No More Time

It is time to declare an end to political correctness, which should certainly have come to its natural conclusion with 9/11/01.

During the last several decades we have allowed, and become desensitized to, the most outrageous and immoral influences as they have impacted our children and destroyed our nation. This has been cleverly carried out as we have allowed ourselves to be silenced by the perpetrators. They've convinced us that the greatest virtue is in not offending anyone.

Well, the whole thing offends me. It is time to find our voices.

The majority of people know the truth and look furtively over their shoulders to see who might be listening as they make the simplest common sense observations that must not be mentioned aloud. We feel each other out, checking to make sure we are not talking to a member of the Thought Police.

We have arrived at the borders of tyranny and social control. No one is marched out and shot, of course. Yet. The penalties for non-conformity are far subtler. Intimidation is highly effective. You stand out if you turn down sensitivity training, gauchely point out the NEA's agenda or resist the arm-twisting to donate to someone else's favorite charity (which supports things contrary to your own values).

You are careful not to stand for the wrong thing. It is far easier to stand for nothing. After all, word gets around. You could be publicly humiliated, lose your job or become the target of a lawsuit. There goes your life.

Our children are being indoctrinated by the schools, the media, movies, TV and what erroneously passes for music. Any kind of sex, no matter how perverse, is good - and the younger the better. Teens are no longer considered capable of abstinence until marriage, though it has been the standard throughout human history.

Parents are prime suspects for keeping an eye on, especially those audacious enough to think they are the ultimate authorities over their own children or who have beliefs or rules of any kind. The important idea here is that parents are not to be trusted. After that, the rest is easy.

Moments of silence are popular as a nifty way to opt out of prayer to the Almighty ... offending God while pacifying mortals. This will work until you roll up to the Golden Gates. "Let's all get together and pray to our own gods" has a nice ring to it. Ecumenical services feel so civilized and friendly. And blasphemous.

The Bible says that God is a jealous god, unwilling to share the stage with other gods, saying, "I am he, and there is no god besides me."

Above all, one must tolerate absolutely everything. There are exceptions: the First and Second amendments, Christianity, traditional moral values, history before it was rewritten, a standard of right and wrong, individual achievement, personal responsibility, duty to country and a willingness to sacrifice one's life if necessary, for liberty or faith.

A recent poll of young people revealed that 75% do not believe American values are superior to those of other countries. How tragically right they are.

One must accept the idea that the Founders insisted on an armed citizenry so people would be prepared to go hunting at the drop of a hat; that animals and plants deserve the same rights as humans; and that it is a good idea to forego our sovereignty and freedoms by bending to the will of the United Nations and the NWO.

It also makes things easier if you are either a Democrat or a Republican who continually and automatically bashes the other party in all things. It's easier than thinking for yourself.

We must not question the concept of having thousands of our troops protecting borders across the world, while our own borders are a dream come true for illegal aliens. Give me your poor, your tired, your terrorists. We are asked to accept the insanity of ignoring a criminal's physical profile while subjecting ourselves to the indignity of undressing publicly at the airport.

We agonize about why everyone hates us so much without understanding that evil resides in the heart of those who hate rather than the one hated. We are not completely exonerated, though. The enemy we have met is at least partly us. We are up against evil, both inside our own hearts and in the corrupt politicians who rule from that cesspool, Washington, DC.

We must find and dust off our moral compass and use it. Today. We must separate ourselves from evil, speak the truth, get down on our knees and repent for allowing ourselves and our nation to sink into this moral morass and beg God for forgiveness and mercy.

We will never, ever again have the United States that we have known and loved. It's far too late for that whether you realize it or not. That war has been lost.

There is something far more important at stake now. And that is your eternal soul. The conflict we engage in now will be won only with spiritual armor and a deep commitment to our blessed hope, Jesus Christ.

The U.S. Supreme Court of 1892 said the following:

"Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon the teachings of the Redeemer of Mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent, our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian."

That day is gone. There is very little left that is Christian today in this nation, even among those who call themselves by the name.

There is no time to waste. Set your clocks to eternal time.

In His Service,

Royal Heir

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Where Have All The Heroes Gone?

They say there are no heroes anymore. They are wrong.

Last week I attended the funeral of a man who was approaching 90. He was a plain, simple, hard-working man. He was married to the same woman for 60 years. He was a kind and gentle man, a father and grandfather.

He loved music and was a leader in his church. He loved the young people, and they loved him. As an old man he sat in the back of the church, and all the children came to sit with him. He was a hero.

He was not famous or powerful, wealthy or handsome, all of the qualities the world appears to admire but which are as elusive as stardust. He had the qualities that endure, qualities that touch the lives of others forever in a positive way: honor, integrity, truthfulness, love for those around him, commitment to his faith and dedication to a purpose in life. He was honest. His word was his bond. His life was consistently good. Not perfect, no doubt. But consistently maturing in wisdom, kindness and understanding. A life consistently moving in the right direction.

He's not the only hero I know. I have had the good fortune to know many, including my own parents, who are no longer with us in the flesh. I wonder if all the heroes are old and will all be gone some day. It isn't true because my son is a hero, and my grandson shows every sign of one, too.

And then I think about some of my friends. Imperfect, struggling with difficult issues in life. Feeling sometimes they are failing; falling down and getting up again. But not as much anymore. Learning. Maturing. Being consistent. Being dependable. Working hard. Being self-reliant. Growing wiser. Knowing there is pain in loving. Loving anyway. Giving with no expectation of return. Sacrificing without noticing.

But caring enough to say no sometimes. Teaching their children and grandchildren and wishing they could learn without going through the suffering. Believing in their ideals enough to live up to them. Having a faith strong enough to sustain them. Recognizing that some things are important enough to die for. Hoping they would be strong enough to do it. Realizing they might have to. Being examples. Being heroes. Raising heroes.

Yes, there are still plenty of heroes around. If you look in the right places.

A Child of the King

Copyright 1999. All Rights Reserved.

Real Men

Are real men disappearing from society?

I look around at the young so-called males, and the crop seems infinitely depressing to me. Call me old-fashioned, but it seems that we're witnessing the slow sissification of the male sex, and I wonder at the implications for the nation's future - which is plenty bleak without this factor added in.

Sensitive and vulnerable, the modern youth is so in touch with his feelings that they have replaced thinking. If he does happen to show any errant signs of masculinity or aggressiveness, the school system medicates him out of it at a suitably young age. Fortified by his zombie-like state, he is able to endure a certain amount of pain, perhaps enough to have an ear or two pierced, and is able to relate this event with soft-spoken, whiny words such as, "Um, like, my mom let me borrow her earring."

This teen, with a doe-like look in his limpid eyes, donned in the latest fashion, every hair in place, is better groomed than most girls I know. There seems to be a latent assumption that all this will somehow translate into a successful life, although it's a safe bet that little time is wasted on such substantial thoughts as what the future might hold, especially when the simplest concepts and ideas are met with a blank look.

I wonder - even if he doesn't - what in the world he will possibly do in life. And when he will get started. It's a bleak speculation.

Thank God I wasn't born too late to hook up with a real man, one who knows how to handle a gun, hunt and fish, has a dog, a beard and a pickup truck.

No Neanderthal, he has a deep faith, something between his ears and can engage in conversation about almost anything. He has purpose in life, works hard, takes care of business and has deep enough thoughts to philosophize from time to time.

And...he's smart enough to know how to live with me.

He is not necessarily impeccable in his habits, often spends more time in the bathroom when the list gets too long, leaves unidentifiable sticky stuff on the kitchen floor and hasn't seemed to figure out what hangers are for. Another thing ... every time he fixes something he breaks two others.

He expects there to be hunting clubs, motorcycles and RVs in heaven - as perhaps there will be. (We may be going to separate heavens.) Grubby on weekends, covered in all manner of dirt, engine grease, lawn clippings, and smelling a bit like a mixture of dog and gun oil, this is the type of guy a real woman wants around when the chips are down.

I've made my own contribution of real men to society. I remember a few years ago when my grandson came home from a Cub Scout trip, ecstatic that he was the only one there who knew about guns and gun safety - thanks to my son, another real man.

Perhaps there is hope.

Royal Heir

Copyright 2002. All Rights Reserved.

Properly Using Your Gifts

Yes, there is a wrong way to use the gifts God gives to us. People like me have to live a long, long time to figure this out. The basic lesson is this: don't try to fit a round peg (yourself) into a square hole (Christian service).

Permit me to explain.

God gives each of us a specific nature to be used with our specific gifts. The proper use of our gifts will bring great joy to us, be of spiritual benefit to others and, above all, will glorify the Lord. If someone asks you to do something, and you hate every second of it, that's a huge clue that it may not be your gift. Using your gift as the Lord intends brings incredible satisfaction.

For example, we often expect our pastors to be brilliant preachers, gifted teachers, wise counselors, have the administrative skills of corporate CEOs, have perfect marriages, children to die for, be witty writers...and that's just for starters. We expect them to be on call 24/7, take a cut in pay when times are tough, never complain or show irritation, never disagree with anyone and generally keep everyone happy with themselves and with him. And the thanks he gets? If he makes one wrong move the members go home after church on Sunday and have 'roast pastor.'

How do I know this? My parents were in the ministry.

Now this is clearly impossible. We cannot make everyone happy. The Lord Himself certainly didn't. And yet the man is clearly called to the ministry, one of the toughest jobs on the face of the earth. Who does he go to for support and succor? The stress of the ministry is horrendous. Do you pray for your pastor and his family? Make sure you do it. And often.

(Now how did I end up going down that rabbit trail?)

This is not a case of a man going into the wrong field or misusing his gifts. He was called of the Lord. It's a case of people expecting too much of one individual. This is especially true in the smaller churches, and it's a shame because pastoral burnout is a rampant problem. Where is the class that teaches this truth to church members? There are all kinds of retreats, seminars, conferences, support groups, etc. for church members to attend, but I have never seen one that addressed support and consideration for the pastor's family.

Another example is my own experience. My gifts are essentially speaking, teaching, writing, counseling and music. The Lord gave me a nature to accommodate those things. I have done all of these for many years and have seldom run into any problem. You may notice that these are not 'team' gifts as a general rule. There is a ton of preparation to do any one of them, and I love working alone...thinking, reading, etc. I've been doing all of these for so many years that they are second nature to me. Give me a subject, give me five minutes, and I can talk about it, write about it, counsel others about it, maybe even write a song about it! That comes from experience.
I love to do them.

On the other hand, if you ask me to be on a church board, there's no way it's going to happen. To me, that would be like going to an insurance seminar or something. I would be bored, restless, and disgusted that there was so much talk about something like what color to paint the nursery. I couldn't care less. And all that discussion seems to me a colossal waste of time. It will irritate me no end. (But I won't say anything...I just won't make that mistake again.)

What else don't I do? I can't sew. I hate crafts. I feel that I don't relate well to children ... I don't know what to say to them. I dislike small talk. Preparing and taking a dish to a potluck makes me wonder if this is what having a nervous breakdown is like (although I will do it). I wouldn't want to ever plan an event. I hate practicing anything. Sitting and just being an observer is absolute torture, with one exception: the sermon is my favorite part of any service. In other words I must be learning, thinking or accomplishing something in order to sit still at all.

So, when one gets to a certain age in life, saying 'no' is not a problem. You've had your gifts for a long, long time. You've sifted out the things that do not spiritually benefit yourself or others, nor do they glorify the Lord. If anyone tells you they wish they could do what you do, tell them that they can do things you cannot do. No one does everything. I always wished that I (round peg) could be a soloist (square hole), but the Lord in His infinite wisdom did not give me that gift. Perhaps when I get to heaven.... :-)

Know thyself. There is no rule that says you must bake the best pie at the county fair.

And don't forget to pray for your pastor and his family.

A Royal Heir

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Climate Control: What Should We Do?

In a word - Nothing.

Only an arrogant society would even come up with the question, a godless conglomeration of pagan religions which claim that we are all god, part of 'the one' unified force. How can anyone be so deluded as to really believe that he or she is God?

Have these people looked in the mirror lately? Their god is definitely too small. They worship the creation rather than the Creator.

We have no control over the climate. God sits at those controls. He created the earth, the universe, the entire system -- including us. And even HAARP, the great invention of the world leaders, could be wiped out in an instant should God choose to do it. (And He will.)

If you read God's Word you very quickly learn that the weather is by far the primary tool that God uses in His miracles. It is strikingly obvious if you start with Genesis and begin reading through the entire Bible. He uses the tools and powers of His own creation to bring blessing or punishment to mankind: weather, mathematics, science and technology far surpassing anything we understand. When He wants us to have access to His secrets, we will. And not before.

Climate change is definitely occurring at an increasing pace just as Bible prophecy tells us it will. There is much more to come, and there's absolutely nothing that we can do about it because it is a part of God's plan and purpose.

Satan is still up to his old tricks that he used with Eve, convincing fallen man that he can become as god. In fact, pride and ambition is what will lead to the complete downfall of Satan and all who fall for his deception and lies.

I wouldn't want to serve a climate god who can't even tell which way the wind is blowing.

A Child of the King

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

We Have a Peace Treaty

We are now ten years into a new millennium. It is truly an amazing age in which we live. We really are a global community whether we like it or not, and the world continues to seek peace without the help of the Prince of Peace. Even the lowest-income Americans live in a manner known only to kings in previous history, while Christians are being tortured and persecuted on a regular basis in many parts of the world.

As we place things in perspective we are truly grateful for the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon us. Most of us have experienced the reality that one day's news is capable of bringing us such calamity that it changes our lives forever. Therefore, every day that passes without a tragedy is a day for which to give thanks.

He has blessed us with parents, with children and grandchildren, with good jobs, prosperity, good health and so much more. Many times I question, "Why?" as I contemplate how undeserving I am. And always, we want more.

We are so human. How even more off the mark would our priorities be did we not have small reminders to break through our busyness, reminders that cause us to be ashamed at our token commitment to him and cause us to ask for forgiveness as we turn our attention away from ourselves for the fleeting time we commit to prayer or to care for the needs of another.

It has been a "fat" society, and we are a "fat" people -- materially and spiritually. We have become bereft of such ideals as sacrifice, honor, truth, integrity, valor, honesty and courage. The words themselves are rarely used, much less acted upon. Even the very word "values" has taken on new and twisted meanings which have come to include ideas that are the very antithesis of the word.

Our morality is as overvalued as our stock market.

And yet the star of Christmas shines brightest in the midst of darkness. It always has! Two thousand years ago, God became one of us in the person of Jesus Christ. And through that one incredible event we know that because He lived in the flesh that He understands us so very well - and loves us anyway.

Inner peace! How pleasant the thought, but how elusive its reality. That need not be the case.

A little over 2,000 years ago mankind was sent a peace treaty. Announced by a heavenly host, it was delivered to an obscure Middle East village to be initially reviewed by lowly shepherds and high-born kings. The treaty was offered because a just and holy God loved His creation.

The sole provision of the treaty was Jesus Christ. It applied to whosoever would believe on Him. Some 33 years later the treaty was signed, and three days later ratified. It has been in effect ever since, and the peace it promises is available to every one of us.

For Jesus said: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27)

May peace of Jesus Christ be yours through this brand new year.

A Royal Heir

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Does God Want Us To Be Happy?

Some people seem to believe that once they become Christians all their problems are over, that if they pray to the great Santa Claus in the sky he will bring them wealth, worldly goods and smooth sailing. The "prosperity ministries" love to prey on human nature, touting this line by using isolated verses out of context, or more often by the force and charisma of their personalities, fortified by tall tales of their personal visits to heaven - a heaven of their own imagination, certainly not with the characteristics derived from God's Word. These false prophets are all over television. They appeal to emotion, a faulty barometer.

Just the opposite is true. Scripture makes it crystal clear that troubles are inevitable for the Christian, as they were for the apostles and Christians down through the ages, many of which were martyred for their beliefs.

The life of Jesus was no exception. During His ministry He was falsely accused, and primarily by the religious leaders. Most of His own people rejected Him, He suffered betrayal and death in the lowliest and most humiliating fashion. He was unable to do many miracles at all in His own home town, and His siblings did not become believers until after the resurrection.

American Christians have had easy lives for the most part, and have often indulged in service to the gods of Self, Money and Greed rather than the God of creation. Our ideas of what it means to be a Christian are too often skewed. We think we have everything; yet we have nothing of true value. We think we are rich, but we live in states of spiritual poverty.

Trials may come from our own poor decisions. You know...we have met the enemy, and it is us! They may come from the fact that we live in a world of humanity with a fallen nature. With America in this state of decline we are beginning to experience a measure of persecution. This will no doubt continue to increase.

There is another source for the trials of the Christian, and that is God himself. He does this just as a parent corrects a child. Scripture tells us plainly that who He loves, He chastens. We are, after all, His children, are we not? This life is a school. What rewards and duties will be given to us in the next phase (life on earth with Christ ruling as king) are directly related to the progress we make in this phase. Do you want to take Christianity 101 all over again?

For the truly devout Christian these hardships that God Himself allows seem the most difficult. We pray and pray for God to remove the difficulties, and yet they go on and on. Why isn't He answering our prayer? He is. These trials are for our direct benefit. He is molding us according to His purpose, preparing us for our role in His grand plan.

He will purify us. He will test us. He will test our endurance and our devotion, build up our endurance and character. He is maturing us and perfecting us.

" ...And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5

And just when we have come through that last trial and breathe sighs of relief...here comes something else. Right out of left field.

One thing we certainly do learn is faith. Eventually we learn to trust Him completely. We have built a track record in our relationship with Him...faith upon faith. He gives us sustaining power and a deep and abiding joy (not pleasure or enjoyment).

Remember, He is the potter. We are the clay.

No ... He's not interested in making us happy. He wants us to grow up.

A Child of the King

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

A Blank Page ... 2010

Some people live in the past. Some live in the future. Personally, I live in the NOW.


The past cannot be rewritten. It is what it is. Gone.  I think occasionally of the wonderful family times, or recall the wonderful way that the Lord has worked so many miracles in our lives. That's about it. I hear that the elderly think often of the past in great detail with great long-term memory, but not-so-great short term memory. I guess I'm not that old yet.


The future is a blank page. I'm not convinced that we have a lot of influence over it. As the Bible says, "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," a truth that is even more vivid these days. I do have great anticipation of an eternity in a world where peace reigns and where I live as a child and heir to the creator of the universe, who will have a work for me to do which will be rewarding and exciting beyond my capacity to imagine. But eternity doesn't start when we 'die.' It starts when we are born again and receive the gift of eternal life. There is no death for the Christian.


And, besides, there is no such thing as time. It is merely a construct -- an illusion, if you will -- that the Lord has provided for our benefit while we live in these fleshly earth bodies so that we would have the ability to lead orderly lives in the limited dimension to which we have been assigned.


The now. Now that's my cup of tea! And that being the case, ironically I value time above almost anything else. It's inconceivable to waste something so limited and precious. I try always to be prepared for any moments that might otherwise be wasted, such as sitting in a doctor or dentist's office. I make sure I have the ubiquitous book or list somewhere within my reach.


The entirety of the year 2010 is, of course, future. But today, January 1st, it becomes the NOW ... as does each day that we live in what is called 2010.


Almost every prognosticator and expert in almost every field is predicting that 2010 will not be a good year - that it may be the worst year in the history of the world. I suspect that they may be right. Do not let that stop you from making the most of each moment because we are not victims of anyone or anything. A Christian's steps are directed by the King of Kings himself. There is no circumstance on earth that can intervene in His divine purpose. You can take that to the bank; in fact it is no doubt worth vastly more than those dollars that go to and fro, into and out of the banks. Each day He has a specific plan for you and me, and that intention resides out of reach of anyone or anything that surrounds us.


There is no need whatever to live in fear, which is diametrically opposed to God's will for us. The abundant life cannot be experienced if fear is hovering over our days. Fear is, in the simplest terms, a lack of faith. It boils down to just that. I have noticed that 90% of the things we fear never happen. The trials that do come our way are almost things we had never thought of at all. So why waste time worrying?


Hardship and great trials have no grip on you at all without your consent. Don't give it.

How can we live in these times without fear?

• Trust your Lord. Believe His Word and reflect on how He has been faithful in the past time and time again. He assures us that He limits our trials and enables us to triumphantly endure. 
• Persevere. Never quit. Stay close to the Lord daily through His Word and prayer.
• Praise Him in the midst of pain. In all things give thanks. As impossible as it seems, it is absolutely true. You can be joyous in the midst of great trial.
• Always remember that the Lord is in charge. He is in charge of everything ... yes, our government and all governments. They are serving His divine purpose. Never forget that.

If your spiritual house is built on the Rock rather than sand, all power is available to sustain you!


I wouldn't want to live in any other time than right NOW!

A Royal Heir

Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved.

2010

My Dear Friends,

I would like to wish you and yours the very most

BLESSED & JOYFUL
NEW YEAR

May the Good Lord bless and keep you
under His watchcare in 2010

In His Service, Carole, A Royal Heir

Are You a Success?

We so often hear people saying that someone is a success. I guess each of us certainly wants to be a success. But are we all speaking the same language when we refer to being a success? Do we all mean the same thing?

Just what is success?

This is the dictionary definition (n.):
1. The favorable or prosperous outcome of attempts or endeavors.
2. The attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.
3. A successful performance or achievement
4. A person or thing that is successful

Almost inevitably when people call someone a success these days you know they are talking about the dictionary definition.

Often, though, I find that I agree that this person being talked about is successful but his priorities and goals are wrong...and therefore he is often not 'a success' at all from my point of view. An example might be a person who is famous, talented, filthy rich and holds a high position. To most people that is a person who is a 'success.' But 1) is that the Lord's will for his life? 2) how often did that person arrive there partly because he is also selfish, corrupt, immoral, dishonest and greedy?

So I decided to go to the Bible and see what God has to say about success. God's view on success is infinitely more important than man's. I want to be a success in His eyes, don't you?

I found these two verses. It's surprising how few times you find the word at all in scripture.

Joshua 1:8
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Ecclesiastes 10:10
" .... wisdom brings success."

That's the kind of success we want to strive for, the kind that comes from knowing God's Word intimately, studying it passionately and relentlessly, and craving to obey everything that it says and to learn the depths of it. Then we will be wise, rich in His knowledge and blessings (prosperous) and successful -- from God's point of view.

Is there any other opinion that counts?

Royal Heir

Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

When The Worst Happens....

.....and it will.

In all things give thanks. That's what the scriptures tell me I should do.

"But Lord, surely not in these circumstances. That's ridiculous...impossible."

In ALL things.

"But, Lord, this is more than I can take. I am afraid. I am angry. Things are out of my control. I'm not strong enough to deal with this."

In ALL things. Again He speaks to me and gives me no excuses to fall back on. In ALL things.

"Okay, Lord." And so I begin to give thanks. At first, hesitantly - reluctantly - forced. A pouting child. And then I gain speed. I really FEEL thankful. And then I cannot stop. It seems there is no end to the things for which I am thankful.

And then, I move into JOY. I am beyond thankful. I am overwhelmed with joy. The joy of the Lord is my strength. My heart sings. My spirit soars. I am above circumstances. I am not afraid. I am not angry. I am not in control, but I know The One Who is.

I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able. I have a powerful friend who died for me. My Savior. My Lord. And HE is in charge. I am so thankful.

Move into joy. In all things give thanks.

A true story.

A Child of the King

Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

How Good Do We Have To Be?

I don't smoke, and I don't chew...
and I don't go with girls who do.

This little ditty from the past ran through my mind the other day as I was musing about 'stuff.' It made me smile, and while the wisdom of this course of action may be valid for a number of reasons, it is not the basis for our salvation. While we may think it's 'a sin' to do specific acts which we know are not God's best for us, the bottom line is that 'sin' is much larger than that. It is a condition, a disease of our very nature, with which we are shot through from birth.

No matter how 'good' we try to be it can never be good enough. And yet the good news is that no matter how 'bad' we might be it can never be bad enough to bar us from the mercy of Jesus Christ. The beauty of it is that it is strictly up to us. Once we hear God's call it is each person's choice to make. Who will run my life? Will I run it? Or will I submit every single action and decision to the rule of Christ as Lord of my life?

It sounds easy. And it really is. The problem comes in having the discipline to touch base with the Lord and His Word about everything. We commit our lives to Him, thank Him with great joy and then run off and immediately take charge again. If you think a relationship with your parents, your kids, your spouse or other people is hard to keep on a steady course, try one with the Creator of the universe! Because He really IS the boss. The irony here is that if you allow God to run your life every minute of the day those other relationships will run more smoothly than you can believe. When you get off track with God you get off track with others. Its a spiritual rule.

Our sinful condition may be compared to having the chicken pox. We turn a couple of the really irritating 'poxes' over the the Lord and He clears them up, but meanwhile others are popping up all over the place. We need to turn the whole body over to Him and do it daily. That's the secret. If we do not talk to the Lord every single day, consult Him about every single thing, well...the pox is on us. And just when we think we've got it down pretty well, we've taken our medicine daily, we're pretty good now, we take a break from the Lord. Oops. We get broad-sided and the disease attacks our most vulnerable spot. One we thought was taken care of a long time ago...wrong.

We can't afford to tell someone else to take the log out of his eye if we can't even take care of our own. Talk - and more importantly, listen - to the Lord moment by moment.

It will change your life. I guarantee it.

A Child of the King

Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Exactly How Much Does God Love You?

God is love. We all know this phrase by heart. But what exactly does it mean?

Our valentine image of love is of cupids with little red arrows, hearts, chocolates, flowers and a general giddiness. It is a time of wonder for young adults as they speculate on the implications for themselves, and for older ones who sometimes wonder if anyone really does care.

We have these same tender feelings when we are involved with a wedding. The romance, the joy, the hopes and dreams and expressions of undying love accompany young couples as they enter a period of temporary insanity and seem to lose touch with all rational thought. This is why parents cry at weddings. They realize that this moment, this apex of romance, is about to be hurled unsuspectingly into a world of reality. This young love will be tested and tried to see if it has the capacity - the will - to endure into maturity.

We soon discover that love is not necessarily easy. That loved one is provoking bad feelings in us and we wonder if we even like that person who doesn't seem as cooperative and charming as we had at first thought. Somewhere along the line we must decide if we will love. Anyway. We must either commit to love that person or decide that it is much easier to simply walk away. To love may be the harder choice. The riskier choice. But always the right choice. To love is to give oneself totally and without reservation regardless of the cost. To lay oneself bare and vulnerable.

We often measure our worth by the cost of the gift. How much am I loved? How much is that other person willing to sacrifice for me? What is my value? One rose worth, one box of candy's worth, one romantic dinner's worth ...?

How much does God love you? How much was He willing to sacrifice for you? How much are you worth to Him?

One cross worth.

A Child of the King

Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

What Is Love?

The entire goal and point of Christianity is born of love. God is love...

God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life...Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength, and thy neighbor as thyself.

The entire law of the Old Testament is fulfilled in love, in Jesus. And the New Testament says that Christians can be identified by their love for one another (are you ever recognized as a Christian by a stranger?). The amount of love you have is in direct proportion to how subject you are to God's will in your life, how obedient you are.

We often think of love as an emotion. But, real love transcends emotion, which is an involuntary feeling. Love is a voluntary choice, a decision, an act of the will. It therefore contains a moral aspect: intent. It is the choice of the intellect, made out of devotion to God. It is the conscious choice to obey (for the intrinsic value inherent in obedience to God), and it is the result of true repentance.

The virtue of that choice brings forth a feeling, a deep sense of joy. But feelings are fleeting. Love must operate above feeling. It must be reliable enough to sustain whatever cross we are called upon to bear in life. And the crosses of others. Regardless of how we feel about it.

This choice to love evokes true concern for others, is happy at their good fortune, without the slightest envy, and truly grieves at their unhappiness. It does not matter who they are, or what their station in life. The lowliest person's welfare will be as important as that of the most eminent. The fact that he is a creature of God is reason enough to love.

Even enemies, or those who have mistreated us, fall under the cloak of love. In spite of the damage done to us, in spite of what we feel, God's love in us will have us "pray for them that hate you, and do good to them that despitefully use and persecute you."

This love is active, not passive. It energetically seeks the welfare of the other person. It becomes one's natural reaction. The result of obedience. The human nature, through obedience, is transformed and takes on the character of God. Of love.

Love is merciful. It does not demand the deserved punishment. It is not only ready - but eager - to forgive.

Love is truthful. It even speaks with candor, because it resides in the reality of truth and does not try to change unpleasant facts. In fact, it requires truth.

Love is patient. Not necessarily a calm, unruffled facade. Rather, it exhibits perseverance under trial, bearing up with a steadfastness of purpose that is rooted in complete trust in God.

Love is kind, with a meek spirit that bears injurious treatment. Love is more than kind; it is even long suffering.

Love is humble, that modest and unassuming state of mind that is not driven by ambition or recognition, but accepts itself as a sinner saved by grace.

Love is stable. It is evidence of a new nature, a new creature, a new heart, a new life.

Love is not possible for an individual without God, who is love, and who is the only source available to provide it.

Love is a miracle of transformation which is available to you. All you need do is ask.

A Child of The King

Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

A Blessed Christmas To You All . . .

May the Lord bestow upon you bountiful spiritual riches
and an abundance of His peace in the coming year

Who Is This Jesus?

Jesus is not who most people think he is. He is not the ambiguous, soft, meek and mild, simpering, always-gentle, always smiling, politically correct, maudlin one who is tolerant of everything and everyone.

This popular "jesus" is the one most American so-called 'christians' follow today. The only problem is that this is another jesus...a different jesus than the one in the Bible. This is an idol god which is a total construct of human minds, a god invented to serve the whims of its inventors, a god who aids and abets them in serving the great god of SELF.

Many people find a jesus appearing in their unholy meditative states, a false god who is leading millions to believe that they can join the One, the unified consciousness of the universe, and become god themselves. We are all god, this jesus says. People want a jesus to suit their comfort zones, a benign god who smiles on everything they do. After all, we each have our own truth, or so we want to think. This is the emerging jesus that the emerging churches love - a consumer jesus, one that is user-friendly and, above all, tolerant.

This is evil. And if this is your god you are in great danger. When you come face to face with Jesus Christ, he will say to you, "Depart from me. I never knew you."

This is precisely why the church is in dire trouble in 2009. Few people know the real Jesus. This is why this nation is under God's judgment. Much of the church is exactly like the world. Then, why would the world want what you have? They already have it. If you're going to act like the world, be honest and admit you are of the world. If you are a real Christian, the world can tell the difference.

The real Jesus is just the opposite. He was outspoken, bold and blunt, aggressive. This is the Jesus we so desperately need today, the One who told us to beware of false christs. This is the Jesus who went into the temple with a whip, who spoke the ruthless truth to hypocrites and purveyors of false doctrine and self-righteousness, who spoke the unvarnished truth.

Jesus confronted people who were in error, calling them to repent of their sins. People today don't want the real Jesus. He's too negative. Too narrow-minded. Too dogmatic. Too truthful.

The real Jesus preaches the unvarnished truth, calls false religion a lie, tells sinners they need to repent of their sin and escape hell by putting their faith in Him. He says there’s only one way to God, not many paths. He says that the road is narrow and there are only a few who find it. He said, "You must be born again."

There are many people who think they are Christians, but they are not. They are on the broad road to destruction. They are deceived. They are not born again. Their eyes are blinded. They are on the road to hell. They can proclaim that they are 'good people,' which is not only completely untrue, but would be irrelevant if it were possible. The Bible says the heart is continually evil. It says there is not one good...no, not one. Our goodness will lead to only one place...hell. That is precisely why Jesus died on the cross, to pay the penalty for our sin because we are not able to do that. We do not have the ability to be 'good enough.' There's no such thing. That was the sin of the Pharisees, who Jesus was relentlessly condemned for their self-righteousness (because they wanted to appear 'good.')

Jesus has given us a detailed roadmap which tells us exactly who He is and what He thinks. We need not speculate that "My god thinks this or that..." What He thinks is in the Bible, which very few people are deeply familiar with. They know a few verses here and there, have a superficial knowledge of it, but it is not the first priority in their lives. First priority means: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you." This is why they cannot distinguish between a false christ and the real Jesus Christ.

We need a call for holiness, purity, clear Gospel understanding and teaching. If we would stop imitating the world on every level and try to please God rather than man we would then have a real hunger for truth, clarity, objective reality. Confronting false teaching and hypocrisy should be one of the highest priorities of a Christian.

If you try to be busy, busy, busy in the church and engage in lots of social action, you make yourself look 'good' and get lots of applause (even from the world). If you tell the truth, however, people resent you. So you do the thing that makes you popular and, unfortunately, often become a 'teacher' or 'leader' in the church, making each generation weaker in the faith (if in it at all).

They didn’t kill Jesus because he loved little children, fed the poor and healed the sick. They killed him because he confronted their self-righteousness and told them their religion would send them to hell. This is the loving thing you have to do. The church has to recapture its own courage and be faithful to follow the path the Lord took.

He said: "I am the way, the truth, the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me."

He was not popular, but despised and persecuted for defending the truth of the gospel. He said we would be, too. Are we?

A Royal Heir


Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved

Over 300 Prophecies Fulfilled at Christmas

Did anyone prophecy your birth? Or mine? I don't think so! But I doubt that anyone will question that we lived.

And yet the most prophesied birth in the history of the world is occasionally foolishly questioned by the enemies of God who never cease to harass the Christian faith.

No, the Son of God was not born on December 25th...and, yes, the day we celebrate was co-opted from the pagan Roman holiday of Saturnalia in an attempt to convert pagan Rome to Christianity. We, too, supposedly a nation of Christians, have celebrated our national idol of money to the point of nearly commercializing everything holy out of Christmas.

Should we then join the enemies of God by denouncing Christmas? Not at all. We will always be in a spiritual warfare with God's enemies. We need to cultivate the truth of our celebration of the birth of our Savior so that our light shines brightly into a dark world. One ray of light eliminates much darkness. This is a great time to take advantage of this unique opportunity to present the gospel to the world.

Unlike anyone else in the history of the world, the birth of Jesus Christ was foretold for centuries by the Hebrew prophets, along with the details of His life, death and resurrection. No prophecies preceded the births of Buddha, Confucius, Muhammad, etal. None of them were resurrected from the dead. The life of Christ is the most verifiably proven life in all of history. The fulfillment of Bible prophecy is one of the most powerful proofs that we have. Paul used it in converting the lost, turning the world of his day upside down. So should we.

Christianity was not a first-century invention. The birth of the Messiah is the fulfillment of centuries of prophets who spoke with one voice the consistent message of the prophecy of Jesus. There are more than 300 Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. For what reason? So that Israel could identify Him when He arrived.

The very first prophecy can be found in Genesis. The prophecies declared that He must be of the "lineage of David" and the gospels of Matthew and Luke begin with the genealogy of Joseph and Mary, clearly establishing that Jesus met every criteria. No other life in the world has been as meticulously documented, even by secular scholars. His Word, the Bible, is consistently the most purchased book in the world. And yet many of His own people, the Jews, rejected Him then and now.

While great numbers of Messianic Jews are accepting Christ in recent years, the majority of Jews still hope for their Messiah to come and will accept the anti-christ as their messiah for a short period of time before finally recognizing Him at His Second Coming.

Man crucified its Creator despite overwhelming evidence of His Deity.

Many skeptics have been converted to Jesus Christ in the midst of their search to disprove Him. It is impossible to remain an honest skeptic after examining the historical record.

We have the most solid reasons possible for our faith in Christ. The most convincing evidence becomes our relationship with Him. Ours is not a shallow worship of dead idols, eyes that cannot see, tongues that cannot speak. No. Ours is a living relationship with God, one in which we share fellowship with Him. He communes with us.

Don't lose any opportunity to present the gospel with conviction and boldness at this time of celebration of the blessed Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He did not remain a baby in a cradle. He became a living sacrifice to bring redemption to all mankind that would believe and accept Him as Lord of their lives.

He is coming back very soon, not as the meek and lowly sacrificial lamb, but in power and glory as the King of Kings, to judge the world and to reign and rule in righteousness, fulfilling the rest of the prophecies. He wants you to be a part of that kingdom.

A Child of the King

Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Truth is Stranger Than Fiction

Who could ever have dreamed up something as incredible as the birth and meaning of Jesus? Only the Creator of the universe! Truth is always much more interesting than fiction.

Everything about the gospel message is fantastic. The creator dying for the created. The judge paying the penalty for the guilty. The God of the universe laying aside his royalty, being born in human form in a lowly stable to not only become the servant, but to suffer and die on a cross in the most humiliating way, as the perfect sacrifice for the redemption of mankind. Who could think up something like this? Only God. Only he could make it believable - because it was truth. All of the pagan religions would only be shallow copies of God's mind from the beginning of creation, only deceptive imitations.

It was not that simple. There were great concepts that had to be played out. The Messiah could not be born with a sin nature, thus a virgin birth. Stranger than fiction, certainly. Both Joseph and Mary were visited by angels in order to prepare them for their roles.

There were many angel visitations surrounding this amazing arrival of God's only begotten Son. First, the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, who were terrified. And then a great host of angels appeared praising God and bringing the gospel news.

The angels themselves are very interesting. They are very involved in all the affairs here on earth and many are here for the express purpose of ministering to us and for us, the heirs of salvation. They are continually warring with the fallen angels and assisting us in spiritual warfare.

The angels were extremely interested in God's plans for mankind, especially in Jesus' role on earth and the plan of redemption, human beings and how this salvation would play itself out. I believe they were thrilled to be seeing it begin to unfold. The Bible tells us that the angels wondered at all of this, and in our own roles as humans in this, since the angels are not redeemed from sin as we are through Christ's sacrifice. We are never to worship angels but we can be very thankful for them as God's ministering agents to us in our earthly life. They surround us.

Jesus. The Messiah. Fully God, fully human. Sinless. Emmanuel: "God with us."

Amazing story. Amazing truth. Amazing grace.

The complexities in the gospel story can never be exhausted by our human minds and understanding. We should never let this event become trite through annual celebration. There are vast depths to be mined, more than we can understand in our lifetimes. We should finder deeper meaning, deeper praise each year.



Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

The Secret to the Abundant Life

My parents were in the ministry and I was raised with all of the accoutrements of Christianity. I accepted Jesus Christ when I was six years of age.

So what went wrong in my life in my 20's and into my 30's? Because something did go wrong. I was messing up my life. Making wrong choices.

Don't ever make the mistake of looking at other Christians, wishing you could be like them: then all would be well. Big mistake. Without exception - NO exceptions. Those other people have struggled and continue to struggle with their own battles, just as you do. They haven't made it to perfection yet. No...not church leaders, not pastors, not Billy Graham. No One. The Lord made each of us unique, and he has a plan for each of our lives, individually. He wants you to be exactly you. Transformed, yes ... but YOU. The one He created.

So what's the problem with us? Why do we continue to mess up? Because we haven't learned the secret. It's the title of an old hymn. Trust and Obey. These are the two ingredients we leave out of our lives all too often, even as Christians.

We take our problems to the Lord, pray about them, and then what do we do? We take them right back and continue to fret and worry about them. Why? Because we don't really trust Him. Does He really get it - our problem? Does He realize this? Has He thought of that? If we really trust Him, we will give Him our cares and truly leave them with Him. Our god is too small only because we place limits on Him by our own lack of faith and trust.

And it's not possible to obey if we don't trust, because we can't even hear the instructions. He will not speak to us if we have no faith and trust. We can't hear His voice. Of course, let's be honest. Many times we don't want to hear His voice because it frequently tells us things that we are not eager to hear.

Many times I have heard this tiny voice telling me something that just makes me groan...isn't there an easier way, Lord? Can't we try something else? I often now recognize His voice because it's often so 'outside the box' and usually addresses some tiny section of my heart that I have held onto, not quite trusting to give it up to Him. So, when He speaks, sometimes it's a dead giveaway (not always), and I occasionally deny that it's really Him...just a throw-away crazy thought of my own, I think ... like I'm in His league?! Then I usually smile, and since He knows anyway, we talk about it. "Lord, maybe there's a better plan? What about this? What about that?" We both know that I'm going to end up doing it His way, and we smile, the Lord and I.

The Lord has a sense of irony and humor. There have been times when some totally unexpected solutions came right out of left field and were highly amusing.

Jesus' own suffering and ultimate death while in this earthly life are the perfect example of trust and obedience. Even our Lord was called upon to trust that this unlikely plan for Him in the flesh was indeed the necessary one. He was called upon to obey, even to the cross. His trust led to obedience to His death on the cross: the means of our salvation - and to His resurrection: the reason for our hope.

He offers us the abundant life if we will follow His example. We must be willing to die to our old god: SELF. We must die to our own will and subject it to His. After all, He is our creator and He has a unique purpose for which He created each of us to specifically fulfill.

Trust and obey, for there is indeed no other way to the abundant life in Jesus Christ.

Child of the King and Royal Heir

Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

Prepare For War

These are, indeed, the days that test our faith, the days when we come face to face with who we really are, what level of faith we have and what our priorities are.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1.

Read the entire 11th chapter of Hebrews. Amid all the tragedies and talk of war we may feel without hope or help, and wonder what we can do. I tell you the truth: the most important thing we can do is to prepare for spiritual war, and put on the whole armor of God. There is nothing I can begin to say that expresses it better than the Bible itself. I urge you to make a copy of Ephesians 6:10-18 below. Read it every day. Memorize it. You will need it more than anyone has ever needed it in history, going back to the days of Noah.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:10-18

Remember, we may be involved in many battles, both spiritual and physical, and it is critical that we continually recall that we already know the final chapter. In the end - the victory is the Lord's. And He has provided us with the armor. Pick it up and put it on. Otherwise you will certainly not survive. If the Christianettes of the modern day are incapable of standing up for the little things, how in the world will they face the war of the ages? Are you ready?

One of my very favorite scriptures in its beauty is Jude 24-25:

"Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

Be prepared for the most important war ever waged. A war for your eternal future.

A Royal Heir

Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

The Problem of Prayer

Prayer seems to be the most difficult subject of all for Christians, and yet it is the very heart of our relationship to God, the key that opens every door through which we discover God's purpose for our lives. Our relationships with others are a direct reflection of our prayer lives, and prayer is therefore critical in how effective our service will be. Without input from God we are acting on our own, from our own desires and motives, with our own insight ... and, remember, we see through a glass darkly. We are lamps that are not plugged in!

Prayer is too often seen as a pious and boring chore which we secretly dread so much that we continually put it off. But surely we are missing some important truth if our ability to communicate directly with God himself fails to be the most exhilarating possible activity! We have direct access to the greatest power in the universe. Why do we fail to plug into that power as we would plug a lamp into a power outlet?

Might it be our tendency to focus on what WE will do in this communication with God? How will we fill up an allotted amount of time with words? What kind of relationship is it where one person does all the talking, and doesn't even feel like it? If we want to communicate with God in person, perhaps what He has to say is more important than what we have to say. Or maybe we have some stereotype of what our prayer time must be like. The way 'everyone' does it.

What if we started with praise? It might surprise us to learn that if we begin to praise the Lord specifically for each of our blessings there is almost no end in sight. It is inevitable that we will become overcome with joy in this dialogue with God. And then we will want to listen, to hear God speaking to us, opening doors we would otherwise miss, correcting and directing our thoughts, our words, our actions, making us more like Himself -- until we cherish Him so much that we find we need to be in communication with Him every moment. And it is in this way that we develop a true and deep relationship, one in which we trust Him, and He can trust us. One where we don't make a move without Him. Where we pray without ceasing.

As we approach the beginning of a new year I challenge you to set aside a specific prayer time on your daily calendar. During that time ask the Lord to speak to you, read a passage of scripture, praise Him for specific blessings and listen to His voice. He will speak and we will be empowered to change our lives, our relationships and our community. Believe it. And we will have God for our best friend. You can't start off a year better than that.

Plug into the Power.


Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

An Unseen Battle

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12

Satan does exist—our broken society testifies to his reality. Those who ignore him do so at their own peril. This is also true of Christians because we are all at war against him. Spiritual warfare is personal; Satan crafts specific attacks for each individual. Though he cannot steal a believer’s spirit from God, he can and does harass us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Every ambush and frontal attack is meant to defeat our witness so we can’t live a victorious Christ-centered life.

Our foe is not omniscient, but he is crafty. He observes our strong and weak points to determine the best areas for attack. As soon as his quarry becomes comfortable and least expects trouble, the Adversary springs a trap. Among his most deceptive tactics is hiding behind familiar faces in order to misguide our fury. For example, he may tempt a husband to make an unwise financial decision that angers the wife and leaves her feeling insecure. But the husband is not her enemy—he needs her love and forgiveness. The enemy is always Satan and his legion of demons.

The first rule of warfare is to know one’s enemy, and thanks to Scripture, we can. The Bible also contains an important assurance: “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4.

The combined forces of hell cannot equal the supernatural power of a single believer. We have Christ living within us—the same Christ whose birth we celebrate, who was triumphant on the cross and whose final victory over Satan is prophesied in Revelation. Through Him, we can conquer Satan and win our unseen battles.

God's Plan: Incarnation

The incarnation was a part of God's comprehensive plan to establish His kingdom and rule on earth, and to judge and punish those who refused His sovreignty. His people are intended to rule with Him on earth, not to live eternally in far-off space and play harps.

The incarnation was not an isolated event. God's sovreignty controls all of history's events for His purpose and plan.

Alexander spread the Greek culture and language, which the Hebrews learned, enabling them to translate His Word into Greek. The Caesars spread the Roman culture and language. All of this was part of God's plan to have His Word available to the entire known world. The people were free to worship any God, allowing Paul to spread the gospel in the fulness of time. All of this was in preparation to make possible our mission to 'go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.'

Going all the way back to Genesis, the requirement of a blood sacrifice of a lamb was a foreshadowing of Christ, who was the representation of God himself, and came to earth for the express purpose of dying, being resurrected and starting His Church (us).

The genealogy of Jesus Christ is recorded all the way back to Adam through both His mother and earthly father, Joseph, fulfilling all earthly legal requirements and heritage. His coming was foretold by God, came true exactly as prophesied, and all people were provided the exact information establishing who He is. His birth was at precisely the right moment in time for Him to come to earth to redeem mankind to Himself.

Herod's decree requiring all families to come for the census was God's hand guiding events to fulfill the prophesied town of Bethlehem as the Messiah's birthplace. The star at the precise moment at which it was needed to guide the wise men was provided by the providential hand of God.

Shouldn't a king be born in a palace? Not in this case. God purposely wanted the Lamb of God to be associated with other lambs, associated with the lowly instead of earthly royalty. The Creator of the universe became a humble carpenter.

In the fulness of time God sent His son, Galatians 4:4. He had credentials: a forerunner, John the Baptist; genealogy; miracles; everything that was needed God the Father had provided.

The law required a blood sacrifice for sin. Only a perfect lamb would suffice. Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God fulfilled all of the law for all of time. Christ was the ransom for us since no human can live the perfect life required under the law.

We would like to think we can be good enough. "I'll do this; I'll stop doing that." All of that is nothing but activity. Your heart is the problem...your sin nature. He saves us from ourselves and from physical, spiritual and eternal death.

By accepting His offer of salvation we are adopted into God's family as royal heirs. He gives us a new name, a new position and a new family.

He is still at work in our lives and in the world today, all according to His scheduled plan, which is about to be completed.

Don't be left out. You, too, can be a royal heir.


Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

I Had A Dream

From 2006:

When I was having my morning devotions I decided not to read the Bible for some reason, but rather to start a new book written by Michael Evans, Director of Jerusalem Prayer Team. The book is based on a prayer of David. I stopped short on page 28 at a very simple statement which I have heard thousands of times, about the sheep and the shepherd. But this morning it struck me like lightning.

I stopped cold and closed my eyes and envisioned a scenario. It was so moving and real to me that I immediately came to my computer, again closed my eyes, and typed the entire thing with eyes closed, as I 're-wound' it in my head. Here it is:

I saw that I was a little white lamb, just a baby lamb.

I was frolicking along, and before I knew it I found myself caught in a sort of patch that had a lot of thorny branches, and as I stepped one foot one way and then another, I found myself surrounded on all sides, above and below, caught in a thicket. No matter which way I tried to turn, there were huge thorns, 10"-12" long. I could move in no direction at all. I was paralyzed with fear and to move in any direction was to encounter a thorn. I couldn't move, not an inch, in any direction, and I began to panic. Even my shaking threatened to bring me into contact with a thorn that would tear into my skin.

But I found my voice, the one thing left to me, and I whimpered with a small bleat, wondering how far away my shepherd was, and afraid he was too far away to hear me. And even if by some miracle he could hear, even he couldn't move me out of this thicket. I was surrounded on all sides, encircled by thousands of thorns. But there was nothing left to do, and in my despair I bleated with a small and hopeless whimper, just in case.

I closed my eyes so as not to see my prison, and was afraid to even sigh, because that small movement would harm me. Everything turned black.

As I sank into the depths and prepared to die, I felt something strong beneath me. Soft, oh so soft, but so strong. My heart skipped, and I opened my eyes and beneath me I saw the huge hand of my shepherd, so soft and so strong. But his hand had a huge scar that ran clear across it. He must have got caught in a thicket, too, I thought. His strong hand lifted me right up through the entire thicket bed, straight up, and somehow even though the thorns were still all there, his hand, with me in it, went straight up through them as if they were only shadows of thorns, and not the real things. As if they were nothing at all.

Above and away from the thorns, I sat in his huge hand and looked up at him, still shaking with fright - and afraid he might be angry with me. But He smiled down at me, oh! so tenderly, and patted me on the head with his other hand. I had really never been up this close to him before, and I was thrilled. I was safe. And he wasn't angry. I could tell that he loved me more than anything.

He tucked me into the hollow of his arm, nestling into his soft white robe, and I relaxed for the first time. My trembling gradually stopped as I snuggled and fidgeted into the crook of his arm and my fear subsided. I took bigger and bigger sighs of relief, no long afraid to sigh, and I was so relieved and comfortable that I fell asleep in his arm as he walked along beside the beautiful green pasture. The tap, tap of his staff as it hit the ground alongside his steady, slow gait lulled me into slumber.

I don't know how long I slept in the hollow of his arm, but I woke up and looked at him, up close, and just watched him. I had never been this close to my shepherd before. He looked down at me and smiled. I felt so ridiculous to have gotten lost that way, but he just smiled and patted me on the head again. I could see that he knew what I was thinking. "Don't worry, my little lamb, even when you think you're lost, you're not. I'm always right here. Always. Have no fear. You belong to me."

He gently sat me down on the dusty path beside him, looked lovingly down at me, took up his rod again, and said, "Just follow me." He set off with long slow strides, and I frolicked along behind, following him down the path by the quiet stream. Relaxed and safe, I looked at all the interesting things on both sides of the path, but was very, very careful not to lose sight of him.

I wanted to stay very close to my shepherd.


Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.

Civility

Civility in modern America seems to have gone the way of the horse and buggy.

Young children run you down in stores, students flagrantly use the worst possible language with no apparent comprehension that anyone might be offended, people use their vehicles and computers as instruments of terror.

Using one of the dictionary terms for civility, "courteous behavior," we can greatly broaden our list of examples. To depend on a person's word and a handshake these days would generally be considered lunacy. Even an agreement steeped in fine print and legalese is routinely broken with not so much as a second thought. And it is quite common practice for the breaker of the agreement to sue the other party, generally because he is demanding his rights.

People routinely cut in front of you in any line, if possible. They no longer feel the need to defend themselves with an excuse, no matter how feeble. To lie is the order of the day, the only perceived requirement being expediency. Political lying is routine and in the past decade has gained tacit approval and a bored yawn by the general population and its representatives.

I think we've put our collective feet in the door of anarchy.

Society has accepted corrupt politicians and routine fraud and theft by government agencies, certainly not civil behavior but just as certainly expedient to ignore such things if they result in some personal benefit.

Employees in many stores often appear sulky if one has the audacity to expect service, and they can get downright rude if you decide to press the issue.

Recently I was almost run down by a reckless wheelchair whose surly occupant was seeking special privileges, which I was not in the mood to grant as I struggled to make it on my own pads after a 12-hour day and a bad back. Only good breeding kept me from yanking the person out of the chair and jumping in myself.

I find that even I succumb to the occasional fleeting pleasures of the impolite thought. Modern society is having a bad influence on me.

Why am I going around wasting my time treating people with some antiquated sense of civility, anyway? They don't deserve it. And what good does it do me anyway?

Get outta my way before I decide to turn thought into action.


Copyright 1994. All rights reserved.