Which "One" Are You?

         It's morning, the beginning of a new day.  You are in a wonderful mood.  You feel good - great, in fact - physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally.  You have been particularly blessed over the past few days and everything seems to be going your way.  Maybe you just met a deadline at work or finally finished that project at home, or learned of a wonderful upcoming event.  Whatever the reason, you are on a high.   You are in the best mood you've been in for some time.  Then suddenly, one person comes along and says or does something to rain on your parade ... to burst your bubble.  And in a flash, your high shifts to a low.  
       Haven't we all had this happen at some point in our lives?  It seems there is always that "one."   We all know what I'm talking about .. that one person who can "get your goat," so to speak.  It seems there is always at least one person in your life who gets on your last nerve - who deliberately stirs up trouble or pushes all your buttons.  Oh, what power we give that one person!
       Conversely, suppose you are in a low state of mind.  You received bad news of some kind or you don't feel well.  Perhaps you made a terrible mistake at work.  Maybe someone has hurt you or a family member.  It doesn't really matter the circumstance, we all have our down-in-the-deepest-valley moments as well as our top-of-the-mountain-peak moments.  And when you are so low you don't think you can go any lower,  one person comes along to brighten your day.  One person shows you they care.  And in a flash, your low shifts into a little higher gear.  Thank God for the power of that one person, whoever it might be!
      Let's face it - one can be a powerful number.  One person can help change another's outlook.  One somebody can even help change a destiny.  We all know the power of our ONE GOD, and we were created in His image; so why should we doubt this?  The problem is we give the negative Ones way too much power.  We must always be ready to overcome those negative ones.  We can do that with God's help.  The Father is always there for us.  He has promised us that. 
      Jesus promised us that too.  Remember?  Well, Jesus gave us several beautiful promises; however two or three come specifically to my mind right now:
        Matthew 11:28-30:  "Come unto 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."  (NIV)
     A yoke is made for two.  If we will come to Jesus and take His yoke upon us, then He will help us bear our burdens.  We must learn from Him and strive to have a gentle and humble heart as He does.  Then we will find rest for our souls.  (Oh, what a beautiful thought!)  His yoke is easy and His burden IS light because He is the One who helps us carry it.
     
      Jesus said we would face trouble in the world, but Christ is always our ONE.  His power sees us through, because He has overcome the world. (John 16:33)  Another passage that seems particularly relevant here is I John 4:4 -- 
        "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome
          them, because the ONE who is in you is greater than 
          the one who is in the world."  
Isn't that absolutely grand?  Whatever "one" who tries to defeat us will never ever be stronger than the One true and living God!!  
       The question for all of us is which "One" will we be in someone else's life?  We have the power of choice.  Will we be a booster or a bubble burst-er?  Will we be the "one" who steals joy or gives joy?   
       The power lies within us all to do good, lift each other up, to be depended upon to listen, to care - to LOVE.  What a wonderful feeling it is to the "one" who is a blessing to another's life!  When we choose to bring light and hope into someone else's world -- when we choose to be as much like Christ as we can be -- that is when we carry His power within us.  The good we do by being a positive One shines like a beacon in the night and brings God's glory to the world.       

            

Christ above all things, 
Robin   

     

    

        

   

       
      

Are You Charged Up?

     One of the gifts my Dad received for Christmas was a rechargeable spotlight/flashlight.  It was something he had hinted at, so he was quite happy with his gift.  Most guys love new gadgets of just about any kind.  As Dad and my brothers examined the particular features of the flashlight someone said, “I wonder if it already has a charge.”  Naturally there was only one way to know, so they all trekked outside and tried it out.  It so happened the battery was indeed already charged up.  Dad was pleased his spotlight came ready to be used immediately.

     Spiritually speaking, can we say the same thing about ourselves?  When we come to the Father are we ready to be used for His glory?  Christ is our Savior and our Mediator.  Imagine God asking His Son, Jesus as He entreats the Father for us … “Is she ready to be put to use?”  What a humbling prospect!  Are we ready?  Am I ready?  Jesus knows our hearts.  What would He say?

      Are we truly ready to worship Him when we attend the assembly with our local church family?  We should come fully prepared to focus on Christ and God.  When we sing praises to the Father those words of love and adoration should come from deep within our hearts.  With each prayer we hear, our focus should only be directed to the Father.  When the lesson from God’s Word is presented we should desire to truly understand God’s message for us.  Our hearts and minds – our whole being should be “used” in worship. 

     What about other times in our lives?  Do we stay charged up and allow ourselves to be used every day?  Do we only use prayer as a crutch to get us through tough times, and then when the storm is over forget to honor Him through our service?  Christ died to save us from our sins.  We should always strive to live for Him – through all our times, whether good or bad. 

      In my dad’s hands, that spotlight is under his control.  How many times do we actually put ourselves into the Father’s hands and allow Him to take control?  Many of us live very faithful lives and dedicate ourselves to His service.  But I know I could do so much better. 

      As a newly baptized Christians, we come to the Savior with a sense of commitment and enthusiasm.  Usually, we are excited and charged up.  We are so happy to know that our sins have been washed away and we are new creatures in Him!  We get a brand new lease on life.  We are thrilled at the prospect of living for Him. 

      Ah, but then everyday life sets in on us again.  The world around us has not changed.  We still must go to work or school.  We still have responsibilities … things to do, people to see, places to go.  We are still tied to the world, and it is difficult to resist the temptations of it.  The new wears off and suddenly we find ourselves too busy for the work of the Lord.  For instance, it’s been quite some time since I posted on this site.  I don’t want to dwell on that; I’m just using it as an example. 

      Perhaps we begin to make excuses about attending Bible study on Wednesday night.  We might tell ourselves that we’re too busy or too tired to help cook a meal, teach a class at VBS, send a card, check on a member who is shut-in ….. I could go on and on, but you get the point.  We lose our “charge.” We aren’t ready to be used anymore. 

      I’ll share another illustration.  A couple of days after Christmas, it was time for my son to return to his home in Nashville.  But when he got into his vehicle to leave, it wouldn’t start.  He lifted the hood and he and my husband discovered the problem.  One of the battery cables was loose.  His car wouldn’t start because the connection to the power source was weak.  It wasn’t “wired in,” so to speak.  After tightening the connection, he made it safely home.

        In order to be ready to serve – to be ready to let our light shine – we must stay connected to our power source.  We have to be “wired in” to the Savior.  If we don’t do this, our batteries will not hold their charge.  We can keep our thoughts aligned with the Savior’s when we study God’s word.  We have to stay in touch with Him or we might become discouraged or get so bogged down in our busy-ness that our light dims. 

        We know what to do to stay connected and keep that charge.  However, I have to be reminded often.   We come so much closer to God when we engulf ourselves in His word.  It is “quick and powerful.”  God never changes.  His word never changes.  As we go through our lives – that alone becomes such a comfort.  How wonderful it is to know that regardless of what happens, no matter how topsy-turvy this old world gets, God is always the same.  And He is always there for us when we turn to Him. 

        Prayer is a vital part of staying connected to our Savior and to the Heavenly Father.  Spending time in earnest conversation with God will tighten our connection to Him.  It will increase our faith in our power source.  Our love for God will grow as we pour our hearts out to Him.  As our love grows, so will our desire to serve.  We become more and more willing to put ourselves into His hands, under His control, so we can do His work.  

        Our faithful Christian friends can also help us keep our charge.  There truly is strength in numbers.  Being around others who are strongly connected to the Lord strengthens our connection too.  We get charged up when we are with Christians who are ready to be put to use for the Savior.  Enthusiasm is contagious and encouragement builds us up.  
     Christ did not mean for us to face this world alone – that is why He built the church.  We can support and encourage each other.  Enjoying fellowship with one another gives us the strength we need to face the world.  It tightens our connection to our power source, which is God.  It helps to prepare us for use in His service. 

        Let’s put ourselves in the hands of Jesus, our Lord and Master.  Get charged up and be ready to be used.  Tighten your connection to the power of the Living God, because with Him ALL things are possible – only then we will make it safely home …

Christ above all things,

Robin 

Be Brave! Be Strong!

      Have you ever begun studying your Bible with a particular topic in mind, looked up a verse and then another related verse and ultimately ended up in a totally different place from where you intended to go with your study?  We might read a passage we've read many times over; but suddenly it strikes our consciousness anew.  We look at this familiar passage with a fresh perspective and we are able to apply it to our lives in a totally different way than we ever have before. 
       A few nights ago, I began to read and study with one thing in mind and stumbled on a verse that gave me pause.  It was like it hit me right between the eyes!  It helped me realize again how "ordinary, every day people" can become people of great courage when they are faithful to God and allow His Spirit to work in them.
I mentioned this verse on face book the other night, but I feel it is worthy enough to mention again. 
        Hebrews 11:23 reads: "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict."  When I read this, it was as if I were seeing it for the first time.  There are so many examples of courage and bravery in the Bible.  We read about Daniel, and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  We can read through 1 Kings and hear about the many valiant soldiers in David's army, his mighty men.  We think of the apostles as they preached boldly in the name of Christ. 
      And here in this one short verse, we are shown the faith of Moses'  parents, Amram and Jochebed.  They kept Moses alive because they saw he was beautiful and because they were not afraid of  being caught defying the king of Egypt.  Surely, this was a serious offense.  I've no doubt the punishment would have been severe.   
      Yet they knew God gave Moses to them.  They understood God to be the giver of life and they were not about to take their own son's life.  They refused to kill their male child.  Amram and Jochebed had great faith in God to protect them and their children.  They believed without a doubt that God would take care of them in some way ... so they were not afraid of the king.
      The Bible stories of courage always inspire and encourage me.  I know that verse has always been there.  I knew Moses' parents hid him.  I knew they must have had a great love for their child.  I suppose I'm admitting my own ignorance here; but it just never clicked with me until tonight.  Moses' mother and father were not afraid of the king.  They knew God would work it out. 
       The Father has often encouraged His children to have courage.  Think of Joshua as he became the leader of the Hebrew people.  In Joshua 1: 1-9, God tells Joshua to "be strong and very courageous" three different times.  I'm sure Joshua needed this encouragement for the daunting task of leading his people to victory in conquering the Promised Land. 
       King David told his son Solomon to be strong and of good courage in I Chronicles 22:13 when he was committing unto Solomon the building of the temple.  This charge also came with command to walk in the ways of Moses and follow all his commands.  And in II Chronicles 32: 7-8, King Hezekiah exhorts his army, "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us that with him.  With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us to fight our battles."
      Hezekiah's words did indeed encourage his army.  I love his explanation of why they shouldn't be afraid.  "With us it the Lord our God, to help us to fight our battles."  How great is that?  It reminds me of  Paul's words in Romans 8:31, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"  Who indeed?  God needs us in His army. 
       When we think of bravery in the face of danger, we most certainly cannot forget Daniel, who was thrown into a lion's den for praying to God.  He faced this punishment with great courage and faith in the one true God.  Daniel was about 80 by the time he faced this trial.  No doubt he remembered his 3 friends who refused to bow before the golden idol the king had set up. 
         Hannaniah, Mishael, and Azariah (better known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego)  faced Nebuchadnezzar bravely and told him that God was fully able to deliver them out of the fiery furnace.  They went on to save that even if God did not deliver them from the furnace --- they still would not bow before the king's idol. (Daniel 3)  This sounds like Amram and Jochebed doesn't it?  They were not afraid of what the king would do to them either. 
       What about Esther?  She was an ordinary young Jewish maiden, albeit a beautiful one.  When she was called upon to save her people from a great massacre, what did she do?  She said, "I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish."  (Esther 4:17) 
       Many characters throughout the pages of the Bible showed great courage in the face of danger.  Because of their faithfulness, God blessed them and rewarded them.  It is wonderful to read the stories of those whom God saved.  However, we know that the Father didn't save everyone.  Some died for them.  He still rewarded them; for He took them home to be with Him. 
      Stephen bravely preached the word of God even while he was being stoned.  Only God could give someone that kind of strength.  John the Baptist boldly preached against the scribes and Pharisees.  He also preached against King Herod's message and it ultimately cost him his life.  Yet, John was commended by Christ Himself. 
       Paul often prayed for strength and power for his fellow Christians.  He wanted them to be strong in the Lord.  Consider Colossians 1:10-12: "May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light."    We have God's power and His might on our side.  We have nothing to fear.
      So often we don't speak up for what's right.  We are afraid we might be laughed at or shunned.  At work when someone starts to gossip or tell an inappropriate joke do we have the strength to walk away.  Inviting someone to church services takes courage, too.  We must step up to the plate.  We must remember that satan is the one who plants the doubt and fear within us. 
     We need to find enough courage to teach our children what living for Christ is all about.  It might not always be about making the most popular decisions.  It may take some inner strength to speak honestly and openly with our children about the dangers of the world.  Their souls are at stake.  Admit your youthful mistakes and help them learn from them.
      We can stand up against the wrongs we see.  We can talk about Jesus who saved us and made us whole.  It may be very difficult; but it is not impossible.  God will help us if we are not afraid.  He will give us the inner fortitude to withstand whatever we face ... if we only have faith in Him.  We must trust him with every fiber of our being.  This is not always easy, I know.  It is something I must work on too.  
        We may realize that bad things will come our way from time to time.  We understand that following Christ is not always easy.  The world is tough and satan is strong.  But Jesus gives us reason to rejoice and to prevail.  Our faith will not be in vain.  Listen to His words to the apostles shortly before His trial and crucifixion.  

       "Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone.  Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world." 
       I think we're on the right team, don't you?  Be brave! 

Christ above all things,
Robin
    
 

Clean Up!

     I haven't mentioned my 2 and 3 year old Bible class in a while; but I do love teaching that age group.  Sometimes they are quite the challenge, but these children are very special to me.  I'm so thankful I have the chance to love them so much and maybe teach them a little. 
    A favorite activity recently is a particular interactive flip chart.  I've used it frequently over the years.  Each page is a room in house ... a bedroom, a kitchen, a playroom, etc.  One of the pages has a toy box on it.  The children can lift a flap that is the "lid" of the toy box.  There are toys inside .... but there are also toys around the toy box on the outside of it.    
     Well, Wednesday night when we got to this page, the first thing one of my students said was "Ooh, he needs to clean up his room!"  Ha!  Something tells me this young man has heard that somewhere before.   One reason I love little children is because they are so real and so honest.  They often say exactly what is in their minds.  Such was my student's reaction to what he saw as a "messy" room. 
       What is more important than noticing a room that needs to be "cleaned up" is noticing when our hearts and lives need cleansing.  David had chosen to look over his sin against God when he slept with Bathsheba and had Uriah killed.  That is until Nathan, the prophet, brought it to his attention; in essence telling David he needed to clean up his act.  When the King faced what he had done, it prompted such godly sorrow that he wrote Psalm 51 and begged God for forgiveness.  
        I love this beautiful Psalm of David.  We can all learn from David's humility as he admits his sin before God.  In verse 2, he asked to wash him thoroughly and cleanse him from his sins.  David begs in verse 7 "Purge me with hyssop, and  I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow."   And finally in verse 10 we read David's plea that God create in him a clean heart and renew a right spirit within him.   He knew he needed God's help to clean up his life.
     Many, many other scriptures refer to being clean.  Lepers begged Jesus to heal them, to make them clean.  And our Savior had so much love in his heart that he granted their requests.  In Matthew 8, we see the compassion of Christ as he reached out and touched a leper and made him clean.  Another time he cleansed 10 lepers of this terrible disease and only one returned to express his gratitude. 
       Christ warned the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23 that it is not the outside of the cup and plate that needs to be cleaned but the inside because the inside is full of greed and self-indulgence.  Those two are always a dangerous combination.  It is our heart and minds that we need to keep clean and pure to stay in step with Jesus.  Peter tells us " as He who called you is holy, be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy."  (I Peter 1:15-16, ESV). 
       Our sins are washed away through baptism.  Saul was told to "rise and be baptized and wash away your sins."  (Acts 22:16)  It is through  baptism that we contact the saving blood of Jesus Christ which has the power to save us from our sins.  Our precious Redeemer Himself said in Mark 16:16, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved."
        As Christians we must remember that we should always stay clean and live as we know we have been washed of our sins.  Can people tell that we are followers of the Savior by the way we act?  Are we holy in all our conduct, as Peter commends us to be?  Or do people look at us and think, as my little Bible student,  "ooh, he/she needs to clean up?" 
        People -- the world -- should be able to see the change in our lives .. the difference in our behavior.  Some of my favorite verses in the entire Bible are found in 1 Corinthians 6:9-12.  I've mentioned this scripture in at least one other post.  I love it.  For the sake of time, I will only quote part of the part of the passage.  Verse 9 begins:
        "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not
         inherit the kingdom of God?" 
      Guided by the Holy Spirit, Paul goes on to list those who will not be part of God's kingdom.  Then the wonderful part of this scripture comes for as we read verse 11 Paul says:
       "  And such were some of you. But you were washed,
         you were sanctified, you were justified in the name
         of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

        How beautiful is that?  When we clean up for the Lord, we change our lives.  We are holy as our Father is holy.  We do not behave as the world behaves.  And we are justified in Christ's name.  In 2 Corinthians 7:1 Paul says, "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." 
        If we clean up our act, we become vessels of honor and we are useful to the Master, ready for every good work.  (2 Timothy 2:21).   Finally, our brother John tells us "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 cleanses us from all sin." (I John 1:7)
        Why is it so important that we clean up?  Why should we be holy in our conduct and become vessels of honor so that we can serve the Master?  Why should we want a clean heart and have our sins washed away?   Well, the answer is explained wonderfully well by Jesus Christ Himself.
        It is because He said, "The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels."  (Revelation 3:5)
         I want to be there, don't you?  Let's clean up!

Christ above all things,
Robin
 

BE Busy -- Be a Worker for the Lord

      When we were growing up one of my brother's favorite hymns was "I Want to Be a Worker" for the Lord.  I am happy to say that both of my brothers grew up to be just that.  They are both busy in the work of God's kingdom.  I am so thankful for them.  I'm the oldest child; but my brothers have taught me many things about service.  Of course, this desire to serve and work came from my parents.  That should be pretty obvious as we grew up with Dad as a minister of the gospel and Mom a school teacher. 
     Now I know there is no way that we can earn salvation.  The Bible clearly teaches we are saved by grace.  It also teaches that we are not to boast in our good works.  However, we are supposed to be servants of righteousness.  There are many verses in the Bible that clearly teach we are to serve the Lord.  He did give us commandments to obey and one of  those was to go and teach His message to others.  That commandment was not only for the apostles.  It is for all of us!
      I Corinthians 15:58 says, "Therefore my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain."  Can it be any plainer than that?  Paul says we need to work for the Lord.  Not only that, but we need to "abound" in this work. 
      I used to read this verse and think I was doing pretty well for myself spiritually.  I thought, yes Lord Jesus- I believe in You.  I know you are the Son of God -- my Wonderful Savior and Redeemer.  I believe the Bible to be the Living Word of Your Father.  I am steadfast in my faith in you, Christ Jesus.  No one is ever going to change my mind.  My faith is immovable.  That's all well and good right? 
     The trouble is I stopped there.  Apparently, my eyes didn't see or my hears didn't hear the second part of that verse.  You know that dangerous part ... the part that says "always abounding in the work of the Lord."  It took me a long time to realize that phrase was an equal part of that verse and that commandment. 
      Yes, I Corinthians 15:58 is a commandment.  And Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments" John 14:15.  So what are we supposed to do?  What does "always abounding" in His work mean anyway?  Well, in pretty straight-forward terms it means "get busy and stay that way!"  This does not apply to the preacher only or to the elders only.  This verse is meant for all of us. 
     We are called to be His servants.  After all He's done for us our service should be given willingly and cheerfully.  Think about Christ and what he did while He was here.  Our Lord and Savior was busy! 
      He explains the concept of service -- of work for Him -- perfectly in Mark 10:35-45.  Here we find James and John seeking to have a place of pre-eminence in Christ's kingdom.  The apostles thought Jesus was hear to establish an earthly kingdom and they wanted positions of power.  When the other ten apostles heard about this request, they were angry and began to argue with James and John. 
      It is here that Christ sets the record straight.  Mark 10:42-45 reads:  "And Jesus called them to him and said to them, 'You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and their great ones exercise authority over them.  But it shall not be so among you.  But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." 
       Christ says He came to serve.  If we are followers of Him,  we must be ready to serve others as He did.  He gave Himself for us.  We must be willing to follow Him -- to serve Him.  What do servant's do?  They work!  And they don't rest on their laurels either.  We never reach a point where we can tell Jesus we have done enough. 
      Consider Luke 17:7-10.  This passage has been in my heart and on my mind for several months now.  I keep going back to it over and over again.  And perhaps it deserves a post all its own ... but it has reminded me (when I do think of it) of the importance of humility in our service.  And it also reminds me how busy God expects us to be in our work for Him.  Just think about this passage:
    "Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at one and recline at table?'  Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink?'  Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?  So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty." 
     Yes, I think we are supposed to be busy for our Savior.  There are so many passages that could be referred to regarding being a servant or being busy for the Lord.  Before starting this post I looked up the word "servant" in the Bible.  In the English Standard Version it is used 934 times.  I think service is a very important concept to the Father, don't you? 
      Granted most of those verses are found in the Old Testament and refer to people who were servants to others.  In the New Testament a few of these references are in regards to the servant/ master relationship.  But even in these verses, we can understand that Christians are to be servants to Christ.  He is our Lord and Master.  Other verses in the New Testament where the word servant is used are in reference to Jesus being a servant.  And several writers of the New Testament epistles (Paul, Peter, James, John and Jude) refer to themselves as servants of Christ. 
      We should want to Be Busy for God -- to be workers for Him -- to serve Him in any way we possibly can -- and with great humility.  We must be ready to be used by Him.  Jesus was a worker.  If we are to be like Him, if we are to be with Him in heaven.. we must be ready to work. 
       It was His mission -- His strong desire to do the work of the Father.  In John 4:34, Christ said, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work."  Another passage showing Christ was focused on His mission is John 9:4.  It is interesting to me that in the King James and New King James Version - this verse says "I must work the works of Him who sent me."  But in several other versions (ESV, ASV and others) this verse reads "WE must work the works of Him who sent me."  That we means me and you. 
       We see from John 9:4 that Jesus knew He was put here to work.  We should understand that also.  If we are to be like Christ, we must take up His mission.  We should have the same focus.
       The question is are we ready?  Do we want to be workers for the Lord?    After all, He died for us so that we could live for Him.  Then someday we will live with Him.  Christ will say "Well done, good and faithful servant." 
        Be Busy!  For Him.

Christ above all things, 
Robin 
 
    

"To Christ Be Loyal and True"

      Wow!  We have had a wonderful day of worship today.  Our minister gave us two great lessons.  This morning, he spoke on encouraging those who might fall away from Christ and how important it is to bring them back into the fold.  This afternoon he took a simple phrase from Matthew 26:39 and showed us how important "going a little farther" can be.   
      Jesus went a little farther into the Garden to pray to the Father before His crucifixion.  Jesus prayed three times that "this cup might pass from Him."  Each time He said, "not my will, but yours be done."  After His praying,  Jesus went a little farther by going through His arrest, and trial and torture, and scourging.  Then He went a little farther and allowed Himself to be crucified for our sins.  He went a little farther when He knew He would be separated from God by taking on our sins.  But now -- now God has put in the position of power and authority and glory. 
      We must realize our how important it is to "go a little farther" in our daily lives.  It is all for Jesus.  It isn't about us.  I know we say that a lot, but it really is NOT about us.  If we want a home in heaven with God the Father, and Christ His Son - then we must realize this. 
      One of the songs we sang in worship today particularly touched my heart.  It wasn't anything new.  It is an old familiar hymn that has been sung many times in our congregation.  But the words just kind of sunk deep into my soul today as we sang.  And I think it happens to fit perfectly with both of the lessons we heard.
       The song is "To Christ Be Loyal and Be True."  The lyrics were written by Elisha A. Hoffman and the music was written by D. M. Wilson. This song is meant to stir one to prepare for life's battles -- to hang in there for Christ is with us and will see us through.  We should always be loyal and true to our Savior and Redeemer. 
       Consider the words of the song:
       "To Christ be loyal and be true; His banner be unfurled,
       and borne aloft till is secured the conquest of the world."
Do we unfurl our banner for Christ?  Do people we work with know we are Christians?  Are we willing to live out our faith in their presence?  We should hold our heads up high and proclaim our Christianity.  The goal is to bring others to Christ.  He has overcome the world.
      " To Christ be loyal and be true; He needs brave  
        volunteers to stand against the powers of sin,  moved          not by frowns or fears."   
Don't drop out on Him.  Stay faithful and true.  It's true that He needs us.  To strengthen others so that they hold on through the fight.  Not only that, go a little farther for Christ.  Be brave and stand against what's wrong.  Don't let your faith be shaken by what you face in this world -- frowns or fears.  Defeat the obstacles you face in the fight for faithfulness. 
      "To Christ be loyal and be true; in noble service your
        faith and your fidelity, the fervor of your love."
He loved us so much that He died for us.  The least we can do is live for Him.  Prove your love through your service to Him, your faithfulness to Him.  Don't slip away.  Be loyal and true.
      And finally, the chorus helps us know that as we "go a little farther for Christ" - if we give Him more of ourselves each day, well He is with us and He will give us the strength we need. 
        "To Christ the Lord be true, for He will go with you. And
          help you all your conflicts through, to Christ the Lord
          be true."
      He really will help us through all our conflicts -- through whatever we face.  If we go with Him -- then He goes with us.  So don't give in to satan's call.  Don't be pulled away from the cause of Christ.  Stay in the fight.  Your Redeemer needs you.  You are important to Him.  Think of the sacrifice He made for you and remember that with Him by our side, with His power working in us ... we can face the toughest battles of life.  And we can be a much needed light in this dark world!

Christ above all things,
Robin

It's Not Over 'Til It's Over

       "It's not over until it's over."  We probably hear this most frequently during sporting events.  Upsets happen. How many times have we seen the outcome of a game change during the last few seconds? 
        Runners come from behind and win races.  Footballs are thrown to an intended receiver only to be  tipped into another's hands and that other player runs for an unplanned touchdown.  Sometimes 3 point shots really do slide through the hoop right before the final buzzer.  
      "It's not over until it's over" is a familiar saying that has become a cliché in our society.  Clichés become clichés for a reason.  They are true.  And this one is true not only for sporting events.  It's very true to life.  I learned that lesson a long time ago.  But over the past few days and weeks, I've needed to remind myself ... frequently. 
     It's not over 'til it's over.  As long as we have opportunity, as long as God continues to give us time -- we can start again at the beginning or pick up where we left off .  If we've been distracted or thrown off course, we can always re-focus and get back on track.
    Sometimes as we struggle through the difficulties in our lives we become discouraged. We may feel we've gone just about as far as we can go.  We may be in the deepest valley we've ever walked through.  We might be frustrated because of the way things are going.  It is possible to get tired of always trying to do the right thing.  Let's face it, the world is not always kind.  And sometimes we become weary. 
       I believe one of the keys to living a successful Christian life is remembering this truth.  It is not over until it's over.  God is always in control.  God will always win.  God's word is so full of scriptures regarding this very subject.  And there are also many Biblical examples of people who came to understand this concept. 
      Let's consider just a few of the examples.  Several Biblical characters come to mind.  On the negative side, there was Nadab and Abihu.  Strange fire?  Sure, that'll be OK.  God won't care as long as it's fire, right?  Uh ... no.
     Jonah ... I'll just go on this little boat trip and God won't fool with me anymore.  Maybe He will forget He told me to go to Ninevah.  Mmmmm... seriously, Jonah? 
      What about Annanias and Sapphira? -- Hey, we'll sell our land and give the apostles part of the money; but we'll tell them they we gave them everything.  No one will ever
know, right?  Won't they think we're special?  We'll get as much praise as Barnabas and the others did.  Wrong!  Oh boy, were they ever wrong!
       I also can't help but think of Ahaz and Jezebel. Then there were the men who thought they had gotten Daniel into trouble -- or what about the folks who so long ago tried to be like God and built the tower of Babel?  Ever notice that God never fails to remind us (in one way or another) that He is always in control?  We are reminded in Galatians 6:9, "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." (ESV).   That is a pretty serious warning. 
      Yet on the positive side, there are other examples of "it's not over until it's over."  Elijah thought he was done.  He won a great victory for God over the prophets of Baal.  But Jezebel threatened his life and he ran away.  He went into a deep depression.  Yet God sustained him.  The Lord reminded Him he was not alone.  And he eventually brought him home to heaven in a whirlwind. 
        Gideon is another one who learned great things happen with God on your side.  What about Samson?  His last prayer was answered and he killed more Philistines in his death than he ever did while he lived.  Oh, and what about Caleb?  Talk about an enduring faith! 
        The story of Caleb is one of my favorite from the Old Testament.  He and Joshua were the only two of 12 spies who brought back a good report when they were sent to spy out the promised land.  The physical strength of those who occupied the land had frightened the other 10 men.  But Caleb knew with God all things were possible.  He knew God would help them, if the people would just trust Him and go forward. 
        Caleb and Joshua were both bitterly disappointed in the Israelites for their lack of faith.  But God promised them they would one day take the land they had spied out.  So Caleb waited.  He knew he would eventually be rewarded.  He knew it wasn't over.  So he waited.  For forty five years he waited and God kept him as strong as he was on the day that promise was made.  And Caleb got his mountain. 
       Then there is Paul, who knew full well it isn't over 'til it's over.  He was hurting the church by persecuting and killing Christians.  Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus and ended Saul's work of terror to the believers.
In essence, Jesus tells Saul this isn't it.  It's not over.  I am going to use you for my work.  
       After Paul did as he was commanded, that is after Paul was baptized to wash away his sins ... he immediately began to preach Christ to the world.  After a long life of total devotion to Jesus and suffering as much torture as he had probably ever inflicted, Paul didn't give up. 
      In II Timothy 2:10-12 Paul reminds Timothy that "our Savior Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do." (ESV)  Paul knew his physical life was about to end.  However, even at the point of his impending death, he knew it wasn't over for him.  Listen to his great faith as he tells Timothy, "But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me." 
      He gives us another beautiful declaration of assurance in II Timothy 4:8, "Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing."   Paul's beautiful words give all Christian's today a wonderful courage and hope!   He never gave up.  He knew the best things still lay ahead.  They do for us as well, if we don't give up our faith.
       One more example and I'll stop (ha! well at least for now).  Think about Brother Peter.  I'm pretty sure he is thankful that it isn't over until it's over.  Peter had denied his Lord not once, but three times. 
       After the third denial Jesus turned and looked at Peter.  Whew!  We know how very sorrowful the apostle was because scripture tells us he went out and wept bitterly.   He could have given up then.  But Jesus had other things in mind for Peter.  After His resurrection, when the women came to the tomb, the angel told them to go tell the disciples "and Peter" that Christ had risen from the grave.  (Mark 16: 6-7). 
       Peter quickly found out his life serving the Master was not even close to being over.  Jesus had not given up on him, or any of the other apostles for that matter.  We know all of them except John forsook Him during His trial and crucifixion.  Our Redeemer forgave them and put them to work for Him the rest of their lives.  They did so joyfully - declaring the gospel wherever they went. 
     Peter tells his readers to build on their faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and finally with love.  Then he says if a Christian has these qualities and are increasing, they will keep us from being unfruitful in the "knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."  (2 Peter 1:5-8)
      God has given us so many encouraging passages in His Word.  We are so blessed to have the Bible.  Let us end tonight with one of those beautiful promises.  Hopefully, it will help us to remember that no matter how weary we become or how discouraged we may get from time to time, our perfect, loving and righteous Heavenly Father is still in control and ... well, it's just not over until it's over.
       The Spirit guided Peter to encourage us to keep those characteristics he mentions ... beginning with faith and ending in love ...  2 Peter 1:10
  "Therefore brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.  For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 
     And that will be when it's over.  And what a great finish we will have!

Christ above all things,
Robin
 .
     

BE a Barnabas

     When you were a child what did you want to be when you grew up?   Do you remember?  I don't mind telling off on myself a little.  Mom told me the first thing I ever said I wanted to be was a dog.  Apparently, I wanted to eat out of a bowl like ours did.  I have no memory of this. I was pretty young at the time.  Mom still laughs about it; but I can't even begin to imagine what I was thinking back then. 
     I do remember wanting to be a child psychologist -- or a teacher -- or the house parent of an orphan's home.   It's funny -  all these different things I wanted to be or do involved children.  My occupation for the last 28 years or so has nothing to do with little ones.  Ah, but I do love kids!  I have my 2 and 3 year old Bible class; and I delight in going to Christian camp every year as a counselor. 
     That's way more than enough about me.  :)  What did you want to be?  Some of us may have dreamed of being actors or professional athletes or musicians.  Some may have dreamed of being an astronaut, a doctor or a nurse, or maybe a policeman or a fireman ... or any number of occupations.  Many of us changed our dreams along the way.  But a few of us actually turned out to be who we said we would be!   
      None of that matters.  Well, let me re-phrase that.  Of course it matters.  We have to make our way in this world.  We have to take care of ourselves and our families.  There are many noble professions and many different careers for one to pursue.  However, what we chose as our occupation is not nearly as important as the kind of person we've chosen to be.  What we do doesn't matter nearly as much as who we are. 
      It isn't what we do on our jobs that determines our eternal destiny.  It is who we are as we go to work every day.  And no matter what kind of profession we have -- there is one thing everyone can be.  It doesn't take years of education or any special training.  We can start anytime.  It simply takes a good and willing heart.  I'm talking about being a Barnabas. 
     Do you remember who Barnabas was?  He is mentioned in the scriptures and he left a worthy example for us to follow.   We first hear of Barnabas in the last few verses of Acts 4.  This is such a great passage because it shows the love and unity that existed in the early church.  Luke records this for us to learn from and rejoice over.  No one stood in need.  Many believers who had land sold it and gave the money to the apostles.  It was then distributed as needed.
      Barnabas is mentioned as one of those generous  believers who sold his land.  He must have loved Christ and the church very much.  It is significant to take note of this passage, especially in light of  others to follow.
       He was already known to the apostles before he took this action.   His name was Joseph.  Yet he was so well known and well regarded by them they gave him a special name.  The twelve called him "Barnabas" which means "son of encouragement" or "son of consolation."  How wonderful to be known as an encourager!
        In reading the scriptures we see that Barnabas was indeed an encourager.  First of all, to be given this name by them infers that he was close to the apostles.  He had apparently comforted them or exhorted them in some way.  Even in their position, these 12 men must have needed support.  God was blessing them and their work because the church was growing by leaps and bounds. 
        As leaders of  the early church, the apostles had a great responsibility.   Yes, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, but they were men nonetheless.  Loving Christ as they did, no doubt they wanted to care for the believers as He had taught them to do.  It isn't difficult to imagine they needed support from time to time.  Barnabas was one who gave them that comfort and encouragement. 
      We don't know the specifics of what "Joseph" did to earn his special name.  It doesn't matter that we know exactly what it was.  It is important to understand he was there for them when they needed him.  They knew they could depend on him.  It must have been a joy be around this man!
      After Saul's conversion and return to Jerusalem, Barnabas is the one who took him to the apostles and vouched for him.  Saul had been a dangerous persecutor of Christians.  He had an evil reputation.  But he was now a follower of Jesus and he needed someone to speak up for him.  Barnabas did that.  There's no telling how long it would have taken the apostles to accept Paul if he hadn't. 
      How important is it for people today when they are converted from the world to have someone believe in them ... vouch for them ... speak up for them?  It could mean all the difference in the world!  Anyone who becomes a Christian needs that wonderful support and encouragement.  Sometimes our faithfulness might depend on the encouragement we receive from other Christians. 
      Later when the believers in Jerusalem heard of the growth of the church in Antioch, they again expressed their confidence in Barnabas by sending him there.  Acts 11:23 tells us that when he arrived in Antioch and saw "the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose." (ESV)  Luke tells us in verse 24 that Barnabas was good man who was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.   The church continued to grow in Antioch,  so much so, that Barnabas sought out Paul to help in this work. 
     Several other scriptures refer to Barnabas, but time hinders us from going through them all here and now.  However, we can see who Barnabas was....what type of person he was.  As I said earlier, it doesn't matter what we do for a living.  It matters who we are and how we live as we go about our daily lives.  In my opinion, Barnabas teaches us that lesson so very well.
       Just from these few scriptures we learn he was a generous man who loved the church.  He was well-known to the apostles as a teacher and exhorter.  He consoled them in their labors for the Lord.  How wonderful it must have been for them to know others were as dedicated to Christ as they were!  What a comfort to know that he was teaching and helping the church grow!  They sent him to Antioch because they knew he would encourage believers there to be faithful and steadfast. 
      The Holy Spirit guided Luke to tell us Barnabas was a good man and full of faith.  He stood up for Saul when no one else did.  How much more was Saul (Paul) able to do for the Lord because of this support!  This cannot be measured -- the value of Barnabas' support to Paul was priceless.
       Now let's bring this home to us.  We can be a Barnabas!  We can touch countless lives simply by touching one.  We can encourage others to be faithful.  We can console those who labor for the Lord. 
      How easy would it be to tell the minister of your local congregation how much you appreciate his dedication to the service of Christ?  What a blessing we can be to our elders if we speak to them or send them a note of encouragement thanking them for the work they do!  Leaders of the church today shoulder a big responsibility.  We can be a comfort to them just as Barnabas was for the apostles. 
       Sometimes all it takes is a smile or a hug.  Sometimes it means listening to a brother or sister who needs to share.  We can offer great comfort to others by praying with them.  Being a Barnabas could mean standing up for what's right -- teaching others the truth. 
       The Bible tells us Joseph (also called Barnabas) was a good man full of faith.  Can we say that about ourselves? 
More importantly do we show this to others by the way we live our lives?  Can we be depended upon to do what's right .. as the apostles depended on him?  Can we empower others to be workers for the Lord simply by showing them we believe in them?  Barnabas did.  

         So what do we want to be when we grow up? 
Can we Be a Barnabas?  . . . .   Sure we can! 
We just have to want to be.  

Christ above all things, 
Robin
     
 
 

Showers of Blessing from a Ladies Retreat

    Woo Hoo!! Our ladies' retreat was this past Friday and Saturday.  I've posted several times on face back in regards to the wonderful time we had this year.  Our theme was "Showers of Blessing" and yes, God just rained down all sorts of wonderful blessings on us! 
     I'm always uplifted by events such as these.  Love flows from sister to sister and joy abounds.  I'm reminded of the last few verses of Acts 2, as the Holy Spirit guided Luke to describe the love and happiness among the Christians in the early church. They ate together, prayed together and stayed together. 
     The first Christians had a common purpose.  Those brothers and sisters were unified in heart and spirit and were partakers of an abundant joy.  What a huge change people around them must have observed.  No wonder the church grew daily!  Part of the reason had to be the sheer happiness and love they shared with one another.       
     This weekend was like that.  Some 66 souls ate together and prayed together.  We shared with one another and took care of each other.  We had a common purpose.  We were happy and we praised God.  In my heart of hearts, I know that the church grows because of events such as these!  And I am thankful for each and every lady who took the time to be there and share themselves with others.
     God loves His people.  He cares so much for us and longs to bless us as we obey Him.  Our key scripture for the retreat was Ezekiel 34:26.  "And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing."  What a wonderful promise!
     Actually, the entire covenant of peace found in Ezekiel 34: 25- 31 is a beautiful passage.  It shows us how much God loves us and wants to care for us, not only spiritually, but physically as well.  We have such a good God!  He is our perfect Heavenly Father and He knows just what we need. 
     One of my biggest blessings each year is the ladies' retreat.  God's gift of fellowship with other sisters is a huge encouragement for me.  We come from all walks of life.  We come in all sizes.  Some of us drive for several hours to get to the retreat.  A few of us come alone -- some of us come with a van load full of sisters.  None of that really matters.  All that matters is that we are there.
      Most of us those who attend have been for several years in a row now.  We make fast friends one another and eagerly anticipate seeing each other the next year.  We are there with smiles on our faces and songs in our hearts.  Hugs go round and round.  I get so excited when people start rolling in around registration time.  I can hardly wait to see my sisters stroll through the door and get a hug from each one of them! 
      This event is like a spiritual shot in the arm for me.  It's one of my booster shots.  I am so thankful God gave us the church so that we could be there to support one another!   It is a comfort to know that women from different congregations in different parts of the state have the same concerns and struggles that we have.  This is NOT  a misery loves company thing.  But it is so much a "strength in numbers thing."
      My retreat sisters help me remember what being faithful is all about and why the Christian fight is so important.  They help me realize how beautiful heaven will be -- how rich the "riches in glory" will be.  This year through our speaker's lessons we were reminded that even in and through suffering and persecution, we are showered with blessings every day. 
     I am so thankful to those who bring the younger girls with them to the retreat.  I am grateful that these mothers and grandmothers are teaching their young ladies the importance of Christian friendship and fellowship.  They are learning how to have fun in a Christian environment. 
     Younger ladies learn the value of putting God first.  They may even begin to realize there really is something to what their mothers and grandmothers have been teaching them.  Perhaps they watch and remember the same women attending the retreat (and activities in their home congregations) and learn what being dedicated to Christ is all about.  Probably the best thing they see is all that love and joy I've been talking about.  Maybe, just maybe, they understand that no matter where you are being with Christians is absolutely the best place to be!
      The older ladies that faithfully attend every year are lifted up with joy in seeing young ones love and appreciate the retreat every year.  Perhaps their enthusiasm is renewed when they see the zeal of younger ladies.  They are definitely setting a wonderful example for all.  I have a great respect for these women who come to the retreat using canes to help them walk (or come even in wheelchairs). 
      Finally, us "in-betweeners"  or middle-aged women gain great strength from the examples of the those both older and younger than they.  Maybe we are still in the work world and we seek refuge from the pressures of having both a secular job and trying to be a keeper at home.  It is indeed a blessing to be able to "get away from it all" for just a few hours.  Some of us come to the retreat running on empty.  Maybe we need to be reminded of what's important.  Perhaps we need to feel that wonderful love that flows from heart to heart.  I pray we go home filled back up to the brim!
      Yes, this year we really were showered with blessings as we were reminded through our lessons just how much the Father loves us and blesses us.  He is always there through the storms of life.  We can sing in the rain because we know He cares for us. 
     We are so blessed sometimes we take our many blessings for granted.  We become so casual about what the Lord has done for us, that perhaps we don't even see the blessings we have.  And we remember that God blesses the meek, the peacemaker, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and those who are persecuted for righteousness sake.  We just have to hang in there. 
     
May you be showered with blessings as you continue to walk hand in hand with Him through this life! 

Christ above all things,
Robin

There You Are!

     Hello out there!  I hope things are well with those who may be reading this post.  I pray God will bless you as you seek and serve Him throughout your days.
      One of my favorite movies is "Hook."  I really can't tell you why I like that movie so much, I just do.  It's based on the story of Peter Pan and stars Robin Williams (Peter Pan), Dustin Hoffman (Hook) and Julia Roberts (Tinker Bell).  Only in this movie/story Peter left Never Land years ago.  He grew up, married and had a family.  His days in Never Land are long forgotten. 
       I won't go through the whole movie, but one of my favorite scenes is when the Lost Boys are with the adult Peter for the first time.  They don't realize who he is.  Arguments ensue back and forth and somehow Robin Williams ends up on his knees.  One of the very smallest Lost Boys stands face to face with him.
        This very young child looks takes Peter's face in his hands and turns it and stretches it in all kinds of ways all the while looking deeply into his eyes.  He is earnestly searching for something he recognizes.  Then he stops, smiles and says delightedly  -- "Oh there you are, Peter!"  To me it's a very touching scene. 

         We can draw many spiritual parallels to this. 
       Do we recognize Christ?  Does He recognize us?  And if we do know who Christ is, are we showing Him to others?
Well, to answer the first question, all we have to do is turn to our Bibles.  From the very beginning we are introduced to Christ through the scriptures.  As you turn the pages, please don't just read ... delve deeply into the scriptures.  In the Old Testament that God promised Adam and Eve a Savior would come into the world to defeat Satan.  Learn how God promised Abraham all nations of the earth would be blessed through him. 
      Study to understand that all the prophets from Moses until John the Baptist pointed to our wonderful Savior.  Turn to the four gospels of the New Testament and "there He is!"  Dig deeply into the riches of the scriptures and you will find Him there.  We can learn all about Jesus through the Father's word. 
       Learn of His miraculous birth and how the angels sang to the shepherds in the field.  We recognize this Jesus -- He is the Promised One.  He is the Christ.  Read the Sermon on the Mount and get to know our Savior.  He taught a very different message than the scribes and Pharisees did. 
      As we read through the gospels we come to know Jesus.  We see His power and His compassion; and learn of His great love.  We try to comprehend how a perfect and
divine being could sacrifice so much for so many that would ultimately care so little.   
    The remainder of the New Testament is still all about Jesus!  He promised to build His church and He did on the day of Pentecost.  Seek the Savior and learn the history of the early church He purchased with His own blood.  See how it grew under God's power and care.  
     Jesus promised to send the apostles a Comforter that would bring them to all knowledge and understanding of the truth. (John 15:26-27)  That promise was kept too.  The Spirit filled words of His disciples are recorded in the rest of the books of the New Testament.  And guess who all those books  (letters) point us back to?  Yes, Jesus! 
       Maybe we've gotten out of the habit of learning about Jesus- of seeking to find Him in the pages of the Bible.  Maybe our lives are so busy that we've allowed satan to fool us into believing that other things are more important and there will be more time for that later.  Do we recognize Jesus in our lives anymore?   
      Maybe we've grown tired and weary -- or become lukewarm -- or turned back to the call of the world -- or we're going through the motions of being a Christian-- but we've left our first love.  Maybe we think because we are doing all the right things outwardly that everything is OK anyway. 
         We could say the same thing about prayer.  It is so very important!  We know we are supposed to pray without ceasing.  We know God wants to hear from His children and we know Jesus is our Mediator.  Prayer is vital.  But do we pray so irregularly that Christ doesn't recognize us as one of His own when we do?  What a frightening thought!  You see we know Jesus through the Scriptures.  He knows us through our prayers  .... but then again if we don't pray, how can He know us? 
         The way we live is another parallel here.  Do people recognize that Christ is in our lives?  Are we living, walking examples of Him?  If the world doesn't recognize us as a Christian, do we think Christ Himself will?  It is certainly something to meditate upon. 
         I know myself.  I know I get distracted sometimes.  I lose my focus, stumble and fall. We all do.  If we have obeyed the gospel, we are forgiven sinners who are striving to be servants of righteousness.  And our Redeemer is there to help us.  As we look up to Him -- we can say "There you are, Jesus!" 
        If we are faithful - if our faith is an obedient faith and we love Christ enough to keep His commandments.  Something wonderful will happen for us on judgment day.  If we know Him here now, if people recognize Him in us here on earth, we will come before Him and the Book of Life will be opened.  And in essence, He will see us and say, "There you are!"

       The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments

         and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.

         I will confess his name before my Father and before His

         angels.  (Revelation 3:5, ESV)

 

Won't it be wonderful!?

 

Christ above all things,

Robin