“A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him. Jesus turned and said to them, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?’” [1]
Many mourned and wailed on the day Jesus Christ was crucified. He had healed them. He had fed them. He taught them the unfettered truth concerning the destiny of sinners and the destiny of saints.
Now, He was going to a cross as a lamb to a slaughter. Barabbas, an insurrectionist, was freed at the request of the people’s religious leaders. Jesus told the ones who mourned and wailed for Him to weep for themselves and for their children. Worse days were ahead for them than for Him. He would resurrect after three days. He would ascend to heaven forty days after that. He will return to earth as the King of kings and Lord of lords. His rejectors will be cast into the lake of fire where there is forever torment and pain.
“Scoffers set a city aflame, but wise men turn away wrath.” [2]
Scoffers shall inherit flames. Those who have wisely embraced Christ as their Savior from sin shall be saved from the flames.
“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.” [3]
The holiness and righteousness of God is the revelation that yields restraint. Thus, the proverb encourages us to keep God’s law to be happy.
“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” [4]
A snare is a trap. Trappers set traps to catch prey. Life does not end well once the trap is sprung. To entrust your life into the hands of flawed people is to walk into a trap thinking it won’t hurt you. Even a person with good intentions cannot keep you safe from harm like the Lord does. The intention of our Lord Jesus Christ is to bring you into the Kingdom of God where there is love, joy, and peace forevermore.
“Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord.” [5]
I like God’s justice. He took our sins and laid them on His Son so that we who believe in Him would not have to bear the consequences of our sin for all eternity. He gives us eternal life as a gift, not as wages. Jesus paid for our gift in full.
[1] Luke 23:27-28, 31
[2] Proverbs 29:8
[3] Proverbs 29:18
[4] Proverbs 29:25
[5] Proverbs 29:26
Bearing witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus!
Friday, September 29, 2023
Friday, September 22, 2023
Fishermen Disciples
You ever wonder why Jesus called fisherman to be his disciples? It was never a thought for me until this past year. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know what life as a commercial fisherman looks like and it has opened my eyes to the reality of who Jesus called to be his closest friends.
These guys are relentless! Days without sleep. Hours of work for a few weeks out of the year, continuously preparing for the next season. They face and overcome multiple obstacles in one day – but they keep going.
They live by faith every single day! So much preparation and yet when they are on the water, they don’t know if they’ll catch anything – it’s all in the hands of the One who created it all! And He always provides!
Their passion drives them forward! They are tough, resilient, stubborn, and not afraid of hard work…they have made some bad decisions…Yet have the biggest heart! They are real people, they don’t pretend to be someone else and enjoy the simple things in life – love, laughter, and good food!
So maybe Jesus called the fisherman because He knew that’s what it was going to take. Passionate people who love big, work hard, work with purpose, and are not easily swayed by this world – because once they know what they know, there’s no changing their minds.
When Jesus calls the heart of a fisherman, watch out… cause big things are about to happen!
By Kristen Czanderna on September 20, 2021
Andrew Czanderna, her husband, and my son added: “The Lord is mending me every day just like I mend these nets. Those who look to the Lord are radiant.”
“They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.” (Psalm 34:5)
These guys are relentless! Days without sleep. Hours of work for a few weeks out of the year, continuously preparing for the next season. They face and overcome multiple obstacles in one day – but they keep going.
They live by faith every single day! So much preparation and yet when they are on the water, they don’t know if they’ll catch anything – it’s all in the hands of the One who created it all! And He always provides!
Their passion drives them forward! They are tough, resilient, stubborn, and not afraid of hard work…they have made some bad decisions…Yet have the biggest heart! They are real people, they don’t pretend to be someone else and enjoy the simple things in life – love, laughter, and good food!
So maybe Jesus called the fisherman because He knew that’s what it was going to take. Passionate people who love big, work hard, work with purpose, and are not easily swayed by this world – because once they know what they know, there’s no changing their minds.
When Jesus calls the heart of a fisherman, watch out… cause big things are about to happen!
By Kristen Czanderna on September 20, 2021
Andrew Czanderna, her husband, and my son added: “The Lord is mending me every day just like I mend these nets. Those who look to the Lord are radiant.”
“They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.” (Psalm 34:5)
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
In the Spirit on the Lord’s Day
“I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” [1]
God brought John to a wonderful place. No, not Patmos Island. He brought John to a place that He is willing to bring anyone of us if we are willing to go with Him. The place is a state of being where we live for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus and nothing else matters to us as much in comparison to this place.
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and, ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches...’” [2]
The Lord God had John in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. Every day is the day that the Lord has made, and every day we can rejoice and be glad in Him. But I believe “the Lord’s Day” here refers to the day that Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The Lord’s Day here refers to the day on which we gather together in joyful assembly to worship Him. The Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ was moving in John and spoke to him with a voice like a trumpet. The Lord gave John a vision of Himself in resurrected glory and told him to write it down and send it to seven churches, which John did.
Today, is also an opportune time to live for God’s Word and for the testimony of Jesus. Like John, let us be in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. Opening our ears to hear from Him! Opening our eyes to see what He shows us! Writing and speaking for Him so that others come into fellowship with Him.
[1] Revelation 1:9
[2] Revelation 1:10-11
God brought John to a wonderful place. No, not Patmos Island. He brought John to a place that He is willing to bring anyone of us if we are willing to go with Him. The place is a state of being where we live for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus and nothing else matters to us as much in comparison to this place.
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and, ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches...’” [2]
The Lord God had John in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. Every day is the day that the Lord has made, and every day we can rejoice and be glad in Him. But I believe “the Lord’s Day” here refers to the day that Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The Lord’s Day here refers to the day on which we gather together in joyful assembly to worship Him. The Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ was moving in John and spoke to him with a voice like a trumpet. The Lord gave John a vision of Himself in resurrected glory and told him to write it down and send it to seven churches, which John did.
Today, is also an opportune time to live for God’s Word and for the testimony of Jesus. Like John, let us be in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. Opening our ears to hear from Him! Opening our eyes to see what He shows us! Writing and speaking for Him so that others come into fellowship with Him.
[1] Revelation 1:9
[2] Revelation 1:10-11
Monday, September 4, 2023
The Source of Life
The Holy Spirit is the source of life. [1] The Holy Spirit cultivates a culture of life. He brings things to new creation.
The Holy Spirit is God’s presence. He comes to us through Christ. His mission is to renew people in the image of God. He is the source of rebirth. The Spirit instills a supernatural hope in the future that helps us live successfully through hard circumstances now.
The Spirit bestows grace gifts and energizes the body of Christ. He keeps us living the new life. He is the link of fellowship between God and humanity, and humanity towards one another. He is the source of community sharing. He makes fellowship possible among diverse people. American individualism is hard to break down, but God, the Holy Spirit can do it.
A chaplain at a prisoner of war camp in England gave captured German soldier Jürgen Moltmann a Bible. He read of the suffering servant in Psalm 22 and 39. He experienced fellowship and brotherhood of Jesus while suffering. Jesus redeemed him from guilt. Moltmann compared his conversion to Jacob’s wrestling. At the conclusion of his suffering he experienced the favor of God’s face. The Holy Spirit brought life to him in a place of death.
The Spirit is God’s presence. He is the well springs up in desolate places. He is the shine from God’s face. He is the conceiver, baptizer, miracle performer and raiser of Jesus Christ. He is the source of community that Jesus Christ sent to us from heaven. He is the comforter and truth. “Where the Holy Spirit is present there is life.” He helps those who receive Him to distinguish between a culture of death and a culture of life. The culture of death includes denominational pride, prejudice against youth and women, and caste distinctions. The Spirit replaces stony hearts with hearts of flesh. [2]
The Holy Spirit is comparable to a mother because we are born of the Spirit. The Hebrew term for Spirit is feminine. Rebirth by the Spirit gives joy and peace.
The Holy Spirit brings us into “harmony with every living thing which God has created and in which His Spirit is present.” “Life is sanctified when we encounter living things with reverence before God.”
The Holy Spirit gives to each of His recipients a gift for the common good. He awakens in us new energies. He forces demons to flee. He replaces illness with healing. Weakness with strength! Life in the Spirit contrasts with life in the flesh.
The Spirit helps us to know ourselves. This knowing is vital to better relations with others. The Spirit shares in our sufferings. He does not treat us in a domineering way. The Holy Spirit is the common Spirit of Christians. He gathers Christians to the Church. He the sends Christians out of the Church in families, vocations, jobs, and social groups. The Holy Spirit fellowship is free and equal among generations and genders.
The Spirit brings God’s people into one heart and soul. Divisions between people are overcome in Him. He stops people from oppressing other people. He halts people from humiliating people. He sweeps estrangement away. Masters and slaves become brothers. Men and women become friends. Discrimination disappears! We become of one heart and soul. This is nothing less than God in our midst. Our fears of one another and our aggressions towards one another simply become ludicrous because there is enough blessing for everyone.
Our economy is based on wants. Hunger for pleasure, for possessions, for power, for recognition, for success and for admiration stems from spiritual poverty. The opposite of poverty isn’t property. The opposite of poverty is community.
The Holy Spirit helps the Church to exhibit a Christ-like inclusion of people. He makes community possible. A community where everyone shares is definitely a miracle. The Spirit’s charity contrasts with the strife of selfish people.
The vibrant energies of God’s Spirit preceded creation. He wants to deliver living things from death. Sinners want to dominate and exploit God’s creation. “When God sends forth His breath [Spirit] life is created. He renews the face of the earth.” [3]
The Spirit is the source of our prayer life. Early Christians, filled with the Spirit, prayed with heads up, hands lifted, eyes open and backs straight. They didn’t pray bowed-over or handcuffed as though in bondage to God, but in a posture of freedom. The Spirit leads us to pray for God’s will for others and for ourselves.
The Holy Spirit is the source of life in a world filled with death. The Spirit makes of us grace-gifted people in a graceless world. Jürgen Moltmann experienced the life-giving Spirit in a camp full of death.
[1] Jürgen Moltmann wrote a book entitled, “The of Source Life”
[2] Ezekiel 11:19
[3] Psalm 104:29
The Holy Spirit is God’s presence. He comes to us through Christ. His mission is to renew people in the image of God. He is the source of rebirth. The Spirit instills a supernatural hope in the future that helps us live successfully through hard circumstances now.
The Spirit bestows grace gifts and energizes the body of Christ. He keeps us living the new life. He is the link of fellowship between God and humanity, and humanity towards one another. He is the source of community sharing. He makes fellowship possible among diverse people. American individualism is hard to break down, but God, the Holy Spirit can do it.
A chaplain at a prisoner of war camp in England gave captured German soldier Jürgen Moltmann a Bible. He read of the suffering servant in Psalm 22 and 39. He experienced fellowship and brotherhood of Jesus while suffering. Jesus redeemed him from guilt. Moltmann compared his conversion to Jacob’s wrestling. At the conclusion of his suffering he experienced the favor of God’s face. The Holy Spirit brought life to him in a place of death.
The Spirit is God’s presence. He is the well springs up in desolate places. He is the shine from God’s face. He is the conceiver, baptizer, miracle performer and raiser of Jesus Christ. He is the source of community that Jesus Christ sent to us from heaven. He is the comforter and truth. “Where the Holy Spirit is present there is life.” He helps those who receive Him to distinguish between a culture of death and a culture of life. The culture of death includes denominational pride, prejudice against youth and women, and caste distinctions. The Spirit replaces stony hearts with hearts of flesh. [2]
The Holy Spirit is comparable to a mother because we are born of the Spirit. The Hebrew term for Spirit is feminine. Rebirth by the Spirit gives joy and peace.
The Holy Spirit brings us into “harmony with every living thing which God has created and in which His Spirit is present.” “Life is sanctified when we encounter living things with reverence before God.”
The Holy Spirit gives to each of His recipients a gift for the common good. He awakens in us new energies. He forces demons to flee. He replaces illness with healing. Weakness with strength! Life in the Spirit contrasts with life in the flesh.
The Spirit helps us to know ourselves. This knowing is vital to better relations with others. The Spirit shares in our sufferings. He does not treat us in a domineering way. The Holy Spirit is the common Spirit of Christians. He gathers Christians to the Church. He the sends Christians out of the Church in families, vocations, jobs, and social groups. The Holy Spirit fellowship is free and equal among generations and genders.
The Spirit brings God’s people into one heart and soul. Divisions between people are overcome in Him. He stops people from oppressing other people. He halts people from humiliating people. He sweeps estrangement away. Masters and slaves become brothers. Men and women become friends. Discrimination disappears! We become of one heart and soul. This is nothing less than God in our midst. Our fears of one another and our aggressions towards one another simply become ludicrous because there is enough blessing for everyone.
Our economy is based on wants. Hunger for pleasure, for possessions, for power, for recognition, for success and for admiration stems from spiritual poverty. The opposite of poverty isn’t property. The opposite of poverty is community.
The Holy Spirit helps the Church to exhibit a Christ-like inclusion of people. He makes community possible. A community where everyone shares is definitely a miracle. The Spirit’s charity contrasts with the strife of selfish people.
The vibrant energies of God’s Spirit preceded creation. He wants to deliver living things from death. Sinners want to dominate and exploit God’s creation. “When God sends forth His breath [Spirit] life is created. He renews the face of the earth.” [3]
The Spirit is the source of our prayer life. Early Christians, filled with the Spirit, prayed with heads up, hands lifted, eyes open and backs straight. They didn’t pray bowed-over or handcuffed as though in bondage to God, but in a posture of freedom. The Spirit leads us to pray for God’s will for others and for ourselves.
The Holy Spirit is the source of life in a world filled with death. The Spirit makes of us grace-gifted people in a graceless world. Jürgen Moltmann experienced the life-giving Spirit in a camp full of death.
[1] Jürgen Moltmann wrote a book entitled, “The of Source Life”
[2] Ezekiel 11:19
[3] Psalm 104:29
Sunday, September 3, 2023
Unless The Lord Builds a House
A day of redemption is at hand for those who have followed hard after the Lord. The Lord promises to ruin the fortified city from which war was launched against His people. The terrible people had composed songs to mock God and hurt His people, but a day is coming, and they will fear Him, and glorify Him.
“O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your Name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. For You have made a city a ruin, a fortified city a ruin, a palace of foreigners to be a city no more; it will never be rebuilt. Therefore the strong people will glorify You; the city of the terrible nations will fear You. For You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. You will reduce the noise of aliens, as heat in a dry place; as heat in the shadow of a cloud, the song of the terrible ones will be diminished.” [1]
The Lord has a feast for His people who previously experienced a covering of darkness and a veil of despair. He replaces death with eternal life. He wipes tears from their faces. He delivers them from the devil’s disdaining insults.
“In this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all people a feast of choice pieces, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of well-refined wines on the lees. And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken.” [2]
God’s faithful people have waited for this day. “It will be said in that day: ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.’” [3]
Enemies will be trampled underfoot. God will bring down their pride together with the trickery of their hands. Their war machine will be reduced to dust. [4]
In that day, God’s people will sing, “We have a strong city. God has given us salvation for walls.” The righteous nation (consisting of God’s faithful people from the earth) will enter this city. God keeps them in perfect peace because their minds have been stayed on Him. They have trusted in God. In the Lord is everlasting strength. The Lord brought down the city of arrogant oppressors and placed them under the feet of the poor and the steps of the needy.” [5]
Those who trusted in the Lord proclaim their victory with these words, “O Lord, we have waited for You; the desire of our soul is for Your Name and for the remembrance of You. With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” [6]
God’s people have waited for this day as a pregnant woman waits for the day of birth. “As a woman with child is in pain and cries out in her pangs, when she draws near the time of her delivery, so have we been in Your sight, O Lord. We have been with child we have been in pain; we have, as it were, brought forth wind; we have not accomplished any deliverance in the earth, nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen.” [7] They wanted to bring forth this new community for the Lord but were unable to do so. The Lord saw their dilemma and brought it forth.
God tells His people to find safety. He’s going to deal with evil doers. He’s going to expose the blood that they have shed and reward them accordingly. “Come, My people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth will also disclose her blood and will no more cover her slain.” [8]
During some of the darkest days on earth, the Lamb, Jesus Christ, has a 144,000 loyal followers. They abstain from participation in sexual sins. They follow the Lamb. They are the redeemed of the Lord. There is no deceit in their mouths. They live to please God. [9]
The message of the last days is to heed the Gospel. Trust in Jesus Christ for redemption. Fear God and give Him glory. Babylon – the devil’s kingdom of sin is falling. All who participated in it shall drink from God’s cup of wrath. They shall experience the torment of fire and brimstone. [10]
God says to His people, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” [11]
The Lord speaks of two harvests: a harvest of the righteous which is the Lord gathering His people to Himself, and a harvest of those who are thrown into the winepress of God’s wrath. [12] The key to be included in the first harvest is faith in Christ and obedience to His Word by the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit.
Though there are powerful people in high places living contrary to the Lord and blaspheming His Name, beware! “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” [13]
[1] Isaiah 25:1-5
[2] Isaiah 25:6-8
[3] Isaiah 25:9
[4] Isaiah 25:10-12
[5] Isaiah 26:1-6
[6] Isaiah 26:8-9
[7] Isaiah 26:17-18
[8] Isaiah 26:20-21
[9] Revelation 14:1-5
[10] Revelation 14:6-11
[11] Revelation 14:12-13
[12] Revelation 14:14-20
[13] Psalm 127:1
“O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your Name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. For You have made a city a ruin, a fortified city a ruin, a palace of foreigners to be a city no more; it will never be rebuilt. Therefore the strong people will glorify You; the city of the terrible nations will fear You. For You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. You will reduce the noise of aliens, as heat in a dry place; as heat in the shadow of a cloud, the song of the terrible ones will be diminished.” [1]
The Lord has a feast for His people who previously experienced a covering of darkness and a veil of despair. He replaces death with eternal life. He wipes tears from their faces. He delivers them from the devil’s disdaining insults.
“In this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all people a feast of choice pieces, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of well-refined wines on the lees. And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken.” [2]
God’s faithful people have waited for this day. “It will be said in that day: ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.’” [3]
Enemies will be trampled underfoot. God will bring down their pride together with the trickery of their hands. Their war machine will be reduced to dust. [4]
In that day, God’s people will sing, “We have a strong city. God has given us salvation for walls.” The righteous nation (consisting of God’s faithful people from the earth) will enter this city. God keeps them in perfect peace because their minds have been stayed on Him. They have trusted in God. In the Lord is everlasting strength. The Lord brought down the city of arrogant oppressors and placed them under the feet of the poor and the steps of the needy.” [5]
Those who trusted in the Lord proclaim their victory with these words, “O Lord, we have waited for You; the desire of our soul is for Your Name and for the remembrance of You. With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” [6]
God’s people have waited for this day as a pregnant woman waits for the day of birth. “As a woman with child is in pain and cries out in her pangs, when she draws near the time of her delivery, so have we been in Your sight, O Lord. We have been with child we have been in pain; we have, as it were, brought forth wind; we have not accomplished any deliverance in the earth, nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen.” [7] They wanted to bring forth this new community for the Lord but were unable to do so. The Lord saw their dilemma and brought it forth.
God tells His people to find safety. He’s going to deal with evil doers. He’s going to expose the blood that they have shed and reward them accordingly. “Come, My people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth will also disclose her blood and will no more cover her slain.” [8]
During some of the darkest days on earth, the Lamb, Jesus Christ, has a 144,000 loyal followers. They abstain from participation in sexual sins. They follow the Lamb. They are the redeemed of the Lord. There is no deceit in their mouths. They live to please God. [9]
The message of the last days is to heed the Gospel. Trust in Jesus Christ for redemption. Fear God and give Him glory. Babylon – the devil’s kingdom of sin is falling. All who participated in it shall drink from God’s cup of wrath. They shall experience the torment of fire and brimstone. [10]
God says to His people, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” [11]
The Lord speaks of two harvests: a harvest of the righteous which is the Lord gathering His people to Himself, and a harvest of those who are thrown into the winepress of God’s wrath. [12] The key to be included in the first harvest is faith in Christ and obedience to His Word by the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit.
Though there are powerful people in high places living contrary to the Lord and blaspheming His Name, beware! “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” [13]
[1] Isaiah 25:1-5
[2] Isaiah 25:6-8
[3] Isaiah 25:9
[4] Isaiah 25:10-12
[5] Isaiah 26:1-6
[6] Isaiah 26:8-9
[7] Isaiah 26:17-18
[8] Isaiah 26:20-21
[9] Revelation 14:1-5
[10] Revelation 14:6-11
[11] Revelation 14:12-13
[12] Revelation 14:14-20
[13] Psalm 127:1
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