Thanksgiving 2021

Today with Thanksgiving approaching in America I want to thank God for all that He has done for me and the people he has put in in my life.

First I want to thank the Lord for changing my heart, my mind and His continued grace during my sanctification.

Thank you God for my wife who is my partner and really the person I can count on the most.

Also for my Mother who has always been a good woman of God.

Thank you Lord for my family both personal and church family.

Speaking of church I thank God for the wonderful church that Jane and I are members of. Everyone has been a blessing to us and we hope we can continue to serve both you and the church.

Thank you God for my Pastor who has been an excellent leader and someone who has had a big impact on my life and a positive influence.

And thank you Lord for the trials and struggles that come along the way. I am a better man because of them.

I know this may seem like a private prayer but I think it’s important to publicly thank God for all His blessings.

There has been a lot of tough times and it is good to remember His blessings, mercy and grace in every season.

So Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrate this Thursday.

And as always, have a blessed week,

Chris

Monday – Jeremiah 33:14-16

Tuesday – Psalm 25:1-10

Wednesday – 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Thursday – Luke 21:25-36 

The Lack of Trust in the Church

I once got into a debate with a person in the comment section of a video. They were arguing against giving a church or pastor money when they asked. They argued if a church needed Bibles or anything like that he would send them the items but he won’t send them money. I countered him with different arguments but couldn’t change his view.

In the end we decided to end the debate as neither one of us was getting through to the other.

I’ve thought about that conversation many times since. I get hung up on that debate due to a trend recently I’ve seen of people holding a similar view or even more harshly where they refuse to give anything to a church or pastor.

When the subject comes to my mind I try to think of more points I could have made.

But recently it hit me, I had been focusing so much on the debate that I didn’t think about the core issue.

Those people don’t trust their brothers and sisters in Christ.

They believe that the church and pastor will misuse the money given to them. They don’t trust that the Holy Spirit will guide them on how to use it.

And you know what? Even if they do misuse the money. God will see it. God will handle it in His way.

He also sees what’s in your heart. He knows why you may not be giving. But if the reason is you don’t trust your brothers and sisters in Christ than that’s a shame.

Let God guide you on how you give. Sometimes He may guide you to give more than you want, sometimes less than you think you should, maybe He will guide you not give it all.

But ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, not your own will but His.

This topic is bigger than just giving money.

We as a church lack trust in general.

We use “discernment” as a license to judge. Often leading to us hiding the Light of God from the World.

Look at the reaction many are having about Kanye West. They immediately threw him under the bus and refused to believe his story.

There has been much written about Mr. West and his conversion, I am not focusing on just one man.

I want the church to look at themselves. If your friend was a person who immersed himself in evil and then gave his life to Christ would you want him to be judged in the same way we do to celebrity converts or others you don’t know?

Jesus pointed out to us how easy it is to love our friends* but we are told by Him we must also love our enemies.

So when an enemy becomes a brother or sister in Christ shouldn’t you love them just the same as a friend of yours who becomes a brother or sister in Christ?

This isn’t a new problem. Read the Bible. The people around Job believed he must have sinned and that caused him to lose everything, people didn’t trust Paul’s conversion to Christianity either.

I am not going to lie, I’m very guilty of this myself. I judge people, Lord help me I do.

I know it’s easy when confronted about judging others to say, “The Bible tells me I must use discernment.”

However we must remember the difference between discernment and judgment.

Yes the Bible tells us to discern. We must look at a situation and use wisdom to understand if it goes with the Word of God.

But that doesn’t mean you go and point out the flaws of a person and tell them they’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing or that they’re lying or that they’re going to Hell. That is judgment.

Discern whether or not your using discernment.

I saw this quote on Facebook, “The only One who had the authority to cast a stone, didn’t”.

That is something we truly must remember.

Trust your brothers and sisters. Help them, be with them, love them. Because God loves them.

And He loves you.

Have a Blessed Week,

Chris.

Here is some scripture that relates to this week’s blog…

James 2:14-26 New King James Version (NKJV)

Faith Without Works Is Dead

¹⁴ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without ^[a]your works, and I will show you my faith by ^[b]my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is ^[c]dead? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made ^[d]perfect? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was^[e]accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. ²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

²⁵ Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A14-26&version=NKJV

Luke 21:1-4 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Widow’s Two Mites

21 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, ² and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.^[a]3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all;⁴ for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings^[b]for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+21%3A1-4&version=NKJV

*Luke 6:32-36 New King James Version (NKJV)

³² “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good, and lend, ^[a]hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. ³⁶ Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+6%3A32-36&version=NKJV

Memorial Day

I found this Memorial Day Prayer on the website beliefnet.com. I thought it was perfect for today.

Thank you to all those who have sacrificed.

A Memorial Day Prayer – Heavenly Father, as our nation pauses today to remember those in the military who have given their lives for freedoms we enjoy, we pray you would have us all look to you for strength, comfort and guidance. Be with all who serve in our Armed Forces. Bless them and their families. Grant your loving protection. Let peace prevail among all the nations, O God. Especially let your mercy rest upon our land, even as we acknowledge with thanksgiving your past goodness on this country. If it is your will, preserve the lives of the men and women in uniform as they defend our citizenry. Most of all, we pray that you would turn the hearts of all – military and civilian – to your holy Word where we find the true peace for our sinful souls that surpasses all understanding. Keep us repentant of sin. Move us to know, take hold and treasure your saving grace. In the name of Jesus, our Savior and Your beloved Son, who alone gives this peace and hope for eternity, we pray. Amen.

_{From the Evangelical Lutheran Synod}

 

Have a blessed week,
Chris

Source:
https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/galleries/15-inspirational-prayers-for-memorial-day.aspx?p=8

God in three relationships: The Family of God

First and foremost I want to say we have to remember God is the Father of all not just us Christians. Everyone who isn’t saved should be treated as if they were the Prodigal Son. God is patiently waiting for them to come to Him.

If someone comes to Christ than there should be a joyous celebration, Jesus said in Luke 15:10, “10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Many still bring up past sins to new Christians but the Lord says He will cast our sins in to the depths of the sea. We are not bigger than God so if He chooses to forgive someone’s sins, than we need to move on from them as well.

Jesus is the King of Kings but He is also the Son of God and according to the Bible we are joint heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus didn’t just call us brothers and sisters to be nice to us, we are one big family of God and the Father gave us the best big Brother possible.

Because we are brothers and sisters in Christ we must treat each other as family not just other people who believe the same as us.

I was listening to a Christian radio station and a caller was discussing a generous thing he had done for someone in his family, the host made a joke to the caller about borrowing money, the man replied, “No, you’re not blood.”

I know that the conversation was just in the joking sense but it still stuck with me. We have to remember your Christian family is just as important as your personal family, in some cases more important. This is God’s Family, God is more important than us as individuals.

Also I would like to point out we are all “blood”; remember in the Bible we are all descendants from the same two people.

Truly though, the most important blood that connects us is the blood of Jesus Christ and that means much more than the blood that pumps through our veins.

Have a blessed week,
Chris

Sources:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+15%3A10&version=NKJV

New Year, New Life with God

Happy New Year everyone!

It is a New Year that means for many it’s a new opportunity to change their lives. We hype this time of the year up as if it is magical but in reality many fail in their resolutions. I stopped doing New Year’s resolutions as I always failed them and it made the New Year very stressful. They’re just not for me, if they are for you then great, I wish you luck and I’ll be praying for you.

Many may mock you but it is because they’re stuck in their ways and wish they could change.

The truth is though, you all out there can be successful in change, even the ones that scoff and mock. Just because you failed in the past doesn’t mean you will fail today.

The best first step is to go to God.

With God He can make all things new. I’ve seen memes where they say, “You don’t need a new year just a Monday.”

Well with God you don’t need a new year or a Monday; you just need a new moment.

Right now everything can change for you.

My entire life has been different since I started having a relationship with God.

I have seen change in myself and others around me, I have seen miracles both small and big. When you give your life to Christ, you will see how God will take care of you.

God has taken care of my wife and I in so many ways, I wish I could list them all here today. I should be writing more about the ways God has effected my life in order to show the love of God and His wondrous works.

Well, would look at that, maybe I do have a New Year’s resolution.

But I digress.

Please pledge your life to Christ today.

If you have fallen away, recommit your life to Christ today.

Don’t just start a new year, don’t just start a new week, start your new life today.

Have a blessed week,
Chris

Here are three great Bible verses for you………….today.

Philippians 4:13 New King James Version (NKJV)
13 I can do all things through [a]Christ who strengthens me.

2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Deuteronomy 31:6
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The Relief of Grace

One of the saddest things to hear is when an atheist describes abandoning their belief in God as a relief.

Truly if that is your belief than you really missed the God of the Bible.

If someone has caused you to feel this way whether a member of church or your family, you must remember that is not God’s intention.

Trust the Word of God, not words from man.

Read and study the Bible and you will see that despite everything people did, God was always there to save them. He took extreme measures to save us out of love.

God is not wearing you down, that is your own mind that has been conditioned into believing you have to be perfect or face Hell.

God’s commandments are not anything abnormal, the majority of countries laws follow the same standard.

One big difference, is grace. Try committing a crime, then apologizing and see how you the police and court handle you. Will they absolve you?

But with God if you accept Jesus’ sacrifice you are forgiven of sins, that doesn’t mean you won’t face Earthly consequences but you will obtain the Kingdom of Heaven.

How amazing is that?

Is that a God who is overbearing and cruel?

Grace is love, Grace is relief.

Accept God’s grace and you won’t want to sin. Of course you will stumble but when you do, go right back to God.

When you see how much God loves you and you love God you aren’t afraid of going to Hell, rather afraid that you will hurt the One who loves you more than all.

To my Christian brothers and sisters, we must remember to not abuse that grace, don’t sin knowing He will just figure you anyway. That is what people do in abusive relationships. They know the one they claim to love will continue to love them no matter what, so they continue to do wrong as a free pass. Don’t do that to the Lord.

This next sentence may come off as a bit harsh but I feel like it needs to be said. I want to emphasize don’t use the Word of God as a weapon to bully others or make yourself feel powerful. God is the powerful One. He sees your own sins and tells us to worry about them before we begin to try and remove other peoples.

Jesus came to save, He spoke of Hell as a warning not a tool to force belief.

God is love.

Thank you God for you love and grace.

Have a blessed week,
Chris

The Circle of Forgiveness

Forgiveness in the Christian Doctrine is like a circle, it all connects and if any part of the circle is broken it loses its shape and meaning.

The first step to forgiveness is to ask God to forgive you of your sins, He will always forgive you. That is the most important and crucial part of the circle. In order to enter it you must first ask to be forgiven, God is there waiting for you to join Him inside.

Salvation comes from forgiveness from God, without asking you cannot receive it.

It is also important to continue to repent after you’re saved. God knows what is in your heart but showing obedience by praying to Him after a mistake shows Him that you love Him.

Remember your salvation is not a license to sin, don’t abuse your relationship with the Lord. Show Him the same love He shows you.

The second part of the circle is to forgive yourself. That is a very difficult task, forgiving yourself for all you have done. Just last night I laid awake thinking about things I did in High School.

But remember God is more important than yourself, if He can forgive you. Then you can forgive yourself.

It is very similar to loving your neighbor as you love yourself, if you don’t love yourself how can you love your neighbor the same? Well if you can’t forgive yourself how can you forgive your neighbor?

Which brings us to the third and final part of the circle, forgiving others.

God calls us to forgive others it’s included in the Lord’s Prayer and in many verses throughout the Bible.

In Matthew 6:14-15 we read, “14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Also in Luke 17: 3-4 it says, “3 So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

I will include a link to 20 verses on forgiveness in the Bible.

Once again I must emphasize we are not greater than God so if He chooses forgive others than you should too.

The circle of forgiveness goes like this…

God forgives, your forgive yourself and then you forgive others. God will always forgive you so the circle can only be broken by yourself. It is also up to you to keep the circle flowing so you can get back to God.

The Lord is waiting on you to enter the circle.

Have a blessed week,
Chris

https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/forgiveness-bible-verses/

The Importance of Knowing the Bible

I watched a video once of a group of Atheists tricking Christians to attempt to “open their eyes” to show how horrible God is. In reality the goal really seemed to just humilate these people and gain viewership in order to make money.

The trick was they told the unsuspecting Christians to read a verse from the Koran but in reality it was a verse from the Bible.

The wanted to show God in a horrible light. Many in the video were shocked by the truth.

I was very angry with the Atheists but then I realized God will take care of them. They’re just being foolish.

Forgive them Father for they don’t know what they’re doing.

Truth is shame on those Christians. They didn’t know the Word.

Shame on me. At the time I was just as ignorant as them if not more. I still have so much to learn.

And shame on me for even watching the video and giving them more views.

We must know the Word and understand it.

They were just taking selected verses out of context to manipulate scripture.

But aren’t us Christians guilty of that too? How often do we take a verse out of the Bible and run with it to fit an argument or belief? How often do you see a person take one verse and speculate on it to justify their own actions or beliefs?

You have to read the entire Bible. The whole Word and pray to understand it.

When someone tells me God is judgmental, cruel and unfair. I point out how he waited hundreds of years to punish nations who were immersed in sin. And all they needed to do was repent and He would have relented.

Try breaking one law and just tell the police that you’re sorry and see what happens. After you’re in jail, the same people that call God judgmental, cruel and unfair would tell you that you got what you deserved.

That’s just one example.

The Word of God is your armor, don’t leave yourself vunerable.

Remember satan quoted scripture to Jesus in the desert. Even the enemy knows the Word of God.

If you need a quick answer I would suggest Bible Study Tools.
https://www.biblestudytools.com

For example, want a scripture on the immigration debate? See what God says by looking it up in the search and you will find out what the Bible says.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-immigration/

Easy just like that 30 verses about Immigration.

Are you up to the challenge to live in the Word? It won’t be easy. Many are so focused on changing others but reading the Bible might force you to change your own view points. Your views may differ from God’s.

Get in the Word and see what happens.

If you not only know God’s word but follow it, your life will be so fulfilled.
Have a blessed week,
Chris.

Isaiah 53: The Forbidden Chapter

This week I am not writing much in my blog post but instead choosing to let the Word of God speak. This post is geared towards Jews who have not read or have been told to ignore Isaiah 53 and also anyone else who has not accept Jesus as the Messiah.

Read this and tell me if anyone comes to mind

“Who has believed our message
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
² He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
    and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
³ He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

⁴ Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
⁸ By oppression^[a] and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.^[b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
    and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰ Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes^[c] his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
¹¹ After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life^[d] and be satisfied^[e];
by his knowledge^[f] my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
¹² Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,^[g]
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,^[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+53&version=NIV

This happened to only one man on Earth, Yeshua (Jesus).

Watch this video about the Forbidden Chapter:

Also check out the videos of many Jewish people’s testimonies of coming to Jesus. Listen to their stories maybe they seem similar to yours.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQDc5idYQE2T6IYKT3bUN7A

https://www.oneforisrael.org

Trusting God’s plan

I have a story that has been taking place the last few years. I have been working with my little brother John, he has Autism, I was his in-home instructor, I taught him important life skills and helped him grow to be an independent adult. However his services stopped on June 28th as he is 21 years old and just finished High School.

Leading up to this I wasn’t sure what to do. I was nervous and scared, I wanted to move into another field, preferably an office type environment but I didn’t know if I’d end up working at a grocery store by the end.

To tell this story I must go back a couple years.

It was 2016, I enjoyed working with my brother and felt it was the right place for me, however my wife’s Father was sick and she was taking care of him and also trying to finish school at Notre Dame University in Baltimore. If he passed away we would need to move, my job with John was part-time. It was hard to find places that allowed couples to rent rooms or basements we would need a real apartment.

I saw that there was a full time library position open, having experience in libraries I figured I’d be able to get the job. I prayed about it and told God if I got an interview I would go, if I didn’t I would stay with John until his services stopped. I applied and I did get an email asking to call to set up an interview. I asked God to give me a sign if I shouldn’t interview. I called and received a “busy” signal. I felt that maybe a coincidence so I called back, someone picked up and I scheduled an interview. Then the very next day I got a call it was the person I spoke to yesterday, she didn’t know why but they needed to cancel all the interviews for the day I had scheduled mine, she asked if I wanted to reschedule, I heard the word “No” come into my head so I simply replied, “No, thank you. now is not the time.” I made a vow to God at that point to stay with John through the end, to see him through. I could feel that’s what God wanted.

Well some time went by and Jane graduated from college. She couldn’t look for a job as her Dad’s health continued to decline. Then one day, he abruptly passed away. My wife was distraught, myself and her whole family were dealing with grief.

But then life continues on. I was so scared, I didn’t understand, was I wrong? Did God actually want me to go for the library job and it was Satan putting those road blocks in my way? I prayed and prayed but finally I stopped, I wasn’t letting God get a word in, I was babbling like the pagans*.

So I listened, then I felt calm and relaxed, I knew it would all be okay. I had to fight the worry for awhile but God was always there. My wife started looking for a job, I kept my word to God and stayed with John. Then one day I felt the urge to help my Wife in her job search, I prayed beforehand and one job stood out to me. I showed it to my wife. She applied, was interviewed and got the job!

We were able to stay in the house for a few months and save up some money before moving into our first apartment together.

Now fast forward to May of this year. I was starting to do exactly what God tells us not to do, worry. I decided I would start applying for full time work, if I got a job offer I would take it, I was with John almost all the way through, I felt like I had to protect myself and help provide with my wife. We got a dog in February, next step is a baby, I need to move on to the next thing.

Over the next two months I applied for just over FORTY Jobs. I only got one reply and it would not be the right fit, to say the least. The last week with my brother was great but I was worried, what was going to come next? My wife reminded me that we had a little nest egg and God would take care of us. She also helped with my resume to bolster it a little bit, she is truly awesome.

Well Monday of this week came, I sent out a few applications. By this morning I had four companies contact me for interviews. Four! I went on my first interview and was immediately hired on the spot. God is good.

I kept my word and so did God.  It took less than two business days for God to find me a position. He will always provide, he has a plan, if we trust Him, his plan for us will be fulfilled.

*”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God Bless

*http://biblehub.com/matthew/6-7.htm

*https://www.biblestudytools.com/jeremiah/29-11.html