Dymoke Christian Ministry

How To Enjoy Fellowship with Jesus and everyone else.

2010-06-22T09:47:00.000-07:00

! John
Intro: 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your[a] joy may be full.

Fellowship with Him and One Another
A: Walk in the Light
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
(Read “Turn your Eyes Upon Jesus)
B: Confession of sin
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(darkness) 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

C: Obedience: How we know we know Him!
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

D:LovingOneAnother
7 Brethren,[a] I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.[b] 8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.
9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

E Hating the World
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Tday's Prayer

2009-05-20T07:58:00.001-07:00

Today's Prayer
Dear God, I lift up your name and praise you this day, for you are the mighty God, creator of the universe, lover of mankind, sustainer of all, most magnificent and awesome father, most caring and devoted nurturer, most powerful of anyone and anything, all-knowing and ever-present. How can I even count the ways that you are worthy of my praise?! Thank you for your gift of love and life. Thank you for your promise of eternal life with you through your righteous son. Thank you for Jesus my Savior and the Holy Spirit who convicts and seals and guides me along the way. Thank you for the Word and your Word that illuminates, instructs, and leads me. I am grateful for who you are, all you do, and what you plan to do. In the name of Jesus I humbly come before you. Amen

The Third Commitment To A Holy Life

2009-05-19T08:33:00.004-07:00

The Third Commitment To A Holy Life

By God’s grace Consecrate all of your life and all that you have to be God’s servant now and as long as you live.------The Holy Sacrifice

If you have given over your will to God’s will in the second commitment to a holy life. God now calls you to lay yourself on his alter once again for this Holy process.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, THAT YOU PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE TO GOD, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

This scripture clearly tells us that we are “not our own, but “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”1Cor 6:20. That price is the precious blood of Jesus shed on the cross for us. We have been keeping our bodies and minds as our personal possessions to do with as we please. We now must relinquish them to Jesus Christ to use as He pleases. This may be a slow and painful process. SELF does not want to die. But to be completely God’s person is gloriously rewarding. He has heights and depths of Joy for us that we never imagined. And while we may have yielded our will to Him before, now our will is lost in His will. Our minds must now reject all sinful thoughts.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Philipians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

2Corinthians10:5 Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

This may also be a slow process but daily reading and meditating on the words of Jesus helps.

May \the Holy Spirit lead and guide you as you commit yourself to seeking this wonderful experience.

Love, Howard S. Dimmick

The hird

2009-05-19T08:33:00.003-07:00

wysiwyg

The hird

2009-05-19T08:33:00.001-07:00

wysiwyg

2009-04-25T07:03:00.001-07:00

Second Step to Holiness

In the first step I saw that repentance, brought about by the work of the Holy Spirit, made me aware of the magnitude, wickedness and folly of my ways. Then I gladly turned to Christ for forgiveness and He graciously responded with love and irrevocable forgiveness. This is redemption, for He paid the price of my sin by shedding His blood on the cross for me. I am then saved. Hallelujah!

The second step is the submission of my will to God’s will. Paul talks about this in Romans 7

: 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members.

Paul realizes something is wrong, he cannot do what he knows he ought to do and he does what he knows he shouldn’t do, and he cries our as many of us have:24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

His own will is dominant so he does what he wants instead of what he knows he should do. But he knows who has the answer: I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

So if our will is not surrendered to the will of God we are walking in the flesh and not in the Spirit!

Jesus not only died on the cross to forgive our sins, but, sent the Holy Spirit as my counselor and guide with power to tame my will and let me submit (surrender) to the will of God.

We see this also in chapter 6: 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We know Sin is death to the sinner, but here he is talking about the Christian who still sins because he has not surrendered his will to God’s will. But we can be made free in Christ. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Hallelujah!

Don’t be deceived, there are those who think this verse means God won’t condemn us if we do sin. They don’t read the rest of the verse. It says “who do not walk according to the flesh!

We were Brought With a Price

2009-04-03T05:39:00.000-07:00

We were bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus; therefore I will glorify God in my body and spirit, which are God’s.
I will not use any part of me to do my own will but allow God to have his will in all my life.
I not let Satan or sin to possess, barrow or pollute my body, mind or heart, for I am God’s.
Jesus is mine; the Holy Spirit is in control of every thought, act and relationship.
God is love. I Know God, He knows me; therefore agape love will be my aim and attitude.
Christ accepted me, and I accepted Him. I’ll not allow any division or separation from Him.
This is my commitment to Him, for he gave his life for me, and His Spirit to me. Amen.

The Armor of God

2008-11-21T08:28:00.000-08:00

The Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-20
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
We have a BIG Mighty God!
11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
The protection and weapons God provides, so you can be “More than conquers”
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
We need every one of the tools God has for us.
14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
Truth—Knowing the true Gospel of Christ.
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Righteousness—That means cleansed from sin.
15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Peace--At peace with God.
16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,
Faith—Having confidence and ruthless trust in our mighty God
with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17Take the helmet of salvation
Salvation—God’s provision for our forgiveness, restoration, holiness, and heaven.
and the sword of the Spirit,
Spirit—The indwelling Holy Spirit our guide and counselor.
which is the word of God.
Word—The source of wisdom and truth.

Now, with all this preparation what is our duty?
18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Prayer—Our communication with The Almighty.
19Pray also for me,(Interceed) that whenever I open my mouth,
Intercession--For help for The Church and its leaders.
words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains..
Speak—Bold and fearless.

Should we leave all the speaking to the present leaders?
Why can’t we do something for God’s kingdom too? We have the tools!

2008-05-17T04:26:00.000-07:00

35 Reasons Not To Sin
by Jim Elliff

Because a little sin leads to more sin.
Because my sin invites the discipline of God.
Because the time spent in sin is forever wasted.
Because my sin never pleases but always grieves God who loves me.
Because my sin places a greater burden on my spiritual leaders.
Because in time my sin always brings heaviness to my heart.
Because I am doing what I do not have to do.
Because my sin always makes me less than what I could be.
Because others, including my family, suffer consequences due to my sin.
Because my sin saddens the godly.
Because my sin makes the enemies of God rejoice.
Because sin deceives me into believing I have gained when in reality I have lost.
Because sin may keep me from qualifying for spiritual leadership.
Because the supposed benefits of my sin will never outweigh the consequences of disobedience.
Because repenting of my sin is such a painful process, yet I must repent.
Because sin is a very brief pleasure for an eternal loss.
Because my sin may influence others to sin.
Because my sin may keep others from knowing Christ.
Because sin makes light of the cross, upon which Christ died for the very purpose of taking away my sin.
Because it is impossible to sin and follow the Spirit at the same time.
Because God chooses not to respect the prayers of those who cherish their sin.
Because sin steals my reputation and robs me of my testimony.
Because others once more earnest than I have been destroyed by just such sins.
Because the inhabitants of heaven and hell would all testify to the foolishness of this sin.
Because sin and guilt may harm both mind and body.
Because sins mixed with service make the things of God tasteless.
Because suffering for sin has no joy or reward, though suffering for righteousness has both.
Because my sin is adultery with the world.
Because, though forgiven, I will review this very sin at the Judgment Seat where loss and gain of eternal rewards are applied.
Because I can never really know ahead of time just how severe the discipline for my sin might be.
Because my sin may be an indication of a lost condition.
Because to sin is not to love Christ.
Because my unwillingness to reject this sin now grants it an authority over me greater than I wish to believe.
Because sin glorifies God only in His judgment of it and His turning of it to good use, never because it is worth anything on it's own.
Because I promised God he would be Lord of my life.

2008-02-29T08:48:00.001-08:00

Have you made the right choice?

We generally enjoy the freedom we have to choose for ourselves our path of life.

God gave us that freedom and because we are his creation he loves us, all of us. And will never deny us the prevelage to make our own choices.

However, because He is the master and creator of all things he knows what is best for us. He told Adam and Eve exactly the truth and consequences of what could happen in the Garden of Eden. It was their choice to disregard His advice. They had known the presence and fellowship of their creator but because the tempter got her attention and told her lies she made a terrible mistake and chose to believe Satan rather than God. Adam was just as gullible.They had been clearly told that sin or disobedience produces death. When we read “death” we might nor know exactly what is meant. I am sure that Gods communication with Adam and Eve left no doubt in their mind about what was meant. It wasn’t instant physical death, it was something far more hideous than that. They were God’s creation, created in His image. That means eternal as he is eternal. This death is a change in character, With the rebellion against the creator comes the loss of His character in them. God is love. Now they have selfishness. God is truth. Now they have deceit. God is faithful. Now they have faithlessness. God is holy. Now they have sin. They have taken on the character of Satan himself. And at that time they could not reverse the choice. And because we are all of Adams family, we inherit the curse of his spiritual death and physical death as well. God later told Eve that someday that Satan would bruise her offspring’s heel and that He; Christ would bruise Satan’s head, so that the curse could be reversed.

God’s new offspring through Eve came as a baby named Jesus, born to a virgin, born in a manger. He came to save His people from their sin. It was His choice to atone for our wrong choices through His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. He came as our savior to “reverse the curse” and to restore us the spiritual life of our creator with the love, truth, faithfulness, and holiness that he created us for.

The best choice you could make is to make Jesus Christ, the way the truth and the life, your Savior. He loves you. That is why He gave His life for you. You can become a new person. Old things will be gone and all your thoughts, deeds, and attitudes will be transformed by the love of Christ. Will you ask Him to forgive your sins and come into your life today? He longs for you to choose Him, he will hear you, forgive you, and change your life. Now it’s not His choice. It’s your choice!

Love, Howard

2008-01-01T03:43:00.000-08:00

IS It A RISK TO HAVE FAITH IN GOD?

How firm a foundation!

On Christ the solid rock I stand!

Either I believe Jesus is the way the truth and the life, or I don’t!

Either I trust (have faith in) Jesus, God’s Son, or I don’t!

Either I choose Him and His way or I don’t!

Either I am on the way to Heaven, or I’m not!

Either I live what I say I believe or, I don’t believe!

Either I walk in the Spirit, or I don’t!

Either He lives in me, or He doesn’t!

How is it with you?

Reasonable!

2007-10-17T09:11:00.001-07:00

Reasonable

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Rom 12:1

Beseech. This is the strongest plea Paul could make. He used this word in matters of life and death. Obviously he feels that this is one of the most important things anyone could do. It is the only thing that will make him the servant Jesus wants him to be.
Therefore. This word refers to what was said before Look at Chap.11 Verse 18 Speaking of the Jews who did not believe in Christ: 18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness,if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
Mercies. Consider that God provided for our salvation even though we were unworthy sinners, and that it was the free gift of His Son on the cross that won our hearts.
Bodies. 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1Pet. 1. We are not our own but are bought with a price.
Living. Christ saved us from death and gave us eternal life to use for his glory.
Sacrifice? Can we really call it a sacrifice when it puts us in line for such favor from God, all the riches and resources of heaven are ours!
Holy. Who wouldn’t want to be holy if they thought it possible?
Acceptable to God. This is something we cannot do without!

It is so reasonable!

The Path to Holiness, "The Most Excellent Way"

2007-07-19T14:41:00.000-07:00

Holiness or, the life of love, is for the redeemed. If we know we have been saved, converted, forgiven, and "transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of His dear Son" , then we are ready to enter into the experience of "The most excellent way" . Col. 1: 13 He,[God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

We must acknowledge that our continuous struggle against temptation, bad attitudes, carnal anger, unforgiving spirit, envy, and pride, is not the way of a Christ honoring life Rom 5: 6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We must realize that through Jesus' death on the cross and His miraculous resurrection, that we are dead to sin and alive to God! Rom6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
And it is because of His grace we are empowered to change our ways and become fully obedient to Him.

If we know that we have become "Children of God" and are His dearly beloved ones, we know we have been granted power over sin, flesh and the devil. We have been washed by His blood and made holy and blameless, given His Holy Spirit who "pours out God's love into our hearts." If we sin now it is because it is our choice for we are no longer slaves of sin, but servants of righteousness! Rom 6: 15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
It is our part of the process to "put off" the old man and its ways and put on the new life of righteousness, holiness and love. Eph 4:22 KJV That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.

We, since we have been given the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, must walk in the Spirit of love and not in the selfishness of the flesh. John14: 15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." This means listening constantly to the Spirits still small voice for wisdom and direction. He, the Holy Spirit, is the Spirit of Christ. This is what Jesus told us: John 15:4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
"Remain in me, that is, be constantly connected to the source, and I will remain in you". That is, you can feel my ever-present power. Jesus said if we love Him we will keep his commandments. You see, one of the tasks of the Holy Spirit is to fill our hearts with God's love. Rom 5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. It is that love for Christ that powers our incentive to obey Him. We know that He loves us. Can we not trust Him for strength, protection, and grace for every trial and trouble that comes our way? Do we not know that his wisdom is infallible and does not that insure that the outcome of our obedience will be amazingly rewarding?

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, Heb. 12:1-2

[Quotations from NIV version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.]

The Message

2007-05-31T09:01:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 13 (The Message)

The Message (MSG)

1 Corinthians 13

The Way of Love

1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

8-10Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

11When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.

12We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

13But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

The EveryDay: Day Two

2007-05-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

The EveryDay: Day Two

Bibical Hope

2007-05-17T10:25:00.000-07:00

Biblical Hope, Faith, Love, Obedience, Holiness

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

What is hope?

Knowledge of God and His promises?
Grasping the evidence that God in Jesus is who He says He is?
Knowing He will keep His promises. Then hope becomes FAITH

What is faith?

Do I have evidence that God is true and faithful?
Is there any one else that truly is?

C. Finding that is He true and faithful to me. Then faith becomes LOVE. What is love? God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the Day of Judgment, because in this world we are like him. We love because he first loved us. A genuine unconditional compassion, like Jesus cares. And that I love Him because He first loved me. And I owe my life to Him. Then love becomes OBEDIENCE.

What is Obedience?

Doing the best I can in my own way? Or allowing Him to continually work all his will through me, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and doing my part in humility and love. Then obedience becomes HOLINESS. Jesus said:” As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
Paul said: I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. The mind of sinful manis death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. The Spirit, however, controls you, not by the sinful nature but, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if the Spirit leads you, you are not under law. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. That is Holiness

By Howdim

Alone With Jesus

2007-05-13T03:42:00.000-07:00

Time with Him

I come to my prayer time alone.
Hallelujah!
Your Presence is here,
As you speak so clear.
Your love is so tender,
Please linger near.
I confess my sin,
And He enters in.
My heart's aflame,
And I call your name.
"Use me", Lord, I cry.
"Don't pass me by!"
"I am yours both now and forever."
Hallelujah! You are with me.
Hallelujah! I'm with You.
Hallelujah! What a blessing!
Hallelujah! I am Yours.

The Greatest Job In The World

2007-04-30T04:41:00.000-07:00

The Greatest job in the world is to be GOD'S man!

God's men have been Prophets, Disciples,Missionaries, Apostles and just ordinary men like you!

To Be God's man all you need to do is: Have Faith.

If you believe, God says: Be still and KNOW that I am God! My grace is sufficient, My power is almighty, My will is that all men be saved. The sacrifice has been made, The price has been paid. I share all my nature with you. I sent My Son, Jesus and My Holy Spirit. You are born again. You are cleansed. You are empowered. You are compassionate. You have eternal life. You are immortal!. And most of all I love you.
You are God's man.

To do God's work:

Give Him your body, mind, heart, love, and obedience. Just do what he says in His word, and tells you by his Spirit!
It is His work, not yours!

The Right Choice

2007-03-09T07:47:00.000-08:00

Have you made the right choice?

We generally enjoy the freedom we have to choose for ourselves our path of life.

God gave us that freedom and because we are his creation he loves us, all of us. And will never deny us the privilege to make our own choices.

Love, Howard

Have You Made The Right Choice

2007-03-09T07:36:00.000-08:00

Have you made the right choice?

We generally enjoy the freedom we have to choose for ourselves our path of life.

God gave us that freedom and because we are his creation he loves us, all of us. And will never deny us the prevelage to make our own choices.

Love, Howard

He was There

2006-08-12T05:33:00.000-07:00

Where was Christ? He Was There!

He was there when I was conceived in my mother’s womb, just as surely as my earthly father was there at the act of intimacy that resulted in my conception. He gave the gift of life to grow the fetus and a child was born. It was I.

He was there when I believed and I was born again. His Spirit witnessed with my spirit that He loved me and that I was His child. By His grace my sins were forgiven. By His sacrifice I was redeemed and set free from the power and slavery of sin. By His love I became a citizen of heaven.

He was there when I surrendered all to Him and was filled with His Spirit. He poured His love into my heart. My sinful nature was subdued. Christ became my abiding place. He came to abide in me. I began to decrease. He began to increase.

He was there when I exchanged my life for His Life to strive to know Him, to serve Him, to be like Him until that day when I will forever view His face in glory!

He will always be there!

2006-05-23T04:59:00.000-07:00

This is a prayer request for

a man in need of prayer.

Please, take a moment and pray for this man. He is in a situation that few people find themselves. He is criticized at every turn, and few people have thanked him for the good things he has done.

Few people know the extent of his situation. We need to pray that God gives him the guidance he needs to do his job effectively. I have attached a photo of this man. Look at it. Most of you will recognize him. Please pray for him.

Feel free to pass this on to anyone else who will pray for this man. He hasn't asked me to send this request, but I am sure that he will appreciate all your prayers. If you were facing what he is facing, you'd want people praying for you!

Thanks!

No matter what party you support, this man is our President right now and needs our help in prayers.

This country belongs to all of us.

IN GOD WE TRUST

My Testimony

2006-05-08T04:42:00.000-07:00

My Testimony

I was bought with a price,
The precious blood of Jesus.
Therefore I must praise God in my body,
And my spirit which are His.
I do not claim any part of me to do my own will,
But allow God to have his will,
In all of my life!
I will not let Satan or sin posess,
Barrow, or pollute my body, mind or heart.
For I am God's.
Jesus is mine.
His Holy Spirit must be in control
Of every thought, act and relationship.
God is love.
I know God; I know He loves me.
Therefore, agape love must be my character.
Christ accepted me; I accepted Him.
There must be no division or separation.
This is a Covenant with Him,
For He gave his life and his Spirit to me.
And I give my life to Him
Amen.

Howdim

I Love You

2006-04-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

I really Love You

I used to say to people,” Jesus loves you and so do I”, I have changed that to, “I really love you but not nearly as much as Jesus does”. He knows how to love far better than I. He is never less loving because he is tired or is upset or is selfish; or because you are not perfect, beautiful or friendly. He knows all about you, and loves you unconditionally anyway.

I am sure He is disappointed when you reject his love by not putting him at the very top of your priorities, but his offer of love never changes. Everything that he has ever allowed, or ever will allow, to come into your life is designed to bring you into a personal relationship with him. I know that is true, for who else would go to the cross and sacrifice their life so that our sins could be forgiven?

I also want you to know that there is nothing more satisfying uplifting and joyful than knowing deeply that you belong to Jesus; That you are His own; That your service to him is the best that you can give and that He is your own special friend and master.

Could I express my love for you any better than to ask you to make Jesus your best friend? He is longing to hear from you.

Love, Howard

Being A Disciple

2006-04-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

For a very long time I have not understood what faith really is. Faith is believing that God is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (See Hebrews 11:16)

God made a promise to Abraham Genesis 26:3-5 (New King James Version)3 Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; 5 because Abraham obeys My voice and keeps My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

Abraham didn’t understand how it could happen for he was a hundred years old and his wife was far beyond childbearing age. Yet Abraham obeyed, even to offering Isaac, his son as a sacrifice, for he believed that God could raise him from the dead if need be. Abraham’s faith passes the test!

God’s desire and will is that Christians should be a holy people. Holy people do believe. But how do I believe in someone and trust someone I don’t know? I have to see the evidence. God gave us that evidence through His Son, Jesus. God loved us enough to unselfishly send His only Son to die to free us from our sins and from he fear of death. Jesus loved us enough to unselfishly go to the cross for us, give his blood to atone for our sin, and redeem us from death. Then He arose from the dead.

That proves that we can trust God. Trusting and believing is an act of our will. Because we trust we can obey, that is keep his commandments and serve him with all our heart. We can be sure to reap the results of his love and keep all his promises. Obedience may not come easy because it means that we must abandon our selfish ways, motives and habits and make His will the law of our life. Jesus says “Take up your cross and follow me.” I say, ”I will”.

The Concert

2006-04-14T06:02:00.000-07:00

The Concert

When the house lights dimmed and the concert

was about to begin, the mother returned to

her seat and discovered that the child was missing
Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights

focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.

In horror, the mother saw her little
boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out

"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and

whispered in the boy's ear,

"Don't quit.""Keep playing."

Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached

down with his left hand and began filling

in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached

around to the other side of the child,

and he added a running obbligato.

Together, the old master and the young novice

transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.

The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played.

Only the classic,

" Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

Perhaps that's the way it is with God.

What we can accomplish on
our own is hardly noteworthy.

We try our best, but the results aren't always

graceful flowing music. However, with the

hand of the Master, our life's

work can truly be beautiful.
The next time you set out to accomplish great feats,

listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the

Master, whispering in your

ear,
"Don't quit." "Keep playing."

May you feel His arms around you and

know that His hands are there, helping you

turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.

Remember, God doesn't seem to

call the equipped, rather, He equips the 'called.'
Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the things you acquire. So touch someone by passing this little message along.
May God bless you and be with

you always!

and

remember ,

"Don't quit."

"Keep playing."

Right Choice?

2006-01-01T17:31:00.000-08:00

Have you made the right choice ?

We make many choices,some trivial, some important, and a few with eternal consequences.Some choices are influenced by trivial things, others by people in our lives, some by government or circumstances. Some we are pleased with some we regret. Some lead to happiness or gain others to dispair.or loss.

We generally enjoy the freedom we have to choose for ourselves our path of life.
God gave us that freedom and because we are his creation he loves us, all of us. And will never deny us the prevelage to make our own choices.

However, because He is the master and creator of all things he knows what is best for us. He told Adam and Eve exactly the truth and consequences of what could happen in the Garden of Eden. They chose to disregard His advice. They had known the presence and fellowship of their creator but because the temptor got her attention and told her lies she made a terrible mistake and chose to believe Satan rather than God. Adam was just as gulible.They had been clearly told that sin or disobidience produces death. When we read "death" we might nor know exactly what is meant. I am sure that Gods communication with Adam and Eve left no doubt in their mind about what was meant. It wasn't instant phyisical death, it was something far more hideous than that. They were God's creation, created in His image. That means eternal as he is eternal. This death is a change in character, With the rebellion against the creator comes the loss of His character in them. God is love. Now they had selfishness. God is truth. Now they have deciet. God is faithful. Now they have faithlessness. God is holy, Now they have sin. They have taken on the character of Satan himself. This leads in time to physical death as well. God later told Eve that someday that Satan would bruse her offspring's heel But that He, Christ would bruise Satans head.

Eve's offsping came as a baby born to a virgin, born in a manger. He came to save His people from their sin. He came to atone for our wrong choices on the cross of Calvary. He came to reverse the curse and show us how we can be restored to the likeness of our creator with the love, truth, faithfulness, holiness that he created us with. The choice we need to make is to make Jesus Christ our Savior. This choice is supported and applauded by all of heaven.

Love, Howard

God's Love

2005-12-28T13:05:00.000-08:00

How Does God Love You?

The Astounding---Unfathomable---Incredible---Amazing LOVE GOD HAS FOR US!!!

These are the words that Paul the apostle used to try to get us to realize the wonder of God's love is:

I pray that you being rooted and established in LOVE may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the LOVE of Christ. And to know this LOVE that surpasses knowledge--That you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

He is saying that we can have the very essence of GOD poured into our lives! In order for us to understand what the apostle is talking about here let us note that the LOVE we are considering is a divine love that is unconditional and undeserved. It originates with God but is imparted to men as they respond to it. His prayer is therefore, that we, each of us, might be completely filled with it and fully understand it. He calls it the fullness of God.

God's love is the central fact and theme of the Bible. Love is God's unchanging nature or essence. "God is love" John says in his first epistle. In Jer 31:3 God says he loves with an everlasting love. Paul says: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." [Rom 8:38-39] In other words this love is so powerful and tenacious that nothing can ever change it or its hold on our lives.

God's love is so wide it takes in every nation, every tribe, every culture, every language. It takes in every sinner from the little one who told a little white lie to Hitler who tried to murder a nation. It leaves no one out.
God's love is so long it is everlasting, his mercy endures forever, it is longsuffering and kind.It never quits.
God's love is so high it is totally righteous, absolutely truthful and absolutely just. It never makes a mistake.
God's love is so deep it is perfect compassion, perfect understanding, perfect sacrifice and perfect grace.It brings perfect redemption.

The nature of God's love is such that He is reaching out to us with an intense longing and a divine purpose to bring us into a friendly relationship with him. He says: "Behold I stand at the door and knock: If any man will hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." [Rev 3:20] Jesus said: "I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me he will bear much fruit." [John 15:5] "As the father has loved me so have I loved you. Now remain in my love". [John 5:9] "God so loved---that whosoever---should not perish but have everlasting life." [John 3:16] "I go to prepare a place for you--- that where I am you may be also." [John 4:2-3]

God's love is impartial and unconditional. It makes no difference who we are, or what our condition, his love extends to us. God loves men because he has chosen to love them. He loves them in spite of their sin, filthiness, pride, arrogance, and rebellion. No reason for his love can be given. But the love of God is free, spontaneous, unevoked, uncaused. His love for us is such that he cannot be happy, satisfied and fulfilled until we his beloved are out of trouble and danger. His purpose and delight is to comfort, inspire provide for, educate, guide and love us so that we may be fulfilled in doing the same to others. There is joy (God's own joy) in the presence of the angels when a person recieves this Jesus and his love. "For there is no respect of persons with God." [Rom 2:11]; "God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right" [Acts 10:34-35]; "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us." [Rom 5:8]; "But because of his great love for us, God---made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions." [Eph 2:4] In his crucifixion Jesus willingly suffered intense pain, thirst, mockery, injustice, cruelty, shame, and abandonment. In spite of the fact that he knows the very core of who we are and our rebellion and our selfishness, and our sin. He poured out his lifeblood as an atonement for us. He took the punishment that should have been ours.. He himself said, "Greater love hath no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." [John 15:13] But he did it even for us who were his enemies. "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ lay down his life for us." [1 John 3:16a] "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities." [Isa 53:3-5] God has an intense longing and an urgent desire to establish a deep mutual relationship with you and me, his created ones.

The friendship that he desires would be restored in those persons who would put their faith in him. Adam (and his descendants) were created for one divine and eternal purpose: To love and fellowship with God but he had to give them the choice. Love cannot be coerced it must be freely chosen. By choice then Adam and all who were born after him were born in sin and strayed from God, going their own way and doing their own thing. Sin means breaking God's law, that is, doing what we know is wrong because we don't love God and others as we should. Since God's law was lovingly designed to protect and enhance your life, you are at risk if you ignore, or disobey it. When you disobey it you show contempt for God's love and care, saying, in effect, that you know better than he does what is best for you. It appears, then, that you have no respect for his wisdom or the fact that he created you and the world in which you live. Even though he loves you dearly fellowship between he and you is broken. He can not comfort you with his presence nor protect you by his power

The guilt you carry damages your mind as well as your body. You are unable to love as you ought.Because he loves you so much he is deeply hurt because you push him away and then pretend everything is all right and sometimes even claim you love him. The Father has created you in his own image, the very greatest product of his creative genius, and Jesus, in love, has purchased your salvation by death on the cross to provide forgiveness for your sin. How do you think he feels when you reject all this so that you can sin as you please. Sin is a horrible master. When sin takes hold you cannot escape without God's help. He still loves you, longs for you. It makes no difference how far you have gone or what you have done. He is ready to help you. He wants to forgive your sin and adopt you into his family.

Pray now "Dear Lord, I know that you love me, I repent and turn from my sin. Fill me with your love. Amen.

A GOOD RIDDLE

2005-12-28T08:09:00.000-08:00

A GOOD RIDDLE

WHAT IS GREATER THAN GOD?

WHAT IS WORSE THAN THE DEVIL?

DEAD MEN EAT IT.

IF YOU EAT IT YOU DIE.

The answer is absolutely

NOTHING · NOTHING IS GREATER THAN GOD!

If God is the greatest, and because he is, then why not give him control of your life today? He knows all about you. He loves you anyway. He wants to make something beautiful of your life and eventually take you to heaven to be with him. Jesus said. I am going there to prepare a place for you. (John 14 1-2)

NOTHING· NOTHING IS WORSE THAN THE DEVIL!

If the Devil is the worst, then why let him ruin your body and soul by enticing you into sin? Jesus has power over the devil! He can set you free. “He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason Jesus came was to destroy the devil’s work.(1 John 3:8)

NOTHING· NOTHING IS WHAT DEAD MEN EAT!

When you die you will not be able to make any decision about your eternal destiny!

IF YOU EAT NOTHING ·

You will die physically. If you haven’t made the decision to trust Jesus as your Savior you are already dead spiritually.

Think about this:

Jesus said: “I am the bread of LIFE. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty”.(John 6:5) He has offered us his broken body and his precious blood so that our sins can be forgiven and we can freely partake of eternal life, and the best life has to offer here. If we refuse to eat we’re DEAD!

He offers you the bread of spiritual life. Why not put your trust in Him right now. If you will confess that you are a sinner and ask him to forgive you. You will have eternal life and can really begin living a life of love and fulfillment with Jesus.

Love, Howdim

I Know Who You Are!

2005-02-14T06:10:00.000-08:00

I know who you are !

I may not know your name but, I know !

I may not know your name but whatever your name is, I know that you are the one God has chosen to receive the fabulous life that everyone is looking for. He knows who you are and all about you and he is says in His word that he loves you. He loves you in spite of your sin and failure to love and honor Him. He said so in the most quoted verse in the Bible, "God so loved you that he gave his only begotton Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life"

A new life for you !

That is why he chose you to receive this NEW LIFE. When he said "whosoever believes", he meant you because he bought your eligibility for a NEW LIFE with a price so huge we will never understand it. It was the precious blood of Jesus Christ, God's only Son.

What is this new life?

What is this NEW LIFE ? It is Salvation from sin, which includes forgiveness, freedom from the guilt and shame of sin, freedom from the slavery of sin and it's grip on your life. You can be God's purchased possession, his loved and cherished creation. A child of the King. A ransomed soul. A new creation. A member of the family of God. However it is your CHOICE to accept or reject this identity.

Will you accept?

If you will not accept then , I am sorry to say I know who you are. You are a slave to sin, an unforgiven sinner, a lost soul.

WHAT will you choose ?

You do have a choice. I know that in many things in your life you have not had a choice but that if you do not make a choice in this matter it Satan will make it for you.

Satan has made his claim.

Satan has already claimed your soul. But your CHOICE has awesome power. If you make Jesus your choice all the power of heaven is on your side!

Make your claim now!

Pray this prayer: "Dear Jesus I know I am a sinner. I claim your promise to save me. Forgive me and give me this new life. I accept Jesus with all my heart. Amen

He will answer your prayer if you are sincere and if you trust him for your salvation .
I write these words because God has put love in my heart for you who have not understood God's plan of redemption. I , too, am a sinner transformed by the love of God has for me. If in reading this you have found hope and love Or if you would like me to pray for you just
Email me. howard.dimmick4@verizon.net

Love, Howard

Why Do I Love Jesus

2005-02-08T06:58:00.000-08:00

Why Do I Love Jesus?

I love you Jesus,

For being light in my darkness,

For being a guide in my blindness,

A lighthouse when I was lost in sin,

My loving Savior when I was a sinner,

You are the sacrifice that redeemed my soul.

You are my rock in the quagmire of sin,

My rich resource in my poverty,

My spring of living water for my thirst,

My loving friend when I am In trouble,

A counselor when I am foolish,

A disciplinarian when I am wayward,

A loving friend when I am in trouble,

A great help when I am helpless,

The God who answers my prayers,

You are the example on which to pattern my life.

No wonder they call you:

The pearl of Great price,

The bright and morning star,

The lily of the valley,

The fairest of ten thousand,

The rock of ages,

The light of the world!

You are my Savior and Lord!

How blest I am!

Do you know my Jesus?

He already knows you,

He longs to be your friend.

He wants you to know His mercy, grace and love.

He gave His life so that He could be your Savior too.

Will you accept His offer?

What A Christian Is Like

2005-02-01T05:10:00.000-08:00

What is a Christian Like?

In the fifth Chapter of Mathew Jesus tells us what it is like to be his follower..
We read, "Blessed are--- " Only God supplies "blessing" It is His favor, His reward, His approval. Only his own receive all of it.
Now I paraphrase, verse:

3. "Blessed are those who recognize their need of God for spiritual and moral help, wisdom and guidance, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

4. Blessed are those who have a godly sorrow for their sins and are conscious of their helpless condition, for they will be comforted with forgiveness and salvation.

5. Blessed are the teachable, and co-operative, for they will overcome the world with Me.

6. Blessed are those who really want to be Godly and obedient to me, for they will succeed in their quest.

7. Blessed are those who are unselfishly kind and helpful to their fellow man, for they will receive an abundance of kindness.

8. Blessed are those whose lives are free of willful sin and have only worthy motives, for God calls them his own children.

9. Blessed are those, who quell strife, violence, and hatred; for they are called Gods children.

10. Blessed are those who receive persecution because of their uprightness and morality, for God will give them a place with Him forever.

11. Blessed are you for I appreciate you when you are unjustly accused, slandered and defamed, because of the stand you take for God

12 You may rejoice and celebrate for your reward is surely coming, you will have your place of honor with all the worthy ones who have gone before!

Hallelujah!
.
It pays to serve Jesus.

Love,
Howard

2005-01-31T13:26:00.000-08:00

If Jesus

2005-01-20T06:15:00.000-08:00

If Jesus

If my Savior He would be,
If He gave His all for me,
If His friend, He'd have me be,
If His Spirit dwells in me,
If He, "The Truth" abides in me,
If He gives to me his wisdom free,
If I would His servant be,
If for his work, He strengthens me,
If where He leads I follow free,
A glorious life, He knows, I'll see!

Love: Howard

Jesus Is The Vine

2005-01-03T05:12:00.000-08:00

Jesus, the True Vine

¹"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. ³You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. ⁴Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.

⁵"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. ⁷But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! ⁸My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.

⁹"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. ¹⁰When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

Love,
Howard

Can You Answer This Riddle?

2004-12-30T04:10:00.000-08:00

What is greater than God, worse than the Devil, dead men eat it, and if you eat it you will DIE?

Send your answer to me: howard.dimmick4@Verizon.net or leave a comment, If your answer is right I will send you a confirmation.

Love, Howard

Two Questions God Will Ask

2004-12-17T03:49:00.000-08:00

First Question:

Since Jesus Christ said "I am the way the truth and the life", and proved it by His sinless life, His sacrificial death, and His miraculous resurection, have you believed or have you rejected Him?

Millions have believed and have proved by their changed lives and good deeds that what he said of himself was true, and still is true. God will not ask what church you belonged to, or if you were a good person. He knows if you have accepted His Son as your Savior or not, and if your life has been cleansed and changed by His grace. Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father except through Me!" If you have not believed, do so now. It will change your life.

Second Question:
Since I created you on purpose to love me and to love your fellow-man,
how have you used the life I gave you? What did you do with your gifts, talents, opportunities, energy, relationships, and resources you have had? Did you squander them on yourself, or use them for the purpose I intended ?

Your answer to these questions wil determine where and how you will spend eternity.

If you would like more information Leave a comment below. God loves you and so do I. The only reason I post these blogs is to help you get the best out of life.

Love, Howard

Have a Laugh

2004-11-23T04:34:00.000-08:00

Go to http://lifeonprospecthill.blogspot.com/
read "I Know You're Gonna Laugh"
Love, Howard

About Jesus and Me

2004-11-12T03:47:00.000-08:00

The Preachers Kid

Jesus now is the focus of my life. It wasn't always that way. I was a reprobate hypocrite.

I was a Pastors son, born in a parsonage, brought up in church. My religion was environmental not personal. I was always interested in science, particularly, electronics. I was employed by the Army Signal Corps as an engineer during WW2. After the war I started a Two Way Radio business in Ferndale, NY. Built a house for my wife and family of three girls and a boy. I joined a local church and became a very good hypocrite. Many nights I wept in my pillow for I didn't know the Lord. An evangelist from Pittsburg called Rusty came to our church, he was the son of the largest beer distributor in that city, but he had found the Lord because he was infatuated with a pastors daughter who wouldn't date him unless it was to go to church with her. When he did he heard the Gospel for the first time gave his life to Christ.

He was so full of the love and compassion of Jesus. It just spilled out of him as he spoke. He showed that love to me and my wife. And we gave our lives to Christ.We wanted that Love. That changed my life. I loved my new life, Church became a joy. Sunday school was a blast. Prayer meeting was delightful.

As my business grew, the burdens of running the business, supporting a growing family was hard. But temptations of putting temporal things before spiritual things. Short cuts on integrity etc, etc. Skipping my devotions. Coolness set in and I had lost the joy. A brother-in-law reminded me that something must be wrong with me, he said I lost my tenderness. After a while I began to admit it to myself. I decided to spend some time alone with God and get this thing settled. As I poured out my heart before Him I promised to sell my beloved business, become a missionary or do anything he wanted me to do no matter what it cost. I was desperate. This was the turning point. I can never explain it, but Jesus spoke to me as if we were face to face. He said "I want you to give your family and business to me. You run things for Me. You are my friend I will be with you and show you the way!"

He did, and He does yet. There are still hard times. But since I determined to have that "ruthless trust" in Him and obey His Spirit completely. I have a source of power that spans the universe, and I know a LOVE that is unconditional and unshakable, followed by a joy that is unspeakable and full of glory.

I am now 86 years old. God has been so very good to me. I live in Florida, attend a wonderful Church where people realley love the Lord Jesus. Visit us : www.zhillswesleyan.org

Love, Howard

Pure Love

2004-11-04T07:31:00.000-08:00

Love Is The Goal!

Paul always taught the principles that Jesus taught. Loving God and loving our neighbor is one of these teachings.

In 1 Tim 1:5 Paul says to Timothy that love is the goal of the commandment. The commandment that just precedes this statement is"
"Command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith. 5The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
He is saying that if men have pure love they will never teach false doctrine, nor do anything to harm the kingdom of God. What these "teachers" needed was a revival of Christ's love in their hearts.

He is teaching here that three things will characterize those who have God's love.

What is a pure heart?

Psalm 24:4: He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.

Psalm 51:9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

A heart filled with pure love; No hypocrisy. No hidden agendas, No insincerity, but pure (agape) love for everyone. Jesus said:
"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."

What is a good conscience?

A conscience trained by the standard of pure Christ-like love. Paul's example of a good conscience is this: "And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men." He also wrote "Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace."

No offense toward God or man that has not been confessed and repented of and forgiven. The slightest offense not forgiven causes the conscience to pain and hinders our love.

What is a sincere faith?

No hypocrisy, no facade, no mask. The faith has to be in Jesus. Not in our own wisdom and pride or even in our church or pastor. Total commitment and trust in God. God is the source of our love and faith, if we are not fully committed to him his love cannot work in our lives.

How can you know that you have this kind of love? How is our love tested?

Here is how Jesus' was tested:

Matt 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

The first temptation was a test to see how much love we have for physical satisfaction.

4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

This was Jesus' answer. It showed that his highest love was not for physical things but for God's word.

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

The second temptation was to determine how much love we have for emotional satisfaction.

7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

This was Jesus' answer. I t showed that Jesus first love was not on himself, but on God.

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down
and worship me."

The third was to determine how much love we have for God.

10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

This was Jesus' answer. It showed that His highest love was for God his Father.

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

If you are responding, as you ought to the pressures of life, God's angels will minister to you too.

Our trials and temptations test us every day. How are you doing? Check out how you are reacting to the choices of everyday life.

My prayer for you, personally, is: Lord, please make my friend more like Jesus every day. Amen.

Love,

Howard

The Greatest Fact

2004-11-03T05:32:00.000-08:00

The single most important fact in the world for you is that:

GOD LOVES YOU!

How do you respond to that fact
?

So what?

Do you realize that this one who loves you is Jesus, the only unique Son of God Almighty, the Creator of the universe? He has a good reason for loving you. He created you, then He sacrificed his life to pardon your sins and has a wonderful plan for your life.

I couldn't care less!

But he cares very much, and knows that unless you respond positively to his love your future is very much in doubt.

Leave me alone!

If you insist, Jesus will leave you alone and you will never find the joy and peace he has in store for you. Do you know that you are dependent on him for your life and breath, your strength and skill and all you ever want to accomplish in this world?

But it’s my life. I'll live it as I please.

You certainly will as far as he is concerned. He loves you too much to ever take that privilege away from you. But do you think you can do a good job of it? Don't you think some of his wisdom and truth would help you find the way to happiness and fulfillment?

But I want to be in charge!

Of course you do. You think you know better than God what is best for you. That is the same mistake that Satan made. By that mistake he brought sin, evil, and death into the world. Don't you think that God, who designed the universe knows the best way to direct your life?

I don't need him or want him in my life!

Who or what are you going to trust? Is it luck or chance or the odds? Maybe you trust your own wisdom or your instincts, but who gave you these and who is in charge of this universe. Remember, He loves you and whatever success you may attain, He has been there behind the scenes all the time and enabled you to do it. Whatever failures, mistakes and messes you make are your own responsibility because you have not allowed his love and wisdom to guide you. If you have hurt people, abused yourself and rejected Jesus. God will make sure you pay for it.

Leave me alone !

Wouldn't you rather have a clear conscience and peace? He is ready to forgive you and make you one of his family and lavish his love and favor on you until you wonder how you ever lived without him.

Yes! That sounds good to me.

Just confess your need to Jesus and tell him you love him and ask him into your life. Because he loves you so much he will forgive your sin, give you his Spirit to guide you. He will fill your heart with his love and the desire to live right in his sight.

Just ask him for this. You will never regret it.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1John 4::9-10

Love,
Howard

How Do You Love Yourself?

2004-10-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

Conquering The Beast Within

In Jesus' statement of the second greatest Commandment He says love your neighbor as you love yourself. Being selfish and self centered has never been hard for us, but to try to love everybody else the way we love ourselves -- that seems impossible. God gave us a list of rules to tell us how to live. Perhaps in them is the clue we need to help us find that love. We call them "The Ten Commandments"

They are the exact opposite of our natural tendencies, the selfish, sensual and sinful desires we inherited from Adam. If we could keep them all it would appear that we love appropriately. However, I cannot do it. I cannot as a natural independent person with the right of free choice, help getting angry when anyone (including God) tries to make me accept his choices for me. When he tells me what I can or can not do I am insulted.

In the first commandment God says I should put him first in my life, my reaction is, "I will decide the important things. You stay out of it."

In the second, He says "no idols" I say, "There are some things in this world that are very dear to me. If I choose to give one of them my best attention and love, think it is no ones business but mine. I will idolize whatever I please."

In the third, He says, "Don't misuse my name." What nerve! I will use his name any way I please.

Fourth, He can not tell me when I should work or when I should rest, that's my decision.

Then fifth, He wants me to kow tow to my parents. I am grown up now, who needs those old fogies.

In the tenth He says, "Do not covet ". If I want something, I believe I have a right to pursue it until I obtain it. He demands honesty. However, I have to disregard the truth sometimes to get what I want.

He says, "Don't steal." I think it is unfair that others have what I want. I'll take whatever I want, even if it is my neighbor's wife, who God says I can't have. In addition, I will hate and may even kill anyone who tries to stop me.

The reason I break all Ten Commandments is that the two most important principles, loving God, and loving my neighbor, are not in my heart. God, by his love, gave these commandments to us just so that we could see how sinful we are. This is part of the plan God devised to bring us back into a loving relationship to him.

The Ten Commandments play an important part in our understanding of what is right or wrong. They also help us recognize the wisdom and power of God. But even before Moses received these written laws, men already knew right from wrong. God provided each one of us with a conscience that judges our actions. Paul wrote in his epistle to the Romans, "For we know that the law is spiritual-- I agree with the law, confessing that it is good, I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man." If God gave us the same law in our hearts as is written in the Bible it makes it extremely difficult for us to deny His authority or the validity of His word.

If God really loves us, then it follows that he gave us these laws for our own protection and well being. So if we really love ourselves it seems like we would want to keep these laws. Just think: How many lies do we have to tell to be a liar? How many times do you have to steal to be a thief? How many laws do have to break to be a law-breaker? If we care about who and what we are at all, we will try to keep the law!

However, keeping the law is not easy. The people of Israel did not keep the law. Jesus pointed out that the scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders of that time did not keep the law. Paul, the Apostle,before he was transformed by the grace of God, said he couldn't keep it. He says. "I am of flesh sold into bondage of sin. I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. "{Rom. 7:22}

Paul wrote in Galatians 5: If we do not live by the Spirit (of God), we will gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

We are in the same trouble. None of us can keep the whole law. One of the reasons is that Satan has implanted into our minds a false image of God. He has shown us a picture of an angry and tyrannical god who enforces his law haphazardly, if at all. Another reason is that Satan is a liar. He lied to Eve the same way and we have inherited the results of the "fall". Because of this we have an attitude that is not apt to be loving and obedient. God says of us through Jeremiah, "The human heart is more deceitful than all else and desperately wicked." We have been deceived by Satan and tricked by our own hearts so that now we believe that we know how we should live better than God does. We think our interests and ambitions should come first. We want gratification of our lust now. Anger, envy and hate control our actions. Pride and vanity dictate our attitudes. We lack gratitude and compassion. Is this any way to live?

Jesus came to show us a better way!

First, Jesus gave us a new picture of God. God sent his Son, ("The radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being." Heb 1:3) as a sweet little baby born of a virgin and laid in a manger. He grew up to be the most loving, tender and compassionate teacher the world has ever known. John wrote of Him, "And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as the only begotton from the Father full of grace and truth." Paul saw him as, "The image of the invisible God. "Col 1:15 We see Him in the gospels as the "Good Shepherd", the "Good Master", the "Great Physician", the "Friend of Sinners" and finally as the "Lamb Of God".

So you see that the concept we had of God was false. The reason that God asks us to keep the commandments is that he loves us so much that he hurts when we hurt, and he knows we will suffer if we ignore laws that were designed to protect and nurture us.

Second, He taught us the difference between the Spirit of the law and the letter of the law. and that the two most important principles to live by, are, "Love the Lord God with all your heart, and Love your neighbor as yourself." He said that these were the two greatest commandments and they support all the rest of the law. He knows what we do not know -- exactly what is best for us in the long run. He knows that we are full of lying, deceit, dishonesty, lust and false pride. Jesus teaches us that in properly loving him and loving our neighbor, we can defeat these things and meet all the requirements of the law.

Third, He provided, by His love, the power we need to meet the requirements of love. How much does God love us? God's declaration of love is this, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have ever-lasting life." John 3:16 Jesus further qualified the devotion of His love when He said, "Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friend." But Jesus didn't stop there. "For while we were yet sinners (rebels, enemies) he died for us." He said " I will never leave you nor forsake you." How can I find words to express the kindness, caring and compassion He lavishes on us in spite of our disobedience and waywardness. More than that, He promises to do for us "more than we can ask or think." He has all the resources of Heaven available to supply our need and cleanse us from the sin that stains our secret life. Even more important He even has all power and authority to do miracles on our behalf.

The next question is, how much do we love him? I need to ask this question because unless we know the greatness of His love we will not love Him as we should. John said "We love him because he first loved us." It is hard to realize that this wonderful love is actually directed to you and me. In response to God's love the hymn writer wrote: "Love so amazing so divine demands my soul, my life, my all." When we love him supremely and have yielded ourselves completely to his will, whatever it takes us to obey his will seems almost trivial. We obey not because he asks, but because we need to express our gratitude and devotion to Him. The smallest indication of His preference becomes a command. Every time we obey, expressing our love to Him, He responds by filling our life with peace and joy

Our response however is not directed only to Him but also to our neighbor. Jesus said: "To the extent you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me. "Matt 25:40. It is our privilege to regard every person we meet as a potential child of God and to love them as Jesus would. We can keep the commandments if Spirit of God controls us and cleanses our hearts and fills us with his LOVE!

With this kind of love keeping the commandments is no problem. If you are not sure you are obeying God completely make an irrevocable decision that you will, and pray with me:

Dear Jesus, I do love you. I need more of your love in my life. I surrender every part of my life to you for now and forever. Fill me with your Holy Spirit, your love and your power so that I may perfectly obey you and live a clean, pure life. Amen.

Howard

Being A Follower Of Jesus Is Serious Business!

2004-10-17T03:40:00.000-07:00

We have heard many times that Peter, Jesus' disciple, became serious about serving Christ when he was filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Certainly that was the source of the power and boldness of Peters witness. We have also heard many times that Peter denied Jesus three times after his mock conviction as a criminal. I think it was four times. Eight days after the resurection Peter said to some of the disciples, "I go a fishing".

For him the adventure with Jesus was over. Jesus died, arose, and Peter thought now it was time , even though he had had a a wonderful experience with the Christ, to go back to his old life, fishing, earning a living, enjoying and loving the old routine. But when Jesus ask him, at breakfast on the shore the next day, "Do you love these more than me?-- Feed my lambs. " It was a shock, Peter was puzzled and angry. Here was Jesus, still alive, still the Christ, still calling him to discipleship, "Feed my sheep." There were higher priorities than, living the old life, making a living, enjoying the fish. Peter could not have caught any fish that day except for the Lord's intervention. Being fishers of men was more important! After Jesus reminded him three times, he realized it and re-affirmed his true love for the Lord.

How about you. Have you become a "disciple" but now are denying it by "going fishing"?

Love,

Howard

2004-10-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

A Silly Poem

Was ever there a soul so dead,

That to his wife has never said:

“Move over give me half the bed”?

Then she too with heart quite dead

With strident tone would oft reply:

“Please give me space before I die!”

Is there a pair with heart not dead

That to each other would have said:

“I love you dear.

Stretch out in comfort in our bed.”

And then would find with love’s embrace,

They only needed half the space.

By Howdim

I suspect you are a sinner!

2004-09-27T06:13:00.000-07:00

I suspect you are a sinner!

I wouldn't say that to your face, but I know it is probably true. The Bible says "all have sinned". That means I have too, and I admit it. I know that you don't like to be accused of sin. I don't either. It hurts.

I would, if I could, tell you that it's alright, everybody sins, you don't mean to hurt anyone., you have a good excuse, and it don't matter anyhow. And if it only hurts you, it's nobody else's business anyway. Maybe that would make you feel better.

But if I were a real true friend and cared about you wouldn't it be better that instead of lying to you, I shared with you the real peace and comfort that I found when discovered the real truth is that Jesus loves me, and when I confessed to Him that I was a sinner he forgave me for all my sin! I mean it, He did! I am not worthy of the least of his notice, yet for you and me He humbled himself, came to earth as a man, gave his life for us, that we might be free from the guilt of sin, have power to defeat temptation and sin and inherit eternal life. What is more, it is not for any good thing I have done or that you could do, but it's a free gift because He loves us so. Why don't you confess your sin to Him now and ask Him for this free gift? He will give it to you, He really will!

I would like to hear from you. Post a comment.
Maybe you would like to read my earlier post in this blog: "What Jesus Said.", and the little epistle the Apostle John wrote in the Bible. Look for 1 John in the New Testament.

Love,

Howard

Our Mission

2004-09-24T05:37:00.000-07:00

Our Mission

Colossians 1:²⁴Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

As I pondered what Paul meant here, at first I was puzzled, for I fully believed that Jesus’ work was completed on the cross. I know that the work of redemption for our salvation was complete. But after he was resurrected He gave clear instructions:

1. Wait for the filling of the Holy Spirit.

2. Go into the entire world.

3. Preach the Gospel.

4. Make Disciples.

After Jesus had ascended his physical body was no longer here, and so we have been made his ambassadors. Our preparation for this task is the infilling of the Spirit. Paul said, “We have this treasure in vessels of clay.” And those who are filled become the Church, which is His body in the world today. Paul personally felt that holy obligation to accomplish that mission which was given to him, that is to build up the church of Christ. When we are transformed by the new birth these things must happen:

1. We repent and turn from sin.

2. Our sins are forgiven.

3. We are made a new creation in Christ.

4. We are given the gift of the Holy Spirit.

<>We all gladly receive the first three of these, but sometimes we do not understand about the fourth one. The scripture says, this is the deposit or seal (confirmation) that we really are children of God. It involves our will, our determination to obey God’s will in our lives. It means that we will strive with all our heart to maintain this wonderful relationship. Paul warns us not to quench the Spirit or grieve the Spirit for in so doing we jeopardize our growth as a Christian, on the other hand, if we continually seek God’s will in our lives by reading the Word and yielding to his will He will have our all and we will be filled with the Spirit and exhibit the fruits of the Spirit.. This is the qualification we need to be effective in reaching others for Christ. Then we will feel that holy obligation that Paul experienced.

<>Love,

Howard

A Great Prayer

2004-09-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

A Great Prayer!

The Apostle Paul’s Prayer For The Colossians.

Col: 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Clearly Paul wanted them and us to know God’s will. But so often we think we have some kind of ideal what God’s will is, but because it seems fragmentary and “iffy” we add our own “wisdom” to make it more suitable to our desires. Paul tells us here the secret of really knowing God’s will. He says it is through spiritual wisdom and understanding. Spiritual means the work of God’s spirit. In order to have the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in our thinking we will have had to surrender our ways, our ambitions and our agendas completely to God. In other words Paul prayed that they would be authentic Christians, submitting to Christ by faith, born again and filled with the Holy Spirit.

¹⁰And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might

He is saying that once that transformation has taken place in our lives, we who were unworthy become worthy to bear the Lord’s name. God is pleased with that. The fruit we will bear is the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The strength we will have is God’s strength.

So that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully

Why would Paul want us to have endurance and patience unless he thought we would need them? I am sure he foresaw all the pain, frustration, calamities, and persecutions that Christians would encounter but he also saw the Joy at the end. He prayed that we would not only be properly equipped to handle it all, but be victorious and joyous!

¹²giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. ¹³For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Hallelujah!

Howard

Christianity, The Most Misunderstood Religion In The World

2004-09-14T07:53:00.000-07:00

Part III
Christians Do Not Understand The Grace of God Either

In the first two parts of this article I concentrated on the misunderstanding of unbelievers, now I want to show you how many who profess to know Christ also have an inadequate understanding of God's infinite grace.

Grace has been defined as "the unmerited favor of God". When we look at the moral condition of mankind in Jesus day, we can't help but wonder why God would even care at all about pagans who completely ignored Him or the Jews who circumvented Gods law with their own rules and regulations. But God's grace is so caring and universal that John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." This gives us a faint idea of the depth and quality of grace.

But His grace also makes provision for a Christian's care, maturity, and reward that are even more amazing. A Christian has a special standing because trusting Christ, has transferred us from the kingdom of this world to "the kingdom of His dear Son". We have become the beloved of God. We now can sing, "This world is not my home. " for our citizenship is in Heaven.

Jesus said, (John 15:5)"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

This is the framework in which the true believer lives. He is confident that he can remain in Christ as long as he believes and is obedient.

In the Epistle Paul wrote to the Ephesians he told them of the great privileges we have as those predestined in God's grace' In Chapter one he says:
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.
15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength.

In Chapter two he goes on:
4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

He goes on in chapter three, to pray for us. Paul's prayer is not for things he knows nothing about but for the same things that he has experienced in his own life and therefore knows that the are not only available for us but they are what the Father desperately wants us to have. This is that wonderful prayer!

14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

We have not begun to realize the wonderful blessings God has prepared for us here. We have misunderstood and far under estimated the magnitude of His glorious grace that, as Peter said, allows us to partake of the Divine nature. And all of this says nothing about the Glory that will be revealed to us in the day when we shall see Jesus Christ face to face. In 1 John 3:2 it says: Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Have you begun to tap these riches? They are for you too. I confess I have only begun, but like Paul says in Philippians 3:14:
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Howard

What Jesus Said To Me!

2004-09-09T04:42:00.000-07:00

I was only half awake. It was four o'clock in the morning and someone was trying to talk to me.

He said, "Do you think you could put this conversation with me on paper? I need to get to the hearts if some people that I am very concerned about.

"Yes Jesus", I said, as my whirling mind tried to make sense of what I had just heard.

He said, "Do you have questions about me?"

"Yes," I said, "Who are you?"

This is what Jesus said!

"You are the one that I that I love and am concerned about! I want you to know that I am the proof that God loves you. There are some other things you should know about me as well.
" Because my Father so loved the people of the world, I, Jesus, His unique and only Son, was sent to earth so that no one would need to perish because of their sin, but could have a wonderful life now and forever. So I willingly, yes, even gladly, was nailed to the cross in agony and pain, and gave up my life, to make this new life possible for everyone who believes in me. Because of this, they who will believe will be spared the awful penalty of sin, and enjoy eternity with me in Heaven.
In other words, I am the way to Heaven, the ONLY way to Heaven.

"Don't make me laugh", I said, "Heaven is just for dreamers".

"Yes", He said, "Unless you believe in me and that your soul lives on forever, Heaven does not make any sense to you. But one day your life will come to an end and you will wish that you had prepared for the heaven that I know is real for I came from there to offer you safe passage to that beautiful place. There will be no sin, no evil, no deceit allowed to enter there. Only those who have accepted God's love and forgiveness that has been purchased by the blood I shed on the cross will be admitted.

"But Lord, It's hard for us to believe that someone who was executed on an ancient cross has any bearing on our lives today or on our eternal destiny".

" Listen," He said, " If I had not died on that cross and then came back from the dead to prove I was really God's Son, who would have believed? But because I am alive, millions have trusted me with their lives and have received this new life. Many have been heroes and martyrs driven by their love for me to spend their lives ministering to the needy and communicating my love to others. And I continue to add to my following all that turn from their sin and believe on me.

"Lord", I said, how does that work? Can I be changed like that?

Jesus replied, "Yes you can! This is how it works. My Father and I are of one mind and one spirit and when we planned forgiveness and salvation for you, our most cherished creation; we had to take into account the eternal principles of truth and justice. Satan has lied to you. He has told you that sin is pleasurable and profitable and you believed him. You have chosen to follow his lead and have sinned by disobeying the very laws that were lovingly designed to keep you from evil and harm. We cannot lie and say it didn't happen, nor can we continue to accept that kind of behavior, because we have designed and predestined you for something far better. The death penalty is prescribed for sin. In justice it must be carried out. The Father said to me," Son, you and I and our Holy Spirit are the source of all goodness. Surely we can find a way to have mercy on these loved ones the enemy has damned." "Yes", I replied, "I know we can".

"It sounds like an awful dilemma to me. How did you solve it?"

" So we devised a plan". He continued, "Father would commission me and send me to the earth to be born as a man and live with men so that we might know and feel the plight of men. I did that and I experienced many things. Since I was the first man who ever walked on earth without sin, Satan tempted me in every way he had devised to tempt you. Satan was more active against me, for he had much to gain if he could discredit me. Since I had a body like yours I had all the passions and cravings that you have. I knew the tiredness and weariness and frustration you endure. Now I could understand your feelings and problems. I can really sympathize with you. Because I love you so much I determined that I would pay the death penalty for you.

It worked out that envy in the hearts of men in the corrupt religious and political systems of that time shortly brought me a death penalty. I had been successful and true to my Father's instructions. Even Pilate said of me 'I find no fault in him.' However now I faced the most difficult part of the plan. Though I dreaded the horrible death on the cross as bad as that was, but it was the, I-can-hardly-say-this, taking on me your awful load of guilt and sin so it could die with me on the cross. As I took it on I could feel the horror of your guilt and the dread and fear of death and hell. I knew that my father loved me, but how could he do this to me! How could He ask me, his Son, to carry this filthy sin and then actually forsake me as I hung on the cross just because he hates sin so much? I asked him if there was any way I could escape it. He didn't answer. I thought, no, if I abandon this plan there would be no way in heaven or on earth to save the ones we love so much. Yes, I could have called ten thousand angels to save me and let you die. But my love wouldn't let me do that. Now I scarcely remember the nails and the spear and the gore. It was wonderful to be able to pay the penalty for your sin. However, the Father didn't leave me there! I came back with victory over sin and death and the grave! I did pay the penalty for your sin! My blood, which flowed from the cross, fully atoned for all your sin. It is my free gift to you. All you need to do is to confess your sin and turn from it and it will all be forgiven and forgotten. The angels will have a party in heaven and rejoice and praise the Father, because you have come home".

"Lord," I said, "Please forgive me for not realizing how much you love me and how much it meant to carry my sin to the cross. I guess I didn't realize how bad sin really is. Can you tell me about that?

He said, " Sin means breaking God's law, that is, doing what we know is wrong because we don't love God and others as we should. Since God's law was lovingly designed to protect and enhance your life, you are at risk if you ignore, or disobey it. When you disobey it you show contempt for my love and care, saying, in effect, that you know better than I do what is best for you. It appears, then, that you have no respect for my wisdom or the fact that I have created both you and the world in which you live. Even though I love you dearly, I cannot ignore your hateful attitude.. Fellowship between us therefore is broken. I can no longer comfort you with my presence nor protect you by my power.

"But Lord," I said, " I am not a bad person. I try to do what seems right, but I get confused sometimes and things don't seem to go right."

Jesus said' "That is because your mind and spirit are disoriented because of the conflict within. Your conscience requires truth and justice but you sometimes balk at these when your personal gain or comfort is at stake. The guilt you carry damages your mind as well as your emotions and your body. You are unable to love, as you ought. You show disregard for your neighbors who are influenced by you and should have a good example from you. The whole fabric of society is poisoned by your lack of strong moral principle. Because I love you so much I am deeply hurt because you push me away and then pretend everything is all right and sometimes even claim you love
me."

"Whew!," I spouted, " I had no idea that sin was like that. No wonder you hate it".

"But that isn't all", Jesus continued, "My Father has created you in his own image, the very greatest product of his creative genius, and I, in love, have purchased your salvation by my death on the cross to provide forgiveness for your sin.
How do you think I feel when you reject all this so that you can sin as you please? I know, and I want you to know, that a sinful life will bring you neither peace nor joy, only disillusionment and frustration. Satan adds to your trouble and pain by leading you deeper into sin. Then you resent any effort my servants or I make to help you. I am disappointed that your potential as one of my followers is being wasted and your influence is working against me. Sin is a horrible master. It is only by my grace that it has not led you farther n to the depths of wickedness than it has. When sin takes hold you cannot escape without my help. I still love you, long for you. It makes no difference how far you have gone or what you have done. I am ready to help you. Trust me. Let me welcome you home.

Evidently Jesus didn't mind all my questions and I was beginning to like the honest and gentle way He talked to me. But it seemed to be going too far. I thought: I had better try to politely turn him off.
" Lord," I said to him, "I appreciate your love for me, but there are many things about my way of life that I like. I'm comfortable and happy with my friends who would think I had become a religious nut. I like the pleasure I get from doing a lot of things that I don't think you would approve of. Besides I don't know if I am capable of becoming the kind of person that you want me to be. It seems you ask a lot of your followers. I feel as though I have lived too shabby a life to ever change that much anyway. So lets just forget about it."

"My dear one." He said, "Nothing is to hard for me. I turned the rogue who was Saul of Tarsus into the Apostle Paul. I have been changing lives by the thousands. You can trust me. I offer you a life with joy and inner peace, with purpose and power and an unlimited future.

"I was startled that He called me His dear one. How did He get that close to me? He must really love me. ------ L-Lord, I stammered, "I don't understand at all about how people can start a new life, being 'Born Again' as they call it. It just seems impossible that I could ever do that. Wouldn't I have to be a preacher or missionary or do some great and good things in order to earn your love and respect."

"It is really quite simple", Jesus said, it is nothing you do. You can't earn it or deserve it. It is something I do for you. It is a free gift. You don't deserve it. You never will deserve it. I am the one who paid the price on the cross for your forgiveness and salvation. All you need to do is accept it. I will send the Holy Spirit like an unseen breeze through your soul with cleansing and energizing power, and He will fill you with a kind of love you never had before and a peace and joy you cannot understand. Your conflict with God will be over and your attachment to sin will be broken. For if I make you free you will be totally free! If you believe in me, and what I did on the cross for you, and promise that you will try your best, with my help, to stop sinning, I will see to it that you are 'Born Again". You will then be able to live a truly worthy life until I take you home.

"Lord", I said, " You make it sound awfully tempting but I really have to think about it. Maybe I can get some things in my life straightened out. Maybe some things will change so that I can see my way clear to do it. But right now it seems like a to big and too scary a step to take".

"My dear one," He said, "It never will get any better or easier than it is now. It can only get worse. Sin will never let go of you! You can't even begin to change your own life. Trust me now. I will be with you every step of the way. I will never leave you nor forsake you. I want to be your very best friend. You have never been closer to me than you are right now. This is your time.

You and I know that life is uncertain. This may be your only time. Think about it. Trust me to change you and give you a new life. Will you?"

I waited a while but He said no more.

What should I do?

I decided to give my life to Him. I'm glad I did!

What will you do?

I Gave MY Life For You

I gave My life for you,
My precious blood I shed,
That you might ransomed be,
And rescued from the dead;
I gave, I gave My life for you,
What have you given for me?

And I have brought to you,
Down from my home above,
Forgiveness full and free,
My pardon and my love,
I bring, I bring Rich gifts to you,
What have you brought to me?

Francis R. Havergal 1860

Most Misunderstood Part 2

2004-09-03T04:29:00.000-07:00

Part II
CHRISTIANITY---THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD RELIGION IN THE WORLD

Why? The world does not understand God's GRACE!

Are you under the LAW or under GRACE?

There are two ways to deal with sin.

In our world Law has been exalted as the way to achieve domestic as well as international tranquility. There are enough laws, rules, regulations, precepts, commandments and suchlike to fill tons of books and boggle the minds of even the best lawyers. They cover every phase of human life. Relatively few of them are obeyed or given much attention. However our focus is and has been so much on law that we ignore the fact that God has two ways of dealing with sin. One is LAW the other is GRACE.

The moral law expressed in the Ten Commandments refers to the revelation of the will and purposes of God in the Old Testament. These commandments have become the foundation of the system of justice in much of the world today.

The Ten Commandments were not given only for the Hebrew people but are abiding laws for all people. Men knew the moral principles of these laws from Adam's time, apparently intuitively. People even in the most primitive societies know most of them. They convey duties for everyone and reveal to us the basic morality required by God.
Without God, the Commandments lose their foundation.
Law is one of the primary concepts in the Bible. It is based on the commandments, which God revealed to Moses.
These ten laws define negatively the relationship between God and mankind. The first four Commandments are related to ones relationship with God. The next six Commandments have to do with human relationships. Right relationships with others follow being rightly related to God. Being rightly related to God compels one towards right relationships to one's neighbors. Here one can see the wonderful balance that is maintained in the Law. Duties to God and to our peers are not separated.

Jesus respected the Law and often referred to it. Jesus was both a critic of the Law and a supporter of it. He was critical of the law as taught and practiced by the scribes and Pharisees. The enemies of Jesus frequently accused Him of violating the Law. It is clear that keeping the letter of the Law had become more important to some of the Jews than the purpose or spirit the Law.
On several occasions Jesus set His own teachings over against those of the elders (Matt. 5:21-6:34). Jesus' greatest conflict came over the Sabbath. He rejected their interpretation of the Sabbath Law and said that the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath (Matt. 12:8); that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27); and He taught that it was permissible to do good deeds on the Sabbath (Mark 3:4).
Jesus inaugurated a new era in which the Law as understood by the Jews of His day would no longer be the guiding principle for the Kingdom of God (Luke 16:16). Nevertheless, Jesus claimed not to have come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it (Matt. 5:17-20). That is, Jesus moved the understanding of the Law from its external, legalistic meaning to its spiritual one. Moving from outward observance to inward motivation and intention is Jesus' concern (Matt. 5:21, 22, 27, 28).

He pushes the Law out to its ultimate meaning (thus filling it full). In this sense Jesus affirmed the heart and the spirit of the Law. He moved to a deeper level of meaning, to the spirit behind the Law, which God had intended from the beginning. Jesus did not give us new law. When Jesus was asked which commandment is the greatest, He said, "You shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind," (Matt. 22:36, 37). Jesus said the second commandment is like the first, "Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matt. 22:39). Then He said, "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matt. 22:40). To the surprise of many, Jesus summed up the whole Law and the teaching of the prophets with these two commandments. Behind all of the Law had stood these two great principles of love for God and neighbor. It is important for us to remember that love can never be adequately portrayed in rules or in teachings. It can be seen in the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the establishment of the age of Grace. Jesus emphasized them in a way that would forever change how we should look at them.

Grace is God's way of dealing with sin. Paul had a lifelong struggle with the Law. By the term "law," Paul meant the Law of God as contained in the Old Testament. He also spoke of a kind of natural law, which existed in human beings (Rom. 7:23, 25). The "law of sin" meant conduct determined by sin. Paul also used law in this sense when he referred to the "law of faith" or the "Law of love"-that is, conduct determined by faith in God or ones love for God. (Rom. 3:27-28).
Paul's attitude toward the Mosaic Law can be summarized under several main points. First of all, he recognized that the Law had been given for a good purpose; it was holy, just and good (Rom. 7:12, 14; 1 Tim. 1:8). The demands of the Law were not evil, but had the effect of pointing out the sin of human beings (Rom. 7:7). Because of man's sinfulness, the Law became a curse instead of a blessing (Gal. 3:10-13).
Second, Paul believed the Law was given for a good purpose, but it could not save (Gal. 3:11; Rom. 3:20). If persons were to be reconciled to God, it would be by means other than keeping the Law. The third theme we find in Paul is that Christ freed us from the requirements of the Law of Moses by His death and resurrection (Rom. 8:3, 4). Therefore, Christ has become the end of the Law for Christians (Rom. 10:4), and it is faith that saves and not Law (Eph. 2:8, 9). God's Grace that establishes the law of love makes it possible.
Paul, like Jesus, saw the Law fulfilled in the command to love (Rom. 13:8; Gal. 5:13). Only with the aid of the Spirit of God can we meet the requirement to love, which fulfills the Law (Gal. 5:16; Rom. 8).

Paul saw the Law as no longer to be viewed legalistically. Nevertheless, it is still the revelation of God, and it helps us to understand the nature of our life in Christ (Rom. 8:3; 13:8-10; Gal. 3:24). Law is the way of self-help, trying to earn one's own salvation. Grace is God's way of salvation, totally unearned (Rom. 3:24; 4:4; 11:6; Eph. 2:8). Grace is obtained by faith in what God has done in Christ (Rom. 4:16). God's grace comes to repentant sinners, not to those who think they merit God's acceptance (Rom. 5:20-21). It is through Christ's atoning work on the cross that God's grace comes to us, setting us free from the bondage of sin (Rom. 3:24-31). Christ is the representative who breaks the reign of sin and brings life and acceptance with God through divine grace (Rom. 5:15, 17). . It was in the beloved Son that God's grace came to us. (1 Cor. 1:4; Eph. 1:6-7; compare 2 Tim. 1:9). God's grace abides in us (2 Cor. 9:14); we stand in it (Rom. 5:2). Our calling, our witness, our works are all based on the power of God's grace in our lives (2 Thess. 1:11-12). Paul taught that the true experience of God's grace changes one's life in the direction of righteousness (Rom. 6:1, 14-15). Grace never gives freedom to sin. But reproduces, in all who experience God's grace, gifts of the Spirit for ministry and service (Rom. 12:6; Eph. 4:7)

You can receive God's grace today!

Pray this way:
Dear Lord, I want your GRACE although I may never fully understand it. I have sinned many times and in many ways. I am terribly sorry. I believe Jesus atoned for my sin when he died on the cross. Please forgive me. I sincerely want to live a new life. AMEN!

(There is no magic in these words. You may express your prayer in your own words. Your truthfulness and sincerity is what will bring faith and deliverance.)

God loves you and so do I.
Howard S. Dimmick

Most Misunderstood!

2004-09-01T05:38:00.000-07:00

CHRISTIANITY---THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD RELIGION IN THE WORLD

Why? The world does not understand God's GRACE!

Many people think Christianity teaches that:

1. You are a sinner but you must not commit sin.

It really teaches:

1. That you as a sinner cannot help but sin, for your good and loving nature, the image of God, in which you were created, has been corrupted by sin. God's word in Genesis 1:27 says: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God's word in Romans 3:10 says: As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; Romans 3:11 says: there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. Romans 3:12 says: All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:20 says: Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Rom 3:21 says: But now righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. (Rom 3:22) This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, (Rom 3:23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Rom 3:24) and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

2. If you sin God does not love you.

The Bible really teaches:

2. God always LOVES you for His very nature is Love. "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. 1 John 4:16." Rom 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." He loves you in spite of your sin and rebellion against Him. However he will never force you to submit to Him. He says: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Rev. 3:20.

3. God punishes you if you sin.

3. God does not punish you for sin now. He knows that the sin itself will hurt, damage and punish you. It is sin that will evenually separate you from God eternally. He has provided a real remedy for sin: It is his grace, through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. This remedy not only pardons all past sin but provides power to be free from sin so that you never need to sin again.

4. If you do not sin too much you will go to Heaven.
5. If you do enough good deeds, you will go to Heaven.

4 & 5 The sin you have committed or the good deeds you have done has no bearing in your right to go to heaven. Jesus has prepared a place for all who have trusted, that is, put their faith in Him and the remedy for sin he has provided by his grace.

Most people, therefore, think that:
6. That it is generally more fun and profitable to sin than to be good.
7. Sin, when I do it, is not so bad.
8. Somehow I will get by. Someday God will have mercy on me.

6, 7,and 8 That is only wishful thinking. The penalty for sin is death. We sin because we do not love God and our fellowman as we should. God's grace includes filling our hearts with His love, so that we can be free from sin .

9, When I sin, I have a good reason. I don't really want to hurt anybody.

9. This shows how twisted your thinking has become because you don't understand or accept God's grace.

10. I could stop sinning if I really tried and if I believed it was worth the effort.

10. You cannot stop sinning. If you have ever really tried, you know that you can't. Sin will never let you go. Jesus has the only remedy for sin. He will forgive your sin and will give you the power to stop sinning. Believe in Him today. Accept his grace. Get your life straightened out, and begin to really live!.

Do you know what God's GRACE is?
Let me explain the difference between LAW and GRACE.

Do you want to live under Law or do you want Grace? Consider this:

God's law is good and was given to us to show us how we should live. God's penalty for sin (law-breaking) is spiritual death.
Grace is the forgivenes and power over sin provided through Christ's sacrifice for us on the Cross.

Law is the way God tells us what is right and wrong, it is the way men deal with sin and crime.
Grace is God's new way of dealing with sin.

Law sees sin as an evil act of disobedience.
Grace sees sin as a motive and intention to do selfish, evil or mean things that hurt God, yourself or others.

Law exacts judgment, condemnation and punishment for sin or crime.
Grace grants mercy and responds to the confession of sin and true repentance with pardon and forgiveness and provides for and enables renewal, reconciliation, and restoration of fellowship with God and our fellowman. It enables us to have victory over sin.

Law backs up its demands with fear, power, and punishment.
Grace loves unconditionally and places great value on the sinner.

Law puts down and degrades the lawbreaker.
Grace forgives, restores and empowers him.

Law condemns and sentences the perpetuator.
Grace accepts and cherishes him.

Law regards a sinner as a criminal never fit to live freely in society.
Grace sees him as a precious soul in need of love and restoration.

Law has no hope for him.
Grace will, when he repents and turns from his sin by believing that Jesus is the Son of God, and trusts God's provision for salvation, grants him salvation and eternal life.

Under Law he is always a convict.
Under Grace he becomes a newborn child of God!

Are you under the LAW or under GRACE?

Continues in Part II

How Does God Love You?

2004-08-30T06:59:00.000-07:00

How Does God Love You?

I pray that you being rooted and established in LOVE may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the LOVE of Christ. And to know this LOVE that surpasses knowledge--That you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

These are the words that Paul the apostle used to try to get us to realize how wonderful the God's love is, and how great it is to have it in our lives. He is saying that we can have the very essence of GOD poured into our lives! In order for us to understand what the apostle is talking about here let us note that the LOVE we are considering is a divine love that is unconditional and undeserved. It originates with God but is imparted to men as they respond to it. His prayer is therefore, that we, each of us, might be completely filled with it and fully understand it. He calls it the fullness of God. Wouldn't you like to understand it and find out how to obtain it?

God's love is the central fact and theme of the Bible, and in all of history. Love is God's unchanging nature or essence. "God is love" John says in his first epistle. In Jer 31:3 God says he loves with an everlasting love. Paul says: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." [Rom 8:38-39]

The nature of God's love is such that He is reaching out to us with an intense longing and a divine purpose to bring us into a friendly relationship with him. He says: "Behold I stand at the door and knock: If any man will hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." [Rev 3:20] Jesus said: "I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me he will bear much fruit." [John 15:5] "As the father has loved me so have I loved you. Now remain in my love". [John 5:9] "God so loved---that whosoever---should not perish but have everlasting life." [John 3:16] "I go to prepare a place for you--- that where I am you may be also." [John 4:2-3]

God's love is impartial and unconditional. It makes no difference who we are, or what our condition, his love extends to us. God loves men because he has chosen to love them. He loves them in spite of their sin, filthiness, pride, arrogance, and rebellion. No reason for his love can be given. But the love of God is free, spontaneous, unevoked, uncaused. His love for us is such that he cannot be happy, satisfied and fulfilled until we his beloved are out of trouble and danger. His purpose and delight is to comfort, inspire provide for, educate, guide and love us so that we may be fulfilled in doing the same to others. There is joy (God's own joy) in the presence of the angels when a person recieves this Jesus and his love. "For there is no respect of persons with God." [Rom 2:11]; "God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right" [Acts 10:34-35]; "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us." [Rom 5:8]; "But because of his great love for us, God---made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions." [Eph 2:4]

In his crucifixion Jesus willingly suffered intense pain, thirst, mockery, injustice, cruelty, shame, and abandonment. In spite of the fact that he knows the very core of who we are and our rebellion and our selfishness, and our sin. He poured out his lifeblood as an atonement for us. He took the punishment that should have been ours.. He himself said, "Greater love hath no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." [John 15:13] But he did it even for us who were his enemies. "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ lay down his life for us." [1 John 3:16a] "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities." [Isa 53:3-5]

God is motivated by his love to accomplish certain things in his kingdom. By his word we can discern what some of them are. First to establish a human race who would have the ability and choice to love, serve him and glorify him. Be enough like him to be able to be friends with him.

From what I can understand from the scripture, it appears that God has an intense longing and an urgent desire to establish a deep mutual relationship with you and me, his created ones. This can be seen as we read the creation narrative in Genesis. 2:7 (NIV) "The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Then after they had disobeyed God's specific command he still tried to re-establish the relationship. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" God knew that it was not their physical nakedness that caused them to hide but that it was their guilt resulting from their disobedience which he could see in spite of their clothes. He loved them and promised that a time would come when the damage inflicted on them by Satan would be reversed.

The friendship that he desires would be restored in those persons who would put their faith in him. You are one of those persons. He created you for that specific purpose. He created you "In the image of God". You are singled out as the one that God is dealing with now. God's purpose is focused on you.

It was for you that the earth was created so that a suitable habitat could be established for you. For the earth to exist, the sun and the solar system was created. The solar system could not exist or be created by itself so our galaxy, the milky way, was created. And that is related to the whole universe which was created to support it. We have not yet discovered the extent or boundaries of the universe in either time or space. God also created with precision and infinitesimal detail the very building blocks of matter, electrons and such.

The details of creation are so complex and intricate that in all the centuries the genius of man has not been able to sort out but few of these mysteries, but God has in control everything from the infinitesimal building blocks of matter to the galaxies hurtling through space, all obeying every law he has laid down by his infinite wisdom.

He made the world of the relationships of life, personalities, mind and spirit, and interrelationships that allow us to be aware of and practice the principles of love or hate. He created the world of the spiritual in which the forces of evil and righteousness exist, the domain of spirits, angels and demons. This realm is beyond human comprehension and understanding. The Bible shows us that this is all but for one purpose: That God could have you personally enjoy his friendship and share his love, being rescued from your evil ways, cleansed from your wickedness, and restored to the likeness of God as you were created so that you could live a life of loving service. Then live with Him forever in a paradise and bliss that is way beyond anything that you can imagine. It is the gift of God's amazing grace!

He allowed man to be deceived by Satan or Luicifer, who invented sin and rebellion against God, and be ruined morally and become evil. And so that if a man chose to he could be restored. This was not an experiment to test his theories. He knew the answers. He wanted to show us the truth: Law is insufficient, we cannot and will not live by a set of rules. Wisdom or ceremony or works cannot reconcile man to God. Man can't redeem himself. A loving saviour is needed.

Adam (and his descendants) were created for one divine and eternal purpose: To love and fellowship with God. Eve was given to Adam as a helper. They had a choice. They blew it. No doubt God knew they would, but he had to give them the choice. Love cannot be coerced it must be freely chosen. By choice then Adam and all who were born after him were born in sin and strayed from God, going their own way and doing their own thing.

We find as we study the bible, God is holy and cannot overlook sin. Sin means breaking God's law, that is, doing what we know is wrong because we don't love God and others as we should. Since God's law was lovingly designed to protect and enhance your life, you are at risk if you ignore, or disobey it. When you disobey it you show contempt for God's love and care, saying, in effect, that you know better than he does what is best for you. It appears, then, that you have no respect for his wisdom or the fact that he created you and the world in which you live. Even though he loves you dearly your attitude is repugnant to him. Fellowship between he and you therefore is broken. He can no longer comfort you with his presence nor protect you by his power

. You are made in the image of God but Satan has deceived you and you have made some bad decisions because your mind and spirit are disoriented because of the conflict within. Your conscience requires truth and justice but you balk at these when your personal gain, comfort or pleasure are at stake. The guilt you carry damages your mind as well as your body. You are unable to love as you ought. You show utter disregard for your neighbors who are influenced by you and have a right to a good example from you. The whole fabric of society is poisoned by your lack of principle and loyalty to God

Because he loves you so much he is deeply hurt because you push him away and then pretend everything is all right and sometimes even claim you love him. The Father has created you in his own image, the very greatest product of his creative genius, and Jesus, in love, has purchased your salvation by death on the cross to provide forgiveness for your sin. How do you think he feels when you reject all this so that you can sin as you please.

God knows that a sinful life will bring you no peace nor joy, only disillusionment and frustration. Satan only adds to your trouble and pain by leading you deeper into sin. Then you resent any effort that is made to help you. He is disappointed that your potential as one of his children is being wasted and your influence is working against him

Sin is a horrible master. It is only by grace and the prayers of the saints that it has not led you farther in to the depths of wickedness than it has. When sin takes hold you cannot escape without God's help. He still loves you, longs for you. It makes no difference how far you have gone or what you have done. He is ready to help you."

She Went To Be With Her Lord !

2004-08-30T06:48:00.000-07:00

She Went To Be With Her Lord !

That is what was published about a dear lady in our town when she died. I suppose if He really was her Lord,she loved and worshiped Him and served him and obeyed his commandments.

What about you and me? Is he OUR Lord? Is our love, worship and obedience to Him a testimony to His glory?

Are there any good reasons why our loyalty to Him is sporadic or partial? Why is it so hard to yield our complete allegience to The Lord Jesus Christ? Is not His love for us unconditionial and totally generous and faithful? Do we not gain great reward and benefits by following Him? Our service to Him is not to His advantage but to ours! He is The Way, The Truth, and The Source of Eternal Life. How can we get by without full committment to Him?

Do we deserve His Grace? Were we not sinners and rebels? But he loved us and gave His life for us. We have His promise that he will never leave us or forsake us. His promise is for eternity, while our interest seems earthly and temporary. His way is the better way!

I am going to take the better road. How about you?

Love, Howard