New Beginnings

Wow!  I can't believe it is already nearing the end of September!  I'm sorry I haven't posted anything to my blog in a few months.  The summer months just seemed to get away from me.

Well, school has started...and as with most families of school-age children, this marks rather a beginning.  I like new beginnings...it gives us a chance to start over fresh, to begin again!  That's refreshing and exciting!

God likes new beginnings, as well!  I John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  God is a God that delights in new beginnings!  He is not only ready but willing that we come to Him, confess our sins, and He will faithfully and justly forgive us and cleanse us of all our sin.  That is a new beginning, my friend...and how refreshing is that?!  It is as if God wipes our slate clean, gives us a fresh white page and says, "Ok, let's start again!"  And ya know, that's true not only of September, but of every day,  month, year...anytime that you should go to God for forgiveness, He will "wipe the slate clean!" 

And dear friend, if you have never trusted Christ as your personal Saviour, you can do that today.   He died for you, for your sin...all you have to do is ask God to forgive you of your sin, and trust Him to save you.  Romans 10:13 says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast."  Jesus Christ is our only way of salvation; it is only through His wondrous love and grace that we can possibly be saved.

       don’t ya just love new beginnings!

         Merle

If you should have any questions concerning salvation, you can check further into my past postings on the subject...or feel free to leave a comment or question, or email me.  I'd be glad to help any way I possibly can!

Five F's to Avoid

Satan loves to get us down and discouraged, or if nothing else, at least to distract us.  Satan is the Master Deceiver:  He is the Father of Lies.  Why?--because he knows the end of the story!  His end is in "the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." (Rev. 20:10) --And because he knows his end, he wants to take as many as he can with him!  But if we know Christ as our personal Saviour, the most he can do is get us down, or discouraged, or distract us.  And why does he want to do that?--so that we aren't of any use to Christ.  (not a good place to be in--don't go there!)  So today I want to talk about the five F's to avoid!

1. Fear

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound   mind.  (2 Tim. 1:7)  Those are key components to the workings of Christ.  We need to stand upon them.  Don't allow Satan to distract you with fear…fear of

         (a) change

         (b) being found out

         (c)  death

2. Failure

Luke 16:9 says, "when ye fail," not "if."  Failure is part of life.  Failure is part of learning.  So if you've failed at something, get up, dust yourself off, and get goin' again!  Proverbs 24: 16 says, "For a just man faileth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked shall fall into mischief."  My second point is this, failure is an event, not a person. Just because you might have failed at something, doesn't make you a failure.  Look beyond it!  Christ sees so much more!

3. Feelings

vs. The Word of God

I don't know why it is (particularly as women), we tend to live our lives by our feelings; but that is just wrong.  Feelings just tend to bring us down and depressed and discouraged (funny how a lot of the devil's tactics begin with the letter "d"!).  No, we as Christians need to live our lives by the Word of God!  It is there that we find power and strength and encouragement.  Don't forget, the Word of God plays a major part in the Armor of God that God tells us to put on every day--and every part of every day!  It is powerful!  Meditate upon it, memorize it!

Let's think of a train for a moment:

Fact

Faith

Feeling

"Fact" is what we get from God's Word.  God's Word is true and it is powerful.  Next comes "Faith."  Don't forget, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of truth." (Rom. 10:17).  Then lastly, is feeling.  God will give us the right kind of feelings (faith, of course, confidence, courage, love, joy, peace, etc., as we put God first and depend upon Him.  But the key here is putting God and His Word at the front of the train.  Anytime we get that train turned around, we're in for disaster!

4. Futile

--thinking our service to Christ doesn't count or doesn't matter--you would be so wrong!

1 Corinthians 15:58 says, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain the Lord."  God is the reason for it all!  He is what we should be laboring for!

5. No Future

There is life after whatever it is you're going through.  Don't allow the difficult times to make you bitter; they were provided in your life to make you better.  Question is--which one will you choose?  God isn't finished with you yet--ya know how I know?--because you're still here! 

• Check your report card!  Are you focusing on some F's today?  Ok--it's time to take your eyes off what's getting you down--it's time to focus on the Lord.  God can still raise those grades!  He can and He will--if you will just trust Him!

It’s time to focus on the Lord!

   Merle

This was taken from a sermon preached by Pastor Mike Ray at our church, Lighthouse Baptist Church in Pleasanton, CA, on October 13, 2008.  Mike Ray is Pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church in Napa, CA.  If you're ever in either Pleasanton or Napa, CA, be sure to stop in.  Both churches are just wonderful and you wouldn't want to miss either pastor preaching.

Patience Waits upon the Lord

Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."

Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee."  

Isaiah 30:15b "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."       


James 1:4-5 "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.     If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

__________________________________

What do all of these verses have in common?  They all have an ingredient of waiting upon the Lord or patience.  And why are these such good qualities to have?  Many times in our fleshly natures, we tend to just do what we think is best, or worse, we tend to think we can just do it ourselves.  Those are both very poor responses.  Why?--because it leaves the key ingredient out--the Lord!  Let me take a few minutes to tell you about patience.  Let's phrase it this way--the difference between patience and perseverance-- 

• The difference between patience and perseverance is attitude.  
• Ya know, our attitude tells a lot about our character.  How we react to situations and circumstances in our lives, tells volumes about our character.  
• Patience is waiting when everything inside you says to do what you want to do, to do what your flesh says to do.  
• Patience waits upon God so that He may be able to work, and so that He may impress upon you the correct response in the given situation.  
• Patience means remaining faith-ful in the midst of trying circumstances.  
• Patience has a quality of serenity to it.  It speaks of tranquility, calmness, peacefulness, quietude, stillness.  It also speaks of composure, poise, settledness, contentment, repose…being at rest…rest in the Lord!  
• Yes, we need to "endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim 2:3); we need to persevere; but patience is something more!  
• Patience means to be at peace, to be content, while at the same time persevering…trusting and persevering!  
• In other words, no matter the test, you need to exercise your faith, trusting God completely, and push on with determination when the Holy Spirit directs you to do so.

May we wait upon the Lord…

      and remain faithful!

        Merle

Responding to the Trials and Testings of Life

"James 1:3-4  "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

I love the book of James.   He is so practical.  I may have used this verse before…you'll forgive me if I use it again.  It makes for a good stepping off point!  Many times God is at work in our lives…it may be to reprove us and call us back to Himself, or it may be He knows He can produce more fruit if He can just get our attention.  I don't know where this will find you in your spiritual walk today; but I do hope you will stay to listen.

Trials…that is God's time to put your faith to the test!  Will you turn to God and trust, or will you high-tail it outta of there and run the other way?!  Know that when your faith is being tested--no matter the trial or temptation--it is the time to trust God; but you must allow the testing to bring about its intended purpose--that is, to strengthen your faith and character.

man's response	Godly response
doubting	trusting
questioning	dedicated
willful	surrendered
independent	dependent
stubborn	submissive
fearful	confident
proud	humble

How you respond through the testings of life, speaks volumes of how strong your faith and character are.  Remember that!  When faced with a trial or temptation, who do you depend on?  Do you go to God, asking Him for the grace and strength to see you through it?  Or do you get independent and think you can do it all yourself?  Or worse, are you still at the immature stage of asking questions and dodging bullets?  Maturity!  That's what it's all about!  God is at work molding you like Christ.  Question is--how are you responding?  How you respond to the testings of life is a real display of how mature or immature you are.  Submit to God's plan and trust Him to see you through it--it is then that you will mature, and your faith and character will mature as well!

         May we submit to God’s plan

            and go forward for God!

             Merle

Enabling Power

This is a photo of Niagara Falls copied from Bing Images online.  It speaks volumes of God's wondrous glory and power!  God's power--that is what I want to talk about today.  Here are some wonderful verses regarding just that:

Zec. 4:6  "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts."

2 Sam. 22:40  "For Thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast Thou subdued under me."

Dan. 11:32  "And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits."

2 Tim. 1:7  "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

__________________________________________

These are all excellent verses.  Meditate upon them for a little bit, if you would…and notice the words I've put in bold print.  The point is this:  In our human flesh, we still struggle with sin and temptation, attitudes and actions, choices and our own free wills.  We will always have those struggles and temptations this side of heaven because we still have a sin nature. That sin nature again, struggles to have its own way.  Why?--because of pride, rebellion, self…all raising its ugly head.  Call it what you may…it is all still the sin nature within us.

Question is--do you want the victory?  I read a quotation yesterday and it said this:  "Things are the way you like them, or else you'd change!"  I'm sorry I do not know who originally said it, but it is very, very true.  We like our sin.  We do the things we want to do. 

But dear Christian, we are also very different than the world.  We have the Holy Spirit of God living within us!  And that changes us for two reasons--(1) We have God's power at our ready access! and (2) He desires to do a work in and through us--in us to change us into the image of Christ and through us that others might be saved!

I asked you a moment ago, do you want the victory?  Well, do you?  Do I?  What does that mean exactly?  It means are we ready to obey the Holy Spirit of God--when we face struggles  with our sin nature, times of temptation, or just day-to-day choices--are we ready to obey the Holy Spirit?  That's the bottom line!  And that is God's greatest desire! 

In a previous posting, I listed three important steps to God's process of changing us: Step One--"put off the old man" or the behavior of our old nature.  Step Two: " be renewed in the spirit of your mind." (Eph. 4:23).  God is able to work in you as you read His Word!  So we need to saturate ourselves with the Word of God so that He can not only work in our hearts, but give us the power to continue on for Him.  Step Three: "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Eph. 4:24).  We need to follow hard after God, obey His Word and His Holy Spirit, that we might produce lives that are pleasing to Him.     Why?--that we might glorify God! 

Yes, those are our responsibilities as Christians; but the point I really want to make is, we cannot do what God desires without the power of God.  Though our "new man" desires to please God, we cannot please God without the Holy Spirit enabling us by His power to do so. 

In closing, let me turn your attention to a well-known passage, John 15, verses 4-5 which says, "Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.  I am the vine, ye are the branches:  He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing."       God is our power.  The Holy Spirit is our enabler.  We cannot move forward for God without Him empowering us!

            May we depend fully

               on God’s power!

            Merle

Two Wolves: Cherokee Wisdom

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.  He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.      

                               

One is Evil.  It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.

The other is Good.  It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"  

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

The Bible probably has various verses that back this up; but the one that comes to mind is Romans 8:6 which says, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

The point is this: We can choose self and the flesh or we can choose God.  God's ways are always best!

           Choose God’s ways!

           Merle

The initial portion of this blog message was copied from an email message.  I'm sorry, I can only guess; but probably the original was from Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Only Jesus Can Satisfy Your Soul

Galations 4:4-9  says, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.   
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.  Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.   But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?"

As I said in my previous entry, "tragically, it has been my experience, that many Christians today are more prone to just go their own way, with no thought of what God desires of them."  Perhaps this particular blog entry is a continuation of that, or perhaps it is just pointed at those Christians that really have no thought of pleasing God.  In any case, I hope you read on!

Let's paraphrase a portion of the above-mentioned verses!  Why--after you have become the King's own daughter (or son), do you desire to be a homeless person, living in the gutter??  Why would you want to go back there?    And why--after you have become the King's very own--do you just stand in the doorway?  Go in! and abide in fellowship!  God desires to give you so much more!

If you missed the analogy--If you are truly saved and one of God's redeemed children of God, why do you continue to live in the filth and decay of this world, desiring to party with the rest of the world?  Yes, it may be pleasurable for a time, but dear Christian, do not allow Satan to pull you into that trap.  God desires to give you so much more!   

Ok, perhaps you're not living among the filth of this world, but are you just "standing in the doorway"?  Go in!  Abide with Him!  God desires to give you the "abundant life," a life more joyful, peaceful, enriched, and fulfilling than any other life you can imagine!  God's ways are always best!  

One of my favorite verses, John 10:10 says this: "The thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  

Romans 8:32 says, "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"      Oh, the blessings of God!  God desires to bless us in so many ways--we cannot imagine!  But dear Christian, we are the only thing that limits what God can do!  Think on that!

        Oh, that we might experience

         God’s abundant life!

             Merle

Know Yourself

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed."  James 1:14 

What is it that motivates you?
What is your deepest desire?
What is your own way?

Tragically, it has been my experience, that many Christians today are more prone to just go their own way, with no thought of what God desires of them.  Those are not the target of my blog today.  More than likely, unless the Holy Spirit is at least beginning to change their heart, they will not have a desire to read on.  And chances are, they are not truly saved anyway.  A real Christian isn't just playing church, but has the Holy Spirit of God living within them, guiding and convicting them to do right.  They are not my target audience.  You, however, that are not being drawn by temptation, but by God's grace, desire to change--YOU are my target audience!

As I said, if you are truly saved, the Holy Spirit of God lives within you, guiding and convicting you to do right.  He will give you the desire to do what's right.  What's more, He will give you the power to do what's right.  (that is God's wondrous grace at work in you!)  The changes that God desires to make in you, however, can only be possible with God.  You (and I) cannot make the changes ourselves--not without the power of the Holy Spirit.  

Notice again my initial three questions.  If you truly have a desire to follow God (and yet, feel overwhelmingly drawn by temptation), then the first thing you must do is answer those three questions--all of which overlap each other.  One problem Christians have is they don't take the time to ask themselves pointed questions such as these.  Hey, be certain, Christian, Satan knows you very well…and he knows your "weakest link."  Don't allow him to get the upper hand!  Know yourself!--and then allow the Holy Spirit to take charge of those weakest areas.

The following are key areas of motivation, desire, and what constitutes our "own way."  Read them, think through them, and then try to identify which area or areas you are most prone to:

1. Materialism--the desire for more & more money or things
2. Achievement--the high ranking of name because of who or what you are--based upon ability or looks 
3. Love & Acceptance--Family & Friends
4. Good Times--wrapped up in food, alcohol, drugs, or sex 

Okay, that was the first step.  As I said, the next thing you need to do is allow the Holy Spirit to take charge of those areas.  Don't allow pride take the upper hand.  Pride says, "I want it my way."  However, if you really mean business with God, humility says, "I know God's way is best.  Please help me, Lord, to follow you and do what's right."  God promises in James 4:6-8 to give grace to the humble.  He will give you the desire and power to do His will, if you will just endeavor to follow Him one step at a time! 

What's next, you say?  The most important part!-- Get into the Word!  God's Word is power-- power to change, power to encourage, power to direct us in the right way.  Ephesians 4 says we're to "put off…the old man" (again, that was Step One--putting aside the behavior of our old nature).  Step Two: " be renewed in the spirit of your mind." (Eph. 4:23).  God is able to work in you as you read His Word!  So we need to saturate ourselves with the Word of God so that He can not only work in our hearts, but give us the power to continue on for Him.  Step Three: "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Eph. 4:24).  We need to follow hard after God, obey His Word and His Holy Spirit, that we might produce lives that are pleasing to Him.     Why?--that we might glorify God.  That is the reason we are here on this earth… and that is the reason we are saved, that we might glorify God!  God is the reason for it all!

I'll leave you with this thought: "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."  (Romans 12: 2)

May we follow hard
after God for His glory!
   Merle
  

Brass or Gold?

2 Chronicles 12:9

1 Kings 14

1 Corinthians 3:9-15

Brass:

1. Inexpensive - no great value
2. Contains impurities
3. Does not retain its luster - it tarnishes

Satan desires to steal the "gold" from our lives.  Anytime he can make something of value less valuable, less glorifying to God, he will.  One of my favorite verses is John 10:10, which says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  The thief, of course, is Satan.  He is the Father of Lies, and he seeks to devour you (1 Pet 5:8).  Jesus Christ is the One speaking in the verse, and oh, how He desires to give us an abundant life, more wonderful and awesome than we can even imagine--if we will just learn to follow Him, trusting Him and obeying Him.  God's way is always best…you can count on it! 

Satan desires to steal the gold from:

1. Our Relationship with God

We ought to have that "abiding relationship," one which walks with God and is in close relationship to Him throughout the day in prayer, dependence, and power.  His Word ought to be supreme in our lives that He can speak to us about anything--and we will obey.  You see, it isn't how much of the Word we've read or memorize--the real question is, what are we doing with it.  James 1:22 says we're to "be doers of the word, and not hearers only."  Here's a thought: The brass of Reading the Word vs. the Gold of Feeding upon it!

2. Our Service to God

If we truly have an "abiding relationship" with Christ, then we will be as the branch and the vine, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us producing fruit for His kingdom.  Our lives ought to be glorifying to God: that is the only reason we are here on this earth!

3. In our Worship to God

Our worship ought to be real--golden, God focused.  Real worship magnifies God and it pleases God.  Are you all about glorifying self, or glorifying God?

4. The Power in our Lives

Real power of God is by His Holy Spirit--not by man.  We cannot muster up the real power we need in our lives--it must come from God.  When Jesus healed the boy who had the tormenting spirit, the disciples asked why they were unable to heal him.  Jesus said, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."  You see, whether it is healing from God that we need, or power in temptation, or power to be bold in our witness for Christ--whatever the case may be--that kind of power comes from God alone.  Man's power has to be kept working up--it cannot sustain like God's Omnipotence can!  Get a hold of the power of God, Christian!   Ephesians 3:21 says, "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." 

5. Sanctification vs. Standards

or -- Holiness vs. Legalism

Sanctification doesn't worry about the standards; he lives above the standards.  He lives by the power of the Holy Spirit to change him--a desires to be like Christ, portraying Christ in everything he thinks, says, and does.  Wow!  If we could only get a hold of that, it would change everything in our lives!  Here's a thought: The brass of standards looks around; the gold of sanctification looks up!  Who are we trying to please and glorify??

There's so much that could be said for each of these subjects.  The point is are our lives producing true, valuable "gold" that will count for all of eternity,  or are we allowing self and Satan to produce the "brass" of less meaningful, less productive lives.

There's a quotation or saying that says this:

"Good, better, best, never let it rest, until your good is better, and your better best."

        

May we glorify God with 
the gold that eternally matters!

      Merle

The previous outline and points were taken from my previous Pastor, Bill Bryson of Pleasanton, CA, as preached on Sunday, January 11, 2009. 

The Faith of a Child

A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass, jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet.  She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully.  Three times, even.  The total had to be exactly perfect.  No chance for mistakes.

Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise.  Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster.. no good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice.  "I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages," he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick...and I want to buy a miracle."

"I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist.

"His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?"

"We don't sell miracles here, little girl.  I'm sorry but I can't help you," the pharmacist said, softening a little.

"Listen, I have the money to pay for it.  If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs."    [oh, the faith of a child!]

The pharmacist's brother was a well-dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does your brother need?"

"I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money."

"How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago.

"One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly.  "And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to."

"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a miracle for little brothers."

He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said, "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need."

That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neurosurgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.

Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.

"That surgery," her Mom whispered "was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?"

Tess smiled.  She knew exactly how much a miracle cost...one dollar and eleven cents....plus the faith of a little child.

• In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need!

• A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law...

• "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you."  1 Peter 5:7

• May we all have the kind of relationship with our Heavenly Father, that we can climb up in His lap at any time crying, "Abba, Father."  Oh, how He desires to meet our deepest need!

   May we have the faith of a child!

          Merle 

 The above was copied from My Chicken Soup.

What is Easter?

Someone tell me--what does the "Easter Bunny" and colored eggs, and baskets of candy have to do with Easter?  What is Easter?  I will gladly tell you!  "Easter"--as it has been come to be called--is the celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead!  Another wonderful name for this day is "Resurrection Sunday."  That is what I love to call it…and in all actuality, Christians should celebrate this wonderful and miraculous day every Sunday!  

But Resurrection Sunday is just the wonderful climax to the whole gospel.  What is the gospel, you ask?  "Gospel" is an old word meaning "good news."  And Scripture tells us the wonderful "good news" in the following verses: 1 Corinthians 15:3b-4 "…Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures:  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"

Christ came to this earth to die for us, to take our sin upon Him Who knew no sin, that we might be saved through Him.  And dear friend, you can be certain, there is no other way to Heaven but by Jesus Christ.  In John 14:6 it says, (and Jesus Christ is speaking), "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."  Jesus Christ is our only way to Heaven!  He came to this earth that He might die for your sin and mine.  Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  As sinners, the only thing we deserve is death in hell.  Jesus Christ, however, paid our sin-debt on the cross!  God offers the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.  All we must do is accept His precious gift, His Son as payment for our sin.  Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast."  You see, there is absolutely nothing we can do in and of ourselves to earn our way to Heaven.  But Jesus Christ has done everything we need by dying in our place.  His wondrous, matchless grace!!  All we must do is confess our sin and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour…it's that simple!  Your acceptance of Christ--or not--makes the difference of Heaven or hell.  Won't you make that decision today?  God loves you so much that He died for you!!

I hope you can truly...

              Celebrate with me

              Resurrection Sunday!

              Merle