Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus is to Me!

           Wonderful, wonderful Jesus is to me. 

           Counselor,  Prince of Peace,  Mighty God is He!

           Saving me,  keeping me,  from my sin and shame.

           Wonderful is my Redeemer, praise His name!

 
          When I was a teenager, this was one of my favorite songs.  Little did I know back then that these words were penned in scripture long, long ago.  The verse is Isaiah 9:6 as the birth of Jesus is prophesied.  "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."   These are beautiful names for a beautiful Savior!  The song had a deep meaning to me as I was growing up.  It gave me a picture of a loving yet powerful Son of God.  Of course the song is derived from the beautiful words of scripture inspired by the Holy Spirit. 
         Our Jesus is wonderful!  He loves us with a deep abiding love that keeps us from sin and shame - because if we obey His commandments, the blood that He shed washes us clean.  His death and resurrection shields us from a fate of eternal death.  Psalms 84:11 -"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly."  God shields us--keeps us -- from the shame of our sin.  He is our Sun - our Light -- to keep us from wandering into the darkness. 
          Our Jesus is our counselor.  Peter tells us we can cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us.  (I Peter 5:7)  Christ came and lived on earth as a man.  He faced temptation like we do.  He faced disappointment and endured pain.  He had a family that he must have loved and cared about.  He went through life on earth just like we do.  He laughed and cried and loved.  He is uniquely qualified to understand what we go through in our lives.  As we pray to the Father, Christ intercedes for us.  We truly can take our cares to Him.  He tells us to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him. (Matthew 11:29)  As we seek to obey His commandments and follow His will - He will lead the way for us.  Psalms 73:24 - "Thou shalt guide me with  thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory."  What a wonderful promise!
          He is our Prince of Peace.  He is the one that gives us that peace that passes all understanding.  As we allow Him to be our Prince -- as we serve Him, He frees us from sin.  There is truly a great calm - a wonderful peace of mind that we gain from being His servant.  We have given ourselves wholly to Him, so we know that He will take care of us.  We don't have to worry because we know He is there for us --always.  And we know that He will take us home to be with Him.  What a comforting, restful, peaceful thought. 
          He is our Redeemer,  for we are told that we were "bought with a price."  He has saved us from our iniquities.  In John 3:17 Jesus says - "the Son of Man came not to destroy the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."   Christ is the one "in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."  Ephesians 1:7
          And finally He is our Mighty God. 
         Consider John 1:1-3 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him: and without Him was not anything made that was made." 
Acts 2:34-36 --"For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool.  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ."  
          I am so thankful that my Wonderful Jesus loved me enough to be my Lord and Savior.  I am also thankful that He has saved me - redeemed me and kept me from my sin and shame.  He is my Counselor.  He is the Prince of Peace.  May we ever praise His Holy Name.

Christ above all things,
Robin



         

Kindness

                 A little kindness goes a long way. 
                 It really doesn't take that much to brighten someone's day.
                 Sometimes a simple smile will do  --
                 Or maybe someone needs an extra hug or two.
                 We can be a blessing to someone if we choose.

                 Kindness is one of the Spirit's fruits.
                 Paul mentions it in Galatians 5:22. 
                 Gentleness is a synonym --
                 One thing we strive for to be more like Him -
                 The One who washed away our sins.

                 Sure, it's a tough old world out there.
                 We meet a lot of people who just don't care
                 about our God or anything else.
                 Only thinking of themselves -
                 never willing when asked to help.

                 These folks live in darkness.  They just don't know
                 the power of a kind word to sooth a soul.
                 They miss out on how good it would feel 
                  to check on someone who might be ill --
                  or to feed the hungry just one meal.

                 But those of us who have claimed Christ as our own.
                 know what happens when love and kindness are sown.
                 When the Lord's Spirit lives in our hearts -
                 and everyone does their part,
                 then we bring a little light where it is dark.

                 It is not the getting -- but the giving
                 that gives the Christian the joy of living.
                 Ephesians 5 tells us more about the Spirit's fruits.
                 Paul says it is in all goodness, righteousness and truth.
                 The more kindness we spread, the closer to Him we move.

                  The more of this kindness fruit we bear,
                   -the more of our great God we share.
                 By showing the same mercy and grace
                  that our Heavenly Father shows us each day  
                  We help make the world a better place.

                 There will always be a positive impact 
                  from the kindness with which we act.
                  But we my just never know
                  how far reaching the blessing is bestowed 
                  by the gentelness we have shown.
                 
                  It doesn't matter if what we do is widely told.
                 We'll still reap good back ten fold.
                 So you see by bearing this kindness fruit
                 we may be allowed to share the gospel truth. 
                 Then some sweet soul may walk the streets of gold with me and you.
              
                                                      
                              
                
               

Peter's Walk on Water

      Well, I am now into my third month with this blog.  I know I haven't posted every day, but I have only missed a few.  I want to thank all my friends for their positive feedback and encouragement.  This has been a good experience for me in many ways.  My writing has prompted me to study God's word more, to think more deeply on how I can take what I am learning and apply these lessons to my everyday life.  It has also caused me to examine myself perhaps much more closely than I have ever done.  I have learned and grown from this experience and that is a good thing, for we are all always supposed to be growing.  So again, thank you for the encouragement you have given me. 
       Studying the Bible more has allowed me to get to know more about Bible characters, too.  I think it is important to understand that these people were human just like you and me.  They either resisted temptation and served the Lord like some of us do; or they chose to follow a different path like folks do sometimes.  Some of these people loved God, but made mistakes and then came back to the Lord to serve Him faithfully.  You see, we are all human - which means we are prone to mistakes and moments of weakness.  We might fall into temptation from time to time and then struggle to get back on the right path.  As we stumble and realize that we have sinned -- it breaks our heart.  We may even weep over our mistakes.  I am so thankful that Godly sorrow leads to repentance.  And when we have been lost, but are found again, then angels in heaven rejoice over our repentance. 
       These thoughts bring to mind the apostle Peter.  When I think of Godly sorrow --when I think of our sins causing us to weep, I remember how scripture says that Peter wept after he denied the Lord.  We discussed Peter  in our ladies Bible class this morning.  He always seemed so impulsive and sometimes even wishywashy.  He would speak up with some bold statement and then only a short time later start to back pedal.  Sometimes I feel sorry for Peter.  Maybe it is because I can identify with him.  There are occasions when I act impulsively or speak too boldly without thinking.  I have had to back pedal before too.  Have any of you ever had to do that? 
        Ah, but I digress -- back to our ladies' class this morning.  The particular incident in Peter's life under discussion this this morning was when he walked on the water with Jesus and then he began to sink.  He had to ask the Lord for help.  "Lord, save me," said Peter.  I usually hear this lesson in the context of Peter losing his focus or taking his eyes off Jesus.  It is certainly true that he did just that.  It is also true that when he called upon Christ, He was right there.  Jesus was ready, willing and able to pull Peter out of the water.  And though he chastised him for his "little faith;" He also compassionately saved Peter, the man who would ultimately be so loyal to Him.
        Have you ever thought about why Peter lost his focus?  I mean really what made him take his eyes off Jesus and look around anyway?  What was he thinking when he first stepped out on that water.  Do you think he had the feeling of power?  Is it possible that he thought "Oh, wow - look what I'm doing?" Maybe he started thinking, after he got out there on that water -- that he didn't need Jesus anymore.  Of course, I don't know.  I can only speculate; but is it possible that Peter started looking around because maybe he thought he didn't have to focus so particularly on the Lord?  Maybe for some reason he began to think if would be OK to look around.  I mean, he could have been thinking, "Oh, I've got it now. I am doing this --let's see what I can see." 
       Of course, I know that may not have been at all what Peter had in his mind.  These are simply my thoughts -- but isn't it a possibilty?  Something made Peter change focus.  What about you?  Have you ever worked so hard and so long on a project for your employer and then it's over and you pass it up to your superiors at work.  You did a great job and they tell you so.  Maybe you did such a good job you got a bonus or a raise.  You are proud of yourself and you look back on it and you think - I did this.  You have lost your focus.  You forgot to give God any credit for getting you through all those long hours; for giving you the intelligence, talent and perserverance to do the job.  Maybe you get to feeling pretty pround of yourself and then something comes along and happens in your life and suddenly you are brought back to full attention.  One of life's storms is about to overpower you and you start sinking - like Peter did --and then, -- then that's when you call on the Lord.  In the turbulence of the storm, you cry out, "Lord, save me."  ????  Does this sound remotely familiar to anyone but me? 
       We must acknowledge that we need the Lord.  We must remember that we are nothing without Jesus.  He saves us.  His blood is what washes us clean.  We cannot save our selves.  We need Him for that.  If we ever think we can make it on our own, we are grossly mistaken and the saddest of all folks.  We need Christ in our lives.  We need His saving grace.  And we need to keep our focus on Him - even while the storms rage around us.  If we are walking in the light, then we cry out to the Christ for help just like Peter did.  And He will be there waiting.  He will stretch out His hand and pull you into the safety of His boat. 
        Of course, the best thing to do would be to just focus on Jesus all the way.  Then when the storms come - you already know He will be there - right there.  He will be that close and He will bring help that fast. 

As Christians we can't get through this life without Jesus and we certainly cannot get to our other life in heaven without Jesus   

Christ above all things,
Robin

"God Made Me!"

          "Who made the big round sun?   Who made the tall tall trees?"
          "Who made the birds that fly and who made me?"
          "God made the big round sun.  God made the tall tall trees."
          "God made the birds that fly and God made me."

     This is currently the favorite song of the students in my Bible class.  I have taught pre-school children for a long time now and it is a favorite of many children.  Don't ask me why - for I am not quite sure.  Maybe they love the motions that go with the words, for we lift our arms over our heads in a circle for the sun and we stretch our arms up high for the tall tall trees.  Then we use our arms and flap them as if they are wings when we sing about the birds.  And when we get to "me" we hug ourselves. Truly that may be part of why they like it so much; for they do love going through those motions.  Children love to move around and this song gives them a chance to do that.  
      In addition to the fun moves we get to make, there is a beautiful lesson in that song.  The children learn that God created the world.  We all know the basic belief of God's existence and His power to create the world we live in is the very foundation of our faith.  We must learn to believe this before we can go on to learn more about God and His Son.  Another reason I think the children love this song is the Me part.  I'm thinking they love the fact that God made them.  Two and three year old children are just beginning to realize there is a Me -- that they are people in their own right. 
     As adults, we often take for granted the wonderful fundamental lessons taught through these precious children's songs.  I mean -- think about it -- how awesome is it that in the midst of creating the earth, the sun, the glorious trees and the beautiful birds he created man??!!  Not only did He make man - He loved us enough to make us in His own image.  He gave us a living soul -- which means out of all the animals, fish, birds - out of all the living things - we are the only ones with a soul.  WE are the only ones who have hope of living forever with Him in heaven!  Woo hoo!!! 
     We all know how awesome the power of God is.  We've talked about the creation before.  The world is amazingly beautiful -- but God made ME and He made YOU.  Yes he made the big round sun, the tall tall trees and the birds that fly.  Then to top it all off --  God created man.  It is God who gives us life.  He is the One who gives us a living soul. And it is God who sent His Son to save us.  If we obey Christ's commandments, then we will get to be with the Savior and our Heavenly Father throughout eternity.  Mankind is the creature God chose for that.  So yes, of course I love this little song, and I am happy to sing it over and over again as many times as the kids ask me to.  This little song reminds me just how marvelous it is that God chose to make man. 

     The very fact that God chose to create us is a wonderful demonstration of His love!!
How great is that?

Christ above all things,
Robin 

Caleb's Stedfast Faith

          When I was a teenager, my Dad was a preacher of the gospel.  I remember some of his sermons, but not all of them.  One of my favorites was his lesson on Caleb.  Through Dad's sermon, I came to know this great man of faith.  Caleb was the son of Jephunneh.  He was of the tribe of Judah and he was one of the twelve men chosen by Moses to go and spy out the land to bring back a report to the people to see if they could take over the land God had promised them.  We also know that he was a ruler in his tribe -- one of the heads of the children of Israel.  We know this because that was God's requirment when he told Moses to select these men.
          You know the story.  We can read it in Numbers Chapter 13 and 14.  The twelve men did as Moses commanded them.  They searched out the land and brought back sample of its bounty.  They brought back a branch with a cluster of grapes, and pomengranates and figs. (13:24)  When they got back to Moses and Aaron all twelve of the spies described the land as one that flows with milk and honey. 
          Yet when they started describing the cities, 10 of the 12 spies said they would not be able to overtake the people there.  They said the cities were walled and the people were too strong to over power.  I find it sad that these men were rulers of Gods people.  Shouldn't these powerful men have had more faith in God?  How much had He already done for them?  It amazes me to think that anyone who walked through the Red Sea on dry land could doubt God's power.  Perhaps it was just difficult for them to shake the slave mentality of the past years in Egypt. 
          After hearing these men, Caleb spoke up: "And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.  But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we."  (Numbers 13:30-31)  Can you imagine Caleb's surprise and disappointment in the others?  He had complete faith in his God to give them the land, for that is what He (God) had promised them.  Caleb believed that promise -- counted on that promise. 
          Numbers 14 goes on to explain that the people would rather believe the negative reports of the 10 than the positive faithful reports of the other two (Joshua and Caleb).  They wept and they murmured against Moses and said they would have been better off if they had stayed in Egypt.  Mob mentality can get a little crazy sometimes, I guess.  Joshua and Caleb tried again to convince the people that with God's help they could overtake the land.  However, the Israelites refused to believe them. 
         Their lack of faith caused God to be angry.  He told Moses that he was going to smite them a pestilence and declared that none of the people above 20 years old would be allowed to enter the promised land- none that is except Caleb and Joshua.  All of the rest of them would fall in the wilderness.   God said particularly of Caleb in Numbers 14:24 "But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereunto he went; and his seed shall possess it."
          What a wonderful reward for Caleb!  He loved God and believed in Him.  He declared his faith in front of the whole nation of Israelites -- and in the face of great danger.  If it had not been for God stopping the people - they would have stoned Caleb and Joshua that day. (14:10)  But God saved them and promised them their inheritance.  All the other people would die while wandering in the wilderness.  So Caleb and Joshua had to wait for their reward. 
         So they waited - and held stedfast to their faith.  Caleb and Joshua never gave up - never stopped believing that God would keep His promises.  I can't imagine all they went through during these years of waiting.  It must have been difficult for them, yet they did it.  Joshua was given the task of leading the people after Moses died.  And I have no doubt that Caleb faithfully supported Joshua every step of the way! 
           Finally after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and another five years spent conquering the land, it was time for Caleb to recieve his reward.  This story is told in Joshua 14.  In verse 6, Caleb reminds Joshua of God's promise so long ago.  In verse 7 we learn that Caleb was 40 years old when he was sent to spy out the land.  I know this is running long, but please listen to Caleb's words - listen to his bold declaration of faith and love for the Lord.  Joshua 14: 10-14 - "And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as He said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo I am this day fourscore and five years old.  As yet I am as strong this day as in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out and to come in.  Now, therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out.  And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, Hebron for an inheritance.  Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel." 
          I loved this story.  I remember my Dad talking about how strong Caleb must have been at 85 years old to be so ready to take the mountain of Hebron.  He wasn't just still strong physically, his faith was also as strong as it ever had been.  Caleb never forgot God's promise all those years.  He continued to "wholly follow the Lord God of Israel."  His faith never wavered.  Caleb did not fail his God - and God did not fail him.  How awesome is that? 
          It is the same for us.  If we never let our faith waver, if we wholly follow the Lord,  if we keep on serving Him for as many years as He gives us to wander in this wilderness called earth -- then He will take us home to our promised land.  We will be with Jesus in all His glory.  We will receive the inheritance we are promised!!! 

So don't give up.  Remember Galations 6:9 - "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."   Woo Hoo!

Christ above all things,
Robin

Your Attention Please

          He was early for Bible class that night.  It was still several minutes before seven - several minutes before the bell would ring to start class.  As his Mom said goodbye and went on to her class, he stood just inside the door watching me.  I was busy with pulling all my materials out of my bag and getting everything organized and ready for class.  I had spoken to him when he first walked in, but because I wanted to have everything ready before any other students got there, I was busily working and not paying much attention to my precious little Bible student.  I say precious for several reasons, the primary one of course being that all children - all souls, actually - are precious in the eyes of God.  But I also call this child precious because of what I learned from him that night. 
          About 5 or 6 weeks prior to this night, he had gotten new shoes.  I really don't know why, but new shoes are a big deal to a 2 or 3 year old child.  They don't comment that much when they get new clothes, but for some reason new shoes are a source of great pride.  So each week for the past several weeks, he had commented on his new shoes as he first came into the classroom.  Tonight was the same.  He said, "I got new shoes."  He was smiling proudly. 
          I am ashamed to tell you what I said next because looking back on it, it almost seems mean.  So often we don't think before we speak and I am as guilty as anyone else in that area.  This is where I made my mistake --and where this little guy taught me a lesson I hope I never forget.  I was still very busy trying to get everything ready for class and I was running out of time, so naturally I was barely paying attention to him.  I looked over nonchalantly to see the same shoes that he had now been wearing for several weeks.  "Those are very nice shoes, but they are not new anymore.  You have had them for a while now."  I was almost ready for the rest of the class. 
          He continued to stand there watching me.  I had not given him a satisfactory answer and was still only paying casual attention to him.  Now I can't tell you what all went on in that young boy's mind, but I am pretty sure he wanted my attention in some way.  He stood quietly for a few seconds and then he said, "Well, I pick my nose, too!"  Now  that  got my attention!  Mission accomplished.  When I looked up he was smiling.  My little friend did what he had set out to do -- for now I was concentrating only on him. 
          I learned an important lesson that night.  Children need love and attention.  Now I knew that.  What I mean is that I learned how important it is for a Bible teacher to focus on her students -- not her material.  No matter how much of that love is received by parents, siblings and grandparents at home, they still need special care from their Bible class teachers.  How else can you get a child interested in coming to learn to study God's word than by letting them know they are safe and loved while they are in the classroom?  Bible class teachers play a huge role in how the church as a whole is perceived by these children.  It may be that they are too young to remember specifics from their Bible classes when they are only two or three -- but the feeling we teachers give them will go with them for the rest of their lives.  What an awesome responsibility this is!
            If you are a Bible class teacher, please make sure you give your students the love and attention they deserve.  Focus on each child as an individual at least once during class time.  Let them share what's going on in their lives and let them comment as you are telling the story.  I know you can't let the class get out of control, but there should be times during class that they can interact with you and the other students.
           Whether or not we are teachers, there is One who wants our attention.  God wants us to "have ears that ear" and "eyes that see."  In other words, he wants us to pay attention to Him.  He doesn't want us to read through the Bible and say --"Oh yes, Lord - I've heard this before.  You said the same thing  a few chapters back.  This isn't anything new."   As we read and study our Bibles we can't allow our attention to wander.  As we pray we must focus only on God.  He is waiting on us to come to Him.  I know He will pay attention to us - personal attention -- as we pray to Him.  He knows us intimately and He wants us to know Him in the same way. 
          Several times as Jesus was teaching, He would say, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."  Mark 4:9 and Mark 4:23 are just two examples.  Jesus is pleading with His audience, Listen to me.  Pay attention.  I am teaching you something very important.  Please hear it.  I am telling you about your Heavenly Father.  I want you to be in heaven with me.  At the time of the transfiguration, "a voice out of the cloud, which said, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him."  (Matthew 17:5)  Through the Bible, God's inspired word, Jesus still calls to us today.  Are you listening?  Does He ever have your full attention?   Most importantly, are you following and keeping His words?
          Matthew 7:24 - "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock." 
          Luke 11:28 - "But He said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it."

Think about it.  Hear Him --hear His sayings and keep them.

Christ above all things,
Robin

Cleaning Out Our Temples

       This past Sunday night on the way home from church services my son and I were having a conversation about the Bible.  Somehow we started talking about when Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple.  Aaron said he used a whip.  He then told me I could talk about that in my blog -- about when Jesus cracked the whip.  I was surprised because for some reason, I had not remembered this little detail. 
       Needless to say I was still curious about this when I got home.  I wanted to know if Christ had really used a whip.  Naturally, I got my Bible out and started studying.  First I found the record of His cleansing of the temple toward the end of His minstry.  This scene is depicted in Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17 and in Luke 19:45-48.  None of these accounts mention a whip of any kind.  I was beginning to think that Aaron was wrong, but then I found another time when Jesus cleansed the temple at the beginning of His ministry.  That is recorded in John 2:13 through17.  Ah Ha!  There it was, right in the scriptures. 
       The account recorded by John happened shortly after Christ had performed His first miracle, that of turning water into wine at a wedding feast.  Verse 15 of Chapter 2 does say that Jesus "made a scourge of small cords" and "drove them all out of the temple."  A scourge is a whip.  I looked that up in my Webster's dictionary and in Strong's Concordance.  But it seems unlikely to me that our Lord "cracked" a whip.  I read a few on line concordances and they were very careful to point out that the scourge was not used on any person, but that it was used to aid in driving out the cattle that were in the temple.  Nothing was permanently destroyed.  Neither the cattle, nor any of the people were harmed and the money could be picked back up again.  Jesus was not destructive when He cleansed the temple; but He certainly got rid of the corruption - at least for a time. 
       Many thoughts come to mind when reading about Christ throwing out the money changers.  John says that the disciples remembered "that it was written, 'The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.' " (John 2:17)  This is almost a direct quote from Psalms 69:9.  Jesus certainly did have a zeal for His Father's house.  The temple was the place where the Jews came to worship God.  It is where they had access to the Heavenly Father.  It was the holy dwelling place of the great I AM.  We cannot even begin to comprehend the great love that exists between God the Father, and God the Son.  But because their beings are so intertwined with one another - because of the great love Jesus had for His Father - He merely could not abide the corruption that was going on in the "His Father's house." 
       It is important to note the steadfast loyalty that Christ had for God.  Christ always had it foremost in His mind and heart that He was there to glorify the Father.  If we think of our own fathers, we can relate somewhat to Jesus' actions.  We love our earthly fathers.  We are loyal to them and when we were small we wanted very much to please them.  If anyone ever said anything bad our Dad or did something to tarnish his name or reputation we were quick to defend him.  So Jesus was with the Heavenly Father.  And so should we also be with God.  No matter how much we love our earthly family, we are to love God the most.  Remember the first commandment is to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, mind, soul and strength. 
        Now, I know that today God does not reside in any building.  Nevertheless, we should treat the place we come to worship and give reverence to our Almighty Father with respect.  We should teach our children to help take care of the building.  We need to remind them to pick up any candy or gum wrappers left on the seats.  We should never write or carve on our pews.  We should teach them not to demolish the song books.  Like I said, I know the building is not holy.  I know that.  However, the local meeting place for our home congregations should still be taken care of so that we can continue to enjoy the blessings of meeting together to worship in spirit and truth.
       In the New Testament, the church - the individual members are described as the temple or dwelling place of God.  Let us consider these scriptures. 
       I Cor. 3:16-17 --"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."  Whew - does that sound a little like Christ did when he threw the buyers and sellers and all their merchandise out of the temple?  I don't think God likes it very much when we defile His dwelling place with angry words or inappropriate thoughts or foul language. 
       Read I Corinthians 6:19-20 --"What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."   It seems like Paul was trying to tell the Corinthians to get their act together.  Clean out or rid yourself (your temple) of those things that would defile or destroy you.  Empty yourself of the bad stuff and then fill yourself up with God's spirit - and glorify God - because you belong to Him!
       I want to share two more verses that will give us food for thought.  At least these verses made me stop and think about myself.  II Corinthians 6:16 -- "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." 
       Eph. 2:21-22 -- "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." 
       So think about it (and I am talking to myself as much as anyone else) -- if Christ came to the temple of God that is in you ... would He find anything to throw out? 

Christ above all things,
Robin