Abundantly Pardoned

Only God knows when the end of time will occur, but many of us are taking a good look around us and wondering how soon it will be. No matter when it is, we need to be alert and ready for Christ’s return. We need to daily look at ourselves and examine our relationship with Jesus Christ. What does He see now, and what will He see when He returns? Will we change for the better, or will remain stagnant in our relationship with Him?

“You must be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.” (Luke 12:36)

Will you be ready and willing to open the door for Jesus when He comes?

“This sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant. It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or scooping water out of a cistern.” (Isaiah 30:13-14 NIV)

Our sins don’t just sit all stagnant and dead. Sins thrive and grow tall and fat, cracking and bulging as they grow too much and too fast. Sins eventually reach the point when they will suddenly collapse and break all to pieces, as will the owner of the sins. Those pieces will never be good for anything unless they’re placed in to the hands of the Potter. He can put the pieces of broken, shattered lives back together, creating a vessel He can use for His kingdom. If sin has shattered your life, give the pieces to the Potter. “Like clay in the hands of the potter, so are you in My hand.” (Jeremiah 18:6b NIV)

Children and youth are growing into big people, and as they grow, they imitate those around them. Saturday afternoon I did facepainting at our church Halloween party. I was so tickled when one of our youth asked me to paint “I Love Jesus” on one cheek and “I Love God” on the other cheek. Another youth asked me to paint “I Love Jesus” across her forehead. Our pastor was crouching down onto the floor, and everytime he did, his wee grandson would do the same thing. One of our teenagers was spotted at the local Wal-Mart witnessing to another teenager. Our young people and wee ones are watching us. They’re imitating us. What we do, they do. What we say, they say. Our attitudes are their attitudes.

“Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.” (3 John 11 NIV)

For you ladies who are having trouble in their marriages, please get with your husbands and talk, talk, talk. My heart has been breaking over people I know who are struggling in their marriages. Work hard at your marriage, and pray hard. Nothing worthwhile is easy. Fight for your marriage, and place it in God’s hands. May He bless you and your husband and your marriage. \0/!!

No matter what kind of slimy pit you’ve found yourself in (or gotten yourself into), God can lift you out of it. If youre in a lifestyle that seems to have you in a web that tangles and wraps around you, if you’re in some kind of trouble, if you’re in a life of prostitution, if you’ve cheated on your husband, if you’ve broken someone’s heart, if you’re addicted to alcohol or drugs or pornography or anything else—no matter what your slimy pit, God can lift you above all things. Our Lord God Almighty is more powerful than any of Satan’s traps. You don’t have to slip and slide in your slimy pit. Go to God, asking Him to lift you out of that pit and onto a rock. He loves you. He wants a relationship with you. Don’t be a part of this dark, messed-up world. Be a part of the family of God. Reach out to Jesus.

“You lifted me out of the slimy pit, O God, out of the mud and mire; You set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. You put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to You, my God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in You, O Lord.” (Psalm 40:2-3)

“You reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, estabilishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from this time on and forever. Your zeal, O Lord of hosts, will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Our Lord Jesus has zeal. He is zealous. John 2:14-17 proves His zeal when He cleared the temple of those trying to make money. Because of this zeal, our Lord can do anything. Imagine if all Christians were as zealous as our Lord Jesus, filled with passion and excitement over the Father, His kingdom and His work. So many souls would be saved! Let’s allow zeal to consume us as we worship, witness and walk for the Lord.

Forget your past sins! They’re gone! They’re destroyed! Micah 7:19 tells us that God treads our iniquities underfoot and hurls our sins into the depths of the sea. He stomps them into nothings, and then He throws those nothings into the ocean where they float down and dissolve. Dear one, you’re sins are forgiven! Hallelujah!

Last night at Bible study at the assisted living facility, I showed a Beth Moore DVD segment from the “Daniel” Bible study. I haven’t been showing them, because I wasn’t sure if these dear, sweet elderly ladies would be receptive to it. One lady was so excited, she asked me, “Has that lady been called by God to teach Bible study???” I gave her an emphatic yes! It’s so wonderful to see women excited over the Bible and over our Lord Jesus! No matter what age, from wee ones to elderly ones, anyone can be excited over our Lord God Almighty and His Word!

Over the years I’ve worked with many women who showed a viciousness and a ruthlessness in the work place. It never ceases to shock me. It also shows the heart of the woman who is vicious. A vicious woman doesn’t have a heart for Jesus. A ruthless woman doesn’t live her life for the Lord, allowing Him to work through her. How can we reach vicious women in the work place, women who care nothing about hurting others or making others miserable? For starters, let’s not allow them to make us miserable. They can’t steal our joy, because our joy comes from our love of the Lord. They can’t put out our lights, because our lights shine from the Holy Spirit living within us. Each time they lash out at us, let’s allow them to see gentleness looking back at them. Each time they cause another person pain, let’s pray for them. Let’s be an example for them to follow. We may be surrounded by a dark world each day, but we’re not supposed to be a part of it. We’re supposed to be lights shining in it. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” (Matthew 5:14-15 NIV) Be that light on a stand in your work place. Shine for our Jesus.