"In The Year That...I Saw The Lord"

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord...." (Isaiah 6:1a)

This is the only reality for survival.  In the death of someone we love, someone who has been very important to us, someone upon whom we so depended, the great "provision" of our Lord Jesus Christ is, "I saw the Lord."  If one cannot say, "I saw the Lord," they are on their own.  Scary.

When Stephen died, there was a very real sense in which, "I saw the Lord."  And, I "heard" the Lord.  The key here is, "the Lord."  Everything and everyone will be taken from us sooner or later, but, "the Word of the Lord endures forever," the very, "Word of God," Who is Jesus Christ, "And He shall reign forever and ever"-------- FOREVER.  If one is looking for victory in life, victory as Peter describes, "to an inheritance imperishable and...that does not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you," it is only found in, "I saw the Lord."

Jesus tells us, "Because I live, you will live also"--------FOREVER.  Jesus is our Life in "this life," and will continue to be our Life eternally.  Whatever "else" there will be in the Eternal Realm, we do know that we will be, as the old song says, "Harbored in Jesus."  Yes, in life's tragedies there is heartache, pain, loneliness, even despair can overtake us at times.  But if you and I can say, "In the year that (some person, a dream, plans) died, I saw the Lord," we are candidates for, "Death is swallowed up in victory."

Father, in Jesus' Name, by the empowering Holy Spirit and Your Words, I trust that whatever is, "in the year that..," I overcome.  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

Will You Sign This "Agreement"?

"And those who know Your Name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord have not forsaken those who seek You."  (Psalm 9:10)

It may seem at times in your life that this is not so--- but it is only a "seems."

When trouble, anguish, sorrow, "doubts and fears assail," when everything about life seems to argue against our text, it is then we must hold fast to and confess out loud these Words, "For You, Lord have not forsaken those who seek You."  This is an act of believing, "The Word of God," Jesus, rather than all other words or circumstances.

Many of the Psalms are what we could call confessional Psalms.  The psalmists in these Psalms are not necessarily asking for something, or lamenting their lives, or calling for the rebuke of the enemy.  It is what the Hebrew writer calls us all to, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He Who promised is faithful."  You probably know that the Word translated, "confession," is from a root Word which means, "to say the same thing."  It also means, "an agreement, a covenant," among the Followers of Jesus that we will believe, obey, act upon His Words, literally, to the death.

Here is a great "New Year's Resolution:"  No matter what this year brings our way, we, as the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, covenant together that we will always say the same things which Jesus Christ has already said, and in the Holy Spirit is still saying within us.  I call all of the Church who are reading this to ask and declare, "Where do we sign?!?"

Father, in Jesus' Name, by the power of Holy Spirit I pray that my friend and I will covenant together to always, "say (and think) the same thing," You say.  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

NASA' "Discovery"

"Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth.  Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling."  (Psalm 2:10, 11)

I'm using a different for this quarter's reading.  The introduction to the Book of Psalms is quite noteworthy.  "The Book of Psalms...explores the full range of human experience in a very personal and practical way....The tremendous breadth of subject matter in the Psalms includes diverse topics, such as jubilation, war, peace, worship, judgment, messianic prophecy, praise, and lament....[It] served as the Temple hymnbook....It became known as Sepher Tehillim--'Book of Praises'-- because almost every psalm contains some note of praise to God."

Our text is a warning to NASA scientists, and the pseudo-scientists in the world.  They have been celebrating a "flyby" of some previously unknown celestial body.  An article read, "NASA rang in the New Year on Tuesday with a historic flyby of the farthest, and quite possibly the oldest, cosmic body ever explored by humankind...in the hopes of learning more about how planets took shape."  I could have saved them a lot of money.  Yes, personally I am all for the exploration of space, to discover more and more the wonders of Jesus, not some, "the fool has said in his heart," search.

At this beginning of another time/space year, I encourage you to continue to get most of your information, learning, praise-source in the, "God-Breathed," Words of our Lord Jesus Christ.  What we "discover" in Jesus is infinitely more full of "awe-struck wonder" than anything coming out of NASA.  If you consider the vast range of "topics" covered just in the Book of Psalms, we realize that the Living Triune God has provided all we need for navigating this sojourn.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I glory in You 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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....On The Last Day"

"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."  (Jesus)

We are about to see the close of another year in humanity's calendar.  "The Eternal One" has no such calendar.  Jesus' "calendar" is Eternity.

You and I "stepped" into this dimension when we surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ.  There is a very real sense that in that moment we left the constraint of this time/space world.  We traded lounge chairs, office chairs, for, "seated...in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."  Earth-bound is no longer our M. O.  Heaven-bound is.  

What a battle it is in this present age to keep this reality in mind.  Everything around us attempts to deny our, "seated...in...Christ Jesus," the aging process, the chaos in the world, the daily "surprises" of life.  Yet in spite of the "battle," there is the cry from the Cross, "It is finished", a cry which is the seal of, "I Myself will raise him up on the last day", that glorious, "Day," when it will be fulfilled, "The last enemy that shall be destroy is death." 

This is all finished in the Eternal Realm, you know.  We are just awaiting for this time/space existence to catch.  "Happy New Year" gives way to, Happy Eternity.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You so much for Your Words which keep 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