You say you ain’t no sinner? Day 17

Sin

In 1998 Rev. Abdiyah Akbar Abdul-Haqq, an evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association came to New Jersey to preach at the anniversary celebrations of a New Jersey Indian Church. The celebrations went on for three days and Rev. Haqq stayed in a hotel near the Newark airport and for transportation I volunteered to drive him around. I tell you my friends, I had a great time driving Rev. Haqq around. He answered my many questions with wit and wisdom. One I will never forget. I asked him about Christians who claim they no longer are sinners and, even if they were to sin, they only commit minor sins and not major sins. Rev Haqq’s answer was “Ebenezer, the next time any man tells you that he only commits minor sins and not major, tell him humbly ‘Don’t worry brother you will not go to major-sin hell, you will only go to minor-sin hell.’”

Dear friend, it is true that Jesus died on cross for your sins and my sins. But at the same time you and I cannot say we do not sin. Apostle John makes this clear in 1 John 1. First the bad news, “8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Then the wonderful news “ 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  But then John leaves us with a caveat, “10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

So dear friend, if you are believer, ask God as David pleads, “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24) And God himself will teach you and lead you. For those of you who don’t know Jesus, and are burdened by sin, please understand that only the blood of Jesus will wash away your sins(more to come)

Abba Father open my eyes to my sins and lead on the path of righteousness. Help me to hold on to your Truth and your Word. For your Son’s sake.  Amen!

Please take your time with this – Day16

Handholding 101

Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. Psalm 73:23

Normally I write about a hymn writer and then I attach videos for you to watch and enjoy. Today I ask you to please take your time to read todays post, watch the videos and above all reflect on the lyrics.

Thomas Dorsey was the son of a Pastor and a piano teacher. Now Thomas loved music, studied music in college and became a famous and successful jazz musician and composer. He played in jazz clubs and slowly drifted away from God. After sometime, Thomas in his early 20s gave his life to Jesus. That meant leaving the jazz clubs and the money he earned playing at the jazz clubs.  But God was with him and he became famous as a writer of hymns.

When Thomas was 33 he received a telegram that his wife died after delivering a baby and that his newborn also died.  Thomas became angry at God and it is said he blasphemed God, but just days later the ‘peace that passes understanding’ came upon Thomas and he composed the hymn Precious Lord, Take My Hand. The hymn has been translated into many languages,  and sung at funerals, including that of President Lyndon B. Johnson and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Over 100 artists, including Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Jim Reeves, Johnny Cash and Aretha Franklin, have covered it.  It also was the first gospel song to sell more than a million copies and now  Thomas is now known as the ‘Father of Gospel Music”.

Dear Friend as you enjoy this hymn and contemplate on its words remember God’s promise
“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.” (Isaiah 41:13)

Here are the lyrics:

Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:

Refrain - Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me home.

When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,

When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:

Refrain

When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:

Refrain

Here are 3 links –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHBzI_Jb-o4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaF16IlysQc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV7znC9TWYs

My Lord, My Father, continue to hold my feeble hand and lead and guide me. In Jesus name I ask. Amen

When Jesus ………………… Day 15

“¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I don’t know whether you would call Philip ‘lucky’ or ‘unlucky’. His mother Monica went through 19, yes nineteen pregnancies, but only one son survived infancy. All Monica wanted was a brother for her only son. So after getting pregnant the twentieth time, Monica gave birth to a baby boy after a long labor. Much to her grief, the midwife declared the boy stillborn and took the ‘body’ away from the grieving mother. But all of a sudden there was a cry from the supposed stillborn. The boy survived and Monica named him Philip.

Monica herself was an orphan and she considered her younger son a miracle. So she took good care of her younger son but sadly she died when Philip was only 8. Four years later Philip lost his father. He was born in a rather well to do family but now he was an orphan. After a greedy guardian lost the family wealth, Philip became a penniless orphan. Then a Presbyterian pastor took the teenager under his wings and helped him to become a pastor. Philip served as a pastor and wrote hymns but died of tuberculosis at age 49 in 1751.

So dear friend, with all that he went through, would you consider Philip lucky or unlucky? I don’t know your answer but let’s learn, from Philip himself, about life–

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7Tz7mrOoIg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv5n_eCGkvM

Many for every occasion sing the hymn, O Happy Day, which Rev. Philip Doddridge wrote. It was used in movies and is covered by many. Even after 250 years the singing of O Happy Day brings great joy to many.

I give thanks to you O God for you are good and your love for me endures forever. Help me to call on your name and make known among nations what you have done for me. I thank and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

.

Please indulge me and watch this too - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zT8AyfsFmA

“…God … gives the growth.”(1 Cor. 3:7) Day 14

“…and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.” 1 Corinthians 10:4

Today I introduce to you Edward Mote. Edward was born in 1797 to pub owners who were always busy with their business. By the grace of God, at 18 he heard the gospel and became a Christian. Later Edward began cabinet making and that was his profession for 37 years. At age 55 he became a pastor and served until a year before his death at age 77. 

Edward was such a well-liked pastor that he once was offered the church building as a gift. He refused - stating, “I only want the pulpit.” Edward also wrote over 150 hymns. Interestingly, his best-known hymn was written when he was a cabinetmaker – 18 years before he became a pastor.

Dear Friend, God may/may-not equip you to write a memorable hymn. What ever your talent might be, you can use it in His Kingdom. Are you willing to do your mite? God will take the mite and multiply it for His Glory.

Enjoy Edward’s best-known hymn –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWdNgXSd46Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PokBm_vzms

Dear God my Father, I thank you that through Jesus you ‘delivered me from sinking in the mire’ (Psalm 69:14) and made me yours. Use me in Your Kingdom for your Glory. In Jesus’ name I ask, thank and pray. Amen.

The God of Unmatched Shoes! Day 13

Love is all you need!

Have you heard the story of ‘the God of unmatched shoes’? A rich patron of arts commissioned an artist to paint a picture of the Prodigal son. After some time the artist came to the patron with the painting. At the unveiling of the painting, all who saw it were stunned by its beauty and detail. The painting showed the prodigal and the son about to embrace each other and the scene was breathtaking. But soon the patron noticed a flaw in the painting.  Towards the bottom of the scene, crystal-clear was the fact that the father had on his feet, one red shoe and one blue shoe. The patron was stunned. He questioned the artist about the error and asked if the artist realized his error. The artist smiled and said,  “Yes, this is a beautiful representation of the love of God for His children.” “What do you mean?” asked the puzzled patron. The artist replied, “The father in this picture was not interested in being color-coordinated or fashion-conscious when he went out to meet his son. In fact, he was in such a hurry to show his love to his son, he simply reached and grabbed the nearest two shoes that he could find. -He is the God of the Unmatched Shoes.” *

Dear Friend, aren’t you glad that God loves you, teaches the same in Word, and through Jesus’ sacrifice reveals his love for YOU? Coming to love, many read 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13 and think that is THE teaching about love. But let’s see what else God the Holy Spirit teaches us through His Word. 

Love “covers all offenses (sins)” Proverbs 10:12

Love is ‘greater than faith or hope’ 1 Corinthians 13:13**

Love that is perfect “casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18

Love of Christ “surpasses knowledge” Ephesians 3:19

There are many more verses and passages coming to God’s love but consider what Jesus commands us -  34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

God in all his love shows himself to us through Jesus (John 8:19) and the Bible teaches us the true Jesus. So let us get to know more of Jesus and God. But at the same time let us remember that if we do not love others, we truly don’t/can’t know God (1 John 4:12, 20).

Dear Father, Jesus said, “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” Please provide me the fortitude and the mind-set to look up to Jesus, to know him and thereby know you. In Jesus name I ask and pray. Amen.

* Abridged - illustration found on the web.  Original from sermon.com.

**Please consider this question  ‘Will I need faith and/or hope in heaven?’ As you ponder the question – approach the question with this truth – In heaven you are in the presence the Triune God -the object of your faith and the God of your hope.