ONE MESSAGE. ONE FAITH.

Easy yoke? Light burden? Easy is not usually the first word that comes to mind with the image of a  Yoke. But there it is in Matthew 11:29. "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light"   Truth is, yokes are easy when the one you're yoked with is carrying the bulk of the load. Burdens become light when you are suddenly freed from carrying the load of guilt and condemnation on your shoulders alone.  So Jesus beckons us to take the load of the world off our shoulders and yoke up with him. Even when I walk      through the darkest valley, [ a ] I will not be afraid,      for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff      protect and comfort me. - Psalm 23:4

Part 6 of our "Revelation of Jesus Christ" Study  took us to chapter 4; it declared the creator of Heaven and earth to be none other than Jesus Christ- Jehovah our Salvation. We last see John in heaven gazing upon ONE being on the throne. This being is God himself, [Revelation 4:8], who is being worshiped by beasts and elders. Chapter 5 continues from this scene. And I saw in the right  hand  of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2  Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”  3  And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. What do you observe here? A. there is a HIM sitting (alone) on the throne B. HE (alone) is holding a heavily sealed scroll ( 7 seals to be exact) C.An angel (curiously described as strong) poses the question about worthiness to open the...

The Right Perspective In his book, The Vision and The Vow, Pete Greig tells of how a distinguished art critic was studying an exquisite painting by the Italian Renaissance master Filippino Lippi. He stood in London's National Gallery gazing at the fifteenth-century depiction of Mary holding the infant Jesus on her lap, with saints Dominic and Jerome kneeling nearby. But the painting troubled him. There could be no doubting Lippi's skill, his use of colour or composition. But the proportions of the picture seemed slightly wrong. The hills in the background seemed exaggerated, as if they might topple out of the frame at any minute onto the gallery's polished floor. The two kneeling saints looked awkward and uncomfortable. Art critic Robert Cumming was not the first to criticise Lippi's work for its poor perspective, but he may well be the last to do so, because at that moment he had a revelation. It suddenly occurred to him that the problem might be his. The painting ...

"She cried a deluge of tears- enough to wash the feet of Jesus- and then she wiped them clean and dry with her hair." Those who have been forgiven much, love much* As the preacher relayed this timeless story I was struck in the heart. I marveled at the effect of this woman's intense desire to express her adoration to her savior. It was so much that she was willing to be unkempt and become, what we would call dirty. Can you imagine the combination of tears and dirt she was left with when she arose from his feet. Yet the possibly now matted hair was in direct contrast to the fragrant aroma that surrounded her as she got up. She poured out what she had and gave it to God, and her contact with the Savior caused his anointing to be imparted on her as well. How about the absurdity of a king dancing in the streets? His desire to express his thankfulness and adoration of the most high was unmatched in the kingdom. He danced every so many steps, while his kingly robes beg...

Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in  safe guard.- 1 Samuel 22:23 In the last post we painted the scenario of a child of God leaving the sheepfold, and getting farther away from safety with each justified step.  This scenario is an example of how one never intends to separate from God, yet,  as the song says,  it is a slow fade. When one word from God's scripture  is compromised, it's entire fabric unravels. Like a moth eaten blanket, it is no longer a solid covering when holes are poked in it.  For example in  1 Samuel 13:13-14,  Saul's compromise, cost him the kingdom. Unfortunately he did not learn his lesson in obeying the Word of God COMPLETELY. We find him two chapters later in a situation where incomplete obedience cost him his anointing as well. 1 Samuel 15:13; 1 Samuel 15:20-22; 1 Samuel 16:14 Is wrestling with the word, because of inconvenience or perceived i...

Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in  safe ty.- Leviticus 25:18 Safety. Protection from harm. Salvation. The action or process of bringing someone or something into safety. I am amazed at how bent out of shape believers and non-believers alike can get on the laws and principles of God. As soon as it creates a ripple in the comfort level, God's law is diluted or reasoned way altogether. It is given the description of legalistic or archaic to justify it's perceived irrelevance.  The Word of God is sometimes treated like a candy bowl, in which only the ones we like are unwrapped and savored. The rest get left behind. My heart breaks at the realization that many of the immoral issues we face in this age is due to diluting the validity and relevance of the Word of God.  For example, the stop sign is inconvenient until it's your safety on the line. When you do ...

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel      after that time,” declares the  Lord . “I will put my law in their minds      and write it on their hearts. I will be their God,      and they will be my people. -Jeremiah 31:33 "The festival of Shavuot is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (late May or early June). Shavuot commemorates the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah ( or the law) to the entire Israelite nation assembled at Mount Sinai, although the association between the giving of the Torah (Matan Torah) and Shavuot is not explicit in the Biblical text. Shavuot follows Passover by 50 days." ' ( from https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/ shavuot) This is where we get the celebration of Pentecost. It is no wonder that the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit was on this day- 50 days after Passover, of which Christ was the Passover lamb. In Jeremiah...