Of Pain and Suffering...

Have you ever wondered: "Where is God when the tragedies strike - when the suffering begins?" 

There are horrific events in life that are hard for us as humans to comprehend - horrible situations that are practically unbearable. To those of us who hold on to the God of Abraham and His Messiah, Jesus, we must remember this: He is a God who has experienced suffering. He knows what it means to be in pain: He has witnessed His only begotten Son, Jesus, born into this world as a baby and die at the hands of men through a most cruel, tortuous and excruciating death. Jesus - God in the flesh - went through this suffering Himself. We have a Creator who knows firsthand what it means to go through pain and suffering. 

The Lord tells us: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4 And He also says about suffering: "You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." Hebrews 10:36 

Blessings, prayers and peace to those in Moore, Oklahoma.

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FM - Tuning In to The Almighty's Frequency

"Follow Me."  Two simple words Jesus implored others to do throughout the Gospels.  Yet though the words and message are simple, the effects of following Jesus - that is, striving to follow His example - are most profound.

If we as a people treated others and self in the manner that Christ did; if we obeyed His teaching, what would be the outcome?

Man and woman would live in love and marital faithfulness to each other; STDs would diminish; there would be no trace of child abuse (or animal abuse); we would not succumb to alcoholism or drunkenness and its deadly effects; we'd refrain from illegal substances and their trappings; there would be no more murders, rape and wars; theft would be a thing of the past; the slander, gossip and threats people heap on each other would cease; we would have inner fulfillment and be blessed in knowing and loving our Creator; the list goes on...

Does Jesus' way sound so bad?  And all of the blessings above are contained within that simple two-word invitation from the Christ:  "Follow Me."

FM:  May we tune in to The Almighty's frequency.


"Follow Me" references: Mt. 4:19, Mt. 9:22, Mark 2:14, Mark 8:34, Lk, 9:59, Lk. 18:22, John 10:27, John 12:26



As iron sharpens iron...

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My Father's Cool Lingo...

My Father has a cool way with words. Check out what He lays down in Isaiah 8:19-20 (CJB): 

"So when they tell you to consult those squeaking, squawking mediums and fortune-tellers; (you are to answer), 'Shouldn't a people seek their God? Must the living ask the dead for teaching and instruction?' For they will indeed give you this unenlightened suggestion."

The question, "Must the living ask the dead for teaching and instruction?" especially stands out to me.  In essence, it is implying that those in relationship with God are genuinely alive, while those practicing divination are merely existing - as good as dead.

I also found the statement, "For they will indeed give you this unenlightened suggestion" quite ironic, as those practicing divination are seeking enlightenment.  The True and Living God quips that those promoting divination to others is an "unenlightened suggestion."

Dear friends, there is no need to practice man-made sorcery and witchcraft to be "enlightened" or to attempt to achieve a "god-like" status.  We are mere humans, dying every day, and nothing concocted from our finite hands can save us.

Why not cut out the middle man (us), the middle lane leading to nowhere on a dead end road, and go straight to the top:  God, Himself, has prepared the way of relationship and salvation for us through His Son, the Lord Jesus, the Messiah.  Mankind will never be able to reach a god-like status, but the True and Living God reached down to man, becoming man through Jesus.  (Philippians 2:5-11)

Why not ask Jesus to come into your heart and be the Lord of your life today?  (Romans 10:9-10)  Ask Him to cleanse you from your wrong doing - your sin.  (1 John 1:9)  Don't return to those old ways that only lead to spiritual death.  You have nothing to lose and every wonderful thing to gain - the Lord only wants to love you and bless you.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"  2 Corinthians 5:17