cause the neighbor's wind chimes have occasionally been making noises. I enjoy hearing the wind chimes on occasion. I think sometimes that I'll buy one, but never do. Sometimes the noise can be annoying - remember when the metal flag was against the house and some times when the wind would be blowing hard it would bang against the house and keep me awake? Naw, I think I'm find without the wind chimes. I moved the flag to another wall and it doesn't bump against the house now.
Today my Lenten study told me to read Matthew 23 and think about how it applies to my life. Ouch. Well, not OUCH, but only ouch. At least in my eyes it is only ouch. I try hard to live the way I say to live. I depend on God to help me do things the right way. Sometimes it feels much easier to say one thing and do another, but in my walk with Christ, I must do the right thing. My little sister accused me of being a hypocrit many years ago and it nearly wiped me out. But it wasn't me that she was really condemning, it was herself, and I see that now, but at that time I was devastated and it really messed me up. I hit bottom, although not many people know that. Her words had cut me deep and to the core. But that is in the past and since that time I have tried to regain the fervor I lost in her condemnation. And I choose not to dwell there... not sure why it all came back to me just now. Oh yes I do. The enemy is trying to knock me down again, and he isn't going to! Why?
I John 4:4 (NIV): "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one in you is greater than the one who is in the world."
I couldn't find the version that says it the way that I like to say it - "Greater is He who lives in me, than he who is in the world."
Romans 8:1 (NIV): "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Sometimes I have to say that a few times, especially when temptations come and trials come and I am confused and uncertain about what to do. Jesus is always Greater, and He lives in me. Satan is the destroyer who lives in the world. Jesus always wins over Satan. No matter what we have done, when we confess our sins, Jesus is faithful and just and will cleanse us of all our sins. The Bible says so.
I John 1:9 (NIV): "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and will purify us from all unrighteousness."
I've read the end of the Book (Bible) - Jesus wins! and because Jesus wins, we win! Think about that! If you have Jesus living inside of you, you win! Doesn't mean it is going to be easy. Doesn't mean there won't be trials and temptations. Doesn't mean that people will not cut you down and accuse you unjustly. It just means our Hope is in Jesus and He is the author and perfector of our faith.
In fact, I've been reading about the end times.... kind of weaning myself off of it some. My little sister is all caught up in the end times, as I've mentioned before. I've read Revelations, and I am currently going through a study on it (will be done in about a week). Those are things that are to come - and we are currently in some of these things, we are in the end times. I love the position and words that a former pastor once said - "The end of the world will come and Jesus will come again. My job is to be ready for when Jesus comes so that I will be raptured to Heaven with Him." I've kind of held on to that statement. I am to be ready when Jesus comes, when the Rapture comes and the dead in Christ rise again. I actually hope I die before the tribulation comes for it will be dreadful. But I must be ready when I die to meet Jesus for when I am judged, I want to stay in Heaven and not cast down to the abyss and Hell as many others will be who don't know Him.
Perhaps I am harder on myself than I should be. I know of people who I may question in my mind if what they say or do is Christ-like and they think they are just fine. But I hold myself to a standard - and I admit I often fail at it and have to ask forgiveness - I don't want to 'just get by'. I want to be so in tuned to Jesus that if He should come back right now, I will rise with Him.
Will you be ready? We will never be perfect in our walk. Only Jesus was perfect. But are we ready to face Jesus? What will that day be like - have you ever thought about that? Do you shun any report of Him or any thing that has to do with Jesus? Or do you dig deeper because you want to know the truth of this Man called Jesus? Oh that we all would seek Jesus and seek His face! Life is so much better when we belong to Him.
What is Jesus to you? When you hear His Holy Name, what do you think about? Anything? Do you think about when He was born in the stable? Do you remember Jesus in the temple at age 12 discussing theology with the religious leaders? Do you think about the healings he did, raising Lazarus from the dead? And now with what we call Easter just 9 days away, do you think of the crucifixion, when Jesus was placed on a cross and died, for you and for me? What do you think about when you hear the name Jesus?
Perhaps now is the time to begin preparing your heart for what is ahead. Turn your eyes towards Jesus, who is truly the author and perfector of your life. He makes all things new, and He can make you new as well. The world changed when Jesus was born. It changed again when He was crucified. There was never One like Jesus. And there never will be again.
Choose Jesus. He will rock your world. It's all about Jesus.
Blessings!
