Come!

“Come, let us adore Him!” 🎵

“Come unto Me, all of you who labour and are heavy laden…” 

-Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30

“Come, and let us return unto the Lord…” 

-Hosea 6:1

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.-Revelation 22:17

The Father to the Prodigal son, “Come Home!” -Luke 15:11-32

The prodigal son, When he came to himself, he said… “I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.” 

And he arose, and CAME to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

The son had a great welcome home! & ALL who COME to the Heavenly Father will also! 

“Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” -Luke 15:10 

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

                      -Charlotte Elliott

If Christ had not come

A few years ago a striking Christmas card was published, with the title, “If Christ had not come.” It was founded upon our Savior’s words, “If I had not come.” The card represented a clergyman falling into a short sleep in his study on Christmas morning and dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.

In his dream he found himself looking through his home, but there were no little stockings in the chimney corner, no Christmas bells or wreaths of holly, and no Christ to comfort, gladden and save. He walked out on the public street, but there was no church with its spire pointing to heaven. He came back and sat down in his library, but every book about the Savior had disappeared.

A ring at the doorbell, and a messenger asked him to visit a poor dying mother. He hastened with the weeping child and as he reached the home, he sat down and said, “I have something here that will comfort you.” He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise, but it ended at Malachi, and there was no gospel and no promise of hope and salvation, and he could only bow his head and weep with her in bitter despair.

Two days afterward he stood beside her coffin and conducted the funeral service, but there was no message of consolation, no word of a glorious resurrection, no open heaven, but only “dust to dust, ashes to ashes,” and one long eternal farewell. He realized at length that “He had not come” and burst into tears and bitter weeping in his sorrowful dream.

Suddenly he awoke with a start, and a great shout of joy and praise burst from his lips as he heard his choir singing in his church close by:

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels, O come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.

Let us be glad and rejoice today, because “He has come.”

And let us remember the annunciation of the angel, “Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

Wishing you a merry Christmas!

What is man?

God is SO good! He paints the sky for us every morning and every evening. Great is His faithfulness! Tonight on my drive home, the moon was SO bright and the stars too! ⭐️ All I could think of was what king David prayed in Psalm 8, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that you would visit him?” YOU & I matter to God, so much so that He would enter humanity and take upon himself the sin of us all, then take the punishment of death so that we might have everlasting life for all who believe! ❣️ “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) 

Wonderful words of Life!

The story is told of a man in his apartment who had lost all hope and was going to commit suicide, when he heard through the wall a neighbour singing the following words,

“Wonderful words of LIFE!” Instead of death, the man found life worth living for in Jesus Christ! This is my prayer for you! ❣️🙏🏻

Sing them over again to me,

Wonderful words of life;

Let me more of their beauty see,

Wonderful words of life.

Words of life and beauty

Teach me faith and duty;

Refrain:

Beautiful words, wonderful words,

Wonderful words of life;

Beautiful words, wonderful words,

Wonderful words of life.

Christ, the blessed One, gives to all

Wonderful words of life;

Sinner, list to the loving call,

Wonderful words of life.

All so freely given,

Wooing us to heaven;

Sweetly echo the Gospel call,

Wonderful words of life;

Offer pardon and peace to all,

Wonderful words of life.

Jesus, only Savior,

Sanctify forever;

-Philip P. Bliss

Reaching for Him!

Do you ever find yourself reaching for the light? for hope in a world of despair? One of my favourite verses from scripture is John 12:46, where Jesus says, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” Reach out to Him in faith my friend. He is there for all who seek Him! (Photo by Unsplash)

What will you do with Jesus?

Jesus is standing in Pilate’s hall,

Friendless, forsaken, betrayed by all;

Hearken! what meaneth the sudden call?

What will you do with Jesus?

Refrain:

What will you do with Jesus?

Neutral you cannot be;

Someday your heart will be asking,

“What will He do with me?”

Jesus is standing on trial still,

You can be false to Him if you will,

You can be faithful through good or ill:

What will you do with Jesus?

Will you evade Him as Pilate tried?

Or will you choose Him, whate’er betide?

Vainly you struggle from Him to hide:

What will you do with Jesus?

Will you, like Peter, your Lord deny?

Or will you scorn from His foes to fly,

Daring for Jesus to live or die?

What will you do with Jesus?

“Jesus, I give Thee my heart today!

Jesus, I’ll follow Thee all the way,

Gladly obeying Thee!” will you say:

“This I will do with Jesus!”

-Albert B. Simpson

-Photo by Unsplash 

Jesus loves you!

I was handing out Bibles at a high school yesterday when a student was driving by and wondered what was happening, so he called out from his window, “What’s going on?” 

I told him we were handing out some good news! “What’s the good news?” He asked. “Jesus loves you!” I responded. 

That’s the best news in a world of bad news! 

Jesus loves you friend! No matter how far away you think you are from him, no matter how bad or unworthy you might feel. He took your sin punishment on the cross so that YOU might forever be free! What a Saviour! And, He lives! 

“Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (The Bible; Romans 10:13) 

That means YOU! That means ME!

The soil of our hearts

Jesus told a parable about a Sower & four different types of soil where the seed fell. 

1. By the wayside

2. Stony ground

3. Thorny ground

4. Good ground 

 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (The Bible; Mark 4)

What does the soil of our hearts look like toward the things of God?

Our three enemies

Our three enemies; The world, the flesh, and the devil. But if you know the TRUTH, the TRUTH will set you free! (John 8:32) Jesus said, “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14:6) Will you come to God the Father through the promised deliverer? Jesus Christ alone can set you free! “If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

“Take me under your wing!”

These were the words of Ruth the Moabitess who had immigrated with her mother-in-law back to the land of Judah. 

She had experienced the hopelessness of the gods of Moab, and wanted to put her trust in the true and living God. When she meets Boaz, she recognizes him as a place of refuge and requests to be taken under his wing. (Ruth 3:9)

When a person encounters the life-changing power of Jesus Christ, they can only cry out with Ruth, “Take me under your wing!” The promise is sure! 

“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” (Psalms 91:4) 

As believers in Jesus Christ, we are saved from the wrath to come! 

“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”(Romans 5:8-11)

Ruth had come for refuge under the wings of the Lord God of Israel. (Ruth 2:12) Will you? 

The words of the following song say it well, 

“When free grace awoke me by light from on high, then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die; no refuge, no safety in self could I see, Jehovah Tsidkenu my Saviour must be!” -I once was a stranger to grace & to God; by Robert Murray McCheyne

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8, 9) 

To the unknown God

TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:

“God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.

Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.

And He has made from ONE BLOOD every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

so that they should SEEK THE LORD, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’

Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising.

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to REPENT, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man (Christ Jesus) whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (The Bible; Acts 17)

The Light!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (The Bible; John One)

Freedom

I sang a hymn today, in which the following words on the page jumped out at me. 

”The love of God it was that sought from sin to set us FREE; That gave the Son, whose precious blood Has wro’t our LIBERTY!” 

FREEDOM, something I believe we all long for. 

What are the chains that bind you today? What addictions or bad habits hold you a slave? Do you want to be delivered? 

There is One who can set you FREE! 

JESUS. He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life! He is the One who said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you FREE. Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you FREE, you shall be FREE indeed.” (The Bible; John 8 )

“Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

“Seek the Lord while He may be found”

God through the prophet Isaiah,

“Seek the LORD while He may be found,

Call upon Him while He is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way,

And the unrighteous man his thoughts;

Let him return to the LORD,

And He will have mercy on him;

And to our God,

For He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55) 

It’s sobering to think that there will come a time when God may not be found or a time when He may not be near. In Genesis 6:3 the LORD said, “My spirit shall not always strive with man…” 

2 Corinthians 6:2 reminds us, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

The forgotten Son

I was teaching a Bible class. I asked if any of the students knew John 3:16. One of the little girls started quoting it, “God so loved the world 🌎 that He gave His only FORGOTTEN Son…” And I got to thinking that often His Son is forgotten. His thoughts toward us are more in number than the sand! (Psalm 139) He never forgets us! A song 🎵 I would sing growing up came to mind, “Though I forget Him & wander away, still He doth love me wherever I stray! Then back to His dear loving arms would I flee, when I remember that Jesus loves me!” ♥️ JESUS LOVES YOU! It’s not too late to love Him too! 🙏🏻

Is your god dead or alive?

From my trip to Nepal (2012) This morning I was reading these words in the bible from Psalm 135:15-18; “The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands.

They have mouths, but they do not speak;

Eyes they have, but they do not see;

They have ears, but they do not hear;

Nor is there any breath in their mouths.

Those who make them are like them;

So is everyone who trusts in them.”

I am so thankful this Easter weekend, that I serve a RISEN Saviour!! (Every other god is dead!) Jesus. He’s alive! He is the Way. The Truth. The Life. No one comes to God the Father but by Him! (John 14:6) Put your trust in Him today. You will not be disappointed!! ♥️

He is not here for He is risen!

As Easter time approaches, let me share with you the tender story of an eleven-year old boy named Philip, a Down's syndrome child who was in a Sunday School class with eight other children. Easter Sunday the teacher brought an empty plastic egg for each child. They were instructed to go out of the Church building onto the grounds and put into the egg something that would remind them of the meaning of Easter. All returned joyfully. As each egg was opened there were exclamations of delight at a butterfly, a twig, a flower, a blade of grass, then the last egg was opened. It was Philip's and it was empty! Some of the children made fun of Philip. "But, teacher," he said, "teacher, the tomb was empty." A newspaper article announcing Philip's death a few months later noted that at the conclusion of the funeral eight children marched forward and put a large empty egg on the small casket. On it was a banner that said, "The tomb was empty." -unknown

A ladder to heaven for me!

Decided on the treadmill today. As I approached these stairs, a Sunday school song came to mind. “There’s a ladder to heaven for me! 😄 There’s no other way I can see, since Jesus my Saviour has died on the tree, there’s a ladder to heaven for me!” Man, I’m SO thankful it’s not my own efforts to get me in! “All have sinned and fall short (so short!) of the glory of God! Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us…” (Romans 3:23; Titus 3:5)

Chain Breaker

I heard a message today about a Chain breaker whose name is JESUS. Do you know Him? 

If you've been walking the same old road for miles and miles

If you've been hearing the same old voice tell the same old lies

If you're trying to fill the same old holes inside

There's a better life, there's a better life

If you've got pain, He's a pain taker

If you feel lost, He's a way maker

If you need freedom or saving, He's a prison-shaking Savior

If you got chains, He's a chain breaker

We've all searched for the light of day in the dead of night

We've all found ourselves worn out from the same old fight

We've all run to things we know just ain't right

When there's a better life, there's a better life

If you've got pain, He's a pain taker

If you feel lost, He's a way maker

If you need freedom or saving, He's a prison-shaking Savior

If you got chains, He's a chain breaker

If you believe it, if you receive it

If you can feel it, somebody testify

If you believe it, if you receive it

If you can feel it, somebody testify, testify

If you believe it, if you receive it

If you can feel it, somebody testify

If you've got pain, He's a pain taker

If you feel lost, He's a way maker

If you need freedom or saving, He's a prison-shaking Savior

If you got chains, He's a chain breaker

If you need freedom or saving, He's a prison-shaking Savior

If you got chains, He's a chain breaker

Zach Williams 

The Burden Bearer

It is with a heavy heart I write. Addiction. Loneliness. Depression. Suicidal thoughts. All of these witnessed during my recent home care visit. She literally sobbed into my shoulder. 

My thoughts turned to the words of the Bible, recorded in Galatians 6:2. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” And then to these words of Jesus from Luke 10:27, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.” How well do I know my neighbours? Have I stopped to consider them? 

As the body fails us, where can we turn for hope? When relationships break, who can we trust? Jesus invites us to come to Him, everyone who is weary, anyone who is burdened, and those weighed down with guilt or the cares of this life. He promises true and lasting rest! (Matthew 11:28) 

He offers peace to us in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 

What is your need today dear friend? There is true rest and lasting peace in Jesus! 

Days are filled with sorrow and care,

Hearts are lonely and drear.

Burdens are lifted at Calvary,

Jesus is very near.

 

Chorus: 

Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Calvary, Calvary;

Burdens are lifted at Calvary, Jesus is very near.

 

Cast your care on Jesus today,

Leave your worry and fear.

Burdens are lifted at Calvary,

Jesus is very near.

 

Troubled soul, the Savior can feel

Every heartache and tear.

Burdens are lifted at Calvary,

Jesus is very near.

John M. Moore 

Good News

I can’t stop thinking about this conversation I had today with a passerby. I handed him the gospel of John, and as I did so, he asked me what it was I was giving to him. “Good news. All about Jesus. I just can’t keep it to myself,” I responded. He looked at me very seriously and said, “Thank-you. I could really use some good news right now.” ♥️ Maybe that’s you today. I don’t know what kind of turmoil you might be in, but I want you to know you can find a place of refuge in Jesus. In John 16:33, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Adopted

A friend I met in Kenya gifted this to me. She was so excited to hear that we were going to the very village that she grew up in to provide medical care for the people there. I got to talk to her about my Lord and Saviour on a 9 hour flight into Nairobi! She was so encouraged that she took a nine hour bus ride through the night to come and meet up with us in the village we were working in after her studies were completed. This picture reminded her of being adopted, not only into my life, but into the family of God. I’m so thankful to be adopted into God’s family! Psalms 68:6 says, “God sets the solitary in families.” He’s so good! He’s such a kind Heavenly Father! Have you been adopted in? 

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God, I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, For I'm part of the family, The Family of God.

You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here, It's because we're a family and these are so near; When one has a heartache, we all share the tears, And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear. 

From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King, No longer an outcast, a new song I sing; From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong, I'm not worthy to be here, but praise God I belong! 

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God, I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, For I'm part of the family, The Family of God! -Bill Gaither 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:3-7)