HE SAYS: I am a Skunk in Heaven.

HE SAYS

I am a Skunk in Heaven.

In the 7th chapter of The Gospel of Mathew, Jesus says:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The wonder of wonders is that God knows me.  I know this because he answers my prayers, even little insignificant prayers, but I do not know nor will never know, in this life, why the infinite, self-sufficient, holy creator of the universe pays any attention to me. 

• God does not need me. 
• He does not owe me anything. 
• He cannot stand the stench of my sin.

Yet, He has chosen to love me.  He has given me the ability to do His will.  He has even made me an heir of heaven.  By giving me His Holy Spirit, He has invited me into the eternal relationship of the trinity.

To put this in perspective, I think it is like me inviting a skunk into my home.  No sane person would do this unless they had a way to eliminate the skunk's odor.

Jesus has done this.  His blood has covered my sins and made it possible for me to live in heaven with our Lord.  Alleluia!  He has done it!

Are you willing for your “sin't glands” to be removed?  Will you submit to Christ and allow Him to cover the stench of your sin and bring you into the presence of God?

HE SAYS: Goodness Gracious!

Before I understood the meaning of the word, I would say, “Halleluiah” with a sarcastic tone, meaning: “About time!”.  Now I understand the word Halleluiah is a personal comment to God which literally means: Praise be to you God.  Not a good use of sarcasm….

In the same ignorant way, I would say, “Goodness Gracious!”  as an exclamation.  Now that I understand the undeserved gift of Grace,  I do not so easily profane the word.

I remember the first time the idea of “Salvation by Grace” was presented to me.  A Baptist colleague and I stood in a factory aisle for more than an hour debating the idea that salvation is a gift, and cannot be earned.  I rejected everything my friend told me.  I firmly believed that my efforts, my righteousness, or my works added value to my soul and, in a sense, purchased salvation.

I obviously had read Ephesians with blind eyes.

Ephesians 2: 7-9  King James Version (KJV)

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

God could not put this message in clearer language, but people the world over are still trying to climb the ladder to heaven.  James explains their thinking very well.

James 2: 17-20 King James Version (KJV)

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

We can have Faith without works,

We can have works without Faith,

In either case, there is no salvation.  The Faith and the works must be from the same source: God

Faith is a gift

Grace is a gift

Salvation is a gift

All from a loving heavenly Father, who eternally and perfectly loves us and cares for us in spite of our sin.

Halleluiah!

HE SAYS: Miracle Number 3 Daddy!

Romans 8:15 (NASB) "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!””

When I was about two years old, I became so sick with diarrhea that I was placed in the hospital again.  I was given IV fluids and antibiotics for several days.  I was extremely sick.  I could soil seven diapers in one try, a feat I have never been able to match.  However, I understand I will get another chance in a few years.

The nurses did not want me to have any visitors so I would rest.

Dad came to check on me one night and was standing outside my room.  He could not go in for fear of waking me.  He was standing there looking at his sick little baby boy when I suddenly woke up and saw him.

Daddy!

I would not let him leave until he came in and comforted me.

What is your relationship with God?  Is he your Daddy?  Do you long for his comforting presence?

Praise be to you God! 

You exchange our sorrow for peace.  You replace our pain with comfort.

HE SAYS: Miracle Number 2 Singin’ the Blues

Exodus 14:30 (NIV) "That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore."

Have you ever thought about the things from which God has saved you?  If you are already a Christian, you must realize that God saved you bodily long before he saved your soul.  This is, in part, the miracle of my life.  God saved my life many times before he saved my soul.

Two weeks after I was born, my Mom noticed that I was turning blue occasionally.  This is probably why I have never really liked the color blue.  She had no idea what was wrong, but she was concerned and took me to the pediatrician, Dr. Pennington.  While I was on the exam table, I turned blue again.  Dr. Pennington, realizing the seriousness of my condition, picked me up and immediately had me admitted to the hospital for congestive heart failure.

The doctor later determined that I had a concurrent bacterial infection from Strep and Staph.  I was so sick that my heart would become tired and quit beating.  After a brief rest, it would start beating on its own again.

I spent a week in the hospital on intravenous antibiotics.  I suspect that all these antibiotics in such a small, undeveloped body caused some other problems later, but that will need to be the subject of another blog post.

This day:  In what way(s) has the Lord saved you?

HE SAYS: I Should not Have Been Born - Miracle 1

I promised to write about the miracles in my life, so tonight is miracle number one titled: 

I Should not Have Been Born

My parents agreed early in their marriage that they would only have two children.  My older brother, Mark was born two years into their marriage.  A couple of years later my mother was pregnant with their second and last child.

However…

Her pregnancy was an Ectopic (tubal) Pregnancy which ruptured.  Mom and Dad lived about two miles out of town, and about 15 miles from the nearest hospital.  Except for the quick, effective action of Fire Chief Kelly, Mom would have bled to death on the living room floor.

I am the second and last child who was not to be.

Tomorrow, Singin’ the Blues