TRULY FREE

“If the Son sets you free,

you are truly free.”

John 8:36 NLT

~~~~~

Frances Scott Key witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships in Chesapeake Bay during the War of 1812. Two years later he wrote “The Star Spangled Banner.” By congressional resolution and signature by President Herbert Hoover it became our National Anthem in 1931. Though we usually only sing the first stanza, it has four – each ending with “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”

In 1832 Samuel Francis Smith wrote “My Country, 'Tis of Thee” commonly referred to as “America.” Though we normally only sing stanzas 1, 3-4 it has eight. Freedom and liberty are common themes in our patriotic songs. Liberty - referring to being free from foreign control, and having the ability to govern ourselves.

 Freedom was so highly valued by our forefathers that the First Amendment to the United States Constitution (enacted in 1791) addressed freedom of religion, speech, and the press, as well as the right to assemble and petition the government.

In our time some of those freedoms are being threatened. Special rights groups are attempting to pass laws which could deny Christians the freedom of publicly declaring their convictions which are deemed politically incorrect. Some are claiming freedoms and rights that end up denying the freedoms and rights of others. If this trend continues it could get downright scary.

However, the entire human race has always, and is now faced with a “freedom issue” which is more fundamental than any freedom which can be granted or denied by any civil government. The most far reaching, “freedom issue” is spiritual and has eternal consequences. When the first couple disobeyed God in Eden, they brought all humans under Satan’s rule – resulting in immediate spiritual death and eventual physical death for everyone. No military power is capable of overthrowing Satan’s rule of this world, nor is there anything we can do to free ourselves from Satan’s control. Only the sinless Son of God was able to break Satan’s’ rule over us by dying in our place and rising again. Only the risen Christ can set us free. Free not only from the consequences of sin, but also free to do the will of God. By faith in Him we are truly free no matter under what civil government we live.

Listen to:    HE SET ME FREE - Gaither Homecoming



HONORING FATHER

“Honor your father and mother.”

This is the first commandment

with a promise:”

Ephesians 6:2-3 NLT

~~~~~~

As a reader of this blog over time you have learned that I was the youngest in my family. My parents were in their 50’s when I came along, so the mental pictures I have of my Dad are images of an old man.

I remember him as an old gray haired man with a crippled right hand. In his sixties his hand was crushed when he tried to stop a water pump from sliding into the well. For some reason the doctor didn’t set the bones – he just sowed up the wound. Despite his handicap I remember my Father repairing barbwire fencing - plowing the vegetable garden with “Topsy” pulling a walk-behind single bottom plow. I see him peddling a large grinding wheel sharpening the blades on a sickle for the hay mower. He was always puttering around doing something. He never drove a car or tractor – horse drawn vehicles were his transportation.

My dad spoke a German dialect called Schwabish but virtually no English. He signed checks with an X. He never attended Public School, however he was able to read his German Bible which he most likely learned to do in German Sunday School Class.

I don’t remember my father having conversations with me that much or playing with me, but never the less he left a positive impression on me. He always prayed at every meal, and regularly led family devotions by reading a passage from his German Bible and leading in the singing of a hymn – after which everyone knelt and prayed out loud at the same time. He was faithful to see that his family attended church regularly. During testimony time at church I remember him often giving testimony of his faith in Christ. Though the words were pretty much the same every time – his sincerity could not be doubted.

The fifth commandment (to honor our parents) carries with it the promise of lifelong benefits. We honor them by obeying them - speaking well of them, and living a life that brings them joy and pride. Our parents are to be honored not only if they meet certain requirements, but simply because they have brought us into this world - giving us the gift of physical life and the opportunity to choose to serve God and spend eternity in heaven.

May we honor our fathers not only once a year but always – while they are alive and beyond - for as long as we live.



BLESSING MOTHER

“Her children stand and bless her.

Her husband praises her.”

Proverbs 31:28 NLT

~~~~~

A mother has a most intimate relationship with her children. In a normal pregnancy she carries the child for nine months where it is fearfully and wonderfully made. What she eats and drinks or does to her body has a positive or negative effect on the child. She delivers it with great pain and feeds it with her own milk. Providing for its needs and welfare consumes her life. In a normal situation she has the greatest influence on the formation of that young life.

I was the last of my mother’s eleven children. As the “baby” of the family, by a number of years, I got a lot of attention, and probably was a bit spoiled. All my childhood memories of my mother are very pleasant. I can actually see myself, as a youngster, cuddled up on her lap and feel the warmth of her comforting arms around me.

During my grade school years I can see her working in the garden - butchering chickens and dipping them in scalding water and plucking the feathers – sometimes I helped with the feathers. She was a wonderful cook. I always sat next to her at the dinner table. I can see her bent over the wash tub, scrubbing clothes on a scrub board. Though my mother was a very hard worker, I don’t remember her ever pushing me aside. She always seemed to have time for me.

I was the only one in the family who went to school beyond the eighth grade. Living on a farm 20 some miles from a High School required that I room and board in town. During those years I broke my mother’s heart by going the way of the world. In my mind I can still hear her weeping and pleading with the Lord for my salvation. At the age of 21 I accepted Christ as my Savior. Just a few years later when she was in her 80’s she went to be with the Lord. I am eternally grateful for her love and prayers. I am the only one left of her children, and as long as I live I will stand and bless her.

We please the Lord by blessing our mothers as we recall and give testimony to the blessing she has brought into our lives. I encourage you to take the opportunity to stand up for your mother and bless her now and always. Most likely there is no one who has impacted your life more than she has. Let her know how much you appreciate her while you have the opportunity.

HALLELUJAH! CHRIST AROSE!

“Father, if you are willing,

please take this cup

of suffering away from me.

Yet I want your will to be done,

not mine.”

Luke 22:42 NLT

~~~~~

When we read about early Christian martyrs being tortured for their faith in Christ, amazingly some of them sang praises to God and some even welcomed the flames that killed them. They wholeheartedly believed what Paul wrote, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Death held no fear for them. They knew Christ’s death assured them eternal life. Jesus taught, I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. (physical death) Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. (spiritual death – eternal separation from God.) As born again believers we can confidently face physical death because our Lord has suffered the spiritual death we deserve.

As Jesus approached the time of His crucifixion He said, “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.” The night He was betrayed He prayed in Gethsemane “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

Jesus struggled so profoundly at the thought of dying for our sins because it meant complete separation from His heavenly Father. It meant the fellowship - peace - joy - glory and fulfillment which He had enjoyed with His Father from all eternity would be cut off. He would be in utter darkness, completely removed from all light. No wonder Jesus cried out from the cross, My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? In absolute darkness – totally separated from His Father - He suffered the hell our sins deserve.

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. The Father was completely satisfied with the sacrifice of His sinless Son so on the third day after His death, having fully paid for our sins on the cross, He raised Him from the dead.

“Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!”
-- Robert Lowry

Listen to  RESURRECTION  - Guy Penrod

USING GOD’S GIFTS WELL

“To those who use well

what they are given,

even more will be given,

and they will have an abundance.

But from those who do nothing,

even what little they have

will be taken away.”

Matthew 25:29 NLT

~~~~~~

This verse comes after the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids and the parable of the Three Servants which set the scene for the Final Judgment all of us are going to face some day. The point is there is no way of knowing when that day will come, nor will it be possible for us to make preparations once the day has arrived.

Ever since God has put people on this planet, He has given them gifts of ability, opportunity, and privilege along with the responsibility to use well what they are given. To use those gifts in a God honoring way results in getting more abilities, opportunities, and privileges which keep on growing and developing as we serve the Lord.

To neglect God’s gifts and not put them to use in this life will bring unimaginable tragic results – all abilities, opportunities, and privilege to know and serve God will be taken away, and those people will be cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This kind of language is only used of people who refuse to put their trust in Jesus. Since God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. Not to make use of the gift of salvation through Christ cancels out all other eternal gifts.

However, by putting our trust in Jesus, we take that first vital step which opens the door to the possibility of using all the rest of God’s gifts well. Whether those gifts are great and numerous or whether they are average or even minuscule – it really doesn’t matter. What really matters is - are we using well the gift He has given us.

I have to acknowledge that I often don’t use well opportunities the Lord gives me. Most likely I am not the only one who needs help in this area. But we must not take comfort in telling ourselves “others have the same problem.” Rather we need to cry out to God for His help because we truly want to be among those who on the Day of Accounting, will hear our Lord say, Well done, you were faithful over a few things, I will put you in charge of many things – let’s rejoice together.

Click on Change My Heart Oh God and let it bless you.



CALL ON HIM IN TRUTH

“The Lord is close to all

who call on him,

yes, to all who call on him in truth.”

Psalm 145:18 NLT

~~~~~~~

It doesn’t take much time in the Scriptures to become aware that some of God’s promises are unconditional (meaning God will bring about what has been promised no matter what). For example, Jesus said,
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

God has also made promises that are conditional (meaning a condition or conditions must be met before the promised benefits can be realized). Our key Bible verse today is an example of a conditional promise. The Lord is close to all who . . .

The Lord is present everywhere, all of the time, and in that sense He is close to everyone, believers and unbelievers as well whether we are aware of it or not. But the closeness of the Lord referred to in today’s promise is something special! It is the sensing of the loving presence of the Lord which only believers are capable of experiencing, and only when they meet the conditions - call on him, yes, . . . call on him in truth.

To call on the Lord in truth is more than just saying some religious sounding words and going through the motions. It means, like David, sincerely calling out to God from the bottom of our heart – Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. As we turn from what offends God, He forgives us, and deep within we sense His comforting nearness.

When life moves along smoothly with few bumps we can be tempted to let the things of the Lord slip. Bible reading, prayer and Godly living are easily neglected, and before we realize it, we don’t sense His precious nearness as we once did.

On the other hand, our life may seem way out of control, with trouble on every hand – finances – health – marriage . . . and it feels like the Lord is worlds away. Then added to our aloneness is the realization that we have drifted from Him and have neglected our relationship with Him.

No matter what may have caused us to lose that close relationship we once knew with our Lord, it wasn’t the Lord who moved. The way back into that closeness is the same for all of us: CALL ON HIM IN TRUTH for The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.

DAY BY DAY

“As your days,
so shall your strength be.”
Deuteronomy 33:25 KJV
~~~~~~~

It goes without saying - the days of our lives are not all the same. At times we are very thankful that they aren’t. Other times we wish certain days would never end.

Though our relationship with our Lord is an eternal one, He has a way of providing for us on a daily basis. This principle is so clearly seen in the daily provision of the manna in the wilderness, and in His teaching us to ask Him to give us this day our daily bread.

Whatever comes into our lives is allowed by our loving Heavenly Father, and with each day He provides what we need for that day. Days filled with “Ho-hum” and boredom, or days full of excitement and anticipation – His promise is - As your days, so shall your strength be. Days of good news filling us with gratitude and joy, or bad news that strikes pain and terror into our hearts – His promise is - As your days, so shall your strength be.

Almost 150 years ago this wonderful truth was captured by Karolina W. Sandell-Bergn (the “Fanny Crosby of Sweden”), in her beautiful hymn “Day by Day.” (tr. by Andrew L. Skoog)

Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find, to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what He deems best—

Lovingly, it’s part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day, the Lord Himself is near me

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,

He Whose Name is Counselor and Pow’r.

The protection of His child and treasure

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in every tribulation

So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,

That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation

Offered me within Thy holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till I reach the promised land.

Click on  DAY BY DAY and let this beautiful song encourage your heart today.