Did you receive Christ into your life? According to His promise in Revelation 3:20, [Christ speaking] “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.”

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:6-8)

Jesus Paid it ALL
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a Crimson Stain
He washed it white as snow (Author, Elvina M. Hall)

We sang that old hymn this morning in church and honestly, I just wanted to sit down and bawl my head off.   Maybe it is just PMS but I don’t think so.

I grew up in a Christian home; in fact my parents were missionaries in the frozen tundra of Alaska.  I was the oldest in my family and a people pleaser.  I never did drugs, never drank before I was 21 and basically kept my parents from feeling like they weren’t terrible at their job.  I never really saw my true depravity and that led to become a pretty arrogant and superior young woman.

Every once in a while, I would realize I wasn’t perfect.  Like the time I tripped and fell down the stairs, after an older gentleman had praised me for my “maturity”.  But it really wasn’t until I began to have children of my own that I began to see myself for who I really was.  My children brought out this monster in me that I never knew existed!

I began to see that I truly did need a Savior and that my heart was dark and evil and wanted to go its own way.  I was in desperate need of a Redeemer.  This experience of mothering was the turning point for me.  God began to show me that I was just as much in need of a Savior as anybody else, that my sin was just as evil and destructive as the next person.

He slowly softened my heart and I became less judgmental.  How can you judge someone else when you know in the deepest darkest place in your heart, it’s just like theirs or even worse? Evil is evil, sin is sin and it all turns us away from God.

So remember:

Jesus paid it ALL – I did nothing to save myself
All to Him I owe – I owe Him everything!
Sin had left a Crimson Stain –The stain on my heart I could not in my own strength make clean
He Washed it White as Snow! - God did EVERYTHING

In the words of another hymn, “Oh Sacred Head Now Wounded”  (author, Bernard of Clairvoux)

What language shall I borrow?
To Thank Thee dearest friend
For this Thy dying sorrow
Thy pity without end

Oh, make me Thine forever
And should I fainting be
Lord, let me never, never
Outlive my love for Thee

Question: Are there any uncovered sins you need to bring to the foot of the cross? How can you share your story of faith with another person?

Happy New Year!

So how are you doing? Are you continually encouraged by the good news that we have been delivered from darkness and conveyed into the Kingdom of the Son of His love? That you are a new creation and that, for you, all things have become new? Are you rejoicing in what it means to be a child of the King, as you live in this world but do not have to be a part of it?

As we go into the coming year we will undoubtedly continue to be faced with a lot of bad news reflecting the circumstances and the everyday realities of the world around us. Even though we live in a dark world, God’s promise to us is that we do not need to be afraid, He comforts and protects us, He prepares good things for us even in the presence of our enemies, our cup runs over with abundance and His goodness and mercy are always with us (Psalm 23:4-6). Let us be those who continually receive from the table the Lord has prepared for His children, letting our joy be full, ever ready to answer the reason for the hope that is in us, demonstrating through our peace and joy to those around us the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Come to the Lord’s table and have a Happy New Year!

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Do you realize that you have captured God’s heart?

“And this hope (of salvation) will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5:5 NLV)

I love fairy tales.  Ever since I was a little girl I have dreamed of being a princess.  I love the idea of a prince coming to the rescue of his damsel in distress, taking a lowly maiden and making her a princess.

When I was in high school, I witnessed a real life fairy tale watching the wedding of Princess Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.  I was so excited for the wedding, I remember seeing Diana riding in a beautiful coach pulled by horses, walking down the long aisle of St. Paul’s Cathedral – it was all so beautiful.  After the wedding Diana was a princess. It amazed me to think that someone actually would experience a life I had only ever dreamed about.

As an adult it is easy to forget about fairy tales in the midst of the craziness of life but on April 30^th we got to experience a fairy tale again.  The morning of the royal wedding I was so excited, I got up at 6:00 a.m. and made scones and tea. My boys thought I was crazy. I watched as Mr. Middleton gave away his daughter Kate to Prince William. That day Katherine Middleton, a commoner, married her Prince and became part of the Royal Family.

As I watched this spectacular event, I was reminded of my own real life fairy tale.  Years ago I was poor and desolate; a commoner with no hope and Jesus found me! He adopted me into His royal family and now I am a daughter of the King, forever changed!  I eagerly await the day when my Prince will come for me and I will live with Him forever.  This is a not just a young girl’s wish but a hope that is sure.

Paul says in Romans 5:4-5 (NLV), “And this hope (of salvation) will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

He goes on to say in verse 6-8, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

Are you a daughter of the King?  Have you ever invited Jesus Christ into your life?  It isn’t just enough to know that Jesus died on the cross for your sins.  You have to receive His gift of salvation for yourself.   Once you have received His gift, you are forever His child, adopted into the Royal Family!  You too can look forward to the day when YOUR PRINCE will come!

“Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” 2 Corinthians 6:17,18, KJV

Near the Church of St. Mark’s in Venice are three 17th century churches often admired for their highly ornate sculpture. On closer inspection, Ruskin points out, they are found to be “entirely destitute of every religious symbol, sculpture or inscription.”

They are really monuments to the glory of three Venetian families who provided the funds for their construction. “Impious buildings, manifestations of insolent atheism,” they were called by John Ruskin, English writer, art critic and sociologist.

Many Christians are like these buildings. Their association with God is more of a facade, formal and ritualistic. They do not know God as a caring Father with whom they experience a delightful, loving relationship.

As we meet God’s conditions, He becomes our Father, and we become His sons and daughters. His gift of Himself is illustrated in the life of a successful young attorney.

“The greatest gift I ever received,” he said, “was a Christmas gift from my dad. Inside a small box was a note saying, ‘Son, I will give you an hour every day after dinner – 365 days. It’s all yours. We’ll talk about what you want to talk about, we’ll go where you want to go, we’ll play what you want to play. It will be your hour.’

“He not only kept his promise, but every year he renewed it – and it was the greatest gift I ever had in my life. I had so much of his time.”

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:11-16

Today’s Action Point: I will count myself richly blessed for having so much of my Father’s time and will seek diligently to be worthy of His love and availability to me.

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for December 25th, AM.
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.

“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14, KJV

Let’s today imagine ourselves in Bethlehem, in company of astounded shepherds and adoring Magi who have gathered to see Him who was born King of the Jews. Together we can sing in faith “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend. This is a new opportunity for us adore and admire Him.

Remember first His miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin would conceive and give birth to a Son.

God’s first promise in the Garden of Eden says “The seed of the woman,” not the offspring of man. A woman sinned in the Garden, but in God’s grace a woman also had the privilege of ushering in the one would will restore Paradise. Our Saviour, although fully human, was in His human nature the Holy One of God. This realization should cause us to reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores humankind to its ancient glory. Jesus is, in fact, our previous, and only, hope of glory.

Remember second His humble parents. His mother is described simply as “a virgin.” Not a princess, or prophetess. Not rich or powerful. What humble accommodations for a new-born king! Yet she could still sing the sweetest songs of praise and was chosen for her faithfulness to God despite her modest circumstances.

Immanuel, God with us … in our nature, our sorrow, our life, our death, and now with us forever. Or rather we are with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and glorious triumph.

Question: God with us … where do you turn when it feels like God isn’t with us, even though we know He is?

Do you feel you can’t be real with anyone?  Take this free online lesson on the topic of secrets

“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30 (NKJV)

Salvation was completely accomplished on the cross that day.

According to Strong’s concordance, the word “salvation” includes the concepts of “rescue, safety, deliverance, health, victory, help, success in everything, welfare, save, and liberty.” That is a very exciting and comprehensive package, and it belongs to each one of us who have received Christ. Not that we experience all of these things from the moment we are saved, but they are available to us and by faith we can trust God to work each one of these things into our lives.

The Word tells us that we are to “work out our own salvation” (Philippians 2:12). Our salvation package is akin to Israel being given the Promised Land. Though they had not even entered into it yet, they had God’s assurance that it belonged to them, but they would have to go in and take it one piece at a time. All that salvation offers is our Promised Land, and it is already ours even though we may not be experiencing it yet. It is up to each one of us to understand what God’s sacrifice has provided for us, to believe by faith that we can have it, and then “work it out” by coming into alignment with God’s principals, and see the promises become a reality in our own lives. This is what it is to “take back what the enemy has stolen from us.”

“I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord” (Psalm 116:13).

“Let your mercies come also to me, O Lord, Your salvation according to Your Word” (Psalm 119:41).

“Lord I hope for your salvation and I do your commandments” (Psalm 119: 166).

“Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3).

Questions: What does the word “salvation” mean to you?

One hot and sticky day in Thailand, we were doing dramas underneath these bridges in the heart of the city. There were taxi motorcycle drivers and lots of people standing around, watching the man in the white shirt as he interacted with the other characters in the dramas. I did not speak the Thai language, but wanted to connect with the people around me, so I grabbed some tracts to pass out. I was intending to pass out these tracts to anyone passing by; instead, I felt the Lord lead me straight to a man that appeared to be homeless. I handed him a tract and tried to communicate with him.

We smiled a lot and each tried to say something in our own language, but did not understand each other. I hastily glanced around for someone to translate. One of our translators was available, so I quickly grabbed him and pulled him over. He spoke with this man in the Thai language for a long time. I wanted to be a part of this conversation, but because I was unable to speak directly to this man, I stayed engaged in the conversation by just listening and prayed for the conversation as it happened.

Suddenly, I realized that both men were praying. The man, who the Lord had led me to talk to, prayed to accept Christ! God had been drawing him for some time and we got to be with him on his salvation day, seeing him enter into the kingdom of God. This was the first time I had ever seen someone pray to accept Christ, but praise the Lord, it was not the last time on this trip. I was able to witness many people pray to accept Christ while we were in Thailand. Praise the Lord!

This experience awakened my passion for sharing the gospel, and I can’t wait to keep sharing with people in my own city about the man in white, who offers us His free gift of salvation.

Lindsey is one of the leaders of DRIME San Diego. Keep their team in your prayers as they begin their year of ministry this month!

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for October 5th, PM.
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2009.

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” Mark 16:16

The pastor asked the inhabitants of the island of how someone must be saved.

An old man replied, “We will be saved if we repent, and forsake our sins, and turn to God.”

“Yes,” said a middle-aged female, “and with a true heart too.”

“I agree,” answered a third, “and with prayer.” And, added a fourth, “It must be the prayer from the heart.”

“And we must be diligent too,” said a fifth, “and keep the commandments.”

After each had contributed to the discussion, they felt that a decent creed had been compiled. They all turned and waited for the pastor’s approval. But instead they had aroused deep pity in his heart.

The worldly mind always tries to map out a way we can do works and become great, but the Lord’s way is just the opposite. Believing and being baptized aren’t deeds to be gloried in. They are so simple that boasting is impossible, and God deserves all the praise for the free grace He has given.

To believe is simply to trust, to depend, to rely on Christ Jesus. To be baptized is to submit to the ordinance which our Lord fulfilled at Jordan, to which the earliest believers submitted at Pentecost, and to which the jailer obeyed the night of his conversion. The outward sign of baptism does not save, but it encompasses our death, burial, and resurrection with Jesus, and, like the Lord’s Supper, shouldn’t be neglected.

It may be that you are unsaved. What is the reason? Do you think Jesus’ singular path of salvation is unclear? But how can that be when God has given us His own word and His assurance of its clarity? Do you think it is too easy? Why, then, do you not accept and embrace it? Its ease leaves those who choose to neglect it without excuse.

If you are not a believer, then remember there is only one door, and if you will not enter by it you will perish in your sins. But if you do believe in Jesus, then my dear friend, dismiss your fears, for you will surely be saved.

Question: Do we sometimes put too much confidence in our own good works? How can we begin to focus more on God?

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for March 6th, AM.
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2011.

“You must be born again.” John 3:7

Spiritual regeneration is a subject which lies at the heart of salvation, and we should be diligent to ensure that we really are “born again,” because there are many who presume they are, who actually are not. Be assured that taking on the title of “Christian” is not sufficient. Being born in a “Christian land,” and being recognized as professing the Christian religion is too of no significance whatsoever, unless there is also something much deeper going on. Namely, being born again.

Being born again is an event so mysterious that human words cannot describe it. Jesus said “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)

Nevertheless, it is a change which is known and felt. It is known by works of holiness, and felt by a gracious experience. This great work is supernatural. It is not an operation which a man performs for himself. A new principle is infused which works in the heart, renews the soul, and affects the entire man. It is not a change of my name, but a renewal of my nature, so that I am not the man I used to be, but a new man in Christ Jesus. To wash and dress a corpse is a far different thing from making it alive. Man can do the former, but only God alone can do the latter.

If you have then, been born again, your acknowledgment should be prayer such as this: “O Lord Jesus, the everlasting Father, thou art my spiritual Parent; unless thy Spirit had breathed into me the breath of a new, holy, and spiritual life, I had been to this day ‘dead in trespasses and sins.’ My heavenly life is wholly derived from thee, to thee I ascribe it. ‘My life is hid with Christ in God.’ It is no longer I who live, but Christ who liveth in me.”

May the Lord enable us to have total peace of mind on this vital point, for to be unregenerate is to be unsaved, unpardoned, without God, and without hope.

Question: What distinguishes a person who is born again?