DIOS es AMOR!💞

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

(I John 4:7 NKJV)

LOVE what you said....LOVE the picture....LOVE my job...."I LOVE you".

We throw the word around so often today...LOVE. Yet if one does not know Christ in a personal way, LOVE is impossible!

Have you gotten to know this God....this Savior...this One Who so LOVED this world that He offered up His Son as a sacrifice for us all to know His LOVE?(John 3:16)

God is LOVE! DIOS es AMOR!💞
(1 John 4:8)

"Why not me, God?"

....rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

(Romans 12:12 NKJV)

Anybody out there just waiting....waiting, as my father-in-law says, "For that ship to come in"?

While we do hope for that coming of Christ and await that day we will be with Him, we also have physical hopes and dreams. Sometimes we even wonder "Why not me, God?"

I must admit, it has been a struggle lately! The more I try to get closer to God the more challenges come my way. It's been a different kind of Christmas as well..... less material things than we are used to, separated from my bride as she travels to be with our oldest son, and not able to see all our brands. Satan doesn't like it that I am seeking after God and anticipating Him to be God in my life. I need Him like never before!

Born to die....

Born to die....

Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,But a body You have prepared for Me.In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin,You had no pleasure.Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.’ ”(Hebrews 10:5-7)

On Christmas Eve while others focus on gifts and shopping...remember Jesus...the baby in the barn...was born to die!

A different CHRISTmas story . . . . Will you tell it?

A different CHRISTmas story . . . . Will you tell it? 

‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’  But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.  And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’“ Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house,  for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”(Luke 16:24-31)

Will you tell this story? (2 Timothy 2:15) Will you let others know about CHRIST this CHRISTmas? How many really know?  How many will stand before Christ and beg for a second chance? It is not to late!

Peace on earth?

Peace on earth? Really? Right now? Yes! Ok . . .  How? I am glad you asked!

But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.  And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.(2Thessalonians 3:13-16)

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You,  because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever . . . . (Isaiah 26:3-4)

 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:18)

Want peace? Take this Godly advice:

Keep doing good.

Stay away from bad company.

Trust in God, not man.

Don't hold grudges; live at peace with everyone.

There will be peace . . . HIS Peace . . . . Maybe not on earth but in your own heart!

Many times God does not meet our expectations. Big truss!!!!

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,  he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation

Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,  and the glory of Your people Israel.”

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”(Luke 2:25-35)

Simeon waited.  God came through. He saw the Savior. The Jews waited. God came through. Simeon was satisfied. The Jews were not! Many times God does not meet our expectations. Rather, He exceeds them!

Jesus did not come as a conquering King over Rome, but a conquering Savior over sin. Which is better? Which is best for each of us? What are asking of God this CHRISTmas? Allow God to do more. Trust Him more . . .Big truss!!!!

 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.(Hebrews 11:1)

Quiet obedience . . .

Quiet obedience.  . . .No questioning . . . . A simple obedient response from Joseph. We do not hear him speak, yet we observe his quiet obedience which shaped HIStory!

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”(Matthew 1:18-21)

We never hear Joseph speak. His life is one of quiet obedience. He simply did the right thing.

What can we learn from him? Just do the right thing without complaining. Trust God with the process! 

What is your response?

When God calls, what is your response?

Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.(Luke 1:38)

Mary's response to Gabriel changed the world! What if she would have said, "Let me pray about it first before making any decisions."  What if she waited until she asked her family? What if her reply would have been, "No way! I am not ready for any baby right now. I have other plans."

Mary's response paved the way of salvation for us all! Her instant "Yes" became God's opportunity to bless the entire human race! How could we change the world, or maybe just our lives, if we simply say "Yes" to God?

What is your response?

Old News/Good News.....not Fake News!

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey,  a colt, the foal of a donkey.(Zechariah 9:9)

Zechariah wrote those previous words in 518 B.C.  The following were penned by David when Solomon was becoming king around 1015B.C

He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth.

Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him,
And His enemies will lick the dust.The kings of Tarshish and of the isles will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts. Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him.(Psalm 72: 8-11)

 Isaiah jotted down these words around 500-600 B.C.:

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed.(Isaiah 53:1-5)

Many missed these words when they were written. While they had current meaning, the prophesies would come true of Jesus, our Savior and King. When Jesus fulfilled them, many more were oblivious to the meanings. Thousands of years have now passed yet many still do not fully believe!

Old news is still GOOD NEWS . . . not fake news! Do YOU believe?

Bivocational shepherds....

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. (Luke 2:11-17)

These shepherds now became bivocational . . . they were now shepherd-missionaries!  After hearing from the angels, they went "now" to see the baby! After seeing the baby they "made widely known" what they saw and heard!

But where were the learned men of the day? Oh yes, wise men came by caravan from the Far East (Matthew 2:1-6). The teachers of the Law in the Temple obviously knew the scriptures (Micah 5:2). So why were they not there?

Thank God for these bivocational shepherds! They took their calling seriously. I sure hope we do not miss this CHRISTmas message! Will we go and tell what we know? (MATTHEW 28:19-20)

For my young folks:making mention of you in my prayers

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.(Ephesians 1:15-21)

Having a burden for young souls is not an easy calling! Many love working with youth as teachers, coaches, tutors, counselors and then like. All this is commendable and appreciated. Lord knows our kids need folks who care for and develop their talents and gifts. However, having a burden for a youth's soul is not only a privilege, but a real heart-tugging burden . . . burden I gladly embrace yet often struggle to carry out.

I never really know a young heart and soul. I can only see the physical changes and hear the verbal expressions. God alone knows the heart . . . the soul! My burden is to challenge them to really seek and know God in His mercy, power, forgiveness, kindness, compassion, and yes, His discipline. Many times I walk alone in this struggle as even the wise and learned of the world don't see it. The Lord allows me to see into their hearts and I see hurt, doubt, pain, anger,and fear. I hear questions of self-doubt, expressions of anxiety and fear, words of anger and lots of "why" and "how".  I get late night and early morning emails from former and current students alike with questions concerning their life's doubts and decisions. I don't always have the answers . . . but God does!

Please pray along with me as I seek to meet their needs and show them Christ! Souls are in the balance!!!!

Rest is not easy for the believer!

 “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”(Matthew 11:25-30)

Rest is not easy for the believer! We are told to work . . . occupy until He comes! (Luke 19:13) Yet we must have a healthy balance between work (ministry) and rest. No one can properly serve when overburdened, weary and yes, burned out. Rest is a time to be still and really experience God. (Psalm 46:10)

 Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.” And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”(Exodus 33:14-16)

Take some time to rest in Him this CHRISTmas Season!

TIME is short!

“Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:13-14)

 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.(Luke 1:35)

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:44)

Three specific passages here. One prophecy....one prophecy fulfilled...one prophecy to come....

Are we going to be like the proud, learned and non-believing Jew and miss the Savior a second time?  Are we going to allow our friends, family and others to be left behind just because we know?

It will NOT be about gifts this year, but TIME . . . TIME with Jesus, with others and all He has in store for us! TIME is short!

They should have known.....

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me' the One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)

 They should have known! So when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea, the learned Jews, perhaps the teachers of the Law, should have known! The very ones who should have known, denied the Coming King and called to "Crucify Him!" (Matthew 27:22-23)

It was foolish for them to believe Jesus. (1 Corinthians 1:27) No different today! The wise and learned are the most adamant

against the knowledge of Christ and the accuracy of the bible.

Simple truths are the most demanding at times. Pilate looked Truth in the eye and asked "What is truth?" (John 18:38) It demands an answer!

What do you say?

A Very Clear PROMISE

Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!” Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.  And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham. (Genesis 17:19-22)

This is a very clear PROMISE!  "No", God replied to Abraham, "My covenant I will establish with Isaac". One can not rewrite the bible and say differently, as in the Quran. God's Word is His Word and His PROMISE is His PROMISE!

As we are in the CHRISTmas Season, take a close look at God's PROMISES. God does not change. It is we who change, doubt, fear, and even laugh at God as Sarah once did. (Genesis 18:12) God does have a funny way of doing things at times. But as Abraham and Sarah discovered, He keeps His PROMISES!