October 2018 Archives
You Do Not Have a Free Pass to Sin
I’ve been so burdened lately. I see people who claim to be Christians doing unGodly things, and it breaks my heart. Many are raised to believe that once you pray the sinner’s prayer, Jesus comes in and forgives your sins and it doesn’t matter what you do from there on out because “it’s all under the blood.” Friends, this is not the Gospel. Jesus came to set us free from sin, not give us a free pass to sin.
In Romans 6:1, Paul asks, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” He goes on to answer his own question, “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
I think the biggest problem in today’s society is that we are very me-centered. It’s easy to acknowlege God on Sunday as we strive to look good to those around us, but how do we act the rest of the week?
We also like to compare ourselves to others since that can boost our ego as well but, if we would look into the mirror of Scripture, we would realize that we are selfish and proud and vile apart from God. This should send us to our knees, crying out to Him for mercy and asking Him to change us instead of feeling pretty good about ourselves. Rather than doing that, we feel like as long as we’re happy, that’s all that matters. What about whether or not God is happy with us?
We are only a little over two months away until the end of another year. I would like to enter 2019 closer to God than I’ve ever been. This can only happen through putting off “the sin which so easily besets us” and running “with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). Let’s not lose sight of the goal. It is not our happiness. It is God’s holiness and making Him known to those around us. Let us be lights in everything we say and do instead of stumblingblocks.
Photo by Samuel Martins on Unsplash
CD Review: Hope for All Nations (Karen Peck & New River)
This CD review is late because, although I wrote it a long time ago, I apparently never posted it. I feel bad about that but I decided better late than never since this was another great CD from Karen Peck and New River.
The first song you’ll hear is the catchy, encouraging, toe-tapping Love Will Never Give Up.
Next is the popular song Hope for All Nations.
My favorite song on this project is I Know I’ll Be There. I don’t know about you, but I long for that day.
Other songs include: Who He Is, What He Does; The Reason; Gotta Be Saved; I’ll Keep on Praying; The River; Victory is Mine; God’s Got a Blessing; All You Need; and I’m Gonna Love My Neighbor (with guest vocalists The Isaacs, Greater Vision, Jeff and Sheri Easter, The Bowling Family, Triumphant, and The Whisnants).
Happiness vs. Holiness
A while back, I was thinking about how much worldly thinking the Church has adapted. We no longer go to Scripture to learn right from wrong. Now we take a poll to see what others think. If our friends (real or virtual) will support us, we feel fine about doing what we want to do.
Marriage is one area that people take way too lightly. Malachi 2:16 tells us that God hates divorce and yet, if at least one spouse isn’t happy, it’s commonly accepted to divorce and find someone who will make you happy. Although God does not want you to be miserable, your happiness is not His primary concern. He desires you to be holy. Holiness can only come from walking in the Spirit and obeying His Word, even when it is difficult to do so.
Like most single women, I would love to marry one day. However, in my case, obedience comes in rejoicing in the state I find myself in, seeking to know how to best serve my Savior. I am aware that I have more time to spend with God, and more time for myself, than married people do so I pray to not take that for granted.
Holiness itself is often despised and made fun of by believers who view it as legalism, when the reality is that they love their life and their “freedom.” They don’t want to give up their movies or their music so if someone else doesn’t indulge in those things, they scoff at them. First Corinthians 10 talks about people who have liberty to do things that others do not. We are to walk in grace with those people.
Second Corinthians 10:12 tells us that comparing ourselves with others is unwise. The Word of God is our standard. It is in the pages of God’s Word that we realize that we truly are sinners in need of a Savior. He is the One who gives us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). We need to cry out in repentance, “God, help me to love the things that You love and hate what You despise. Get my focus off of myself and my happiness on to You and Your holiness!” In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Concert Review: The Hoppers (8/23/18)
I first saw the Hoppers in August of 1990. A man who had tuned our piano asked if my brother and I would like to go with him to a concert, and I jumped at the opportunity! Mostly I was impressed that the man had kept his word that he would take me to a concert sometime. Too many people say things like that but never follow through. Although I have seen them a number of times since, I never tire of watching Claude, Connie, Dean, Kim, Mike, and Karlye sing.
Six weeks ago, I had the opportunity to see them again. Only this time, it was my dad that went with me. My dad is not a southern gospel fan and used to make fun of the music, so I was very blessed when he seemed to be enjoying himself. He even cracked up at Claude’s jokes. I smiled.
The concert began with Dean, Kim, Karlye, and Mike singing Life Is Good, If We Ever Gotta Look and God Already Knew. I don’t remember when Claude and Connie joined them, but I think it was on Yahweh. Gary Prim accompanied them on the piano. That is a name I’ve seen on recordings but I don’t believe I had ever seen him in person.
They sang God Bless the USA and then sang a few songs off of their latest project which was published by Gaither Music: I Wouldn’t Take Nothing for my Journey, After a While, and Lord, Lead Me On. Connie then sang I’ve Come Too Far, after which they continued with Yes I Am, Jerusalem, and Something’s Happening. Karlye sang My Ransom, and they ended with Shouting Time.
Kim had a bit of laryngitis which affected her speaking but not her singing. She did a great job.
Encouragement for the Downtrodden
I know it’s been a while since I’ve written. Occasionally, I need a break to refresh and refuel, to focus on God and to discern His truths. In the last couple months, there have been a compilation of little things that brought me down lower than I have been in a long time and yet I know that, even in the midst of everything weighing on me, God was there. I just had to look to Him. I eventually reached out to a few friends that I knew would pray. Their prayers, along with a visit from one of my sisters, helped to lift my spirits, and I marvel once again at God’s goodness. He doesn’t beat me up and leave me there, but He picks me up and carries me until I am strong enough to once again walk beside Him.
Life is not always easy. The enemy will try everything within his power to discourage us or to cause us to stray. But I am so thankful that he has no power except that which is granted him by the Father. He may bring me down, but he underestimates the power of God to raise me back up … stronger than before.
Friend, I don’t know what you are going through. You may be dancing on the mountaintop or you may be in the lowest valley of your life. Regardless of where you find yourself, God is there. He does care. He asks that you cast your burdens on Him, and He desires that you rejoice in His goodness whether you feel like it or not. Satan will not want to stay in an atmosphere of praise. If you are low, I would also encourage you to reach out to someone. Don’t go through it by yourself. You are not less of a Christian to admit that you need help praying through to a place of victory. I think God allows us to get there at times so that we realize how much we need His Body.
If everything is going well for you right now, thank God for it and ask Him to bring people to your mind who need intercession. You never know if your part in the battle is what will finally bring the answer to someone else’s prayers.
