Tag Archives: Salvation

Flee~Five Minute Friday

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“We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete.” Hebrews 12:2a (CEV)

Looking Back

Many years ago, when I was a teenager on vacation I had the opportunity to ride in a taxi that just happened to be a station wagon. Maybe you remember the kind? It was the one where the very back seat faced looking out the rear window and that is exactly where I ended up sitting. While there was some entertainment in staring at the people in the cars behind you, I must say that looking back mostly made me feel woozy making the ride feel like it took forever.

Today, I relish my memories, photos, and keepsakes of the past but if I’m being honest with you, there are times when looking back now makes me feel sick too…that’s when I’m staring myself in the face, recalling all the times I’ve fallen short and ended up sitting in sin. Why is it that those are the ones that travel with us wherever we go?

I’ve been thinking about Lot’s wife. Sin had overtaken the place where Lot and his family lived so grievously that God couldn’t even find ten righteous people to warrant saving the city so He sent angels to help Lot and his family escape the destruction.

“With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, ‘Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.’
When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, ‘Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain. Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!’…But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”
Genesis 19:15-17,26 (NIV)

“Flee.” “Don’t look back.”

Sounds like simple instructions, but of course, Lot’s wife chose to look back upon the sinful place behind her anyway and she immediately became fixed in that very place as a block of salt. I can sure relate. Maybe you can too. We choose to return to our past sins and often end up frozen in place, forgetting that God is so merciful to us that He sacrificed Jesus.

We’re reminded of His immense mercy throughout the Bible, but think about when Jesus encounters an adulteress who the Pharisees wanted to use to trap Jesus, however He turns the table on them and encourages the one who has no sin to throw the first stone. After they’ve all walked away, the woman is left alone with Jesus.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
John 8:11b

“Go now,” flee. “Leave your life of sin,” don’t look back. 

“Then he adds: ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.’
And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place
by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain
that is, His body and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:17-23 (NIV)

“Sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary,” flee from your old ways. “Our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience,” so don’t look back.

You know? I’ve heard those backward facing seats have since been called the “death seat,” and so they no longer make them. I can see why. It’s a good thing that no one has to sit looking backward anymore. I’m learning that the same is true for our travels through life. As Christians, do we continue to sin even though we try not to? Of course. But, do we have to relive them over and over? No! Jesus sat in the “death seat” for each one of us and because of that, God remembers our failures “no more.” 

The condemned woman experienced Jesus’ loving forgiveness and he told her, as the angels told Lot and his family, and as He tells us through His sacrifice, flee beloved; and Don’t. Look. Back.

Joining this week with others at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com to write with the prompt “flee” in mind.

Day 27/31: Strive

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“But God has shown us how much he loves us-it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (GNT)

Day 27: Strive #writetogether31days #fiveminutefriday

Looking back on most of my life, if you’d ask what I did best, my answer would quickly be “strive.” Trying hard somehow became as natural for me as breathing. But there’s more…I didn’t just want to be the best student, daughter,  teacher, wife, mother, church member, etc. I wanted to be the perfect one. I couldn’t stand the thought of making a mistake. Well, we all know how well that’s worked out.

Somehow I thought that if I put in the time, followed the rules, checked off the lists, did all the things, my working hard would result in finally feeling successful, accepted, and worthy of love. The harder I tried, the more it seemed I messed up, and then, I tried even harder. It. Was. Exhausting! Have you been there?

This way of thinking even spilled over into my Christian life and so, I made every effort to be the the “good girl” I determined I needed to be.  The thought of letting God down could overwhelm me and in turn I filled my already full schedule with more to-do’s to satisfy what I believed He expected of me. But like Paul in Romans 7:15, I did not understand myself because what I wanted to do I did not do, but what I hated to do, I did. Pursuing perfection was doing me in!

“For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 (GNT)

The truth is, I always knew it was impossible to be perfect (although it didn’t stop me from trying), but what a relief it was to learn the real Truth: that I didn’t need to be perfect at all. It was as if I heard God saying, “Cindy, stop trying so hard.”

It’s difficult for us humans to accept that it isn’t all about us. (I have to remind myself more often than I’d like.) But, no matter what wonderful things we accomplish, how intelligent, generous, kind we are, how many rules we follow, or how much we love others, the reality is, we can never be good enough, do enough, or be enough to get to Heaven. Jesus is the only Way. And my friends, He is all we should strive after; because as it can only be, one day, through Him we’ll find that perfection forevermore. 

“Christ, however, offered one sacrifice for sins, an offering that is effective forever, and then he sat down at the right side of God. With one sacrifice, then, he has made perfect forever those who are purified from sin.”
Hebrews 10:12,14 (GNT)

Own ~ Five Minute Friday

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“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV)

A Good Friday Poem:
The Cross is Ours to Own

The day is gray and gloomy, yet
Somehow it feels just right
To sit in contemplation
Of the day they killed The Light

A day darker than all the rest
But still we call it Good
Because Jesus died for us
As only a Savior would

We often want to forget that part
It is so hard to realize
Not Him but we should have hung there
For all to mock and despise

Truth is nailed there before us
The sin is ours alone
We may often try to deny it
But the cross is ours to own

Each crack of the whip
Torn flesh from the crown
Every strike of the hammer
His blood dripping down

The pain He endured
Swords thrust in His side
The anguish and despair
As His world did divide

We should be the ones
Who died on that tree
But “It is finished,” He said
Now from sin we are set free

A plan from the very beginning
His love on a cross of wood
A day where transgression passed away
And today we DO see it is Good

To read how other writers made “Own” their own, click over to http://www.fiveminutefriday.com

As Fast As A Blink Of An Eye

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“Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.” Proverbs 27:1 (NLT)

Fast As A Blink Of An Eye

It’s hard to believe, but in a few months I will have lived here in the mountains for forty years. Forty years! Pretty amazing for a gal who was only going to stay for one. (God and the guy in this photo changed that plan.) I honestly don’t know where those years have gone. My grandparents used to tell me that the older you get, the faster time passes.  I didn’t understand it back then, but my goodness, I sure do get it now! In a blink of an eye, the 23 year old child pictured here, became the 63 year old sitting in front of this laptop today.  A lot of life has been lived within the flutter of that eyelid. I pray for many more blinks before God changes my plan and leads me to a new home again, but we never know, do we?

“It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.” 1 Corinthians 15:52 (NLT)

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.” Mark 13:32 (NLT)

The world shudders in fear as it awaits Jesus’s return. We can sense it all around us! The amazing thing is, when we know Jesus, fear is replaced with anticipation as we wait for Him. Maybe like me you’ve experiences a quiet trembling deep within your soul that’s a recognition  we are standing on the brink of something great, something we long for and yet, do not understand.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us that God “planted eternity in the human heart.” Just picture it: at the moment we accept the gift of salvation, Our Father buries a seed that begins to grow. It then takes root in our lives producing a hope that carries us through every day, month and year of this life, and then, in a “blink of an eye” into our future of life-eternal with Him.

Yes, it’s hard to believe how fast life passes…In a blink of an eye. We need to understand that with the simple opening and closing of an eyelid everything can change.  Everything WILL change! My friends, we must be ready. Are you? There’s no time to waste. 

“This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Romans 13:11 (NLT)

Facts ~ Write 28 Days

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“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10


Simple Facts

Trivial Pursuit is not my game of choice. The few times I’ve attempted to play it has only confirmed what I’ve always known; I do not have a mind for facts. Dates, boundaries, formulas, achievements and the like, all just slip through my little brain like water through a sieve. 

“Simpleminded” is more how I would describe myself. Oh, I was able to answer a few ( but very few) questions, such as, “What is the name of the bear that resides in Jelly Stone Park?” Yes, that was actually on a card I drew. And of course, “Yogi” slipped confidently from my eager lips. Let’s just say I didn’t come in first because that my friends, is the caliber of information that resides in my head.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 (NIV)

Thank goodness the plan for salvation is not complicated and our pursuit of God is not based on formulas we must adhere to, achievements we must make, boundaries that keep us out, or dates we must meet. It is offered in a way that each of us can understand and recall.

Victory is simple. Confidently answering God’s call to believe Jesus is His Son who died for our sins is all we need to do to have eternal life with Him. Then my friends, everything that’s important will forever reside in our hearts. Because of God’s love, we win! Now, that’s a fact I’ll always remember! How about you?

Happy Valentine’s Day!

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

 

Redeem ~ Day 13 ~ 31 Day Writing Challenge

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“I know my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.” Job 19:25(NIV)


Redeem

Recently, a business failed me. It didn’t meet the high standards it had claimed. My order was  a time-sensitive one, and honestly, I didn’t have a Plan B. Not long after that, a letter came in the mail. As it turned out, the district manager had been overseeing the store that day and regretted the mistake. Not wanting it to effect their reputation, she sent several gift certificates that I could redeem if I wanted to.  I’ll tell you, the way I felt about their future as a store after their slip-up and after receiving the gift certificates was completely different. I think she knew there was little hope of my returning if they hadn’t recognized and apologized for what they’d done. The unexpected gift did change my outlook.

As hard as we might try, we can’t live up to high standards either. Oh we might do pretty well for a while, but then we fail. A lie here, a cross word there, broken promises, heading in the wrong direction, putting ourselves first, and those secret things that would cause our reputations to suffer. Doing what’s right is a tall order, one we can’t fill. Do WE have a Plan B?

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
Romans 3:23 (NLT)

Thankfully, we have an Overseer, who does offer a new plan. One of hope for our future despite our missteps. It’s God’s gift to redeem us through the cross.

“and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood-to be received by faith.” Romans 3:24-25a (NIV)

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)

While I am grateful for the gift certificates that were offered, if I don’t use them they’ll expire and I will lose out on their benefit. It’s vital to remember that the very same thing is true about God’s gift of salvation. Unlike my coupons, we don’t know an exact expiration date, but if we wait too long we’ll miss the blessing of eternal life and perish. Haven’t accepted God’s redeeming grace? Do it now! The undeserved gift will change everything!

It’s About the People ~ Five Minute Friday

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“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 (ESV)

It’s About the People

A week ago today I was sitting on the beach, under my umbrella, watching my young grandsons play in the surf. For over twenty years we’ve journeyed to the same peaceful shore each summer. We weren’t sure we’d get to go in 2020, being what it is, but we were blessed to make it down.  As you might guess, it wasn’t the same as years past, with masks, distancing, disinfecting and the like; but we still had a wonderful time.

“Come follow me”, Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Mark 1:17 (NIV)

While there, I had a small revelation. My daughter was worried that she wouldn’t get to have her favorite seafood dishes from the restaurants we usually visit. Once there, she quickly went online to see who was offering carry out while adamantly stating that you can’t go to the beach without having fresh fish and shrimp! The boys on the other hand could care less about eating fish, they were all about catching fish. Some people focus on collecting shells; others, getting a tan. But I realized while sitting under the above mentioned umbrella, that for me, my yearly pilgrimage to the beach has always been about the people!

For many years we traveled caravan style from West Virginia to North Carolina with 12 or more of our closest friends. The ocean is my happy place! I do love seafood and finding shells, but it has been the time spent talking about nothing and also having deep, meaningful conversations that were highlights of my trip.  I looked forward to laughter at the game table, songs sung together, and posing for way too many photos with one another.  Friendships were bonded when we’ve grieved with the ones grieving and were anxious with the ones anxiously awaiting news.  And now, sharing this place with my grandchildren is  such a gift! Yes, for me at the beach, it’s about the people and each time we pack up and pull away, I say goodbye to the ocean but carry lifelong memories home with me in my heart.

I’ve pondered this idea (as you know I do) and it’s occurred to me that not just my vacation but my everyday life should be about the people, too and of course, there’s no better example of living for people than the one Jesus sets for us!

“During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.’ ” Mark 8:1-3 (NIV)

“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” Mark 6:34 (NIV)

“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied. Jesus wept.” John 11:33-35 (NIV)

“But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’ ” Luke 18:16 (NIV)

In these snapshots of His life, we see Jesus engaged in interactions similar to those I experience  during my beach vacations: food, deep conversations, grieving with friends, and time spent with children. Jesus was a people person. But what I’m beginning to understand is that for Jesus, it wasn’t about life long memories, but rather, about life eternal.  Each encounter Jesus had, ultimately pointed others to God. For Him, it was, and is, always about people’s salvation. And the truth is, whether standing on the shore of the ocean or in the grocery line at the store, that’s how we should always be about people, too.

“Then He (Jesus) said to them, ‘Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;”  Mark 16:15-16a (GNT) 

Writing this post to the  http://www.fiveminutefriday.com prompt “People”. Click over to read more. As always I appreciate you taking your time to read my wandering thoughts and my pondering. What do you look most forward to on vacation? Let me know in the comments!

 

Less (Lovingly, Aunt Florence) ~ Five Minute Friday

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“For God says, ‘At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.’ Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2

Lovingly, Aunt Florence

My Great-Aunt Florence was a strong woman; she was confident in her faith, and to me, She. Was. Brave! I admire her courage, because like her, I care about my loved ones’ salvation; but unlike me,  Aunt Florence went beyond caring and took action!  The possibility of backlash, ruffled feathers, or hurt feelings didn’t stop her from reaching out to every member of her family who she had an address for, inviting us each to accept Jesus if we hadn’t already. Her letters spoke of the peace, trust, and contentment she found as a result of her faith in God and she urged us to seek the same through accepting Jesus’ sacrifice, going to church, and reading the Bible. She closed by writing: “Whether your response to this letter is positive or negative, I’d love to hear from you.”

It’s hard to admit, but I’ve missed opportunities to speak of salvation with others, simply because I fear receiving those negative responses that Aunt Florence openly welcomed, (I’m sad to say, her “brave gene” didn’t get passed on to me), but rereading her old letters has inspired  me to do better! And I’m going to try and start now.

Have you stopped to think that we have less time to live today than we did yesterday? And that tomorrow, we’ll have less than we do right now? With everything going on in the world at this moment: the fear, the panic, the unknown, it seems the perfect time for each of us to stop and  consider our future. We all know this, but our present circumstances clearly remind us that we don’t know what lies ahead. Let’s ask ourselves, are we prepared?

Twenty-five years ago at the age of almost 90, My Great-Aunt Florence shared these scriptures with our family and with me. And now, I’m going to share them with you:

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’ ” Matthew 11:28 (NLT)

Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’ ” John 14:6 (NLT)

“If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
1 John 1:8-9 (NLT)

And I’ll add this one to hers:

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NLT)

The world is in turmoil. The future seems bleak. But here’s the good news: there’s no reason for despair. WE HAVE A HOPE! My heartfelt desire is for each of those I love and care about to spend no less than eternity with me in Heaven. I feel the same about you, who are reading this! Let me end these more than “five minutes” with some of the last words Aunt Florence shared and while they were written for me and my family, I know without a doubt, she wrote them with the intent that they’d be passed on:

“For many years Christ has been my strength, my shield, and my song, giving me peace that passes all understanding.  He’ll give it to you, too, if you’ll ask Him.
Evermore keep the faith!
Lovingly, Aunt Florence”

Today’s prompt is “Less” over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com Click over to read what others have written today! As always, I appreciate you taking your time to stop in. God Bless!

 

Day 20 ~ Tell ~ 31Days2019

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“They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, ‘All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” John 8:7 (NLT) Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash

Tell

Tattling is one of those things that teachers find extremely challenging. Some children seem to enjoy telling anyone who will listen about all the things that someone else has done wrong. The funny thing is, quite often the tattler will have recently done the exact thing he is now trying to get someone else in trouble for. Of course, that does not occur to the one telling the tale. All he has on his mind is seeing punishment handed down.

It seems to me, that adults today are becoming more and more like those students all the time.  Our news and social media feeds are full of people “telling on other people” they don’t agree with. And just like the offenders in the classroom, these adults have the goal of gaining followers who believe their tales, want to take part in judgement, and then inflict punishment on those they’ve targeted. Simply put, they point their finger in hopes of getting someone else in trouble.** But, we all know the old adage that says when one finger is pointed at another, three more are pointed back at ourselves!

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’  when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3-4 (NLT)

Just recently I was talking with my mother-in-love about cleaning my house. She was trying to reassure me that our house always looks clean and I responded that she just didn’t look closely enough, to which she replied:

“If I want to see dirt, I’ll look at my own house!”

Isn’t that exactly what Jesus is telling us in the verses above? Don’t look for someone else’s dirt until you’ve cleaned your own house! And the thing about dirt is, we can dust one day and then the very next time the “Son” shines in, new specks are already showing up again!

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet, God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Romans 3:23-24 (NLT)

The truth is, every one of us deserves to be in trouble, with or without the help of a tattletale, and the world has seeing our punishment handed down on its mind.  “Yet, God.”  Because of His grace our punishment isn’t simply handed down; but because Jesus’s hands were nailed down to the cross, it has been forgiven. Now that’s a tale worth telling!

This post is written as part of the 31 Days of Five Minute Friday Free Writes Challenge. You can read posts from other writers on the same topics over at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com I hope you know that I so appreciate you being here! God bless, Cindy

 

 

Promised ~ Five Minute Friday

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Promised

“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:13 (NIV) / Pixabay

We don’t have to look much further than our social media feeds, tv, or magazines to find lofty promises of a better life! Pills that will let us lose that extra weight WITHOUT dieting or exercise. Creams that will give us back the skin of our youth. Investments that are sure to make us wealthy. Books and classes that will reveal the solutions to our problems. It seems that all these promises have something in common: they can be ours for…..a price.

Now, I must admit that I have been quick to succumb to one or two of these tantalizing offers myself over the years and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve and be the best that we can be. But, here’s a question to ask ourselves: are we as quick to seek the promises of God to help improve our spiritual selves and be the best Christians we can be, as we are those worldly promises? I’m afraid my answer hasn’t always been “yes”.

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

God’s promises fill the Bible. He promises us rest, wisdom, strength, peace, forgiveness, and the list goes on and on. All these promises have something in common too, they are ours for….a price; but this price was paid when Jesus went to the cross carrying our sins. Wait, there’s more! God’s promises aren’t just for this earthly life but they continue into life eternal!

“And this is what he promised us – eternal life.” 1 John 2:25 (NIV)

Although younger skin, a fit body, or more money in the bank might be nice; the truth is they are all things I’ll have to work for to achieve, not things found through a quick fix infomercial. I’m continuing to learn, slowly but surely, that the temporary, worldly desires of my heart are nothing compared to what God desires for your heart and mine! And He’s already done all the work for us! All we have to do is accept His gift.  So, let’s try to eat a little less, apply some sunscreen, and spend more wisely to help us live our best physical lives. But more importantly than that, let us always feed on His word, apply his teachings, and spend time gaining His wisdom, so that our spiritual life leads us right into eternity just as He has promised!

The prompt this week at  http://www.fiveminutefriday.com is “Promise”.  I’ve already read a few other posts and are they ever good! I encourage you to click over and read for yourself.  I actually thought I’d stick to the five minute time limit this week, but nope….went over again.  Oh well, there’s always next week!