Before the Cock Crows...

The Choices We Make.....

I have been studying the denial of Christ.  I won't try to kid you into believing that I decided to study this just because of my love of the story, because I wanted to be a better Christian, or because it was next on my bible study list.  Actually I started to study this passage in practice.  Before I even related it to the scriptures, over the last month the Holy Spirit has quickened my heart to think upon the number of places in my life where I have denied Christ.  Maybe it was the moment in College when I laughed with my friends after someone said something snide and used the Lord's name in vain, or maybe it was the time when I choose not to reach out to the down-trodden man who just needed a quarter to buy his next meal in the McDonald's line,  (You know the one, he looks tired, beat down, hungry, dirty, and somewhere underneath all of that grime you know exists a person).  The bible says, "when you cared for the least of these, you cared for me!"  so do we realized that in failing to care we are also denying Christ...... We are turning aside from the one who died so that we might live.

I wonder in all of our preconceived ideas if we realize the magnitude of the judgement we place on others.   It is easy to decide what someone should have done in a given situation, but I wonder if the roles were reversed if we might have made the same mistake.  I am not talking about willful sin, but the slither of the lie that traps us into believing that we are caught in a snare, of which we cannot be free and therefore must do whatever it takes to get out even if it means folding when the Devil presents himself.  

This last month as I have worked on some key relationships in my life I realized there were several places where I missed the opportunity to stop and say, Yes.... The man you speak of is my Lord and I will follow him all of the days of my life!"  It isn't enough to say we are Christians, it is the call to be worthy of being called after his own name that matters, the application of the practice of seeking him out, of carrying out his good works, of being fishers of men, of being in submission to the point that it is painful as self-will dies and Christ within us lives, .  This is what it means to serve a Most High God!  I have spent a number of days asking God to show me how to be better equipped, asking him to show me how to fish for the big Bass, or Crop-pie, or Salmon so to speak.  But maybe more than that;  I have asked him for the fortitude to stick with it and to deny my Savior no more.  With great responsibility comes great humility. 
"God come make us humble..
Give us clean hands oh God,
Give us pure hearts...
Help us not lift our voice to another
God let us be a generation that seeks,
Seeks your face, oh God of Jacob...

Chris Tomlin

Mark 14

"When Christ was admired and flocked after, Peter readily owned him; but will own no relation to him now he
is deserted and despised. Yet observe, Peter's repentance was very speedy. Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall; and let him that has fallen think of these things, and of his own offences, and return to the Lord with weeping and supplication, seeking forgiveness, and to be raised up by the Holy Spirit."

Mark 14 - Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

Peter was called to make a choice, and he made the wrong one Three different times.  Yet if you look through scripture he did not let that become his demise.  He accomplished what he had set-forth to do.  He did not let satan's schemes rule his fate.  He asked Christ for forgiveness and went on to share the Good Message!

Likewise we too should return to the Lord with weeping and supplication, seeking forgiveness and asking for God to send the Holy Spirit to raise us up.

Jesus, It's for you!

I think there are days in our lives where we have just, "Had it!".  We are fed up!, Over it!, Done, Sayonara!  Well let me tell you in the last 30 days there have been at least 2 different times where I myself have had it!  Why? you might ask...... I don't know that I can exactly tell you.  It may have been the overwhelming pile of laundry that no one in my house want to claim much less fold...... It might have been the need to spend more time having, "Me Time".  I can tell you any excuse in the book and probably each of you would identify with one of them.  But let me be so bold as to say, the reason I have "Had it!" is because I am not spending the quality time in the presence of God.  I have not spent the time I needed in order to press in and break through the resistance of personal drama that affects me in my day to day life.

I know some of us go to Yoga, and Zumba and Tie Chi, and kick boxing, and running and all of the various types of exercise.  Now don't get me wrong I think exercise is a wonderful thing, however no where in the bible does it say if you exercise 1 hour per day you will feel closer to God, If you take the time to make your body healthy then your heart, mind, and soul will be well with your Farther in heaven also.  In fact the bible very clearly tells you to meditate on the word daily, (Psalm 119:11).  "He asks us to draw near to him and he will draw near to us (James 4:8)."  Also the ramifications of the heart and the mind (Hebrews10:22).  The sound mind and sound body does not come from exercise alone it comes from hiding the word of God in our heart so that we might not sin against him (Psalm 119:11)."  Well we often say that having some time for us is not sinning against God.  I would be the first person to tell you it is good to have quiet time, that isn't what I am talking about here.......

I am talking about using other means of comfort and discipline in your life other than God to direct you in the ways in which you should go. In other words if you say to me I just need to go to Zumba I'll have a clear head once I have exercised and will be able to determine what I should do in this situation,", I would say, "Dear sister you are wrong!   you need to consult Christ!  He alone is your provider in times of trouble."  "He is an ever present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1)." 

So how does this tie to the title of today's blog?  As a little girl my grandmother had a small cartoon on her fridge.  It was a picture of a woman dressed in the 1950's mid cut A-line dress complete with apron.  She is standing at the open front door with the devil standing at the threshold and she turns back over her shoulder and say's to the man in the living room, "Jesus it's for you!"

No matter the issues you face in life today, they are not impossible.  The bible says that Nothing is impossible with God.  He is the creator of all things and if we will serve him diligently he is faithful to keep what we have given him unto the day of Christ Jesus's return (2 Tim 1:12).  He is the author and the finisher of our faith.  He is the Great I AM, He is El SHADDAI-God Almighty (Genesis 17), He is JAHOVA RAFFA- God our Provider/Healer (Exodus 15), He is JAHOVAH- God most High over all the Earth/ Eternal ONE (Rev 1). YAHWEH- I AM WHO I AM (Exodus 3), EL ROI- God who Sees (Genesis 16), The Redeemer (Isaiah 43).

When life gets out of control or when you've just had enough, just remember to call out! "Jesus it's for you!"

Jesus My Palm is Waving!

"As he rode into town many people began picking up branches, others pulled them from trees and laid them down in the roadway as he drew near on a donkey........Palm Sunday may be my second most favorite Sunday of the year.  Of course Easter Sunday is my favorite.  But Palm Sunday really means something special.  For me it is the promise that Jesus sees me just as I am.  That he is simple enough, strong enough, and caring enough to knowingly endure what was to come only 5 short days later.  I love the story of the excitement of the crowds of people as Jesus rode into town on the donkey.  As they shouted, "Hosanna! Hosanna!"  Can you imagine the excitement, the joy, the peace.......
" the crowds going ahead of him, and those who followed were shouting, " Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest!" Matthew 21:9.  Low the great prophecy being fulfilled!  What a great Love God has for us, and also his only son, Jesus.   This story is quite possibly the most exciting story in the bible.  It is a love story and story of passion and of promise.   I studied the meaning of the word Hosanna in the Greek and the Hebrew.  The word hosanna is from the Hebrew words "Hoshiah Na! Save now! or, Save, we beseech thee!—redress our grievances, and give us help from oppression!" (Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible).,

The Easter Pageant is one of my most favorite events.  When I was a little girl we use to go to Canton Lake and watch the Easter Pageant.  It was so beautiful, so sad and yet so promising and fulfilling.  There is no greater love story of the Heroin saving the woman in distress or the crowds from their own demise!  Christ made the ultimate sacrifice and I am forever in his debt.  I will serve him until the ends of this earth and beyond!  For all eternity!

Do we really anticipate his return?  Are we aware of the time drawing near........ I am anticipating the return of our Messiah.  Jesus my palm is waving!  Please do not pass over me!  I am looking for you, I am watching and waiting.

Jesus,

Thank you for your gift of eternal life.  Thank you for loving me when I am unlovable.  Thank you for teaching me humility and grace. Please continue to restore my soul, and  help me to encourage my friends in Christ to love you more and to press into you!  I love you, Lord.... Amen