Christianity,Sunday, April 16, 2006

Happy Easter

It’s a little gloomy here in San Jose, CA with the clouds hovering overhead. But it’s still something sweet and beautiful to think again about the difference Jesus has made in my life. I was once a lost and lonely person filling my life with drugs, sex, alcohol, material posessions and selishness. Today, I’m a person made over in Christ. I left my former life behind and now have a beautiful family, lots of happiness and a very promising future.

Moma Lynn, Karen, and the girls visited recently. Here’s a photo of us all from that visit. There are others in the gallery titled “Visit 2006”: Click Here

Christianity,Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Happy Valentine

Happy Valentines Day to all. I found the perfect way to start Valentine’s day from one of my favorite devotionals, “Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotionals”

O love the Lord, all ye saints. (Psalm 31:23)

Blest be Thy love, dear Lord, that taught us this sweet way,
Only to love Thee for Thyself, and for that love obey.
?J. Austin

Secular songs of romantic expressions abound on this day. For the Christian, a hymn about love is also appropriate for Valentine?s Day, and no sweeter expression of one?s love for Christ can be found than these anonymous lines from an early American folk hymn.

For the early Christians, February 14 was a special day. Tradition tells us that a man by the name of Valentine was a Christian doctor who went about doing good deeds wherever he could, in imitation of his Master.
Valentine became a good friend and helper to the Christians, who were being persecuted by the cruel powers of the Roman Empire. It is believed that the good doctor was eventually imprisoned because of his loyalty to his fellow ?followers of the Way.? After he was beheaded on February 14, that day was observed each year in Valentine?s honor by the early Christians.

As time went on, however, Valentine and his deeds of kindness were forgotten. Because February was near the beginning of spring, with its feelings of romance, the day became a secular holiday celebrating romantic love. Tokens of love and affection were given to sweethearts and friends, starting the custom that we still practice today.

Dr. Valentine gave his life for his fellow Christians because of his deep love for Christ. We too can express our love for the Savior with these simply stated yet profound words ? ?but how much I love Thee my actions will show.?

I love Thee, my Savior, I love Thee, my Lord; I love Thee, my Savior, I love Thee, my God: I love Thee, I love Thee, and that Thou dost know; but how much I love Thee my actions will show.
O Jesus my Savior, with Thee I am blest, my life and salvation, my joy and my rest: Thy name be my theme and Thy love be my song; Thy grace shall inspire both my heart and my tongue.
Oh who?s like my Savior? He?s heaven?s bright king; He smiles and He loves me and helps me to sing: I?ll praise Him, I?ll praise Him with notes loud and clear; while rivers of pleasure my spirit shall cheer.

Osbeck, K. W. (1990). Amazing grace : 366 inspiring hymn stories for daily devotions. Includes indexes. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications.

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Christianity,Monday, February 13, 2006

Unloved on Valentine’s Day?

Feeling alone or unloved on Valentine’s day? God has something that can lift your spirit.

From today’s entry in “The Christian’s Secret of a Holy Life”,

My sister has had a glorious experience during her recent illness. She has entered into this life of abiding in Jesus, and is finding that it is a blessed life. She says she has been baptized with the Holy Ghost?that she feels that she never before has known what it is to be buried with Christ and risen with Him to newness of life. She is just overflowing.
Yesterday I had a similar letter from Abby Folwell who has also entered upon the way of holiness. She says that always before this Jesus has been in Heaven and she on earth, and faith has built a bridge between her soul and Him. But now, He is with her, is dwelling in her and it is no more she that lives but Christ that lives in her.
And I, too, know what it is to abide in Christ and to have Him abiding in me! I never did before. I never dreamed there was such a life to be lived before. One with Jesus! Oh how perfectly wonderful it is! All His wisdom and His righteousness and His sanctification are mine now, just as before His redemption was. I have had no wonderful manifestations, such as others seem to have had, but I have Jesus! He is my all and in all, and I am satisfied that He lives in my very soul. I could write all day of Him, of His love, His mercy, His grace, His power. I trust Him & He does save me.
?To Sally, 1866

Smith, H. W., & Dieter, M. E. (1997). The Christian’s secret of a holy life : The unpublished personal writings of Hannah Whitall Smith (February 13). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

What a wonderful joy they experience with Jesus. Everyone who wants this can have it. It may have cost God a lot, but he doesn’t charge you anything.

“The Spirit and the bride say, ?Come!? And let him who hears say, ?Come!? Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17, NIV)

Christianity,Friday, February 10, 2006

Secret to Contentment

” ... I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:10-13, NIV)

Stoics were people who seeked contentment by removing all desires and wants. Perfection, for the Stoic, was attained by being so self-sufficient, that even the death of a wife would not bother the Stoic. Their path to contentment also caused a path to an uncompassionate, inhuman heart.

In Philippians, Paul shows us a better contentment that can handle both the lack of and the abundance of the gifts of God. It is a contentment that is not based on Stoic self-sufficiency, but on the Christian’s God-sufficiency.

Christianity,Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Book of Daniel Cancelled

NBC decided to cancel that horrible “Book of Daniel” show. Not only were they receiving hundreds of calls from Christians expressing the disgust with the show, but they were also loosing 2 million each time they aired the show. So they cancelled it! Yeah!

Read the full article at the AFA Website, Click Here