Caring for God’s Creation

“The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”  (Psalm 24:1 KJV)

From the opening verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, we see the creative power of God—“In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth”. God designed the earth for a purpose. Likewise, He created mankind to care for His creation—the whole of it.

Once sin entered into the picture (Genesis 3), the whole of God’s creation began to suffer as the result of mankind’s decision to live in a way that God had not planned. The beauty was marred. Creation has beauty but within that beauty lies danger too—danger from various elements, as well as animals.  

God expects us to care for the environment and the world He has given us. This is a sacred trust, in fact, Ecclesiastes 1:4 states: “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.” 

We have only one planet…let us care for it! How are we doing at caring for our environment?  Are we helping or hurting it?

It would be so easy to take the easy way out and flippantly think: “Jesus is returning. Why should I do anything to help the environment?” While Jesus is indeed returning—likely soon—we still need to use care in what we do and how we do it. Creation is fragile; therefore, we need to handle it with care.  

We can do many things (such as recycling paper or plastic, or planting a tree, or walking instead of driving), that will make our world a cleaner, healthier place to live.

It was not all that long ago, during the Great Depression, that our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and others learned to recycle/reuse/repurpose almost everything. They were on to something that many of us in this disposable culture have seemed to have forgotten: there is not an unlimited supply of resources, eventually things run out, disappear. We would be wise to use its resources with care.

Our world—the whole of creation—is crying out. Crying out in desperation for a change, for help—help that is found in Jesus Christ alone. The whole of creation groans as even it awaits the return of Jesus (see Romans 8:22 read here). Are we crying out as well?

Check out this article on The High Calling website for some ideas of how you can care for the environment: 5 Ways You Can Care for the Environment

Somewhere I read that we borrow the earth from our children; therefore, we should give to them an environment that is as healthy as possible. 

Take some time to soak in the beauty of God’s creation and praise and glorify Him for it! 

What can you do today or this week or this month to help the environment? 

What are you already doing to care for God’s wonderful, beautiful creation?

Please join with me in prayer:

God of Creation, thank You for Your beautiful and fragile world. We recognize many times we haven’t cared for it as carefully as we should and have taken its resources and beauty for granted; please forgive us. Grant us the wisdom to protect Your world and use its resources with care. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

Spring!

“For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, the voice of the turtle [turtledove] is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs; the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.”  (Song of Songs 2:11-13 KJV)

Spring is here (may be not fully, depending on where you live)! The winter is ended for this year. Cold days slowly give way to warmer days, along with spring rain showers and thunderstorms—storms that show God’s power.

Rains refresh the land in spring, similarly, each day we can receive refreshing spiritual “rain” through communing with the Holy Spirit.

A hint of spring is in the air. In some areas pollen can be seen floating in the air, covering everything in its path! Though spring may begin tentatively at first; suddenly, flowers burst out in spring time glory. Grass slowly turns from a dead brown to a lively green. Meanwhile, trees ever so slowly grow leaves that will provide shade on hot summer days.

Spring seems to be a time for renewal—renewal of creation and renewal in our daily lives. Many take time to do “spring cleaning”. Spring cleaning can be a literal cleaning of our physical environments; it can also be more metaphorical in the cleaning of our inner lives.

The potential of new life is waiting to spring forth from the ground.

Trees are budding—leaves beginning to appear, the grass is becoming green, birds are returning from wintering in the South. Flowers are beginning to appear, reminding us of the new life that is possible through Christ.

Soon we will see young animals beginning their lives. There is much beauty in watching nature come to life again; but there is much more joy and beauty in seeing the transformation that is possible when people accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is here that true, powerful transformation is seen.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior and Lord? If not, why not turn to Him today asking Him to forgive your sins and come into your heart and life? Please see my earlier posts: Salvation, A New Creation, and Counting the Cost.

Spring gives us hope that the long, cold days (mourning) of winter are over and the time of warmer days (joy) of spring are here. Likewise, Jesus gives us hope—hope for our lives here and now and hope for a glorious future for all eternity!

What are you looking forward to this spring?

How do you fresh yourself spiritually?

Please join with me in prayer:

God of Creation, thank You for the beauty of the spring with all of the new life springing forth.  Help us to stop and take in the beauty of Your creation that is all around us. Remind us of the new life that we have in You and that others can have as well. We thank and praise You for that new life. Grant us the courage and desire we need to share Jesus with others. In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 

From My Heart to Yours

Kim 

Happy Easter—Christ is Risen!

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

(Matthew 28:5-7 KJV)

“Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!" Listen here These majestic opening words to the wonderful Easter hymn by Charles Wesley captures the essence of Easter for Christians.  

The somber mood and darkness of Good Friday gives way to joy—great joy—when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus three days later. A tragedy turns to triumph. Darkness turns to light. Death turns to life—ever lasting life.

Reflect on this:

Grief turns to joy…

Darkness turns to light…

What do you suppose it would have been like to have seen the empty tomb? Would we have understood any better than Jesus’ followers, what He told them about His coming death and resurrection? How would we have reacted to the empty tomb in our grief? Would we have recognized Jesus?

Like Mary and the other women and the disciples who grieved the death of their Teacher and Friend; our grief can turn to joy, when we fully realize that we serve a risen Savior and what it means. This is good news, indeed; news that we should share! The world needs to hear what we have to share. Yes, not everyone will want to hear—and yes we will face rejection and ridicule. However, if we keep in mind that it is Jesus who is being ridiculed and rejected, not us, our perspective can change.

It is not too late to receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord! He is ready and waiting for you to turn to Him with open arms! Be assured there are no age limits for salvation—a person cannot be too young or old. For more information, please refer to my previous posts: Salvation; A New Creation; Counting the Cost.

Take time this week to reflect on the hymn He Lives (listen here). Remember, we can face many things because He lives! If Jesus is not alive our faith and hope would be in vain! Jesus gave us victory over death and the grave! For those of us in Christ Jesus, we have a future to look forward to with great excitement!

    

Please join with me in prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your only Son to die in our place—to redeem us from our sins. It is with great joy, we exclaim, on Easter and every day, “HE IS RISEN”!!  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

Happy Easter! May God Bless you richly today and everyday!

Hosanna! Hosanna!

And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. 

(Luke 19:37-40 KJV)

As we get closer to Holy Week (beginning this coming Sunday [March 29] and ending on Easter Sunday [April 5]) and Easter Day let us turn our thoughts towards the final week of Jesus’ ministry on earth—beginning with His entry into Jerusalem on what Christians call Palm Sunday. 

What do you suppose it would have been like to have been in the crowd exclaiming “Hosanna!  …Hosanna in the highest!” waving a palm branch, celebrating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem?

Where would you have been?

What would you have been doing?

From http://worshiphousemedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/main/s/mo/mow/mo/silvercrosspalmsundaybranches.jpg

The excitement of the crowd must have been electric. People cheering for Jesus, their King, fulfilling prophecy declared hundreds of years before (they likely did not realize the meaning of their actions). Children running about, laughing, enjoying life—some would have memories of Jesus interacting with them, loving on them.

Here’s a hymn that reflects on this day, Hosanna, Loud Hosanna! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FPydZdCL4c

However, not all were happy with this celebratory time. The loudest voices crying out against this were many of the religious elite—scribes and Pharisees. Due to how Jesus presented Himself and the things He did caused them to reject Him out of hand and seek a way, anyway to kill Him. Jesus did not do what they expected Him to do—to bring to an end the rule of the Romans.

During the week to come Jesus (and His disciples) would face unbelievable pain and suffering—physical, emotional, spiritual—culminating in Jesus’ death on a cross and His resurrection three days later. The week that started out so cheerfully and vibrantly on Sunday, ends in deep darkness, horror, and solemnity on Friday. The most exciting news is yet to come!   

Palm Sunday was the high point of Jesus’ ministry (the one time He was popular), while celebrating the significance of this day in Jesus’ ministry, may we reflectively prepare our hearts for Good Friday and Easter. This day also fulfilled a prophecy from Zechariah 9:9 click here for Scripture.

From https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaO6YAHFjtlFc82ItsnmEmuWOHyXfdpcAGYfx7FVglzk6sJDjoB3fqIGNllgUle8XjrGq7b6s5Jv1zaVtdIC5tssasj_V0GX8dop6icYNMJ2SBGQnOm9xkC-ZtVGNDnIALIp8lW76nDqK/s1600/Palm-sunday-Hosanna-to-the-king-of-kings.jpg

Please join with me in prayer:

Dear Jesus, with the crowd that welcomed You into Jerusalem, we lift our voices to praise You.  We remember the joy of this day, while remembering the pain and horror yet to come—followed by Your victory over death, sin, and the grave that is coming. In Your name, we pray. Amen

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

Counting the Cost

From https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-CAGK3Qy1uEsY70fxdnaY5N5M3DyjuSh8HCcj-6CD-gNnCxa4F_L_vGL7Xfs84pL0vzXBMLGkmRR0q51TmRNejQhCbX_7afOi1g767maWbcwz981AT1iQgrw3S0RFZHn7jHmmKbLDro/s1600/ctc2.jpg

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26-35 KJV)

In the last two weeks, I have written about Salvation and A New Creation—today we will consider what it means to count the cost, before saying “yes” to Jesus. Certainly, there is a cost—what that cost is differs from person to person. Just as we count the cost (budgeting) in planning for a week, a month, or a year—counting the cost of following Jesus into a new way life and living is important too.

During Jesus’ ministry on earth, prior to His death and resurrection, He clearly communicated the cost of discipleship—following Him. He expected His earliest followers (and us) to count the cost of what it means to follow Him, before we commit our lives to Him. Jesus talked about picking up our cross (a topic for a future blog post!), leaving family (and everything else) to follow Him. The commitment is big; however, Jesus empowers us through the Holy Spirit to live life as the new creation He has made us!

Many times Jesus asks us to do things that not only may take us out of our comfort zones. He may also ask us to “leave home” (either literally or figuratively) and family, like Abram/Abraham, in order to follow Him to where He desires us to go and what He has for us to do. Jesus may well change our plans—His plans are far greater than ours!

When we commit our lives to Jesus, we don’t know what He may ask of us.  Jesus may ask us to give up treasured dreams, hobbies, careers, or perhaps a high paying job, in order to serve Him. One thing that we can be assured of: He will be there for us each step of the way. He will be faithful to us, that we can count on. However, Jesus expects His followers to surrender all to Him and that includes family. There is no looking back at the past; there is too much to do!

How have you counted the cost of following Jesus (discipleship)?

What is/was the cost to you?  

What is/was your choice?

From https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/18/bf/9b/18bf9b90b68a486f31d3948daf7748b5.jpg

Please join with me in prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we desire to make a new or to renew our commitment to serving You. We have counted the cost and found the cost worth it. Grant us the strength and courage we need to leave home, family, or whatever else You ask us to do. We desire to look ahead at the path You have marked out for us and not behind us or to the right or to the left. Thank You for everyone who has obeyed You and gave much to follow and serve you—we seek to walk in their footsteps, following their example. In Jesus’ name. Amen.   

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

A New Creation

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)

From https://jmichaelrios.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/butterflylifecycle.gif

In Second Corinthians 5:17 we read about how we are a new creation in Christ and how old things are gone and all things are new…this is never more apparent than in the days and weeks surrounding Easter and particularly more so on Easter Day. Jesus transforms the whole of creation. Jesus transforms people!

From http://www.idio.net/sites/default/files/u19/newcreation-handsplant-logo.jpg

As winter turns into spring, we can vividly see new life emerging from last fall’s dead foliage—a visual reminder of what happens in our lives when we surrender them to Jesus Christ, asking Him to forgive our sins and dwell in our heart. In the whole of creation, if we have eyes to see, new growth springs to life, growing, changing, and developing before our very eyes. An example of this transformation is seen the process of a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly (see photo above). It is a process—a slow process—the end results are beautiful and worth the work and wait.

From https://movingnc.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/daffodils_in_snow.jpg

The musical Godspell brings this concept to life, along with several additional themes from the New Testament (with a heavy 1960s-1970s feel). Early in the musical, the cast members paint each other’s faces (clowning)—demonstrating how we can be fools for Christ (1 Corinthians 4:10 read here), as well as how people become a new creation in Christ, this is shown when they remove the robe covering their clothing. Eventually, they start dancing to the upbeat music that has been playing softly in the background—slowly increasing in volume. All of this shows the changes that occur inwardly (and outwardly) in the new believer, as well as how the things of God seem foolish to men (1 Corinthians 2:6-16—particularly verse 14 read here). 

From http://christianitymalaysia.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/jesus_new_robe_man.jpg

The old has gone and the new has come! How amazing is this thought?! God makes us new, if we allow Him to; we are transformed (a transformation that continues until our death) through God’s work within us—into the person God has ordained us to be from the very beginning. As we let God work on us—not fighting that work (it can be painful at times!)—we will find that God will lead us places we never dreamed we would go; asking us to do things we never dreamed we would or could do. Life with God can be a great adventure! Hold on tight!

From http://christianstt.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/New-creation-in-Christ.jpg

In what ways did you change when you invited Jesus into your heart? What changes are you sensing the Lord is still calling you to make in your life?

What changes have you seen in others who have invited Jesus into their heart and life? 

For those of you who have Jesus Christ as Savior, what is your testimony?

Spend some time reflecting on these changes this week.  

Please join with me in prayer:

Lord and Savior, thank You for making all things new. We marvel at and praise You for the new creatures we have become in You. We celebrate new Christians who are transformed through accepting Your amazing gift of salvation. We continue to pray for the salvation of those who don’t yet have a saving relationship with Jesus that they would come to see their need and ask Jesus into their heart and life— forgiving their sins — making them a new creation in Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

P.S. To my readers, it came to my attention that those of you who read my blog through email didn’t get the full post, titled Salvation. To read the full post please click here Salvation. Should this happen in the future, please click on the title in the email to be directed to the blog post. Thank you!

Salvation

From http://www.riversofjoychurch.org/images/salvation.jpg

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23 KJV)

My message is different than the world’s message; that is exactly what I want, because the truths clearly outlined in the Bible provide our guide—a plan showing us the path to heaven. The world seems to indicate that all good people will end up in heaven. What exactly defines good? How good is good enough? How many good things much we do to achieve heaven? How can we find peace when our thoughts our focused on being a good person, doing good things?

God’s Word is clear, our good deeds are nothing more than filthy rags (see Isaiah 64:6 Read here.) FILTHY RAGS! That realization should be sobering. On our own, we cannot be good enough to merit heaven. This is true for each and every person who is alive or who has ever lived; a hard truth to grasp.  

Therefore, I ask you: Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not, why not? What are you waiting for? God loves you deeply and desires nothing more than a relationship with you. God is waiting with open arms for you to come to Him. You can take comfort, because everyone has sinned (see Romans 3:23 Read here). Where will you be spending eternity?   

Sinners (and that’s all of us!) are worthy of death, as we can see in Romans 6:23 Read here. The only way we can be saved is by calling upon the name of the Lord (Romans 10:13 Read here).

From https://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/74/de/74deca34e675298b0fb8d95672d19929.png?itok=KcfKC0Ix 

Being Christian does have a cost, however, for those of us who believe and said “yes” to Jesus—the cost is more than worth it. As Christian, we shouldn’t expect wealth, health, and beds of ease; in fact, sometimes it is the exact opposite. Our relationships change, our activities change, our friendships change. Despite the cost, I believe it is worth the price I have paid and so do many others.

What are you waiting for? Jesus accepts us just as we are. Allowing Jesus to come into our hearts and lives changes us.  “Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come!  I come!” Listen to "Just as I Am"

Please join with me in prayer:

Dear Jesus, we come to you humbly admitting that we are sinners and that You died for us, to pay our penalties for our sins.  We need Your forgiveness and we turn from our sins.  We open our hearts to You and invite You to come in to our lives as our Savior and Lord.  Thank You, Jesus, for humbling Yourself to come to earth and live among us, die upon a cross for us and then rise again.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen. 

From My Heart to Yours,

Kim

P.S. Be looking for another post in the near future that will take another look at salvation.