A taste of the Ressurrection!

I believe that when Jesus comes again, it is going to be a very exciting time! About a week or two ago, my brother was unloading an ADRA truck, when he got the news that one of the truck drivers ( his name is Mac) for them had died. The truck driver happened to be a good friend of ours, and so the news hurt us deeply. As time passed, we began to run low on ADRA boxes. On Monday my brother answered the phone, and talked to someone who was delivering the load of boxes. His face went pale as he talked on the phone, and then, he said "ok" and hung up the phone. He looked at me and then with a chill said "it's Mac" "I thought Mac was dead!" I answerd in surprise. Our minds began to wander and we began to think this might be an evil angel, but we brushed the thought aside, and waited for our next load of ADRA boxes. Thursday (that's today) rolled around and, sure enough Mac was here with a load of ADRA. After unloading the truck we went and told him what had happened. It turned out that there had been a misunderstanding. Seeing Mac, alive, after I thought he had been dead, really brought something home to me. In this life, we are guarunteed to die, and to lose those we love, if time lasts. That's all this life really has to offer. The amusements of this life, can not, and will not satisfy. However, a day is coming, when all those who love Jesus will be reunited. There really is no more important goal than to be with Jesus. In this life you and I can be assured that there will be losses, but we need not be discouraged if we have Jesus in our life, because He will write the endings. In 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 we read:

"According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."

Life Directions

Wow! When God says He wants to take us for an adventure, He isn't kidding. I'm really starting to like this adventure stuff to be totally honest. I think it builds character and makes us into deeper people. Today I learned about the importance of being transparent with people. A lot of times we as people try and hide our motives about why we do things and who we are. We are ashamed to admit to the mistakes that we have made, because we feel that we will somehow be so different that no one will like us. Yet Jesus encourages honesty! If you look at John 4 you will find the story of the woman at the well. Jesus tells her the truth about herself. So few people today want to be honest with themselves and who they are. They are rather content to live a certain way to gain favors from those around them, but this is not how Jesus lived. He was honest with those around Him, no matter what the cost, and I believe that is how God wants us to live today. We should be honest no matter what the cost. So.. what is the truth about you?.... Can you answer that question, or do you instead try and bury it deep within yourself, because it would be too hard to admit, because you know within yourself that you are trying to hide the truth, and don't want the consequences of admitting it.

Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

The Shepherd Goes Before Us

Slowly I pull the covers off of my body, and begin the routine of getting up. My half groggy stare catchs the pale blue light coming in from the window that sits in front of my bed. Moving my arm with my other free hand, I pick up the nummed object and shake it up and down a few times. There is no movement, and all I can do is raise it up and let it fall. After about a minute the feelings begin to prickle back into my arms. I'm tired and it's morning, time to get up and face another day of life. For some reason, this day seems to be very monotinous. I walk over to my desk and pick up the Bible, forcing myself to kneel, I breath out a quick prayer to God and begin to read. "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate.." I continue to read and then finish the chapter, setting the Bible back on the desk. Then I throw some clothes on and head out the door to work. All through the day the monotony continues, and I begin to wonder, if what I had this morning was really worship or some ritual. As the day drags on, I begin to feel condemned and depressed. Still I struggle through the day, until finally I can take no more, and I humbly ask God for help. I then feel impressed to read the reading I read for my devotional. All day today I have been full of a feeling of inadequacy. Just feeling like I just don't have the energy to keep going. Now as I sit here typing, I realize the problem. I read my devotional, but I did not "Read" it. I spent all that time in the morning just trying to read my devotional, just so I could check it off the list. But this evening as I READ my devotional a new thought entered.

John 10: 1 says "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber."

I now realize that I was trying to climb up some other way, instead of letting Jesus be my sufficiency. In all honesty I did not spend time pouring my heart out to God. I know that this seems like a small thing, but without this, that is all that reading the Bible is. We need to be honest about how we are feeling and how things are going in our lives for Jesus to be able to talk with us.

In John 10:9 Jesus says

"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture"

Jesus promises us that when we come to God through Him, we can find pasture. Good pasture is a must when you are a shepherd, it means there will be food.

In John 10:11 Jesus says

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

It is interesting that this is said. Friend, Jesus says He lays down His live for us. He is willing to save us so we can be with Him forever.

The question is now begged: Who is your Shepherd? Who gently leads you, if it isn't Jesus, then you will be disapointed. Please allow Jesus to be your Shepherd, He wants to be, He doesn't care what you have done! It doesn't matter! You can be saved! Jesus wants to save You for His kingdom, and someday soon, when He returns He wants to take us all home to live with Him forever, where there will be no more sorrow or tears, but only Joy and life forever. Why don't you ask the the Divine Shepherd in your heart as I ask Him in mine, to be Your Shepherd:)