Salt and Light

Posted on August 23, 2013 by KD Manes under Service

I must have been about eight when I hid a bowl of cookie dough under my bed. Our family outing prompted me to take action to keep my brother from eating any.

Mission accomplished.

However, the adage “out of sight, out of my mind” rang true for me. My goods remained under my bed until my Mom’s discovery a month later. No scent or taste of warm Chocolate Chip Cookies enjoyed from this batch. Not even bugs or mice could penetrate this hardened mound.

My prized dough became useless, losing all flavor and luster.

Flavor and Shine for God

Jesus shared a few words concerning our effectiveness—or lack of—to Him.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” – Matthew 5:13

And . . . .

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” – 5:14-16

Our Usefulness to God

I don’t want my heart to harden like that mound of cookie dough–losing Christ’s seasoning, or hiding His light. My guess is that you don’t either.

How do we lose or gain our usefulness for Christ? How do we positively flavor society and let our light shine? I invite your input.

From Darkness to Light

Posted on August 9, 2013 by KD Manes under Salvation

Have you ever stumbled out of bed in the middle of the night and ran into a wall? I’ve done that a few times, mostly when away from the familiarity of my home. . . . Thank goodness for light!

Light . . . I love seeing the sunlight streaming through the clouds, painting the evening sky. I love viewing God’s creation in radiant color and clarity. I also enjoy the sun’s warmth on a cool day, and the ability to see while biking so I don’t crash into the bushes.

SUNLIGHT

For all of you trivia fans, here are some interesting facts about the sun (source: http://www.goldenkstar.com/facts/sun-interesting-facts.htm):

The sun makes up 99.86% of the mass of our solar system.
The energy being emitted from 1 square centimeter of the sun’s surface is enough to burn 64 light bulbs of 100 watt.
The earth receives 94 billion megawatt of energy from the sun. This is equivalent to 40,000 times the power requirement of the United States.
It takes up to 50 million years for energy produced at the core of the sun to reach its surface.
If a drop sized matter from the core of the sun is placed on the surface of the earth, no living organism will survive for a distance of 150 km from that drop.
An area of the sun’s surface the size of a postage stamp shines with the power of 1,500,000 candles. . . . That’s a lot of candles!

SON LIGHT

Shortly after the last night of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles celebration—where large torches lit up the skyline—Jesus spoke to the people from the temple where offerings were placed (John 8:20). Candles were burned here to symbolize the pillar of fire that led the Israelites through the desert at night (Exodus 13:21-22). The pillar of fire represented God’s presence, protection, and guidance. In this context, Jesus said:

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12

Without Christ, we are spiritually lost due to our sin. This ends in spiritual death and eternal separation from God. I doubt we can fathom just how dark and horrible such an existence is.

Is Jesus the light of your world? He will lead you to safety, wisdom, victory, and truth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2nLyfzBfKw

Grandma’s Weapon

Posted on July 12, 2013 by KD Manes under God's Call

“Prayer is not an old woman’s idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Upon returning home from visiting relatives in southern Idaho, I’m thankful for the opportunity to once again see my 93 year-old Grandma.

About four years ago, chemotherapy for Lymphoma exhausted Grandma. So she opted out of treatments. At that time, we thought we were saying our final good-byes until heaven.

But Grandma’s family and church family kept praying for her. I recall my seven year-old (at that time) daily pleading with God for her healing.

Grandma’s cancer has been in remission ever since.

I’m not advocating a prayer formula. Sometimes God answers “yes.” Sometimes He says “no.” Sometimes He says “wait.” Other times, healing and rewards don’t come until heaven (Hebrews 11:37-40). But God’s grace and presence is always available to the seeker (2 Corinthians 12:9).

My Grandma has been an amazing lady—a Proverbs 31 kind of lady. Her closeness to the Lord results from persistent prayer, Bible study, and obedience. Her life is graced with wisdom, integrity, strength, and resourcefulness. Love, joy and peace also characterize her hospitable life.

Grandpa made these clocks. Grandma painted them. They gave them to their Great Grandchildren.

Grandpa made these clocks. Grandma painted them. They recently gave them to their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. . . . A reminder to pray at all times.

When I think of Grandma, I’m reminded of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Grandma persistently prays for each of her family members. (For more on persistent prayer and faith, see Luke 18:1-8.)

How many times has the Lord protected myself and loved ones from unknown dangers due to her prayers? I don’t know, but my guess is a lot. I credit her prayers for saving me from what could have been a potentially abusive relationship before I married.

God upholds and works on behalf of his children.

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” – James 5:16

We’re not promised a trouble free life, but we can rely on God’s faithfulness and strength when troubles arise.

Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” – Psalm 50:15

How is your prayer life? Where or whom do you turn to when troubles come?

New Life

Posted on June 28, 2013 by KD Manes under Salvation

Disney’s adventure Oz the Great and Powerful first portrays shady illusionist Oscar Diggs struggling in a small town circus. After being swept away by a tornado, he pleads with God to save him from the storm.

Oscar, nicknamed Oz, plummets into the land of Oz. Here, the following changes transpire:

Black and white fades into vibrant color and visual dazzle
Oz finds a second chance in life
Despite the challenges, Oz finds purpose by using his talent to help the people of Oz
Oz finds that the greatness he yearns for is found through a different path than how he first envisioned

Changes

On the grander stage of real life—over 2,000 years ago—Jesus shared how one can make a major life altering change.

Change that miraculously begins under a new Master
Change that cleanses sin ridden hearts and creates new life within
Change where dullness fades to vibrant light and color due to a relationship with the living God
Change that positively affects us and our relationships in this life and in life after death
Change that results in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, wisdom, comfort, and purpose

Why do we need to change? Change from what?

Since the fall of Adam and Eve, we are born with this sin problem (Psalm 51:5). Our sin offends God, displacing Him from His rightful reign in our lives. The end result?

For the wages of sin is death. . .”

But . . .

The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23

Do I hear an amen?

In a land that applauds the notion that truth is relative, the message of Christ being the only way to God the Father and to spiritual life is unpopular, but this is the truth that never changes.

What is the difference between accepting and rejecting Christ?

Heaven and hell. Life and death (John 3:36).

And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. . . .” – Hebrews 9:27

Surrendering to and following Christ is worth any temporal sacrifice.

We each must choose. None of us, who are able to understand, will be exempt (Romans 1:19-20).

I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him [God] who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” – John 5:24

“Eternal life”—new life and a relationship with God—begins the moment one accepts Jesus as Savior. This life is completely dependent on God and lasts forever. When one accepts this free gift, the Holy Spirit resides within the believer. And physical death is only a prelude to living forever with God and with each other. This is the great news of the gospel.

Today’s Word

Posted on June 14, 2013 by KD Manes under Salvation

May I share a word with you?

The Apostle John continued:

Through Him all things were made . . . . In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” – vs. 3-4

John’s use of the Word in Hebrew Scripture is linked with Genesis 1. God created by speaking the universe into orderly existence. Hebrew thought also associated Word as the source of God’s message through His prophets (Hosea 1:2) and God’s law—His standard of holiness (Psalm 119:11).

The philosopher Heraclitus (c. 535-475 B.C.) used the Greek thought of Word/logos as the divine logic, “an ordering principle for the universe.”

John used the Word to describe Jesus as God–a guy he knew and loved, but at the same time was Creator of the universe who perfectly revealed God the Father’s character and holiness.

The educated Greek reader would have understood John’s summary as Christ being the truth; not only the guiding principle of the universe, but also of every person’s soul. Thus, by the person of Christ—the Logos—one may attain harmony with God and His creation.

When Christ became human He became:

the perfect teacher who showed us how we should think (Philippians 2:5-11)
the perfect example who showed us not only how to live, but also enables us to do so (1 Peter 2:21)
the perfect sacrifice that satisfied God’s requirements for the removal of our sin (Colossians 1:15-23)

Jesus is not only our Creator and Sustainer, but He also holds our universe together (Colossians 1:15-17). If we try to live apart from Him, the purpose for which God made us will be void.

To all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God–children not born of natural descent. . . but born of God.” – John. 1:12-13, NIV

Anyone who welcomes Jesus Christ as Lord of their life is reborn spiritually, receiving new life from God. Just as being born physically makes you alive and places you in your parents’ family, being born of God makes you spiritually alive and places you as His child (John 3:1-6).

By trusting and receiving Christ, the Holy Spirit will dwell in you (Romans 8:9-10; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 13:5). God won’t force Himself on anyone, but He will breathe new life into the surrendered soul. He will also rearrange attitudes, desires, and motives.

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Have you asked Christ to make you a new person? It’s not too late. This new life is available to all who place their confidence in Jesus Christ, ask for His forgiveness, and confess Him as Lord (Romans 10:8-10).