angels

Posted on November 4, 2021 by Dana

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child to Him, and placed the child among them. And He said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me. If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!… See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.’” (Matthew 18:1-10)

img_4269I don’t completely understand… but I love it: Six-year-old Wilkes, five-year-old Owen, four-year-old Macy, three-year-old Keightley, and one-month-old Corrie Mae have angels in heaven. I’m not sure whether each is assigned one specific angel, or whether several are given responsibility… but these angels constantly see the face of God.

‘So you want to be great? Change; humble yourself; be like this child. Blessed are those who welcome the children… and woe to those who cause them to stumble. When you come to Me and trust Me like this child, you, too, become My little one.’

Jesus defines the ‘little ones’ as ‘those who believe in Me,’ so it is not just children who are assigned angels. God is constantly watching over His ‘little ones.’ With one word or nod or raising of an eyebrow, the Creator can dispatch His powerful servants to assist His children. The angels are at His beck and call… and they know how much the Father loves us.

Here are a few takeaways:

  • Don’t despise God’s ‘little ones.’
  • Welcome the children in Jesus’ name.
  • Never, ever, ever cause a ‘little one’ to stumble.
  • Humble yourself, believe in Jesus, and be a ‘little one.’
  • Thank God for angels.

“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14

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triumph

Posted on October 28, 2021 by Dana

“I think this might be the definition of pure joy,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said in a postgame interview after the Atlanta Braves defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the National League pennant. Thousands celebrated the victory well into the early morning hours as the Braves return to the World Series for the first time since 1999.

meemawpeepawThe celebration of a new baby seems to be at a different level. Kinsey said the joy after Corrie Mae was born is ‘indescribable.’ Seeing pictures of my parents holding their newest great-grandchild brings joy to my heart.

keightleyCorrie Mae’s big sister Keightley also experienced joy this week.  She celebrated her third birthday.

But there’s a much greater joy coming: “Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’” (I Corinthians 15:51-54)

This is the triumph of Jesus: “Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For He must reign until He puts all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (I Corinthians 15:24-26)

This triumph is closer than ever… and all who trust in Jesus will experience pure joy: “Therefore, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (I Corinthians 15:58)

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

“Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thessalonians 4:13 -5:11

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weakness

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Dana

“I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)

Tongues of fire, signs and wonders, healings and miracles, convicted hearts, changed lives… these things took place as the promised Holy Spirit came in power. People turned from their sins and boldly declared the love of God and the majesty of Jesus. Believers sold their possessions and gave to those in need, totally trusting their God, the ‘Father of heavenly lights.’

We need for the same power to flow today… for the goodness of God to be realized, for the love of the Creator to be understood, and for salvation to be gained through faith in Jesus Christ. Our Father ‘is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.’ ‘He does not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.’ His power is for His children, and it is ‘the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead.’

Our all-wise Father sometimes reveals His power through a mysterious avenue, though. The Son of God embraced ‘weakness’ to fulfill His mission, and the apostles accepted the same cup. “He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him…” (II Corinthians 13:4)

‘Lord, won’t You remove this thorn from my flesh?’ Paul pleaded. “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’” (II Corinthians 12:9) How does ‘weakness’ fit with tongues of fire, signs and wonders, and healings and miracles?

No one walked more powerfully in the Spirit than Jesus of Nazareth, but despite His miraculous works, most rejected Him. Mankind was messed up… and it still is. Jesus knew that complete surrender to His Father is necessary, and that the Father chooses humility to reveal Himself. He chose Moses, the most humble man on earth, to deliver the children of Israel from slavery. A much mightier Deliverer has saved the world from sin… the ‘meek and lowly’ Jesus. He invites us to follow. ‘I have placed My power within you, but do not despise weakness. And remember: My Father’s ways are perfect.’

Jesus appeared to Saul of Tarsus and blinded him on the road to Damascus. Through a believer named Ananias, he was healed, filled with the Holy Spirit, baptized in water, and commissioned to be God’s messenger to the Gentiles. With a new name, Paul walked in the power of the Spirit and boldly proclaimed the Gospel. But he also embraced weakness, accepting his Savior’s path. Jesus is the Way…

“I want to know Christ — yes, to know the power of the resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11

“I pray 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 His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms…” Ephesians 1:18-20

“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27

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power

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Dana

johnSusan and I went to South Alabama this past weekend to watch John win his next-to-the-last home football game. Gone is the softness from his early years; now John is a solid senior athlete… who still enjoys a big breakfast at Cracker Barrel.

‘Power’ is an important gift for the child of God, but it is much different than the ‘power’ exerted on the athletic field or wrestling mat. “God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’ let His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (II Corinthians 4:6-7)

God’s power transcends any rival, and it does not come from the weight room or training field. The power is seen in the ‘light’ God shines in our hearts which results in ‘the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.’ When we turn to the Lord and experience His freedom, we see the ‘Lord’s glory’ and are ‘transformed into His image.’ (see II Corinthians 4:16-18). This is true power… and Paul is careful to explain it ‘is from God and not from us.’

God wants us know His power, to believe in His power, and to let His power in us impact the world. Notice the use of this word in Paul’s famous prayer below. Praise God for the ‘treasure’ He has placed in these ‘jars of clay.’

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, 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. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21

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basics

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Dana

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42

Just as Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit and did what He saw His Father doing and taught what His Father instructed Him to say, so the apostles relied on the same Spirit to teach and do Christ’s mighty works. Just as the Scripture Jesus quoted was from what we call the Old Testament, so the apostles read the same written Word for revelation and understanding.

‘You are My witnesses, and the Holy Spirit will enable you to walk in My steps. You do not need to worry when you are opposed; the Spirit will show you what to say. I am always with You. What I taught, you are to teach; as I healed, you are to heal; as I loved, you are to love. Because I live, you live. I am in My Father; you are in Me; I am in you.’

The early disciples did not always live perfectly or understand fully, but they were faithful. The Holy Spirit empowered several to record their experiences, teachings, struggles, and instructions for holy living. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John recorded the story of Jesus. These inspired writings are what we call the New Testament and they give us revelation and understanding.

Jesus was the Good News of the apostles; He was their ‘first love.’ The Messiah had come; the prophecies had been fulfilled; the Kingdom of God was at hand. The Son of God died for the sins of the world; He was buried in a borrowed tomb; He was raised to life on the third day. God wants all Jews and all Gentiles to be saved by His grace through faith in Christ Jesus.

The Father, Son, and Spirit want all who have found life in Jesus to be ‘one’ as they are ‘One.’ As we live in Christ, the fruit of the Spirit will be apparent in our lives… and ‘love’ is the greatest. Our Master wants His love to rule the day… love for one another, love for our neighbor, love for the broken, love for the foreigner, and even love for our enemies. Jesus wants us to live in fellowship with Him and one another as we trust and obey Him. He wants us to remember and He wants the world to know He is coming again.

Sometimes it is good to remember the basics.

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

“For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.” Hebrews 4:12-13

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” John 17:20-21

“My command is this: love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12

“But do not forget one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.” II Peter 3:8-10

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