May 1 clinging to jesus

 Clinging to Jesus.  This earth has storms.  Your life has storms.  Jesus can calm the storm.   Mark 4:39-41  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41  And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?  Whereas He can calm the storm, sometimes He brings us through the storm. Jesus has our course plotted.  Our assignment is to remain faithful no matter how tossed, wet, battered, rejected, laughed at, cold or hungry we may become.  2 Corinthians 1:3-6  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5   Paul realized he was being used by God to be a witness.  People observed his life, and trials, and followed his example.   People saw and we still see how he could face obstacle after obstacle and still be able in Christ to get up, dust himself off, and get back on the adventure set before him.  2 Corinthians 11:24-27  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. I can picture the raging sea.  Satan trying to end Paul’s ministry.  I can see Paul clinging to the main mast of the ship holding on for dear life.  Clinging to Jesus.  He was content to suffer if that is what his Lord wanted.  The ships may break apart but as long as he was clinging to Jesus, he was safe.  Determined to not allow his ministry to become a shipwreck. 1 Timothy 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Holding faith.  Not holding on to keep his salvation.  Holding on to win the prize.  Holding on to be an encouragement to others.  Pilgrim, keep clinging to Jesus. 

 Don’t pull the trigger.  Years ago I preached at a rescue mission in Houston.  When the invitation was given to receive Christ a man with many tears came forward.  I explained the plan of salivation to him, but he had heard it many times.  He explained that God would never forgive him because of his horrible sin.  Years before he pointed a shot gun at a man he had a disagreement with.  On his knees the man begged him “Please don’t pull the trigger.”  He pulled the trigger anyway.  He was sent to prison for murder.  He had done his time and was a free man.  However, he was not free.  The guilt of killing that man dominated his life.  He believed God would never forgive him.  What does the Bible say?  Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.  Even though God knows our sin He also loves us and wants us to repent and be forgiven.   2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  Either God is not willing for any to perish or He is willing for some to perish.  This verse clearly states that God is not willing that any should perish.  No matter who you are or what you have done God is willing to forgive you and give you a new start as long as you are alive and in a mental state of knowing right from wrong and are sorry for the wrong you have done.  If you die without asking Jesus to save you, you have committed a sin that in unpardonable.  Will God even forgive cold blooded murder?  King David ordered Uriah to be abandoned in battle so he would sure die.  When David repented God forgave him.  Saul of Tarsus was guilty of murder.  God dropped him to his knees and called him to preach the good news that Jesus saves.  Satan loves to bully us and tell us God will never forgive us.  Satan is a liar.   John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. Don’t let satans lies stop you from repenting and asking Jesus to save you.  The man at the mission?  He refused to ask God to save him.  I can only hope that one day he got saved.  Are you saved? 

 Eat your dog?  Most Americans would find that distasteful.  (Pun intended.)  The Lord ordered the Israelites to do something similar.  They had become slaves in Egypt.  Jacob had brought his family to Egypt during a famine about 430 years previous.  You may remember Joseph whom 10 of his brothers sold into slavery ended up second in command under Pharoah.  After about 13 years his brothers who came to Egypt to buy grain did not recognize him, however he recognized them.  It is a tender story of mercy which allowed Jacob to move his family of about 75 to Egypt.  After 430 years the Israelites were slaves and God raised up 80-year-old Moses to deliver them to the Promised Land.  By now the family of about 75 had grown to a nation of about 603,550 men plus women and children.  The Lord sent various plagues upon the Egyptians to convince them to let His people go.  Finally, the Lord instructed Moses to guide the people to prepare for the Passover.  The death angel would go through Egypt killing the first born of people and animals on a particular night.  The Israelites were instructed to bring a lamb or goat into their house on the 10th day of the month and sacrifice it on the 14th.  The animal had to meet certain conditions.  Exodus 12:5   Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: He was to be without blemish and in the prime of his life.  These animals were shadows of the final sacrifice for sin who would be sacrificed many years later.  That lamb was Jesus.  Jesus was without blemish.  He never sinned.  Therefore, He was worthy to be the final sacrifice for sin.  He was in the prime of His life, age 33.  The lamb was to be brought into the home and be taken care of as a pet.  He would eat with the family.  He would sleep with the children.  But the on the evening of the 14th the father was to take him outside, slit his throat, drain his blood in a bowl and then cook the lamb while the family was dressed like they were going out of town.  The next day they would be going out of town.  Imagine the pain of having you new pet slaughtered, cooked and eaten.  We do love our pets.  I cried when they shot Old Yeller.  Did you?  God the Father allowed His only Son to be killed for our sins.  The blood from the lamb was to be painted on the two door posts and the upper door post.  That night the death angel passed over the homes which had the blood.  If you will hear, believe, repent, and ask Jesus to save you, He will.  You pass from death to life.  Your sins are forgiven.  Are you washed in the blood? 

 Is your ear pierced?  Back in the 80’s the rumor was a man with a pierced right ear was a homosexual and a man with a pierced left ear was straight.  Today an earring in the left ear can serve as a statement that the person identifies with the LGBTQ community.  I think it is best to not draw any conclusions about a person’s sexual preference based on having earrings or not.  I have heard  pirates wore an earring which was understood to say, “If you find my body and bury me the earring is your reward.”  Many in today’s society would take the earring and leave the body to rot. But what about piercings and the Christian?  "Leviticus 19:28  Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD."  Cutting (piercing) was believed to enhance the ability to communicate with the dead.  The Bible teaches we are not to try to communicate with the dead.  "Deuteronomy 18:11-12  Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12  For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD… " Have you ever heard of a man having an awl pushed through his ear into a door?  In the Old Testament if a Hebrew man or woman was sold as a slave, they were to serve six years and then be given a generous portion and freed.  However, if a man or woman decided life was good living with their master and they volunteered to give up their freedom to be a servant an awl was to be pushed through their ear into the door. "Deuteronomy 15:16-17  And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee; 17  Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise."  An ear pierced through with an awl into a door.  A Hebrew man could not be forced to have his ear pierced and be a slave forever.  However after serving six years he could volunteer and do so.  Now let me ask you a question.  Are you happy being a child of God?  If Jesus were to give you the option of independence or continue serving Him as a bond slave which would you chose? Would you say, “Jesus pierce my ear with an awl.  Let my pierced ear tell the world I willingly serve my risen saviour.” Or would you walk away from under the umbrella of His grace and blessings and face the world without Him?  Actually, we make the choice everyday as to if we will remain faithful or go astray.  I hope I always stay close to my Shepherd.  And may my words and actions tell the world that I’m a Christian. 

 Keep your old jack!  The story is told of a man late one night during a storm who had a flat tire on a country road. He did not have a jack to change the tire.  He saw a light in a house in the distance and began walking intending to ask if he could borrow a jack.  As he trudged on in the cold rain, he got to thinking about what the farmer may say when he knocked on his door.  It was late at night.  The farmer was probably comfortable with his family and would not appreciate a stranger knocking on the door.  He reasoned the farmer may become angry at him for bothering them. After all, how would he respond if some stranger knocked on his door late one night needing help?  As he got closer and closer to the house, he became angrier and angrier and really expected the farmer to be angry with him.  He knocked on the door.  The farmer opened the door and with a smile said, “Well hello stranger.  What brings you here on this cold night?”  The stranger replied, “Nothing.  You can just keep your old jack!” and then he walked away.  My.  How we talk to ourselves. We can be our best cheerleader, or we can be our worse critic.  The Bible tells us our thinking directs our actions.   Proverbs 23:7  For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…  As you think in your heart, so are you.  If you think pleasant thoughts pleasant things will happen.  If you think negative thoughts, you will experience negative things.  If you think about sickness, you will experience sickness.  If I say to you, “You don’t look good.  Do you feel sick?”  Even if you feel wonderful you will probably stop and evaluate “Do I feel sick?”  We can bring about a headache just by thinking about a headache.  We attract that which we think about.  It is true the person thinking positive will still have negative things happen, and the pessimist will have good things happen, but that which we concentrate on will dominate our perception of things happening around us.  As a Christian we are to focus our mind on Jesus and His will for our life.   Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.    This is a Bible command to control our thoughts.  A plowed field will grow weeds if not cared for by the farmer.  Your mind is naturally tuned towards the negative things of life.  Ask Jesus to help you control your thoughts.  Then life can be so much more pleasant. 

 Keys in the fridge.  I read that sometimes Alzheimer’s patients misplace their keys and eventually discover they are in the refrigerator.   I shared that story with my wife.  Then one day I wanted to bring something with me when I left the house the next day, so I decided to put my keys in the fridge.  I knew if I got to the car and didn’t have my keys, I would go looking for them.  This would remind me to take with me that which I wanted to take.  But when my wife opened the fridge and saw my keys, she supposed I had accidently put them there and was worried about my state of mind.  I assured her they were put there on purpose and my mind is still ok. Well, sorta. Anyway, that reminder has worked well and I plan to continue to practice it till I find a better method that works.  For a moment my wife supposed I absently mindedly left my keys there.  She had to wonder if I was coming down with dementia.  We must be careful about drawing conclusions without getting all of the information.  Jesus’ disciples supposed Judas was concerned with feeding the poor when he got upset about the expensive fragrance being poured on Jesus’ feet.   John 12:3-6  Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4  Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, 5  Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6   This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.    Three hundred pence translates into approximately $17,400 based on an 8 hour day at $7.25 an hour.  $17,400 of ointment on the feet of Jesus?  The disciples seem to have supposed that Judas was concerned with the poor rather than knowing he was a thief. What do you suppose?  Do you suppose that fine Christian church member is saved?  You possibly acted like a fine Christian before you got saved.  Do you suppose that fine preacher you have is really called of God and is preaching the whole word of God?  To determine if a line is straight set a ruler next to it.  To determine if the preacher is preaching the Word of God study the Bible yourself.  2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Do you suppose you are going to Heaven, or do you KNOW you are going to Heaven?   2 Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves… Please don’t suppose you are going to Heaven.  Trust the Lord and know it. 

 Meet my pastor.  The wife of a friend of mine passed away.  My friend was about 75. I was his chaplain in our Christian motorcycle organization.  The months that followed were full of grief and loneliness.  Then about 8 months after her passing he called me and asked me if I would marry him and his fiancé.  I was shocked.  I had visited him, and he had told me of his immoral lifestyle, but he said nothing about getting engaged.  It turns out he met this woman online and immediately they fell in love.   She lived in a distant town, and they wanted to get married in two weeks.  He explained to her he wanted me to perform their wedding ceremony and he wanted her to come meet me at our church for our Tuesday lunch.  He also told her he wanted both of them to join our church and attend faithfully when they got married.  Tuesday after Tuesday she called him with an excuse for not being able to come to town.  However during this time, she continued having financial needs that he took care of.  Finally, after a while he realized she was not in love with him.  She was in love with his money.  They broke up.  A couple of months later he asked me if I would marry him and his new fiancé. Again, she agreed to come to our lunch, meet me and join the church when they got married.  Again, this woman got financial help but never would come meet me.  Then he was broken hearted again when they broke up.  Then another beauty.  He sent me her picture.  He sure had some pretty girlfriends.  This happened 5 times I believe before he passed away.  I don’t mean to be cruel but sometimes the obvious is right before us and we miss it.  We want something so bad we don’t want to get confused with the truth.  Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Our hearts are blinded when we ignore God and His Word.  Liars and deceivers will have their day in court at the Great White Throne judgment.  I pray for their salvation before they die.  PS.  If you are thinking about getting married invite your fiancé to come to our Tuesday lunch.  That seems to be a good way of weeding out the cheaters. 

 Open the door!  We have a cat named Happy.  When we got him, he was about the size of a coffee cup.  With older cats in the house, he learned to use the cat box with no problem. For about his first five months with us he had no desire to go out of the house. Now he is getting adventurous and occasionally goes out.  What tickles me is when he is at the door wanting in, I let him in, and he runs straight to the cat box.  Almost like, “I’m so glad you opened the door. I couldn’t have held it much longer.” I find it interesting that cats obey the Lord’s instructions of waste removal.  Deuteronomy 23:12-14 Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:  13  And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:  14  For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee. The Lord instructed the Israelites to dig a hole, relieve themselves, then turn and bury the waste. Why? Today we know there are health hazards in waste laying around but there was another reason.  The Lord walked through the camp to protect them. He didn’t want to step in the waste.  I wonder of the Lord walks the streets of San Franscico? Now back to Happy.  He is happy when we open the door and let him in.  Have we spoiled him to prefer the cat box over the great outdoors?  Now let’s look at some people in our society.  They prefer to stay in and play video games rather than get out and work.  Covid 19 forced many to stay in and our government even paid money to us.  Many Americans are spoiled.  They prefer to be lazy and let the government take from the rich and give to them.   How different things would be if we could force people to obey the Bible.  2 Thessalonians 3:10  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.  You don’t work… you don’t eat.  Being productive leads to a satisfaction the lazy cannot know.  Setting goals and accomplishing them encourages a person to set more goals and accomplish more.  The goal may be to complete a mechanic course and work as a mechanic. Or a plumber.  Or an electrician.  Or a doctor.  Or a preacher if God has called you to preach.  Laziness produces dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and strife.  To have a happy and healthy life be productive.  Put God first in your life.  Do your best to please your Master.  And enjoy the adventure. 

 Potiphar’s wife.  Joseph was the great great grandson of Father Abraham the father of the Jews. Joseph was the favorite of 12 sons to Jacob.  And he knew it.  God revealed to Joseph through dreams that someday his family would bow down to him.  His family became indignant at his interpretation of the dream.  Resentment grew and his ten older brothers decided to sell him as a slave to a caravan going down to Egypt.  God was with Joseph and arranged for Joseph to be a blessing to Potiphar an Egyptian officer who bought him.  Potiphar’s wife decided she wanted to be intimate with Joseph.  Joseph refused her advances and angered her.  She decided to lie about him since he refused to lie with her. Genesis 39:7  And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8  But he refused… 9  how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? … 12  And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. 13  And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, 14  That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: 15  And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out. Potiphar believed his wife and Joseph was thrown into prison.  Sometimes life is not fair.  Eventually the Lord arranged for Joseph to be taken from prison and elevated to second in command directly under Pharoah.  God gave Joseph the interpretation to a dream Pharoah had which meant 7 years of plenty were coming to be followed by 7 years of famine.  The Bible does not tell us anything about Potiphar’s wife after her lie, but I wonder how she felt when she learned Joseph had gone from rags to riches in one day.  That Potiphar her husband was now accountable to Joseph.  Perhaps she couldn’t sleep at night knowing she may be called to justice at any time.  Also Josephs brothers came to buy grain and did not recognize Joseph.  He recognized them.  How he could have gotten even but he didn’t.  Joseph showed mercy.  We all stand guilty before God.  Jesus died and rose again so that we can receive His mercy if we will repent and ask Him to save us.  Are you still guilty or have you received His mercy? 

 Mother’s Day. Our nation began celebrating Mother’s Day on May 10, 1908.  Anna Jarvis organized the first observance at the St. Andrews Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia.  As the occasion became more popular it became commercialized. Before her death Anna Jarvis wished she had never developed the idea to begin with because it was so commercialized.  A four-year-old and his six-year-old sister went with dad to buy mom a new house plant for Mother's Day. When they got back, the sister had a sad look on her face.  "What's wrong, honey?" mom asked.  "Well," she said, "there was a beautiful plant there that we wanted to buy you, but daddy wouldn't let us." "Why's that," she said. "I don't know," the little girl said. "It had a big bow on it that said, 'Rest in Peace' and since you're always asking for a little peace and quiet, I thought it would be perfect."   The Bible teaches us the first mother was Eve.  Mankind would have died if the Lord did not have mercy on Eve after her transgression and let her live. The Bible tells us to honor our father and mother. Ephesians 6:1-3  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. God makes mothers able to comfort their children.  Isaiah 66:13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. After President Richard Nixon was removed from the presidency, he was so disgraced and emotionally disturbed that he wanted to take his own life. He and his wife, Pat, were in a hospital room with the curtains closed as he battled with this deep depression. And then a nurse came in and asked permission to open up the curtains. When the curtains were opened, Nixon saw an airplane flying back and forth outside his window, with a large banner that read, "God loves you, Mr. Nixon."  When Nixon saw that word of encouragement, he actually began to regain hope. Who was the encourager behind all of this who planned it all? Ruth Graham, Billy Graham's wife! She had given orders to the pilot to keep flying that sign past the hospital until Nixon opened his curtains. Mothers have this innate nature and ability to inspire.   Proverbs 23:22   Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. I suppose many of us are unable to see or call our mother this Mother’s Day.  If you can please at least give her a call.  And if she has already gone on to glory, may we remember her with a grateful heart.