Christ Has All Authority

        A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about the Sermon on the Mount.  I titled it "It's All in the Details."  In that essay, I mentioned Matthew 5:1 and said that I always thought the multitudes were there listening to Jesus as He taught from the mountain.  I also said perhaps the multitudes were not there after all.  I thought that because verse 1 says that "His disciples came to Him,"  and because I heard a sermon that said verses 2 through 16 was specifically spoken to them (the disciples). 
      Since that post, I read through the Chapters 5 through 7 several times.  After discussing the idea with two men whose Bible knowledge I respect, I now realize I was probably wrong.  The multitude was probably still there.  It makes sense.  Jesus went to the mountain to be able to teach all the people from there.  Just because His disciples came to Him does not mean the multitudes went away. 
      So I apologize if I misled anyone at all with my previous post.  It is extremely important to remember as we study the Bible that we "rightly divide the Word of Truth,"  especially when we discuss it with others.  We all know how true this is.  We will be held responsible for what we teach.  I should have read and studied more carefully. 
     Whether or not there were many people present doesn't take away from the primary point of that earlier post.  The detail regarding the disciples coming to Him is still very important.  They were His followers.  They wanted to be close to Him.  The most important detail in our relationship with Jesus is still our obedience to Him.  The disciples knew that.  If we want to be one of his disciples, we must be ready to follow Him in every sense of the word. 
       Those who followed Jesus were just beginning to learn about Him.  They did not yet understand His mission.  The Jews had long awaited their Messiah.  They had lived under submission to other governments now for hundreds of years.  They were God's chosen people.  Abraham had been promised long ago that through his descendants all the nations would be blessed.  They were looking for an earthly kingdom. 
      Yet we know that many did not believe in Jesus.  Maybe some of the multitude just didn't realize that He was indeed the Son of God.  Matthew tells us in Chapter 7:28 - 29:
     "And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine.  For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
     They were astonished?  Of course, they were!  He was quoting the law to them ... telling them what they had heard all their lives.  He said, "Ye have heard it hath been said"  and followed that with, "But I say unto you."  Christ was teaching them something new. 
       The teaching of our Lord was definitely not the same old thing they had always heard from the scribes.  The scribes only taught from what was already written.  Jesus told them to go the extra mile, to love their enemies and pray for them.  He taught that it was not only their acts that could endanger their souls; but their evil thoughts could also condemn them.  He told them not to do things for show as the Pharisees did.  I don't know for sure, but I don't think the scribes would have gone against the Pharisees. 
         Did Jesus have the authority to teach these new things?  Did He have the power to give them teachings altogether different from anything they had ever heard?  Of course He did!  It is sad that so many of them could not or would not recognize His authority.  They simply would not accept Him for who He was, is and always will be.  He is the author of our eternal salvation.  He is "the Christ the Son of the living God" as Peter confessed so long ago.  Like the disciples who were with Him while He was alive, we are to follow His commandments today. 
         They were astonished.  They did not understand His authority or where it came from.   We were not there to hear this life changing sermon.  We did not get to hear Jesus tell His disciples they were the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  But we have a witness who told us that it happened.  Matthew gave us his wonderful gospel that explains Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophets.  He tells us that Jesus was the one who had been promised.  He was the Christ. 
       Through the gospel of Matthew, we can understand just who Christ was.  We realize He did have that authority to preach the Sermon on the Mount.  He was not a mere scribe!  He was the Word.  He IS the Word.  Do you want to know Jesus today?   Read the Word.  It's right there in the pages of the Bible.  Christ is right there.  You will find Him, if you only choose to see.  Jesus is the Son of God.  And all authority has been given to Him. 

Christ above all things,
Robin

     
     

No Not One!

        I usually regret it when so many days have gone by between posts.  Tonight is no different.  It really is so easy to let time slip by.  Daily life is full of distractions and before I realize it a week has passed.  But enough of that.  I know we are all busy.  Life has a way of doing that to a person.
       Yet I am thankful for the life which God has given me.  I am truly blessed and realize it is good that I should remember this every day.  No matter how quickly our days go by, we must remember to be grateful to our Lord and to praise Him every day. Life is short and we really do need to make each day count.
       Christ lived a short life here on earth.  Think about it.  Do you know anyone who is 33 or so?  I do.  My oldest son is 33.  I only make this comparison in relation to the amount of time our Lord lived as a man.  It seems like such a short time  -- 33 1/2 years.  What is the first thing many of us when we hear of someone around this age passing on?  We say, "Oh my he (or she) was so young."  It is true 33 years does seem like a very short time to live.
      On the other hand, think about how much life can be packed into those 33 years.  Well before that time, we experience life in many different ways and circumstances.  Most of us experience the love and joy of family.  We have had our share of injury and sickness.  We learn from our families and from our schools.  We develop an independence from our parents and make our own way in life - whether we have a family of our own or not.  So by 33 we have learned how to work and earn an income for ourselves.  By 33 we have been tempted and tried.  We have learned to be in submission to authorities and we have learned to make decisions on our own.  We have experienced every emotion any human is capable of -- love, joy, peace, victory, and happiness.  On the side of the coin we have felt pain, betrayal, anger, loneliness, defeat and sadness. 
      You get what I am trying to say, right?  Christ may have only lived as a man for a little over 33 years, but that was enough for Him to experience and understand everything we will ever go through.  It was long enough for Him not only to become the sacrifice for our sins because He lived a sinless perfect life; but it was also long enough so that when we go to God in prayer Christ can speak to the Father for us.  He lived long enough not only to be our Redeemer, but also to be our Best Friend.  Some of you will say, He is our best friend because He died for us.  I don't argue that point one bit.  BUT in my mind He is also our best friend because He lived for us.
       There was a two fold purpose -- or perhaps even a threefold purpose in Christ living an earthly life.  One of His purposes was to die for our sins.  We are so thankful every day for the sacrifice He made for us on that cruel cross!  The second purpose for which Jesus came to earth was for Him in person to seek and save the lost.  It was important that He teach others of His Father.  He was to be "about His father's business."  He preached and taught about the kingdom of God.  And He prepared others to carry on His work. 
      However, it is the third purpose that I need to remember more often.  In living in the flesh and experiencing all the things He experienced -- He knows what we go through.  He understands our temptations and heartaches.  He understands our relationships with one another.  He understands submission.  He understands authority.  He understands the love we share between family and friends.  And he understands betrayal and pain and weariness.  You see when we go to God in prayer - Christ is right there too.  As we pray, Jesus tells the Father - "I know what that feels like.  People hurt me too."  or "I understand how she felt when she wanted to strike back at that person."  He might even say, "I was hungry too, Father.  So I know why he is so concerned that he lost his job." 
      See Jesus knows.  Whatever you are going through, whatever you are feeling right now - whether it is good or bad, He knows.  And here is the most wonderful part of it all -- He cares!!!!  So many folks around you might have an idea of what you are going through, but this is a cold dark world we live in they may not care.  At work - or out in the world, they don't care what they are going through.  Everyone has problems of their own.  Not so with our Christ - He cares!!! He will stand by you as you go to Father.  He is our Mediator and will speak to God on your behalf .... and help will come!!!  It is when we can truly understand and believe this - when we let it sink deep down into our soul that we experience that peace that passes understanding.  That, my friends is a "Woo Hoo" moment!! 
       You all probably know the song, "There's Not a Friend Like the Lowly Jesus."  We sang it during our worship this morning.  Sometimes, I sing it at home or in the car too.  Now that I think of it, it is probably one of my favorites.  Think about the words...
                 There's not a Friend like the lowly Jesus -- No, not one! no, not one!        
                None else could heal all our souls’ diseases: No, not one! no, not one!
He lived a lowly earthly life -- for us.  Yet, He is the only one that could heal our souls.

                No friend like Him is so high and holy, No, not one! no, not one!
                And yet no friend is so meek and lowly,No, not one! no, not one!
He is the Son of God.  He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 
Yet again, He is meek and full of loving kindness.  He lived as a man - in the flesh.
                 There's not an hour that He is not near us, No, not one! no, not one!
                  No night so dark, but His love can cheer us, No, not one! no, not one!
He really is always there.  Even in the darkest of nights, knowing His love gives us hope.

And finally, there is the chorus which is so beautiful and so true and so full of comfort.
            Jesus knows all about our struggles; He will guide 'til the day is done.
            There's not a Friend like the lowly Jesus: No, not one!  no, not one!

Again, Jesus knows about every doubt, every concern, every fear and every tear, every struggle with temptation.  He knows and he cares!!!  He will guide us through.

Jesus really IS our BEST FRIEND.  And there is not one like him.   

Christ above all things,
Robin
                




 
        
 

It is All in the Details

      I have been reading through the gospel of Matthew lately.  From what I have studied,  Matthew's account of the Christ is the gospel that was written with the Jewish person in mind.  This apostle documents the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies through the life of Christ.  I have only gotten through the first few chapters, but already I noticed several references to Old Testament prophecies. 
      I love reading through God's word!   I learn something new or look at some passage with a different perspective every time I read from its pages.  The story of Jesus is a beautiful story indeed.  It's all in the details, or so I've heard.  The Bible is full of specific details that enrich the beauty of the scriptures and enliven its stories. 
      One detail I re-discovered while reading through Matthew concerns the Sermon on the Mount given in chapters 5 through 7.   Chapter 4 ends by telling the reader:
"And there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan."  
       Then chapter 5 begins by saying, "And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him:"  When I remember the beautiful words from the Sermon on the Mount, I often make the mistake of envisioning the multitudes that have followed Jesus.  But that is not what verse 1 of chapter 5 tells us.  It was the disciples who came to Jesus on the  mountain.  This great sermon was for those who were loyal believers and followers. 
      This detail is important to remember.  It gives a whole new outlook to the bulk of the Sermon.  It makes more sense when Jesus says "You are the salt of the earth" and "You are the light of the world."  Maybe I am the only one that forgets the point that Christ is speaking only to those who are following Him.  However, it is easy to understand why Jesus tells His followers they are lights.  They will be the ones to share His teachings after He is gone.  While He is still with them, they will learn to practice these principles just as Christ does.
      Looking at the sermon from this standpoint, we can understand Jesus wanted His followers to stand out -- to be different.  They would not be able to spread the news of the gospel by being the same as the world around them.  Even from the very beginning of His ministry, Jesus is preparing His disciples.  He wants them to be ready when the time comes - after His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension -- after the church is established.  He wants them to be ready to teach the whole world about Him.  He begins by telling them what kind of life He wants them to life and how different He wants them to be. 
      Taking all this into consideration gives me a new appreciation for the Sermon on the Mount.  I understand the deep love Christ had for His disciples.  It was important to Him that they stand out from the world.  He wanted them to be lights.  In a world of darkness lights will draw attention.  As workers of light, the disciples will be able to bring others to Jesus and God will be glorified. 
      We see from reading any of the gospels that was all Jesus ever wanted.  He wanted to do the will of the Father so that the Father would be glorified.  He came to die for the sins of the world because He loved us all and wanted us all to be able to glorify God on earth so that we would be glorified with Him in heaven.  It was the business of Christ to be glorify the Father.  He knew He would not always be here to do that.  So He tried from the very beginning of His ministry to teach His followers to glorify the Father too.
      The Sermon on the Mount has been recorded in God's word so that anyone who chooses to can read it.  But even today, when we read the words of our Lord, He is not speaking to the multitudes of the world.  That sermon is not for all of them.  Even now, it is for His followers.  Be different -- follow Me -- do good works -- glorify my Father.   Be those lights in the world. 
      Here is another detail to think about -- the disciples came to Jesus.  Today even though these words are there for anyone to read, it will not be read by the multitudes.  It will be read, remembered and practiced only by those who come to Him.  Get it?  Any of us can read it; but not many will.  Just like that great sermon was only heard by those who came to Jesus on the mountain, it will only be heard today by those who choose to come to Christ .. and truly follow and obey.
      It really is all in the details.  The detail that cannot be left out is our obedience.  Only through that obedience can we really say we are different.  Only then can we really glorify the Father in heaven.

Christ above all things,
Robin

     

A Lion in the Back Yard

A couple of weeks ago during Bible study on Wednesday night; I had another wonderful discussion with the little three year old boy in my class. He is a very smart and imaginative young fellow.  He really keeps me on my toes.  I probably learn more from him than he does from me!

I was going through a flip chart with the class and singing the song along with it.  The chart and song were both about all the things that God made.  One chart (or page) has a picture of all sorts of animals on it.  Among these animals is a lion. 

As we finished the song, he asked me if I had ever seen a lion.  I said, “Yes, I have seen lions before – at zoos and circuses.” 

“Well I have seen one too.  A lion came up in our back    yard,” he replied.

“Really? In your back yard?  Are you sure?”

“He sure did!  And Daddy got his gun and shot it. 

Then he took it to the dumpster.” 

My little student always tells me these fantastic stories with the straightest of faces.  He never cracks a smile.  Except for the fact that they are so outlandish, one can never tell from his behavior that he is making his stories up.  He can be so earnest and convincing in his story telling!  I don’t call him out on it though.  I treat his conversation as literally as he treats it.  Oh, I do question him, such as I did above; but I go along with the story as if it were for real. 

“So a lion came up in your yard and your Daddy shot it?”

“Yes,” he said.  “He sure did.”

“Well, what color was this lion?” 

“It was yellow and pink.  And it was very big.”

“Oh, my!”

Then he said, “But you don’t have to talk to Daddy about it though cause he doesn't know it happened.”

“Wait a minute, sweetie.  I thought you said your Dad was the one that shot the lion.”

Without skipping a beat he said, “Oh he is; but he won’t remember so just don’t talk to him about it.”  

Well, I didn't talk to his dad about it, but I could not resist telling his aunt the story.  She laughed and said that he keeps them all entertained.  She was quite amused by her nephew’s tales. He is definitely a smart young man!   

As I have said many times before, I do love my 2 and 3 year old students!  They challenge me and uplift me at the same time.  We never have a dull class.  Something new happens every week.  Their little minds are like sponges.  They can learn just about anything at this age.  We have to be so very careful in what we say and what we do around young children.  Influence is powerful.  We must make sure we are a good influence, because believe me, these little ones don’t miss a thing! 

       Let’s go back though, to the lion in the back yard.  We can make several spiritual applications to my student’s wild story.  The Bible refers to the devil as our enemy.  Peter compares him to a roaring lion that goes about seeking whom he may devour. (I Peter 5:8)  The devil may be closer than you think.  He could be in your very own back yard!  He probably sneaked in when you weren't watching too closely.  He lurks there in your back yard – waiting and hoping for you to fall, so he can pounce on you right then and there. 

Please be careful!  Remember that when the devil has tempted you with one little thing and you yield; it won’t be very long until he completely overtakes you. That is why we must always be alert and diligent.  We must pray for protection from the enemy and thank God when He gives us the victory! 

Think about this, too.  Who was my little friend’s protector in this story?  Who shot the lion down?  His daddy did!  Our Heavenly Father stands on call 24 hours a day every day.  He is always with us and He also waits in the backyard.  He waits for you to call for Him.  Our God is more powerful than the devil ever thought about being!  Trust Him to shoot the devil down and take him to the dumpster for you.  He can help you with whatever the devil has placed in your yard. 

My little student did not want me to talk to his daddy about the lion.  I suppose he thought he would have been in trouble. Maybe he just didn't want me to find out he had made it all up.  I am not sure what his motives were; but our Heavenly Father knows anyway. 

God already knows what is on your mind.  He knows what you need before you even ask.  You can talk to Him before, during, and after your backyard encounter with the destroyer. God will never forget!  Through Christ, God understands what we go through.  We can always talk to Him about it.  And we can definitely count on Him being there for us.  Our God is faithful to those who are faithful to Him.

So the next time that old roaring lion sneaks up on you remember your Heavenly Father can and will shoot him down.  God has the power to help us defeat our adversary the devil.  One day He will cast him into the dumpster once and for all!  The Bible teaches that he will be cast into outer darkness.  However, we must go to our Father and ask for help.  He waits for us to ask.  We can go to Him anytime we need Him.  He will remember us.  God will send His Spirit to work within us and give us enough power to overcome the temptations. Just like my student’s dad was his protector; so our Father will be our protector.  What a mighty and awesome one He is!

Christ above all things,

Robin 

As Lovely as a Tree

    The poem by Joyce Kilmer says that no poem is as lovely as a tree.  He closes by saying that only God can make a tree. 

This is perhaps the time of year when we notice God's trees most.  I love the dazzling colors with which God clothes the trees in the autumn!

      The leaves on the red maple trees in our front yard have finally changed from green to their brilliant and vibrant red.  I guess you could say they have on their fall dresses now.  They looked beautiful this morning with the branches swaying and dancing to the music of the wind.  The colors are so vivid that the trees even stood out in the dusk of the evening last night when I arrived home from work.   

       God’s creation is quite beautiful!  The changing of the seasons helps us to see that.  Sometimes we compare the different seasons in nature to seasons we go through in our lives, and aptly so.  Many lessons can be gleaned from those comparisons.  This morning when I looked up at those marvelous trees though, it seemed that they were so joyful in their new attire.  For some reason I thought how joyful we are when we first put on Christ.  We are happy that our old life is gone.   Spiritually, we are a new creature. 

       I also thought about fall being harvest time – and when we give our lives to Christ, the seed of God’s word has brought forth the harvest of a saved soul. Jesus was deeply concerned about this type of harvest.  Matthew tells us in Chapter 9: 36- 38 –

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

     Through these verses we see the great compassion Christ had for the lost souls of the world.  Once we become Christians, we should share that deep and loving concern.  We should be more than willing to bring the weary and scattered to the Good Shepherd.  We should be happy to be a fellow laborer for His harvest.   

When we have put on Christ His spirit dwells within us.  When Christ is seen in a person, male or female, that person just radiates pure joy and beauty!  Do you remember that feeling?  Do you remember the amazing love you felt for God at that time – knowing that His Son died in your stead to set you free from sin?  It is a wonderful feeling to know that God loves you that much. 

How long have you been a Christian?  Do you still feel that same happiness and love?  Are you still radiating the beauty of Christ in you?   Do you still feel that great joy in knowing that He died for you and through your baptism you were able to become a new person?  All your sins were washed away that day!

Well, sometimes we forget.  Life happens.  The world is tough and the memories of that moment fade, so we have to be reminded.  Maybe that is why I noticed those trees in my front yard this morning.  Maybe I needed to be reminded about the joy of being forgiven by a merciful God who loves me.  If your memory has started to fade too – I challenge you to remind yourself!!  It is important.   Christ is the same loving Savior as He was the day you gave your life to Him.  He still loves you that much.  Please don’t let that joy fade away!

It is important to remember because, like those trees, we will go through changes in our lives.  You see, they will lose their brightly colored leaves in just a few days.  They will go through the winter’s cold with nothing but the bare bark of their branches to sustain them.  They may face a few thunderstorms along the way.  Hopefully though, they will stand through all of the bleak winter and whatever storms they may face.  They will live through the cold and enjoy another renewal in the spring.   

When we go through rough times in our lives your Heavenly Father hopes that you will make it through.  He loves you.  He waits and watches to see if you will stand through the storm.  He wants nothing more than to see you succeed!  Christ watches too and He rejoices when you have lived through the cold and become stronger.  Then when the trial is over and you realize your faith has not failed you … your God saw you through – then you experience a renewal too.  God is so good! 

 A Christian's life should be lovely, too.  We should bring as much beauty into the world of people as a tree brings to the beauty of the planet.  Kilmer's poem says only God can make a tree.  That is absolutely true.  It is also true that as we study and obey God's word -- it is only God that changes lives.  It is only through His Son that we become Christians and only through our obedient love does God beautify our souls.

I mentioned earlier that even in the dusk of the evening last night, I could still see those brightly colored leaves.  What about you – does your light still shine even in the night?  I know that I would not be able to see my trees in the total darkness of the night.  But I know that they are there.  The trees do not go away.  They stand through the night and when morning’s light comes – they haven’t moved.  Can people say that about you?  Do those that know you well understand that you will stick by God even in the darkest times?   

To me, trees are always pretty.  They show God’s power through all the seasons.  They are stunning in the green of the summer and glorious in the warm colors of the fall.  Their bare branches stand majestic against the starkness of a gray winter sky and they are breathtaking in their new clothes of green in the springtime. 

Trees are beautiful anytime and all the time because God made them that way.  As Christians can we say the same thing?   Is your life so lovely that others know that only God made you?  Think about it. 

Christ above all things,

Robin

Who Are You, Really?

      Did you know it was Halloween last night?  Ha! Ha! Who didn’t know that right?  Halloween is fun for many folks.  Many of us love to dress up in costumes.  Some of us love the scary parts of Halloween.  Others like to decorate their yards and/or use their talents to design an exquisitely carved pumpkin.  Almost all of us like the candy! 

        While thinking about Halloween last night, I began to think of the costumes – or more specifically the masks that we might hide behind.  It is fitting, that we should examine ourselves from time to time.  We’ve heard stories of someone doing some wild and crazy thing that is totally out of their character and say they are going through an identity crisis.  We may have known of someone who wanted to leave their old life behind to “go find themselves.”  We hear about folks being stripped of their good name and losing financial assets due to identity theft.  It is important to know who we are.  Who are you, really??

        Sometimes we classify ourselves based on who we are related to.  I had a friend tell me once, “I have never been just me.  I have always been known as someone’s daughter, sister, wife or mother.  I have never been just me.”  I think a lot of us feel that way sometimes.  However, who we are amounts to so much more than our place in the family. 
        Maybe we think our circumstances make us who we are.  Don’t make that mistake either.  Someone might be going through a divorce; but don’t let that divorce define you.  You may be the victim of an accident; but don’t let that experience put you in some kind of statistical category.  You may have lost a loved one – don’t let that loss – that loneliness - label you.  You may have just been laid off from your job and/or be facing financial struggles.  Please don’t let your financial status characterize you. 
         OK – sure our family helps shape our personality and our circumstances have an impact too.  However, as adults what is going on in our lives is where we are not who we are.  Remember that.  You are not a failure just because you are going through some tough times.  If you are unemployed – well that is where you are in your life’s journey.  It is not an indication of your personality.

All this brings us back to the original question.  Who are you?  Each one of has to answer that individually.  What is the first thing that pops into your head when someone asks you that?  Christianity is an ongoing process.  We should always be striving to grow and mature in our faith.  I know I say that often, but it is the truth.

 We should be constantly learning and growing.  Paul said – “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3: 12-14 NKJV)  We must continually press on. 

I mention striving and growing because through the years I’ve answered the ‘who are you’ question in different ways.  I used to identify myself with the circumstances of family and/ or as a mother, daughter, sister, etc.  It took me quite some time to realize that who I am related to might influence my personality – but then again, you can’t control the family you are born into.  Then I realized that what I was going through in my life’s journey is not what defines me either.  It is what I have on the inside – how I react to my place in life – that tells me who I am.  I hate to admit it, but it was quite some time before the first thing I thought of in response to that question was “Christian.” 

I am a Christian – a forgiven sinner.  Oh, no – I am not perfect, not by a long shot.  But I am one of God’s daughters!  He is my Heavenly Father and He loves me.  Christ loves me too because He gave His life for me so that I could be forgiven.  Folks, we must claim our identity.  We must let our being revolve around His being.  It is our duty to do what we can to bring others to Him.  We can’t do that unless we show them we are followers of the Lord.  The Israelites had a strong sense of identity.  They knew they were God’s people.  Do we know we are?  Have we allowed ourselves to become His totally and completely?  Has being a Christian become the core of your personality?

        On Wednesday night at our congregation’s “trunk or treat,” I didn’t recognize some of the teenaged boys who were dressed in their costumes.  I had to wait until the masks came off to know who they were.  Would someone from your church family recognize you if they saw you at home or at work?  Are we the same person everywhere we go?  Do we wear one mask around our Christian family and another mask around our work friends?  Christ has told us we can’t wear two masks (serve two masters).  We must give ourselves over to Him.

        Recently, my mother has used a phrase that I really like.  “Let the Son shine in.”  That reminds me of a verse that is quoted pretty often.  The verse is Matthew 5:16 and many of you can probably quote it.  “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”  (NKJV)  If we don’t light the Son shine in our hearts and souls we won’t be able to light our own light shine for the glory of the Father.  In other words, love the Lord with all your heart and let the world know who you are!!! 

Christ above all things,

Robin