Love

I am actually looking forward to the new year. I'm starting a new Bible reading plan that will hopefully keep me on track with reading and staying plugged in to God's Word. I need that. This past year has been a good and fulfilling year, but not without it's hard times. Thankfully God has used the tough times to bring me closer to Him, and the significant steps of maturity in faith that God has allowed me to take has far outweighed the sorrow.

One of the biggest things that Jesus has shown me is patience in love. John M. Perkins has said, "Love is the final fight." and I believe it. To love my enemies is a fight. To love those that annoy me, that don't fit in, that don't like me, that lie about me, and that frustrate me is a fight. I don't want to love those kind of people, and it's a constant battle to do so. That is a wonderful and hard earned truth. Though it's not an easy fight it is satisfying, because we are fighting for something pure. Tolerance just allows evil to do its deeds, and you can't use evil to conquer evil. That doesn't even make sense. Love indeed is the final fight, for if we fight for love then evil has been defeated.

Love in the midst of evil is the only thing that will make a difference. Active love.

I pray that everyone has a wonderful New Year's Eve, and that we will continue to press the fight for the love of Jesus into 2010 and though eternity.

Love God. Love others.
Clint

This Grace is Yours

Scripture Reading: John 1:19-29

Key Verse: John 1:29 - The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

One of the most encouraging things you can receive from God is the hope that comes from being given a second chance. This is especially important when you have yielded to temptation or feel that you have fallen short of His plan and purpose for your life. The truth is that God never limit’s the opportunity for forgiveness. Second chances encourage us to go on and not give up even when the whispers of the world around us seem to say the opposite. After his denial of Christ, Peter was in need of a second chance, and Jesus, through His grace, provided this (John 21:15-17). How many of us have longed for God’s cleansing touch when we become trapped by our wrongful actions? The only cure for sin or failure of any kind is God’s grace applied to our lives. This is what changes the stumbling sinner into a person living victoriously for Jesus Christ.Even before you knew Him, Jesus knew and loved you. It was His love that saved you, and it is His love that will keep you throughout eternity. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Are you struggling with the idea of grace and how it applies to your life? Realize that God loves you. He stands beside you and is pleased to call you His own. This grace is yours.

Lord, thank You for Your grace - Your love and kindness toward me even though I don’t deserve it. I accept Your extended grace.

Question?

I am thankful for what God has revealed to me through Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. God's truth has resonated through my life and transformed me into a new person. I have been saved from myself and my sin through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Friend.

I do have a question. It seems as if the rest of the world's religions are focused on works. What I have to "do" to gain salvation. Is Christianity (the relationship with God gained through Jesus Christ) the only faith that requires us to totally rely on a stronger being outside of ourselves to gain salvation? I have found that to be true, and it has caused me to be more confident in my belief. For God showed me, through a series of life changing events, that I could not do it myself. I tried.......and failed miserably! I just do not see how one can justify a religion based fully on works.

If had to rely on myself to gain salvation I would be a hopeless cause.

The Purpose of Man

I'm starting to read a book by A.W. Tozer called "The Purpose of Man: Designed to Worship". This is my first Tozer book. He begins it in the Garden of Eden and says that the reason why we were created was to worship God and display His glory. As Tozer says, "Worship is man's full reason for existence. Worship is why we are born and why we are born again."

I like that.

We tend to be very self-centered and that life is about us. It's not. It's all about God, and bringing glory and honor to Him. We do that through worship. There are many ways to worship besides the common way of singing hymns that we usually think of. Observing a sunset on your way home from work and thanking God for the beauty of it. Noticing the stars in a clear night sky, realizing how small you are, and thanking God for His amazing love. Giving of your time and money to service and thanking God for His Holy Spirit that gives you the desire to do so. Endless ways to allow God through Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit to use you for His glory!

I'm looking forward to this book. Hoping that it will draw me closer to Jesus in worship.

God's Amazing Love

Scripture Reading: Psalm 139:1-18

Key Verse: Psalm 139:13 - For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.

In The Gift for All People, Max Lucado describes the event of the Cross in this way:

Christ came to earth for one reason: to give Hid life as a ransom for you, me, for all of us. He sacrificed Himself to give us a second chance. He would have gone to any lengths to do so. And He did. He went to the cross, where man’s utter despair collided with God’s unbending grace. And in that moment when God’s great gift was complete, the compassionate Christ showed the world the cost of His gift.

As you strengthen your relationship with Jesus, you will begin to understand the amazing truth that He died specifically for you. Though His sacrifice freed the world from the penalty of sin, Jesus was intimately familiar with you as an individual as He accepted and fulfilled His sentence of death upon the cross.
The Bible tells us that God knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). That means that when He sent His Son to die on the cross over two thousand years ago, God knew you and included the sins you would commit in the future among those to be forgiven.
What an awesome gift! What a reason to celebrate! Yet so many people take Christ’s sacrificial death for granted. In this holy season, take time to thank Him for His amazing love that is demonstrated to us all each day.

Father, I am speechless at the thought that You knew who I was when You sent Your Son to die for me. Thank You for loving me that much.

This is the scripture reading. I had to add it because it is such a great Psalm. Read the Scripture below slowly and carefully. Know that God is speaking directly to you today.

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:1-18)

Thoughts

My mind is kind of racing right now. I needed to get some stuff of my chest.

Just got through reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. Awesome read. Pick it up and read it with an open mind. Scripture is running all through that book, and I believe that the points he makes are biblically based. He encourages readers to not only be hearers of the Word but doers as well. To take Christ at His word and actually obey Him by living out His truths in our lives with the help of the Holy Spirit. A quote from the book struck me tonight: "We never grow closer to God when we just live life; it takes deliberate pursuit and attentiveness." We can't just waste our life away by just living our life day by day and not concerning ourself with the things of God. If you are a Christian that's not living your life to the fullest as Jesus promised He would help us do if we follow Him (John 10:10). We so often get sidetracked by the physical world and rarely think of heaven. If we set our hearts and minds on heaven, and store up treasures in heaven instead of this earth then it will be a far more satisfying journey through this life (Matthew 6:20). When I say we I mean me as well! I can get so consumed with this present world and it's troubles and pleasures that heaven seems so far away. We must constantly pursue Jesus for if we stray but for a second we will plunge into the dark waters from whence we came (Matthew 14:22-33). Cling to Jesus my brothers and sisters for He is our only hope. If we place our hope in anything or anyone else we will quickly lose our way. He is the only source of true love. If the Holy Spirit runs in and through us we wll be able to love God and love others as Jesus commanded us to (Matthew 22:34-40).

What does it mean to love God? I don't want to go into details but ask yourself. Does my life and what I'm doing with it show that I love God? Stop what you're doing for a minute. Think about that question, and answer it truthfully in your mind.

Now what does it mean to love others? To love your neighbor as yourself. To bless those that persecute you. To do good to those that hurt you. That's crazy talk! That's not fair! That's the love of God. For what did Christ do for you and me? Even though we were enemies He still loved us and even died for us. So if we call ourselve disciples of Christ should we not do the same?

I know all this is heavy, but just remember that it's not about you. It's all for the glory and honor of our great God! Pray that He will give you the desire to pursue Him, then do it!

The Crazy Life

Check out this link. It's about an incident that occurred in Turkey on April 18, 2007. Three Christians lost their lives in pursuit of Christ. We must ask ourselves if we are willing to do the same. And, if we are, how are we living to show that commitment to Christ.

http://www.dennyburk.com/turkish-martyrs-men-of-whom-the-world-was-not-worthy/

Don't Waste Your Life

This is a music video by Lecrae, and the song is called "Don't Waste Your Life". The lyrics are below the video. Great stuff. Very talented artist that preaches the truth of the Gospel. Preach on Lecrae!



Don't wanna waste my life.

I know a lot of people out there scared they gone die. Couple of em thinking they'll be livin' in the sky, but while I'm here livin' man I gotta ask why? What am I here fo? I gotta figure out. Waste my life? No. I gotta make it count. If Christ is real then what am I gone do about everything in Luke 12:15 down to 21? You really oughta go and check it out. Paul said if Christ ain't resurrect then we wasted our lives. Well that implies that our life's built around Jesus being alive. Everyday I'm living tryin' show the world why Christ is more than everything you'll ever try. Better than pretty women and sinning and living to get a minute of any women and men that you admire. Ain't no lie.

We created for Him. Outta the dust He made us for Him. Elects us and He saves us for Him. Jesus comes and raises for Him. Magnify the Father! Why bother with something lesser? He made us so we could bless Him, and to the world we confess Him; resurrects Him. So I know I got life. Matter fact better man I know I got Christ! If you don't see His ways in my days and nights you can hit my brakes; you can stop my lights. Man I lost my rights. I lost my life. Forget the money cars and toss that ice. The cost is Christ, and they could never offer me anything on the planet that'll cost that price.

Armed and dangerous, so the devil jus can't handle us. Christian youth them a stand wid us. Livin' n driven, given a vision, fullfillin the commission He handed us. London to Los Angeles. Da rap evangelist. Ma daddy wouldn't abandon us. "I gotta back pack fulla tracts plus I keep a Johnny Mac". So are you ready to jam with us? So lets go. Gimme the Word an lets go! Persecution lets go. Tribulation lets go. Across the nation lets go. Procrastination bes go. Hung on the cross in the cold. Died for da young and the old. Can't say you never know. Heaven knows. How many souls are going to hell or to heaven? So we gotta go in and get'em!Whaaaaat!

Suffer. Yeah do it for Christ if you trying to figure what to do with your life. If you making a lot money hope you doing it right, because the money is Gods you better steward it right. Stay focused if you ain't got no ride. Your life ain't wrapped up in what you drive. The clothes you wear the job you work, the color your skin, naw you Christian first. People living life for a job. Make a lil money start living for a car. Get'em a house a wife kids and a dog. When they retire they living high on the hog, but guess what? They didn't ever really live at all. To live is Christ; yeah that's Paul I recall. To die is gain, so for Christ we give it all! He's the treasure you'll never find in the mall. Your money, your singleness, marriage, talent, and time. They were loaned to you to show the world that Christ is Divine. That's why it's Christ in my rhymes. That's why it's Christ all the time. See my whole world is built around Him He's the life in my lines. I refused to waste my life. He's too true ta chase that ice. Here's my gifts and time cause I'm constantly trying to be used to praise the Christ. If He's truly raised to life, then this news should change your life, and by His grace you can put your faith in place that rules your days and nights.

The Relationship

This is an excerpt from "Crazy Love". It's a prayer for those who truly want to experience a relationship with Christ, but don't feel close to Him. Pray this prayer, and hope in the power of the Holy Spirit to change your feelings.

"Jesus, I need to give myself up. I am not strong enough to love You and walk with You on my own. I can't do it, and I need you. I need You deeply and desperately. I believe You are worth it, that You are better than anything else I could have in this life or the next. I want You. And when I don't, I want to want You. Be all in me. Take all of me. Have Your way with me."

The Blood of Christ

Scripture Reading: John 1:19-29

Key Verse: John 1:29 - Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Christian doctrine features several terms that are essential in comprehending the importance of the blood of Christ shed on the cross of Calvary:

Redemption: Believers have been redeemed and forgiven. Our salvation has been purchased through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God who died for our sins and took upon Himself our guilt and penalty for those sins (Ephesians 1:7).

Justification: God has justified us, or declared us not guilty, because by the gift of faith we have accepted Christ as Savior. He also has declared us righteous in His sight, applying the righteousness of Christ to our accounts (Romans 5:9, 17).

Reconciliation: Jesus’ blood makes it possible for God to bring us back into a right relationship with Him. The Bible says we were enemies of God until we accepted Christ. Christ’s blood is the bridge, the peace offering, that reconciles us to God (Colossians 1:19-22).

Sanctification: Sanctification is God’s cleansing and setting us apart unto Himself for His purposes and His will. He sanctified us when we were saved, and He continues to sanctify us to make us clean vessels properly prepared for His good works. (Hebrews 12:14).

Access: Finally, we would not have access to God’s throne of grace without the shedding of Christ’s blood. The reason we can cry out and be heard by God is Christ’s sacrificial death.



Praise the Lord for the glory of the blood (Hebrews 10:19)!

Heavenly Father, thank You that I am redeemed, justified, reconciled, sanctified, and that through the blood, I have access to You.

I Walked on the Moon.

Laugh of the day. This is Brian Regan, a hilarious comedian. Good stuff!

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (James 1:2-4)

As Christians we are not immune to the pains and sufferings of this age. If Christ was not immune then why should we be? We are instructed to count is as an "opportunity for great joy". So, when we're being persecuted physically and mentally by those around us, when death or illness assaults us, or when life's daily stresses and strains weigh on us we are to be joyful? That's crazy talk! I thought we were supposed to complain and sulk around like it's the end of the world. I believe complaining about our situation is so easy to do that it's become our default position, but James gives us the reason for our joy.

We are to be joyful because of what the testing of our faith brings. It brings endurance, which in turn will make us whole and complete. After all what is the suffering in this life compared to the pleasures of eternity. What is an average life span? 80 years? Let's say 100 years. What is that compared to everlasting life?
It is barely a blip on the screen of our existence. Therefore, eternity is another reason for our joy. Because of Jesus Christ and our belief in Him, we can be joyful in knowing that this life is not all there is. After the sting of death we shall be ushered into a life brimming with the very presence of God. We shall not be able to contain ourselves. Who could? For God will have made us whole and complete in Christ and the Holy Spirit, through us, will give glory and honor to the One who is worthy!

Weary believer take heart! We all must walk this journey of life that has been laid before. We shall overcome with God's help. Press the fight!

Love God. Love others. (Matthew 22:34-40)

Crazy Love

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone. It is easy to read and very convicting. If you don't like feeling uncomfortable in your "Christianity" then you still need to read it. He doesn't hold back, but he tells the truth in love. We, as Chrsitians, need to step back and give an honest evaluation of ourselves. To test ourselves and see if we are in the faith. American Christianity, especially in the south, is a watered down luke-warm version of what Jesus teaches in the Bible. Our belief system is not totally based on what the Word says. Which is kinda where we need to go for guidance.

"Crazy Love" is a good book that stives to put Jesus and His teachings at the center of our lives. Very applicable and relevant.

The Season to be.......

I feel that I have some commonalities with Scrooge when Christmas rolls around. It's not the good parts of Christmas that get me aggravated but the commercialization of it. Christmas is a money making machine in America. I hate that because the meaning behind the symbol of Christmas is lost amidst all the greed. Jesus Christ and His coming to earth as human was the biggest event in human history and it has been reduced to a ceramic sentiment on a mantle. We stress out about the gifts (what we're going to give and get) when a lot of us don't even need the gifts. The money spent on all the unnecessary gifts could definitely be used for something better than pleasing ourselves.

We are rich beyond what we can even begin to realize. We lose sight of the blessings of a full belly, a healthy body, and a dry place to sleep. We should desire to give our "stuff" away and trust in God to provide fo our daily needs. Trust is a word that many of us flippantly toss around, especially in relation to God. "Yeah I trust God, but......" fill in the blank. It's such a foreign concept for us to trust God to feed us because we don't have to.

I pray that we would refocus our view and direct our attention to where it needs to be. It's all about God anyway, we might as well get on board!

Are You Ready?

This book "Crazy Love" has started off really good by trying to paint the impossible picture of how awesome God is and how small we are. In chapter 2 entitled "you might not finish this chapter" Francis Chan tells of how short our lives are, and that we are not the center of the story. God is. Chan wants us to know how insignificant we are compared to God; not to belittle us but to wake us up to reality. This is an excerpt from that chapter.

As a pastor, I'm often called upon when life "vanishes like a mist." One of the most powerful examples I've seen of this was Stan Gerlach, a successful businessman who was well known in the community. Stan was giving a eulogy at a memorial service when he decided to share the gospel. At the end of his message, Stan told the mourners, "You never know when God is going to take your life. At that moment, there's nothing you can do about it. Are you ready?" Then Stan sat down, fell over, and died. His wife and sons tried to resuscitate him, but there was nothing they could do - just as Stan had said a few minutes earlier.
I'll never forget receiving that phone call and heading over to the Gerlach house. Stan's wife, Suzy, was just arriving home. She hugged me and cried. One of her sons, John, stepped out of the car weeping. He asked me, "Did you hear the story? Did you hear? I'm so proud of him. My dad died doing what he loved doing most. He was telling people about Jesus."
I was asked to share a word with everyone gathered. There were children, grandchildren, neighbors, and friends. I opened my Bible to Matthew 10:32-33: "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."
I asked everyone to imagine what it must have felt like for Stan. One moment, he was at a memorial service saying to a crowd, "This is who Jesus is!" The next, he was before God hearing Jesus say, "This is who Stan Gerlach is!" One second he was confessing Jesus; a second later, Jesus was confessing him!
It happens that quickly. And it could happen to any of us. In the words of Stan Gerlach, "Are you ready?"

Psalm 73

This is the New Living Translation of Psalm 73. It might be my favorite Psalm.


Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. “What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?” Look at these wicked people—enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.

If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people. So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning. Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart;he is mine forever. Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

A Prayer Dare by Francis Chan

This is a pretty cool video by Francis Chan, author of the book "Crazy Love". I've gotten through the first chapter of that book. It's easy to read (which I like) but it also has some deep spiritual truths. The layout of the book is unique as well. He takes advantage of the internet and uses video clips along with his book. It is getting me thinking and worshipping God! That's always good.

This video is about a prayer found in Proverbs 30:7-9. I dare you to pray it!

This picture represents not only the comaraderie between fellow law enforcement officers but also the memory of those that were killed in the line of duty. The display of it on this blog serves that purpose and also shows support for the families of the fallen.

Recently we've had four officers killed in Lakewood, WA and just last night another officer in Pelham, AL was shot and killed while on a traffic stop. Please pray for the families and departments involved. God is in control and His plans and purposes will be served through everything. However, it is still painful and everyone involved needs the comfort that the Holy Spirit brings.

Thin Blue Line

God's Plans

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you," says the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:11-14 NLT)

This scripture encourages me. It's a promise of God to the people that belong to Him. A promise that says no matter what situation I am in God's plans for me are for my ultimate good. Whatever I am going through I can hold onto the promise that God is at work within the circumstances. God also says, "I know the plans I have for you". God has already laid out your happy ending. If you are a Christian and have received the blood of Jesus Christ as pardon for your sins then you will be made complete in Christ. However, all stories have a journey of hardship before the happy ending and ours is no different. We must journey through heartache so that we may learn and be free to love God.

Christ suffered and died for us. Shall we not then suffer and die for Him?

Crazy Love

Just started reading the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. I've heard
good reviews about it and am interested to read it. From what I've
read he talks about how our view of Christianity, in many instances,
is incomplete. "We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss."
That's not a complete picture of Christianity. Once we encounter Jesus
we should be completely and forever changed. Should be a good book.
I'll keep ya posted. Hope everyone's weekend goes well.

After the World

This is my favorite song by a great band "Disciple". They based the song on the verses listed below and wrote it as if Jesus was talking directly to you. Listen to the song while you read the lyrics. It was very powerful for me and I hope that it blesses you.

Jeremiah 1:5 / Jeremiah 31:3 / Hebrews 13:5



You break the glass
Try to hide your face
Recorded lines that just will not erase
And buried in your loss of innocence
You wonder if you'll find it again
Was I there for the worst of all your pain?
And was I there when your blue skies ran away?
Was I there when the rains were flooding you off of your feet?
Those were my tears falling down for you, falling down for you

I'm the one that you've been looking for
I'm the one that you've been waiting for
I've had my eyes on you ever since you were born
I will love you after the rain falls down
I will love you after the sun goes out
I'll have my eyes on you after the world is no more

Did I arrange the light of your first day?
Did I create the rhythm your heart makes?
Could you believe when your candle starts to fade
I want to be the one that you believe
Could take it all away, take your heart away

Isn't my life a clear sign
Since I have crossed over this chasm
To fill the space between me and you
And I will do it all over again
Just look for me, just wait for me
The one you've been looking for
The one you've been waiting for
You won't have to look anymore

Charles Spurgeon - Daily Help

Trying to see if this mobile blogging thing works. Hope it does because this is yet another good word from Charles Spurgeon.

Dost them think, O Christian, that thou canst measure the love of Christ? Think of what His love has brought thee justification, adoption, sanctification, eternal life! The riches of His goodness are unsearchable! Oh, the breadth of the love of Christ! Shall such a love as this have half our hearts? Shall Jesus' marvelous loving-kindness and tender care meet with but faint response and tardy acknowledgment? O my soul, tune thy heart to a glad song of thanksgiving! Go through the day rejoicing, for thou art no desolate wanderer, but a beloved child, watched over, cared for, supplied, and defended by thy Lord.

Sent from the Daily Help Devotional. For devotionals like this one for your iPhone, visit us at 43rdElement.com

Sent from my iPhone

Trust

"Now oh whom dost thou trust."Isaiah 36:5

Reader, this is an important question. Listen to the Christian's answer, and see if it is yours. "On whom dost thou trust?" "I trust," says the Christian, "the Son the man Christ Jesus. I trust in him to take away all my sins by his own sacrifice, and to adorn me with his perfect righteousness. I trust him to be my Intercessor, to present my prayers and desires before his Father's throne, and I trust him to be my Advocate at the last great day, to plead my cause, and to justify me. I trust him for what he is, for what he has done, and for what he has promised yet to do." (Charles Spurgeon)

I've been thinking a lot lately about where my loyalties lie and who or what I put my trust in. I confess that it is terribly easy to place my trust in the things of this world. Those things that I can perceive with my five senses. I can easily place my trust in money for it provides me with security.....until I die. I can easily place my trust in food for it provides health, nourishment, and even comfort.....until I die. I can easily place my trust in a loved one here on earth for they can provide me with a sense of belonging and being loved.....until I die. Upon our death we shall go before God, and He will set His Holy Law before us and ask us what we have done to fulfill His law. Everything we have done will be burnt in the furnace of His righteousness and we will have nothing unless we cling to Jesus Christ and what He has done for us by dying a sinner's death on the cross and resurrecting from the dead. Christ and Christ alone is what fulfills God's law, and Christ's righteousness can be given to us if we will but accept it.

The Holy Spirit has used this Holiday season to put in me a spirit of gratitude for this salvation God has given me through Christ Jesus.