Tag Archive | John 3:16

Charlie Kirk is now in heaven! Why is that?

Oct15

Yesterday, President Trump awarded posthumously the Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk. I turned to You Tube so I could listen to Erika and President Trump make their speeches. I remember thinking: I wish Erika and her children still had the physical presence of Charlie to hug them. I wish Turning Point still had Charlie’s physical presence to lead them. I wish America’s youth still had Charlie to lead them in finding truth or should I say TRUTH. I wish our country still had the presence of Charlie Kirk to help us in identifying evil. I wish we all still had the presence of Charlie Kirk to guide us toward faith and family and purpose.

But though he was taken from us by an assassin’s bullet, his influence and leadership remains. Satan and whoever was in cahoots with his plans, knowingly or unknowingly, have unleashed a force more powerful than they could have imagined. Satan never learns. He has tried the same tactic over and over to destroy God’s work. And turns out, he only upends his own evil plans.

Case in point: before Charlie’s death, there were about 900 college chapters and 1,200 high school chapters of the Turning Point organization. Since Charlie’s death, requests for new chapters has increased to 62,000. And that number continues to rise.

Additionally, at Charlie’s memorial service the seeds of revival that he had been sowing throughout his career, burst forth. As a result, many of our political leaders, newscasters, and people of influence are now boldly proclaiming Jesus Christ. As I heard Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House, say in an interview the other day, “We aren’t the bad guys anymore!” speaking of the new found freedom to speak of Jesus Christ within the halls of our government.

May this momentum continue to build. And to answer the question in the title of this post. It wasn’t Charlie’s good works that took him to heaven when he died! As abundant as they were! No! It was his acceptance of Jesus Christ when Charlie was in the 5th grade that assured his place in heaven. And that is true of anyone and everyone who realizes who Jesus Christ is. God’s Son who came to earth and satisfied God’s wrath against sin by dying in our place. Thereby, assuring Believers of a permanent, everlasting, home in heaven!

To Be Happy or To Be Holy. That is the question!

Jul28
In pursuit of ?

The goal for most today is to pursue whatever makes us happy. And with the self-governing leanings dominating society today, self determines what happiness feels or looks like. The idea of pursuing holiness is unappealing in a self governing environment.

Why is that, I wonder? Perhaps it’s due to a misunderstanding of what being holy is. Personally, I’m not surprised that in today’s world people would choose happiness over holiness. Especially, if our primary source of determining happiness is shaped apart from God’s word.

So, let’s define happiness. One definition of happiness is, “a feeling of pleasure or contentment based on favorable circumstances.” Therefore, as long as our circumstances are lining up with our personal desires, all is well. Disappointments aren’t too big a threat to our happiness as long as they are temporary. After all, reality informs us that life doesn’t always run smoothly.

But what happens when life turns on us? When a season of life is filled with unexpected and sometimes devastating happenings? When we get pushed under and hardly have a chance to come up for air? When the lights go out and we feel as if we are wondering about in the dark? What then?

At times like these would we be willing to admit that seeking happiness isn’t going to cut it? Would we be willing to admit this self pursuit of happiness has been inadequate? After all, no one has lived a life of constant ever ending happiness. So why do we continue in our pursuit of happiness?

Consider this! Satan is a master deceiver and liar. First of all, he will attempt to influence us away from the truths of Scripture. And he will create confusion about the act of praying. When those two components (big time fiery darts) are brought into question, we will begin believing his lies.

Now let’s turn a light on and take a look at the definition of joy. “A deep sense of inner peace, gladness, and well-being, often regardless of circumstances.” So let’s take a look at the following verses:

Nehemiah 8:10, “The joy of the LORD is your strength.”

John 16:22, “No one will take your joy from you.”

Knowing that the joy provided by God can be our strength is reassuring. And knowing no-one can take it from us leaves us feeling secure. But how does one find joy?

First of all, those who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died to pay the price for our sins, thus making heaven our eternal destination is the source of joy. You know, John 3:16! Therefore, as we encounter the threats to our happiness this joy thwarts the deception brought on by the enemy.

When life slaps us in the face (because it will and often) there is a way to override its effect. Jesus told us to be encouraged because He has overcome the world! As it turns out, those very trials or sufferings we encounter, when endured, will produce the effect of holiness we all need. Pursue happiness and it will elude us. Pursue holiness and we will have more happiness that we could ever imagine.

Stronger for the struggle…

Jan14

2025 only 14 days old is already proving to be a tough year to handle. The wildfires in California, the turmoil in the Middle East, and Europe provide a bleak backdrop of expectations for the rest of the year. Other contributors such as the drastic increase in religious persecution, and the moral upheaval not just here in America but throughout the globe give cause for concern. And there’s oh so much more we have to contend with. Just watching the news reveals a world spiraling out of control.

The enemy seeming to have the upper hand is manipulating and deceiving individuals into believing and acting on the lies he feeds them. Our society has lost its senses actually. Senses about what is right and what is wrong. So much so that even sometimes Christians are confused regarding these issues. Why is this?

Could it be due to our inconsistency and/or neglect in the simple but powerful act of opening our Bibles to find out what God has to say about the choices we make? And when that void of life sustaining information runs low, the enemy stands all too ready to substitute his lies for God’s truths.

Now back to my first paragraph. We have deteriorated to a such a state that our perspective about it all doesn’t include even a flavoring of God’s word. We feebly attempt to solve our problems on our own because we aren’t even sure God exists anyway. And look where that has gotten us?

Nevertheless, in God we have hope? For God has the power and it’s His will to take the very thing that Satan meant for bad and turn it into good. The foremost example of this is the crucifixion of Jesus. For because of Jesus’ horrible death and suffering, followed by His glorious resurrection, all who believe in Him can’t be defeated by anyone or anything on this earth. Therefore, the aftermath of the enemy’s attacks will find us stronger for the struggle. So take heart and hope!

Christ came to save us from God!

Mar8

For me, this thought put a different slant on why Jesus came! This post is a repost from April, 2022 and after reading it, I’m sure you will understand why I felt prompted to publish it again. We acknowledge God loves us. But, I’m afraid we take His love for granted as is acknowledge by our lifestyles of disobedience. But as real as God’s love is, His wrath is just as real.

Christmas!

What’s the character of God that defines this world encompassing holiday? I’m sure God’s love comes immediately to the forefront. Christ’s physical entry onto the world scene was fraught with great danger and close calls. Yet, God’s love for humankind prevailed! Christ, as a man, grew up and successfully, powerfully fulfilled the purpose for which He had been born. As we study the sacrificial life of Christ, we get a sense of the extreme measures God’s love was willing to take on our behalf. Measures that would ensure our eternal and permanent home in heaven, after our temporary earthly life concluded.

But what concerns me is that as we become so wrapped up in the love God gave us in the Christ-child, we fail to move forward and even acknowledge the purpose for which Christ was born. By failing to embrace both the gift of God’s love and the purpose of the Cross, we venture into a world of deception and falsehood.

Easter!

Therefore, we MUST come to terms with the fact that it was God’s wrath that was poured out upon Christ as He hung on that cross. Wrath that was meant for us! God cannot tolerate sin because He is God. Therefore, there was only one way that we could even hope for a personal relationship with Him and seal our permanent residence in heaven. Someone, who was without sin, would have to be willing to stand in our stead, take our place, endure God’s wrath. There was a price to be paid for our sin and Jesus paid it. For a moment in time, Jesus was willing to allow Himself to be separated from God. As human beings, I don’t think we can even begin to imagine the horror of that moment for Christ. But He endured the cross for us in order that we would never have to experience such horror.

We don’t talk much about God’s wrath, do we. But understand we place ourselves in great peril by avoiding to come to terms with the reality of God’s wrath. For there is no greater love than what was displayed on the cross where the wrath of God was poured out on Christ.

Yet, I wonder, if by overly focusing on just God’s love, without the balance of God’s wrath, could we miss heaven?

Dispelling fear …

Oct14

Are we living in the last days?

One might think so as the war in Israel progresses.

Therefore, we need to get some things clarified.

As Christians we believe not only that Jesus Christ was born, lived a sinless life, went to the cross to satisfy God’s wrath concerning sin, and was resurrected bodily (brought back to life). The reason we can call ourselves Christian is because we not only believe this but we take it personally. In other words, we confess that we are a sinner and understand sin separates us from God. By accepting Jesus’s death as payment for our sins, our relationship with God is restored. Therefore, when we die, we are assured our eternal destination will be heaven. That is, if we are true Christians!

But there is something else we sometimes overlook. The Bible reminds us over and over that Jesus is returning to earth. And for those of us who are Christians and are still alive at that point, we won’t experience death in order to arrive in heaven.

So what’s the point?

Either death or Jesus’s return, will determine our modus operandi into heaven. So, let’s make sure that if we die before or after Jesus’s return occurs, either way we will leave this earth bound for heaven.

Which begs the question, are we sure that we are saved, you know, a Christian? If we claim church attendance, whether sporadic or consistent, as proof that we are a Christian, well, I think we are in trouble. Because since going into a garage doesn’t make us a car, then neither does attending church make us a Christian!

Oh, and by the way, we might even think our baptism is proof solid of our being a Christian. Nope, even that alone isn’t the marker of faith in Christ. Remember the thief on the cross?

I am directing this post mainly to these two groups. Because the enemy, Satan, is diabolically clever in his deception. He can bring temptations to bear upon us in such a way that he can deceive us into believing church attendance or baptism (not necessarily both), are all that is necessary for salvation.

However, the simple truth is that true salvation is marked by the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, guiding and directing the thoughts we think, the attitudes we exhibit, and the actions we display.

Yet, without the presence of God within us via the Holy Spirit, it will be our flesh that guides and directs our thoughts, attitudes, and actions.

It comes down to this.

Most church goers will likely concede that we are living in the last days. (Many prophecies have already come to pass.) And how we react to such knowledge is quite revealing. The strongest indicator that we have the Holy Spirit living within us, is we do not face the future with fear and trembling but with hope and peace.

If we do not have the Holy Spirit living within us, then we have no hope. The possibility that we are living in the last days injects fear into our thoughts, attitudes, and actions.

For those of us who have the Holy Spirit living within us we cry out to God when our world gets upended. We trust God as we face a crisis.

The present crisis in Israel invokes fear, to be sure. But if the Holy Spirit rules our thoughts, attitudes, and actions, then that fear will eventually be replaced with hope and peace, as we pray.

The mandate from God is to pray for Israel! – not to despair, not to loose heart, not to fear, but to PRAY. If the fear remains, then folks examine your heart. We cannot dispel fear on our own!

The Gift of Serving…

Dec15

While caring for elderly parents, life gets put on somewhat of a hold for the caregivers. With their parent’s passing, a caregiver may feel a sense of release from the demanding requirements of caregiving as life returns to a more normal pace. Yet, all of this mixed in with feelings of venturing into life without that parent’s sustaining presence can be a rough and challenging road. 

Mother was an anchor for me. Caring for her opened a volume of opportunities that affirmed my faith in God. Though there were some really tough moments, especially toward the end, with every situation, I gained a closer understanding of what it meant to serve God. For through the years He taught me that in serving my mom, I was serving Him. To be honest, I failed more times than I care to admit. So let’s just say, over time I grew in awareness of what God was expecting from me as I cared for Mother. And that’s important. 

Our first Thanksgiving without Mother and now with Christmas approaching presents a void to be dealt with. Everywhere I look I am reminded of her. I stand on my front porch and crowning the nearby hill stands the house that she lived and died in. The place where I said my final goodbye. And all throughout my house and yard, are physical reminders of her loving care. Her life and the impact she had on mine, is now a store of memories. But I’m learning it is those very reflections that will fill the void . 

As I sort through all the abundance of memories, I have so much to be grateful for. For something beautiful happened in those final days that will continue to be my focus and sustain me. 

I have watched as my children and grandchildren spent time with their grandmother and great grandmother. I listened as my children taught their children about what honoring Granma looked like and meant. The impressions they made took their source from what God had to say about honoring our mother and our father. 

They learned that it wasn’t always convenient or easy to care for a parent. They were taught that sacrifices had to be made to their choices of how to use their time and in making their schedules. And all along they were bolstered by the earlier memories of Grandmother’s spunky and loving ways in caring for them. I could not be more grateful that my children and grandchildren were able to form a perspective of caring that was shaped by what they learned as family pulled together to take care of Granma. 

And as we gather for the holidays, those memories are a sustaining source of thankfulness and joy. His promise that one day we will be reunited because we have accepted God’s gift of Jesus, replenishes me daily. 

Because God has overcome this world, we are the recipients of gifts more valuable than anything we could possibly find under our Christmas tree. And for me, this particular lessons on showing my love through serving those I love is a gift I pray I will continue to unwrap. 

A Most Unusual Birthday

Nov30

Author’s Note: A few years ago, A Most Unusual Birthday, was published in a collection of Christmas stories by Essence Publishing. With a few minor changes, I am posting it here. I hope you will enjoy this slant on celebrating Christ’s birthday.

By Janet Lane

Bobby trembled with excitement! Today was his birthday! For days, he had anticipated the celebration his family would make of his special day.  He especially looked forward to the birthday tradition he and his three older sisters had of having their own way all day. 

If Bobby wanted to have his sisters wait on him hand and foot, or get them to do his chores, he could get away with it on this one day only. Bobby knew he had to be reasonable when he made a demand, though–his sister’s birthdays would roll around in a few months, and if he made them do anything that would warrant a payback, he would definitely suffer when his sisters next celebrated their birthdays!

Bobby had been planning what he would get his sisters to do for him. Cleaning his room was at the top of the list, as that was a chore he wasn’t particularly fond of. As a matter of fact, Bobby had several chores in mind that he was most willing to turn over to his sisters for a day.

However, this birthday was proving to be very different from any he’d ever celebrated with his family before. For instance, his mother started preparing for it earlier than usual–a whole month in advance. Bobby watched, with confusion and curiosity, as she busily decorated almost every room in their house. She strategically placed “Happy Birthday” banners throughout the house. She even put a banner on their front porch and added lights!

Bobby’s dad was behaving just as strangely as his mom. Where he found them, Bobby didn’t know, but his dad had bought several CDs all about birthdays, and was playing them in his house, in his truck, in Mom’s car–anywhere there was a CD player. In the evenings after supper, the family gathered around the DVD player to watch videos all about–you guessed it–birthday celebrations.

Well, the day of his birthday finally arrived. Bobby comforted himself with the thought that all the strange happenings leading up to his birthday would soon make sense. He sniffed the air for the familiar aroma of the breakfast pancakes Mom always fixed on the morning of her children’s birthdays. He strained for the sound of his family’s footsteps and muffled giggles, as they ascended the stairs to wake him. Though he was wide awake, he customarily feigned sleepiness, to encourage the efforts of his family to awaken him with their boisterous rendition of the “Happy Birthday” song. Mom, predictably, would capture these moments on her phone’s camera to preserve every moment of the celebration.

Arriving in the kitchen, Bobby would expect to find on his plate a tall stock of pancakes decorated with a single, lighted candle. He would make a wish, blow out the candle, and open just one of his birthday gifts. Later, there would be a festive birthday party where he would open the rest of his presents. 

Usually, his grandparents joined them around the table to enjoy a dinner of Bobby’s favorite foods and a delightfully decorated birthday cake. And Bobby knew that Mom would not fail to hang the birthday flag in his honor from the front porch, so that all who passed their house would know someone within was celebrating a birthday.

Bobby forced himself to lay quiet and still, with his eyes closed, waiting for the familiar birthday sounds to begin. But nothing happened! Curiosity drove him out of his bed, in search of an explanation. After all, the preparations for his birthday had been very unusual, and Bobby figured his family had planned an unusual celebration for his special day, as well.

But Bobby was not at all prepared for what he saw when he turned the corner and entered the doorway of the living room. There his mom, dad, and his three sisters were surrounded by opened presents. They were still in their pajamas. Mom, of course, was videoing the whole thing.

Bobby, unable to contain himself another moment, rushed to the middle of the room. With bitter tears, he pleaded, “What is going on here? I don’t understand! Why are you opening presents? It’s my birthday! Where are mygifts?”

As Bobby lay sobbing in a crumpled heap on the floor, his family gathered around him and began singing, “Happy Birthday.” Bobby placed his hands over his ears, trying to shut out the painful insensitivity of his family’s singing. Then amid all this confusion, he heard his youngest sister, Rachel, say, “Wake up, Bobby, wake up! It’s your birthday, Silly! Wake up!”

Next, he thought he heard his oldest sister, Dorie, suggest, “Let’s sing the birthday song again, only louder. Maybe that will wake him up.”

Kathy, his middle sister, responded to Dorie’s suggestion by pouncing on her little brother, as he lay crumpled in a heap on his bed. Dorie and Rachel joined forces with Kathy, and Mom–of course–didn’t miss getting a moment of this family fund on video!

As Dad gathered his sleepy son into his arms, Bobby realized he had been dreaming–no, he’d had a nightmare! Then Bobby heard the welcomed and familiar words of his father. “Bobby, wake up son. It’s your birthday! Mom has your pancake breakfast waiting for you, and everyone is ready for you to blow out your candle!”

Bobby rubbed his tearful, sleepy eyes as he gave each member of his family an enthusiastic and grateful bear hug. What a tremendous relief! He had not been left out of his own birthday celebrations after all!

May this story serve as a gentle reminder to remain sensitive to our Savior,

whose birthday we honor, and not be guilty of leaving Christ out of his own

birthday celebration.

Desiring a better country…

Nov4

October 19, 2022 as Mother lay in her own bed, in her own home, with family keeping vigil, she drew her final breath. She left her earthly country home for her heavenly country home. Her life here may have spanned a hundred years, but it was never designed to be her permanent home. It was never meant to be. Her earthly life was the proving ground for the home God was preparing for her in heaven.

As a young adult she gained citizenship into her heavenly country by accepting personally Christ’s death and resurrection. Then lived out her life guided by the precepts of her destined heavenly home. Expectedly, the growing up years of my siblings and I were flavored with these principles.

Therefore, the celebration of her transition to her new country home played out against that background. A background that colored all that we experienced in the present with the shades of God’s love and plans for us individually. As she loved her family unconditionally, she represented the unconditional love of God for His children. While we messed up on more than one occasion, all of us knew that Mother’s love and forgiveness was as constant as the sun rising. It’s the same with God.

During Mother’s home going and celebration of life afterwards, reminders of God’s tender care of those He loved continued to unfold. The fulfillment of Mother’s longing to live in her own house in her declining years and to transition from there to her heavenly home was, I believe, God’s gift to her faithfulness. God’s finishing touch was in holding back the predicted rain and gifting us with the splendor of a exquisite autumn day as we said our final goodbye’s at the cemetery.

Family bonding grew even stronger as we came together to celebrate her life. It was family that conducted the funeral. So we all were intricately woven. That’s God’s plan is it not, to bring family together in such times to share the strength God has given each of us. And in doing so, we are able to go out from that place stronger than when we came. Maybe even finally to have the realization to lay aside those choices that have distracted us and prevented us from honoring God with our lives. Or even blocked our way to understanding what it meant to have a personal relationship with God.

Mother’s home going reminded all of us that life in this earthly country is not permanent. The day WILL come when we will experience the outcome of our personal choices here on earth. It’s unavoidable. Desire a better country, as Mother did.

What does it mean to be a Christian?

Aug28

Because I believe we have become complacent about the answer to the above question, let’s start out with what a Christian is not:

We are not a Christian because we were born into a Christian family

We are not a Christian because we live in a Christian nation (you know, like America use to be called!)

We are not a Christian because our culture accepts Christian beliefs (up to a point).

We are not a Christian because we regularly or irregularly attend church.

We are not a Christian just because we call ourselves Christian.

We are not a Christian because we try to be a good person.

We are not a Christian just because we are religious.

And the clincher: We are not a Christian just because we believe in Jesus!

Therefore, if the above statements don’t describe who a Christian is, then what is a Christian?

A Christian believes Jesus is who He says He is.

First of all the Bible states it quite clearly several times throughout, Jesus is the Son of God (one such verse is Luke 22:70) (FYI Jesus is identified as God’s son, 23 times in the gospels and 18 times in the epistles)

Yes, a Christian believes in the existence of Jesus! AND also the existence of Satan 1 Peter 5:8

Here’s why:

God created man and planet Earth. (Check out Genesis 1)

Satan was a heavenly being initially. He was so taken with his own beauty and became obsessed with jealously toward God. The end result of this rebellion got him and his buddies cast out of heaven onto earth. (Eziekiel 28:15-17)

I insert references to Satan here BECAUSE he is the culprit that seeded our world with the concept of sin. And it is due to sin that God sent Jesus (God in bodily form) to provide a way for mankind to be rescued from suffering God’s wrath in payment of their sins. For you see, Jesus lived a perfect life. And since the debt of sin was death (remember God is love but He is also a God of wrath), God cannot leave sin unpunished).

And this is where Jesus enters the earthly narrative. Somebody had to pay the price for disobeying God! Because Jesus was innocent, and because He is God’s son, He could die in everyone’s place who confesses Him. Thus preventing us from paying for our own sin. (John 3:16)

Wrapping up, Jesus is God’s son, who came to earth as a human man, to pay the price for our sins, so we wouldn’t have to. Oh, and by the way, Jesus didn’t stay dead. Nope, He was resurrected (life was restored to Him). 1 Corinthians 15:17-21 He then went to heaven to get things ready for us to welcome those who accept His payment for their sins after their temporary life on earth comes to an end. For you see, eternal life or eternal death is permanent.

But heaven isn’t just for everybody. Please understand this. For those who reject Jesus, they are in effect saying, “I am paying for my own sins.” Meaning, they are heading to hell.

And this is where our lives depend upon being clear about fiery darts. Satan’s intent is to get us to not take seriously what the Bible says about Jesus. He will prevent us with distractions of all sorts. The main one being to keep us out of the Scriptures. He will tempt us to believe God isn’t who He says He is, nor is Jesus. As a matter of fact, he is most pleased when he can tempt us to deny God altogether. Or he will persuade us that the questions written at the beginning of my post define what it means to be a Christian. (Especially the clincher statement: (James 2:19’s purpose in highlighting the demons’ beliefs is to show that simple acknowledgement of God and His identity does not equal a saving faith.)

–

Why do we do what we do?

May3

Why do we live without Christ when we don’t have too?

Why do we endure trials without having victory over them?

Why do we believe the words of man over the words of God?

Why do we choose convenience over sacrifice?

Why do we put our own needs over the needs of those we love or others?

Why is money more important to us than God?

Why do we choose pride over humility?

Why do we choose our own way over God’s way?

Why do we read books by man, rather than read the book God wrote?

Why do we live our lives as if there was no eternity?

Why do we hurt or kill the innocent?

Why do we lie instead of telling the truth?

Why do we seek to harm others?

Why do we desire to have what others have?

Why do we get what we want by stealing, instead of getting what we want honestly?

Why do we choose unfaithfulness over faithfulness?

Why do we hate, instead of forgiving?

Why do we choose turmoil over peace?

Why do we choose to do wrong over choosing to do what is right?

Why do we choose to live in bondage, when we could live in freedom?

Why do we think truth is lies, and lies are truth?

Why do we not cry out to God when we need Him so badly?

The Answer is: SIN

Everyone of us is a sinner. Our human nature wants whatever it is we want. This produces bondage of the worst kind; the eternal kind.

But by turning to God and accepting Jesus’s sacrifice on our behalf, we experience freedom of the best kind; the eternal kind.