Affects

Everything in nature contributes to the success of something else in its ecosystem.

It is only man's choices that disrupts nature's balance. And that imbalance affects all of nature.

God contributes everything we need for spiritual success.

It is only man's choices that disrupts the spiritual ecosystem. And that imbalance affects all of mankind. 

Every choice has a ripple effect that extends far beyond our understanding. 

God is light. His light lives within us to contribute to the spiritual success of those around us.--What we do with that light affects everyone in our scope of influence, and sometimes even beyond...

Those left in darkness, affects the universe; the known and the unknown. 

Matthew 5:14,16
Luke 11:35,36
Ephesians 5:8,9 
1 John 1:5
Philippians 2:15

copyright 4/28/2014

Face To Face

If only I could tell,   

                                             the stories of my soul,

                                             to the One that I love best,

                                             to the One who loves me most.

                                              If only I could cling, 

                                              to my angels mighty wings,

                                              I'd catch the cresting waves,

                                              of the rising distant winds,

                                              and sail the starry path,

                                              through Orion's open gates.

                                              It is there, that I could speak,

                                              to my Lord's amazing grace.

                                              I would say the missing words,

                                              I would touch His loving face.
                                              
                                                    
          copyright 4/25/2014                                     

                                          

In The Midst Of The Fire

  We seem to believe all things can be explained by logic; that our reasoning powers are capable of deducing what can be believed and what is utter, uneducated foolishness. What is rational is tolerated, but if it cannot stand the test of logic it is not considered, nor does it exist. And something else I've learned, God does NOT reason the way we do. Shocker, isn't it? Not only that, He doesn't do things like we do either. He's always doing things we, or science, can't explain. I love it! Case in point--Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

  In the province of Babylon on the plain of  Dura, King Nebuchadnezzar erected a gold image ninety feet high and nine feet wide. He then summoned all the provincial officials to its' dedication. At the sound of the music, from the many instruments present, they were all to bow down and worship this golden spectacle. The cost of non participation was being unceremoniously thrown into a very hot, fiery furnace. And of course, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood their ground. Not a muscle moved. And, as you might expect, they were summoned before the King. Up until this point, these three had been favored by Nebuchadnezzar, but this public humiliation put him in a rather bad mood. Then, on being given a second chance, these men responded without hesitation. "Oh, Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O King. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O King, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." WOW! Now what was a bad mood turned to absolute rage. How dare these sniveling Jewish delinquents talk to him this way! The order to increase the heat of the furnace by seven was immediately given. 

At this point, the idea to maybe do a little negotiating would seem the reasonable thing to do. And logic would say, "if I refuse to bow down to this ridiculous idol which doesn't mean anything anyway, and I die for it, I'll lose all my effectiveness. After all, God put me here as a witness for Him. How can I do that, if I die?" They had decided ere this that their highest calling was to serve a God like no other, who reigned within, and not made with human hands. He had stood beside them up until now, and they were not about to let God down. As they were being cast into the heaving furnace, the chosen men, because of their strength, withered and died before the all engulfing heat of the flames. Implicit trust in the God of the universe put Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fire, and it wasn't until they were in the midst of the blaze that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was revealed, just standing there talking to His boys. The ropes that bound them dropped off in the blaze, but these boys never even broke a sweat. Now Nebuchadnezzar's face looked quite different than before. A look of utter disbelief halted his rage, for what he was seeing was not possible, but it was, just the same. There were now four indeviduals in the midst of the fire, not three. In submitting to the fire, Christ is revealed. This story is not about the faithfulness of three men to God. It is however about the faithfulness of God to us. He awaits the few who are willing to be cast into the fire of affliction in order for Him to reveal Himself. The one who makes possible the impossible; the one who tosses logic aside for your and my saving intervention. To win the hearts of those who do not believe, the fire you see, becomes a privilege.  

Daniel 3
Copyright 4/22/2014

Empty Tomb!

                             JERUSALEM TIMES

                            Empty Tomb!

  Early this morning the Times got word of an incident that took place at a residences' burial tomb. It's hard to get a true picture with so many stories being spread around, but this is what we know as of now.

  

  It seems with the conviction and Crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, the whole city is in an uproar. With all the commotion it was feared by the local authorities, that a safe burial place was necessary. One of the residents, and purported follower of Jesus, begged for his body, so he could place Him in his own burial tomb. That being outside the city, both religious leaders and Pilate himself were worried about Jesus' prediction that He would rise the third day. Witnesses said Pilate put his seal on the stone that covered the entrance to the tomb. To be sure of absolute security, a post of 100 soldiers were stationed to closely guard it's entrance.

What we are learning now, is that the tomb is empty. Here is where the stories get confusing. The authorities claim the armed guards fell asleep and His disciples came and stole Jesus away.  This report seems unlikely since the penalty for such a snafu is punishable by death. And how could so many soldiers all sleep through the rolling of a stone of that magnitude? They are assembling a committee to look into it.  We just report the facts, you decide.

The second report is even harder to believe. Some of the soldiers leaked to a Times reporter that a bright light from an angel shone down on them, while he rolled the stone away by himself. Then, as the report goes, the soldiers were so afraid, they fainted. On awakening they ran for their lives as they realized that the one they were guarding had risen from the dead on the angels command to come forth. To add to this incredible story, Fridays' crucifixion that ended in an earthquake, opened many graves, and approximately 500 people who were once dead are now in the streets of Jerusalem shouting and dancing. I don't know about you, but for this reporter, well, maybe, just what if-----    

Based on john 27:57-66

copyright  4/19/2014

                 

                        

The cross of love

The cross of love

 Did the angels crowd the cross that day?
Did they draw nearer, or look away?

 How foreign to their righteous ears
 the mocking tones, and angry jeers.

 They knew Him as their God and King,
how could man kill the King of Kings?

 It was love that drew Him to this place;
 giving all who would, the gift of grace.

 And, for this I'm sure, the angels sing,
to see the joy salvation brings.



copyright 4/18/2014

Love so divine

  She didn't consider the cost of alabaster as extravagant. She didn't consider it a humiliation to break the jar and pour the perfume on His head, filling the room with a sweet fragrance. Nor were the whispers and open disdain around her enough to give her pause. Falling on her knees at His feet, Mary poured out her soul through her tears. With nothing but her hair for a towel, she gently wiped His feet dry. Her focus was on Jesus and nothing else; a demonstration of love from heart, mind, and soul. Such abandoned love shows what happens when externals cannot break through to disrupt a mind stayed on Jesus. Hers' was a blessing we miss as we muddle our lives with noise and clutter. We miss the glorious communion with the Lover of our souls.  
  To her, He was everything; to Him, she and we were worth the extravagant cost He was about to pay. He didn't consider the cost or the humiliation when He poured out His blood on Calvary--a sweet fragrance that fills us with unspeakable wonder that never loses its essence. Nor were the whispers and open disdain enough to give Him pause. With spikes through His hands, He gave His life willingly because of an all-consuming love that would not let go. And so, He poured out His life unto death that we might live. Oh, love so divine that it captured mine, and because He rose in triumph that Sunday morn, He saw the travail of His soul and was satisfied. Isaiah 53. 


Mark 14:3-9
John 12:1-8
copyright 4/18/2014

The Heart Of God

  This is something God gave me that He wanted me to share with you on my blog.

  I feel your loss, I see your tears, I know your despair, and I understand the crushing burden you are carrying. I'm so sorry for your pain and want to do something about it. You thought what you did caused all the bad things in your life to happen. You thought I was punishing you for some of the choices you've made. If you knew me, you would know I would not do that to you. The enemy of your soul wishes to crush the very life out of you, but I want you to experience freedom, light and love. Love so amazing---beyond anything you have ever known. I am right here beside you; I have always been here. I promised I would never leave you or forsake you, and I never will. I am holding out my arms to you--come to me. Don't hold back because you haven't been able to forgive yourself, I will help you with that. Right now is the most important choice you will ever make, just come. I forgive you, I accept you; you are so beautiful to me. Don't look back, just accept the love these open arms are holding out to you.

Today is a new and beautiful day for you; say along with me---I accept.

Jesus

copyright 4/14/2014

What Would Happen?

  What would happen, do you think, if I placed my sin into the out stretched hand of the Lord? If I did that, would it not then empty the hand of my enemy? Would it not render the devil impotent and powerless?

  What would happen, do you think, if I placed my loss into the hand of the One who arranged the starry host? Did He not arrange the stars so I could see Orion's opening, and take courage that I am almost home?

  What would happen, do you think, if I placed my doubt into the nail scarred hand of the One who saw my face when He decided that death was preferable to life without me?

  Do you think my pain is too much or left unnoticed in His hand? Is there anything at all that the hand of God cannot or will not do for me? Does that hand get too tired, or too busy, or too discouraged to keep reaching out to me?

  What would happen, do you think, if I put all of what is me into that hand? What then would the devil have left to attack me with? What would happen--- do you think? 

copyright April 4, 2014