A "good" person - is it you?

What is a “good” person?

Is it
you
who goes to a place of worship weekly or daily?

Is it
you
who gives hundreds or thousands of dollars
to your place of worship for whatever is needed?

Is it
you
who takes of your surplus and gives to those in need?

Is it
you
who speaks kind words to your neighbor?

Is it
you
who invites others to your home to share a meal?

Is it … you?

Not one, no, not one
is good,
except  The One Most High,
God

And all that is done
is only really
and emphatically
true IF
it is
through Him
who enables us
to do good

Without Jesus
our works are vain
We are vain
Our reward
lies only with ourselves
and what we can accomplish
in the here and now

Not for eternity
Not with Him

The Lord looks down
from heaven
to see within
the hearts
of men and women and children too
Do we understand
Do we seek God
or have we turned away
from Him
who is The Giver of Life
Our Refuge
Our Strength
Our Salvation

Keep the Commandments
Keep them all
Be obedient.

If we belong to Jesus –

If we have accepted Jesus Christ
as our personal Lord and Savior ,
The One who came to save us all
from our sins, from eternal damnation, a forever hell,
through death on the cross,
burial
and after three days,
resurrection  –  IF,
then obedience to His command
will come
and that will be “good.”

(c) June 28, 2012

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." - Mark 12:30-31

Without Jesus unity in the church doesn't exist

His voice

His Word

His life

His death

His resurrection

for us

for all

He built His church

on the faith confessed

by Peter
who proclaimed
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)
revealed to him
by God
who is in heaven

No other power can come against it.

Satan will not prevail
Jesus – His voice, His Word –

Is the overcomer

His voice alone
all will hear
His Word alone
all will read and study
and comprehend
It is to
Him – The Lord Jesus
We will obey His commandments
We will listen to His instructions

We will find tenderness and comfort
within His loving embrace

Jesus

We do
that which we think
the way

But is it

Is it His way

Are we fine tuning our hearing and seeing

Do we realize

Are we able to discern what is His way
vs. our way

Are we united

or
divided …

What would Jesus do?!

Listen to His voice
not your own personal agenda of ideas

Study His Word

Pray for guidance, empowerment

Obey His commandments
lovingly given to show you a better route to safely travel

The Lord will protect you
He is The Good Shepherd
The Lord laid down His life

for yours
He is your salvation
He is your eternal security

He is your life


Don't lose sight
Don't fall away 


Without Him,
you are disjointed, separated, divided


With Him,
you have completeness, oneness, unity.

(c) June 20, 2012

The Christ, the Son of the living God

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:16 NKJV

Peter’s confession

Yours and mine as well

If we truly are believers

And stand on the promises

Of Him who came

And lived and died among us

Brought us to new life

Renewed life

Eternal life

The confessing church

The rock

Jesus is the foundation

Our foundation

Without Him

 as our King and master,

 our lives have little meaning

 we are only the present

 a forever future escapes us

Hope is no more

The Christ

The Son

of

The Living God

Do you believe

Do you follow

Do you obey

Do you love

This One

Only This One

Ruler of the heavens

Creator of mankind

 and all the planets

All that was

All that is

All that will be

The One
Jesus

Immanuel

The Christ

The Son of

The Living God

Jesus

revealed to us

A confessing church

A praying church

Not an opinionated church

A singing church

A doing church

A proclaiming church

A living church

A loving church

Not a “striving to be better than another” church

An obedience to God church

A true church

Jesus is The Christ

He is The Son

Of the most high

Son of the Living God

Do you believe

 and confess 

 and act

 on the foundation

 set down

 by Him

(c) June 18, 2012

God became a human being to show us the way

God became human so we would come to know what being human really is … and what it is not.

God is love

Love is kindness

Love is acceptance
Love is ongoing, forging ahead, pursuing

Love is patient
Love is compassionate
Love builds up another

Love thinks good thoughts

Love seeks the best in another

Love is merciful, gentle

Love is forgiving

Love is thankful

Love embraces each new day

Love is faithful

Love is secure

Love intently listens with our ears, our eyes, our heart

Love is hopeful

Love is joyful

Love is trusting

Love endures

Love believes

Love helps to carry another’s burdens

Love rejoices in the truth

God came to earth

The baby born in a manger

Jesus – Immanuel

God with us

To show the world

You and me

He came to take your place

He came to bring you hope

He came out of love

God is not unloving

Love is not envious

Not provoked

Not rude

Love does not hold grudges

Does not devalue and destroy – ourselves or another

Love is not spiteful

Love is not harmful

Love does not desire what belongs to another

Love does not lie – to ourselves or to another

 Love does not respond negatively

Love is not deceitful

Does not argue and dispute endlessly

Does not murmur against another

Love does not continually complain

Does not hinder the personal growth of another

Love does not show resentment

Love does not judge another

Love is not abstract

Love is real.

God is real.
God does not waver; He is unchanging

God is love

God’s love is unconditional

God gave of Himself
He sent His Son
to show us the way … the way of hope, the way of joy, the way of peace … the way to being real and true and complete.

It is not found in ourselves.
It is not something we can conjure up and it’ll happen

It is only through God and because of God that we truly know what humanity is, what love is, and what it is not.

(c) June 16, 2012 

The church - the form of Christ

The  church
The body of Christ
Believers
together
yet separate
Many parts
One whole.

The form of Christ
not individual,
separate  ideas
but Him himself
as God the Father
Jesus the Son
and The Holy Spirit.

His form
He is the model
we are to follow
His word shows us
The Way.

First
we must open The Book.

(c) June 15, 2012

the image of love

Children

A gift from God
All
wanted by God
All
created in His image

the image of love.

(c) June 15, 2012 

God has said "do not"

Do not repay evil with evil
Do not raise your hand to strike
Do not open your mouth in anger

Why not?

Because
God,
who knows all,
sees all,
hears all,
understands all,
has said so.

(c) June 15, 2012

The Church - The Bride of Christ

The church
the body of Christ
Men and women
children
all
believers in and of
The Holy One
each and together -
The Bride, The Church.

Jesus
The head
Jesus is The Groom
waiting at the altar
waiting at the door
waiting
to embrace you
with loving arms
Greeting you with much joy.

The church
the body of Christ
Do and be,
go and speak
His Word
His Truth
His Love
His Joy

Be ready
Live righteously
Listen quietly
Respond caringly
Give glory and honor
to The One
it is due.

Not you, not I
But Jesus
Our Lord and Savior
Our King Most High

We are The Church
We are The Body
We are The Bride of Christ

Jesus is The Cornerstone
Jesus is The Foundation
Jesus is The Bridegroom

United, we are One.

(c) June 14, 2012

Who is the reminder (er)?

We are to remember
but is it us
personally
who reminds us,
who brings things to mind?

some times
it is --
loved ones gone
hurts that haven't healed --
we remember easily

It is The Holy Bible --
His Word that tells us to remember
His Word that tells us what to remember
His Spirit, living within our hearts
when we accept His Son
as our personal Lord and Savior
(and so much more)
that reminds us,
teaches us,
convicts us
to go
and
do
and
be

All that He, our God,
has given us
promised us
forewarned us
commanded us

Old
to be remembered
New
to be learned

Jesus tells us in John 14,
23"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and 
We will come to him and make Our home with him. 26 (But) The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."

The Holy Spirit
sheds the light
upon us
through God The Father
and Jesus The Son
when we are
fully immersed
in The Holy Scriptures
obedient always in all ways.

(c) June 11, 2012

Walking and living

"if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ... if we live by the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit." (Galatians, 5:18, 25 NKJV)

Walking

and living

being

and doing

What we do

What we say

Is that who we are

Our actions

a result of our beliefs

Do our beliefs

always reveal

goodness

and love within

without

Are we always true

Do sometimes

we allow grumpiness

to get in the way

to supercede

better intentions?

Is it sometimes better to

say nothing

Everyone different

None the same

Even within the same body of believers

or smaller family unit

Some alert and cordial

every waking moment

Some not so alert

nor so cordial

Some soak in their surroundings

before pursuing the day

and greater moments

of relating to another.

Should we apologize

for our differences?

Does another frown

on us

because we are different

Not like them

Not like they perceive

we should be.

Is it a sin

because I am not

like you.

Are you the right one

Are you so perfect

that you have no room

for the differences

reflected in another?

Did Jesus forgive you

and judge you so righteous

that you needn't forgive

another?

Did Jesus forgive you

and say,

'go, condemn another'?

Did Jesus say,

'your way is best'?

Who are you?

What did Jesus say?

What does He say

Is He constant

Does He change

(c) November 20, 2010 

Outside looking in

Outside 
looking in
What do you see?
Who are you who sees whatever it is?

Do I speak in riddles?

Does God

Is the Bible

a jumbled conglomeration

of words

mismatched

discolored

out of sync?

I read

I study

I listen

I read again

I remember

I write

I ponder

I read again

Enough you say, you think

But no, it's not enough

Never enough

The Bible

God's Holy Word

offers insights

anew

every time

Don't stop now

The best

is yet to come

The best

began with creation

The best

continued with Abraham and Moses and David

and Solomon and Ruth and Paul and Peter

The very best

is Jesus

God's son

Born of a virgin

Living among us

Died for our sins

The very best is Jesus

who rose from the grave

and sits at the right hand of God

who sent the Holy Spirit

to live within each of us

personally

upon our acceptance

of Him,

our Savior, our Redeemer, our Lord, Jesus.

Outside

looking in

Who is outside

What is outside

Who is looking in

and who sees?

 (c) November 26, 2010 

Learn from Me

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  (Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV)

To carry our burdens

with gentleness

humbleness in heart

To learn from Jesus

who carries the burden

of all our sins

upon Himself.

He is gentle

He is humble

He is kind

We will find rest

comfort

peace

When upon Him

we cast our fears

concerns

doubts

anxieties

For all He is

we are to be likewise

(c) November 29, 2010 

God created ... He is ... It is enough

I see
what is written

I hear

what is spoken

I listen

to God's spirit

within me

I study

His word

I seek

His purpose for my life

I find rest

from the days' struggles

Through Him

in music

soothing to my soul

in worship

in prayer

in fellowship

I rejoice and thank Him and praise Him

in that it is my soul

as much as yours

He came to save

Through His Son

Through Jesus,

The Christ, The Messiah.

But still,

I do not understand

why You,

IF you really believe in God

and of God

Why would you not believe

Jesus and God are one?

God created.

Period.

God gives life

And He takes it away.

Period.

The miracle of birth

is because of God.

God created.

The stars, the planets,

the mountains and valleys,

all that is and was

and is to come --

God created.

He is more,

above and beyond more.

God created.

This is His world,

His creation.

How dare we put God

underneath us?

How dare we claim

to know more ...

oh we know so much ...

what we believe we think is true.

How dare we?!

Before us

There was no us.

God created.

Before the earth was formed,

There was no earth.

God created.

God is

Today

Tomorrow

Yesterday

God spoke

To prophets

and apostles

Men and women

And speaks still

To you and me.

He is

He was

He always has been

He continues

He came.

God can do

and be all,

at anytime.

God created.

He planted His seed

In Mary, the young girl

engaged to wed Joseph

And Mary gave birth

It was prophesied

Isaiah foretold

what the Lord would do

who the child would be

"for unto us a child is born,

unto us a Son is given;

And the government

will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful,

Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace."

(Isaiah 9:6 NKJV)

God created.

He is.

Jesus is.

It is enough.

(c) January 10, 2011 

In a world of so many

In a world of so many

You are so alone

Standing

Sitting

Walking to and fro

No one there

God above sees

Watches

You and you and you

In a world of so many

You think you are alone

But God

Waits for you

Still patient

In a world of so many

You need not be alone

God can be your friend

Your father

Your love

Your heart

In a world of so many

You needn’t be alone

Reach out and touch

The one

Who died for your very soul

In a world of so many

You are so alone

So lost

So incomplete

So afraid

In a world of so many

You think there is no one

Who cares

But you are wrong

In a world of so many

God is

Still

Yesterday

When you were alone

Today

When you are alone

Tomorrow

What about tomorrow?

(c) January 15, 2011