Month: February 2020

Concerning Jesus…

LynnLeave a comment

Jesus is more than just a nice man. He is Life. It is because of Him there is life as we know it here on Earth. Of Himself, He said:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6-7 (NIV)

By saying He and the Father (God) are one, Jesus is saying He is equal to God.

” I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.” John 17:11 (NIV)

By saying He is God, then therefore He is I AM:

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14 (NIV)

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58 (NIV)

Jesus is the only reason why we, believers and non-believers, have the very breath of life to live in this world. We are because He is.

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7 (NIV)

Without Him there is no Life, only Death. He is Life.

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)

And even though many do not acknowledge Him, that does not mean He is not God.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Galatians 6:7 (NIV)

And Jesus is coming back…

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:3 (NIV)

Without Him is death. And God does not want anyone to be without Him.

For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live! Ezekiel 18:32 (NIV)

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

He is waiting for you to seek Him so He may reveal Himself to you. He will not force Himself into your life. He is gentle & humble.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 (NIV)

Take time to really think about who Jesus is. Not who you think He is or what others may have told you about Him but, who He really is. Seek Him while He may still be found. Knock. Keep knocking. He will reveal Himself to all who sincerely seek Him.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

Blessings.

The Farmer

LynnLeave a comment

3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop–a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:3-9 | NIV84

The photo shown was taken in early April, right at the beginning of the growing season. If you look closely at the tree, notice how the longer branches have not budded nor developed any new leaves for Spring. The only new growth is the green leaves in the center. It is unusual for a tree to only produce green leaves from the inside out. Evidently, over the winter or late the previous Fall, the full-grown branches had died. When Spring came, there was enough life left within the trunk of the tree to develop a new set of fresh leaves and branches.

In order for this tree’s new green leaves to flourish, it would be imperative to cut away all those dead branches. The cutting away process would be a huge change for the tree and how it looks, but would be necessary for its survival. You see, even though there are branches that appear to be dead, they still drain the tree of nutrients. The dead branches become a burden to the newly developing green leaves because the nutrients are being divided between the half dead and living branches.

The only way to help the new growth become stronger, is to cut away the dead branches, otherwise, the new leaves may not get enough food to properly grow. Not only do the old branches need to be cut away, but the soil will need fresh dirt with some fertilizer mixed in.

The tree and its branches somewhat symbolize the spiritual growth of a believer. Jesus comes along and reveals a wonderful Truth (like the sower above) and that Truth begins to grow inside the believer, like the green leaves inside the tree. However, the existing, dead branches can redirect the new Truth’s life away from the green leaves. Sometimes those old dead branches can symbolize man-made doctrines or meaningless religious ceremonies. Often people trade Truth for tradition and in that process, they risk what little spiritual growth they have within them for dead doctrines. People do this because traditional doctrines sometimes feel better, or they are more comfortable. It’s easier, after all, to have someone teach you the Word, rather than studying on your own. It’s easier to regurgitate what the church’s statement of faith is, rather than fully understanding what you truly believe.

The new growth, that new Truth, can eventually get squashed by the old non-spiritual traditions and even though the tree will still be standing there, it will be covered in dead branches.

Refresh your hearts with the Word of God and heart-felt prayer. Get alone with God, sit and listen. Let the Holy Spirit become your Teacher and let Him reveal His many wonderful life-giving Truths. Allow God to cut away those dead branches so that what He has shown you, may grow stronger with each and every day. My friends, Jesus is returning. Scripture says that we must be ready for the Bridegroom to return. Seek Him while He still may be found.

The Garden

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44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matthew 13:44 | NIV84

I was thinking the other day about wildflowers in the field. When you drive by and glance at an overgrown field littered with wildflowers, it is pleasing to the eye. It’s pretty in its natural state. The flowers make the plain field look beautiful. Now if you were to stop, get out and walk in the field, you’d find that each flower within itself is intricate and a city of its own. Some flowers are more complicated than the others and some are just prettier to look at, but each is beautiful in its own way.

Jesus was indeed the most beautiful man who walked the earth, but He was so ordinary that when looked upon in a crowd, He blended right in. He was kind of like a flower in the field, the most magnificent flower in existence, but one couldn’t tell by His external features that He was different. It was only when one stopped and closely examined Him that they discovered He was the most valuable treasure anyone could have ever found – a treasure worth giving one’s life for.

Then I thought about the gardens that people plant with all the beautiful trees, flowers and bushes and how they are so perfectly manicured and perfectly decorated to be exceptionally pleasing to one’s eye and emotions. If you were to drive by an open field with wildflowers growing, you’d think it was pretty, but when your eyes saw the manufactured man-made gardens, you’d be more drawn to its external beauty.

If Jesus were a flower, He wouldn’t be found in the man-made gardens where everyone visits, He’d be in the open field waiting for you to seek Him. He hides Himself, but yet He is out in the open for all to see… it’s just that the manufactured gardens seem so much better, but in reality they are not what’s truly real.