365 Days of Praise

Would you have ever believed some of the things going on in our country? It can make your head spin. The changes are happening so fast that people who don’t read or watch the news are going to be shocked one day to learn that their freedoms have been taken away and that they are mandated to do things against their will. Am I advocating that we read or watch the news all day? Not at all. But I can speak to the importance of being informed. I highly recommend having your Bible open and studying (not skimming) what God wants us to know about the days in which we live and about the days that are coming. In Matthew 16:2-3, Jesus said,

When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?”

Recently I taught on Daniel’s 70 weeks, a fascinating prophecy.  It is clear that God spoke through prophets. They warned of future events. Although your head may be spinning at the ever changing society in which we live, what a blessing to know that Jesus will not change as Hebrews 13:8 reminds us,

Jesus Christ is the SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, and FOREVER.

Yes, our nation is changing. The world is changing. But Jesus will always be the same holy, loving, grace-filled God that He’s always been. If we ever wonder with whom to align ourselves with, it is Christ.

Do you sometimes wonder what our world will be like in the future? Revelation 1:5 tells us. “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the RULER of the KINGS of the EARTH…” Yes, one day Christ will rule the earth. Can you imagine what bliss that will be? Naysayers will be nowhere to be found. Lying. What’s that?  Shooting sprees. What are you talking about?  Yes, one day, the supreme RULER whose reign has no end and who reigns with justice and with mercy will rule the kings of the earth. If you’re a citizen of Christ’s kingdom that’s something joyful to think about when you put your head on your pillow tonight.

Have you ever heard someone say “that stinks” when something awful happens? If bad things repeatedly happen, they might even say life stinks.  Instead of focusing on the foul, though, we have a choice to breathe in what Song of Solomon 2:1 refers to as the Rose of Sharon, a reference to Christ and His splendor, heavenly fragrance, and beauty. When life stinks, stay extra close to Christ. Breathe in His fragrance. “I am the ROSE of SHARON, the lily of the valleys.” Song of Solomon 2:1

Do you know who your ancestors are? How far back can you trace your family tree? Being able to trace one’s lineage is important to many and is definitely important in the Jewish culture. Jesus’s human lineage can be traced to Israel’s King David. But Jesus has an even more illustrious lineage as He states in Revelation 22:16. He says, “I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” In other words, His roots go further back than David. They go all the way to creation. Jesus is the bright morning star, heaven’s light. In our often dark and lonely culture it’s important for us to daily bask in the SonLight. It’s important for us to invite others to join us.

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Are you concerned about people’s shifting views about the Bible and Jesus? If so, remember that Jesus is who He says He is and you are doing the right thing by building your life on Him and His Word. As a matter of fact, Jesus says in Matthew 7:24-27 that you are wise.

Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall.

Notice that both men experienced the same conditions – the rain, floods, wind slamming against their house. Only one house stood. Our nation is experiencing floods of people and the winds of change. Are you a Christian? If you are, you will stand because your life is built on Christ. If you are not a Christian, you have the opportunity to be what Christ describes as “wise.” On what are you building? 

Lord Jesus, we worship You, the ROCK of OUR SALVATION.  Thank You for the assurance You give us that we will stand because our lives are built on You.

If you missed it, my thank you and what’s ahead.

Do you ever feel like not another thing can be squeezed out of you? Do you feel you’ve given all you can give? We all know that you can’t get water out of a dry rock, and perhaps that describes us at times – dry. If so we can look to Christ, whom Isaiah 30:29 describes as the ROCK OF ISRAEL  Jesus provided water for the Israelites in the wilderness. Jesus provides Himself as living water for believers. (John 7:37-38) Drink deeply from Him. He loves you so!

Several years ago the world was sickened by the confirmation that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi had been confirmed dead after being tortured in a Saudi consulate.  Can you, would you, expect to see him walking around and eating with family and friends after his death was confirmed? No, of course not. Does that help us better grasp why people didn’t believe that Jesus was alive after they witnessed His torturous scourging and crucifixion? Matthew 28:6  gives the shocking angelic announcement to Mary as she stood outside Jesus’s empty tomb. “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” In addition to Mary and the disciples seeing the resurrected Christ, more than  500 eyewitnesses saw Jesus after His resurrection. The grave couldn’t hold Jesus because He is life. He gives eternal life to everyone who acknowledges they are a sinner and asks forgiveness in His name. People are dying every day because of natural causes, disease, and senseless evil random shootings. None of us know when the life of our family, friends, and neighbors will end. It is time for us to be bold and lovingly ask those who are unsaved, “Do you know where you will be when you die? “Gentle Boldness” is the title of one of my chapters in Discovering His Passion. Prepare yourself to share Christ with others.

Jesus, we celebrate You – the giver of eternal life. Help us gently, but boldly share You with others. 

I’m the richest woman in the world. I know. You’re wondering why I would say that since I’m not. I can say that because of Jesus, and you can say that, too. He’s given us riches beyond our comprehension. Sit back, take a load off. Marinate your soul in the riches that have your name on them.

1. I am rich in mercy.  Ephesians 2:4  “God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved me (us), even when I was (we were) dead in my (our) transgressions, made me (us) alive together with Christ.” Compared to the glory of God, I was poor and pitiful before Jesus saved me. Now, I am filled with His rich grace and mercy.
2. I am an heir of the kingdom of God. James 2:5 “Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose (me) the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” Earthly home a concern? Take heart. You’ve got a place in the kingdom of God.
3. I am the rich bride of the King and His glorious brilliance. Revelation 21:2, 11  “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband…having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. Yes, we believers are headed to the glistening glory of Jesus.

Friends, walk with a humble heart but your head uplifted. Tremble at the reality of who you are, whose you are, and the glorious brilliance awaiting you.

Do you ever think about pleasing God? Did you know that it’s possible to please God? Hebrews 11:5-6 states that Enoch was pleasing to God and that God is a REWARDER of those who seek Him.

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Hallelujah! Does that make you want to shout in praise of God? It does me! God “took him up” before his body died. Zap! In the air. Gone from earth. Friend, the same is going to happen to believers at the time of the rapture.  Unbelievers will look around and say, “Where’s mom?” The ones left behind who have some Bible knowledge may realize that “God took us up.” Yes. Up. Let that sink in for a minute. How can we be assured God will take us up and not leave us in our morally declining, evil world that calls evil good and good evil? We can be sure because we have placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins. Yes, faith. Without it, we can’t be saved. Without it, we can’t please God. Without it, we won’t go to heaven. With it, we will be saved. We will be rewarded. Are you saved? Then shout hallelujah and ready yourself for Christ’s return. He’ll be handing out rewards on the basis of what you did for His kingdom. (Remember the 10 minas story? Luke 19:11-27) If you’re not a follower of Jesus, think about the role of faith and how we exercise it all the time. We exercise faith when we get on a plane. (Is the pilot mentally stable? Will the oxygen flow correctly? Is there a terrorist on board on a suicide mission?) So, yes. Exercise your faith for the salvation of your soul. Exercise your faith that Christ is coming again just like He promised. Live in a way that pleases Him. Set your mind on the things above, not earth. Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit so you walk out His kingdom purposes. God is a REWARDER of those who seek Him. Will you seek Him?

Are you looking for peace and happiness? Do you want a better life? Only one person, our REDEEMER, has the holiness, the wholeness, the power, and grace to be our all in all. As Colossians 1:13-14 says,

He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,in whom we have REDEMPTION, the forgiveness of sins.  

Jesus is the only One able to rescue us from the domain of darkness and transfer us to His kingdom. He is the one who is able to rescue us from the sin and heartache of this world and take us to the holy heights of heaven. So we look to the cross. We look to the resurrected Lord. We look to the Bible. We look to the skies. And, we know that as Jesus kept His Word to come to us once for salvation, He’ll return to redeem us out of this world and take us to our eternal home. Our redemption is closer today than it was yesterday. Praise Him!