Why? and For?

Two devotionals I read last week presented different ideas; however, I thought they blended together pretty well to form one viewpoint. 

 

I picked up on a verse in one from Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O Lord, You are our (my) Father. We (I) am the clay, and You our (my) Potter; And all of us (I) are the work of Your hand.” 

 

The other devotional talked about different worldviews and why one matters, pointing toward Colossians 1:16, “For everything, absolutely everything, (me) above and below, visible and invisible…everything (me) got started in Him and finds its (my) purpose in Him.”  The author summed it up as:

 

“You (I) were made by God 

and FOR God”

"Killing Jesus"

     "A Friendly Shade," takes my thoughts in many different directions as I search for what to post.  This Easter season had me looking through the list of books downloaded on my Kindle.  I noticed, "Killing Kennedy", written by Bill O'Reilly, and remembered how much I enjoyed reading his book.  I have yet to order, "Killing Jesus," also written by Bill O'Reilly, but expect to read that one soon.   
     In the meantime, I decided to post my own version of "Killing Jesus."  As a matter of fact our pastor asked us to contemplate, explore, and share the death of Christ on the cross.  The sermon's scripture today was from Isaiah 53.  In verse 7, I was reminded of Jesus's great love for us as He took on our sins in silence.   "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth."
     By Jesus's actions, He basically said, "I will gladly, and in silence, lay down my life on the cross for you. I will pay the price for your sins." That is just what He did.  He bore the ridicule, the stripes on His back, and the nails.  He did that for me and for all of mankind.

          Killing Jesus

“Let Him die,” was the decree,

    yet killing Jesus was not to be.
“Kill Him! Kill Him!” followed the cry,
    but no reason why.

The mob moved within the crowd

    shouting in voices angry and loud.

“He’s spreading rumors all abroad,
     a common man, liar, and fraud.
“Kill Him! Kill Him!”
Oh! So much mayhem!

Soldiers took the whip to thresh,  

    bringing blood and tearing flesh.   
A vine of thorns became His crown;
To a splintered cross His hands were bound;
Nails pierced His hands and feet.
The crowd came alive and began to repeat,
    “Kill Him! Kill Him!”
People watched with faces grim.     
Mockers spit in His face-
  beneath them, was His place.
The cross, slammed into the ground,
    anguish was profound;
Agony and pain
    doubled from bodily strain.
Blood covered barren skin,
    or what had been.

“Father, forgive them,” was heard by those standing there,

    just before the heavens opened, a Son to declare.
Rejected, mocked, battered, and shamed;
   a King, unnamed-
In death, the temple rent in twain.
The earth did quake the valley and plain. 
Over it all, light turned to darkness,
    shouts ended in quietness.
Fear appeared on the witness face
    in that very place.     
All was silence
    after the violence.

“Kill Him! Kill Him,” had been the cry.   
They did not know He would not die-
    nor why.
"Arise! Arise!" was God's own cry.
Salvation was the reason why.

A resurrection was God's decree;
  a plan foretold to set the sinner free.
The Son of God, a Savior, missing from the grave.
He arose to live! Souls to save.
A coming day for all to see-
Killing Jesus was not to be.
                                         Mary Crisp Jameson

 

 

Choose The One You Cannot Live Without

     Don’t make your life with someone you can live with, but make your life with someone you cannot live without.” At the time I saw this saying, I thought, "I do not necessarily agree with this." A person would be extremely blessed to be able to find that special person whom they simply could not live without as long as they were, at the same time, one you could live with. By that I mean, kind, gentle, understanding, and always there for you without the ups and downs of quarreling, sulking, or constant disagreement.
     Then it hit me! Wow! How profound?
     I have actually been living with that One person I simply cannot live without since the age of ten. In fact, I cannot imagine my life without Him. He is kind, understanding, loving, protective, and always there for me.
     After I was saved, I remember being afraid of the thunder and lightning. My mother reminded me one night during a thunderstorm that God could take away my fear if I would just say a little prayer to Him. Since that time I have been able to peacefully sleep through many natural storms and, also, other storms in my life as I remember the words, “for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
    When I wonder how God can forgive a sinner like me and still love me in spite of it, I think about how He loved the thief on the cross who chose, at the end of his life, to believe in Jesus. Jesus answered him as He, himself, hung there bleeding for the sins of the world, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
     There have been so many times in my life when I have neglected to pray for guidance, to thank Him for blessings, and to walk in the path which I knew I should. I have made so many mistakes and have so many regrets, but God loves me still. He is the One I talk to when I am lonely, when I am sleepless during the night, and when I struggle with problems during the path of life.
    When others may choose to condemn me, God loves me. How can He do this? My answer comes from Isaiah 55, “Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.”
     If anyone desires a life-long partner whom they simply cannot live without, and One who will provide eternal life, choose God. I am so glad I did.
     John 3:16   " For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
     John 6:47  "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."

 

 

 

 

Staying Positive In A Negative World

     Have you ever gotten up in a really good mood only to go to work and be brought down by someone with a negative outlook? I mean, you smile and cheerfully say “hello,” only to be met with a grumpy unsmiling response. Suddenly, your mood has changed. Or you went to work and your co-worker started in on all the unpleasant changes taking place. Did that cause a change in your outlook or attitude about your job? Did your joy disappear?

     So just how do we stay positive and joyful in a negative world? How do we keep from being the grumpy person, ourselves, taking someone else’s joy away?
     First, we need to figure out what has created our grumpiness. Maybe, it is not being satisfied with what we have. We have not learned to be content. Maybe it is unforgiveness, financial problems, sickness, injury, or death of a loved one. The list could go on and on.
     Regardless of the reason, we all have choices on how we handle life’s events.
     Number one, I do not have to have a bad day just because someone else chooses to have one. I can be there for a friend, to listen and help, but as an on-going drama I do not have to get involved.
     Next, life is too short to let unforgiveness rob me of my joy. We have to realize that to harbor ill-will against someone else only hurts us. I firmly believe that unforgiveness prevents the Holy Spirit from working in our lives to give us complete joy. What is the loss of pride to make amends compared to the gain of a joyful heart?
     If the problem is financial, maybe we can manage to change our outlook on the way we choose to spend money and be willing to take some conservative measures.
     If the problem is changes at work, and those changes are out of our control, maybe it is time to be thankful we have a job, that is, if we truly enjoy the place where we work. If it is a job that we wake up every single morning and dread, it might be time to look for one that can provide a more rewarding experience. Again, life is too short not to enjoy what we do on a daily basis.
     Whatever the reason, I have to go back to “choices.” We have to choose to be joyful. We have to want to be cheerful. We have to want to wear a smile. We have to want to be friendly toward others. We should grasp every moment and strive to be positive and happy.
     When it comes right down to it, to stay positive in a negative world means we have to count our blessings. We will all have sorrow and trouble, but I believe how we choose to handle it will determine our joy. Proverbs 14:13 says, “Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.” What keeps the laughter in my heart is faith and belief in God’s Word and His promises. Hebrews 13:5 gives us words to live by and a promise, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
     In my weak moments and times of trials, I strive to remember Isaiah 40:31, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not be faint.”
     Knowing God is always with me gives me hope and joy! “…Be of good courage.” Strive to smile and laugh more. “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.”