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Get the Whole Message!

April 6, 2012 in Daily Faith with 0 Comments

Historians tell us how the news of the battle of Waterloo came to England. There were no cables and telegrams in those days, so they used a system of signal flags called semaphore. Messages were sent one letter at a time.

A sailing ship would be sent to England from the battle and they would semaphore news to a signalman on top of Winchester Cathedral in London. He signaled to another man on a hill outside the city. The message was relayed across England from hill to hill.

Everyone knew that Wellington and his army were facing Napoleon in a great battle. They waited eagerly for the message. At last, the ship came into view and the signalman started the message. The first word was “Wellington.” The second word, “defeated,” was slowly spelled out. ” Just as the second word was finished being sent, a dense fog rolled in and the ship could no longer be seen. “Wellington defeated.” was the message that was sent across England. A despairing sense of doom came over all over England.

About three hours later the fog lifted and the ship could be seen. The message was sent again. “Wellington defeated” were the first words that came, but this time the message continued, “the enemy.” All of England rejoiced. Their sorrow turned to joy.

As we look at the cross, we see defeat. The torture and the agony of death that Jesus suffered seem tragic. The message of that Friday sounds like, “Jesus defeated.” The Easter comes and the fog of despair is blown away and we get the whole message, “Jesus defeated the enemy.”

So often, as we face the problems and frustrations of life, there is a fog that rolls over us. We cannot see the whole message and we think we are defeated. We often become discouraged and filled with despair. Let us remember that the difficulties of this life are but the pain and sorrow of Friday but the message of Easter is that Jesus has defeated the enemy and that the victory has been won.

Be Born In Me

December 4, 2011 in Daily Faith, Videos with 0 Comments

Where Does Jesus Live at Your House?

December 1, 2011 in Daily Faith with 0 Comments

James Steen and his wife were explaining to their 3-year-old son, Harrison, how much Jesus loves him.
James asked him if he knew where Jesus lived, assuming his son might say, “In my heart,” or “In heaven.”
But Harrison thought about it and said, “He lives in the basement.”
The Steen’s were puzzled by the answer, but finally understood when they remembered that the basement was where they stored their nativity scene.*

If someone asked you where Jesus lived, what would be your answer? I’m sure we’d give the right “church” answer that He lives in our heart, but where does He really live? Do we keep Him in the basement. Do we store Him away and only bring Him out for special occasions? Do we only allow Him in certain parts of our homes? Do we have rooms that we don’t want Him to enter?
We need to remember that Jesus is more than an ornament with which we decorate our homes and our lives. To have Jesus live in our hearts means that He brings the very presence of God into our midst.

Where does Jesus live at your house? Your answer may say a lot more about you than it does Him.

“So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
(John 1:14, NLT)

*James Steen, “Kids of the Kingdom,” Today’s Christian (Nov/Dec 2005), p. 9

Making It Simple

October 12, 2011 in Daily Faith with 0 Comments

In the 1980s, Tom Peters, having traveled around the world interviewing heads of large corporations, put together a two-day presentation with 700 slides on the subject of leadership excellence. He was to present it to the directors of PepsiCo, which was headed by a man named Andy Pearson. But Peters knew Andy wouldn’t sit through a long presentation. Mulling this over, Peters sat in his office overlooking San Francisco Bay, closed his eyes, thought for a few moments, then leaned forward, and jotted down eight things on a pad of paper.

Those eight principles became the basis for the book he coauthored that changed the landscape of corporate life in America. The title of the book was In Search of Excellence.

Today, you can find hundreds of books, magazines, newsletters and e-newsletters, videos, cd’s, seminars and probably a lot more, all dealing with how to live your life, how to be successful, how to have peace or security or whatever else you want. Jesus knew we needed it far simpler than that. He knew eight things would even be too many. So He told us this:

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” – Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

We chase after so much in our lives. We fill our lives with busyness and stuff and still feel empty. When all we need to realize is that we need Him and to put Him first.

Who’s Your Fan?

June 3, 2011 in Daily Faith, humor with 0 Comments

In Montana, a state with fewer than 900,000 people, the governor is one of the most recognizable people. However, fame must not go to one’s head, as Gov. Marc Raicot learned one day. While traveling about the state, Raciot walked into a convenience store to pick up a soft drink. As he approached the counter to pay, he noticed a spark of recognition crossing the clerk’s face.

“Has anybody ever told you that you look like the governor?’’ the clerk asked.

Not knowing whether he faced a fan or foe, Raicot answered, “Yes, they often do.”

“Boy, I’ll bet that makes you mad, don’t it?” replied the clerk

We never know for sure what others may think of us. We may be humbled when we find out. One thing for sure is that we never have to worry or wonder what God thinks about us. He sent His son to tell us and His Word, the Bible, is clear; you are special and of much value to Him. Read His Word and you will see that He is your biggest fan.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

Follow

April 23, 2011 in Daily Faith, Videos with 0 Comments

The War is Over!

April 7, 2011 in Daily Faith with 0 Comments

Georg Gaertner, a young German man, found himself in North Africa in 1943. He was a part of the German Army’s Afrika Korps. He was captured by the British army at Tunis in 1943.He was handed over to the Americans along with thousands of other prisoners and was brought to prisoner of war camps in the United States. Georg was sent to Fort Deming, New Mexico.

In September of 1945, because he was afraid of being sent back to his hometown which was now under Soviet control, he slipped past a guard, lifted up the fence, and escaped from that prison camp. And he ran.

He started out working as a farm laborer. Because he was afraid of being captured, he was constantly on the move.

He became a tennis instructor. He had played tennis in Germany as a young man and was rather good.

He became a ski instructor in the Rocky Mountains. In fact, in 1952, he was part of the team that went into the Donner Pass. There was a train that had wrecked in there, and it was locked in because of the snow. The skiers went in and rescued some 200 people out of that train wreck.

He was continuously running, continuously trying to stay away from the authorities.

One day he came home fearful that he’d blown his cover: They’re going to know who I am, and so I’ve got to move again. He told his wife: “Pack it all up. We’ve got to move immediately.”

After 20 years of this, she said: “Wait a minute. I can’t take this any longer. What’s wrong with you? Why are we constantly moving like this?”

Georg sat down and he shared with her what he had never shared with anyone else: He was a prisoner of war, a man condemned. She looked at him and said: “Go to the office of immigration and naturalization. The war is over.”

Finally, Georg, who went by the name, Dennis Whiles, after 40 years of running, at 64 years of age, turned himself in to federal authorities. Instead of condemning him, they released him to live a free man.*

The war was finally over for Georg Gaertner. He no longer had anything or anyone to fear. The past was over. He now lived free.

Because of the Cross, our war is over. Jesus Christ won the victory over sin and death. If we trust in Christ, we have no thing or no one to fear. We can live in the freedom that God designed for His creation. We no longer live in condemnation for a life in the past. No longer do we have to live under guilt and shame. We are free to become the person God meant us to be, His child.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. – Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)

*”Hitler’s Last Soldier in America,” by George Gaertner and Arnold Krammer.

Washed Away

April 5, 2011 in Daily Faith with 0 Comments

Paper is such a common item today. Writing paper is inexpensive. Notepads are given away by businesses. We rarely concern ourselves with throwing away or recycling paper.

This was not always the case. In Biblical times, paper as we know it didn’t exist. Parchment was the most common used material used for writing documents. However, it was expensive. It was made from animal skins, but it was not tanned as is leather.

Because of its expense, it was often used multiple times. This was made possible because the inks of that day did not contain acid as inks today. Therefore, all one needed to do in order to reuse a parchment was to wash off the ink and let the parchment dry.

This was often done when a debt was paid. The debt was simply washed away. The record was cancelled.

What a picture of what God does with us. In Isaiah 43:25, Isaiah writes the words of God, “I—yes, I alone—am the one who blots out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.” (NLT)

And centuries later, Peter, after being filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke these words, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, ” (Acts 3:19, NIV84)

The message is simple. Jesus took the record of our sins and wiped it clean. When we trust in Him, we are forgiven. Our sins are washed away.

The Cross Not the Scales

April 1, 2011 in Daily Faith with 0 Comments

Because of recent events, there has been much interest in the religion of Islam. Sales of the Islamic scripture known as the Qur’an have been record setting. Many people have wondered about the differences between Islam and Christianity. We both believe in the one God of the universe. We both claim Abraham as our spiritual ancestor. So, what is the difference?

John Stott, in his book, Authentic Christianity, states this one critical difference. “The repeated promises in the Qur’an of the forgiveness of a compassionate and merciful Allah are all made to the meritorious, whose merits have been weighed in Allah’s scales, whereas the gospel is good news of mercy to the undeserving. The symbol of the religion of Jesus is the cross, not the scales.”

The Cross is the one critical difference between Christianity and all other religions. All other religions admit that the human race has a problem with sin, but none have a solution that is so complete and final as the Cross. With all other religions, one must wait until death to see if you made it. One has to wait until that final breath to see if the scales will tip in their favor. The guilt and shame are never wiped out. There is no certainty of hope in life.

But the Christian’s forgiveness was settled once and for all on that Cross. No more guilt. No more shame. Just joy, peace and everlasting life. The Cross is the difference. It is the difference between Christianity and all other religions. It is the difference between sin and forgiveness. It is the difference between life and death. It is the cross and not the scales that make the difference in not only in our future but in our lives today.

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8–9, NLT)

Have You Ever Been Betrayed?

March 30, 2011 in Daily Faith with 0 Comments

“While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. ” (Matthew 26:47–49, NIV84)

Have you ever been betrayed? If so, you know that you can never be betrayed by an enemy or a stranger.
The only one who can betray is one who can get close enough to kiss. The one you trusted. You didn’t just trust them the way you trust the delivery person or repairman to come into your home. You trusted them with your heart. You opened your soul to them. You shared your dreams. Your shared your wounds. You trusted them with things that were precious to you.
You let them into your life and they turned on you. Dropping your dreams into the trash. Gouging your wounds with betrayal.

What did Jesus feel with Judas’ embrace. Was Judas’ breath warm or cold upon His cheek as Judas kissed Him? Did the memories of the meals they shared and the miles they walked together flash before Him? Did Jesus feel the pangs of future wounds as Judas called out, “Greetings, Rabbi?” Was the wound of betrayal deeper than those of the Cross?

Have you ever been betrayed? Then you know how deep that wound can be. You know what Jesus felt on that loneliest of nights. But most of all you have a bond with our Lord. He knows and understands the wounds of your heart far greater than you imagined.

Have you ever been betrayed? Then only He can heal those wounds. For only He understands how deep they are.

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