A Word of Encouragement

Everyone loves encouragement. Everyone needs it too. I want to commend the people of Grace Orange for the many things I see them doing right, the things the Holy Spirit is doing in and through us. I get to serve such an Awesome God and pastor such an awesome group of people. So, Grace Orange, this is for you. You care for each other. You willingly sacrifice. You go out of your way to help others. You give your time, talents and treasure to serve the Lord and bless those you know and don't know. You welcome strangers. You refresh the saints. You forgive. You give stuff away. You cook. You clean. You build. You watch people's kids. You love. You preach the gospel to yourself and others. You weep with the weeping and rejoice with the rejoicing. You empathize. You trust Jesus. You love God's Word. It is such a joy and blessing to see Christ's Church "walking in the truth" (3 John 4).  That is what you are doing. I've seen real life examples of all these and more. Praise God. All praise to the Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed in Scripture alone, for God's glory alone. Jesus loves you!

Eclipsed by Sin

Some people's relationship with God, and I need to be careful here, because I know people who fit this description, some people's growing and winsome relationship with God that was probably once filled with wonder and amazement at God 's grace and goodness, seems to have been eclipsed, replaced, by all outward indication, by negativity, pointing out other's flaws, and shortcomings, pickiness, having to be right, lack of humility, arrogance parading as concern for the purity of Christ's Church. The joy is gone. And the witness has dried up. They may even be serving in the church. Exerting some kind of power and influence. Like flies in perfume, like leaven, like rust, like cancer, they eat away at the vitality of Christ's body. They might even cover it with seemingly righteous indignation over what they think needs to be happening in the world or the church, or their own household, but nonetheless the joy seems to be gone and they would lead you to believe its someone else's fault. I think maybe they have the wrong clothes on. Maybe it's not permanent, maybe it's just a temporary costume, but for Christ's sake and for the good of the church, let me just say what everyone might be afraid to say...stop it, put something appropriate on. Col. 3 says it biblically. Put off, put on. Imitate Christ. I know these things because I know how low road my heart can go. I know how prone I am to wander. To not give others the benefit of the doubt. To see the cup half empty instead of half full. To focus on what's best for me instead of what best for my brothers and sisters. Lord have mercy on us all. He calls, He chooses. He's really in charge. I'm so glad. All praise to the Lord Jesus Christ. I have been saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed in Scripture alone, for God's glory alone. Jesus loves you!

Christ's Authority is Unrivaled

Here's how twisted the world's value system is: the One with all authority was not recognized officially as having authority by the so-called authorities of His day! So on His Day (2 Peter 3:1-18) He will bring to nothing all so-called authorities by the word of His power! Praise to the One wielding all authority and the sword of Truth that lays low in the dust all who would exalt themselves above His kingly rule. God's authority is absolutely right and it is His absolute right. His is a forgiving authority, one of all-powerful, absolute power. Christ's authority is unrivaled.