JESUS--NEW-MAKER

BIBLE ADVOCATE, AMERICAN HOLINESS JOURNAL | J. Grant Swank, Jr.

[grantswank]

JESUS: NEW-MAKER

J. Grant Swank, Jr., POB l984, Windham ME 04062

Pastor, New Hope Church, Windham ME

Think back ten years. What pressure was on you then? Think back fifteen years.

What were you doing? You cannot recall; it is a blur.

Sometimes, as years pass, it is as if another person lived our situations, places, and events. One of God's gifts is to blur the past in preparation for eternity.

Paul said, "Forgetting those things which are behind. . .I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:l3-l4).

The accent is on the NOW in Jesus; then this now will pass as well. Therefore, it is not so much what is the content of the now, but Jesus, who will never leave us.

Satan would have us focus on our settings: poor, confused, threatening. God would have us focus on our Savior: more than adequate, abiding, loving, leading.

It is Jesus who is all-in-all. It is He who undergirds our mortality. It is He who understand our fragility.

That is why Scripture refers to us as clay: cracked; as dust: blowing in the wind; as wheat strands: at the mercy of the weather. Yet over our humanity is the God-man, Jesus Christ--our very breath derives from Him.

Sometimes God permits dire situations so we will cast off all our attachments to the world. Some of us have difficulty letting go of our manufactured securities: position, academic accomplishments, standing in the corporation, bank accounts, political savvy, talents, connections. Yet none of these can be our security; only Jesus can.

Therefore, trying situations are allowed by the Father to continually reminds "Blessed are the poor in spirit. . ." Poverty in soul is the beginning of spiritual riches.

Right now assess, not what is taking place in your life, but how aware you are of Jesus. As long as your companionship with Him is intact, then you are sound--whole. From alpha to omega, this intactness is all that ultimately counts for anything.

We tend to concentrate on the situation at hand instead of on Jesus. But circumstances will pass; so will you. Only your tie with Jesus will go on and on.

The Father permitted His only Son to endure intense persecution, particularly from so-called religious persons. They poked, jabbed, reviled--publicly--in one circumstance after another. Are they doing that to you?

Why did the Son have to undergo such daily miseries? To make certain that in His humanness He was totally yielded to the Father's plan for the moment.

If that was the procedure for the Sinless One, then why not for His other children--the offspring of grace? As Jesus was crafted daily into the Father's image through agonies about Him, so we are crated daily in the Savior's image through agonies about us.

Take your eyes off the situation and put them on Jesus within the housing of your soul.

He is already there; do not beg Him to come. By faith, you accept this security. That is enough for you.

[Wrigley]

Sure, vanities are good.

When did you write them?

[RnMomof7]

Not waiting for an answer here is one:>)

NazNet - Lent 2000 - Teresa Riordan

Looking

Unto the

Cross.....

A devotional for day 14 of

LENT

Thursday, March 23

Together they climbed the mountain, father and son. The son burdened under the weight of the sacrificial wood, the father's heart heavy with the thoughts of the sacrifice to be offered. After they had reached the place, the father arranged the wood for the sacrifice. He then bound his loving and obedient son, and placed him on the altar.

The moment of truth for father and son. Could he offer up his only son? He lifted the knife.............
The son, the child of promise, held out his hands to be bound. He offered no resistance to his father's plan. The knife was raised over his head.............

A voice calls out "Do not lay a hand on the boy" (Gen 22;1-18)

"To obey is better than sacrifice" (1Sam :22)

Generations later another "Son of Promise" carried wood on His back to another place of sacrifice. Unlike the boy of the past, this man understood His true destination and purpose. His legs were weak under the weight of the burden He carried as he stumbled and rose again.

Finally He reached that place of sacrifice. He, like the boy so long before, willingly stretched out His arms. The sound of the hammer driving the nails into flesh rang out, pain ripped through His body.

My rebellion and disobedience were the nails that secured Him to that cross. It was His obedience and love that allowed it.

As the cross was raised, the full weight of my sin was now on His back. His heart was feeling the rejection and separation from His Father that
I deserved. He cried out not to save Himself, but to save me.... "Father forgive them..." (Luke 23; 34). Then, "It is finished" (John 19:30). And it was.... Obedience and Sacrifice were one.

"I desire Mercy, not sacrifice" (Hos. 6:6).

Mercy triumphs over Justice!

Teresa Riordan
Buffalo, NY USA


Prayer:

Who am I, Lord that you should be mindful of me, a sinner? As I walk the steps with you to Calvary this Lenten Season, help me to look at my life with new eyes. Show me the areas of my life that continue to be nails driven into your hands and feet.
Help me Father to make a decision to submit to Your will and to be obedient to Your words and call.

Amen Edited: Mar. 22, 10:15 p.m.
Page designed by: Cecil Wallace
Prayer by: Teresa Riordan

Link

[RnMomof7]

See 22...my own Vaniety

[Wrigley]

Your #22

Nice.

Beautiful.

Maranantha.

[Wrigley]

I did like it.

[RnMomof7]

This is the one I like

Looking

Unto the

Cross.....

A devotional for the 1st Sunday of

LENT

Sunday, March 12

Some years ago when we were returning from a weekend in Toronto, Canada, I started to get the feeling we were lost. Suddenly nothing looked familiar. My husband, who was driving, chatted happily remembering the weekend. He was oblivious to the fact we were off course. The more time passed, the more and more uneasy I became. Finally I asked if we could stop at a gas station to verify that we were going in the right direction.

That was the first time I remember being aware of my need for visual cues as we traveled. As the navigator I read the maps, check routes, and exits. But when my eyes are not on the map, they are looking at old barns, Victorian houses, shops or unusual trees or landscapes. Those become my markers to know I am on the right route home.

In much the same way, the men of faith in scripture sought to lay down faith markers as touchstones. Each meeting with God was something to be remembered on later journeys. Altars were built, Religious observances developed, Markers erected, each one intended to bring to mind the "Holy" moment, when they once more passed that way.

Just as in the Old Testament Jacob marked the place of His dream (Gen28:18-19), just as the Passover is a Celebration for all generations (Dt16:1), just as Moses marked the place God gave him Victory with an altar (Ex17:15), we too need touchstones to remind us of our journey.

So we celebrate the days of our Baptism, we remember Him in the breaking of the bread (John 22;19), we hang crosses in our homes, or have a "special" place where we have met God before

Lent is such a time. It is a marker in our spiritual journey. It is a time to search our hearts and see who sits on the throne. It is a time to remember that to carry our cross is to be victorious in obedience. It is a time to set down new "secret" markers to carry in our hearts. What is God saying to you this Lenten season? Is it something worth laying down a marker for a remembrance on your journey? Will it give you a new direction?

Teresa Riordan
Buffalo, NY USA

Scripture: Isa 6:1 1Ki 18:30

Prayer:

Loving Father,

Allow this season to be a new spiritual marker in my life. I ask that you empty my heart of all that is not of you. So that the train of your robe so fill the temple of my heart that there is room there for nothing but Your Love and Your Grace. I ask this in the name of the One who laid down His Life that I might live--Jesus Christ the Lord.

Amen Suggested Daily Scripture Reading
[Psalms 63, 98] [Dan. 9:3-10] [ Heb. 2:10-18] [John 12:44-50] Page designed by: Cecil Wallace
Prayer by: Teresa Riordan

[CubicleGuy]

If you don't like his posts, please ignore them. -- Sidebar Moderator

Gosh. What sensible advice.

[RnMomof7]

Hey CG IF he is paying for his bandwidth no problem...This is freepathon week...you want to kick in extra for him?? Or maybe he will take a "donation" out of the offering plate...

CG THIS is the guy that was displayed in the endowment ceremony...trust me on that :>)P

[P-Marlowe]

Uh oh. You posted some clues to your identity. I wonder if anyone could figure out who I am? I've left enough clues here that a good detective like Philip Marlowe could find me. Maybe I should give a prize to the first one to correctly identify me.

[drstevej]

Excellent.

Ever thought about starting your own House Church?

Grant's secretary friend could print you an ordination certificate. First Sunday you meet on the lawn and then you move indoors. Best part about it, nobody to hold you accountable AND you can deduct your house payment as a parsonage.

[xzins]

If you don't like his posts, please ignore them. Thank you, Sidebar Moderator

you realize, of course, that if someone wants to affect the discussion of articles they don't like, that they can just rush them through the sidebar by spamming numerous articles to make them disappear more quickly.

I can make an article disappear by posting lots of articles.

If that's ok with the rules, then fine. It's hard to believe, though, that that would have been the intent of the rules.

I imagine you know what I mean, but if you like I can arrange a demonstration with an accomplice how to move an article out of discussion in very, very short order.

DrStevej's point is not just a matter of personal interest or liking/disliking a post. It is a matter that has far-reaching consequences to the intent of Free Republic.

[Wrigley]

Excellent point x. I didn't think of it that way.

[xzins]

ping to #31

[P-Marlowe]

Gee Mom. Did you go to Harvard? Your little vanity post makes a lot of sense. Indeed it makes too much sense. How many of these do you have?

[Wrigley]

You should write more Mom, that is really well done.

[P-Marlowe]

CG THIS is the guy that was displayed in the endowment ceremony...trust me on that :>)

LOL!!! Of course you mean the OLD endowment ceremony, not the new PC version)

[RnMomof7]

Clues...Clues??? LOL Ya you could say that LOL

[RnMomof7]

Ya the OLD ceremony

[RnMomof7]

Ever thought about starting your own House Church?

I especially like the deduction of my house..NOW THAT would be helpful . I had not considered that ...it is an idea ....

[sinkspur]

Is grantswank Protestant denomination 30,001.

RnMomo7 could be 30,002.

BTW, Mom, your meditations are very good. VERY good!