The Story Line of Our Lives

This morning I was reading C J Mahaney’s book, Christ Our Mediator, and this line grabbed my heart, “The Cross climaxes the story line of the Bible, as well as the story line of our lives. “

The thought really struck me! Without the Cross, my life would be a mess. I would have no hope and be in despair. How often I forget that the Cross is not just for those that need Christ, but just as much for those who have Christ. You see when I feel there is no hope, I can look to the Cross. When I feel like I don’t matter, I can look to the Cross. When I want to make life just about me, I need the Cross. When I want to not love others, it is the Cross that reminds my heart how to love. When I feel my sin is to great to forgive, the Cross shows me that the blood of Christ is great still. When a loved one dies, it is the cross that allows me to know I will see them again.

Yes, it is the Cross that has become the “Story Line Of My Life”. It intersects my life at every point and gives my life meaning, hope and purpose.

Luke 23:33-35, “And when they came to the place that is called the Skull, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on His right and one on His left. And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide His garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at Him, saying, ‘He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He is the Christ of God, His Chosen One!’”

Lord, thank you for what You did at the Cross for me and for all who believe and who will believe. Yes, thank you for the Cross!!!!

A Time To Remember

Over the past few days, I have been reading the book of Ecclesiastes. At times I have become somewhat solemn. As I read the words of Solomon, I see a man that saw life in a way so many of us do not.
He often says that, “all is vanity”. No matter how much you do to build your life here on earth, one day you will die and all your work falls into the hands of another. He continues to state that you have no control of what happens to the work you have done here once you leave this world, and can only hope that a good person will receive what you have worked for and do good with it.
As I continued to read, I must admit that my heart was heavy. I wanted to say, “No your wrong!” But my heart knew he was right. You see this world, and all that is in it, will one day pass away. All that is built, all that is accomplished and all that is temporal, will one day be no more.
So I took a moment to look back on my life. I took some time to ask myself what have I done with my life. Have I built anything that will last? Have I changed people, have I helped people know that there is so much more than what we see, what we can touch? Have I understood that only those things done for God matter? Have I chosen to not have the temporal things of this world so to gain the eternal things of the world to come?
As Solomon closes Ecclesiastes, he states one of the greatest truths in all of scripture. In Ecclesiastes 21:13 & 14 he states, “Now all has been heard, here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
So today take time to remember your life and ask yourself if you are working for the things of God or against them?

“Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees.”

Have you ever seen a marathon runner that is very weary with their hands and arms hanging, shoulders drooping, knees and legs weak? This is the picture the author is painting.
The verse above is Hebrews 12:12. The author is saying that we who know Christ sometimes feel like giving up because of God’s discipline. However, because of Christ, we should pick up our hanging head and strengthen our weak knees. We have a source of power that the world does not. We should draw on the power of Christ when we feel we can’t go on. God will discipline those he loves, so that we will become more like his Son. God’s goal for us is not our temporal happiness or comfort, but for us to be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus Christ.
So the author is telling us that God’s discipline will make us feel weary and tired, but we are to respond to this discipline by turning from our sin, lifting our head and strengthening our knees. We are do to this, so God will no longer need to discipline us, allowing Him to better use us for the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees. Know that God is disciplining so you will turn from your sin back to Him. He loves you too much to let you live in sin, when you can be living in His freedom and peace.

The Death Of Sin

Sin can you truly be as strong as you seem
And to overcome you is only a dream
Are you more powerful than all of us thought?
Are you a foe better not fought?

Sin are you a monster that cannot die
An enemy so cold that hearts only cry
Are you a beast that comes from within?
Or are you a thought that speaks like a friend

Sin are you a tempter that plays with the soul
A song of the wind that make us less whole
Are you so hideous that your face you must hide?
Are you a poison that speaks only lies?

Sin what ever you are this I have come to be sure
That all that you are I have found only one cure
As precious as a cure could ever be
Yes the blood of Christ Jesus has over come thee

So you may fight on, and some battles you may win
But be sure of this He is coming again
And on that day there will be no place to run
You will be completely destroyed by the glory of the Son

So sin no matter what battle you wage
No matter the poison, or how strong the cage
Fight you I must for He fights for me
And ask me to trust that one day I'll be free

By Don Stubbs Dec 26th 2013

Fear Not

I often think of the shepherds on that day, the day that Christ was born. How would you respond to an angel of the Lord appearing? Yes I think we all would be fearful, and then to hear the angel say, “fear not. What a relief, but that was just the beginning, that great news was coming. The greatest of all messages was about to be proclaimed. A message that would change everything, yes, a message that had never been spoken before. This Christmas morning as I read the story of the Birth of Christ in Luke chapter 2 the message brings hope to my heart. 

For the angel said “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Yes on that day, God came into the world that had no hope and gave us hope. He came that we could again be with him. On that day God the Son said to all who would hear Him, “I Am here” you don’t have to be afraid, you don’t have to be alone, you don’t have to be lost. I have come that you may have life in me. All who would have life I have come.  Put your trust in me, put your hope in me, put your dreams in me, and I will give you far more than you could ever imagine. For I will give you myself and you will always be with me.

So today on the day we call Christmas, remember the greatest gift that has even been given, the gift of God himself. And for those who have never accepted this great gift, God himself invites you into a relationship with Himself, FEAR NOT receive today the gift of Christ Jesus the Lord.

The Story Line of Our Lives

This morning I was reading C. J. Mahaney’s book, Christ Our Mediator, and this line grabbed my heart, “The cross climaxes the story line of the Bible as well as the story line of our lives.

This thought really struck me.  It is so true, without the Cross my life would be a mess.  My life would have no hope.  I would be in despair.  Often I forget that the cross is not just for those that need Christ, but just as much for those who have Christ. 

When I feel there is no hope, I can look to the Cross.  When I feel like I don’t matter, I can look to the Cross.  When I want to make life just about me, I need the Cross.  When I want to not love others, it is the Cross that reminds my heart how to love.  When I feel my sin is to great to forgive, the Cross shows me that the blood of Christ is greater still. When a loves one dies, it is the Cross that allows me to know I will see them again.

Yes, it is the Cross that has become the Story Line Of My Life.  It intersects my life at every point.  It is the Cross that now gives my life meaning and hope and purpose.

Luke 23:33-35;

“And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.  And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments.  And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!’”

Lord I thank your for what you did at the Cross, for me and for all who do and will believe.  Yes I thank you for the Cross!!!!

Win the Day

This past weekend I was at a conference in Indianapolis called Act Like Men.  Although I was not sure of what God would say to me, I knew that God would speak and challenge me in some area of my life.  That he did!  I was challenged to be a man that had a heart for the lost.  I was challenged to break the chains of generational sin, and live a life that would bring God glory.  I was challenged to do all that I do in love.  Bigger than all of these was one particular challenge that I couldn’t forget....... “Win the day! Yes, win today for Christ.”

Not worry about winning every day, not winning the week, or the month, or the year.  But to Win the Day!  It is a simple concept.   Not hard to understand. But it gave me a hope and a belief that I could do it.  I could overcome anything for the One who overcame for me.   I could Win the Day, this day for Christ.

You see, if you’re anything like me, you sometimes get defeated trying to overcome sin.  This makes you ask yourself, “What if I do great for a while, but then I cant do it any more?”   I tend to always project out and worry about what happens tomorrow.  This overwhelms me at times.

My challenge to all who are reading this is, consider learning to Win the Day.  Today, love your God with your whole heart.  Love your wife as Christ loved the church.  Reach out to those who need to be loved.  Feed the poor.  Care for the orphans and widows.  Pray without ceasing.  Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.  Love your neighbor as you love yourself.  And  “'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.”

Yes today, Win The Day!!