Power, Faith or Pixie Dust?

I am fairly sure that most of us have heard of the differences between the path to heaven and the one to hell.

..."You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it." (Mat 7:13-14) nlt

I think it may be easier to visualize this as struggling up the side of a steep mountain. Going down is a LOT easier than going up, we have to put a great deal more effort into the ascent than the descent. You are aware that many will spiritually give up and leap to their doom. Why don't we all? Because we've chosen to be with God in the next life.

Thanks to Jesus, we have that option. He gave up His life for us, and took the blame for all the foul, evil things that everyone has ever done, just so we could have the chance for salvation. Of course we still have to do our part. We have to recognize our misdeeds AND accept His sacrifice.

Tough, isn't it?

Sometimes, the hardest part (for us) is being able to put our trust in someone other than ourselves. That is exactly what faith is all about.

Growing up, we've all heard the expressions;

-"Give it your best shot!"

-"Put your back in it!"

-"A 110% effort is required!" &

-"We're all counting on you!"

Athletes and sportsmen hear these comments so regularly that they have nearly religious significance.

So, what's wrong with that?

They teach us to put our faith and trust into ourselves, alone. No matter how good any of us thinks he or she is, no matter how successful we may have been, and no matter if you or I have shown forth as something of a "superstar" in ANY field of endeavor... we just are not good enough! Remember, "for all alike have sinned, and all consciously come short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23) wnt

What are we supposed to do, instead?

Imagine this... you are standing in front of the judge in a court of law. All the evidence is clearly against you, and you know you'd committed the crime. Then, out of the blue, the judge's kid tells you he will take the blame, go to jail in your place, pay your fines, and completely clear your name. All you have to do is agree.

Would you do it?

It’s a trick question, right? Who wouldn't, you ask. Sadly, most of us will blow this opportunity. Get back to the steep mountainside, and your efforts to reach heaven up that narrow, difficult path. What would make the task easier?

If you've ever done any cliff or mountain climbing, you look for handholds and footholds. Whenever the going really gets rough, you need something you can bet your life on. Good, solid, rock... that is what you really wants to keep you from falling to your death.

Perhaps you remember this song...

..."On Christ, the solid Rock I stand,
......All other ground is sinking sand.
.........All other ground is sinking sand!"

It will never be an easy climb, up that narrow, rocky pathway! Faith in Jesus will help us find those solid rocks we need to make it. Here are two biblical examples of faith that I think should be an inspiration to us all.

-First-

..."Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?
...Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.
...And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
...And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Mat 16:15-18) drv

-next-

..."A woman from Canaan who was living there came to him, pleading, 'Have mercy on me, O Lord, King David's Son! For my daughter has a demon within her, and it torments her constantly.'
...But Jesus gave her no reply - not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. 'Tell her to get going.' they said, 'for she is bothering us with all her begging.'
...Then he said to the woman, 'I was sent to help the Jews - the lost sheep of Israel - not the Gentiles.'
...But she came and worshiped him and pled again, 'Sir, help me!'
...'It doesn't seem right to take bread from the children and throw it to the dogs,' he said.
...'Yes it is!' she replied. 'For even the puppies beneath the table are permitted to eat the crumbs that fall.'
...'Woman,' Jesus told her, your faith is large, and your request is granted.' And her daughter was healed right then."
(Mat 15:22-28) tlb

Two examples of faith... both show us that we need to have an absolute trust in God. Money, land, possessions, luck & political power are not mentioned, nor even pixie dust!

Just faith...

The handholds and footholds we all need are already there! God wants us to be with Him! He knows how hard the journey will be. He sent His Son to show us the way, pay the price and be our inspiration!

Have a little faith!

Stretch out your hands and start climbing.

See you soon, in paradise!

God's Choice - Love!

So, where does "love" actually begin?

What causes us to start loving?

Must "love" always fade with time, and if so, why?

What does this have to do with our relationship with God?

Every one who has ever had children, and loved them, has experienced the heartache that goes with seeing them begin to change, losing their child-like innocence and trust. Something has started an alteration that scares parents badly. Growing up ALWAYS brings about changes in our kids. I know I've spent a lot of time in prayer, begging and pleading with God that some way be found to keep these characteristics in the kids I love, and let them grow up without losing these traits. Please, God! Oh, please!

The bible tells us, "Behold now the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burthensome unto you. For I seek not the things that are yours, but you. For neither ought the children to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children." (2 Cor 12:14) drv

"Parents for the children." Hmmm... We also know that the Bible tells us to raise up our kids in the way we want them to go, and they will not depart from it.

But, we are also aware that children always change... always.

There are many kids I care a lot about. Some of them have "adopted" me as uncle or grandfather, one as a "best friend." I love each of them quite a lot. I worry about every one, and pray a lot for all of them.

They cannot just "stay kids." God never intended it to be that way. He has given them freedom of choice, just as He gave it to all of us. In the same manner that you and I have veered from God's chosen path, so also will our kids as they grow older, and it will always hurt us because of our love for them.

But, what started this love that we share with our children? Why does it hurt so much when these inevitable changes start to happen?

What is "love," anyway? Where does it start, and why?

A lot of men will find this to be disquieting, but a child's love begins with its trust in its mother. Knowing that mom will take care of them, no matter what, makes the infant learn to love. It takes a little longer with dad, but the process of developing a love for him starts in much the same way.

Our love for God is also based on trust. "As for God, his way is perfect; The word of Jehovah is tried: He is a shield to all that trust in him." (2 Sam 22:31) dar

"But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice, Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them. Let them also who love your name be joyful in you." (Psalm 5:11) web

Kids can only love those whom they trust. As the world erodes their trust, they begin to change. It is inevitable, and it is extremely heart-wrenching...

God feels about us in much the same way. His love for us is boundless. Good or bad, old or young, it makes no difference. He loves us all. He has proven, over and over again, that He is worthy of our trust, and our love. He hurts because of each and every one who has ever rejected Him. But, still He loves us, and always will... eternally.

"But you, O man of God, keep yourself from these things, and go after righteousness, religion, faith, love, a quiet mind, gentle behaviour." (1 Tim 6:11) bev

God doesn't want us to change, any more than we want our kids to do so. Trust Him, and love Him as your little child loves you. When worries seem overpowering, when life seems to be handing you more than you can deal with, when it all feels hopeless, turn to the only One who truly can make it all right again.

Oh, and make sure your children know beyond all doubt that they can ALWAYS trust you. You exemplify God's love to them.

Until we all meet again, in paradise.

Just what is it about kids that Jesus loves?

What was it about children that made Jesus love them so much? Why did He instruct His apostles to let the children come to Him? Is there something here we are overlooking?

Almost everyone loves little babies. As children age, they go through the "terrible twos" and eventually reach their "terrifying teens." Still, most people like most kids (of any age) better than their own-age peers. What is it that is so different about kids?

There is no doubt that there is a lot that is evil about our world, and all of it is a corrupting influence on our lives. Kids have been exposed to less of it (so far), and are therefore less corrupt and more pure than are most adults.

Hmmm...

From the book; "Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, 'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again.' "(John 3:3-7) kjv -and- "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believed not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?"(John 3:12)kjv

Here is the problem, in a nutshell.

Our understanding is shaped and influenced by our exposure to things that have happened to us, here on this earth, and in our lifetimes. Little children take almost everything on faith, because people they trust tell them it is so. God wants us to take His Word on faith, because He said so. He wants us to place our trust in Him!

As our kids grow older, their willingness to believe is whittled away by being hurt, by being lied to and by being ignored. In short, what is good is steadily eroded and eaten away by the evil of this world.

Jesus loves the innocence of children. He loves their trust and their hunger for His friendship. That is the goal we have, in our relationship with God. We must be reborn into the childlike trust in Him that is the hallmark of children! As a little child trusts mom and dad to take perfect care of him or her, so must we put our trust in Our Lord to take perfect care of us.

We must be born again!