Maybe you have heard it said before, or you have said it yourself, "I was this (fingers illustrating) close to dying. And of course there are the many times where we are so close to death that we don't even recognize it. For me today (already) has been an eye-opener as to the frailty of life.
Our church is located about a block from the town plaza. In order to get to the church you need to go down a small hill and across an even smaller bridge. So today as I was walking down the hill and about to cross the bridge, I found myself face to face with death. No joke. The small bridge can handle two-way traffic but only recommended at very slow velocity. It is a tight fit. When I looked over and saw a blue car crossing the bridge (towards the church) and nothing crossing en route to the plaza, I figured that it was time to step out into the "unoccupied" lane, wait for the blue car to pass and then finish crossing the bridge myself. Something (or better stated "Someone") detained me for what I believe was a millisecond. Praise God for that Someone. All of a sudden, just as I was to step into the "unoccupied" lane, a white van speeded past the blue car on "my" side of the bridge. If that "Someone" had not detained me for that millisecond I would have been dead. No doubt about it. I would have taken the hit full force in the back and would have been slammed to the pavement-instant death I am sure. So when this didn't happen I was of course very thankful and at the same time very startled with the gravity of the situation. I had only planned on going across a physical bridge down to the beachside but I almost ended up crossing over the river into the presence of the Lord. Although I concur with the Apostle Paul that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2nd Corinthians 5:8) and that is truly the best place to be (Philippians 1:23), I wasn't planning on it happening today. (Hebrews 9:27; Luke 12:20; James 4:13-16) The words of a plaque that I have hanging on the wall speak even louder to me at this moment, "Only one life and it will soon be past, only what is done for Christ will last." Praise be to God for the victory that we have in and through Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37; 1st Corinthians 15:56-57). In Job 19:25-26 we read "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the Earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God." Please consider with me a part of the beautiful hymn 'O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing'
"He breaks the power of cancelled sin
He sets the captive free
His blood can make the foulest clean His blood
His blood availed for me."
And then this line from the beautiful hymn 'There is a Fountain'
"There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains
Lose all their guilty stains
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains."
Yes, inches from death but also inches from everlasting life in Christ. (1st Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 9:14-15; 10:11-14)
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Turkey!
Yes it is a little early for Thanksgiving, but turkey always sounds good to me. Turkey breast, turkey casserole, turkey sandwich, turkey burger, etc. I like turkey. So what does that have to do with anything? Well, the other day I was playing a bowling game with the kids and I got a "turkey". For those of you who aren't bowling fans a "turkey" is when you get three strikes in a row. Needless to say I was quite pleased. So am I today. It has been three days in a row that I have written something on the blog! I realize that may not sound too impressive to everyone but I am quite pleased. This blog is a small way for us to give glory to God for His merciful working in and through our lives. May we (and may you) keep our (your) eyes focused on Jesus Christ and seek to emulate Him each and every day. (Hebrews 12:1-2; 1st John 2:6)
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Go to the right person
The Apostle Paul was inspired to write down some beautiful words in his first letter to Timothy. In chapter 2 and verse 5 of that letter it states "for there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ." There is no other. As much as people would like to assume or pretend that there is, God's Word speaks differently. Similar to the words of the Lord Jesus in John 14:6 "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me." We must go to and through the right person. "In none other is there salvation, because there is no other name under heaven given to man in which we can be saved."(Acts 4:12) The One and only!
Today I asked my friend Jorge to take my ailing pick-up truck to the mechanic. He assured me that he knew of whom I was speaking when I detailed to him the directions to the shop of the mechanic who regularly fixes the truck. Jorge phoned me to tell me that the mechanic was out of town and potentially would be back later in the day. So when later in the day came around Jorge went back and "yes" the mechanic was there. Jorge began to explain to the mechanic to whom the truck belonged and that I had taken the truck to him for a similar situation, etc. The mechanic then told Jorge that he had never worked on the truck and that Jorge had mistakenly taken the truck to the wrong mechanic! "My" mechanic was just a little ways down the road. In this case Jorge thought that he knew the way to the mechanic but it turned out that although he did make it to "a" mechanic he just didn't make it to the "right" mechanic. And so it is with many people. They are so sure that they know the way to God. They may believe that there are many ways to God or they may believe that there is just one way, but that way is not Jesus. According to the Bible they will one day realize the same thing that Jorge did. They thought that they knew the way but they were wrong. There is only one God and there is only one way to Him; it is through His Son Jesus Christ. Whereas I have never heard Him referenced to as the "Great Mechanic", I have heard Him referenced to as the "Great Physician". "He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."(Isaiah 53:5-6) As the old hymn writer penned "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, now it's white as snow." Not because of anything that we have done, do or ever could do. But because "It is finished!"(John 19:30) My hope is found in nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I have been spiritually repaired because I went to the right person. The only One who lived a perfect life and gave it as propitiation for my sin and for the sin of all those who would believe.(Mark 10:45) Alabado sea nuestro Señor!
Today I asked my friend Jorge to take my ailing pick-up truck to the mechanic. He assured me that he knew of whom I was speaking when I detailed to him the directions to the shop of the mechanic who regularly fixes the truck. Jorge phoned me to tell me that the mechanic was out of town and potentially would be back later in the day. So when later in the day came around Jorge went back and "yes" the mechanic was there. Jorge began to explain to the mechanic to whom the truck belonged and that I had taken the truck to him for a similar situation, etc. The mechanic then told Jorge that he had never worked on the truck and that Jorge had mistakenly taken the truck to the wrong mechanic! "My" mechanic was just a little ways down the road. In this case Jorge thought that he knew the way to the mechanic but it turned out that although he did make it to "a" mechanic he just didn't make it to the "right" mechanic. And so it is with many people. They are so sure that they know the way to God. They may believe that there are many ways to God or they may believe that there is just one way, but that way is not Jesus. According to the Bible they will one day realize the same thing that Jorge did. They thought that they knew the way but they were wrong. There is only one God and there is only one way to Him; it is through His Son Jesus Christ. Whereas I have never heard Him referenced to as the "Great Mechanic", I have heard Him referenced to as the "Great Physician". "He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."(Isaiah 53:5-6) As the old hymn writer penned "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, now it's white as snow." Not because of anything that we have done, do or ever could do. But because "It is finished!"(John 19:30) My hope is found in nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I have been spiritually repaired because I went to the right person. The only One who lived a perfect life and gave it as propitiation for my sin and for the sin of all those who would believe.(Mark 10:45) Alabado sea nuestro Señor!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
A job well done
We needed to get a new water heater due to the fact that our old one decided to stop working. Of course this wasn't what we had hoped for but we were thankful that the Lord provided the funds to replace the old one. So we got the new one installed (on the wall,outside the bathroom) and it works very well. Due to the fact that we want to protect the heater from the elements, a little house needed to be made for the heater. So we contacted and contracted a carpenter to make the little dwelling place. He came over yesterday and got right to work. He appeared to be very competent and when he was done we thanked him for "a job well done". Shortly after the carpenter left, Ruth attempted to open the bathroom window. She was unsuccessful. The carpenter had not only built a little house for the water heater but he had also sealed shut our bathroom window. Apparently the job hadn't been so well done. At this point all I could do was laugh. And then I realized that it would be necessary to talk to the carpenter and tell him of his little error. I felt a little sheepish to tell him that his job wasn't entirely well done. But as it happened I met up with his boss and was able to tell him about our inconvenience. The boss man got quite a chuckle out of it and promised to send the carpenter back over to fix the problem. He hasn't made it over yet, but we are waiting for him. I have learned a lesson from all of this, that I should check things out thoroughly before I give the thumbs up and declare a job well done. This reminds me of the words of the Apostle Paul in 1st Thessalonians 5:21 "Examine everything, retain that which is good". We must not be so quick to say that things are good or that they are well done; we must take the time to observe and discern before we give affirmation. When we have done this, and only when we have done this, can we truly and wholeheartedly say "job well done". I have learned a valuable lesson from this and will seek to put it into practice: will you do the same?
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Crown Him With Many Crowns
There are so many hymns that are near and dear to my heart. Many of you who have been close enough to hear my "not-so-melodious" voice know that I will never be invited to sing a solo in the church choir. Praise to the Lord that all He requires is that we "make a joyful noise to the Lord." Good.
Today "Crown Him With Many Crowns" was one of the songs that we had programmed to sing during our Sunday noon gathering. However there were some technical difficulties and the aforementioned song got pushed back to a later date. No matter. We still "crowned the Lord" with our praises through other songs, prayers, our giving, and through the preaching of His Word. As we read in the Scripture, we are to do all unto the glory of the Lord; (1st Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:16) and by so doing we "crown Him with many crowns".
What a privilege and a joy it is to gather together and worship with God's people. As we sang in another song, "Praise Him! Praise Him!", speaking of His excellent greatness and grace to save. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
The Lord Jesus is seated on His throne exalted and one day (soon) He will come back to the Earth that He created(along with His Father and the Holy Spirit) to defeat His enemies and to reign over the planet throughout the millennium. We as believers are not exempt from trials and tribulations, however we are assured of the victory that we already have in Christ (Romans 8:37) and look forward to the consummation that the Lord has promised. (Revelation 22:20)
So brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord and never cease to praise Him!
Today "Crown Him With Many Crowns" was one of the songs that we had programmed to sing during our Sunday noon gathering. However there were some technical difficulties and the aforementioned song got pushed back to a later date. No matter. We still "crowned the Lord" with our praises through other songs, prayers, our giving, and through the preaching of His Word. As we read in the Scripture, we are to do all unto the glory of the Lord; (1st Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:16) and by so doing we "crown Him with many crowns".
What a privilege and a joy it is to gather together and worship with God's people. As we sang in another song, "Praise Him! Praise Him!", speaking of His excellent greatness and grace to save. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
The Lord Jesus is seated on His throne exalted and one day (soon) He will come back to the Earth that He created(along with His Father and the Holy Spirit) to defeat His enemies and to reign over the planet throughout the millennium. We as believers are not exempt from trials and tribulations, however we are assured of the victory that we already have in Christ (Romans 8:37) and look forward to the consummation that the Lord has promised. (Revelation 22:20)
So brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord and never cease to praise Him!
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