Easter - 2018

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

A New Perspective which Changes the Outcome!


But Christians possess the righteousness of Christ, because  we learn in 2 Cor. 5:21 - “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”  


This is an amazing truth. On the cross, Jesus exchanged our sin for His perfect righteousness so that we can one day stand before God and He will see not our sin, but the holy righteousness of the Lord Jesus.

An eternal perspective on Jesus … shapes our outcome.

We respond differently when we realize that the power of God (He is mighty, majestic, and strength – stronger than the ocean) … the power of God is experienced through his coming to live among us, die for us, and then conquer the death by returning to life. This changes the outcome.

This is great news for us ... especially in a world filled with agendas and desire ... you know I love ya, Don

Sunday, August 14, 2016

A God Perspective changes our Attitude!


Psalm 93:1 - “The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength…”

When I stand on a beach, looking out over the ocean, I realize how truly small I am … the same is true when we examine the vast, supremacy of God. When we stop focusing on ourselves and start to recognize that God Reigns, God is Robed (Covered) in Majesty, and is Armed with Strength … out attitude changes. You and I start to realize it is not about Us! A God perspective shapes our attitude!!!

One day when His disciples were arguing among themselves regarding who was to be greatest in His kingdom, Jesus said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28). Jesus is teaching us that, when we become preoccupied with our own things, it can cause conflicts and other problems with people we know.

Jesus was teaching the disciples to have a GOD Attitude… it is an attitude of living, caring and being involved in the concerns of others…a trip to the beach takes us to a place that is bigger than me
 … A God Perspective shapes our attitude!

You know I love ya, Don

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Jehovah God is Fearless!!!


Psalm 8:3-4 - “God Says, “When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. To the arrogant I say, “Boast no more,” and to the wicked, “Do not lift up your horns.”
 
God is fearless … he is not capable of being afraid. Let that sink in for a moment … God is not capable of being afraid of anything. In the desert last week, we were strongly encouraged to pick-up rocks away from us, in the event that under the rock was a snake or a scorpion. I did not see one snake or one scorpion.

The psalmist is teaching us that God doesn’t need a warning…God is fearless.
 
Our God looks at evil in the eye and gives his own life as a ransom.
He looks at the death of the unborn babies and cries out hope in love and forgiveness.
He experiences the challenge of religions and philosophies and remains strong and faithful to his drive and his passion to be friends with men and women.
Our God, holds the universe together in order to have a relationship with you and with me…
 
It is not within the capacity of Jehovah God to fear… he is fearless. What a joy to know the reality that God is fearless!
 
You know I love ya, Don

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

A Characteristic of God is that He is NEAR!


Psalm 75:1 - “We give thanks, for your Name is near …”
 
Remember when this was written, God’s presence was in the tabernacle followed by the Temple. Even in the Old Testament, we see that God does not simply dwell in a structure … the very mention of His name and He is near.
 
How do you know when something is near or close? Your senses tell that you are near something or close to something. When I am close to boiling water, I can see the bubbles, watch the steam and I can put my hand up and feel the heat on the palm of my hand. When I am close to a light bulb, I can see the light, but I can also feel it. When I am close to a campfire, I can see it and I can smell it and I can usually hear it. The same is true of the close character of God … I have to choose to use my senses.
 
When I neglect my senses, I get burned by the boiling water, I stumble around in the dark, and I can start a forest fire by neglecting the campfire…When we neglect the close character of God, we stumble and we become afraid …we allow fear takes control of our situation.
 
Corrie ten Boom said, “When a train goes through a tunnel and it get gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.”
 
Psalm 75 is teaching us to sit still and trust God because he is close, he is near … It is in God’s Character to be near!
 
I am so grateful for the nearness of God. You know I love ya, Don

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Definition of Fear ... if we trust God, why do we fear?

We serve a good, good God…He is not a God fear or regret … Fear is the emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being threatened cause us to be scared. Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real… What scares God? Obviously, nothing! God is in control and will remain in control of all things. I love to sing … How great is our God! He is God. So, If God is on our side, what do we have to fear?

Something to ponder, you know I love ya, Don