Rest In Peace - No Jesus, No Peace ... Know Jesus, Know Peace (part 1 - Thoughts)

It's been a while ...

It's been a while since I've posted a blog ....

It's been a while since I've allowed myself to be swept away in the Love of Jesus...

It's been a while since I could say that I've "let go" of this world ... of stress ... of myself...

It's been a while since I've "rested in peace" ...

For quite some time now, I've been pressing forward in my own strength, walking parallel to the flock in which I belong... to the Shepherd who calls me "his own." Everyday I hear him call. This still small voice within, a gentle whisper that calls my name ... letting me know that He is still there, still walking with me ... still hearing ... still helping ... still loving ... still caring ... and still holding me together ... never letting go.

His whisper speaks peace to my heart and love to my soul, it says ... "Let go ... Let go... rest in peace ... rest in my arms ...

Every morning, every afternoon, every evening before I go to bed my heart cries out this song...

"I Love You ... All of my Hope ... is in You,

Jesus Christ ... take my life ... take all of me

I Love You so ... and I give up my heart ...

to say ... I need ... you so ... my everything..."

(Lyrics from Hillsong United - Take All of Me)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4Gyb8_CUyc&feature=related)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXE3G8oC7Zk)

So the question is "why" don't we (me included) let go...?

Why do we hold on to "the weight of this world"...?

Why don't we "rest in peace"...?

The answer: We forget ...

We forget ... who made us and how we are made (By God and in his image).

We forget ... why we are here, that we have a purpose (our journey "back" to God, to know God intimately, personally in a new redeemed essence through Jesus Christ)

We forget ... the light of this world, the love that keeps us moving forward, we forget hope (Jesus Christ ... died on a cross 2 thousand years ago and was resurrected from the dead, living each day in intercession on our behalf between us and God)

We forget ... who we are!

Having recently celebrated Christmas ... this realization of "forgetfulness" was ever before me.

People celebrate Christmas ... yet forget Christ ... not the baby ... but the Saviour and Redeemer of the World. My brother (Evan) said it best, "the World has commercialized Christmas ... that is why they can't see Jesus Christ ... the hope and love and Redeemer we all need! The only gift that truly lasts!"

Christmas is celebrated in vain by millions around the world ... because as great as it is to give gifts to ones we love and receive gifts from people who love us ... without the giving and receiving of "the Greatest Gift" from "the person who loves us most", Christmas is nothing ... just another day.

Jesus is the greatest gift. He is the gift given to us by a loving and gracious God. A gift to save us from the impossible ... ourselves, our sin. Without the reception of the gift of Jesus Christ ... all gifts are in vain because at the end of the day death awaits. Whether death for you is tomorrow, a year from now, or many years down the road ... the fact remains that "we all need victory from death". That's why "all" need the "gift of Christmas" ... "Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World and Redeemer of my soul."

Jesus is the only way to make "peace" with God. No Jesus, No Peace ... Know Jesus, Know Peace! (in the next blog we will look at this through another light)

{John 3:16-21}- "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. ¹⁹This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. ²¹But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

The Psalmist and the Anti-Psalmist - Psalm 23 (part 1)

Notice the difference between the Psalmist and the Anti-Psalmist.

In the next series of blogs, we will explore these differences ...

Which most speaks of who you are: The Psalmist? The Anti-Psalmist (A-P)?

I was once the Anti-psalmist.

Every line in the anti-psalm described how I felt about life and myself. The anti-psalm described who I was before faith, before hope, and before coming to know Jesus Christ.

Today, I am the psalmist.

Everything I need is found in my relationship with Jesus Christ ... my shepherd. In his love I have all I need ...

Psalm 23 - A psalm of David

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

A-P: I’m on my own. No one looks out for me or protects me. I experience a continual sense of need. Nothing's quite right.

² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

A-P: I’m always restless. I’m easily frustrated and often disappointed.

It’s a jungle –I feel overwhelmed. It’s a desert – I’m thisty.

³ he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

A-P: My soul feels broken, twisted, and stuck. I can’t fix myself.

I stumble down some dark paths.

Still, I insist: I want to do what I want, when I want, how I want

But life's confusing. Why don't things ever really work out?

⁴ Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

A-P: I’m haunted by emptiness and futility – shadows of death.

I fear the big hurt and final loss.

Death is waiting for me at the end of every road,

But I’d rather not think about that.

I spend my life protecting myself. Bad things can happen.

I find no lasting comfort.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

A-P: I’m alone … facing everything that could hurt me.

Are my friends really friends? Other people use me for their own ends.

I can’t really trust anyone. No one has my back. I can’t even trust myself.

No one is really for me – except me.

And I’m so much… all about ME, sometimes it’s sickening.

I belong to no one – except myself.

My cup is never quite full enough. I’m left empty.

⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

A-P: Disappointment follows me all the days of my life.

Will I just be obliterated into nothingness?

Will I be alone forever, homeless, free-falling into void?

Sartre said “Hell is other people.”

I have to add, “Hell is also myself.”

It’s a living death,

And then I die.

We all are like sheep

We wander ... searching, seeking, longing for the flock we belong to and for the shepherd who can protect, provide, but more importantly love us for who we are.

Jesus Christ is that shepherd. He is the Good Shepherd ... who will carry you through the pain and strife of this life and guide you safely back to His home in heaven...

I was once a lost sheep, yet Jesus came to my rescue ... I was far from His flock, where I belonged, yet He still sought after me and found me in my helpless, hurting, hopeless frailty.

He can meet you wherever you are ... and if you are still reading this and don't know him ... He is gently trying to lead you back to Him ...back to the flock in which you belong.

There is no greater place to be ... than in the loving arms of Your Shepherd. For In Him, you'll not only find everything you need ... but you'll also find yourself...

"Anti-Psalm 23" written by Dr. David Powlison, professor at Westminster Theological Seminary and counselor at Christian Counseling Education Foundation since 1980. Also see commentary from David Powlison on Psalm 23 ... http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2009/07/25/antipsalm-23-vs-psalm-23/

Hope for the Helpless, Rest for The Weary, and Love for the Broken-Heart ...The Psalmist and the Anti-Psalmist - Psalm 23 (series)

I'm reminded that this blog is not my ministry, but the Lords'.

It is the Lord who guides anyone and everyone who will read this.

If you are reading this, it is not by chance or mere coincidence ... rather ... it is because God is drawing you near to himself, to his love, and to a saving faith in his Son Jesus Christ.

With this in mind ... I desire to remain faithful to my calling and stay committed to you (in Love) and ultimately to this ministry set fourth by Christ (in Love). Sadly, I've been so consumed with myself and becoming overwhelmed by things ... that I have missed out on this opportunity for blessing (others and really...myself).

For quite sometime now, God has been working in my heart through Psalm 23. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't make you perfect. I struggle and stumble just like everyone else. It's beyond humbling when you realize that I'm just like anyone else out there ... that really ... the only difference is that I have been saved by the Grace of God -- Because of His Love -- And in reality ... I belong to Christ and therefore follow Him.

It's crucial to understand who you are and to whom you belong. It has been a theme I have been stressing on this blog in recent "blogging".

In the next several blogs, I would like to explore this concept of belonging, in light of Psalm 23:

(a). The Psalmist - whose shepherd is the LORD God

(b). the Anti-Psalmist - the one who walks alone ... a lost sheep ... pretty much who I was before I discovered my identity and home in the loving presence of Jesus Christ.

I hope that by the end of this series of blogs ... that you will see ... that you belong to Jesus Christ and that you don't have to walk alone anymore.

I hope you will see ...

"There is Hope for the helpless, Rest for the weary, and Love for the broken heart. There is Grace and Forgiveness... Mercy and Healing and Jesus will meet you, wherever you are."

We all belong somewhere! Where do you belong?

We all belong somewhere? Where Do You Belong?

[John 10:24-30]

"The Jews gathered around Jesus, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

To whom do you belong?

Jesus states that there are two type's of people in life:

(a). Those who belong to him, given to him by his Father; His Sheep

(b). Those who don't belong to him; Not his sheep.

Likewise ...

There are those who live for God (love)

OR

those who live for themselves, a me-centered universe in which they make themselves God (sin).

Yet these two type's of people have one thing in common: Sin.

Do you have sin in your life?

I do. Everyday. I'm sinful and so are you. And because we are sinful, not one sin can be forgiven without consequences (or in God's eyes' the shedding of blood).

So that's where the Gospel of Jesus Christ comes into your life with utmost importance.

This is the gospel:

All have sinned. God is sinless. All sin had to be removed in order for anyone to live eternally with God, in God. God decided to sacrifice his life, through His Son, so that you could have life WITH HIM ETERNALLY. Therefore, God showed his love in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8-9). And it was on the basis of God's gift of saving grace through faith in his Son Jesus (Ephesians 2:8) ... that God would chose for himself ...a people (Romans 9:25-26) ... His Children ... His Sheep ... and a Family. A family and flock over whom He would shepherd, love, and call "his own" for all eternity.

This is the Gospel:

Sins are forgiven and eternal life is given to those who repent of their sins and place their faith, hope, and love in the person Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior over their life both now and forever.

I had no choice in what God has done in my life. He called me his own before the earth was created (Ephesians 1:4). Yet, for most of my life, I lived as an enemy to God. I did not believe in God and I lived for myself (worshipping myself through who I was in life) day in and day out. I did not know Christ, yet even in the days before I came to "know" Jesus as my Lord and Savior ... I still belonged to him ... I just didn't know it. I was always predestined in his love to be his own (Ephesians 1:5). Now, the question remains ... Are You?

So I say again: We all belong somewhere!

For Jesus Said, "My Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." [John 6:40]

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become Children of God ... born not of natural descent or a husband's will, but born of God" [John 1:12]

That is Grace. That is love. And that it the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That God rescues those who are sinners and those who do not deserve his forgiveness ... yet it is because of His love for you ... that He comes to you ... to call you his own. There is no greater love ... than Jesus Christ!

To Whom Do You Belong?

Taste and See the LORD is Good!!

I've done a lot of different things in my life ... but not one of the places that I gone, moments I've experienced or things that I have done/"tasted" can even come close to the greatest thing I have ever "tasted" ... the hope, the love and the relationship I have in Jesus Christ.
I understand that many people don't understand what I mean because Jesus is so often grouped into a "religion" or "belief" system ... but Jesus isn't Santa Claus, Harry Potter, or Gandhi.

Jesus is far more than a religion, a belief system, or fictional characters.
Jesus is love. Jesus is hope. Jesus is life it's self. And from the moment I "tasted", in a metaphorical sense, Jesus ... life itself was beyond any type of illumination, enlightenment or anything else that I could ever attempt to describe or depict to you with words, pictures, or illustrations. The closest thing I can think of (which totally downplays it) is the transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly ... once crawling ... now flying!

Jesus is the real deal!
I say all this because I know first hand, having "tasted and seen that the LORD is good". The loving relationship I have with God through him is soooo good. To save you from the long list of things I've done in my life that "felt great" and experientially was very "exciting, fun, and thrilling" ... I tell you the truth ... nothing compares to a relationship with God (by faith and a choice of love) in Jesus Christ.

So ... I'll leave you with this: Give Jesus a shot ...
What do you have to lose? I've tried a lot of things and I know you have as well ... so what's the "fear" with "tasting" Jesus. I challenge your heart to try out Jesus ... and say afterwards ... "nah ... I'm cool". Honestly ... it won't happen!
So although this isn't the best blog I've written ... I just wanted to burst out some of my joy, peace , and love that I have from my relationship with Jesus Christ onto this page ... in hopes that you might take a chance and see what I mean. I pray that you do ...

The first step to this: read the book of John with an open heart. (Found in the bible!)
Two: Make your stance ... and then you will see what I mean ... :)

Three: Ask others who "know" Jesus .... and witness their joy and transformational testimonies.
Lastly ... I want you to know that I share this with you ... because I want all to experience this great love and joy that I have in my relationship and hope in Jesus Christ aka God's Son and the only bridge to God.

PSALM 34 -- verses 2-8,10
2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

10The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

The Food That Fills

Why do people eat food?
Because they are hungry. Because their bodies tell them that it needs more of that "food" stuff. And without "food" we become weak, we become wearied, and we become desperate. A person who is starving and in need of food ... isn't picky or choosey when it comes to what food they eat ... for their body tells them to, "just give me anything ... any food ... that can fill and stop this horrible hunger that I feel". And so a person in desperation will eat practically anything, from anwhere, no matter what the costs, consequences, or later result.

Isn't this the way we live our life?
We feed and feed and feed ... as if we are starving ... and starving we are.
We feed on others' opinions, our appearance, our status, on momentary conditions, and positions in life.
We feed on money, on relationships, on achievements, on productivity, and mostly on things that feel good.
We feed from the minute we wake up ... until the moment we go to sleep.
We seek food and feed on "things" we think will fill us up ... yet day in and day out ... we are still hungry, we need more, and in the lack of satisfaction from the "food" we feed on ... in a sense ... we are still starving ...

We are still starving because we feed our bodies, we feed our minds, and we feed our desires ... but what we forget to feed ... is our soul.
For the food that the soul needs goes deeper and demands greater than the food this world can offer.
Our soul demands a food that removes the depression created from the dissatisfaction, the discontentment, and more importantly the disunity we have deep within.
Our soul hungers for only one type of food, it thirsts for a unique type of water ... and our soul can only quench that thirst and receive fullness from the hunger from the source that gives life, sustains life, produces life, and most importantly saves life ...

Jesus Christ....

"Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)

"All that the Father (God) has given me will come to me and I will never drive them away...For my Fathers will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him/her up at the last day." (John 6:40)

Our Soul hungers for God ... for Love ... for acceptance ... for reason ... for Hope ... For Truth ... but also ... for Life
The only food that will ever fill the hunger deep within ... is the love that unites us with God, giving our life more than just hope, acceptance, and reason ... but the love that gives us life ... the light of life and hope for all humanity ... Jesus Christ.

In this world you will have many moments of opportunity that present you with many choices and decision that will impact your life tremendously ....
But above all opportunities ... above all important decisions and choices that you will make ...
there will be no greater decision, no greater choice, no greater opportunity ... than this:

Will You receive Jesus Christ as the hope for eternal life with God?

The only decision that will matter in your life ... is this!
For your decision will determine whether you stand "With God ... eternally" OR "Against God ... separated forever".

A Redeemer, not a system of redemption

Hope is not "a set of observations, a collection of insights, or steps in a process".

So often the bible and the Good news about Jesus Christ become grouped into "a system of redemption" based upon a set of insights, principals, or constructs that create what people tag as a "religion".

The Good news is that Jesus Christ is not a "religion". Jesus Christ is not "a system of redemption". Jesus Christ is not "a set of principals, a step process, nor a collection of personal insights".

Jesus Christ is a Redeemer. Jesus Christ is Hope.
The Good news about Jesus Christ is that He is for everyone ... not just for "good people" or "deserving people" but for everyone.
Jesus Christ is hope for the hopeless, the redeemer for the diseased.
Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life ... the only Hope that is able to not only redeem sinners, but to grant sinners "grace" -- heir-ship into the family of God ... eternally ... Heaven.

{Psalm 51:5} - Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Sin is the ultimate disease of everyone's life. Everyone is born with it ... no one can escape it or save themselves from it. Sin rules. We all are sinners ... and not matter how hard we try, commit, or pledge to do what is right ... despite our best intentions ... we will fail and will fall into sin (doing exactly what we don't want to do).* We are unable to do what is right.

"For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."

[Romans 7:19-20 ... Paul the Apostle]

"As sinners, we have a natural bent to turn away from the Creator to serve the creation. We turn away from hope in a Person to hope in systems, ideas, people, possessions, and even ourselves. Hope stares us in the face, but we do not see him. Instead we dig the mound of human ideas to extract a tiny shard of insight." No matter what we find, no matter how cosmetic or temporary the change ... the end result is the same ... disappointment, discontentment, confusion, and back to the place where we started ... still searching for "lasting heart-change".

-Paul David Tripp, Instrument in the Redeemers Hand

"When Jesus commissioned his disciples to minister in his name, this is the message he told them to proclaim. That "redemption" - not just change, but restoration ... is found in Jesus Christ. That as we face our own struggles with sin and minister to people who seem trapped by things they cannot overcome, that this message (the truth) ... would become the Good News:

"Hope is only to be found in Jesus Christ, the King of Kings ... God's Son. In him, lasting, personal heart change is possible"

Any other message encourages false hope.
The world's philosophies are deceptive because it cannot deliver what it promises. It may be well researched and logically presented, but it is not centered on Christ.
Because Sin (the condition ... that results in the behavior) is what is wrong, true hope and help can only be found in a redeemer, in a person, in the hope -- In Jesus Christ Alone.
All other paths, all other methods, all other ideologies or "answers" will prove hollow.
There is no way "we" (alone) can do the "good" that God created us to do ...

The Good News is that there is a redeemer -- who not only restores your life ... but gives you life, (eternally).
You will not go to heaven by being a good person (so please don't take that gamble ... you have far too much to lose).
The way to Heaven -- eternity With God ... is through the Redeemer -- through a choice -- through The Hope -- Through Faith --- In Jesus Christ.

The Redeemer won't rescue me from hardship, suffering or loss. Jesus Christ is the Redeemer who comes to rescue me from myself.

There is Hope. There is "the answer". There is "the way". There is "a redeemer" ... his name is Jesus Christ.

Will you allow Jesus to be "the Redeemer" that brings your life "lasting heart change"??

Will you allow Jesus to grant you the gift of eternal life in Heaven ... with God??

Jesus is Hope! :)

Jesus said to her, "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
27"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." [ John 11:25-27]

"He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. "

12 "For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. "
{Isaiah 53:3-6,12} ... written by the Prophet Isaiah hundreds of years before Jesus was ever born

We will always struggle ... we will collide with failure, short-comings, and disappointments that our sins have created for us. Beyond the love, encouragement, and support that we need ... we need rescue and Jesus is that redeemer. Jesus is hope and the love that will carry us through this life into the next; Jesus is love that will never fail.