As we are nearing the end of our study in the book of Revelation, we are learning about the New Jerusalem.
I’m not sure I can fully imagine what it will be like to stand before the throne of God with a multitude of believers and the heavenly hosts worshiping the Lamb of God and God the Father. To finally see my Savior face to face…the One who bore my sins so that I would be forgiven and clothed in His righteousness. What will it be like?
Then my thoughts turned to forgiveness. How many people have I held a grudge towards? What about my friend who hasn’t forgiven me? If they are believers…we will one day stand before the throne of God together. At that time the things of this earth will have long since have been forgotten and forgiven. In heaven I won’t even remember the hurts and offenses that I choose to hold on to this side of heaven.
In light of heaven, in light of the forgiveness of Christ for my sin…how can I not run to the throne of grace and freely abundantly forgive?
When Max Lucado’s new book “Max on Life – Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions” was made available to read and review, I quickly jumped at the opportunity and I was not disappointed.
In his latest book Max has compiled his responses to 172 questions that he has received over the years. The questions are grouped together by topic such as hope, hurt, help, him/her, home, have/have-nots and the hereafter.
What I appreciate about Max’s style of writing is his ability to simplify and put into practice his faith based on the solid foundation of God’s word. He doesn’t make apologies about some Bible passages that people may take offense to when they are suffering or going through a difficult time in their life. While taking God at His word is simple, it’s not easy. There are many things we won’t have an answer to this of heaven. Yet, that doesn’t stop the author from speaking the truth from the word of God into people’s lives with love and compassion.
Some of topics I found powerful were on forgiveness, growing closer to God, faith in the face of cancer, prayer, the Holy Spirit, marriage, family, sex, male/female differences, and heaven and hell.
While the book was very good, I found myself wanting Max to be stronger in his responses about sin and repentance, salvation, and abortion. An area I wish Max had covered was about the holiness of God and how a holy God views our sin.
I do recommend Max Lucado’s newest book “Max on Life”. It’s the kind of book that would be good to have on your nightstand so you can read some of the questions and answers before turning in or when waking up. There were many of Max’s answers and scripture references that I found myself pondering and meditating on. It’s well organized and there is a topic and scripture index for quick reference.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13
I have a dear friend who has committed to praying for my husband and me and our marriage. I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful that is. She and her husband love the Lord and seek His face and desire to do His will. She continually points me back to God’s word and what scripture says and the absolute truth contained therein. Prayer is a powerful and wonderful gift.
Recently she sent me an email that she was going to be praying Romans 15:13 for both of us. When I read the verse, I found that it was in line with what I’ve been going through in the last couple of weeks and what God has been impressing upon me through my circumstances.
Do you ever find that the Lord continues to bring you back to a topic over and over again? During the last couple of weeks the focus has been on hope in sermons, Bible study, scripture and radio programs.
I love the Lord Jesus Christ and my Father in heaven. I am so grateful to have the Holy Spirit in me and growing and sanctifying me. I love God’s word…and I have a hope that cannot be squelched or quenched.
Yet, the last couple of weeks I’ve felt overwhelmed. The demands and busyness have been intense. Dealing with people and things that are out of my control left me feeling frustrated, angry, and very low. I had my eyes on my circumstances and was focused on my feelings instead of God.
In the mornings I pray before starting my day and that includes prayer for the people with whom I interact with each day. I pray for salvation for those who are unsaved. If they are going through difficult times, I pray for whatever they are going through.
Even though I had started my day in prayer, instead of walking in the victory I have in Christ Jesus I felt swamped and like my boat was going under. The very people for whom I prayed were now the focus of my frustration and anger. I just wanted to quit and escape those circumstances. Yet God calls me to endure through His power, wisdom and might.
Alright…so I may be a little slow on the uptake. After a week of messages on hope you would think I would get it. But it wasn’t until my friend emailed me about the verse she was praying for us this week, that I realized that I felt rather hopeless. Hopeless because I was trying to suck it up, gut it out and get through these challenging circumstances on my strength. God never gives us burdens to bear alone. Instead He desires that we run to the throne of grace and seek His help in order to run the race with endurance.
God helped me to see that I can’t even do the everyday things on my own. I need to come to Him in the morning seeking His strength and wisdom to handle the people and things that I will encounter. Throughout the day, come to Him in prayer for each problem and challenge I’m facing. I need to pray for God to help me love those who frustrate me. That’s not something I can do on my own…I need to stay focused on God continually.
I believe there was a spiritual battle taking place during the last couple of weeks. One that left me feeling defeated when I attempted to face it alone. It was only after I reached out to some friends and asked for their prayer that I was able to keep my eyes on the Lord and come to Him in prayer throughout the day. The challenges kept coming…but now I was facing them though the power and strength of the Lord.
The enemy, the hater of our souls, seeks to have us walk alone. He knows the power of prayer and wants to keep us from praying for those who are unsaved. What better way to keep me from praying than to keep me frustrated, angry and focused on my circumstances rather than being dependent upon God.
I’ve been meditating on Romans 15:13 this week and thinking about hope. What is hope? For a Christian it’s a confident expectation based on the truth and knowledge of who God is and a remembrance of what He’s done in the past. Based on that knowledge I can know with certainty that He will act in the present and that my future is secure in Christ Jesus. Nothing can overwhelm Omnipotence who reigns on high.
When I view my circumstances in the light of God…I have a hope that cannot be shaken or moved.
In my weekly Bible study class, there will be the occasional question marked “for personal thought.” The question from last week’s lesson really hit home.
We are studying the book of Revelation. In chapter 20, we are learning about Christ’s reign on the earth during the millennium. The saints will be serving during that time on the earth. The personal question was, “If your position of authority in Christ’s kingdom will be in proportion to your faithfulness in service today, how much responsibility will you have?”
I responded that honestly, I don’t know. I wasted too many years where my focus was outward and striving for the praises of men. I’ve been self focused and had tainted motives. Thankfully, the Lord is patient and helping me to grow. I love Him more and trust Him more and desire to obey Him more.
I don’t know what responsibilities the Lord will give me based on me being a faithful servant.
But I do know this, that I trust Him to judge rightly and reward me accordingly. I also know that He didn’t give me what I do deserve for my sin. Instead He laid the punishment for all my sin on Jesus Christ. Thank You Lord!
I visited a friend this weekend and her son Joshua shared about a great message he heard from Pastor John Piper about sin and sanctification.
For me…it’s not the big outward sins that I struggle with, like murder or adultery. The sins that I struggle with and may even fail to recognize in myself are the sins of selfishness and pride. It starts there and if given free reign I go down a very ugly path.
Today I listened to John Piper’s message called, “I Act the Miracle.” It was powerful and convicting, but also helped me to see the victory that believers already have in Jesus Christ. If only we will start walking in that victory and fighting sin in us till the end.
You can download the message or listen on line. Be prepared to be challenged.
Thank you Pastor Piper for being open and transparent about sins people don’t like to admit to. Thank you Joshua for sharing!
There are crimes so horrific
My heart cries out for justice, not mercy
There are people so evil
The fires of hell don’t seem hot enough
There are hearts are so hardened and calloused
Eternity in hell doesn’t seem long enough
If Abel’s blood cried out to God
How much more so the blood of innocent babies slaughtered in the womb
Lord, I plead for justice
Both here and now and for eternity
By Susan Bunts Wachtel
February 12, 2011
The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. – Genesis 4:10
After listening to Focus on the Family’s broadcast on 2/11/11, “The Value of Standing for Life”, I wanted to read the grand jury indictment for myself. Focus shared facts from the case in Pennsylvania in which an abortion doctor had been charged with murder. Babies from late term pregnancies were aborted, yet born alive, and they were then killed by severing their spinal cord.
Shows like “The Value of Standing for Life” are difficult to hear. Reading the grand jury transcript was graphic and horrific. My mind could not begin to grasp how one doctor and his associates could commit such evil acts at a Pennsylvania abortion clinic over a period of many years.
Our liberal society twists the taking of an innocent human life and calls it “a choice”.
That’s why I was amazed to read that this doctor had actually been charged with multiple counts of murder of aborted babies who were killed outside the womb.
I am so grateful for the grand jury and their dedication to wading through the facts of this case and having wherewithal to bring criminal charges against the doctor and his associates. I’m grateful that law enforcement and the legal system were able to shut down this abortion clinic.
I pray that police and the legal system will be able to shut down more clinics. I pray that this doctor and his staff will be judged by a jury of their peers and if found guilty be sentenced as severely as the law allows.
I know as a Christian I should be concerned for this man’s soul and pray for his salvation. After reading about the crimes he committed, the best I can do is committing him to the Lord’s will. God alone is holy, righteous and just. He alone can bring true justice both here and now and in eternity.
While I’m grateful for law enforcement and the court system in our nation, the true victory in abortion will only come by changing the hearts and mind of men and women through salvation in Christ Jesus.
Below are some of the charges against Dr. Kermit Gosnell who ran an abortion clinic in Philadelphia. In reality it should be called an abortion house of horrors. Even Hollywood would be hard pressed to come up with a story like what took place there.
If you are like me and the thought of reading such awful, gruesome facts is more than you can take…I ask you to please read it anyways. Please click on the link to read the transcript of the indictments against Dr. Kermit Gosnell and his staff members.
http://www.phila.gov/districtattorney/PDFs/GrandJuryWomensMedical.pdf
“The abortion ruling is a very clear one. The abortion ruling, of course, is also a natural result of this other world view because with this other world view, human life — your individual life — has no intrinsic value.” Francis Schaeffer
What can you do? How do you process all this or put it in perspective?
http://www.birthchoiceclinic.org/
http://www.citizenlink.com/planned-parenthood/
http://www.peopleforlife.org/francis.html
There are times I feel like I have a love/hate affair with Christian radio talk show host Frank Pastore. Some days he has a wonderful show, very Christ centered, shares the Gospel message and builds up the body of Christ.
Other times, his topics, guest and callers seem to be more befitting an outrageous secular TV show in which you hear the sorted and sinful details of people’s lives. Those are the days I turn off Frank’s show.
Today was one of those days. During the first hour the topic was “what did your parents expose you to that you wished you’d never heard, saw or did.” You can well imagine in the world we live in today what some of the callers were saying.
I don’t need to listen to garbage like that and quickly turned off Frank’s radio show. I wondered just how a topic like that fulfills Paul’s admonition in Philippians 4:8?
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” – Philippians 4:8
It was a beautiful sunny day in late January.
Are you a photography lover? Whether its photos I’ve snapped or someone else, I can’t resist looking.
When I first visited Dakota’s Nature Photos I was oohing and ahhing at the beautiful scenery and animals he has captured. I quickly marked his website as a favorite. Dakota has a free giveaway for all who participate, so head on over view Dakota’s work. The only problem you may have is choosing which photography you like best.
Thanks Dakota for sharing your beautiful work. Every time I see it, it reminds me of the scripture from Romans 1:20: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”
Oh Lord, You have burdened my heart for the lost
My heart breaks at the thought
Of their eternal separation from Your presence
Sin has a tight and powerful grip
Apart from you gracious work of salvation in us
Our eternal destination is sealed
I pray for stony hearts to be turned to flesh
For You to open their eyes so they will see their own sin
Cause them to cry out to You in repentance
A love so great that it moved You
To send Your own Son to die in our stead
A love so powerful sin loses its grip and we are set free
By Susan Bunts Wachtel
February 6, 2011
Dedicated to those who continue to pray for the lost, family, friends, associates, our nation’s leaders and even our enemies.
Each day during the week, when I’m able to slip out from work and go get some lunch I’ll turn on the radio and listen to whatever ministry program is on at that time.
About a week ago, a Pastor was talking about marriage and sin. He used the powerful testimony on how God has transformed his life after he repented from sin and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
In telling his story he told about how he and his girlfriend, who later became his wife, engaged in sex outside of marriage which resulted in her getting pregnant. As he continue, my mouth was agape as he said, “My wife committed fornication.” Was that true…absolutely. Was it accurate? He left out the little detail that he and his wife had committed fornication together.
I was annoyed and found myself talking back to the radio. But it reminded me on how hard it is for us to call sin, sin. It’s so easy to downplay sin. Instead of saying I sinned, I may say I made a mistake, or I missed the mark, or I was disobedient. When in fact the more accurate statement is, “I willfully sinned against holy God.”
That trend had made its way into the church. We don’t want to offend unbelievers or seekers by telling them that they need to repent of their sin. Instead we water down the gospel message and tell them that God loves them, that He has a wonderful plan for their lives and came to save them and all they have to do is say, “Jesus come into my heart.”
Whatever happened to repentance? Whatever happened to sin? If I don’t recognize that I’m a sinner and the ultimate consequences of my sin why would I see the need to repent? Why would I see my need for a Savior? Or to have my sins covered by the precious blood of the Lamb and have my sins removed as far as the east is from the west?
In a world where sin and its ugliness are downplayed, I believe that God and His holiness and righteousness are not fully comprehended. Is God a God of love? Absolutely! But He is also a God of wrath.
Praise God that He is patient, not willing that any would perish, and that He desires that all would come to repentance. Yet there a day coming, there is a point, when God’s patience will have run its full course, both in our personal lives and in this world. There is a day coming in which we will have to give an account before God for our lives. Either I can choose to stand before God in my own righteousness, which is like the emperors’ new clothes. Or I can stand before God clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
What about you? Whose righteousness are you clothed in?
Just a thought…isn’t God’s intolerance for sin part of what makes heaven, heaven? What would heaven be like with liars, gossips, adulterers and murders continuing on in their sin? Praise God that when we are saved through Jesus Christ that we can put off the old man and put on the new man. Praise God that He continues to sanctify us and transform us until that day in which He calls us home.
In Community Bible Study this year we are going through the book of Revelation. It is a marvelous study. I think I’ve learned more about the book of Revelation than I ever have before. It’s fascinating especially in light of current events. The day when Christ will call His church home to heaven and the beginning of the tribulation seems so very near.
This week’s study was from Revelation 14:1-13 about the 144,000 men, 12,000 from each of Israel’s 12 tribes, who stand on Mount Zion with Jesus Christ. They have been redeemed and sealed by God to go forth and share the Gospel throughout the world. They are preaching a message of repentance to a world gone mad. Even though the wrath of God is being poured out upon sinful man, God continues to reach out to the lost with the message that salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone. Yet most will continue to harden their hearts and go headlong to their eternal destruction as they embrace Satan and reject Christ.
Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God. – Revelation 14:1-5
The description of the 144,000 men is amazing. They are chaste virgins, not defiled with women, there is no deceit in their mouth and they are without fault before the throne of God. That is not to say that these men are sinless. But they have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior and their sin debt has been paid in full by the precious blood of the Lamb. They are walking in obedience out of love for their Savior whom they worship.
What is said of these men and their character should be said of Christians. Can you imagine how much more effective our witness would be if we were chaste, honest and blameless? One of the most striking descriptions was, “These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.”
In our study we had a question about what obstacle might keep us from following their example. To answer that question truthfully, I knew it wouldn’t be pretty as I examined myself in mirror of God’s word.
My biggest obstacle in following their example is me…my own sinful self. All too often I’m self-focused. I take my eyes of the prize of my high calling and get distracted. I can be undisciplined, lazy and disobedient. I’m prideful and think more highly of myself than I ought to. Worse yet, I fail to love God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength.
Lest I get discouraged as I see my many faults and failures…I need get my eyes back on the Lord. The same Father, who chose these men before the foundation of the world, chose me. The same Savior, who died for their sins, poured out His precious blood on the cross to pay the penalty in full for my sin. The same Holy Spirit who seals the 144,000 has sealed me and indwells me.
It’s not about me and how big or numerous my sins are…it’s about my God and His magnificent plan to redeem those who are lost. It’s about His Son, Jesus Christ the Lamb of God who alone is worthy to be praised. It’s about the Holy Spirit who dwells within me and is sanctifying me day by day.
A good indicator that I’m trying to get through each day on my own strength, power, wisdom and might is when I arrive home completely spent. It’s an exhaustion that a good night’s sleep won’t remedy. In fact sleep often evades me because my mind is constantly on the go. I feel like I can’t turn it off.
Along with other changes in recent months, I am not able to listen to my IPod and partake of good solid Christian teaching as much as I used to. I desperately miss that. It fed my heart, mind and soul. Somehow I need to build that back into my daily life.
I think I’ve let the busyness and demands of life…work, home and responsibilities crowd God out…or assign Him to a small place that I will get to when I have the time. Ouch! Not good…not good at all.
Like any relationship…my relationship with God grows when I spend time with Him and listen to Him and share what’s going on with me. Trust Him with what I’m going through. Trust His counsel and be quick to obey.
It’s the time spent in prayer…or opening the Bible and reading with my ear inclined towards God.
You know that feeling when you are in love…and you hang on every word that comes out of your loved one’s mouth. You can’t wait to hear what they will say next. You treasure and value their advice because their wisdom is combined with love for you.
I feel like that’s what I’m missing with God. And I want it back…starting tonight. I want to hold on to Jesus and not let go.
Susan's Blog 