IQ #253 Purchase of a Lifetime

There will be signs bright as the sun, blazing morning, noon, and night. The nation will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring sounds of stampeding shoppers coming in wave after wave after wave, like a turbulent sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming in their little world, for the malls and stores alike will be shaken. At that time they will see the man with the key, the key that unlocks the door. When these things begin to happen stand tall and lift up your head, because all that you have hoped for, all that you have prepared for is going to take place. With the personal sacrifice you made, your life and others will be changed by this one day purchase time.

Black Friday, the day so many people take their hard earned money to fight the onslaught of thousands of other crazed shoppers to purchase what is on their ‘need to get’ list, at a ‘hugely reduced’ price. This is where we might all want to throw our heads back and laugh… The day after we supposedly pause to be grateful for what we have, we revert to alternate personalities by camping out in the Wal-Mart parking lot and every other store willing to open up at some ungodly hour in order to take your cash or credit, and to add to the lunacy, possibly throwing punches over the latest fad in toys, video games, clothes and other stuff, if you and someone else have simultaneously grabbed the last item of its kind. This just reeks of vain thankfulness.

As a follower of Jesus Christ we are called to be people who are different than the world around us.

1 John 2:15 

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

The opening paragraph was adapted from the scripture below to show how easy it is to become separated from God if you let your worldly desires become more important.

Luke 21:25-28

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶ People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. ²⁷ At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Jesus is telling about His return. The thought of the coming persecutions and natural disasters is gloomy, but ultimately it is a cause not for worry but for great joy. When we, the believers see these events (signs) happening, we will know that the return of the Messiah is near and we should confidently await Christ’s return, not be terrified by what is happening in our world. Christ’s return will bring justice and restoration to his people.

While many people look forward to ‘Black Friday’ for their yearly purchases of greatly discounted perishable items, I can only think of one purchase, made on a different dark Friday, the day Jesus Christ paid full price for the most loving and everlasting gift that only God could give. It was and will forever be the purchase of a lifetime.

With the Love of Jesus Christ,

Papa John 11:26:15

IQ #252 You Are So Wonderful

To the Lord’s holy people in Facebookland, the faithful in Jesus Christ: Grace, peace, love and acceptance from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Many years ago a group of us were sharing God’s Word and how God’s love reaches out to everyone no matter whom or where we are. The discussion brought up how we sometimes tend to hide behind masks to conceal the true identity of ourselves, because we tend to look at ourselves with harsh eyes and overwhelming criticism. Without a doubt, we can be our own worst critic.

As believers in God you need to look beyond any destructive thoughts of yourself and embrace the person God molded you to be and become. Yes, you have flaws and are broken, the sinful nature of this world has seen to that, but you are made whole and sanctified by God’s grace and by his son’s atonement for your sins, on the cross. Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior has made that possible. God never wants to see you live behind a mask. He wants you to see yourself as the most precious gift he ever made and to give Him thanks and praise for his divine work.

 Psalm 139:13-16

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.

God knows who you are. Your friends in Christ know who you are. Be you.

There is a simple song our group sang together, but more importantly, to each other. It is about truth of who you are.

Look into a mirror and speak the following words from the song, inserting your name where the line is. (The tune is not important) repeat whenever and as often as necessary.

_________  You are so wonderful

_________  You can let your true self show

I know who you are precious child of God

_________  You are loved

Thank you for being a part of my life. You are loved and you are fantabulous!

When you are around any of your friends in Christ and they are feeling down about themselves, share that song with them and insert their names onto those lines. In your prayers to God sing this for the Lord using each your friend’s names.

If you would like to know the tune ask me, I will gladly share it with you.

Psalm 139:14

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

You are so wonderful!

With the love of Jesus Christ,

Papa John 11:20:15

IQ #251 Be a Good Neighbor

Hello my friends. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come. With all creation I sing, praise to the King of kings. You are my everything and I will adore you!”

Several days ago I was asked what my favorite Bible story is. After giving it some thought I chose, “The Parable of the Good Samaritan”. This story is so relevant to our own everyday lives in that it reaches down to the core of who we are to be as followers of Jesus Christ.

Luke 10:25-37      The Parable of the Good Samaritan

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind^”; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b]”

²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii^[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

When you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you became a follower of Christ and his teachings. In doing so, you are called in to action with the use of your mind, heart and feet.

Your neighbor; lives next door, sits in your classroom, plays on your team, walks the hallways in your school, attends your church, works beside you at a job, shops or works in the stores you go to, and is any person you may find out about that is in need of help. Pray for them.

Your neighbors are all around you and they may be hungry, lacking proper clothes, sad, angry, scared, bullied, physically hurt, brokenhearted, lonely, depressed, hopeless, conflicted, looked down upon, stressed out, or rejected by peers and maybe their family. Your neighbor may just need someone to talk with or just to listen to their story. Do all you can for those in need. Show them God’s mercy.

Your neighbor may not know God or may know about God, but doesn’t understand why God is so important to their life. Share the Gospel. Share your story.

You have been given a gift of the Holy Spirit that has come alive in you when Jesus ascended to heaven to be with God. With the Holy Spirit you have gained great power and strength, and fellowship with God, Jesus Christ and all true followers of our Lord, so that you can continue to carry out the works of Jesus Christ. Be the Lord’s feet and voice. The Holy Spirit will guide you.

Your walk and talk is to emulate Jesus Christ and those who live their lives in accordance with Christ’s teachings.

Jesus came as a servant and to lead the lost back to life with God. You serve Jesus by serving others as He has taught you. Bring glory, praise and honor to God by serving your neighbor with an open heart and mind. Pray for them. Let your walk be Christ led for the sake of your neighbor.

Be a good neighbor.

With the love of Jesus Christ,

Papa John 11:13:15

IQ #250 Whose approval are you seeking?

My Dear friends, followers of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, may this day and days to come, bring you closer to God our Father, the King of all kings who gives you His mercy, grace and love to all who call on His name.

Galatians 1:10

¹⁰ Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

In the opening words of Galatians 1:10 Paul states, ^“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people?”  It centers upon the change in Paul since his conversion. His life was now about spreading the Word of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. Yes, there was opposition to Paul, and those antichrists were trying to make others believe he was only trying to please men, but, Paul held his ground. His new life ‘now’ was his evangelism for God and only for God.

Every morning when I check for messages on my cell phone I am first greeted by the day’s scripture reading from the Bible app I have on my phone. When I read today’s scripture (Galatians 1:10) it really struck a nerve. Why am I serving in youth ministry and who am I serving? When I am serving in any area of the Christian ministry is it for personal gain, pleasing others or am I strictly serving God in all areas of ministry seeking only His approval?

Honestly, I am guilty of wanting to hear when I have done something good for someone, especially if it has helped steer them toward a relationship with Jesus Christ, or strengthened their faith in God. I am also guilty of wanting to please people and make them happy and maybe laugh at the jokes and puns I share, since there is quite enough junk in everyone’s lives that bring us all down. I even enjoy getting ‘like’d on Facebook posts. Don’t we all?

Affirmation, encouragements and ‘likes’ are good to receive as it helps brighten our days and they do give you a feeling of acceptance and a certain amount of motivation.

However, when it comes right down to it, when it comes to being a true servant of God, it is God’s approval that becomes the most hoped for.

When you keep your focus on God, hearing praises or getting ‘likes’ will not mean as much as gaining God’s approval.. If focus is lost it is real easy to start thinking, “What’s in it for me?” As a Christ follower the main purpose is to serve God.

My prayer and hope for you, whom I share my ministry with, is that you may gain a better insight of who God is and the power and love that he has and gives to you and how you can be a better servant to God.

Look at all the areas of ministry that you take part in and ask yourself, “Why am I doing this? What am I hoping to gain? Who am I really serving?

As the apostle Paul said in the last part of verse 10, “If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”  Where is your ministry leading you ‘now’?

Whose approval are you seeking?

Find time to get alone with God and his Word. Pray to God. Ask God to lead you in being a righteous servant.

With the love of Jesus Christ,

Papa John 11:5:15