AT THE BEACH

Today I read the word “independence” on a big poster at our local Post Office.

I have no idea what comes to your mind when you read the word “independence,” but I will tell you what comes to my mind.

“INDEPENDENCE”

“It’s the biggest thing we can help you achieve.”

“Ask us how we can help,”

says the Kiwibank poster and I don’t think I am wrong in saying that it is all about financial independence.

Now, what comes to my mind, when I hear or read the word “independence?”

I know that I will never achieve “real independence,” because I am a dependent being. I am dependent on God. God is the only person in the universe who is self existent. I am dependent on God. I am not even sure about my next breath. Think about all the accidents you read and hear about in the news.

I found the Lord in my teens or rather the Lord found me and since that time the BIBLE is alive for me. I enjoy reading the Scriptures. In Romans 8:13 we read:

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the debt to love one another, …”

I have followed what it says in Romans 8:13 and praise the Lord that I have been all my life financially independent.

The Message of the Cross

People who ignored water safety messages attracted strong criticism from Maritime New Zealand deputy director. (The Northland Age,Tuesday, December 30, 2014)

There are not only water safety messages, there are also other messages and the most important message we find in the Bible.

In the Bible we find the message of the cross, the message of reconciliation.

We are given the message of reconciliation (Second Corinthians 5:18).

In Ephesians 2:16 we are reading about reconciled to God through the cross.

In Colossians 1:20 the Bible says, “and through him to reconcile to himself all things, …”

The word of God is a consuming fire (Jeremiah 5:14).

God’s word is like a hammer that breaks rocks (Jeremiah 23:29).

The gospel is a saving power (Romans 1:16).

The word of God is a defensive weapon (Ephesians 6:17).

The bulk of the population ignores the message of the cross, the message of reconciliation.

Let us remember that the Maritime New Zealand deputy director had strong criticism for people who ignored the water safety messages.

Another beautiful flower

“Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.” – Isaiah 50:10

THE CROSS

“This is what the LORD says – your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

Isaiah 48:17-19

Intr.:

‘I am the LORD your God,

A.  who teaches you what is best for you,

B.  who directs you in the way you should go.

C.  If only you had paid attention to my commands,

1.  your peace would have been like a river,

2.  your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

3. Your descendents would have been like the sand,

4.  your children like its numberless grains;

a.  their name would never be cut off

b.  nor destroyed from before me.'”

End:

Palmtree

“‘The harvest is passed,

the summer has ended,

and we are not saved.'” – Jeremiah 8:20 

THIS YEAR HAS ALMOST ENDED. Are you saved?

“You know a day without sunshine is like night.”

But do you also know that a life without the LORD Jesus Christ is darkness?

In Ephesians 5:8 the Apostle is writing:

“FOR YOU WERE ONCE  DARKNESS, BUT NOW YOU ARE LIGHT IN THE LORD.”

The Psalmist says in Psalm 84:11

“For the LORD God is a sun …”