Entries for March 2015

OUR PLANS FIT GOD'S APPOINTMENTS

"Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus saying to Him, "Where do you want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?' And He said, 'Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, "The Teacher says, "My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at Your house with My disciples." Matthew 26:17-18

The disciples had done it all before, finding a place, selecting a lamb, shopping for herbs and bread, setting the table. For them it was preparation for the Passover. For Jesus it was the Last Supper. In His company, ordinary tasks became part of an unrecognized greater plan of redemption.

We look back to celebrate the past. Our Lord looks forward to celebrate the future. We recall what He has done; He anticipates what He will do. As He is in our past, we are in His future.

Notice the everyday tasks He gave in preparation for the future; go into the city, find a certain man, speak to him! My friend, don't undervalue the ordinary tasks He asks of you today.

BE EXPECTANT: HIS INTENTIONS AND YOUR PLANS CAN COMBINE TO BRING ABOUT HIS PURPOSES.

PRAYER: Lord, make my table Yours, my house, Yours. You alone know the greater meaning of everything I do in obedience to You. I don't want to miss Your appointments as I make my plans. So I pray, speak Lord that I may do Your will. Amen

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SWEETER WITH AGE

"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him,for we shall see Him as He is." I John 3:2

I found myself humming an old hymn the other day. It caught me by surprise, for it has been a long time since I heard it. The title is "Sweeter As The Years Go By." (composed by Mrs. C.H.Morris). "Sweeter, richer, deeper, Jesus' love is sweeter; sweeter as the years go by!" The three verses of the hymn in my hymnal follow the familiar pattern found in most older hymns. Usually verse one is a personal testimony, verse two: Jesus' example and verse three: future joy in heaven.

The constancy of Jesus in my life is my testimony. I began to sing heartfelt worship in a storefront church in Toledo, Ohio in 1938! It is there Jesus healed my body and saved my soul when I was 16 years old.

Jesus still inspires me. The story of His love and how He died upon the cross as my Redeemer never never ceases to thrill my soul. His faithfulness and forgiveness makes me want to be loyal and to be always willing to forgive others.

I look forward to eternal joy in Heaven. I know someday He will welcome me home. By His grace I will look on His face and praise Him forever. My theme will forever be "Richer, fuller, deeper, Jesus' love is sweeter; sweeter as the years go by."

ENJOY THE SWEETNESS! Sing an old hymn you love and delight yourself in the Lord. Let your prayer be a song of love to the faithful lover of your soul. My heart still sings at the age of 92. I'll be 93 April 2nd. Life with Jesus is sweeter as the years go by.

PRAYER: Lord I lift my eyes you the one who pours out your love to me each and every day. Thank you your faithfulness to be with me through all my life until you take me into your presence. Amen

PS: Heaven is real! In my book, Heaven Here I Come, there is an account of my Mother's remarkable visit to heaven and her return to life in answer to prayer. I recommend her testimony to you who wonder what it is like to die as a Christian. (Heaven Here I Come can be ordered on this website)

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DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL

"Deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 5:13

Christians in many parts of our world suffer for Jesus' sake. Some die, others are imprisoned, or forced to flee from their homes in terror. After being given the choice to either recant their Christian faith in favor of Islam or leave everything they own, they chose to leave. They tell how their places of worship were destroyed and historic sacred relics shattered. Pastors were beheaded, women were taken as sex slaves and children were crucified in a wave of terror ordered by the Islamic State.

The request for deliverance from the evil goes beyond a plea to be saved from Islamic capture and torture. It is a prayer for deliverance from the evil one who has worked through wicked people every century since the crucifixion of Jesus. Our Lord saw the one behind the evil, Satan, the murderer.

It is good to know this prayer is heard today. From His place at the right hand of Father's throne, our ascended Lord intercedes. Some are delivered to fight more battles on earth, others are delivered to enter heaven to receive the victor's crown.

UNTIL THEN: The power of God will operate in answer to the believer's prayer for deliverance from whoever Satan is using to work evil around you and in your world.

May the Lord give you faith right now to appropriate the victory Christ won on the cross. His resurrection is everlasting proof that you are right to pray this prayer, whether you confront evil in your home or face death for Christ elsewhere.

PRAYER: Jesus, you are my Deliverer. The devil cannot hold me captive to evil. I claim your victory and accept your power to deliver me. Whether you rescue me to win more battles for your glory, or release me to rise above the battle field and claim heaven's reward, I belong to you. Your's be the kingdom and glory forever. Amen

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