from: Sherwood Barnette

Hello sherwoodbarnett


http://empitur.com/body.php?various=6gmm6cpps5u0n



Sherwood Barnette

Sent from my iPhone

Correction

I just had to send a correction in today's devotional.  I referred to, "bear his cross."  But I noticed that I spelled it "bare" embarrassingly too many times.  Duh-- Duffus r us.


Woody, your imperfect servant of Jesus Christ

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

Whose "Cross" Is It, Anyway?!?

"Now great multitudes went with Him.  And He turned and said to them, 'If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.  And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.'"  (From today's Gospel reading, Luke 14:25-27)

"....bear his cross," here is, "bear His cross."

Our, " cross," is not our suffering; it's nothing other than the Cross of Jesus.  We must never, ever confuse this.  Do not be cliche in your walk in Jesus.  You know as well as I that most of the time when people say, "Well, it's just the cross I have to bare," it is a "disconnected cross."  The cross you and I are to, "take up," is Jesus' Cross, no more , no less. 

The context of, "bear his cross," is Jesus' command to forsake all to follow Him.  Nothing can rule in my life but Jesus Christ, loyalty to Jesus, His Church, His Kingdom.  According to verse 26, such surrender, such obedience, such a life style of bearing the Cross of Jesus will seem to others like a hatred for all else, everyone.  The emphasis here, however, is not "hatred" of others, but love, surrender, total identity and obedience to Jesus.  Our text speaks of identity with/in Jesus, not my identity, nor discovering myself, nor attempting to figure out myself, nor my pain and suffering, whatever form it may take.  Besides, isn't it, "Take My yoke upon you"?  If it is "my cross," it is more than I can bare, heavy, a burden which will ultimately destroy me.  Ah, but if I bare the Cross of Jesus, I triumph over, "the principalities and power that were ranged against us."  And unmistakably, I do this only because Jesus, "disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in [the cross]" (Col. 2, Amplified Bible). 

If I withdraw into some "cross" theology that sees me pitted against the world, against life, a "woe-is-me" cross, then nothing but a self-serving, self pity life manifests.  But if, on the other hand, my cross is Jesus' cross, then victory is mine;  We are, "the light of the world," and, "salt of the earth."  If your "'cross' is more than I can bare," then I invite you to consider this:  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]  Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed (quiet) for your souls.  For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good-- not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne" (Matthew 11:28-30, Amplified Bible).  If this does not "resonate" with us today, we desperately need a spiritual health check.  Personally, I'm good to "consider" these things today.  "In the Cross of Christ I glory, Towering o're the wrecks of time."

Father, in Jesus' Name, You have just spoken so much to me in Your Words.  I pray they are mine.  Amen.
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* Please remember to pray for Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech before the US Congress, March 3, as well as the Israeli Election, March 25.
* New articles at:   jhs58.blogspot.com
* March Mission, March 9-31-- If you would like to contribute to this mission, let us know.

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

A Call To "Hush"

"Be silent in the presence of the Lord God; for the day of the Lord is at hand, for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests."  (Zephaniah 1:7)

The NASB says, "Hush! before the Lord God....He has consecrated His guests."  And notice that the call to, "Hush!" is the ever-so-much-closer, "day of the Lord."  The Amplified Bible says, ""[Hush!] Be silent before the Lord God, for the day [of the vengeance] of the Lord is near; for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, and He has set apart [for His use] those who have accepted His invitation."

The phrase, "the day of the Lord," is used 19 times in the Old Testament and 4 times in the New Testament.  There is a sense of a "day" of judgment, of reckoning in the phrase.  It speaks also of the Second Appearing of Jesus.  Some believe, furthermore, that it is more than a "day," but a "season" when The Living Triune God Himself will set aside the "works of man," and manifest just Who is in charge (my phrasing).

It isn't often I share from my "Minor (only because of their length, not importance) Prophets, but there is for me a certain sense of urgency in our text today.  Christendom has always produced great "talkers," and no more than today.  We call some of them preachers, teachers, but there are some Christians who just think that the more they talk, the more people will listen, the more they will convince themselves of what they speak, or some other such thing.  I heard very soberingly today, "Hush! Be silent in the presence of the Lord God."  You and I do not know the exactness of, "for the Lord has prepared a sacrifice," and should not speculate endlessly on what that may mean.  For me, it is enough that we are, "invited...guests," and that Jesus, "has set apart (consecrated) His guests."  Notice, "guests."  Treat Him as the "Owner."

Anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear knows that these are "accelerated" days.  The prophetic timetable is moving at an ever increasing speed.  Be prepared by being in, "relying on, and clinging to," and abiding in Jesus and His Words.  We are going to see more and more just how empty is religious talk, even of those whom so many have followed, admired, even worshipped.  Their words will be empty words; their cliche talk, company words and company songs will no longer strike a beautiful "chord," but rather a dissonant one.

Allow for times of "Hush!" in reading of, "the Words of God," in prayer/communion with and in Jesus, in worship, in, well, everything in our daily lives.  When we have a "spirit" of, "Hush!" we will be so much better to hear, see------------ and speak.  "Hush!"  What a word for you and me.  "Hush!" my child, and you will hear--
Jesus.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I don't fully grasp our text, but please write Your Words in my heart.  Amen.
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* Please join me in praying for Prime Minister Netanyahu and his visit to the US.
* Please do not forget to prayer for our March Mission, March 9-31.

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 "Word of God" Cannot Be "Burned"

"Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe's knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire.  The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes."  (Jeremiah 36:23, 24--NIV)

This does not work no matter who attempts it.  People and governments have tried and failed miserably. 

People have been trying to, "cut them off," and throw them, "into the firepot, untill the entire scroll was burned in the fire," but no luck.  The Word of God is not print on a page; therefore, haters of the Word of God, why don't you give up?!?  Jesus and His Words just keep "coming back" and "coming back."

As in Jeremiah's day, so it has been throughout history.  The Holy Spirit, Bringer of the Word of God, Who is Jesus Christ, into the hearts of men, will just keep giving and imparting Jesus' Words.  By now some have quit reading because it sounds like my "same old story."  It is.  And it is, indeed, an old story, as Micah says, "from days of Eternity."

As you and I build our lives on and in Jesus Christ, as we do as Jesus tells us in the Gospels, build our lives on and in Jesus, they can do to us what they have down to our Family throughout history right to this very moment, and what they continually attempt to do to the Words of God, "cut them off...and thr[o]w them into the firepot.  The king and all of his attendants who heard all these words," and who, "showed no fear," just as the US Government in 1962 and 1963.  No matter; we are still here; the Church is still here; the Kingdom is still here, and all because of our underpinning, Who is Jesus Christ.  In Jesus, you and I cannot be destroyed today----------- ever!

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for your indestructible Word/s.  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 "Mundanes" of Life

"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." (Psalm 118:8)

This is so fundamental, so central, so unneeded-to-be-stated in our walk in Jesus that too often we minimize, "in man."

Well, we have had quite a 12 hour period here.  The electricity went out around 01:30 which meant that our furnace also went out.  Our main concern was Sarah's Mom; she'll be 94 in June.  She was up and wondering around in the dark and cold.  I was glad I went over to check on her.  She had dining room chairs moved around, phone off the hook.  I just stayed over there the rest of the night.  We learned that when the electricity came on in our area, every house said, "I want heat, and I want it now."  It put such a drain on the gas lines in the neighborhood that the gas pressure went way down---- too much demand on the system.  We are just thankful for, "in man," who showed up.  Yes, preachers always find a life lesson.

I think too many people apply an "either or" to our text.  None of us who follow Jesus would deny our text.  This is fundamental truth for living.  Of course, the first thing I did in the we hours of the morning when the electricity went out was to call the electric company.  When I discovered that the gas furnace was not working, you guessed it, I called the gas company.  I repeat, "the first thing I did."  Now, of course, I "brought it to the Lord;" it was one of my deeper prayers, "Help."  But while you and I do not need someone to tell us our text, I think it is also a good lesson in the value of others, viz., "in man."  I had no control over our plight, nor did I have the ability to fix any of the problems.  The furnace guy who came had both.  Now there is no doubt that the Lord could have "performed a miracle," and most televangelists would talk in those terms.  The fact is, Jesus ordained this life in such a way that while our, "trust," and, "confidence," is in Jesus Christ and His Words, my life is not an island.  Jesus' teaching on the Church, the Epistles, indeed, all of Scripture reveals that we were created to need each other, "It is not good that man should be alone," is more than a "creation" statement.  It is a life statement.

My "word" for us today is that we do not despise some of what we too often call "the mundane" aspects of our lives.  The people who fixed our problem were not "prophets," or "apostles," etc.  They were, "in man,"-------- just like you and me.  Quite honestly, I think there is a very similar theology to, "It is not good that man should be alone," in regard to a man and a woman, as well as the Church, even humanity at large (I could develop this further). Appreciate others.  Be kind to others.  Thank others, whether in your family, grocery store, fellow worker, maybe even political people.  Yes, it is foundational to life to, "trust in the Lord," Jesus Christ.  Yet sometimes I fear such is quoted, not in humility, but in pride.  "I don't need anybody but God" is many times just an egotistical presumption.  To all I say, Yes we do.  It is the way the Blessed Trinity ordained life.

Father, in Jesus' Name, what seems to be so "trivial" is really very important.  Help me to know the difference------------- always.  Amen
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Giuliani is right about Obama.  Read article 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