He Is With Us Always

“Lo, I am with you always.” — Mat_28:20

The Lord Jesus is in the midst of his church; he walketh among the golden candlesticks; his promise is, “Lo, I am with you always.” He is as surely with us now as he was with the disciples at the lake, when they saw coals of fire, and fish laid thereon and bread. Not carnally, but still in real truth, Jesus is with us. And a blessed truth it is, for where Jesus is, love becomes inflamed. Of all the things in the world that can set the heart burning, there is nothing like the presence of Jesus! A glimpse of him so overcomes us, that we are ready to say, “Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me.” Even the smell of the aloes, and the myrrh, and the cassia, which drop from his perfumed garments, causes the sick and the faint to grow strong. Let there be but a moment’s leaning of the head upon that gracious bosom, and a reception of his divine love into our poor cold hearts, and we are cold no longer, but glow like seraphs, equal to every labour, and capable of every suffering. If we know that Jesus is with us, every power will be developed, and every grace will be strengthened, and we shall cast ourselves into the Lord’s service with heart, and soul, and strength; therefore is the presence of Christ to be desired above all things. His presence will be most realized by those who are most like him. If you desire to see Christ, you must grow in conformity to him. Bring yourself, by the power of the Spirit, into union with Christ’s desires, and motives, and plans of action, and you are likely to be favoured with his company. Remember his presence may be had. His promise is as true as ever. He delights to be with us. If he doth not come, it is because we hinder him by our indifference. He will reveal himself to our earnest prayers, and graciously suffer himself to be detained by our entreaties, and by our tears, for these are the golden chains which bind Jesus to his people.

As always my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ may the Father bless, keep and strengthen you as you continue to:

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12

knowing that you can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth you. Philippians 4:13

For Our Sakes

It’s Christmas Eve and my heart is filled as always with overflowing love for my Savior, Jesus Christ, it overwhelms my soul at times to know that God himself became man, put meat on so to speak, became poor for our sakes. Consider this devotional reading from Spurgeon.

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“For your sakes he became poor.” — 2Co 8:9

The Lord Jesus Christ was eternally rich, glorious, and exalted; but “though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor.” As the rich saint cannot be true in his communion with his poor brethren unless of his substance he ministers to their necessities, so (the same rule holding with the head as between the members), it is impossible that our Divine Lord could have had fellowship with us unless he had imparted to us of his own abounding wealth, and had become poor to make us rich. Had he remained upon his throne of glory, and had we continued in the ruins of the fall without receiving his salvation, communion would have been impossible on both sides. Our position by the fall, apart from the covenant of grace, made it as impossible for fallen man to communicate with God as it is for Belial to be in concord with Christ. In order, therefore, that communion might be compassed, it was necessary that the rich kinsman should bestow his estate upon his poor relatives, that the righteous Saviour should give to his sinning brethren of his own perfection, and that we, the poor and guilty, should receive of his fulness grace for grace; that thus in giving and receiving, the One might descend from the heights, and the other ascend from the depths, and so be able to embrace each other in true and hearty fellowship. Poverty must be enriched by him in whom are infinite treasures before it can venture to commune; and guilt must lose itself in imputed and imparted righteousness ere the soul can walk in fellowship with purity. Jesus must clothe his people in his own garments, or he cannot admit them into his palace of glory; and he must wash them in his own blood, or else they will be too defiled for the embrace of his fellowship.

O believer, herein is love! For your sake the Lord Jesus “became poor” that he might lift you up into communion with himself.

Little Drummer Boy

A Baby Boy

This is my favorite song about our precious Savior’s birth – it’s a beautiful reminder of who He is and how He came, as well as how He will return.

King of Kings, Wrapped In Rags

Earlier I shared one of my favorite songs, Mary Did You Know, and asked you to listen to it and really think about what it’s saying.  Did Mary really know that that sweet, precious baby was God come to earth!  Did she get it, realize what was to come?

Did she know that that cooing, squirming innocent one was the Innocent one who could take our sins, her sins?  That He would one day be mocked, tortured, beaten then mercilessly hung from the cross, crucified, to pay a debt He didn’t owe.  As she heard his first whimpers and cries did she know that one day He would cry out to God His father to forgive those who nailed Him to that tree at Calgary, by the way He didn’t just mean  the Romans or the Jews, He meant me and you too.  Or did she look at the perfect gift from God and just feel the love all mama’s feel for their perfect little ones?  Did she hold Him close, breathe that sweet pure baby smell, nurse her child, rocking him gently as she pondered all that being the mom to the Son of God meant, all that her child, her sleeping bundle of joy would do in His 33 years?

God has really laid this on my heart this Christmas, that Mary was just a young mom, with an awesome responsibility – to birth and raise God’s son!  Maybe it’s because this year my own son gave His life to the Lord and is quickly moving from a child to a preteen and I am remembering my sweet baby bird, who’s now as tall as me!  But Luke 2:19 speaks to me, it tickles the back of my mind and my heart, almost makes me weep for sweet Mary.  That young mother so wonderfully happy, beautifully exhausted, lovingly terrified, who has just given birth to God’s own son in a lowly stable because she and her espoused husband Joseph were poor and in a town not even their own, at the end of a long and wearisome journey to be taxed and counted in Bethlehem.  They arrive with Mary ready to deliver the Mighty God upon whose shoulders the government shall one day rest and they can’t even find a proper bed for her to labor in.  No one would open their doors or their hearts to this poor young family, for the coming king!  So they did what they had too, I imagine her time was drawing nigh and Joseph was desperate to find a warm, dry place to give his beloved a place to give birth and somewhere the tender new babe would be safe and secure.  All he could find was a stable, it would have to do.  Her son whom God had entrusted to her out of all the women on earth and she gave birth to him with the cattle.  Then she wrapped the perfect, precious babe in swaddling clothes, that’s a nice way of saying rags ya know.  That’s right the King of Kings, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Savior of the world was born in a barn, wrapped in rags and slept in a manger.

 

Not exactly the entrance into this world you would think of for the most memorable, amazing, revolutionary, radical person to ever live.  Yet, it’s perfect, after all Jesus was a radical teaching things like the first would be last and the last first.  He was a revolutionary talking of a kingdom no eye has seen where He is going soon to prepare a place for us.  A stable, rags and a manger somehow it was just right.  God’s funny that way, he works wonders in the humblest ways.  I mean when I really think of it, if they had been in an inn it sure would have been harder for the shepherd’s to reach them, all tucked away in a crowded building with people everywhere.  People and noise and chaos – not exactly a peaceful place to deliver a child.  On the contrary the stale was quiet, the animals all gathered round, curious yet gentle as the new family shares it’s first moments together.  Gentle moos, baas, and brays were the accompaniment to Mary and Joseph’s first tender, loving lullabies that our new born Savior heard.  Sweet smelling hay was a warm snug bed once the wee one had fed and was sleeping soundly, wrapped in those rags.  Rags that were worn soft with age and use but clean, easy to wrap around the tiny arms and legs, against new baby soft skin, and warm.  That night those rags were fit for a King.  The scene was perfectly set for the new family to catch their breathes, maybe a little rest, and just bask in those first precious moments with their son, God’s Son.

Moments that were short, fleeting because even as they are tasting love, trust and hope outside town God’s own heavenly host is spreading the good news to some visitors to come welcome His boy to the world.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  (Luke 2:8-12)

See the perfect place, God always has a plan.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  (Luke 2:13-14)

Can you just picture the sight, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, proclaiming His glory, announcing His Son.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  (Luke 2:15-16)

They came with haste, quickly, sparing no time, rushing, excitedly.  They had just been visited by God’s own angels and told that they need to go meet His own Son, I bet they came on the run alright.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  (Luke 2:17-18)

Those simple shepherds were the first preachers, they were the first to share the good news, the Son of God, Prince of Peace, Savior of the world.  Whom they just saw in lying wrapped in rags.  The King of Kings, wrapped in rags, come to this sin cursed earth to be crucified on a tree for the sins of the world, laid to rest in a tomb in a garden to rise up resurrected on the third day offering the world eternal life through faith in Him.  The same God that rose Him from the grave created us, loves us, wants to be in fellowship with us.  But ever since that fateful day in the garden of Eden when Adam sinned and brought death into the world, we’ve been separated from God, our sin, rebellion, keeping us apart from our Creator, our Father.  It broke His heart that there was a veil keeping us from drawing near one to the other in closeness, fellowship, relationship.  So He fixed things, made them new, right.

God the Father sent his Son so you don’t have to die.  You too can have the gift, the grace, the mercy, the hope, the joy, the peace of eternal life.  Simply believe.  Believe in that sweet baby.  Born in the lowly stable, born in poverty, not even a proper bed.  But born with a mighty purpose, a mission to fulfill.  Born with angels from heaven proclaiming the good news, literally shouting with praise and glory!  Born to obey his Father even unto death, conquering death, defeating death – giving life!  Offering every soul on earth mercy, grace, rebirth through repentance of sin and faith in Christ.  Be born again this Christmas in that manager beside the King!

One of My Favorite Songs

about my Savior’s birth. Enjoy.

The Rapture of the Church

I want to share a powerful and hope filled sermon by Pastor Kelly on the rapture of the church.  My husband and I listened to this sermon a while back and it is wonderful, so much information and such biblical teaching.  Enjoy!

As always my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ may the Father bless, keep and strengthen you as you continue to:

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12

knowing that you can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth you. Philippians 4:13

Satan Is His Name…

Another powerful sermon by Pastor Kelly of Liberty Faith Bible Church.

By That Love

“Base things of the world hath God chosen.” — 1Co 1:28

Walk the streets by moonlight, if you dare, and you will see sinners then. Watch when the night is dark, and the wind is howling, and the picklock is grating in the door, and you will see sinners then. Go to yon jail, and walk through the wards, and mark the men with heavy over-hanging brows, men whom you would not like to meet at night, and there are sinners there. Go to the Reformatories, and note those who have betrayed a rampant juvenile depravity, and you will see sinners there. Go across the seas to the place where a man will gnaw a bone upon which is reeking human flesh, and there is a sinner there. Go where you will, you need not ransack earth to find sinners, for they are common enough; you may find them in every lane and street of every city, and town, and village, and hamlet. It is for such that Jesus died. If you will select me the grossest specimen of humanity, if he be but born of woman, I will have hope of him yet, because Jesus Christ is come to seek and to save sinners. Electing love has selected some of the worst to be made the best. Pebbles of the brook grace turns into jewels for the crown-royal. Worthless dross he transforms into pure gold. Redeeming love has set apart many of the worst of mankind to be the reward of the Saviour’s passion. Effectual grace calls forth many of the vilest of the vile to sit at the table of mercy, and therefore let none despair.

Reader, by that love looking out of Jesus’ tearful eyes, by that love streaming from those bleeding wounds, by that faithful love, that strong love, that pure, disinterested, and abiding love; by the heart and by the bowels of the Saviour’s compassion, we conjure you turn not away as though it were nothing to you; but believe on him and you shall be saved. Trust your soul with him and he will bring you to his Father’s right hand in glory everlasting.

Simple Truth

I don’t have fancy post today, nothing earth shattering to say I just want to share the simple truth that Jesus loves you. Jesus died for you and when you put your faith in him you have the glorious promise of you eternal life, you have your sins forgiven washed clean by his precious blood That was shed on the cross of Calvary. That’s love people, simple, pure, deep, strong, honest holy love! The kinda love only our Savior, our God could have for us.

It’s not the kind of love that we can have for each other, no way. Because we’re all broken, we’re all messed up, we’ve all sinned. That sin, that brokenness, it affects how we love each other. It hinders us, makes us hard with each other you see each others sins yet try to forget our own. That’s not how Jesus loves us, nope, he loves us with pure holy love. He sees our potential, not our past. He gives us hope, new life! All we have to do is believe our faith in Christ to live our lives to serve him not to serve our selves. That’s the simple truth – we just have to believe, have faith and know that He is God! He is enough he is everything.