Death Just A Shadow

Psalm 23:4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (parched land)  I will fear no evil. I have been through that valley-not alone thankfully; the Lord was with me and carried me through it. In 2002, after an emergency visit to Greenwich Hospital (Connecticut) and having surgery to remove a blockage in my intestine, a suture began to leak and I ended up on life support. Most of my organs failed. I had written in my journal months before during intense prayer, many scriptures including Psalm 91:2-4(NLT). This I declare of the Lord, He alone is my refuge, my place of safety, He is my God and I am trusting in Him. For He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from the fatal plague. He will shield you with his wings, He will shelter you with His feathers, His faithful promises are your armor and protection. The Lord was speaking to me clearly, "I will shield you with my wings, I will shelter you with my feathers." At the time I didn't understand what He meant. I discussed it with a good friend and we prayed together often. Later when I was fighting for every breath, my friend gave encouragement to my loved ones. It was when I regained consciousness that I understood the Lord's message to me. He kept His word and "shielded me with His wings and sheltered me with His feathers." We can't get from the parched land to green pastures without the Godman Jesus, because only he has the Living Water to give. We need the Living Water to get from parched land to green pastures. Death was only a shadow and it still is for all who belong to Christ.

Can The Government Protect You?

How can the government protect you when there are people with ideologies of hatred, who are willing to put explosives in their underwear, climb aboard a commercial jet and then blow themselves up?  Unlike those who wage war against flesh and blood, followers of Christ know that we fight a spiritual battle-For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms (Eph. 6:12 NLT). Jesus taught us to love our enemies: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you (Mat. 5:44). You can't change the world unless the heart is changed and you can't change the heart until Jesus gets a hold of it. It's only Jesus who can transform the heart of man from that of hate, to a heart of love. Let us follow Jesus command and resist the forces of evil.

 
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Wearing the scars of Christ

Richard Wurmbrand, Founder of "The Voice Of  The Martyrs", in his book, "Tortured For Christ" said: "Communists can kill Christians but they cannot kill their love toward even those who killed them. I have not the slightest bitterness or resentment against the Communists or my torturers." This after he had many of his bones broken, his body carved, and eighteen holes burned and cut in his body. Most of us will never experience being tortured or have to die for Christ, but as believers we are "crucified with Christ and dead." It is the resurrected Christ who lives his live within us (Gal. 2:20). Richard Wurmbrand knew and experienced the great power of Christ's love. By his example he was able to win many of his torturers to Christ.  Love is the only weapon that can and will defeat all evil. It's not easy to love those who don't love you back-I know, I too am a disciple of Christ. But through Christ all things are possible (Phil. 4:13).

Prayer: Jesus live your life of selfless love within me!

Tiger Woods-When Idols Fail Us

Tiger Woods has certainly garnered a lot of attention over the years. Most recently for the wrong reasons. Should those of us who call ourselves Christian join in the parade and kick him while he is down or should we reach out and help him up? Jesus set an example for us while we were still sinners he died for us (Romans 5:8). We can all be thankful for God's great love and mercy and in doing so extend his mercy and love to others. As we draw closer to Christmas day, let us remember Jesus command to love one another (John 15:17). Ask God to help Tiger Woods and his family through their trials and remember those who are suffering from various hardships during this holiday season.

I just ordered my copy of the movie, "Most" on DVD. The movie is symbolic of God's great love for humanity. Click the link for further information http://www.mostthemovie.com/

We're So Expensive

Because we have been bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus. Jesus bought and paid for us with his very life and set us an example that  we too should lay down our lives for one another. So we need to ask ourselves, "Are we treating people like they are expensive or like they are disposable items?" In John 8, we read of a woman who was caught in adultery. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees wanted to stone her. In their eyes she was cheap but for Jesus she was so expensive. Jesus must have been thinking to himself, "You want to stone her, but I am going to die for her."  During this Thanksgiving season, see those you meet through the eyes of Jesus-as expensive not cheap.

Give Up A Meal For Thanksgiving

With so many people hurting from a very difficult economy, we can easily forget those who have a different perspective on life. One such person is my friend Mr. T. Mr. T lives in a nursing home because he has had three strokes. In fact this is the third nursing home where Mr. T has lived. The other day he told me his story. He said before he had his first stroke he was always partying and using filthy language. One day he woke up in a bed and wasn't able to speak. He prayed earnestly to God. He said, "Lord please let me speak again and I will never speak another profane word." God answered his prayer and he can speak again. He is paralyzed on one side of his body and can walk with the help of a therapist. He says, "God isn't finished with me." He encourages everyone he meets with his big smile and thankful attitude. Why is he thankful? Because he has a different perspective on life. Why not make this a Thanksgiving to remember? Give up a meal for someone like Mr. T. Someone who is worse off than yourself. Prepare a good meal and bring it to someone at your local nursing home. Then go sit with that person and have a conversation. If you look close enough, you just might see Jesus.

The View From The Desert

In 1987 I drove from Pasadena, CA through the desert to the Grand Canyon. Thanks to modern technology, people can now enjoy living in the desert. However,when John the Baptist took up residence in the desert, life was not as easy. I believe his life in the desert complimented his message. The desert represents the entire world without Christ. A dark place with great potential, a place needing a transformation. Because John lived in the desert, he saw this need. He said, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord.' (John 1:23)" God told John how to recognize Christ (John 1:33-34). He knew that Jesus was needed for the transformation to take place. He knew Jesus was not an ordinary man but the Son of God (John 1:29,34,35). Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council and teacher of the law (John 3:1,10) only saw Jesus as a teacher (John 1:2). It's only when we see Jesus for who he is, that the transformation takes place and we can say as John said, "He must become greater and I must become less (John 3:30). May God give us eyes to see this need and may we see Jesus in the eyes of others.