Begin & End With Forgiveness

“Then Peter came and said to Him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

‘For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, Have patience with me and I will repay you. But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?'’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.’” Matthew 18:21-35

We can end the year and begin the year with forgiveness. May your New Year find you making more time for God’s Word.

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

Hope For Tomorrow

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (full, complete and perfect payment) for our sins.” I John 4:10

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation – having also believed, you were sealed in His with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14

Because He lives you can face tomorrow!

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Pray for God’s will for the New Year!

Still No Room

“And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:6-7

Every Christmas when I was a child we would be treated to a Walt Disney creation of Alice in Wonderland. One of my favourite scenes was the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, with the big table and all the mis-matched chairs. Watching the characters rush from chair to char to the chorus of “No room! No room! Move down. Move down.” Sort of the way people still react to Jesus in a world so rushed and frenetic and hopeless.

“’Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

To Do What?

“’Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant – as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets of old – salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; to show mercy toward our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to Abraham our father to grant us that we, being delivered Might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.’” Luke 1:68-75

Consider your past before Christ; then remember the day you understood His free gift of forgiveness and grace to save you. Remember? He didn’t just save you – He saved you for a purpose – to help Him complete His plan on earth – His present to all who would receive that gift.

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Please pray earnestly for all who may be facing Christmas alone or without significant loved ones this year.

Just Good Friends

“And Mary said: ‘My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; for behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear Him. He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were humble. He has filled the hungry with good things; and set away the rich empty-handed. He has given help to Israel His servant, in remembrance of His mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring for ever.’” Luke 1:46-55

Mary might have been 13-16 years old, just able to conceive; surprised by her body as it developed without the added wonder of being with child and knowing she had never been alone with her intended. She visits her relative Elizabeth, not to confirm the angel’s message to her, but to help Elizabeth also come to terms with a conception at the opposite scale - a woman who had for many years tried to conceive with her husband. Mary and Elizabeth must have had some amazing conversations. Isn’t it a miracle how God provides special friends for us throughout our journey; and how, even though we don’t deserve it, they just love us through our own challenges? Thank a friend today for their faithfulness – it is a gift of great love.

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Please pray earnestly for all who may be facing Christmas alone or without significant loved ones this year.

Dr. Luke

“And Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is not in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ And Mary said, ‘Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.’” Luke 1:34-38a

Jesus’ conception and birth were unique and there are three reasons we can believe in this miracle. 1.) Luke was a medical doctor and knew more about the workings of the human body than the other three writers of the Gospels; 2.) He was the most careful researcher of facts and would have personally interviewed Mary and report her (not his) story in her words as a good journalist would; 3.) Christians and Jews who believed in and worship the creator of the universe know of His miraculous powers. He had no difficulty creating Adam and Eve out of dust. For the Holy Spirit to conceive a child in Mary was a miracle but not difficult for the Lord of all.

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Please pray earnestly for all who may be facing Christmas alone or without significant loved ones this year.

Seeing Rather Than Hearing

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, ‘Hail, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be. And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favour with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High’ and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.’” Luke 1:26-33

Mary would have been young, but she would have known who God the Father was. Her training would have come through her mother and the other women in her family, because women were not taught the same way young boys were. I imagine women looked (and still look) at God’s workings in a different way from just learning it through Scriptures. Perhaps they watch and listen in a unique (God-given) way to what is happening around them. In the time of Mary though, because women were so protected they might have had more opportunity to learn lessons about trust we likely don’t appreciate today.

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Please pray earnestly for all who may be facing Christmas alone or without significant loved ones this year.

Father's Hearts

“And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. And Zarcharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear gripped him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zarcharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine or liquor; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, while yet in his mother’s womb. And he will turn back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous; so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’” Luke 1:11-17

Yesterday I had a long conversation with my brother and his wife about the deterioration of values in the secular and Christian world, but especially in America. The quote from Luke was just next in the Christmas offering), but it contains the only answer – “to turn the hearts of the father’s back to the children”!

Businesses can’t fix it; the government can’t be responsible; no kindergarten, school or university can; no political party seems to care about more than winning; no adult training program can rectify the damage; no mother has the energy --only the father’s heart. Once a father’s heart is turned back to the children, they’ll consider their relationship with the Lord and purify it again. They’ll look to their headship responsibility (for the Lord doesn’t accept excuses for poor leadership in the home). Husbands will support their wives and use some of their precious energy to consider what must now be done for the children. That’s God’s plan. And that, and only that, will fix America’s lost values and broken heart.

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Please pray earnestly for all who may be facing Christmas alone or without significant loved ones this year.

Christmas - First Angel

“And the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, cursed are you more than all cattle, and more than every besast of the field; on your belly shall you go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life; and I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel.’” Genesis 3:14-15

It is easy to forget that Satan did not begin his existence as evil, but choose to put his thoughts above God’s. From the first sin (to not trust God’s Word and to believe you know better than He does about something), God began to unfold His plan to rescue and save humanity. Here is the first prophecy about Jesus, spoken to one of God’s angels.

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

Storms

“For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths; their soul melted away in their misery. They reeled and staggered like a drunken man, and were at their wits end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet; so He guided them to their desired haven.” Psalm 107:25-30

“And behold, there arose a great storm in the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves; but He Himself was asleep. And they came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing!’ And He said to them, ‘Why are you timid, you men of little faith?’ Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. And the men marveled, saying, ‘What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?’” Mathew 8:24-2

During my first sailing excursion around the Caribbean, we were confronted by a sudden hurricane. It was then I learned how heavy the keel of a sail boat had to be; and how powerful a storm can be, with waves washing over the deck of a schooner built to carry about 150 people. Awesome is not enough of a word to describe the experience and to know there was nothing but God’s grace powerful enough to save you through it all.

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Starting this Friday, I will interrupt this series through Psalms to devote the rest of the year to the Christmas story.

Our Teacher

“Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Who can speak of the mighty deeds of the Lord, or can show forth all His praise? How blessed are those who keep justice, who practice righteousness at all times! Remember me, O Lord, in Thy favour toward Thy people; visit me with Thy salvation, that I may see the prosperity of Thy chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, that I may glory with Thine inheritance.” Psalm 106:1-5

It’s not about being rich – our relationship with the Lord – or having an easy life with no troubles. It is having someone completely faithful and true we can rely on WHILE we travel through challenging times of personal education. What we learn is up to us. Our Teacher never stops teaching us what He knows we need to know to serve His plan on this earth.

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age.’” Matthew 28:18-20

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Starting this Friday, I will interrupt this series through Psalms to devote the rest of the year to the Christmas story.

Today's Present

“Saying, ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.’ When they were only a few men in number, very few, and strangers in it. And they wandered about from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people. And He reproved kings for their sakes: ‘Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.’” Psalm 105:11-15

“The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.’” Jeremiah 31:3

Of course it is easy to forget that the almighty, all-powerful, all seeing, wise God is also particularly caring of His individual children, because we are precious in His eyes. What a present for today!

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

All For You

“He makes the winds His messengers, flaming fire His ministers; He established the earth upon its foundations, so that it will not totter forever and ever.—The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the labour of man, so that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine which makes man’s heart glad, so that he may make his face glisten with oil and food which sustains man’s heart. – O Lord, how many are Thy works! In wisdom Thou hast make them all; the earth is full of Thy possessions.” Psalm 104:4-5, 13b-15, 24

God didn’t just throw together a few blobs of mud and hope we would be content here because we didn’t know better; like the Father He is, He looked to extravagant details we would never know about that He knew would bring us joy even before they would bring us to our knees at His throne.

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

Rather Die...

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit; who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle. – For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame, He is mindful that we are but dust.” Psalm 103:1-5, 11-14

You are but dust, but His dust and He loves you. What is more He loved you enough to allow His Son to pay the only acceptable price for the sins you cannot resist practicing – You see, He would rather die, than live without you; knowing He would rise again to reach your heart and save you!

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Please pray for the men you know this week who live in a world where sometimes they are not sure where they fit anymore.

Not for you

“Hear my prayer, O Lord! And let my cry for help come to Thee. Do not hide Thy face from me in the day of my distress; incline Thine ear to me; in the day when I call answer me quickly. – This will be written for the generation to come; that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.” Psalm 102:1-2, 18

“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you and the one who curses you I will curse, and in you ALL the families of the earth shall be blessed.’” Genesis 12:1-3

“Life is difficult.” I’m not sure whether to reference that quote or not now because it seems pretty obvious this statement, used by Scott Peck to open his book the “Road Less Travelled” begins. But our difficulties, our victories, our achievement, our sacrifices are not as important than what God is working out in us to help save those around us. Now that IS neat.

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Please pray for the men you know this week who live in a world where sometimes they are not sure where they fit anymore.

Choices

“A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know no evil. Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; no one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure. My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in a blameless way is the one who will minister to me. He who practices shall not dwell within my house; he who speaks falsehood shall not maintain his position before me.” Psalm 101:4-7

Everyday we have choices to walk this way or that; to read this or that; to say this or that; to help or not; to read God’s Word or not. It is up to you really to choose what you know is right. God does not want automatons, He wants people who love him just a little bit as much as He loves them.

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Please pray for the men you know this week who live in a world where sometimes they are not sure where they fit anymore.

He Knows

“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with Gladness; come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name. For the Lord is God; His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100

It is easy to see all that is wrong in our world. Take a moment right now to just look up to the Lord. He knows.

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Please pray for the men you know this week who live in a world where sometimes they are not sure where they fit anymore.

Knowing

“Let them Praise Thy great and awesome name; Holy is He. And the strength of the King loves justice; Thou hast established equity. Thou hast executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool; Holy is He.” Psalm 99:3-5

God’s holiness is chillingly frightening for those who do not know the Lord or they choose to pretend holiness doesn’t exist. For His children, it comforts our hearts because our Father is morally perfect and He is set apart from people and sin. He has no weaknesses or shortcomings. Those who do not know His Truth are exposed by the Truth, light and purity of His holiness. God cannot tolerate, ignore or excuse sin.

“Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through he Law comes the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:19-20

Run to God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Please pray for the men you know this week who live in a world where sometimes they are not sure where they fit anymore.