I remember it like it was yesterday. I had just come in to town to live in New Mexico and it was around Christmas time.

On the way home I had asked my mom if she had heard of the left behind books.

She started to say no, then answered yes. She then got riled up, and asked me if so and so had ben teaching me religion? I answered that we had talked about it, and indeed we had, my former English teacher and her family had had more than a few conversations about God and this belief of Christianity.

My mom’s reply, “I don’t apreasheate that, I taught you about religion!”

This conversation came before I had personally made a commitment to Jesus myself, and it hit me that if I chose to take this path myself my family would not approve at all.

I bring this story up from my past as we enter Holy week, and as we consider the life, death and resurrection of our Lord, I ask this question, what does this mean? If Jesus was truly raised from the dead, then what does this mean to us, here now, today?

Well, to answer that, lets look at the disciples.

Before Jesus called them, they were a bunch of rag tag men, who had nothing in common, and who in some cases hated each other, IE the zealot and the tax collector who at that time were enemies. The zealots felt that if you became a tax collector for Rome, you had sold out the Jewish people, and that was just the beginning. Yet this was not the only thing that described this group of men, they were brash, quite willing to see the fire of God come down and torch people and they just didn’t get it no matter how many times Jesus tried to explain it.

In contrast, look at the apostles after they had seen the risen Lord. History shows that they were willing to do anything, say anything, and were willing to face anything, including death in the cruelest of ways, because they truly believed that he was alive.

Were they just confused, perhaps lying, maybe but would they have died for a lie? Especially under the threat of torture? Somehow, I don’t think so.

As I sat in that car and understood what would be asked of me if I chose to follow Jesus, certainly nothing like the disciples, but I would have to make choices that did not sit well with my family. And as it turned out, I was right. When I did follow Jesus, it was not received well, to put it lightly.

So, with this all said, I ask you this. How far are you willing to go, when you examine Jesus’ events during this week, and his death burial and resurrection, how much does that mean to you, and how far are you willing to go to live for him?

I am subscribed to the Voice of the Martyrs podcast, and I am reminded weekly through their stories, that there are believers all over the world who daily suffer, and give their lives for his name.

How much does Jesus mean to you, how much does he mean to me? Only each one of us can answer that in our own heart.

As we enter this holy week, , take time to ask yourself just how much his death on the cross means, and even more so, his resurrection from death. If he were to ask it of you, would you give him your all?

I hope this has stirred some thoughts.

In Christ,
Teresa Blaes.

Brother Paul Loved them All

Today’s tip: “People need love the most when they deserve it the least”

Brother Paul loved everybody, and He loved them well, even if they were not so loveable. He just loved with the love of Jesus. That’s a standard we could all strive to reach, to love like Jesus, to be like Jesus.

But we’ve got to get back to the tip and to where the rubber meets the road: How do you love the unlovable? And why would you do that. The second answer is simple: Jesus told us to love others as He loves us – with unconditional love. No strings attached. The first answer might come down to a simple word: choice.

Love is a choice. We choose to love. The feelings may come, or they may not, but love is an action, not a feeling. Some people are easy to love, and others are not. I have been married for almost 24 years, and we love each other deeply, but the feelings are not always there. The commitment is there, to love for life, but the feelings come and go. Love is a choice.

The second thing is that love is not earned or deserved. It is a gift we give to one another based on our decision to love, not based on a qualification checklist that we establish to see if someone is worthy of love or not. Love is freely given.

Unloveable people may be that way because they never received love in the first place, and they are still looking for it. We are not born mean, though some may appear to be. Maybe aggressive, but not mean. People act out when they are hurting. Whatever the cause of the hurt, the heart cannot stay unresolved. We have to get it out. Sometimes the way it comes out is ugly, it is offensive, it stinks.

None of us deserve love all the time, and all of us need it. Jesus commands us to love one another. That is why those that do not deserve our love need it. That is why we all do. 

Opening the Door of Grace

Today’s tip: “Open the door for every person.”

Brother Paul was a kind, sweet, compassionate man and always thoughtful of the needs of others. He was also a servant at heart, which shows in every one of these lessons that he taught and lived by.

Like Brother Paul, our current preacher, Brother Connor, puts a lot of emphasis on receiving and living out God’s grace. Opening the door for everybody is one way to express that grace. What I’ve noticed, and what our preacher, Brother Connor emphasized is that there is a difference between men and women when it comes to opening doors and how we respond to that.

First of all, Brother Connor said, men should always open the doors for ladies. That is just common courtesy, and is definitely a southern tradition. Ladies will generally accept this from a man and will let them hold the door open. They like and deserve to be treated royally, like a queen or princess and graciously accept the offer.

Guys, on the other hand, will usually “help” in some way when the door is held open for them. Either we will say “I got it. Thanks anyway” or maybe we’ll put a hand, a foot, or even a little finger on the door, something to say that “I’m independent. I don’t need your help. I can do this on my own.”

Therein is the rub, guys, when it comes to the grace of God. If we do anything to try to help God save us, to rescue us from our sins, we are cheating grace. Its like we are trying to add to what Jesus did for us on the cross. It’s not Jesus plus something. Its just Jesus. We can totally trust what Jesus did on the cross, dying for our sins, and offering to give us eternal life with him.

Rev. 3:8 says “I know your works. I have set before you an open door, which no man can shut …”.

So men, and ladies, how is it with your soul? Have you opened your heart’s door to Jesus, to receive Him as your Lord and Savior? If not, then now is the time to do that. Just ask Him; If so, then let Him work in your life and fill your life with His grace as you walk with Him and share that grace with everyone.

I know that Brother Paul would agree, and would ask you; “Do you know Jesus?”

This past weekend, and even this past week has had a myriad of emotions, questions of God, and learning how he works.

Starting the week, I attended a conference the southwest Pastors and leaders conference I also got to meet up with a dear friend and spend some time with her and her family.

The conference was good, in some places convicting, I will likely cover my take always on a future article, or podcast.

However, coming back and dealing with the normal tiredness that comes from travel, and going in to a weekend, our house flooded do to a water pipe busting. By the end of this, we had an inch and a half of water cover over 90 percent of our house.

God protected us however, and we didn’t lose much save some papers and some cardboard boxes.

As it turned out, we had just bought some tickets to see Toby Mac in concert, and our pastor came to check on the flooding situation, and basically insisted that we go ahead and go.

While out of town I found that no matter how much I tried, my nerves were stretched to their breaking point, and I found myself asking How can I be a good witness for God when I keep screwing up?

I kept losing my temper, going off on people, and then feeling like crud every time it happened, because of the burning desire to serve him and show him to everyone I meet.

Yet, even in all this, in all the screw ups, the circumstances that seem to spin out of control, in all of it, I noticed something that is often written in the Bible, yet it is often forgotten.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Now, Paul wrote this from a prison cell, and he was asking God to get rid of a thorn in the flesh we don’t know what that thorn was, though many have ideas of what it might have been, due to other things he has written in other parts of the bible.

However, God said My grace will give you what you need for the day.

In other parts of the bible, it says that God has new mercies for us every morning.

What’s the point?

God won’t leave us to scrounge on our own, he has plans for us, every day, plans for us to walk in what he has laid out. Will we screw up? You better believe it, we are fallen creatures, who every day need his Forgiveness. And the fact is, that God every day will extend forgiveness because of his love for us, and his son’s death on the cross.

Yes, but what happens when I Sin?

Jesus covered that by his blood, so when we find ourselves struggling, because we did it again, even if we so hate that thing we did, it doesn’t mean that we are left to our own devices. Nor does it mean that we are too screwed up to be fixed. God won’t leave us to hang, he gets us even better than we get ourselves.

These are things that God is repeatedly teaching me as I walk with him. Some days I get it, other days, all I can taste is the guilt and failure of my sin and shame and even through this all, God’s love covers a multitude of Sins.

I am reminded of what God tells my husband Mike every time this topic comes up, sometimes Mike will ask God why he likes to hang around us humans? And God’s answer is so uniquely him, and yet I think it truly says it all. “I like fixer uppers.”

I hope this was helpful to you, take heart, God is not done with you, or me, or anyone who has named Jesus Christ as Lord and savior.

In Christ, Teresa Blaes.

“Waiter. Oh Waiter.”

Today starts an eight week series of devotionals, based on the advice
that our former pastor, Paul Schmidt lived by and passed on to his kids and
grand-kids. These devotionals are in honor and in memory of Brother Paul,
a sweet man of God who led over 1,000 people to Christ.

Today’s tip: “Always be kind to your waiters and
waitresses and tip them well.”

When my wife and I were living with her mother (waiting for our house to sell in Kentucky), we often went to a Mexican restaurant that had “99 cent Tacos.” That was a pretty good deal to feed three people for six dollars (we each got two.) While it didn’t take long for us to be seated, it did take a while to place and get our order because of the crowd. We usually knew what we wanted and were ready to order. When the waiter did get to us, we would ask for some water with lemon for my wife and I and water with no lemon for her mom. And then we waited … and waited … and we would wonder where our waiter was. “I know it’s busy, but come on” is what I was usually thinking. I was not very patient.

The thing is, we didn’t know anything about that waiter. We didn’t know where they were coming from, what they have been through and had to put up with that day. Are they sad? Are they lonely? Are they a Christian? Do they have a church home? Do they need some encouragement? What is the boss like? Is the crowd nice to them? I have been told that the Sunday crowd is the worst for waiters, with little or no tips, and lots of dumpy, grumpy attitudes – and maybe a plastic smile or two. The waiter needs Jesus and nobody knows it. Brother Paul never forgot that, nor should we.

Waiters and waitresses are servants (not slaves) and could be considered “the least of these” Jesus mentioned in Mat. 25:40. “Whatever you do to the least of these, my brethren, you do it unto me.”

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, help me to love others as much as You love me and to be a shining light to a lost and hurting world. In the name of Jesus. Amen.”

Tough Topic

We need to talk about a difficult topic and I need to start with a confession. No, I have not done any huge sins, at least that I know of, but I do sin. What does that mean? It literally means I “miss the mark”, like basketball, shotput, or other sports. I don’t reach the goal. I mess up. To be human is to fully capable of missing the mark – a lot of marks. The fact is, everyone has done that, but why do you and I do that?

For myself, I would like to say I mess up because of my upbringing. I was raised in a home where my parents didn’t know how to get along and fought all the time. I was 17 when they divorced. I went through experiences that were traumatic in body, mind, and soul. Yes, that shaped me, but I still have a choice about how to respond to that. Do I need to get the pain out of my heart and soul? Yes. Do I need to deal with it and call it what it is? Absolutely. But even if all that could be worked out and resolved, there is still something in me that pulls me in the wrong direction in attitude, actions, or words.

Okay, well maybe genetics make us do bad things, think bad thoughts, have bad attitudes? Nope. I’m afraid not. True, there are personality types and there are strong tempraments. These things may make it very tough for us to behave, but we can still make right – or wrong – choices. “God just made me mean” is not going to cut it when we stand before God and give an account for our lives.

But there is hope, not that we will be perfect in this life (we all have a fallen nature), but because we can be forgiven. Our God, our Father, longs to forgive us. He is just waiting for us to ask. His love and forgiveness are unconditional.

Like you, I struggle with past hurts, hang ups, and habits. I wrestle with them all the time. Like you, I don’t always deal well with these messes of the soul. I struggle with self-condemnation, doubt, and false guilt, and sometimes lashing out. And like you, I am a sinner and need God’s help to rise above the sin, be forgiven, and move on in victory and peace. Jesus makes this possible. When I mess up I can come to Him and receive forgiveness, and so can you. God gives us the grace to make the next move. What will we do with that opportunity?

Approved!

We all want to be approved by others for what we do, what we say, and a thousand other criteria. We want people to like us and to tell us we are going good, by one standard or another. We want people to tell us that we look good, are good at what we do, that we have a compassionate heart, or that we have a sharp mind. Who doesn’t like getting credit for what they do and who they are?

If we’re honest, we want God’s approval too, especially if we have been hurt or disappointed by others. The song “I am Acceptable” deals with that longing, and leads us to understand this one fact: the gospel makes approval by God possible. To be clear, that doesn’t mean he approves of everything we do. When we sin, He doesn’t like it at all. God hates sin, but He loves sinners and provides a way for them to be forgiven. With that in mind, let’s look at this song.

Vs. 1: “The kids at school made fun of me when I was just a lad. They laughed at me and called me names and acted really bad. They said that I was not too cool, that I did not fit in. But then I met King Jesus, and found my worth in Him.”

Chorus: I am acceptable in Christ. I am acceptable in Him. Thou I may not always live it, still the Bible tells me so. I am acceptable in Him.

Vs. 2: As I grew up I found out soon my confidence was gone. I could not find the courage or strength to carry on. While others were successful, it seemed that I had none. Until I met the Savior, and He made me His own.

Chorus: So I am confident in Christ. Yes I am confident in Him. Though I may not always feel it, still I know His hand is sure. So I am confident in Him.

Vs. 3: When I accepted Jesus, my sins were paid in full. Even though I mess up still, His blood still bought my soul. I cannot change my status now. I stand complete in Him. I know I’m bound for Heaven, and am forgiven of my sin.

Chorus: I am forgiven in Christ. Yes, I’m forgiven in Him. Though my heart may say I’m guilty, still Christ’s blood has bought my soul. I am forgiven in Him.

Vs. 4: You’d think that when God sees me, He see a sinner true. He knows that I’m not perfect. Well, hey neither are you. His grace is so amazing. I cannot understand, how God could look through Jesus and see a clean pure man.

Chorus: Still I look clean to God in Christ. Yes I look clean to God in Him. For God looks straight through the blood of Him who died to save my soul, so I look clean to God in Him.”

Have you asked God to forgive you of your sins and come into your heart? If you haven’t turned to Him for eternal life, you can today. Where are you with Jesus?Have you given your heart to Jesus and asked him to give His heart to you? If you have, you are forgiven and accepted in Him. Let Jesus have your heart and hurt.

True Friends

“There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” – Pr. 18:24

For some of you, this writing will be troublesome, though it is meant to be encouraging. As with last week, I will be using a song as a springboard. I wrote “God is Not a Child Abuser” many years ago. Read on, and you will get the connection between the scripture and the song.

Here is the chorus:

“God is not a child abuser. He doesn’t send His children to Hell. When we’re His sheep, then we’re His sheep, and with our soul it is well.”

There are all kinds of abuse, and there are untold numbers of victims. Physical abuse, which is disgusting, is visible. Sexual and emotional abuse are not as visible, and a sense of false guilt and fear keeps the abuse bottled up inside. Lord help all of us who have been through such abuse to get it exposed to the light and dealt with. But here’s the point – the abuser is the guilty party, not the victim, and the abuser will never be your friend – a friend would not do such things.

And Jesus wants to be your friend. He really does. He wants to listen to you, care for you, love on you, spend time with you. What you have been through is not God’s fault. Why does He allow such things? None of us know. It is unresolved. But what is resolved is this: God is there with us in the trenches, in the pain. He understands, and He knows what to do to help, if you and I will let Him. Friends will stay with you through it all. Jesus is a friend that will help you.

Whatever your unresolved issue is – abuse, neglect, confusion, pain of body, mind, spirit, broken dreams, hopes, families, heart … whatever it is, Jesus loves you and is waiting for your call. It is possible for friends, family, or others to let us down, but Jesus never will.

Blessings,

Pastor John