Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Compared to Jesus, Chocolate Bunnies Are Not that Sweet


Chocolate Bunnies are not as sweet as our salvation through Jesus’ redeeming work on the cross.

During Christmas I can handle a little Santa Claus and some of the other traditions surrounding that 
Holiday. When it comes to Easter I am still not digging the Easter Bunny. As far as I know there has 
not been one good Easter Bunny movie made, no National Lampoon’s Easter Vacation, or anything 
else that makes this Holiday a time for me to go the way of the world and buy stuff to help the economy 
or add stress to my already crazy life.  When it comes to the Easter Holiday, it is time to truly focus on the amazing love of God and not get distracted by secular Holiday Traditions. 

The Easter Holiday is important to Christianity because this is the time of year that Christians reflect on
Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection. Without the work of Jesus on the Cross and His resurrection, 
there would be no hope for any of us. If we were to remain in our sinful condition we would be separated from God for all eternity. However, Jesus' death on the Cross paid the price for our sin, conquered spiritual death, reconciles us back to God,  and offers eternal life for those who believe. This is why we can celebrate Easter: We are loved by God so much that gave His only Son Jesus to be our atoning sacrifice, our Redeemer, our Lord and Savior. 

Only through Jesus's work are we truly saved.

John 14:6 NIV
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father 
except through me


This is awesome news! Jesus makes it clear about how we are saved and become adopted into 
God's family.

So if that is what Easter is about, why does our culture embrace Chocolate Bunnies,
Easter Eggs and the Easter Bunny Tradition?

History Time:

History surrounding the incorporation of the symbolism of the Bunny and Egg during Easter:
The pagan celebration of the Spring Equinox, held on March 21st, was a feast celebrating and 
worshiping Eostre, the German goddess of springtime and fertility. Her symbol is the spring hare 
because it is believed she is a rabbit in her earthly incarnation. Eggs were also one of her symbols. 
The egg, a universal symbol for the start of new life, symbolizes the spring, when new life begins 
and flowers bloom. This coincides with Easter, the resurrection of Christ, thus the egg works well 
as a symbol for the Christian holiday during spring as well. When the missionaries converted the 
German Anglo-Saxons, the missionaries incorporated the symbols and festivities surrounding the 
Anglo-Saxon pagan celebrations into their Christian observances. The Germans were actually the 
first country to recognize the rabbit as an Easter symbol, and spread Bunny Cheer throughout the 
world, including America. The Christians didn't recognize the Bunny as the Symbol of Easter till 
well after Easter was celebrated.

The tradition of the Easter Bunny was introduced to America in the 1700s by German settlers in Pennsylvania. These settlers brought with them the stories of spring and fertility, as well as their edible 
Easter bunnies made out of sugar and pastry and with time the tradition spread throughout North America. So like Christmas, the Easter Holiday has also incorporated pagan celebration and symbols into its 
traditions. The Easter egg hunt is very popular with the kids and they do enjoy getting an Easter basket on Sunday morning.

The Easter Holiday is really the time when Christians celebrate the death and resurrection of the Lord 
Jesus Christ. Good Friday symbolizes Jesus’ death on the Cross and Easter Sunday His resurrection. Because of the commercialization and pagan origins of Easter, many churches prefer to refer to Easter Sunday as “Resurrection Sunday.” Easter Sunday is preceded by the season of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and repentance culminating in Holy Week and followed by a 50-day Easter season that stretches from Easter to Pentecost.

The important thing to remember about the celebration of Easter is that God fulfilled His promise that
His Son Jesus was going to save His people from their sins.

Matthew 1:20-21 NIV
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph 
son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from 
the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Jesus accomplished this by His willingness to suffer on the Cross by paying the ultimate price for our 
sin.Through the blood Jesus poured out for us, we can, if we receive His work, be reconciled back to God and live a Spirit filled life with purpose. We have also been given the most precious of all gifts, eternal life. God created us to be in fellowship with Him. Now those who become His Children will be with Him in fellowship for eternity.

Colossians 1:19-20 NIV
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself 
all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, 
shed on the cross

John 3:36 NIV
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for 
God's wrath remains on him."

John 5:24 NIV
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life 
and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 

John 6:40 NIV
For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have 
eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

John 10:28 NIV
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

Romans 6:23 NIV
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 5:11 NIV
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

John 14:2-4 NIV
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there 
to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take 
you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am 
going."


Now that we are saved due to Christ’s work on the Cross, how are we to live for God in this world?

We are to live a life Holy and set apart to God:
 With the new life we have been given we have a responsibility to live it out in a way that glorifies God.
A follower of Jesus is set apart to Him in service and in personal holiness. God commands us to be Holy.

1 Peter 1:15-16 NIV 
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 


The reason God wants us to be Holy is because being Christ-like pleases God and is effective
for fulfilling His purpose in us. Personal Holiness pleases God and draws us closer to Him.

Romans 12:1 NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living 
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.


God calls us also to be salt & light to the world:

Matthew 5:13-16 NIV
Salt and Light
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It 
is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "You are the light of 
the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. 
Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your 
light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.


We are called to be Christ’s Ambassadors:

2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV 
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us
We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.


We are commissioned to spread the Gospel:

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father 
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."


We should always be ready to share the Good News with a Christ-like heart:

1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to 
everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with 
gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously 
against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.


We are to be Christ-like:
If we don’t live our lives filled with the Holy Spirit and being Christ-like to others, we can in essence
misrepresent who we are in Christ. The fact is, hypocrites lose credibility. If we claim to have the power
of God in our lives yet sin openly or don’t act in a manner that is representative of a Holy God, how can
we be effective ministers to the world. God also loses credibility because non believers can
come to the conclusion that God has no power to change the old sinful ways followers of Jesus
once ascribed to. Now, we must also remember that we as believers are going to mess up at times.  
But if we are humble enough to take responsibility to make things right with God and others, that sense of humility shows that the Holy Spirit is working in our hearts. Humility is an attribute of Jesus and believers alike.

Matthew 11:29 NIV
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will 
find rest for your souls.

Colossians 3:12 NIV 
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, 
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

1 Peter 3:8 NIV 
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Here is God’s view of Humility:

Psalm 147:6 NIV 
The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.

Psalm 149:4 NIV 
For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.


We are to love God and others:
Jesus said the two most important commandments are to love God and others.

Luke 10:27 NIV 
He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all 
your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "


We are to live a God centered life:
What this means is we need to die to our own self interest. We need to begin to do life God’s way
surrendering our will for His.

Matthew 16:24-25 AMP
Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself 
[disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow 
Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].
For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it 
[life everlasting].


God’s importance in our lives must increase and humbly we must exalt the Lord and not ourselves.

John 3:30 AMP
He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]


We must become like Jesus, a servant leader.

Matthew 20:28 NIV 
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."


There is a cost to living as Jesus did. We will have to give up those things that don’t store up our
Treasure in Heaven.  The more we are God focused the more effective we can be as Ambassadors
for Christ.

Matthew 6:19-20 NIV
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where
 thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and 
rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.


In essence we must not fall in love with the things of this world because loving the things of this world
can separate us from God.

1 John 2:15 MSG
Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out 
love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

Jesus said we will suffer as His followers but the reward is great from an eternal perspective.

John 16:33 NIV 
"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 need to put the needs of others even ahead of our own:
As followers of Jesus we need to display Christ-like character and consider the needs of others.               This verse from Philippians really defines our unity with other believers and how our attitudes should be toward others. (Ex. The poor, the lost, the sick, the broken, and even those who hate us)

Philippians 2:1-5 NIV
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any
fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being
like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you 
should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Again this attitude of humility displayed by Jesus helps us understand what it means to be humble
and love others sacrificially. Jesus lived this out during His life on earth. As the passage from Philippians 2
continues, we get a better picture of the man Jesus.

Philippians 2:5-8 NIV
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death
even death on a cross!

We need to deal with the sin in our lives:
Sin separates us from God and is harmful to us and those around us. In light of what God has done
for us, we need to live out fully the new life we have been given.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV 
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

 Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is 
being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

1 Peter 2:9-12 NIV
 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,
that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to 
abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on 
the day he visits us.

The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts us of our sin and will give us the desire to restore our
broken relationships.

John 16:7-11 NIV
But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor 
will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the 
world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 NIV
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

So Jesus did not go to the cross just so we could be stamped Ok in God’s eyes. We are to continually
grow and mature in our character and our faith. This is God’s desire for each of us. Easter symbolizes our
new life in Christ.  We were once dead in our sin but now, because of Jesus’ work on the cross - his
death and resurrection, we are alive spiritually for eternity.

Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even 
when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Colossians 2:13 NIV
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made
you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins


We are to live each day set apart to God, reflecting the sweetness of Christ to others:
Living set apart to God means the essence of who we are reflects Christ in a positive
and effective light that highlights the sweet fragrance of His character embedded in us.
Unfortunately, some of the lost don’t perceive our Christ-likeness as sweetness.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 NLT
But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal 
procession.Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet 
perfume.  Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, 
we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a 
life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?


We are to live through the Power of the Holy Spirit:
Once we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit
will be guide us in the truth and change our old self to help us to become more like Jesus.

Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 
gentleness and self-control.  

John 16:13-15 NIV
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak 
on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring 
glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father
 is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

Romans 8:11 MSG
But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won't know what we're talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells—even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God's terms. It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that
dead life.

With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's!
Be thankful – Pray - Worship God – for we have received the Holy Spirit is the 
mark of our salvation:

Colossians 3:15 NIV 
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to 
peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 4:2 NIV 
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Hebrews 12:28 NIV 
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and
so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,

Colossians 3:16 NIV 
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, 
hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

John 4:14 NIV 
but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become 
in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Ephesians 1:13 NIV 
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation
Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,


With the Holy Spirit working in us we can continue to grow and mature in our faith regardless of the
circumstances we are faced with. We have the confidence to know God is always with us and will walk
with us through life and all that it brings. Remember we don’t trust in our circumstances, we trust
in God’s words and His promises. Jesus said that He would die for our sins and then be raised on
The Third Day. The Easter Holiday highlights that event for us. Because of the witnesses of
Jesus’ resurrection, the power of God’s Word, and the changed lives of those filled with the Holy Spirit
we can have the confidence that God will keep all His promises. How awesome it is to have a loving
Savior who gave His life for the sake of us sinners. Truly we have been blessed to receive such grace.
Therefore, a chocolate bunny is not as sweet as our salvation.

Just Sayin……………Dave




Wednesday, March 13, 2013

What Is Your Motivation?


What Is Your The Motivation

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything 
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked 
out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy 
set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of 
God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow
weary and lose heart.


I don’t know about you but life sometimes feels like I’m running a race. A lot of times I find it hard to 
keep up with all the things I think I need to get done.  I have so many things I think I need to do immediately that I end up avoiding areas of my life that God says should be a priority (ex. Family).  Ultimately this causes stress in both the family situation and in the time I spend in the task that I am 
trying to complete. Life becomes even more stressful when I have to make decisions and fulfill 
commitments while being off balance and juggling many plates.  Alas, there is hope. I find solace in 
God’s Word and using my wife as a soundboard. However, sometimes the sounds she hears 
aren't the most pleasing to the ear.

What I need to remember is that God cares about being part of all the areas of my life. No matter 
how small the task, no matter how big the circumstance, God desires to be involved, walking step by 
step as I acknowledge His presence in my life. 

The greatest detriment to life as a follower of Jesus are the desires of the flesh.  The question is: Am I going to walk with God, follow His direction, and be obedient to His principles, or at times push Him off to the side in order to rely on my own strength, my own wisdom and my own desire to do life my own way? 

When I push God away the difficulties I face in life are seen through human perspective. In my mind 
there is no eternal purpose for my suffering. Yet through God's eyes there is a purpose. The Apostle Paul
tells us that for those who love God there is a good purpose for everything that happens. Even suffering.

Romans 8:28 New International Version  
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who
have been called according to his purpose.


There is a key to being able to live joyfully even though we may be facing hardships and difficult circumstances. The problem is we live in a fallen world and we have an enemy who is out to diminish our 
effectiveness to be the salt and light in this world. 

So let’s first look at Jesus and see did how He connected His suffering to an eternal purpose.

When I visualize the suffering Jesus endured during the time of His crucifixion, I have a hard time 
thinking that He had some kind of joyful anticipation leading up to the torture He was going experience. 
But then I think about what He knew He was going to accomplish on the Cross. 
Jesus was willing to suffer so that a filthy rag like me could have hope and eternal life?

Love and obedience were behind the Jesus motivation to lay down His life.

John 10:17-18 NIV
The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes
it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take
it up again. This command I received from my Father."

Jesus knew that His love and obedience to God would fulfill the promise that was made to us.

John 3:16 NIV
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him 
shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 10:27-28 NIV
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and 
they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.


Out of great love for us and love for the Father,  Jesus willingly endure a great amount suffering and 
even death. With the same attitude and out of love for Jesus we can endure the suffering we face in the Christian life. The key is our lives have purpose. Even suffering and trials have a purpose.


Romans 5:3-5 NIV
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, 
because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.


James 1:2-4 NIV
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know 
that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so 
that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.


The greater purpose:
God wants us to be strong in our faith and develop good character. God wants to use these 
qualities to impact our fallen world. Our spiritual maturity will help us to set apart Christ as lord and 
inspire us to use the gifts that He has given us for the benefit of His kingdom.


When we realize the race we are running has an eternal purpose, the suffering we 
endure has a greater value in that we are suffering for the sake of Jesus.


1 Peter 2:19-21 NIV
For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious 
of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? 
But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.  
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,
that you should follow in his steps.


Part of a Christian’s suffering is caused by living a life contrary to the culture.  Followers of Jesus 
are ridiculed and persecuted for liking Christian music, for Home Schooling, for going to Church, 
for reading, believing and studying the Bible, for staying sober, for not partying, for not going along 
with the crowd, for not taking revenge, for not having a goal of financial extravagance, for not being self-seeking, for having morals and values, for valuing life, for living a holier life, for a desire to please God, for believing in the Creation, for loving Jesus, for sharing their faith, etc.

Because of the deep effect and consequence of sin in our world and the enemies influence in our culture, running the race for God takes supernatural strength. There are many obstacles in the way. You may be dealing with some of those obstacles right now. Here is some good news: The Holy Spirit plays a 
significant role in our service to God, spiritual maturity, receiving God’s love, faith and the strength to deal with the difficulties of life.

Acts 9:31 NIV
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened
and encouraged by The Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

Romans 5:5 NIV
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the 
Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

John 14:26 TNIV
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things 
and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Acts 1:8 TNIV
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

1 Thessalonians 1:5 TNIV
because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit 
and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 TNIV
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of 
severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:5 TNIV
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved 
us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

Hebrews 2:4 TNIV
God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit 
distributed according to his will.



Because of God’s gift of faith, along with help from the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, we have the 
right equipment to endure the difficult circumstances we are going to face as followers of Jesus.


Here is some good news - When we are burdened Jesus offers Himself to us as rest 
for our souls:

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon 
you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

The fact is, we don't need a reservation to be in the presence of Jesus. But we do need to take the 
time to share our lives with Him. 

Because this life is like running a race, we need to have the right equipment in order to run it 
well. The Bible has all the information and wisdom we need in order to live the abundant life 
God desires for each of us. It is up to us however, whether or not we are going to apply God’s Word 
and wisdom to our lives. This desire to walk with God has to come from a deeper place of gratitude 
and love for Him. We have to weigh all things from an eternal perspective in order to have a clearer understanding of our hope and purpose in this world.

So what’s the motivation?

Jesus was motivated to fulfill God’s plan out of Love for Him and out of love for us.  Because of 
Jesus’ incredible love for us through His work on the cross, our gratitude and eternal hope motivates us
to fulfill our purpose in this life. Our purpose is to love and serve God, and to love others. These are the
two greatest commandments.

Our hope is in Jesus.

In order to run a race and finish well we have to know where the finish line is. Jesus tells us
the direction in which we need to run. 

John 14:6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the 
Father except through me.


So we run toward the author and perfecter of our faith, Jesus.  He will be the one to greet us when we 
cross the finish line. I hope He will say to each of us, “well done good and faithful servant”.



Just Sayin…………………..Dave



Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Calming the Restless Spirit


Calming the Restless Spirit

Have you ever gotten to a point in your life where you looking for some kind of change? It could 
be a desire for a new job or a move to a different state or even just a pattern shift in the way you 
do life.

What causes us to want to escape and desire to find a new life? What is it about our humanity 
that refuses to be content with where we are in life? Why do humans innately have that hole in 
their lives that needs to be filled? Why does this emptiness continue to reappear even when we 
find stuff to fill the hole?

These are all good questions. Maybe we were designed by God to need something. Maybe 
that something is God Himself and we have been designed to need the Holy Spirit to fill that hole
in our lives.

Since receiving the Holy Spirit in my life I have never felt alone. Sure, I have been bummed out, 
depressed, self-focused and a victim of my own surrealistic imagination, but never again alone. I always have someone to cry out to, someone to guide my thoughts and calm my restless heart. What I am experiencing now as I cry out to God for some direction in my life, is that God has not yet revealed a clear cut answer to my supplication.  Now, He may at some point, but for now, I must wrestle with my thoughts, my desires, my dreams the desires of others and God’s will. I hope and pray God’s will wins out because that is whose desire to be obedient to.

Maybe I should also consider that God wants me to wrestle with Him. Maybe by allowing 
difficulties in my life to arise is God’s way of drawing me closer to Himself.  Maybe I should 
consider that God understands my natural tendency to run from Him and do things my way. 
Maybe by wrestling with God I will discover something about His sovereignty and power as well as something about my weakness and limited perspective. Maybe God uses the difficulties in my life to help me grow in faith and trust in Him.  Maybe God is using this time to strengthen me and fend off the my tendency for life to overrun me with uncertainty and fear.

As a follower of Jesus I recognize that the Holy Spirit has the power to influence my thoughts, counsel my fears, open up my mind to God's truth and direct my path. I also recognize that I can attain a deeper faith and a greater sense of hope when I allow God to walk along side me through the difficult times rather than shut him out and pursue my own solutions to my problems. The Bible gives me an answer as to why God can use suffering for good.

Romans 5:3-5 New International Version 1984  
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseveranceperseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.


Ah…..Godly Character and real hope! That is what I truly need. What’s happening is this, God is 
trying to shape my character and give me hope for a future that is not under my control.  There 
have been many occasions when I am chomping at the bit to make emotionally based decisions 
for my life. God on the other hand reassures me that I can put my faith and trust in Him.                                                                             

Isaiah 41:10 New International Version 1984 
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

1 Peter 5:7 New Living Translation 
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Nahum 1:7 New Living Translation 
The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who 
trust in him.

So what can calm my restless spirit?

Within God’s Word I discover that God has already laid out the plan He has for my life. 
In fact the Bible makes it clear about God’s desire for me.

Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version 1984
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and 
not to harm youplans to give you hope and a future.

It is also God’s desire to do a good work in me and through me.

Philippians 1:6 NIV
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to 
completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

God has a good purpose for those who love Him.

Romans 8:28 NIV
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have 
been called according to his purpose.

The key for me is that when I come to a point where I need to make an important decision 
concerning my life, I must make sure that it is in line with God’s will. So I must seek God’s will. 
According to the Bible there are a couple of ways I can do this:

Romans 12:2 NIV
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing 
of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, 
pleasing and perfect will.

Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version 1984 
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Matthew 7:7-8 New International Version 1984 
Ask, Seek, Knock
 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to 
you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Through prayer, the Holy Spirit and through the wisdom of God’s Word, I can get a better 
understanding What God wants me to do with my life.

Things I know God wants me to do:
Love God (Matthew 22:37-38)
Love My Neighbor (Matthew 22: 39)
Share the Gospel (Sharing my hope and God's story) (Matthew 28: 18-20, 1 Peter 3:15 )
Use my spiritual gifts and talents for His glory (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)

God’s Word is useful in my daily endeavor to live for Him and serve Him.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version 1984 
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousnessso that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

So, when I think about ways to calm my restless spirit, the answer is clear. I must be patient, waiting 
on the Lord for His perfect timing. I must realize God is in control and He will institute the next phase of my life whenever and whatever that happens to be. In the meantime, I know to continue to revere Him with a life of worship while doing the work He has called me to do. And because I love God and desire to serve Him, I know setting myself apart to Him is really the place I want to be right now and forever.

Colossians 3:23-24 New Living Translation 
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.


1 Corinthians 15:58 New International Version 1984 
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to 
the work of the Lordbecause you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.


When I feel my spirit getting restless I know I can go to Jesus who will give me the peace 
and assurance I need.

Matthew 11:28-29 New International Version 1984 
 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my 
yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest 
for your souls.

John 14:26-27 New International Version 1984 
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach 
you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.


Because of Jesus’ love for me, I can live in joyful abundance, knowing that my future is secure.
Most important in sustaining my attitude is remaining connected to God through Prayer, Bible Study, Scripture Meditation, Godly Counsel, Worship in Serving and Song as well as inviting the Holy Spirit to guide my heart each and everyday. Staying connected to God will help me to serve His kingdom with humility, a loving heart and with an eternal perspective. Knowing that I have an eternal hope and future calms my spirit. I have found that place where the restless soul finds peace in the Savior.


Just Sayin........................Dave






Friday, March 1, 2013

The Bible Is Real truth - The Inspired Word Of God


Can We Trust God and His Word?
What do you believe about how life began on Earth? For example, Do you believe that life came
about on this earth through some cosmic event, where a comet or meteorite of some kind,
brought organically rich molecules to earth, which in turn miraculously sparked the process of life?
Or maybe The Primordial Soup theory that the conditions and chemical make-up of the Earth's
oceans were optimal for the development of life on Earth. Maybe you believe Alien Life from
another world visited earth and in some way brought life here. Maybe you believe God had
something to do with it. Maybe you believe that God started the process of life by creating the
 building blocks for life and then leaving them to their own accord to begin to evolve – sometimes
known as Theistic Evolution or do you believe that God created the universe and everything we
observe today in 6 literal days, or maybe even millions of years. Whatever you believe, there is
one statement from the Bible that we all have to contend with.

Jesus said this:

John 14:6 NIV 
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the 
Father except through me.

The reason why we have to weigh this statement from Jesus is because Jesus is saying in
essence that He is the only way we can be saved from our sin and reconciled back to God.
He is the only way We can truly know God. He alone has the key to the truth of all existence
and all meaning.

So when we refer back to creation itself we must contend with Jesus because through
Him all things were made.

John 1:1-4  NIV
The Word Became Flesh
 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was
with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made
that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

John 1:10-14  NIV
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize
him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received 
him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the 
glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Ok, so referring back to John 14:6, either Jesus is telling the truth or He is a liar. If He is telling
the truth, then He is the only way to God and salvation. Jesus lets us in on God’s plan of Salvation:

John 3:16 NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him 
shall not perish but have eternal life.

Further statements from the New Testament authors conclude that Jesus is God’s only way of
Salvation. 

1 Timothy 2:5 NIV
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man 
Christ Jesus

1 John 5:11-12 NIV
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his 
Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not 
have life.

The Old testament Prophet Isaiah tells us who this Messiah is:

Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his
shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting 
Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be 
no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it 
with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.

So if Jesus is the only way to salvation than we will have to choose for ourselves to
either receive Him or reject Him. The reason why we have to choose is because we are
either for God or we are against Him. We choose because Jesus tells us that we cannot
serve two masters. We can’t serve God if we are bent on serving ourselves or other things
besides God.

Matthew 6:24 NIV
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be
devoted to the one and despise the other.


We all have a rebellious nature. Those who reject God will face His wrath. Those whose receive
Him we be given the free gift of eternal life. However, this gift is not totally free. It may be free for
us but Jesus had to pay a very high price for our salvation by giving His own life through suffering
and death on the cross.

So, those who reject God’s appointed Messiah, Jesus, remain enemies of God.

The Bible tells us this about God’s wrath:

Romans 2:5-8 NIV
But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath 
against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
God "will give to each person according to what he has done." To those who by persistence 
in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who 
are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.  

So we should think about what is true for mankind. According to the Bible our eternity is based
on a choice we have to make. It is interesting however, that God chooses us to be saved as
well. God predestines those who will be saved, and we must choose Christ in order to be saved.
Both facts are equally true.

1 Peter 2:9 NIV 
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to
God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Ephesians 1:5  NIV
he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his
pleasure and will—

Romans 8:29–30  NIV
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called;
those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Romans 10:9–10  NIV
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God 
raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are
justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

So in conclusion, what we believe and receive is important as it will decide our
eternity. So in the same way we have to investigate Jesus’ claims about Himself, and the how
we can be saved and reconciled back to God, we have to investigate what the Bible says about
creation.

When we read the Bible it clearly states that in the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth. Let’s assume this is our starting point for all truth.

Here is what the Bible says God created in 6 days:
Day 1: The heavens, the earth, light and darkness.
Day 2: Heaven
Day 3: Dry land, the seas, and vegetation.
Day 4: The sun, the moon and the stars.
Day 5: Living creatures in the water, birds in the air.
Day 6: Land animals and people.
Day 7: God "rested".

If we say that God did not do this (Create the above) than what does it say about the reliability
of the Bible?

If we don’t start off with the belief that the Bible is absolute truth we leave too much
room for speculation and we are saying God’s Word is not without error.  If we question the
inerrancy of the book of Genesis why should we take any other part of the Bible as gospel?

When it comes to Evolution, which some people accept as truth, we find that if we research the
evidence,
there is still too much speculation and lack of evidence about how humans could have evolved
from a lower order of animals, such as primates. The Bible contradicts this theory by stating that
God made the animals according to their kinds

Genesis 1:24-25 NIV
And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures
that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so.
God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds,
and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was
good.

So, do you believe that all species evolved from one common ancestor? Genesis 1 repeats
ten times that God created creatures separately according to “their” various “kinds.”

Study the design of the giraffe and tell me how this animal could have evolved from a lower
form of animal. The Giraffe has unique blood pressure controls designed into its anatomy that
keep as the giraffe lowered its head to eat the brain would fill up with blood so quickly that the
giraffe would either pass out or blood vessels in its brain would explode from the pressure. Where
else in nature do we see this design? All creatures are unique to themselves, and have a design that
could not have evolved from some other species. For instance, there is no evidence in the fossil
record of a transitional species or one species evolving into another species. Nor do we see the
evolution of any creature that has a dual nature. A cold blooded mammal for instance. There are a
few mammals that do have trouble maintaining ideal body temperature (ex. bats and mole rats)
but certainly there is no real evidence of a cold blooded creature evolving into a warm blooded
one or a reptile into a mammal.

Because God has preserved His Word for thousands of years, we can safely conclude that
without a doubt, the Scriptures are inerrant (without error) and inspired by God. Why else would
God preserve them in this fashion? I believe God would have corrected the Bible if there was an
error so we would not stumble in our faith and trust in Him and His inspired Word. That is why when
the cannon of scripture was chosen carefully and prayerfully, and that is why certain books were not
included because they could not be deemed reliable.

Logically speaking, Why else would God go to such extremes to save us and not reveal to us the
whole truth about salvation and the creation of all things? Up to this point in time the Bible is
amazingly accurate and history and archaeology continue to back that up.

Again, the Bible tells us that in the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth and that
Jesus is the way and the truth and the Life.  If we believe and start from the premise that God is the
author of creation, and the Bible was written and inspired through His authority, than it is safe to
conclude that the Bible is accurate and true. We can trust God and His Word.

And on the 7th day He rested.



Just Sayin…………….Dave