I Had A Most Unusual Experience Today

"In the Lord I put my trust..."  (Psalm 11:1a)

Our text is the first thing I read this morning.  What can be more fundamental to one who loves Jesus than this great declaration of the faith?  It was at once a very familiar statement and a very deep reminder as to just where and in Whom is my life, my provision, my Everything.  But something else, something very powerful then happened.

It was an experience which may be a little difficult to share, but I will try.  When I read, "In the Lord I put my trust," for some reason I looked out the window, saw the leaves falling, wind blowing. All of a sudden I had a flash back of my life, I mean my whole life, from as early as I could remember until now.  It sorrowfully reminded me of just how much of my life had not been, "In the Lord I put my trust."  I thought of the rebellion over the years against Jesus as Lord, for the most part a "subtle" rebellion, not overt as much as covert, but nonetheless rebellion.  Outwardly I seemed quite the average child, teenager, clean-cut, not getting into any trouble with the law, not complaining about going to church services 4 times on a Sunday, etc. But you know as well as I, all of that can just be a cover for "runs-his-own-life."  I can remember once that Jesus showed me I had a genius of obeying what I wanted to obey, and not obeying what I didn't want to obey; it was a frightful awakening. That is nothing but deception.  No person can say, "Jesus Christ is Lord," and live like that.  While looking out the window and reflecting on my life, a wave of "lostness" swept over me.

Then I came back to my reading of the subsequent Psalms, 11-15.  It was as though I was having a vision of being "jerked" back and forth from a life without Jesus to a life in Jesus, from a lonely, empty life to a Life of peace, joy, and unspeakable comfort.  The "God-Breathed" Word was doing this, a life on your own, or a life on His Own.  It was pretty frightful, while a very powerful reminder of just What/Whom we have in Jesus, and what/whom we have and don't have out of Jesus.  I have never experienced anything like it before.  The reality of it all was one of the most powerful "experiences" I have ever had. 

The mind will take us to places of despair over those times in our life when we were on our own, running our life our way.  Yet, as Jesus would have it, my Wisdom Literature reading today was in Proverbs 3, "My son, do not forget (could we also say, 'Do not neglect') my law/(Word), but let your heart keep my commands/(Words)....Peace they will add peace to you....Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;..and He shall direct your paths."  How this "jumped out at me this morning, "Peace they will add to you."  What an absolutely powerful "Breath of fresh air," His "breathed" Word to one in, "the fear of the Lord."  

Look out the window, or look to Jesus.  Look out the window or look to His Words.  Our peace and joy will be determined by our "look."  I regret that I cannot relate to you this most powerful encounter.  But I can tell you that it was as though when I looked out the window into my past, I was off oxygen.  When I looked back to His Words, I was on oxygen, aka, His Breath.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me today to walk/live in what You have shown me.  Amen.

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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"The gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh"

"It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."  (Daniel 2:11)

"....the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."  This belief is common among the world's religions.  What the Chaldeans said of, "the gods," is true of Allah, true of all the gods of all the religions of man.  This is the reason depression, along with fear and despair, rules in the hearts of most people today.  Their god, "is not with flesh"; therefore, they can do nothing for them.  Yet Daniel said in effect to those whose gods were not with them, as he would say to all today, That may be true of, "the gods," but not of The God, my God.

"The Alpha and Omega," the One Who calls Himself, "I Am", the Living Triune God, revealed in Jesus, is not only, "with flesh," He is in the flesh of all Who have surrendered their lives to Him.  He is Jesus, Immanuel, "God with us."  He is our, "very present help in trouble."  Do you see today the most wonderful news of all?  He Whom no one had seen, revealed Himself in Jesus of Nazareth, "the carpenter's son."  Now, right there where you are and here with me, is the Blessed Trinity, the Living Triune God, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.  And of what does He remind you and me today?  "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You are not of, "the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."  Reign in me today.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"....The Number of Names...."

"And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,..."  (Acts 1:15)

Going through Acts again.  I have noticed something about the Book of Acts.  It tells us of the "super stars" of the faith, but very little is said about the "average" Church member, the person like you and me who love Jesus, go about our daily lives, many of us going to places of employment, raising children, enjoying grandchildren, paying bills.  There is a phenomenon in modern Christendom among the "super stars," however, which subtly (or not so subtly) leads people to believe that all Believers in the Early Church were running all over the "Empire," preaching every day, on endless "mission trips," seeing multitudes saved, healed, demons cast out, called to go to a centurion's house, etc.  I have no proof, but I sense that was not the case.

Then we go through the "post persecution" centuries of the Church, the Middle Ages.  Of course there were groups of those who saw the Church straying from its Biblical roots, prophesied to the Church, and were subsequently persecuted.  Then there was the Reformation, which ushered in a whole new era in Christendom, viz., more and more division.  What are we to make of all this? What was the daily life like for the "average" Follower of Jesus?  Perhaps it was not unlike ours. Now I know some would say, "Well, we need to get our act together and see people, 'added to the church daily,' and meeting together every day, and attend more conferences, and...." 

Until then, we live for Jesus; obey His commands; "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."  Pray and live, "Thy Kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven."  And keep our eyes and hearts open to humanity around us.  We pray for and look for the opportunities to serve Jesus to them.  I'm sure, "the number of names," which are not mentioned in our text, "the number of names," of the people in Colossae, Thessoloniki, Philippi, were not a whole lot unlike you and me, humble folk, going about daily life, walking in Jesus, "The Light of the World," Who said to you and me, "You are the salt of the earth....You are the light of the world."  So do.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I don't want to conform to the image of the "super stars," just, "conformed to the image of [Your] Son," Jesus.  Amen.

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Obama's State Department rips on PM Netanyahu's speech at the UN: jhs58.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"Breakfast By The Sea"

"Then Jesus said to them, 'Children, have you any food?'"  (John 21:5)

This is the question of the Blessed Trinity to humanity.  It's rhetorical.  

Remember when Peter first encountered Jesus?  Jesus had been teaching many people from Peter's boat, and afterward told Peter to, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."  Peter responded, "Master, we have toiled (or, "worked hard") all night and caught nothing."  Now our text finds us with the same personages after more than three years, the miracles, the loving forgiveness, receiving sinners and eating with them, after the many dinner parties, Gethsemane, the cross, the grave, and the resurrection.  Only now Peter and his friends were at fishing again, and again, "that night they caught nothing."  Then Jesus appeared to them again, yes, in a little different manner than the first fishing expedition, but nonetheless, Jesus.  This time, however, and yet again after they had failed at their trade, Jesus had prepared for them, as the NKJV titles this section, "Breakfast by the Sea"--------- Jesus, always providing. 

The sad reality of global humanity is, "we have toiled all night and caught nothing."  This is true of me; this is true of you; this is true of every human being who has lived since The Fall. Working, laboring, worrying, conniving, some hitting the lottery only to go broke, others inheriting millions, yet the indictment is still the same, never changing, "we have caught nothing."  Yet it need not be.  Every morning can be "Breakfast by the Sea" with and in Jesus. While we were still sleeping, He of Whom it is written, "He Who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep," is keeping you and me, "preparing" all we need for the coming day-- week-- month-- year------- Eternity. 

Because Jesus lives in those Who, "follow the Lamb wherever He goes," we have constant sustenance, constant supply, constant everything.  There are many today who profess Jesus only to be still of those who, "worked hard all night and caught nothing."  Surrender is the key. Surrender to Jesus is the only why you and I can walk in His wonderful, constant, never- ending daily provision.  In Luke 5, Jesus "helped" the men to catch the fish.  In John 21, Jesus "caught" it, prepared it, and invited them simply to, as the KJV says, "Come and dine."  Since the, "It is finished," of the cross, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, never again need we say that we have, "worked hard all night and caught nothing."  Just get out of our boat and go to Jesus. 

Father, in Jesus' Name, how You work is still a marvel to me.  Amen.

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Netanyahu speaks truth to the UN, Plus another great article by Carolyn Glick at: jhs58.blogspot.com  

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"These Words Are"............

"Then he said to me, 'These words are faithful and true.'" (Revelation 22:6)

If a person does not believe this and live on it, he is "of all men most miserable."  This is the last chapter of the Bible.  This is a reminder that all I have read over the past three months is, "faithful and true," not just the Book of Revelation.  This is a reminder that no matter what any of us goes through in life, "These words are faithful and true." 

It is the purpose of the vast majority of universities and grad. schools to undermine, "These words are faithful and true"; they are just stooges of the Enemy.  It is the purpose of those family members and so-called "friends" who harass you, make fun of you ostracize you to make you doubt, "These words are faithful and true."  But I think and pray better of and for you.

All who doubt and do not base their lives upon, "These words are faithful and true," are doomed to depression and defeat in life.  No one on the planet can prosper unless he/she believes, affirms, battles the Enemy for, "These words are faithful and true."  Perhaps people should print out a very neat statement and put it on the outside of their Bibles, "These words are faith and true."  Okay, maybe I've quoted our text enough for now---------------- maybe not.

Father, in Jesus' Name,  Your Words are, "faithful and true," because You are, "Faithful and True."  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2