Life or Death… Choose

Posted on September 18, 2023 by Janet

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NIV

This morning I am made keenly aware of the truth within these words. I have contemplated how often I have seen situations where the fruit of these choices are being displayed in my life and the lives of others. There is a blessing of life when we choose God’s Life. God offers us His spiritual prosperity, blessings, and enjoyment of Himself when we choose Him as our life. These blessings are poured out not only upon ourselves but on our children and their children and so on. BUT we must choose to pursue Life in a relationship with Him!

We have another choice which is death and curses. It is living our lives separated from the author and creator of life, God. This life is lived as we focus on ourselves- our wants, our desires, our ways- instead of God’s. It is a life with no relationship with God, apart from Him. When we choose that life, apart from Him, we live far from peace, joy, and love. We are in turmoil. Our emotions reflect that— anxiety, anger, bitterness, worry, etc. Our relationships with our family, coworkers, children, and spouses reflect that turmoil. When we choose our way instead of life we choose turmoil, and that turmoil will consume us and pour out on everyone we are around.

The question we need to ask ourselves is: What have I chosen for my life? God’s Life in relationship with Him or the death of choosing to not follow Him 💯, separated from Him?

Grandma’s Song- “Still Small Voice”

Posted on September 7, 2023 by Janet

(Originally written to my nieces)

Grandma used to sing a chorus to you all when you were little, “Still small voice I hear you whisper. Still small voice I won’t be the same. Still small voice He’s reaching out to you. Still small voice calling my name.” The words are so very true!
But what is the still small voice of the Holy Spirit calling you for? Why does He whisper, reaching out to you, calling your name?
He is calling because He desires to be one with us. He wants to fill us entirely, totally and completely with Himself. It is what we were meant for, relationship of oneness with God. He calls desiring that we respond.
In order for us to go God’s way and to obey that voice, we have to leave our way behind. We cannot have both. Our way of our self-life only leads to death, darkness, and destruction because our way is not God’s.
Ephesians 1 talks about God’s way the still small voice has called us to. It is a life of spiritual blessings, becoming like Him- holy and blameless. It is a life of redemption and forgiveness from our sin. All of this accomplishes the one over arching purpose, He wants us to be ONE with Him!
We do not understand this because all we have ever known is separation from God. That is why the still small voice is calling to us. He wants to show us this oneness. We must listen to the voice. We must respond to the call! We must obey!!

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The New Life is a Life Cleansed From Sin

Posted on September 3, 2023 by Janet

A few weeks ago I introduced the topic of the New Life. This is the life that Jesus suffered, died on a cross, and then rose from the grave so He could give it to us. It is a life of freedom from the chains of sin and darkness. It is a life no longer marred by the emptiness of our sinful choices to follow ourselves and our own way. It is a life full of God’s love.

We come to God well aware of our need for forgiveness. It is plain to see how short we have fallen of His holiness- His purity, His goodness. We know we have done wrong. We have the precious promise that when we ask for His forgiveness, He will forgive. BUT there is another part to that verse. He will “cleanse.” To cleanse is “to purify; to make clean; to remove filth” Webster’s 1828 Dictionary.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV

God’s promise is not only for forgiveness, but to make us clean- free of sin! This enables us to be like Him, the very thing for which He created us.

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

1 John 1:5-7 ESV

There are many who come to God wanting to accept the forgiveness He offers, but they neglect to walk as one who has been cleansed. They walk away from a time of asking forgiveness for their sins unchanged because they simply want to be free from the guilt they feel for the wrong that they have been done. But our God wants us to walk free from SIN that caused the guilt and darkens our life with its impurity. He longs to cleanse us! The question is “Do we desire to be cleansed from sin?” If we do, He gives us the power to walk free from the slavery of our sinfulness. May we not only accept His forgiveness, but walk as those who have been set free from our sin! May we live as those who are cleansed from our sins and full of His life and light!

The New Life is a Life of Forgiveness of Sin!

Posted on August 14, 2023 by Janet

Confession of sin and repentance of sin is like frequent weeding of a garden.

Sin is not a fun topic. In fact, I believe I’ve been harping on it a lot lately, but there is a reason for that. It is not to make us feel bad. It is to gain an understanding of how dangerous sin is. The simple fact is God hates sin. He hates it because He knows sin separates us from Him. He longs for us to be connected to Him. Sin makes us unhappy and miserable. Because the one thing we were created for was to be connected to God through relationship. Sin keeps us disconnected. We will never know our life’s purpose when we are bound and tied up in sin.

There is joy in coming to God with our sin and confessing it. There is joy in receiving forgiveness.

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!” Psalms 32:1 NLT

There is joy in turning from sin and loving God with all our heart all, our mind, and all our strength, displaying that love with our obedience to all He has commanded. (Matthew 28:20)

In fact, recognizing our need to be free of sin, coming to God regularly and asking God to show us anything that is not of Him within our lives so we can be close to Him is imperative.

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23-24 NIV

Confession of sin and repentance of sin is like frequent weeding of a garden. It keeps the sin, that destroys the goodness of God growing in us, from taking root and reaping havoc in our lives.

God’s desire for us is freedom from the slavery of sin!

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 NIV

An Undivided Heart

Posted on August 12, 2023 by Janet

“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭86‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This word of this song have rocked my world, and the verse it quotes just so happens to be the WOW (Name of Bible Study I attend) verse of the week.
What do I desire more than anything? Or maybe I should say “who” do I desire more than anything me and my ways or God and His ways?
Do I love Him enough to obey Him no matter what? Or do I love myself enough to do whatever I please? When I gave Him my heart did I give Him all or do I reserve a part for me? Have I given Him a heart that is undivided?

Where is My Faith Placed? Is He King? – Mark 6:1-28

Posted on July 12, 2023 by Janet

This morning as I have been praying I was thinking about how God has changed my heart. When I read our passage today there were a couple of things that stuck out to me that I could have related to when I lived with a heart that was divided and not fully given to Jesus.

One… the unbelief of Jesus’s home town. They heard Jesus speak and they were amazed, but they couldn’t get over the fact that they had watched Him grow up. They lacked faith and wouldn’t believe. I’ve thought I had Jesus figured out and I wanted Him to fit into my image of Him. But He is God and He is beyond what I want to make Him into. That is why I need to totally submit myself to Him, totally obey Him, and totally depend on Him.

Two… King Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist, who he ordered killed, raised from the dead. He was intimidated by the thought. Jesus didn’t fit into Herod’s lifestyle. Herod was used to having his own way. When you are king and you are faced with the King of Kings you have a choice get rid of that king or submit to Him. I have been “King” of my heart. If it had a throne in it, I was sitting on it. But there can only be one King on the throne, me or Jesus. I cannot make Jesus fit into my lifestyle. I have to fit into His ways through giving my whole heart to Him. That is the only way to be at peace when you see Jesus before you.

May we live with Jesus as King of our hearts and faith fully in Him!

Pentecost in Acts 1:1-11: This Same Jesus

Posted on April 10, 2023 by Janet

I have to say I’m pretty excited about the direction I feel the Holy Spirit prompting me to go in reading the Bible as we approach Pentecost Sunday. I’ve spent several months reflecting on the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) speaking of what Jesus said and did as he walked the earth over 2000 years ago. BUT there is more! What started then was only the beginning.

The Book of Acts is actually the sequel to the book of Luke, written by the Luke. I love what he says in Acts 1:1 :

“In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV

“…all that Jesus began to do…” The life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus was only the beginning of what Jesus would do and is doing today! Jesus spent forty days appearing to the disciples, giving them convincing proofs of His risen body, and teaching them about the Kingdom of God. With His final instruction, “…wait for the gift my Father promised… you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” he gave before He ascended to the Father.

Days earlier, before Jesus death on the cross and resurrection, Jesus had spoken of what was to be fulfilled in the entire book of Acts.

““Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We will read of these greater works as we approach and celebrate one of the greatest days of history, Pentecost- the coming of Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. As we read, may we always remember the words written in Hebrews:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“This same Jesus…” that walked our earth and spoke of God’s Kingdom and did miracles that showed us the Heavenly Father’s glory, might, love, and power has NOT changed! He assured the disciples as He was taken up to heaven The Holy Spirit would come and give them power to be His witnesses. “This same Jesus…” is most assuredly coming back as well when time is fulfilled. For now, we have only seen the beginning of what “this same Jesus” has done when we read the gospels. As we contemplate the chapters of the book of Acts, we will see that we have only seen the beginning of what “this same Jesus” will do in and through us now in our day and time through the power of the Holy Spirit who came at Pentecost and still comes into a life that asks to be full of Him.

Come Holy Spirit! Fill us to overflowing with You once again!

Reflections on John 20: The Breath of Life Once More!

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Janet

“And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22 ESV

Death could not hold Jesus! This chapter records many accounts of the resurrected Jesus appearing to the disciples. Historical texts of that time written by the Jewish historian Josephus confirm the resurrection to be true. The evidence of the resurrection occurring is overwhelming. It is truth that we can build our lives upon! Our Lord Jesus is alive!

What strikes me in this chapter is how real the encounters the disciples had with the resurrected Jesus were. Disheartened, frightened, unbelieving, misunderstanding, unconvinced, disciples are the very ones Jesus came to after His resurrection. He came to them so they could live in peace, without doubt, believing. Not only did He appear to them, He restored! Jesus set right all that was wrong when sin entered our world.

Jesus breathed on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” The breath of God breathed on man, sounds familiar doesn’t it? Genesis 2:7 speaks of the other time God breathed on man with the breath of life.

“then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” Genesis 2:7 ESV

Of all creation only one creature received God’s breath, the breath of life, mankind. Sin had brought death at the fall of man. But our resurrected Jesus has defeated death and once again God breaths His life into us! When we receive Jesus as our resurrected Lord, Jesus breaths on us as well. His Holy Spirit enters us, His life, His breath!

The resurrection of Jesus assured us that we are no longer subjected to the separation that we all experience by death. Because God— Jesus has breathed, the life giving breath of the Holy Spirit, on us once more !

Reflections on John 19: Where Do You Come From?

Posted on March 29, 2023 by Janet

Pilate could not find a good reason to crucify Jesus. He knew the religious leaders of the Jews had brought Jesus to him out of jealousy. Pilate had Jesus beaten in hopes that this would suffice the crowds. As Pilate presented Jesus to the crowd he told them, “Here is the man!” The crowds shouted all the more loudly crucify Him! At this point, the Jews told Pilate that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. This made Pilate afraid. He asked Jesus, “Where do you come from?” Once again Pilate is faced with a decision and it had become crunch time. He tried to wiggle his way out of making the final decision to crucify Jesus.

What complicated matters was Pilate had heard that Jesus was not only King, but He was the Son of God! The Romans were surrounded with a long list of gods/ idols they worshipped. They feared offending or angering any of their long list of gods. The possibility of Jesus being God made Pilate shutter. He wanted nothing to do with Jesus being crucified. Wanting to verify what he had heard from the Jews he asked Jesus, “Where do you come from?”

We often live our lives as Pilate did. We want to live in conformity of the world around us, but we also have Jesus- the man standing in front of us. We understand where Jesus came from. We know Jesus is the Son of God, yet we don’t want to fully live in that reality. It would mean an upset of our lives, our control, our power over ourselves. Pilate knew where Jesus came from, but in order to preserve his power, his way, his “self”, he handed Jesus over to be crucified.

Jesus is before us today. We ask the same question Pilate asked Jesus, “Where do you come from?” May we decide to give ourselves in response to what we already know is true, Jesus is the Son of God our Heavenly King!

Reflections on John 18:25-40: Who Is Your King?

Posted on March 27, 2023 by Janet

During His arrest and trial, Jesus could have fought back. He had all the power and position to do that. He was innocent and without sin. He was and still is KING!

As Jesus stood before Pilate, the Roman governor, Pilate wanted to know what charges Jesus had against Him. The leaders simply said that they wouldn’t bring Him to Pilate if He wasn’t a criminal. They wanted the permission only granted by the Romans to execute Jesus. Pilate then stands face to face with Jesus and he asks Jesus a profound question, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Pilate stood as many of us stand today, uncertain of what to do with Jesus. If Jesus is who He claims to be, that requires a response on our part. It required a response on Pilate’s part. No one comes in contact with Jesus without having to make a decision. The decision is whether or not to accept His kingship. Since Jesus is King (Sovereign, Supreme Authority), we encounter Him as King just as Pilate did, this is where the decision is made. Whose King is He? We can know He is a King. We can know He is over all. But do we live with Him as our own King? As ruler of all of our lives? Exactly who is Jesus king over?

Pilate rejected Jesus’s kingship. Pilate missed His face to face opportunity to finally know the truth, God. Do we reject that same opportunity given to us when we come to the question above?

Exactly who is Jesus King over? Is He King over you?

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