These are challenging times that we live in right now during the COVID-19 pandemic that has gripped the whole world with fear.  It is a HIGHLY contagious virus that has already infected more than 690,000 people world wide with over 32,000 fatalities.  

The world has seen many pestilences and viruses throughout the millennium like the Bubonic plaque, the Spanish Flu, small pox, Ebola, etc. We live in a fallen world that became that way when the first inhabitants of the planet violated God's principles in the Garden of Eden cf. Genesis 3.  And as the Apostle Paul put it in Romans 8:18-23:

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.

Notice Paul says the creation has been "groaning as in the pains of childbirth."  But there will be a liberation of this creation.  It will happen during the coming resurrection when the Lord Jesus returns on the clouds of heaven to issue judgment on this world, while taking his people to reign with him forever.  

In the meantime, let us take courage and faith that God is in full control during this time and for all time.  He has us in the palm of his hand.  He is greater than this pandemic, and he is still in the healing and deliverance business.  Take consolation in the solace in the Creator of this universe who knows all of the answers to our questions, and has the solutions to our complex problems.  Jesus once said in John 16:33: 

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We who are followers of Jesus Christ can and must remember that our Lord has our back, and that we among all people can be confident of the victory that is ours through the One who conquered sin, disease, and death! 

Remember .... GOD WANTS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A New Year with Ancient Promises

Congratulations to you if you are reading this blog! Why do I say that? If you are reading this blog, then that means that you are still alive!! And that means that you still have ample opportunity to reclaim some wonderful ancient promises from God Almighty in this New Year of 2017!!

Consider these powerful passages of Holy Scripture:

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;    never will I forsake you.” - Hebrews 13:5

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 

- 2 Corinthians 1:20

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 

- 1 Timothy 4:8

If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

- Galatians 3:29

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

- 2 Peter 3:9

REMEMBER .... GOD WANTS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time to Begin Again!

This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

God is Right!

Was driving home this morning from my Uber responsibilities as a driver, and I was reflecting on my life.  Several thoughts ran through my mind as I reflected, but the major theme of my thoughts was that God is Right! His words are right! Whether we make bad choices or good choices, God's word will prove true in our lives.  If we are sexually immoral, commit adultery, dishonor our parents, steal, gossip, slander, murder, hate, envy, covet, or take delight in injustice, we shall reap the negative consequences of such evil actions. On the other hand, if we love, practice mercy, faithfulness, justice, show compassion, pursue peace, honor others, and stay humble, we shall reap the positive fruits of those good actions.

I have lived long enough now to have seen the results of both sides of disobedience and obedience to God. And the conclusion is this: If we can see the truth of God's word play out in our lives in this life, why should we not think that God will be true as it pertains to the next life? In other words, God shows us His reality, credibility and truth in this life, so that there will be no surprises when His word proves true in the next life.  Heaven is Real! Hell is Real! God is trying to prepare each one of us for either an eternity with Him or one without Him. God's preference is that we all will CHOOSE to spend an eternity with Him in Heaven, but He will certainly punish people in Hell who CHOOSE to rebel against Him.

Consider a few passages from Holy Scripture about the Veracity of God and His word:

"God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" 

- Numbers 23:19

“Every word of God is flawless;

    he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

6 

Do not add to his words,

    or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."

- Proverbs 30:5-6

 "What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”


- Romans 3:4

"God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged."

- Hebrews 6:18

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

- Revelation 21:5

REMEMBER ..... GOD WANTS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After the Explosion Detonates

There are occasions in our lives when the smoldering wick of sin fans into the flames of absolute explosion and destruction.  WE ALL have a great ability to hide who we really are, and we know how to smile at others while secretly enduring pain or plotting evil.  But there comes a time when we can't run or hide any longer, and the truth is revealed.

Jesus said that it is not the things that we put into our mouths that makes us unclean but what comes out of our hearts is what make us unclean.


He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.  All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

Mark 7:20-23

There is a way to stop deadly explosions in our lives, however. The Bible encourages us to confess our sins to one another and to walk in the light.  In doing so, we crush the power of sin in our lives by taking away its stronghold, and we defeat the devil at the doorstep to our hearts.

Scripture says:

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

James 5:16

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

I John 1:5-7

REMEMBER .... GOD WANTS YOU!!!!!!!