down around us even....but God has this!  He hasn't lost sight of His children or His good plan.  And just think, Jesus could come back any day!  

Lord, thank You that You stand before us.  You stand behind us and surround us with Your love.  We are safe in Your care and You will safely bring us home to You in Your perfect time.  Although things around us seem completely out of control, we are not abandoned to the world's chaos.  We are safe with You in the middle of the storm.  Give us the peace that passes understanding by knowing and believing this truth.  Lord give us the strength we need to stand fast and glorify Your Name.  We praise You today.  It Jesus most powerful Name.  Amen.  

Listen and believe.  

Peacemaker

Last Sunday my Pastor spoke on verse 9 of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.  God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

This verse convicts me.  Am I a peacemaker when I gossip, complain or criticize?  No.  There's a difference between offering suggestions that might improve a situation and criticizing other's ways of doing things.  There's a difference between pouring one's heart out in hurt to a wise, listening friend and complaining.  And there is no excuse for gossip.  Period.  

Maybe keeping 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 in mind will help us be the peacemakers that God wants.  It states:  4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Our Pastor said, "A quarrelsome person can't be a peacemaker."  And he's right.  Being contentious will never point the people around us to the Prince of Peace.  And isn't that what we ultimately want?  To show people that they can be at peace with the God who created them?  I think of the times at work when I was so upset something wasn't done right, or something was left undone....peacemaker would not be the term I used to describe my behavior.  

Jesus didn't shy from conflict.  He stood up for righteousness and justice.  But He loved.  He offered help instead of condemnation.  I'm not seeing Jesus stealing off for prayer in the mornings as was His custom and in that time complaining to His Father about all the people who were not living right, or whining about those who were trying to kill Him.  He didn't sit around after everyone left complaining about all the work He had to do and all the people that got themselves into trouble by sinning.  No.  He stayed at peace and loved those good old faulty humans.  

A peacemaker doesn't let the little things of life come between them and those around them.  Romans 12:18  If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  But there are times when we have to be honest with people.  We cannot compromise our Christian character to live in peace with the world.  We must "obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).   We cannot see someone racing towards destruction without trying to pull them back.  Peace doesn't always mean to cessation of conflict.  We sometimes have to confront, as Jesus did.  Living out our peace with God may actually bring persecution.  Pointing people to a relationship with Jesus may actually cause them to hate and ridicule us.  

There is so much to the peacemaker thing!  And it really brought conviction to my heart about my "un-peaceable behavior.  Another area to grow!  Another area to allow the Holy Spirit to chisel and shape my heart into a beautiful residence for Him.  

Lord, teach us the balance of being a peacemaker in Your image.  Teach us to love others while still setting a Christ-like example wherever we go.  Let us point to way to You, the Prince of Peace.  Give us boldness and kindness, courage and humility.  Create in us the character of Christ.  It's in His precious Name I pray.  Amen.  

Examine yourself against verse 9 of the Beatitudes today.  Where are you on the peacemaker scale?  

Lord, prepare me, to be a sanctuary.  Pure and holy, tried and true...These are the opening words to a hymn we sung on Sunday morning.  And it got me thinking.  How welcoming is my heart to Jesus? 

In a couple of weeks we are having a house guest visit our home.  As most women know, when we have guests, whether for a few hours or a few days, a lot of preparation goes into it.  Cleaning, making things sparkle and feel fresh.  For stay over guests, we get out clean sheets, fix up the guest area with things like the channel list for local tv stations, a place to put or hang clothes, fresh towels and toiletries.  Then there is food fixing, getting in some guest favorites.....We do what we can to make visitors to our home feel welcome and cared for.  

Well, this song got me wondering what I do with my heart to make the Holy Spirit feel welcome.  What makes my heart a sanctuary for Him?  As we study the Beatitudes on Sunday mornings I got the idea that a heart having the "attitudes of the beatitudes" is what is needed to make a welcoming home for our Lord.  It's not about perfection, but about a heart that seeks to follow Christ, a needy heart.  A heart that quickly seeks forgiveness for sin, seeks God's help to overcome and seeks to glorify Him in all things.  It's a heart that puts others first, a humble heart that lives peaceably with others, but not compromising the ways of God to fit into a world that we were never meant to fit into.  

5 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,

   for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

4 God blesses those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

5 God blesses those who are humble,

    for they will inherit the whole earth.

6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,[b]

    for they will be satisfied.

7 God blesses those who are merciful,

    for they will be shown mercy.

8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,

    for they will see God.

9 God blesses those who work for peace,

    for they will be called the children of God.

10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,

    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

I want my heart to be a place the Lord feels comfortable.  And sometimes that's going to make me uncomfortable, sometimes that will require work on my part....giving up fitting in with the world, giving up giving in to my flesh, to ease and comfort.  Breaking sin's chains off our lives, putting God's desires over our own, maybe loosing a few friendships all can be difficult.  But to be a "man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22...He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’)  requires change.  And we are not alone.  We are told in Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  

I think that a heart that welcomes God is one that while not perfect, it is perfectly willing to come to Jesus.  

Thank You Lord that we don't have to be perfect to be a perfect home for You.  Thank You that You work with those who are willing, changing us from the inside out to be the kind of place You want to reside.  Give us hearts that are willing, hearts that seek You first and seek to do You will even when it's hard.  We are so blessed that we don't have to come all cleaned up and tidy, we can come with our messes and our hurts and our struggles.  Thank You that it's our desperation that brings us to the Cross.  And thank You that You work in us to make us people that have hearts for You.  Let us work with You to live lives shaped by the Words Jesus gave us in Matthew 5.  Lord, be glorified in our hearts and lives.  In Jesus' Name, amen.

Start a study in the Beatitudes.  

Sunday Worship

Praise God!  Praise God!  Praise God!  

Two Things to Remember

I don't know what you are going through right now.  But God does.  He knows the last few weeks have been very difficult and very sorrowful for me.  He sees our hurt, our tears.  He sees the pain and lostness we all feel when life plays rough.  He is our loving Father and holds us when we weep.  I know I've found this to be true over the last few weeks.  My heart was broken, my body worn and sick, yet I knew I was never alone or abandoned by my Lord.  And two verses kept coming up.  Two words of comfort and assurance from the Lord.  

Romans 8:28  28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope

They came up again yesterday, as life has started to get back to normal.  And I will carry  them in my heart, knowing they are a gift from my  Father.  And they are your gift as well.  He wants you, whoever is reading this right now, wherever you are, whatever you are facing to know and remember these two truths.  Hide them in your heart and treasure them.  Bring them out to fight against the darkness and the lies of the enemy.  Rest in them.  They are healing, they are hope.  

Lord, thank You for Your beautiful Word and Your beautiful heart that loves us so.  Thank You for the comfort You wrap us in and the peace we can rest in as the storm rages around us.  You are so good to Your children.  Life hurts.  But You neve abandon nor forsake Your children.  You speak peace even in the storm.  Thank You.  Please comfort the hurting today.  Comfort the broken.  Be with them as they struggle and weep, lift their hearts and heads.  In Jesus' Name amen.

Write out these verse and carry them with you.  

Addendum

God wasn't finished with this topic of putting Him first.  As I closed out today's entry, I looked at my phone for the verse of the day.  Yup, God has something else to say to us.  

1 Chronicles 16:11  Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.  

We truly serve an awesome, involved, active God!  And He's definitely got a sense of humor!

Hint Hint!!

Yesterday was a long day for me.  Monday's and Thursdays I volunteer at a kitten and cat adoption center and then go to work afterwards.  By lunchtime at work, I'm pretty tired and starting to wind down for the day.  Last night was no exception.

As I sat in my car for lunch, I was feeling quite lazy as you could imagine.  I sat scrolling through Facebook, when I knew I should actually be doing my Bible study/prayer time.  But thinking seemed like too much work and scrolling was so much easier.  LOL   But of course the Lord had other ideas and was not going to be denied His time with me.  

As I scrolled through Facebook posts, I came across this meme on one of my like pages.  Do you think God was trying to get my attention?  Correction time!  LOL  

Really, no matter how tired, how down, how busy it's always good to follow the advice of this meme.  Maybe it's just taking time to be thankful, to read a Psalm and let it sink into our hearts, to just sit in God's presence, or listen to and join in with worship music for a little bit...whatever it is you do, it's always appropriate to put God first.  

Lord, thank You for this timely reminder last night.  You know sometimes we get too tired to even think, but that is never an excuse for neglecting our relationship and our time with You.  I am so happy that You meet us just where we are, lifting our heads and our spirits as we spend time with You.  And Lord, thank You that You don't expect big, in depth study when we are like that, but just want to be with us and hang out.  You are a kind and loving Father, are patient and gentle Savior.  You tell us in Matthew 11:28...“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  No matter our tiredness, our burdens, You are the one who comforts and strengthens us.  We can just sit with You when we are weary and rest in Your Presence.  No fancy prayers or deep study is needed, just time together.  I love You Lord!  Thank You.  

You know what to do!  

Sunday Worship

 Enjoy!  To God Be The Glory!!

Crazy!

I was reading a devotional today called "31 Days of Praise" by Ruth Myers.  I love this little book.  It takes us through 31 days of worship and praise for our God, extoling and acclaiming His glory, virtue and Presence.  It focuses my heart on His goodness, His greatness and His amazing grace.  Today's reading (and I've read it many, many times over the years), struck a chord in my heart that caused me to stop and listen for a while.  

"Thank You, Father, that You so loved the world that You gave Your one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ...that when the time had fully come, He wrapped Himself in human form, being born as a helpless baby in a poor family.  Thank You that He walked here on earth radiating the brightness of your glory and flawlessly expressing Your nature...and so, through Him, people saw You in action, involved with them, available to meet their needs."  These words started off today's devotions.

Stop and rest here for a second.  Think about this.  Think about the God of the Old Testament.   The God who spoke to Moses from a burning bush.  Led the infant nation of Israel by a pillar of smoke and fire.  He shook mountains, and no one could see His face.  The High Priest could only go before Him once a year and then only through much ritual and cleansing.  Isaiah declared chapter 6:5 "Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”  This God was unapproachable by people.  Present and active, but awesome and terrifying.  His love came through His holiness and fearful Presence, we see His tender care, but He didn't walk among His people.    They couldn't come before Him and fellowship.  

Jesus, on the other hand, came down from Heaven's glories into the dust and dirt and walked with His creation.  He laughed, He cried, He ate, He drank.  He walked and slept and touched.  He came to be with us, as one of us, except without sin.  Is this amazing or what?!?!    This beyond imaging holy, fearsome God came down and walked beside men and women of earth.  He came down to help and heal and love and save.  Thinking about this is blowing my mind and making my heart flutter.  Who does this?  Do the kings of the earth come out of their palaces and walk among their subjects, offer their friendship to "commoners," eat and drink among the masses?  No!  Only our wonderful God does that. 

Lord, You never cease to amaze and cause wonder.  You take something that we know, that we are familiar with and light it up in our hearts.   Thank You.  Thank You for coming.  Thank You for being who You are.  Thank You for loving me and all mankind and for coming down in the most unexpected, crazy way to save us.  You are awesome!  

Think about his today.