Tag Archives: Religion and Spirituality

God is Not Unfair Nor Forgets.

“For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.” Hebrews 6:10

I know that there are many who do simple works in the name of Jesus that get no recognition on earth. Many who do things from their homes, offices and on the streets that nobody knows about except God. To these many brave and loving souls I say, God will remember you for your goodness, love and your obedience to His will.

Because you have welcomed Christ in the service of others, God welcomes you into His love. Jesus said as much in Matthew 10:40. Because there is a heart to serve God, there is no reward on earth that can justify your actions. Your Justification comes from Heaven. But as unfair is the world so just is God. Our rewards are in eternity, not on earth. We only need to trust that what good we can do on earth is done in the trust of Jesus. John 12:44-45 reads, “If you trust me, you are really trusting in the one who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me.” When you do the will of Jesus, you are doing the will of God. When you are compelled by the Love of Christ to do works, you are compelled by the Father.

God recalls all the good we do and he remembers the righteousness of our actions. The Key is always that we do these thing because we are compelled by the Love that is given to us and the love we share with others. At the last meal shared with the disciples, Jesus said to them, “I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15) “When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in the Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”(John 14:20) If we are in Christ and He is in us, how then could the Father forget us? Why would God not justify our works if they are done in the example of His Son, Jesus?

Continue in the good service to God. Let no mortal confuse you and tell you that they have no value before God. Failing to do the works of Jesus is to fail the Father. Claiming that the works of Jesus are not to be our example of Right Living is to call God a liar.

God is Just and He will judge us through Jesus by our use of the gifts He has blessed us with. We are not to hide them in the ground as the lazy and fearful servant but are to use all the gifts to the profit of the Word. “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) They will see God in their works, in those who they render kindness to and by the grace that is given with the Love they have of God.

They shall receive reward because they are just before God and they have lived as the Lord Jesus, Our Christ, has deemed as fair and holy.

When a “Friend” says Hurtful Things

My wife got a letter yesterday from someone who was once a friend. It must be pointed out that my wife has been laid up with blood clots in her leg and lungs and we were hoping that this letter would be one to wish her healing. But sadly it was not the case.

It was instead an attack on my Spirituality. To which I felt that it was long overdo to clear the air. I admit that I was accused of “False Teachings” by the church and was removed from the roles. What was hard for me to accept was that it may have been in God’s plan that I leave that church. I don’t like moving about from church to church and I dislike “pew hoppers” but it seems that for a year I was to be one of those.

But now is the time to at least in part be reconciled with those was dismissed me. I am sorry for the grief that I caused them. I regret that we came to “blows” and that our tempers got the best of us. I want to thank you for sending me away, it was the right thing to do even though I could not see it at the time.

Yet I want to say to those who still condemn me, what have I done that is so wrong? Have I loved you or Our God any less than you? Is my fervent desire to serve Christ any less than yours?

I am called to the verse:

In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given to me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:6-7

So I will still do as I believe the Lord Redeemer directs me. And may God bless those who still dispose of me. As Christ has forgiven me, so do I forgive them. As Christ has blessed me, I ask blessings upon them. And may they grow in the Wisdom and Grace of the Spirit of God, may He shower them with His mercy. May the friendship that was from God be restored between us.

And if we meet on the street or in a shop, may our words be kind to each other. And most importantly, may the Wholeness of Christ be with you all the days of your life.

In the meanwhile, My wife is doing well and the doctors are pleased with her overall well being. Tests show that her oxygen levels are high and the clots are not impairing her blood flow. In time she will heal. In this and in all things, good and for ill, I give praise to My God. In Him all things come to pass and for Him all things are to restore my soul. I’m His for the long haul, I know no end in my love for Him.

Psalm 119:81-88 (Kaph)

My soul longs for your salvation;
I hope in your word.
My eyes long for your promise;
I ask. “When will you comfort me?”
For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
How long must your servant endure?
When will you judge those who persecute me?
The insolent have dug pitfalls for me;
they do not live according to your law.
All the commandments are sure;
they persecute me with falsehood; help me!
They have almost made an end of me on earth.
but I may keep the testimonies of your mouth. (ESV)

Persecutions continue in India, Turkey and Now England

It is now evident that in the “Free World” Christians are being attacked for their beliefs and their rights, property, and livelihoods are threatened. But it was a shock that a nurse was suspended for offering to pray for a client and now a professional foster parent has been denied to care for children because a sixteen year old girl chose to convert from Islam to Christianity and be baptized. These events did not happen in China or Iran but is England.

As Turkish Christians (Assyrians) lose property and many fled to Germany, as Indian Catholics and YWAM missions are under attack in India, as Former Soviet Nations create law restricting Faith Based organizations from having bible studies, we must be on a constant prayer vigil to preserve the rights, freedoms and dignity to worship where and how we chose.

It must be remembered that this is how it began in Nazi Germany with the Jews. As we face more opposition from the secular and anti Christians efforts, we must raise up and declare that the belief in a Supreme God is not to be passive but active. Here in the United States of America, we have been fighting secularism and restrictions of Faith because of a “Separation of Church and State” ideal that was designed to prevent a official religion. It has been perverted into becoming a government against religion.

In what ever Nation you live in, you have the God given right to Believe in Him. Man’s law has no authority to deny you that right. If we end up having to worship God in our closets, cellars and caves, as did the early Christians in Rome, we will do it again. But until that day comes, protest the ungodliness of men who deny us our God.

Feb 15: Update: I have been following the upswing of religious suppression in England as of late. First, a nurse was suspended for offering to pray for a client, then a foster parent was removed because a child in her care desided to change religions (from Islam to Christian) and now I read that a parent was threatened with dismissal from a school because her daughter talked with another child about Jesus and heaven and the mother asked her freinds to pray for her, the school and the church on line. This is England, the United Kingdom, the birthplace of the Magna Carta.

PRAY FOR THE CHRISTIANS IN ENGLAND! Pray for all Christians in the “Free World” that they may continue to worship as the desire and that Freedom of religion does not turn into the freedom from religion.

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C.H. Spurgeon on Readiness

I have been rereading sermons by Spurgeon (because a friend of mine finally returned one of my books) and I keep finding nuggets of wisdom that have shaped my life in the past and renew my faith in mighty ways.

This is another one that blessed me. “And even when that faith is given, the right preparation is to serve God always with thoughtfulness and care – not to go blundering on anyhow, hit or miss, as some do. It is a terribly sad thing to pretend to serve God without thought, without watchfulness, without care, for God is not such a one that we rush into his presence whenever we like, without premeditation, solemnity, or reverence. Every holy duty ought to be thought over carefully. Every prayer, every almsgiving, every attempt to serve God, should be done with due consideration and with holy anxiety to do it in the right manner, at the right time, and in the right spirit.”

Strong words to live by. Enter into Christian efforts by these three things: 1) Feel your need of God. 2) Cry unto God for help. 3) Accept God’s plan for you. In every way, make every effort to be a pleasing sacrifice of your life for the Sacrifice of Jesus.

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Quote from C.H. Spurgeon on Prayer

Are you willing to take it as God pleases to sent it, and to say, “Lord, if spiritual growth implies trial, if it signifies a long sickness of body, if it means deep depression of soul, if it entails the loss of property, if it involves the taking away of my dearest friends, yet I make no reserve, but include in the prayer all that is needful to the good end. When I say sanctify me wholly, spirit, soul and body, I leave the process to thy discretion.”

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Prepare For More Persucutions in the World Today

As we sit at our computers and complain that we are going through “hard times”. suffering from the effects of the recession, the possibility of job loss (if we haven’t lost our job already), and the high cost of food and gas, in reality we are just a bunch of whiners. Still here in America we are the most blessed with the fortunes of low costs in comparison to other nations and we still have more food per capita than any other country in the world. We more importantly have a freedom of religion that is still the bench mark for the rest of the world. Even as we complain about the secular and anti god movement to restrict public displays of our faith, we still enjoy the right to worship were and how we please.

The real struggle is there are places with no food all, no jobs, no future. And because the “rich” nations are held synonymous with “The West” and the West is “Christian”, and add to the fact that most Christian Churches do not run around armed to the teeth, Christians have become targets of their poverty and suffering. Churches, schools , orphanages and health clinics are targets of their frustration. While we sit in our comfortable homes watching wide screen PPV in HD with surround sound, while we drive our SUVs to the mall to buy the latest IPODs, blackberries and Blu Ray discs, poor hungry people are being led to believe that it is the fault of greedy Christians that live decadent lives. They have nothing and because “Christians” want to change the way they have lived for hundreds of years, change is for the worst and to them, disaster. they are being told that “Christians” want to keep them impoverished and enslaved.

Missions in India Are Under Attack NOW!

For other stories of Christian persecutions go to: Persecutions.org. New stories posted from around the world.
On Wednesday night (Nov 12) I received an Urgent Prayer Request from friends with YWAM. I have copied it here for all to read and to add their prayers. THIS IS NOT A HOAX, THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING.

Greetings from the Philippines. we have just received this prayer request dated November 4…JC. Mila &JCir, ISOM, WOW &Youth Center…READ and Pray! …a letter from Chip & Sandy Wanner, Team Facilitators to YWAM frontline.

Dear beloved sponsors and friends of Good News India.

We have never seen anything like this. We knew that Orissa was the most resistant and hostile State in India as far as the Gospel is concerned. And we brushed off the continuous threats and harassment we faced as we went about His work. But none of our staff imagined that they would see this kind of carnage…And it seems to be under the radar of the Western Media…

Let me explain… A Militant Hindu priest and 4 of his attendants who were zealously going around the villages of Orissa and ‘reconverting’ people back to Hinduism, were gunned down by unknown assailants in Central Orissa last weekend.

Immediately the Christians were blamed. The cry rose up…”kill the Christians!” And the horror began… In the past 4 days, we have first hand witness to hundreds of churches being blown up or burned and many, many dozens of christian tribals have been slaughtered. For no other reason than they bear the name of Christ.