Saturday, November 28, 2009

The Comfort of Christ's Coming

Lady of Light

Here's hoping you all had a great Thanksgiving. Perhaps, with the holidays beginning, you have sadness over those loved ones who are no longer with us. The apostle Paul
was aware of this, because in his first letter to the Thessalonians, he states:

"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep." 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-15.

It is Paul's intention to give the believer hope, not only for the future,
but for the outcome of what will take place for those who have already
gone to be with the Lord. This is going to be a very definitive and dramatic event.

"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." (V. 16-17)

Paul, speaking as a messenger and prophet of God, wanted believers to know
what lies ahead for them because he desired for them to have hope. In his final words on the subject in this chapter, he said:

"Therefore, comfort one another with these words." (V. 18)

As you read this passage, draw comfort from it and share it with others.
There are many promises that God makes in the scriptures that we can only
know if we read them. This most important promise is the good news that
Christ is coming back for us. This is a promise for eternity and, living in today's world with all of its complexities, we need to cling to the word of God and to these facts that are presented.

God bless you and have a great day!

Lady of Light

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Make a Joyful Noise

Lady of Light

My favorite Psalm for Thanksgiving is Psalm 100. I liked it so much that I used to have a music ministry called "Make a Joyful Noise".

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord; Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord is God. It is He who hath made us and not we, ourselves. We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful unto Him and bless His name...."

It is early Thanksgiving morning. I have made my preparation and now it is time to give praise and thanks to God for all the wonderful blessings He has given
me. The greatest thing I am thankful for is the Lord, Himself and that He died on the cross for me, a sinner, that I might have eternal life. As pleasant as it is to
celebrate and feast with family and friends, I am aware that this world is only a temporary dwelling place, and that our eternal dwelling place is in Heaven with
the Lord.
Still, I am thankful for the Lord's power and provision here on earth and for the gift of love - family, friends and fellow man. Every day there is a myriad of miracles for which we can praise and thank God.
Whatever your circumstances, I guarantee that if you really think about it, you will find things to be thankful for.
Norman Vincent Peale once said, "Attitude is everything." It is so true so let us go forth on this Thanksgiving day with an "attitude of gratitude."
I pray especially for the soldiers and those who can't be with their families that they would have special comfort from God on this day.
Happy Thanksgiving!

God bless you and have a great day!

Lady of Light

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Build on the Rock

Lady of Light

Several weeks ago my husband and I visited the Jersey shore - we didn't go to the beach but had a nice time milling around the town. This past week, however, there was a Northeaster storm in South Jersey and 6 counties are in a state of emergency. The films on the news showed that sand had washed up on the boardwalks and all over the place. It made me think of the wisdom of Jesus in Mathew7:24 where He said:

"Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock."
"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like the foolish man who built his house on the sand.
"And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
"And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching. for He taught them as one having authority, not as the scribes." (Vs. 24-29)

There are several things to consider here. When we build our spiritual foundation on the "rock" of salvation and God's truth, we will not fall. There is a hymn that has the first verse, "On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."

Also, we must consider that the people were astonished at the authority of Jesus and of the authority with which he spoke - not like the other teachers. There are many teachers in the world, but Jesus is the only one who speaks with the authority of God and the scriptures.

If we don't do what he says, we will not have wisdom and we are much more apt to fall. The good news is that "when we are weak, He is strong." Put your faith in Christ and abide in Him so that you can have the abundant life that God wants you to have.

Build your house upon the rock and with a good foundation.

When I was a child, one of my favorite stories was the "Three Little Pigs" - if you remember, the house made of brick could not be blown down by the big bad wolf.
This nursery rhyme may have taken its truth from the account Jesus gave in Mathew 7:24. I really don't know about this, but I certainly can see similarities.

Consider these words, and pray for heavenly wisdom.

God bless you and have a great day!

Lady of Light

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Walk in the Truth

Lady of Light

The Third Epistle of John was written to Gaius, an influential person in the church because Diotrophes, presumably an influential person in a church somewhere refused to welcome itinerant preachers (perhaps like Demetrius, who was recommend by John) John was trying to get Gaius and the other Christians to show hospitality which Diotrophies refused.

It is interesting that in this letter, in Chapter One, Verse Four, John states:

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth."

How do we "walk in the truth"? In Chapter One, Verse 11, John gives the following advice:

"Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God."

In the book of Ephesians Chapter 4, Verse14-15, it alludes to "speaking the truth in love":

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."

I gather then, that speaking the truth in love is part of walking in the truth.
When we desire to "walk in the truth", we need to pray, speak the truth and also
know the truth by reading the Word of God. That is where we find the truth and discover how to apply it to our lives.

This may seem like a giant task, but over a period of time, it becomes easier and easier as you go. In your journey, be like the children John was writing to who were "walking in the truth".

I pray that you will have light and guidance from God's spirit that you may be able to discover more truth as in Jesus who said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life - noone cometh unto the Father but by me."

In drawing near to God and getting to develop a stronger personal relationship we Jesus, we can all "grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ."

May God bless you. Have a great day.

Lady of Light