He is Alive!

Not a football game, yet the stadium is packed 

No fly over jets, no there was nothing like that 
A buzz in the air, soulful singing was so sweet 
Praising the name of Jesus, spirit filled melodies 

He is alive and well, storming the gates of hell
The demons flee, the nest of hate and impurity
At the sound of his name, sinfulness melts away
Swords flaming fire, point higher, higher, higher 

He is alive! He is alive! He is alive! He is alive!

Silence in the air, the Holy Spirit's presence near 
Hands raised up high, to the Spirit of eternal life 
The heavens rejoice above the sun filled blue sky
Praise the holy name of Jesus, King Most High

He is alive! He is alive! He is alive! He is alive!

He is alive and well, storming the gates of hell
The demons flee, the nest of hate and impurity
At The sound of his name, sinfulness melts away
Swords flaming fire, point higher, higher, higher
 
He is alive! He is alive! He is alive! He is alive!

Increase Our Faith

Jesus said to his disciples, "Things that cause us to sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,' you should forgive him." And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you." 

Consideration: Jesus tells us that we will be tempted to sin because of our weakness; we must not cause others to sin as well. He also speaks to us about forgiveness to those who sin against us; and that we should be merciful to anyone that asks us to forgive them, even multiple times. Lastly Jesus says that faith the size of a mustard seed could do what the faithless deem impossible. Amen.    

Be Ready!

Jesus told his disciples this parable. "The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flacks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, 'Behold the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. ' But the wise ones replied, 'No, for there might not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.' While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, 'Lord, Lord, open the door for us!' But he said in reply, "Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.' Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

Consideration: The message from this parable from Jesus to his disciples; and for us today, is the same. Stay awake; be ready; and keep the love in our hearts burning for him always. We must never become complacent and weary, because the Lord will indeed return at time when we least expect. Amen.  

God and Mammon

Jesus said to his disciples: I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcome into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is dishonest in great ones. If therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." The Pharisees who love money, heard these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, "You justify yourselves in the sight of others, But God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God."

Consideration: Money and wealth are not a bad thing. People work very hard to acquire to a certain level of wealth to make a decent life for themselves and their families. But, acquiring wealth dishonestly or in abundance to feed selfish lifestyles and greed is sinful. Those involved in acquiring dishonest wealth, funding lavish lifestyles is an abomination in the sight of God.  

Citizens of Heaven

Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us. For many, as I have told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their "shame." Their minds are occupied with earthy things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lonely body to conform to his glorified Body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.  

Consideration: Saint Paul's Letter to the Philippians is a message for us today as well. The enemies of the cross of Christ confront us on a daily basis in many forms. The world has proclaimed that it alone has the authority and power to control all things; the earth is their kingdom. We, on the other hand, occupy our blessed place here on earth; but long for our reward as citizens of heaven. Be strong; stand firm in the Lord; for the crown of joy and everlasting life awaits us. Amen. 

Repent!

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So Jesus addressed this parable to them. "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and goes after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does he finds it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. "Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I found the coin I lost.' in just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Consideration: Do you love Jesus? Do you want to please him for everything he has done for you; or is about to do for you? Do you want heaven to be filled with joy? Repent! Amen.  

Renounce all Possessions

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them. "If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, "This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.' Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple."

Consideration: Jesus is simply telling us that he is to be number one in our lives. There must be nothing that we put before him. For many, this will be impossible to do because of the attachments we have to the world and the things it has to offer. For those who love the Lord with all their mind, heart, and soul, this is a not a burden, but an act of absolute love of the Lord. Amen.