An Impossibility

"But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony (birth pains) of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held (by it) in its power."  (Acts 2:24, NASB)

What a great impossibility!

The year 2016 is not getting off to a good start.  As I write this, the US Dow is down 400 points, Hamas and Fatah have declared 2016 to be a year of even more violence and death to Jews; and the American political scene?  I say to you, as I say to all:  If you want consistent Good News, read the Bible.  The Words of God transcend human plans, decisions, and flippancy towards Jesus Christ, His Church, His Kingdom.  "Jesus shall reign where er' the sun does is successive journey run."  And our text of January 2 declares that you and I in Jesus Christ are a People of, "impossible for [us] to be held in [death's] power." 

"It was impossible...."  There you have it, one of life's impossibilities.  The power of death just could not hold our Lord Jesus Christ.  Neither can death "hold" you and me.  If we are in Jesus and Jesus ruling in us, the power of the "prince of darkness grim" has no power over us.  Those whom we know who have departed this life and whose bodies lie in graves all over the world are just waiting until the trumpet sounds.  There should be no fear of death in the person in whom Jesus Christ lives.  Jesus has promised, "Because I live, you shall live also." 

You and I are People of, "the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His Word...."  The promises of the Blessed Trinity are, "before time began," and they are after time ceases.  Jesus' Words are as He is, The Eternal One.  You and I and no one else can say for sure what 2016 will bring, but since we do know that since, "It was impossible for Him to be held in [death's] power," so it is impossible for death to hold us, "in its power."  Those who do not receive this will always be in fear and succumb to, "....principalities,.. powers,..the rulers of the darkness of this age,.. the spiritual hosts of wickedness...."  Those who believe, however, that, "It was impossible for Him to be held in its power," will be those who manifest to those around them, "light of the world," and, "salt of the earth."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that when You rose from the dead, so did I.  Amen.
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Will send a note about this year's Berlin Mission

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

"And I Hope You Come Back Soon"

"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me....And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'  And let him who hears say, 'Come!'...Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"

While praying before our meal yesterday, our soon-to-be 5 year old prayed, "and I hope you come back soon."  I close 2015 sharing those great words with you.

And if there are any who read our text and are tempted to think, "Well, it has not been, 'quickly.' It's been 2000 years," I say, That is very (excuse me) dumb reasoning.  "....With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."  Those who mock at this response just reveal what "manner of spirit" they are of.  People of Jesus think in Jesus' terms, His Heart, His Mind.  We don't think and reason as do others.  When we find ourselves so tempted, we need to repent and confess that we were foolish to think as the unregenerate.  "Deliver us from the evil one," is a great prayer to pray every day.  Otherwise, his "reasonings" will destroy us.

I pray that this coming year will find us as the People of Jesus Christ who have His Heart, a people continually praying and believing the request of our granddaughter, "and I hope you come back soon." 

"Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"  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

"Praise Him"!!

"Praise the Lord....Praise Him." (From the last 5 Psalms)

It is always interesting to me that the last of the Psalms readings ends with "nonstop" praise.  "Praise the Lord....Praise the Lord....Praise the Lord....Praise the Lord," followed by, "Praise Him.... Praise Him....Praise Him....Praise Him."  So, I guess the only follow up is, "Just do it."

I sometimes wonder if what is going on, while praying in my spirit in the Holy Spirit, is another version of, "Praise the Lord....Praise Him."  Perhaps I am just joining the Heavenly Choir, the angels, the saints of the ages.  After all, when we read the New Testament "Book of Psalms," viz., the Book of Revelation, we read a great deal of praise.

So, why don't we make a renewed commitment for 2016 to participate more and more in the praise of Heaven?  Yes, we will continue to intercede, petition, make supplications, etc., but in and through it all we, "Praise the Lord....Praise Him."  And since there is only One Lord of the Universe, we say, "Praise the Lord Jesus Christ....Praise Jesus," Word of Father, Who moves in the earth today in the Holy Spirit.  In the words of the great liturgies, "Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below; praise Him, above ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Amen." And, "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.  As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen, Amen."               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

"Beyond The Sunset"

"How shall we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land?" (Psalm 137:4)

I pray you are enjoying the Christmas Season with family and friends.  It is just so good to be together.  Of course at this season we all miss those who used to be around the table.

Our text is about the Jews taken into captivity, taken from their homes and, even some of them, from family.  They were where they did not want to be.  But then they reminded themselves that there is always hope in the Lord God.  "If I forget...," in the following verse indicated that instead of giving up on what they had, they should remember that better days were ahead, no matter how long the wait might be.

There are also better days for all of us.  "This world is not my home," the song writer penned, "I'm just a passing through, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.  The angels beacon me from Heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world any more."  No, this is not "escapism."  This is reality, the same reality I saw in my grandpa's face when he left this "home" and went "somewhere beyond the blue."  What a wonderful heritage to have parents and grandparents, as well as many other faithful among the saints, who could, "sing the Lord's song in a foreign land".

By in large, modern Christendom has allowed itself to reject talk of, "This world is not my home."  The cynics, in the world and in Christendom, have mocked those who still look to "the other side," as my Grandpa saw.  They are the same as the mockers of those Jews who spoke of Jerusalem as their home.  "Get over it.  It is just a dream; it's gone.  Adapt yourselves to Babylon and be of some good here.  Stop living in a dream world."  Sound familiar?  (Actually, I think some of this today is driven by religious leaders who just want to keep you so busy "here," keeping their "work" going.)  The words may be different, but the heart of the cynic is the same------ the attempt to destroy hope in Jesus, to destroy, "the faith of Jesus," which says, "In My Father's house are many mansions....I go to prepare a place for you."  Do not allow them to prevail!

Sarah's Mom will be 95 in June.  She has taken to humming and singing.  As I was in her place last night, she starting singing, "Beyond the Sunset."  She is very forgetful about so many things, but apparently she still has embedded in her heart who she is in Jesus.  I only pray the same has gone as deep in you and me.

"Beyond the sunset, O blissful morning,

When with our Savior Heaven's begun.

Earth's tolling ended, O glorious dawning

Beyond the sunset when day is done." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You for all You have gone, "to prepare a place for [me]."  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