Who?

The other evening I was having a telephone conversation with someone and we were talking about a relative that had passed away long before I was born.  I still do not have any idea what the person’s name is or must else about them.  I know of this person; but, I do not know them personally.

In Jesus’ day people thought He was many different people.  Look at Matthew 16:14, “And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.”  People were confused about who Jesus really is.

Today is no different.  People teach that Jesus is a prophet, He was just a good Man and many other versions of who He is.

I am thankful that no matter what or who others think He is or was that He is still the Son of God.  Notice the penetrating question that Jesus posed to Peter in Matthew 16:15, “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?”  Our eternal destiny depends upon our answer to this question.  If Jesus is just some antiquated prophet then we are in trouble for sure.  If Jesus is in fact (and He is) the Son of God then we need to bow to Him and King of kings and LORD of lords.

I don’t know who you think Jesus is; but, friend I know who He is and I am eternally thankful for being introduced to Him and I know He is my Saviour.  How about you?

So, how are you doing?

 

Alma Kay Moran

Today my family and I will say goodbye to my Aunt Alma Kay Moran.  Alma lived a long life of 76 years.  She was a loving sister to my mother and their sister.  She was a devoted wife to her husband Bill.  She was a faithful member of the Pittsboro Baptist Church.  She served the Lord by doing visitation faithfully for several years.

Alma had endured many surgeries over her life.  She had open heart surgeries with pacemakers and defibrillators were just to start the long list.

Alma was a wonderful cook and taught me well how to cook.  If you knew her very well you probably were given some zucchini bread or some banana nut bread.  She had a huge mess in the kitchen while cooking; but, when the time come it was cleaned up to perfection.

Alma worked hard in the home and outside the home for many years.  She took excellent care of her husband Bill and the many kids like me that made their way in and out of their home over the years.

To know Alma was to love her deeply.  She will be missed so much.  Look at John 14:2, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”  Alma has now seen Jesus and reunited with family.  We will miss her; but, one thing for sure we will never be the same because of her influence.

See you at the house, Alma.  I am sure it will not be long now.

So, how are you doing?

The Sheep

This past Sunday I talked to my mother on the phone as she and her husband are wintering in a warmer place than Indiana.  She shared with me some things that the Pastor of the Church she attends there had pointed out that morning.

First off he shared that he did not know where the idea that Mary was riding a donkey on their journey to Bethlehem came from; but, he did not believe that was true.  He said, “If I were pregnant I would not want to ride on a donkey.”  Not to mention that Joseph and Mary were poor people.  They probably could not afford to purchase a donkey.  I agree with this Preacher.

Secondly, he pointed out that first off he had been to the holy land eleven times.  He said that because of the sacrificial system of that time the shepherds would pay close attention to their sheep.  When a lamb was born without spot or blemish the shepherd would take the lamb and “swaddle” it and lay it “in a manger” to protect it for the sacrifice.

Yet another piece of the puzzle of the birth of Christ.  Look at Luke 2:12, “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”  Jesus Christ is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.  Mary would wrap the Babe in grave clothes or strips of cloth.  Each little finger and toe would be wrapped and then then up the arm or foot and leg.  Then the torso and so on until the Babe of Bethlehem was swaddled.  Then Mary like a shepherd laid the child Jesus in a manger.  When the shepherds arrived they knew Who they were seeing.  The sights pointed them forward to the cross.  They knew they were in the presence of Messiah.  I have to echo the praise the the angels, “Glory to God in the highest!”  Oh, what a Saviour!  As the writer penned, “He came from Heaven to earth to show the way…”.  Will you trust Him as your Saviour today?  He came for you.

So, how are you doing?

Mary Did You Know?

It will be less than a week and the wrapping paper and tape will fly through the air as presents are opened.  This is the one day of the year that some people look forward to.

If you were a young Jewish girl there was another day that you looked forward to.  This is the day that Messiah would come.  The reason these girls looked forward to it was because they dreamed of being the one God used to birth Messiah into this world.

As you and I now know, Mary was that chosen vessel.  Many religions want to put far too much emphasis on Mary.  Oh, I do not seek to discredit her because she was blessed above all other women in this world.

Here is the thing.  Even as blessed as Mary was, she was still like you and I.  After the greeting of her cousin Elisabeth, Mary sought to take the spotlight off her and put it where it rightfully needed to be.  Look at Luke 1:46-47, “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”  I think it is interesting that the word “magnify” means to make or declare great; increase or (figuratively) extol.

Mary directed the praise where it should go.  Then she makes a declaration that we all need to take notice of.  In verse 47 Mary tells of her need of a Saviour.  She said, “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”  Mary was acknowledging that she was a sinner and needed a Saviour just like you and I.

So; my friend, it does not matter how highly you think of yourself.  The fact is that you and I need a Saviour.  The Saviour of the world came humbly as a babe, wrapped in grave clothes and was laid in a place that animals ate.  He did all this for you and I.  He came to us so that we could come to Him.

Will you trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour today before it is eternally too late?  Do not take a chance and step out into eternity without having an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ.  He love you and died for you.  Trust Him today.

So, how are you doing?

A True Friend

I must say that my heart is broken right now.  I just had to pleasure of spending time with friends and was able to hear some wonderful true stories about Church camp.  I love it!  It brings such joy to my heart to hear how God works in the hearts of the children and even the counselors.

One such young man grew up in the home of atheist parents.  He said that he had to walk great distance to even get to a cross.  I had to fight back tears as the story was unfolding.  This young man had never been taught how to sing the hymns of the Church and had a cracked voice that would not bring joy even to a mother like Joan of Ark.  While at Church camp this young man heard the Gospel and prayed and asked Jesus to save him.  In his own way and in his own words he ask Christ to save him.  Glory to God!

The counselor reminded this young man that now he had three friends (the young man confessed that he had no friends).  He was referring to himself and two other people that were there.  The young man corrected him and said, “I have four friends.”  This young man was giving testimony that he now had Jesus.  Glory!  Look at Psalm 139:7-8, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?   If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.”  This is a friend that will go anywhere for you (not as an errand-boy either).  Is Jesus your Saviour and Friend of all friends?

So, how are you doing?

 

Who Runs Your Life?

Today we will look at Isaiah 14:14, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;”  We learn in Sunday School that Heaven is where God lives.  Where is Heaven?  If you ask most Sunday School children they would tell you that Heaven is above the clouds somewhere and that is where God lives.

So, not only would satan knock God off His rightful throne, steal the rule of His blood-bought Church; but, he would also go right into Heaven where our Father lives and dwells and remove Him from there too.  Lucifer had quite a plan.  Pride had taken to the pinnacle of sin.

You and I must be careful not to allow ourselves to be in this same place.  Remember, when you trusted Christ as your Saviour He came to live and dwell in your in the person of the Holy Spirit.  Our enemy seeks to remove God from His Church, His home and also His children.

I am thankful that God the Holy Spirit is given to me and all believers and He cannot be taken away from us who are God’s children.  He is the earnest or the down payment of our Salvation.  God gives us this assurance so that we do not have to drown in doubt.

So, how are you doing?