"All People Walk...In The Name of his god."

"For all people walk each in the name of his god, but we will walk in the Name of the Lord our God forever and ever." (Micah 4:5)

This is akin to that great Pauline passage, "....We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.  For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things, and through whom we live."

These, "gods," are not necessarily "third world" gods.  Gods of "first world" countries are those things to which we have given our lives, which dominate our thinking and actions, our investment and energy.  In other words, that which is lord over us.  I watched this at work in DC the last two days.  Contrast, "the Father,..and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things, and through Whom we live."  This is the One True God, "....through Whom we live."

I trust that you are of the, "yet for us," group.  And it is indeed a contrast, how we think, how we live, choices we make.  Every day we have the opportunity to say and live, "yet for us."

Father, in Jesus' Name, You are my, "yet for us."  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"He Is Going Ahead Of You"

"You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.  He has risen!  He is not here....He is going ahead of you...."  (Mark 16:6, NIV)

Some times we "look for" Jesus in the wrong places.  The Marys went to the tomb to "anoint" Jesus body.  That was all they knew to do.  But they were met with the response of the messenger, "He is not here."

We tend to "look for," or expect our Lord Jesus in the familiar "places."  But after the messenger told the women, "He is not here", he then told them, "He is going ahead of you"; in this case it was, "into Galilee."  But what about you and me?  Our Lord is always, "going ahead of you."  If our eyes and ears are open to Jesus, there is always a, "going ahead of you", for us. 

The remainder of this day, and every day, will bring opportunities to "see" Jesus, "going ahead of you."  While some of those "places" may not seem familiar, they are the safest, the most comforting, rewarding "places" to be.  Remember: "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also."

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me this day to see what, "going ahead of you," you have for me.  Amen.
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I will be in DC and on the ground of Camp David, February, 14-16.  Note the extra day.

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Do You Have A "Spain"?

"Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain." (Romans 15:28)

Paul also refers to going to Spain in verse 24, "....whenever I journey to Spain."  As far as I can tell, Paul never made it to Spain.  Do you have any "Spains" in your life?

To what/where have you "never made it?"  What is devastating for too many people are those things about which they were absolutely sure the Lord "spoke" to them, or those "words" given to them by some "prophet" which have never materialized.

Paul spoke twice in his epistle to the Romans of his plans to get to Spain.  Any look at a map shows how ambitious this was.  But, of course, we are talking of a man whose ambition was to literally, "go into all the world and preach the Gospel."  His intent was to get to the far reaches of the Empire.

A lesson from Paul here is to take note that he never seems to bemoan the fact that he didn't make it to Spain.  He obviously wanted to very much, but more than what he wanted to do was what Jesus had him do.  So, you have plans?  Fine.  Always remember, however, that Jesus teaches us to pray, "Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven."  Maybe "spain" is for someone else anyway.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me in planing and strategizing, but not in "finalizing."  Amen.
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* Planning to go to DC this Wednesday, February 14
* War in Israel:   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.'"

Hebrews 12:2