Life is Precious

To the prophet Jeremiah, God said:

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." - Jeremiah 1:5

King David writes: 

"For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes  saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." - Psalm 139:13-16

Genesis 1:27 - "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

Life is precious to God, as He created us, ordains life and has a purpose and a plan for each one of us.

Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." - John 10:10

Satan's work is to steal hope and life; to kill peace and joy; and, to destroy the image of God and His glory.

John 8:44 - "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

Almost 50 years ago, Roe v. Wade was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down a Texas statute banning abortion, and in effect legalized the procedure across the United States. On January 22, 1973, the U.S.A. went back to practice what ancient societies routinely practiced: the murder of innocent children. 

This is no different than the Inca's practice of child sacrifice in exchange for blessings, or to prevent drought and other things that they believed could affect their civilization negatively (or hinder personal desires). 

This is no different than Molech, the false god of Moab.

Leviticus 18:21 - "You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD."

According to the Bible, these practices are demonic because it is the practice of taking a life, murder, and it aligns with the desire of Satan, not God.

So, the next time you hear chants saying, "we will not go back" it is the very chant of Satan saying, "I will not stop murdering innocent children in the womb" for he desires to "steal and kill and destroy" and "he was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth  in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies", and these people are simply doing what their father, the devil, wants them to do.

But then again, I believe this is a reflection of the state of the world, and the immorality of the U.S.A., a country that has turned its back on God. 

Life is precious and abortion is murder. 

2 Peter 3:9 - "The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

Marriage - The Husband Part 2 - Honor Your Wife

1 Peter 3:7 (ESV) - "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered."

Husbands are commanded to honor their wives but too often the husbands feel like their wives are honored simply for having him as a husband... uh, no!

Let's first seek to understand what the Apostle Peter was saying, by understanding what the word "honor" means and how it is used in this context.

To honor your wife is to consider the value your wife possesses. In other words, her worth. We can make the mistake of thinking that the value our wives possess is the worth we give her, from our perspective. This can be skewed, biased and inaccurate, because more than likely we are considering all of her shortcomings and base her value on her performance, according to what we expect, rather than something that goes beyond our perspective.

The value our wives possess has nothing to do with performance, but rather the value she has in the eyes of the Lord. This is a value that does not diminish nor is it dependent on performance because it is the value that a child has in the eyes of a father. Psalm 8:4 - "what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"

Secondly, honor refers to a value that is given to ONLY one person. This worth and value is given and known only in your wife and not shared with anyone else. To regard her as anything less or to share or even shift her value to someone else is to be unfaithful to her as a husband.

Too often husbands make the mistake of sharing this value with someone else, when their wives are the only ones that should possess this value in their eyes.

So, to honor our wives is to see the value in them that they have before the Lord, which is unchanging. We are to handle our wives like a person who is precious to God and precious to us - of GREAT VALUE. We are to make sure our wives have the proper place in our lives that belong only to them and never share that or transfer it at any time and for any reason to someone else... they have exclusive rights as our wives.

Remember, Proverbs 31:10-11 - "An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain."

Marriage - The Husband Part 1 - Dwell with Her in an Understanding Way

Marriage is the institution that God loves. God desires good for the marriage. God gives instructions to both husbands and wives in order for these unions that He loves to function in a right manner.

I know there are many issues that arise in many marriages and I'd like to take the time and briefly address, not the problems, but the basic instructions that God has given us in order to examine our own marriages and perhaps adjust our behavior and allow the Lord to adjust our hearts. There are just too many problems within marriages to address them all and then provide biblical solutions. I'd rather spend my time pointing to the solution and allow the Lord to reveal what is specifically not right in your relationship and then trust in Him to help you get aligned with His Word.

1 Peter 3:7 (ESV) - "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered."

God gives the command to husbands: "Live with your wives in an understanding way"

Can we just get one thing out of the way? Can we agree that this is a command and not a suggestion. I remember someone telling me that "delayed obedience is disobedience", and I believe that is true. To know to do what's right and not do it is sin (missing the mark). Emotions and feelings that are hindering you from living with your wife in an understanding way is not strength but weakness. Humility and meekness is a spiritual strength that many don't have the guts to practice. Many would rather make every attempt to hold a personal hurt over someone else in order to make them "pay for the hurt they brought on them".

This is something that is seen in the world, outside the Christian home, but unfortunately I've seen it too many times within Christian marriages as well.

#1) To LIVE with your wife is NOT to simply share the same address where you sleep and eat occasionally. To live, or to DWELL with your wife describes an intimate sharing of life. 

To DWELL with each other involves communication (dialogue), working together through issues, making decisions together, considering the other above ourselves, listening as well as speaking, understanding the needs of your wife and seeking to meet those needs (I didn't say all of her desires and dreams but actual needs of love and companionship and demonstrations that she is your one and only). 

Many people joke about how a woman is impossible to understand. 

There is one joke that starts out with a man walking on the beach on a sunny California day. He came upon a bottle in the sand and as he picked it up a genie popped out and tells him, "Thank you for letting me out of the bottle. For your kindness I will grant you one wish." The man thought about it and then asked the genie to make him a highway to Hawaii since he was afraid of flying. The genie gave the man all the reasons why his wish was just too much, it was too involving of much material and it was just not something he wanted to do. 

The man took a few moments to think about what else he would like and then it dawned on him and said, "I want to know what makes a woman tick. How she thinks and what she means when she says one thing, but actually wants something else. I just want to understand a woman."

The genie paused and then said, "Do you want the highway to be two lanes or four lanes?"  LOL!!!

It is NOT impossible to live with understanding with our wives or else the Lord would not have commanded us to do so. Men! It takes work! Are you willing to seek to understand first and be understood second? Are you willing to humble yourself and get your nose out of social media and hobbies and other things if they are hindering you gaining a better understanding of your wife? Are you truly enjoying a fellowship type of relationship with your wife, or is she just your "partner" in life like a fellow "worker" is?

To dwell with your wife with understanding requires a conscientious and deliberate effort. This requires paying attention and studying your wife. Knowing what makes her laugh and what makes her cry; what encourages her, and what discourages her; what brings her joy and what makes her sad.

Here's the FIRST thing to do men: Learn to DWELL with your wife and UNDERSTAND her (tip: you're not to think of your own needs but hers)

Just one other verse before you think and pray on this: Acts 20:35 - "… Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'".

Never Abandoned

When we think of God sometimes we can't help but think about earthly parents and how they respond to children and raise them. We may even think about the shortcomings of our own parents.

There are good examples and there are poor examples. But God is not the reflection of earthly parenting, but is the perfect Father who cares for His children perfectly.

He gives warnings to serve us as safeguards and sign posts of danger, but at the same time He assures us of His blessings when we love Him through our obedience to Him (John 14:15).

One thing we can be sure of, He never leaves nor forakes those who are His (Hebrews 13:5). He disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6), But He will never turn His back and reject.

God is the perfect Father who will never abandon us. May His love draw us closer to Him and may we choose to live a life that reflects that love in obedience to His Word.

Learning to Walk

No kid learning how to walk and having fallen a hundred times gets up and says, "Maybe this just isn't for me."

Nope! And neither should anyone learning how to walk with Jesus.

John 6:45 – "It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me."

Jesus was quoting from Isaiah 54:13 – "All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children."

As adults we take walking for granted, but there was a time when it was the most difficult thing to do.

If you're just learning how to walk with Jesus, I encourage you to NEVER give up! Keep Reading the Bible, Keep Praying, Keep Going to Church… just KEEP LEARNING.

One day you will look back and realize you've been walking upright for a while with the Lord and you're at peace.

Learn to Walk with Jesus and then Keep Walking.

And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." – Matthew 4:19

Rejoice and Take Joy!

Feeling down, alone, or just out of sorts?

I believe we all do at some point or another. No one is exempt from feeling depressed; even when things seem to be going good and you're surrounded with people, you may feel alone and somewhat empty. It's at that time when we need to look to the Lord and fix our eyes on Him.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 - "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the LORD, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer's; He makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments."

You often read verse 19, but hardly the verses before it... It puts things into proper perspective and helps you understand in what circumstances you can walk surely upon the dangerous cliffs of disappointment, of lack, of a desert-like season in life and of feeling alone.

Be encouraged, you're not alone. God is with you and He is your strength and He makes your steps sure...have confidence that He will not let you fall.

These verses are a song unto the LORD... praising Him.

Feeling down? Look up to the Lord, He will lift your head up. Feeling alone? Look around, the Lord is with you. Feeling out of sorts? Look within, the Spirit of God is holding you together.

Sing unto the Lord and trust in Him. Praise and Worship Him for He is worthy.

May He be your joy and your strength in all times and in all places.

God Bless you - Pastor Raul

Idolatry - The Worship of a Whore

Hosea is an Old Testament book that is shocking in its opening, a stern warning in its body and a call to discern the ways of the true God in its ending.

Idolatry is defined by God as NOT ONLY the worship of an image that represents a god, but the turning away from trusting the only true God and turning to trusting in anything or anyone other than Him.

It can NOT only be money, power, intellect, position, favor, possessions etc., but it can also be the arrogance of having and maintaining, in comparison to others, more money, power, intellect, position, favor, possessions etc. There is an arrogance that emanates a stench from such a person that reaches the very nostrils of God.

God hates idolatry and pride is the thought of superiority, which is another form of idolatry, as one puts himself in that place that only God should occupy.

James 4:6 - "But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'"

Israel thought it knew better than God, and trusted in riches, external favor and relationships with others, even worshipping foreign gods. But God deemed them a whore for this. It's a clearly defined position a nation chose and we can easily fall into if we are not choosing daily and even by the moment who is that Person we trust and walk with.

Know that this is who God is and He pursues and loves you perfectly - Hosea 11:4 - "I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them."

There is nothing and no one else that will satisfy a person - only the true God.

Hosea 14:9 - "Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them."

Ephesians 2:10 - You Matter This Much!

Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

There are times in my life that I have to admit that I need a little encouragement to keep going and there is no better encouragement that can come my way than from the Lord Himself.

Maybe you're like that also and you need a little reminder of your value in God's eyes. Ephesians 2:10 not only reminds us that our lives have purpose and we are to act in accordance to that purpose, but also that there is a work that God desires to do THROUGH us, and IN us, and BEFORE us.

This is absolutely INSPIRING and AMAZING when I thought about it.

#1 - We are HIS workmanship - Jesus is the Master Craftsman, the Potter and we are His object of art, of beauty - He sees what no one else does; His vision goes beyond the block of wood or the lump of clay; He holds us in His hands for the purpose of making us into a beautiful vessel that honors and blesses Him.

#2 - We are created IN Christ FOR GOOD WORKS - There useful, specific and practical reasons for the work that Jesus is performing in our lives; it is a good reason for good works that are established by our Good Shepherd. This is a plan that He had established BEFORE we were even formed in our mother's womb.

#3 - We are a God's workmanship and are designed to live out this plan in our lives.

AND, there is one more important point to consider - God goes before us and around us and is with us to arrange everything in such a way that we are capable of fulfilling His plans in our lives; we just need to be willing - acknowledging Him, growing in our relationship with Him through reading His Word, prayer and fellowship, and being aware of our surroundings so as to respond in ways that He is glorified.

God makes sure that everything is perfectly arranged for you, so that you may walk out the plans that He has established for you to accomplish - you are loved and valued that much!

This day matters and so do you.

All to His glory - Raul

Focus on YOUR Church

My Dear Wormwood,

You mentioned casually in your last letter that the patient has continued to attend one church, and one only, since he was converted, and that he is not wholly pleased with it. May I ask what you are about? Why have I no report on the causes of his fidelity to the parish church? Do you realize that unless it is due to indifference it is a very bad thing? Surely you know that if a man can't be cured of churchgoing, the next best thing is to send him all over the neighborhood looking for the church that 'suits' him until he becomes a taster or connoisseur of churches. - C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Focus on the church God has placed you in, get to work in building His kingdom from there.

Bringing our effort into a collective focus brings heat; anything else is a division of sight, cold blindness, or at best lukewarm spew.

Does Jesus Cut to the Heart or is He Just Over Your Heart?

Acts 2:36-39 - "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself."

Jesus is a powerful Name! In fact, it is the Name above all names.

Salvation comes through Christ alone (Acts 4:12; John 14:6).

Prior to these verses, Peter preached to a multitude of men that had gathered, telling them about how Jesus had been prophesied about and those things had been fulfilled before their very eyes. And when Peter said it is He that they themselves had crucified, they were "cut to the heart" In other words, they realized what they had done and were remorseful. And then they asked, "What shall we do?"

Great question! Because when you realize how much God loves you, even sending His Son to die for your sins and through Him offers you eternity with Him you too will be cut to the heart and wonder what to do to make things right.

Peter said, "Repent and be baptized..." Repent is simply a turning away from sin and turning to Jesus. Jesus will meet you in the very spot you decide to turn around. The LORD simply asks you to receive His Son.

Some people just wear a cross over their heart, but will you be cut to the heart, knowing that God has called you to His heart with an eternal love?

Restore a kingdom for temporal people or people for an Eternal Kingdom?

Acts 1:6-8 - "So when they had come together, they asked Him, 'Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'"

This took place after Jesus' resurrection and just before His ascension.

Do you ever find yourself consumed with your current personal life, hoping that God keeps restoring the current kingdom instead of looking to and seeking the benefit of God's Eternal Kingdom?

I'm not saying that you should abandon life and commit to being a monk. God requires us to be good stewards of those things He's entrusted you with. 

The key word is "consumed". A Good way to find out what you are consumed with is to ask yourself, "What occupies my thoughts and time?" 

Is it finances (lack or pursuit of)? Is your career what you "eat, sleep and drink"?  Is your hobby what relaxes you and puts you in a peaceful state of mind?  Are you consumed with exercise? Are you consumed with food? You can even be occupied with "R&R" - Rest and Relaxation (too much).

Jesus' disciples were asking if He was going to restore their present, earthly conditions by ruling, but He wasn't concerned about that...that time will come. For now, Jesus simply commanded them to focus on building and laying up treasures in heaven.

It's no different today. 

How do we focus on building and laying up treasures in heaven?

By leading people to Jesus Christ and teaching them the Bible. Your life for God will be a treasure you send out ahead of you that will be waiting for you in heaven.

Matthew 6:19-21 - "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where you treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Be a witness to people for Jesus for an Eternal Kingdom and lay up treasure in heaven.

Money is for Using

"True stewardship requires investing and spending, not just guarding and saving." - Sutton Turner in "Invest Your Gifts for His Mission"

D.L. Moody on Evangelism

Mr. Moody was adept at turning adverse circumstances into favorable witnessing opportunities because he was always on the alert to win souls. Dr. Clinton N. Howard relates the following interesting incident which occurred in Moody's Buffalo, New York, campaign in Howard's boyhood:

As Moody was returning after a night meeting on a crowded Madison streetcar as a strap-hanger, a rider asked who the big man was. Told he was Moody, the revivalist, the scoffer asked him a question, "Hey, Sky Pilot! How far is it from Chicago to heaven?"

Quick as lightning, Moody answered, "One step; will you take it?"

Pushing his way to the door, the man dropped from the rear platform into the street, followed by Moody, who reached the platform, funneled his hands, and shouted to the fleeing sinner, "One step from Chicago to heaven. One step! Will you take it?"

On the following night, Moody related the incident at the close of his sermon, and repeated, "One step-one step-one step, from Chicago to heaven. Who will be the first to take it tonight?" Out from the rear of the house came a man pushing his way to the platform, saying, "I'll take that step tonight!" It was the man who had asked the question of the "Sky Pilot" the night before! 5

D. L. Moody recognized that no two persons were exactly alike and that it was impossible to lay down hard-and-fast rules for dealing with inquirers. But he did practice and teach some general principles for dealing with souls. A few of them are included in the following quotation from Mr. Moody:

Always use your Bible in personal dealing. Do not trust to memory, but make the person read the verse for himself. Do not use printed slips or books. Hence, if convenient, always carry a Bible or New Testament with you.

It is a good thing to get a man on his knees, but don't get him there before he is ready. You may have to talk to him two hours before you can get him that far along...

Sometimes a few minutes in prayer have done more for a man than two hours in talk. When the Spirit of God has led him so far that he is willing to have you pray with him; he is not very far from the Kingdom. Ask him to pray for himself. If he doesn't want to pray, let him use a Bible prayer; get him to repeat, for example, "Lord, help me!" Tell the man, "If the Lord helped that poor woman, He will help you if you make the same prayer. He will give you a new heart if you pray from the heart." Don't send a man home to pray. Of course, he should pray at home, but I would rather get his lips open at once. It is a good thing for a man to hear his own voice in prayer. It is a good thing for him to cry out, "God be merciful to me, a sinner!"

Urge an immediate decision, but never tell a man he is converted. Never tell him he is saved. Let the Holy Spirit reveal that to him...

Always be prepared to do personal work...

Do the work boldly. Don't take those in a position in life above your own, but as a rule, take those on the same footing. Don't deal with a person of the opposite sex if it can be otherwise arranged. Bend all your endeavors to answer for poor, struggling souls that question of such importance to them, "What must I do to be saved?"

Lead Others to Jesus by Word and Deed

Hebrews 12:1-2 - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Is the subtlety of seemingly inconsequential compromises undermining your Christian witness?

In other words, is what you determine to be insignificant in your life making Jesus insignificant to others in their lives?

Keep in mind that most Christians never lead anyone else to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ after they themselves have come to be forgiven and know God's grace through His Son for their own sins.

Today, we use the word "liberty" as if it's a Christian right to exercise "slight" compromise and still maintain our salvation and the assurance of heaven, but the Bible is clear that we are to "be holy, because I am [God is] holy" (1 Peter 1:16)

As Christians we serve as examples of a Christ-follower for others to see and benefit from our lives to God's glory - to lead them to God, not to draw them away.

The Apostle Paul said, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything." (1 Corinthians 6:12)  He also said, "Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble." (1 Corinthians 8:13)

I pray that our focus today is not on ourselves, not on others, but rather our focus is on the "Founder and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" that we may lead others to the very place of God's grace that they also may come to know salvation in Jesus.

I pray that we don't deem inconsequential what God has determined to be sin and undermines our Christian witness that we may see more people led to Jesus Christ Who saw us as His joy and purpose for dying on the cross.

Run the race to win...to win souls to God's glory.