“I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”
John 14: 6
12 “Look, I AM coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Revelation 22: 12-13
Pastors Noreen & Henry Kevern
The Condition We Are In
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where CHRIST is seated at the right hand of GOD. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with CHRIST in GOD. When CHRIST, WHO is your life, appears, then you also will appear with HIM in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature; sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of GOD is coming. You used to walk in these ways, and the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, and which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its CREATOR. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but CHRIST is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as GOD’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Just as the LORD forgave you and over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of CHRIST rule in your hearts, since you as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of CHRIST dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, psalms, hymns, and songs from the SPIRIT, singing to GOD with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the NAME of the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD the FATHER through HIM.
Colossians 3:1 – 17
Here we come to all the basics of what it is to live in Christ. Here Paul talks about the condition we were in and the condition that we are to live in once we give our lives to Christ. When I picked the Scriptures weeks ago, I did not realize its importance for the day. We live in a world that is so consumed in pride, hatred, no tolerance and most importantly no forgiveness. We live in a world of greed and suffering, violence and selfishness. Why have we come to this condition? Why does it seem that there is hardly any love in this world? As I have watched the news, I see no peace in peopels’ hearts. The right and the left just seem to keep yelling, no one is listening. Where is the forgiveness, where is the love that is supposed to be overflowing in each of our hearts? Why do we keep looking for the worse in each other, instead of looking for the best in each other? The left accuses the right and the right accuses the left. Where is it getting us? No one can hear what the other is saying because they are just screaming, and their ears are closed.
Murder, rape, adultery, sexual immorality, and lies seem to rule the day. It is so disheartening to read and hear the news. Is not GOD the only GOD? Is HE not our CREATOR? Is HE not our SAVIOR and LORD? Why are ears stopped up to hearing the Word of the LORD? Why do people NOT want to live in the way the LORD? I really don’t understand how and why people do not believe in GOD. My whole life, GOD has always been there, in the sorrow and the pain, and in the joy and happiness. What are people afraid of when it comes to GOD? When I look back on my life, even in the darkest times GOD is there. When I was a child and abused, GOD was there. Over many years as a young child HE used to come to me in my dreams. This was the place and the means that HE used to bring the comfort and peace that I so needed. I still remember those dreams, HE showed me heaven. And like the Nexus in Star Trek, I so want to go home again. I wish I could describe it but there are no human words to describe the love that just overflows, bathing ones whole being. Throughout the emotional, physical and sexual abuse, GOD held me. And when I was a battle scarred teenager of 15, trying to take my life because I felt worthless and I thought no one would love me because of all the scars, GOD stopped me. I felt HIS hand and heard HIS voice speaking. HE whispered HIS love and told me that the next day HE would bring into my life the man HE had chosen for me. And that very next day Henry came into my life. And this year we will celebrate our 40th anniversary.
HE raised me, HE lifted me up, and each and every day I thank HIM. Every morning is a new day in this amazing life that HE has called us to live. Every day is a new opportunity to walk in the way of the LORD. HIS SPIRIT lives in you and me when we are baptized through the water and the SPIRIT. In the Gospel of John chapter 3, JESUS is teaching Nicodemus. Nicodemus says, “Rabbi, we know that YOU are a Teacher WHO comes in GOD.” JESUS replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of GOD unless they are born again.” Nicodemus responds: “How can someone be born again when they are old?” JESUS answered him, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the SPIRIT.” When we come to JESUS, we are washed of all the sins that are ours. The waters of baptism flows over us, this is the way we begin to put to death all of the earthly natures that caused our sins. Every sin is a form of idolatry, which turns us away from GOD. But when we are washed by the water, sin, be it sexual immorality (whether it was from sex out of marriage, committing adultery, homosexuality, any lust) greed, anger or lying, and any type of evil desire is gone.
We have to remember that GOD is not human. HIS ways are not our ways. If we live our lives in anger, rage, malice, slander or the filthy language coming from our lips we are not living in the way of the LORD. Just look at what comes into our living rooms or what we pay to watch in a movie theater. We allow our children and ourselves is so engrossed in video games that murder and kill. Cartoons are sexualized. We think it’s okay that when we watch a movie with our kids and the adult humor goes over their heads, that it doesn’t in some way affect them. When we see murder, sexual morality and all the lies and hear the filthy language in songs and in the way we speak, and not think that it actually affects ourselves and our children, we show that we have stopped our ears up to hear GOD speaking. My dear brothers and sisters, we need to stop deceiving ourselves. We need to stop listening to the devil, telling us his lies. When we become believers, we take off that old self, that old self of sin, and we put CHRIST on. Understand this, we are to clothe ourselves with all that GOD is. The only way that we can truly know what GOD says is to immerse ourselves in HIS Word.
Paul says: “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the LORD forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love.” Tell me, when people look at you and me, do they seek GOD’s compassion, HIS kindness or HIS love? Are we humble and gentle and being patient with one another? What you and I did 20 years ago, when we confess it to GOD, HE forgives us. No one, no one else can forgive us. Only JESUS. HE alone is our Redeemer, our Savior, our LORD. What we did 10 minutes ago, and when HIS HOLY SPIRIT in us convicts us of that sin, and we ask HIM to forgive us, HE does. We are to learn from our sins so that we do not continue in our sins. Dear brothers and sisters, we are forgiven. Let that wash over you. Feel that amazing love, no matter what is going on in our lives and claim the blood of JESUS and the promises it has brought us. Let the peace of CHRIST rule in your hearts. We are one body in CHRIST; we are called by GOD, to live a life that shows HIS amazing love. We are to teach each other, we are to admonish another, through our lives and how we live. We praise GOD in songs and prayer.
Looking at the world today all we see and all we hear, one may wonder where GOD is. GOD is here. HE sees and hears all that is going to. HE speaks to each of us quietly, waiting for us to hear HIM. It is only when we clear out all of the noise of the world; the lies of Satan and allow ourselves to hear the HOLY SPIRIT speaking to us. GOD indeed speaks to us my brothers and sisters, but it’s a whisper. That is why so many people do not hear GOD in their lives. They are so caught up in what the world is saying instead of what GOD is saying. The devil is a loud, clanging gong playing in our heads and we have no room to hear GOD. My dear brothers and sisters, come away by yourselve and sit and talk with the LORD. Years ago, heard this story about this old man who was sick. Lying in his bed because he was too sick to do anything else, his old minister came to see him. “So Tom, how are you today?” Tom answers him, “Lately I have been wondering about what is to come. I have not been a religious person and I haven’t been to church in years. Now that my end is near, I’m scared.” His pastor asked, “Well Tom, how do you see GOD?” Tom lays there thinking and he responds, “I guess I really don’t have a relationship with GOD. I have never felt GOD in my life. I have never known GOD really.” His pastor asks, “Do you want to get to know HIM Tom?” “Does HE really want to know me?” Tom whispers. “Oh yes HE does!” His pastor answers. “So what do I need to do?” Tom groans. Smiling, the pastor responds, “Look at us Tom, I’m sitting here on this chair pulled up to your bed, and you and I are talking. That’s all GOD wants to do, is just talk. So when I leave, I will leave the chair here. Then I want you to see JESUS sitting in the chair. Just talk to HIM.” They say their goodbyes, and a few weeks later Tom dies. His family found him smiling, his hand stretched out to the chair. He was lying there like he was having a conversation with his best friend and that’s what he was doing. He finally let it all go and gave his life to CHRIST. And JESUS, being the friend that HE has, came and took him by the hand and welcomed him home.
It really comes down to this, it’s quite simple actually. All GOD wants is you and me. Really, how hard is it? The CREATOR is holding out HIS hand. All you have to do is hold out your hand. Put your hand in the hand of the Man WHO stilled the waters. JESUS can still the waves that life tries to drown us in. It takes time to build a friendship, so make that time with GOD. It is an amazing life. My dear brothers and sisters, live your life with GOD. Let the peace of CHRIST rule in your hearts. We are the body of CHRIST; we are HIS hands and feet. Let me say it again, let the peace of CHRIST rule in your hearts. Open the Bible today, and read HIS love letter to us. Ask HIS HOLY SPIRIT to open your heart and your mind, let HIS HOLY SPIRIT speak to your spirit. Let HIS message dwell richly in you; let us openly and in GOD’s truth teach one another, and praise the LORD in every and all circumstances. Let us praise HIM in the words that we speak, and in the songs that we sing. I want to give you a challenge, find a Christian radio station and to the next 30 days only listening to those songs. And one other challenge, read Psalm 1 for the next 30 days as well. So I’m asking you for the next 30 days, to give up the world and focus on what GOD says. During this time of Lent, instead of giving something up or doing something else, take the time to build your relationship with GOD. Make the effort. I guarantee you it will be an amazing journey. Through the happy and sad, GOD’s got this. GOD has us. HE holds us in the palm of HIS hand. HE will never leave us or forsake us. HE loves us and HE proved it on the cross. Trust in that.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the Name of the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD the FATHER through HIM.
Help Me To Believe In Beginnings
(author unknown)
GOD of history and of my heart, so much has happened to me
during these whirlwind days.
I’ve known death and birth; I’ve been brave and scared;
I’ve hurt, I’ve helped; I’ve been honest, I’ve lied;
I’ve destroyed, I’ve created; I’ve been with people, I’ve been lonely;
I’ve been loyal, I’ve betrayed; I’ve decided, I’ve waffled;
I’ve laughed, and I’ve cried.
YOU know my frail heart and my frayed history~~
And now another day begins.
O GOD, help me to believe in beginnings, and in my beginning again,
No matter how often I’ve failed before.
Help me to make beginnings:
To begin going out of my weary mind into fresh dreams,
daring to make my own bold tracts in the land of now.
Help me to believe in beginnings,
make a beginning,
to be a beginning.
So that I may not just grow old,
but grow new,
Each day of this wild, amazing life
You call me to live
With the passion of JESUS CHRIT.
Help Me To Believe In Beginnings
(author unknown)
GOD of history and of my heart, so much has happened to me
during these whirlwind days.
I’ve known death and birth; I’ve been brave and scared;
I’ve hurt, I’ve helped; I’ve been honest, I’ve lied;
I’ve destroyed, I’ve created; I’ve been with people, I’ve been lonely;
I’ve been loyal, I’ve betrayed; I’ve decided, I’ve waffled;
I’ve laughed, and I’ve cried.
YOU know my frail heart and my frayed history~~
And now another day begins.
O GOD, help me to believe in beginnings, and in my beginning again,
No matter how often I’ve failed before.
Help me to make beginnings:
To begin going out of my weary mind into fresh dreams,
daring to make my own bold tracts in the land of now.
Help me to believe in beginnings,
make a beginning,
to be a beginning.
So that I may not just grow old,
but grow new,
Each day of this wild, amazing life
You call me to live
With the passion of JESUS CHRIT.
