Straight Paths

Some years ago I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Nepal. One of the most memorable events was visiting a church in the foot hills of the Himalayas. We stayed the night before in Birtamod and in the morning hired a 4 wheel drive taxi to take us. The first stop that day was to a church in a refugee camp about an hour from the city. That afternoon we continued up into the hills and bounced our way up an incredibly beautiful yet barely passable track. Every time we lurched back and forth between the side of the high hill and the drop off I closed my eyes while the driver and my pastor laughed. Eventually the vehicle came to a full stop where the road ended and we climbed another hundred yards up to where the church had been built.

While the road had been rough for me I was most amazed to learn that the congregation had actually spent the previous week repairing it so we could come. They normally simply walked to the church but they had sacrificially worked for days so we could come to visit!

In the letter of Hebrews I might have missed what God is asking me to do were it not for our good friends in Nepal. He expects us to prepare straight paths. Yes we re saved by grace but grace is not an invitation to stay at a 5 star resort. God is calling us to prepare with all our might for a visit far more important than of any person. We are to prepare with all our might for the return of Jesus Christ: the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings! We are to repair the path raise up the low places level out the rough road for the feet of Jesus to walk. What part of the road has God called you to work on today?

 

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All Grace!

The longer I have walked with Jesus Christ the more I see that everything has been always and only by His grace. I do not understand everything perfectly yet but I am learning that life with Jesus has nothing to do with 3 steps to success, 4 things to know to become a leader or 5 ways to become prosperous. Life with Jesus has everything and only to do with His grace.  It is only by His loving kindness that I will one day walk from the moments and days of this temporary life into His timeless eternity where always and forever we will praise Him for His amazing grace!

He comes looking for us – Before- we are looking for Him

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As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.   Matthew 9:9

 

 

 

He comes to restore us even when we are hiding in fear

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” John 20:19 

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He still calls us to serve Him even after we have publicly failed

 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.              John 21:17-18

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Are You Thirsty today?

July 2012 016Not too long go we stayed in a hotel in South Carolina. At home we are quite used to drinking only spring water because the city water has such a heavy taste of Chlorine. That night I  had forgotten to bring in bottled water but I was so thirsty that I decided to settle for water from the sink. How wonderfully surprised I was at the sweet clean water that simply flowed freely from the tap!

In the Bible God promises that if we thirst for Him we will be satisfied. But there are days that I am thirsty only for approval, financial blessings or some “me time”. Those kind of days are far too common. But on rare mornings I wake up to realize that it has been weeks or maybe months since I was really thirsty for Jesus. Those mornings I long to draw close enough to Jesus Christ to drink from the cup of water that He is holding in His hands. It is easy and available both to me and you just like the water in the hotel. We don’t have to hoard it, buy it or wait for it. It is water that is free! It is water that becomes in me a source so great that I am almost forced to share it with others. His water is for anyone but there is just one catch. We must wake up thirsty enough to be willing to come to Him and drink! Are you thirsty for Jesus today?

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled  Matthew 5:6 NKJV

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8

Ho everyone who thirsts come to the waters.. Isaiah 55:1

 

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