Merry Christmas!

Dearest family and friends,

Thank God for this season! I love Christmas! What do you think about when you hear that word: Christmas? A tall pine tree, dazzling lights, pretty ornaments, snowflakes, snowmen, poinsettias, ice skating, sledding, lots of presents…? Yes, but these are merely the decorations we use (like streamers for a birthday) and fun events we are privileged to have for the celebration of a very special event in history. There is a hint in the word “Christmas” that tells us what Christmas is about…rather, who Christmas is about.

Christmas is about a virgin giving birth. Christmas is about the Creator entering His creation to take the lowliest position imaginable--that of helpless infancy. Christmas is about a baby…the Christ child…God made into flesh. “And she [Mary] shall bring forth a son, and…shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) He was born in a cradle to die on a cross. There was no personal gain for Him who left the glorious splendors of Heaven to dirty the sole of His foot and walk with sinful mankind. There was no gain…except the redemption of our souls from Hell. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) He came to earth to seek us out; to save us He offered His own body in our place. Whipped, beaten beyond recognition, His beard ripped out of His face, led like a dog through the streets, a crown of thorns pressed into his skull, and then nail through with rusty spikes to an old rugged cross…to bleed and suffer unutterable agony… “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:5-6) Jesus Christ became our substitute. The face of every person ever born and to ever be born passed before Him as the sin of the entire human race was placed in His body and crucified to that cross. And as He hung between Heaven and earth, His agonizing cry was, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” What love! What love is this! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) Jesus humbled Himself to enter His creation. Jesus came…that is why we celebrate Christmas. He is Emmanuel…God with us.

May His radiant light saturate your soul and the warmth of His love fill your heart.

Merry Christmas!

With a singing heart,

Hannah

The Blood

I woke up this morning with some interesting thoughts. Actually, I wasn’t even fully awake when I was having them. Once I was fully awake I found myself wondering if they were a part of my dream or if I had really been thinking them with a fully-conscious mind. Strange, but then, if you knew the kind of things I’ve been dreaming lately, it may not seem so odd. It’s so true what Ecclesiastes 5:3 says. “A dream cometh through the multitude of business.” For the last couple of weeks my dreams have been a strange mixture of imagined circumstances stemming from subconscious fears I didn’t even know existed and the disturbing realities of life. Waking up is quite interesting when I have to sort out what is true from what seemed so real that I thought it was true. Sometimes I think it might be less exhausting to not dream at all. I don’t know how it is with you, but when something is bothering me it is the very first thing to hit me when I wake up. It’s like getting slammed full-force in the face with a baseball bat. I think a physical blow might be more bearable than the emotional knockout.

Some of you already know about little 2-year-old Silas Blackburn. He is the youngest of 8 children belonging to Bro. Nick and Mrs. Karen Blackburn, who are on deputation preparing to go to the Congo as missionaries. Just about two weeks ago they found out that little Silas has an aggressive form of cancer and has a 25% chance of survival. Humanly speaking it seems impossible that the little guy will live…BUT GOD… Is anything too hard for God?

For more information and regular updates you can visit these links:
Mrs. Karen’s blog (mother of Silas): http://www.kdforthecongo.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Kim’s blog (member of Truth Baptist Church): http://www.cherishedheritage.blogspot.com/

The thoughts that triggered this post stem mainly from this shocking situation with little Silas. The Bible tells us that the life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11), which, of course, is a scientifically and medically proven fact. The doctors suggested a blood transfusion so Silas could grow stronger and have a better chance to fight against this disease. Bro. Buddy, who is the Blackburns’ pastor, and his three boys, among several others from the church, have given their blood for Silas. After giving his blood, Bro. Buddy preached a message on the blood, comparing the amazing make-up of human blood to the astounding sin-cleansing power of Christ’s blood. It was great preaching! This past Sunday Bro. Buddy sadly mentioned that his blood had somehow not been used within the amount of time that it would have still been considered “good.” It had expired and gone to waste. I felt so sad when I heard that, and I could tell Bro. Buddy was sad too. And this it what caused me to think about the things I want to share with you.

About 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ, the pure and sinless Son of God, allowed himself to be sacrificed as the spotless Lamb. He allowed Himself to be falsely accused, degradingly spit upon, cruelly mocked, beaten beyond recognition, and then nailed with spikes to a rough, splintered cross. His suffering was immeasurable. Never had anyone endured the agony that Christ willingly bore on that cross. Not only was His earthly body wracked with excruciating pain, but His mind and soul were tormented as well. As His life’s blood flowed in streams from that old rugged cross, the face of each and every person that had ever been born or would be born, passed by Him. He saw my face. Your face flashed before Him. And every sin that had been committed or ever would be committed by the entire human race was placed in His body. Jesus took upon Himself the sin of the whole world. Think about how guilty and miserable you feel when you know you have done wrong. Perhaps there was a time when sin built up in your life until you felt crushed under the burden of guilt. Multiply every sin you ever committed and its guilt feelings, times the sin of a person’s lifetime, times the lifetimes of all the human population that had ever been born and was to be born. Don’t you think that would be enough weight to crush the soul? This emotional turmoil was added to the physical torture Jesus Christ endured on the cross. The One who knew no sin and was incapable of sinning suddenly had the sin of the whole world thrust upon Him. Willingly, He accepted our sins into His body. He took my place and your place on that cross and died so that we wouldn’t have to be thrown into Hell--the punishment for our sins. Jesus paid a debt we could never pay! Christ won a victory that we could never win! GLORY to GOD!

Similar to little Silas, I had contaminated blood. I was sick with sin. But Jesus Christ gave me a “blood transfusion,” taking my polluted blood and giving me His sinless blood. That thought renders me speechless. When I was sick in my sin, Christ offered me a gift no one else could ever offer. He gave me the gift of salvation--eternal life--purchased with His blood. You know, this morning I was thinking about Bro. Buddy. He gave his blood for Silas, but it was carelessly misplaced and wasted. I thought how sad Bro. Buddy must have been when he discovered that the blood he had gladly offered to save Silas was apparently taken for granted. Blood is blood! Bro. Buddy sacrificed some of his essential life’s fluids. That’s no small thing! In a similar way, Jesus Christ gladly offered to give us His blood to save us from dying and spending an eternity in Hell. Some have heard the glorious tidings of Christ’s love and accepted this blood gift for their salvation. These have eternal life. Others have been made aware of their sinful, dying condition. Their response has been to uncaringly refused the life-giving blood offered to them. These have rejected Jesus Christ’s gift. If Bro. Buddy felt sad that his blood had been wasted, how much more must Christ sorrow as His blood is treated with careless disrespect and utter distain? Those who reject Jesus Christ might as well be pouring out His blood in a puddle in the dirt. God will surely judge those who so casually spill the precious blood His Son shed so that they might live. “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23

Then I got to thinking about those who have given Silas blood. I know there are many people who are praying and hoping beyond hope that he will come through this. His family and friends are affected by this, but think about those who have given some of their blood to Silas. They have put something that was personal and highly valuable into that little boy. Surely, they have taken a special interest in his condition and are more adamant than ever that he should live. I hear my dad’s words playing in my mind. “He has to live! That little boy just HAS to live!!!” My dad has prayed, but he has not even given his blood, and he feels so strongly that little Silas has to pull through this. Imagine how those who have given their blood must feel! Now think about it in this light. When God looks at us, he sees the blood of Jesus Christ flowing through our “veins,” as it were. Anyone who has received Christ as their Saviour has had a spiritual blood transfusion. That bad blood is gone. The pure, spotless blood of Jesus has replaced it! As Christians, the purifying blood and healing work of Christ should be evident in our lives. We are no longer sick with sin, so why would we act as though we are? What must God think when He sees a Christian who has returned to the world like a dog to its vomit? Why would anyone choose to be sick once they have experienced how truly wonderful the blood’s healing is? Those who have given their blood to Silas are rooting for him to LIVE! They have sacrificed something for that little boy, therefore his life has become extra precious to them. In the same way, Jesus sacrificed His blood for each and every Christian, and our lives have become extra precious to Him. Jesus has invested His blood into our lives. He wants to see us LIVE and not die spiritually! Little Silas can’t choose between living or dying, but YOU can, Christian! It is in your power to determine whether you are going to live to be a victorious Christian or if you are going to be a lazy, good-for-nothing, dead Christian. You have the choice! You have to recognize the fact that you OWE it to Christ to live for Him. He invested His life’s blood into the healing of your soul. Can you hear His voice almost pleading, as a mother bent over the crib of her sick baby? “You HAVE to live! You have to LIVE!!!” To choose to die would be to say that Christ’s sacrifice wasn’t sufficient. His blood wasn’t powerful enough. What He had to offer was below your standard of acceptable. Would you dare? Would you dare to slap His face?
Are you going to live? The choice is yours.

Those are just some thoughts about the greatest Blood Donor this world has ever known. Now I’d like to talk to those who have benefited from blood and also those who have been called and volunteered to donate their blood unconditionally to the cause of Christ.

You know, we often refer to our church as a hospital. We attract many sick people with many varying sicknesses. Those who are wise continue to come to the “hospital” for their weekly treatments, insuring their health with regular doses of “medication”--preaching and fellowship. The pastor, his family, the deacons, the teachers, those who do odd jobs and cleaning--these are the blood donors, the doctors and nurses in the “hospital.” There are many others who are working in the “medical service.” Missionaries and evangelists are just a few who cross the country or move to foreign fields, exhausting their life’s supply of blood for the livelihood of others. Have you ever thought to thank those who have invested their life’s “blood”--money, time and energy--on your behalf? No man lives on an island. There has to be somebody who has touched your life in such a way that you were never the same afterwards. Have you shown your appreciation to that person? Out of ten people, only one leper thought to return and thank Jesus for His healing touch. Perhaps you could make it your objective to be that one leper. Perhaps you could be the one to revive your “blood donor” so he/she has the energy to continue pouring out service to others. “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.” (Proverbs 12:25) It doesn’t have to be a big deal. Just whisper a meaningful “thank you.” You may be surprised to see tears of joy for the quiet acknowledgement on your part. What a better world this would be if more people would only show a little gratitude!

Growing up in the ministry, I know just how draining and utterly exhausting it can be to be pouring out “blood”--time, money, energy, sacrificed dreams, etc., etc.--into people who don’t seem to care. If you’re in the ministry you know what I mean. Sometimes you just get downright sick of it (no pun intended). How many times have you found yourself silently asking this question: “Is it really worth it?” You’re on a lonely mission field, with family and friends 6,000 or more miles away without the faintest notion of how terribly alone you are. Their own lives continue on as usual, meanwhile you feel as if yours will never be the same. They could never fully understand what you are going through. You’re traveling the road constantly, going from church to church. You have a “home church,” but you don’t feel truly at home anywhere. The once or twice a year that you stop in, you have to introduce yourself as if appearing for the first time. You see new faces, meet new people, but there are few lasting relationships of any value. You long for the secure feeling of “belonging” somewhere…anywhere. You’re ministering to a church where the people are cold and dead and have no desire for God’s Word. You feel that your work is in vain as people fill the pews of a cold church building and that’s where they stay. No volunteers for extra ministries. Nobody wants to teach Sunday school or watch crying babies or go door-to-door or stand for Christ publicly. You wonder if there are really people with beating hearts inside those human shells. Do they have ears? Does the preaching register? Perhaps it might be more profitable to preach to a brick wall. As the pastor’s family you feel like the weight of the entire church ministry is not equally distributed but is divided, instead, on the shoulders of a few 3 or 4 people. You feel like you are pulling and pushing people to cooperate instead of everyone helping along, pitching in happily. Going to church becomes merely a habit, all joy lost, for nobody else is joyfully entering the house of God. You try to be cheerful, but after a while your tiny flickering coal loses its warmth. Going to church is a drudgery. If only others would participate and get excited…like when a game is on or ice cream and cake are being served. And you ask yourself this question: “Is it really worth it?” All these varying circumstances…all so different and yet the same. You feel imprisoned. Lost in a bubble of time. Trapped in God’s will.

These cases are not pure speculation. I’ve seen this over and over and over. I’ve experienced this personally. You get tired of the ministry? Yup! I never claimed to be perfect! Giving “blood” can be exhausting business…especially when I wonder if anyone cares or is benefiting from it. Is it wrong to want to see a little fruit for our labor? Is it wrong to want people to reACT to the preaching instead of simply warming a chair? No, I don’t think so. And sometimes I find myself frustrated. Sometimes I find myself asking “Is it really worth it? Is it really worth the sacrifice?” By faith I have to believe that it is. God knows that I can think of plenty of other places I’d rather be than here in spiritually dead Holland. God knows I’d like to see souls saved and Christians caring for something other than their own little lives. I sometimes wonder if anybody even cares that we have invested 13 years into the cultivation of this spiritually barren plain. Does anybody care that I would rather have lived in the States, attending a beautiful church building, having lots of friends my own age, and living close to family? People can’t grasp that kind of sacrifice. I couldn’t if I wasn’t in these shoes. And then I have to remind myself that I’m not here for these people. I’m here because God asks me to lend my life to Him. It’s not about ME anymore. My life is supposed to be Christ-centered, God-enthroned. Fellow laborer, are you exhausted from your endless labor? Does it seem that you’ve given the very last drop of your life’s blood for the cause of Christ and the health of those surrounding you? If you have depleted your stores, then return to the cross. Get a glimpse of Calvary! Draw your strength anew from the fresh flowing tide and bathe your soul in the life-giving blood of Christ. There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins. Go to it! Refresh your soul, weary one! There is power in the blood of the Lamb!

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Are You Exhausted Spiritually?

“The everlasting God…fainteth not, neither is weary”

Exhaustion means that the vital forces are worn right out. Spiritual exhaustion never comes through sin but only through service, and whether or not you are exhausted will depend upon where you get your supplies. Jesus said to Peter ~ “Feed My sheep,” but Him gave him nothing to feed them with. The process of being made broken bread and poured-out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you to the dregs. Be careful that you get your supply, or before long you will be utterly exhausted. Before other souls learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus direct, they have to draw on it through you; you have to be literally “sucked,” until they learn to take their nourishment from God. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and His sheep as well as for Himself.

Has the way in which you have been serving God betrayed you into exhaustion? If so, then rally your affection. Where did you start the service from? From your own sympathy of from the basis of the Redemption of Jesus Christ? Continually go back to the foundation of your affections and recollect where the source of power is. You have no right to say ~ “O Lord, I am so exhausted.” He saved and sanctified you in order to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that your supply comes from Him. “All my fresh springs shall be in Thee.”

My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers

Take My Son

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you and your love for art."

The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.

"Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?"

There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one."

But the auctioneer persisted. "Will somebody bid for this painting. Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"

Another voice angrily exclaimed, "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandt's. Get on with the real bids!"

But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who will take the son?"

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

"We have $10, who will bid $20?"

"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters."

"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!"

A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!"

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over."

"What about the paintings?"

"I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son inherits everything!"


God gave His Son, Jesus Christ, 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: "The Son, the Son! Who will take the Son?"

Whoever takes the Son inherits everything!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

The Hiding Place

On Saturday my sister and I watched two little boys from our church. Actually, for the past three Saturdays we’ve watched them because their mom is in the hospital trying to keep from having her third baby prematurely. In the meantime, we are trying to help Bro. Glenn out by watching their two little boys so he can do some things in the house, etc., without having two little boys in tow.

We’ve really had a lot of fun with Daniel (age 3) and Nathan (age 2). (We call them our “chocolate babies.”) It’s not been at all difficult because their parents are good parents and discipline them and are training them the way all good parents do. We especially had a lot of fun last Saturday. After lunch I set up a “tent” for the boys, putting two kitchen chairs together and covering them with a blanket from the couch. They loved it, especially Daniel, and immediately began playing under it.

Once he was under the tent, Daniel started talking about a bear. He somehow got it in his little head that my mom was the bear, so every time Mom walked past she would growl, and Daniel would scream with delight. Both boys would cautiously approach her as she was busy doing things around the house. Then Mom would turn around and growl at them, and they would both scurry for the safety of their tent, all the while screaming and shouting with glee. It was so funny!!!

Lydia put Nathan down for a nap later on. She and Mom were both upstairs, and I was busy cleaning the messy kitchen floor after lunch and doing some other things. Daniel came to me and excitedly told me that “the bear” was coming. Then he clutched my hand and urged me into the security of the tent. He got himself all settled inside and then looked up at me with those big brown eyes and began telling me in jumbled-up childish words that “the bear” was outside, and “the bear” wanted to get us. He was so adorable! As I was “hiding” in the tent from the big bad “bear,” and listening to Daniel whispering to me, I had a revelation. Daniel and I were just playing a childish game, but suddenly I began thinking about it in a different light…in a way that made our game seem very real. So, without further ado, let me share some thoughts I had on the matter with you.

At one time or another, I think every adult can look back and remember the great fun of playing games as a child. Especially games that involve hiding. Didn’t you feel so safe in that little corner, hiding behind the couch, or snuggled under a blanket? Those were wonderful days. I remember always wanting to be big when I was a little girl. My goal was to grow up so I could do adult things…fun things. Little did I realize that being a child, with no responsibilities, when the worst thing that could happen was scraping my knee…little did I realize that those were some of the best days of my life. But that’s just the way we are. We are always wanting something else…something better…something greater (or so we think). As we grew up, we somehow came to the conclusion that hiding games were something that children played. We were above such childlike foolishness. In our hurry to grow up, we put away “childish things,” and hiding games were forgotten.

You know, I think we adults miss out on so much. Having finally attained our great “maturity” and independence, we have forgotten our childhood games. We have forgotten what it was like to feel insecure as the “bad guy” searched for us. We have forgotten what it was like to need to find a good hiding place where we felt safe. As grown ups, it is important to be strong, but sometimes I think we forget that it’s okay to be weak. We have underestimated the importance of finding a hiding place, having a higher opinion of ourselves than to admit that we have a need…that we are human…that we are vulnerable and long for protection…for security in a cruel world. We have failed to realize that our childhood playtimes have carried on into real life. Only, the “bad guy” isn’t just another child pretending. And what we thought was something to be afraid of then has multiplied. There really are dangers out there. There really are things we should fear. It’s fine to be strong and ignore the harsh realities of life, but it takes a bigger man (or woman) to acknowledge them and then wisely find a hiding place.

The problem is that, as adults, hiding behind the couch doesn’t work anymore. We are too big to fit in the tiny spaces that once hid our small frames. Neither will a blanket do to shut out the traumas we face. It just won’t solve the problem. Where can we find a hiding place? We can go on vacation for a while. But the problems will still be there when we return. Where can we find a hiding place? This is the question of millions today. This world is full of people who are searching for some kind of hiding place. Anything to shut out the fear…the loneliness. Some people use addictions like smoking, drinking, drugs, porno, etc., etc., as a means of escape. But it is only temporary. Others use things that seem innocent, like eating incessantly, to take their minds off of their troubles. A person could be using a romantic relationship as a way of staying afloat…as a reason for living. The lifelong quest of the human race is finding a purpose in life. And at some point, when the distractions fail to sidetrack our minds from life’s trials, we realize our need for a hiding place…a shelter. But, where can we find that hiding place?

As I sat with Daniel in the tent, and he looked up at me with those big brown eyes, I thought, not about the hiding game we were playing, but the spiritual application of hiding. The whole game takes on a new meaning when you think of it in a spiritual light.
Satan is the “bear.” He hunts us like prey, seeking to destroy us. He will stop at nothing. Like a furious bear, his ultimate goal is to track us down and tear us apart. He wants to destroy our lives and then send our souls to a burning Hell for all eternity.
Jesus Christ is our “tent.” He is a shelter and a refuge. As He bled and died on the cruel cross of Calvary, Jesus made a way of escape from the fearsome claws of Satan, the destroyer. He offered Himself as a sacrifice in our place, taking the punishment we deserve. Jesus became a hiding place from the licking flames of Hell. We can run to Him for our security, trusting in His saving blood and asking for forgiveness for our sins. And then He will be our hiding place...our eternal security. I have found my hiding place in Jesus Christ. He is my security. He said “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Jesus welcomes all those who are weary of their troubles and their addictive distractions to come to Him and find the rest they have been searching for all along. Jesus offers relief to those who are tired of trying to outrun the “bear,” Satan. Truly, there is rest in Jesus. At the end of broken dreams, He is the open door, waiting to shelter the crushed soul.

The thing is, we have to be willing to admit that they can’t go on any longer. Daniel’s little tent had just a tiny entrance. In order to enter the tent, both of us had to stoop to the ground and kneel to enter the shelter. In the same way, we have to bow our will and bend our stubborn pride to enter the small doorway that leads to eternal security in Jesus Christ. In order to enter the small gate that leads to Heaven, we have to leave our sin and pride behind. Pride will keep us standing outside the gate, and sin will make it impossible to enter in. Is it worth it? Would you let your sin keep you from entering the hiding place? Would you allow such an insignificant thing as your pride restrain you from rushing into the open arms of Jesus? David’s testimony is this: “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” (Psalm 130:1-4) David cried out for mercy, and he obtained forgiveness for his sin. There is forgiveness to be found in Jesus Christ. Proverbs 22:3 points out that “a prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” Wise men and women admit that they are helpless to hide from Satan, the “bear,” and run to Jesus, the hiding place, instead.

Not only is Jesus a hiding place for our souls in light of eternity, but He is a shelter for us throughout this present life we live.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
“For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.” Psalm 61:3

If you are a Christian, then you know that just because you got saved it doesn’t mean you are safe from the prowling of Satan, the “bear.” Upon receiving Christ as our Savior, we obtained eternal security for our souls, but the “bear” has not given up on tormenting us in this present life. In fact, often things get harder after we become Christians. Satan is enraged that our souls no longer belong to him, thus, he seeks to make our temporal lives as miserable as possible. Jesus said in John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” When the “bear” comes in search of us, we can run to our Hiding Place, the Keeper of our souls, and find peace. Jesus said, “In ME ye might have peace.”

Psalm 27 is my favorite Psalm. I can’t tell you how many times I have drawn strength from those 14 verses. One verse that has always soothed my troubled heart is this: “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5) Pavilion. The secret of His tabernacle. Those words intrigue me! Have you ever taken a moment and thought about what God’s pavilion must look like? Have you ever considered what it must be like to be hidden in the secret of His tabernacle?

I like to picture things in my mind, and in my imagination I have formed images of these mysterious dwellings. I believe a girl’s hair should be long enough to cover her face when she prays. According to 1 Corinthians 11:15, a girl’s hair is given her for a covering…a veil. In prayer one day, as my hair fell around my face, encircling it like a curtain, I began to realize what Psalm 27:5 meant by the word “pavilion” and the phrase to be hidden in “the secret of His tabernacle.” I shut my eyes, and in my mind I pictured myself kneeling on a thick, soft carpet in the center of a large room. It had no walls, but thick tapestries of deep and rich colors hung all around, acting as a wall…sheltering me. Scarlet is the color I remember the most. Those beautiful tapestries were gorgeous prints of crimson red with threads of gold. I saw myself knelt, as if in prayer, in the center of this room. So small, insignificant, and almost helpless was I, in this large place. It appeared that I was alone…and yet an enormous Presence seemed to occupy every space. The air surrounding me was warm….the perfect temperature. All was quiet and still. An unspeakable peace reigned there. A gentle serenity and warmth filled my entire being. It was as if Someone was holding me with love so intense that it seemed to seep into every pore and calm my soul. I felt safe. Oh, so very safe!

As I opened my eyes that picture fled from my mind, but it left an indelible impression on me. I was reminded of Psalm 18:19 and Psalm 118:5. “He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.” “I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.” After that brief experience of God’s presence, I might have an idea…some clue of the meaning of Psalm 27:5. The Lord set me in a large place, in His pavilion, and He hid me in the secret of His tabernacle. Jesus, my hiding place. When life becomes too hard to bear and I feel about to break under the pressure, I run to my Hiding Place and find shelter there, in the loving embrace of my Lord.

“Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.” Psalm 32:7
“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” Psalm 119:114

Remember how I wrote that whenever “the bear” was nearby, Daniel would call for me to come to the tent and be safe with him? On one occasion as I was busily working around the house, he came to me, and, grabbing my hand, he tried to pull me into the tent, all the while telling me that “the bear” was coming to get me. Well, that got me thinking as well. You know, sometimes we Christians are just plain dumb! We go through life in ignorance, totally unaware that “the bear” is on the prowl, tracking our scent. All around us our friends and family are urging us, like Daniel did with me, to hide in the safety of “the tent.” What does the tent mean, in this case? It could mean any number of things. A deeper relationship with the Lord. The security of the church. The wisdom and counsel of a spiritual leader, etc., etc. You know what “the tent” means for you in your circumstances. Dear Christian, if your pastor, parents, siblings, friends, or brothers and sisters at church are taking your hand and pulling you into the security of “the tent,” don’t fight against them! They are trying to help you! They love you and long to know that you are safe from the lethal claws of “the bear.” Only a fool rejects the loving warnings of those urging him into the safety of “the tent.” Christian, I plead with you, lay down your pride and flee from the attempts of Satan to violently attack you! Run to Jesus, your hiding place. He offers peace and rest. He longs to set you in a large place and shower His love upon you!

Jesus can bring you through whatever difficulties you are going through. He offers peace in a world wracked with fear and rest in a world full of anxiety. Are those problems too much to bear? Enter into the secret of His tabernacle. Lay down your burdens before the Lord in prayer. Your trials were not sent to crush your back but to bring you back to your first Love, the Lord Jesus. He asks that you lay them before Him. Surrender it all to Him. His shoulders are broad and strong enough to carry that which would cripple you.

Bear not a single care thyself;
One is too much for thee.
The work is Mine, and Mine alone;
Thy work ~ to rest in Me.

Remember the words of “I Must Tell Jesus”:

I must tell Jesus all of my trials;

I cannot bear these burdens alone;

In my distress He kindly will help me;

He ever loves and cares for His own.

Remember how fun it was to hide as a child? You can hide once again! Simply forget your grownup maturity and leave off your brave independence. Those who have these qualities of self assurance are the first to be sniffed out by Satan, the devouring “bear.” It takes a bigger man or woman to admit weakness and then run in childlike faith to Jesus, the hiding place.

Will you flee to the safety of the Hiding Place?

You are my hiding place,

You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance.

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.

Let the weak say I am strong in the strength of the Lord.
You are my hiding place.

I will trust in You!

Salvation By Faith Alone

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." ~ Mark 16:16

Mr. MacDonald asked the inhabitants of the island of St. Kilda how a man must be saved. An old man replied, "We shall be saved if we repent, and forsake our sins, and turn to God." "Yes," said a middle-aged female, "and with a true heart too." "Ay," rejoined a third, "and with prayer"; and, added a fourth, "It must be the prayer of the heart." "And we must be diligent too," said a fifth, "in keeping the commandments." Thus, each having contributed his mite, feeling that a very decent creed had been made up, they all looked and listened for the preacher's approbation, but they had aroused his deepest pity.
The carnal mind always maps out for itself a way in which self can work and become great, but the Lord's way is quite the reverse. Believing and being baptized are no matters of merit to be gloried in-they are so simple that boasting is excluded, and free grace bears the palm. It may be that the reader is unsaved--what is the reason? Do you think the way of salvation as laid down in the text to be dubious? How can that be when God has pledged His own word for its certainty? Do you think it too easy? Why, then, do you not attend to it? Its ease leaves those without excuse who neglect it. To believe is simply to trust, to depend, to rely upon Christ Jesus. To be baptized is to submit to the ordinance which our Lord fulfilled at Jordan, to which the converted ones submitted at Pentecost, to which the jailer yielded obedience the very night of his conversion. The outward sign saves not, but it sets forth to us our death, burial, and resurrection with Jesus, and, like the Lord's Supper, is not to be neglected. Reader, do you believe in Jesus? Then, dear friend, dismiss your fears, you shall be saved. Are you still an unbeliever, then remember there is but one door, and if you will not enter by it you will perish in your sins.

Morning and Evening, by C. H. Spurgeon

Reassurance

"Gather not my soul with sinners." ~ Psalm 26:9

Fear made David pray thus, for something whispered, "Perhaps, after all, thou mayst be gathered with the wicked." That fear, although marred by unbelief, springs, in the main, from holy anxiety, arising from the recollection of past sin. Even the pardoned man will enquire, "What if at the end my sins should be remembered, and I should be left out of the catalogue of the saved?" He recollects his present unfruitfulness--so little grace, so little love, so little holiness, and looking forward to the future, he considers his weakness and the many temptations which beset him, and he fears that he may fall, and become a prey to the enemy. A sense of sin and present evil, and his prevailing corruptions, compel him to pray, in fear and trembling, "Gather not my soul with sinners." Reader, if you have prayed this prayer, and if your character be rightly described in the Psalm from which it is taken, you need not be afraid that you shall be gathered with sinners. Have you the two virtues which David had--the outward walking in integrity, and the inward trusting in the Lord? Are you resting upon Christ's sacrifice, and can you compass the altar of God with humble hope? If so, rest assured, with the wicked you never shall be gathered, for that calamity is impossible. The gathering at the judgment is like to this: "Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." If, then, thou art like God's people, thou shalt be with God's people. You cannot be gathered with the wicked, for you are too dearly bought. Redeemed by the blood of Christ, you are His for ever, and where He is, there must His people be. You are loved too much to be cast away with reprobates. Shall one dear to Christ perish? Impossible! Hell cannot hold thee! Heaven claims thee! Trust in thy Surety and fear not!

Morning and Evening, by C. H. Spurgeon

This Man Receiveth Sinners

“This man receiveth sinners.” ~ Luke 15:2

Observe the condescension of this fact. This Man, who towers above all other men, holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners--this Man receiveth sinners. This Man, who is no other than the eternal God, before whom angels veil their faces--this Man receiveth sinners. It needs an angel’s tongue to describe such a mighty stoop of love. That any of us should be willing to seek after the lost is nothing wonderful--they are of our own race; but that He, the offended God, against whom the transgression has been committed, should take upon Himself the form of a servant, and bear the sin of many, and should then be willing to receive the vilest of the vile, this is marvelous.

“This Man receiveth sinners”; not, however, that they may remain sinners, but He receives them that He may pardon their sins, justify their persons, cleanse their hearts by His purifying Word, preserve their souls by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, and enable them to serve Him, to show forth His praise, and to have communion with Him. Into His heart’s love He receives sinners, takes them from the dunghill, and wears them as jewels in His crown; plucks them as brands from the burning, and preserves them as costly monuments of His mercy. None are so precious in Jesus’ sight as the sinners for whom He died. When Jesus receives sinners, He has not some out-of-doors reception place, no casual ward where He charitably entertains them as men do passing beggars, but He opens the golden gates of His royal heart, and receives the sinner right into Himself--yea, He admits the humble penitent into personal union and makes him a member of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. There was never such a reception as this! This fact is still most sure this evening, He is still receiving sinners: would to God sinners would receive Him!!!

Morning and Evening, by Charles Spurgeon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Love of God

When pondering the love of God, I find myself astonished beyond word
That He should die for a sinner as I--such sacrifice I’ve never heard
What love that Jesus would hang in my stead on that old rugged cross
And, in so doing, would save my soul from being an eternal loss
What mercy that He should forgive my sins that nailed Him there
And blot them all out when in repentance I pray the sinner’s prayer

Written by Hannah L. Huussen

The Record Book

If all the things you ever said,
Were written in a book;
And all your thoughts were on display,
So all could take a look:
I guess there’s not a living soul,
Who wouldn’t hang his head:
And feel ashamed before the Lord
And wish that he were dead.

There is a record book I’m told,
With every deed and word:
It even keeps the records of
Our thought and can’t be heard;
The good, the bad and every sin,
For nothing has been missed:
It really makes me feel ashamed,
To think what’s on my list.

And yet the pages of my past,
Shall never condemn me:
For Jesus nailed them to His cross,
One day at Calvary:
And now I stand in Him complete,
Redeemed from sin and strife:
And with His blood He wrote my name,
Down in the Book of Life.

~ Author Unknown

One Stormy Night

Well, it’s just a bit after 10 p.m. here. The sky just put out the wildest color display. The clouds were dark and extremely low and turned from yellow to green to red. It was sorta creepy! Our neighbors gathered outside their houses to watch. While everyone else was outside I headed upstairs to my parents’ bedroom on the 3rd floor and opened their skylight. I scanned the vast neighborhood below. One of our neighbors just got married; they are having a loud party. Crouching to the ground, I gazed upward, so all I could see was the outline of the skylight window and beyond that the endless expanse of threatening black clouds. The partiers laughter and devilish music rose from below, mixing with the low rumbling of thunder overhead. The sky flashed angrily as bolds of lightning pierced the darkness. It almost seemed as though Someone was angry, and a feeling of awe washed over me as I thought about a very similar scene that took place years and years ago, before I was born.

The earth was filled with violence. Sinful man covered the face of the earth. Their angry, drunken cries reached the ears of Almighty God, and the stench of innocent blood rose to His nostrils. God looked down from Heaven and mourned the day He created man. He searched throughout the whole earth, and only one righteous man was found among all of humanity. His name was Noah, and he was told to build an enormous boat. Noah preached 120 years to all his neighbors, telling them that a flood would destroy the earth, but the people only mocked him. They were too busy having fun to think of something serious. Then came a day when they were eating and drinking and enjoying a marriage celebration. Suddenly the sky grew black. It began to rain--something that had never happened before. As rain fell harder and harder, the earth opened up and the fountains of the deep unleashed their torrents of water. All of sinful humanity drowned. The earth was void of all living things. The only people to survive the worldwide flood were Noah, his family of seven, and some animals in the boat.

When the flood ended, and the water subsided, God put a beautiful rainbow in the sky, and that was a sign of His promise to never destroy the earth with water again. We still see that beautiful bow in the sky today after a storm. The Bible is the Word of God, and God cannot lie. Years after that worldwide flood, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, came into the world in the form of human flesh. Jesus said,

“For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe [Noah], so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe [Noah] entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.” Luke 17:24-27

The sounds of partying people below...the raging storm overhead. This scene being played out before me reminded me of that day so long ago, when the earth was destroyed. The earth will be destroyed again after the Son of man, Jesus Christ, comes to claim His own. In Noah’s day the earth was destroyed by water; the second time it will be destroyed by fire. Jesus said in Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

Jesus Christ is coming soon! What are your works, friend? The Bible tells us that our works aren’t good enough to get us to Heaven. The best thing we ever did is like a filthy rag in the sight of God. He is so holy that we could never, ever attain to His holiness. God saw that we were doomed, as were all those people in the days of Noah. Way back then God told Noah to build a boat so those people could be saved if they would get in. Two thousand years ago God sent His only Son to die on an old rugged cross. Just like God made a way of escape by boat from drowning, He now offers us a way of escape from eternal death in Hell if we will repent of our sins and put our trust in Jesus Christ. The question is, will you get on board?

“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” Proverbs 22:3

Christian, are you waiting on the Ark? Are you expectantly gazing out the window, anticipating the coming of your Lord? It would be extremely wise to step in the boat. Don’t party around with the world; you can’t serve God and the devil and get away with it!!! It just doesn’t work! One day we will stand before God and give account for every idle deed. I expect there’ll be some tears shed on that day. Are you living a righteous life so they will be as few as possible? Noah did, and God recorded his name in the Hall of Faith.

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Hebrews 11:7

What Standard?

He Gave Himself

Before the fall of man, God had a perfect plan
To fellowship with us was His desire
But Adam disobeyed, to sin became a slave
Now a perfect sacrifice would be required

An offering must be made, the sin debt must be paid
So God and man could reconciled be
So Jesus said, “I’ll go,” because He loved me so
He shed His blood and paid sin’s penalty

He gave Himself to pay a debt I could not pay
When I was lost He gave Himself to be my way
Though I deserved to be upon the cross that day
In love He took my place and gave Himself

No greater love is known, no greater love is shown
Than when one lays his life down for a friend
But Jesus died for me, when I was His enemy
A love like this I cannot comprehend

He gave Himself to pay a debt I could not pay
When I was lost He gave Himself to be my way
Though I deserved to be upon the cross that day
In love He took my place and gave Himself

My nails were in His hands, my crown of thorns He wore
My stripes were on His back, my heavy cross He bore
And when God turned His back, He turned it on my sin
Jesus won a victory that I could never win

He gave Himself to pay a debt I could not pay
When I was lost He gave Himself to be my way
Though I deserved to be upon the cross that day
In love He took my place and gave Himself

In love He took my place…and gave Himself

By Niki Lott & Alicia Reagan

I Gave My Life For Thee

Today is Good Friday. What is Good Friday exactly? Most people just think of it as a day off work and school and another reason to party.

Good Friday has a deeper meaning for me. Though nobody knows the exact date, today is the day we celebrate the death of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. I am so thankful that Jesus thought I was worth dying for, so much so that He stepped off His throne, leaving all His heavenly glory, to come to earth and save sinful mankind. Worthy? Me? No, I deserved Hell and my sin was leading on a path directly into that burning abyss. I was eternally lost, but then Jesus found me.

I was reading this morning about the crucifixion as told in Matthew 26 and 27. It never fails to astonish me that the Savior would allow Himself to be crucified in my place. If I had been the only person in the world, Jesus would have died for me so I could go to Heaven.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

What love is this! I can hardly believe that He could care so much for me, sinful and wretched as I am. I stand amazed. Thank You, Lord! Thank You!

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
Matthew 27:27-31

To think what He endured for me! To be spit on is one of the most vile, degrading things I can think of.
Jesus said, “Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” (Matt. 26:64) For this reason the soldiers mocked His Kingship. What a surprise awaits them when they do see Him sitting as King of kings and Lord of lords, ruling the earth, not with a flaxen reed, but with a rod of iron! The Bible says that all will bow the knee before Jesus Christ. On that day His enemies will tremble and quake at the sight of Him, for His awesome glory will be enough to melt the heart. Righteousness will prevail, and He will be the one to have the last laugh when He makes His enemies His footstool.

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Romans 14:11, 12

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11

I Gave My Life For Thee

I gave My life for thee,
My precious blood I shed,
That thou might’st ransomed be,
And quickened from the dead.
I gave, I gave, My life for thee,
What hast thou giv’n for Me?
I gave, I gave, My life for thee,
What hast thou giv’n for Me?

My Father’s house of light,
My glory-circled throne,
I left for earthly night,
For wand’rings sad and lone.
I left, I left, it all for thee,
Hast thou left aught for Me?
I left, I left, it all for thee,
Hast thou left aught for Me?

I suffered much for thee,
More than thy tongue can tell
Of bit’rest agony,
To rescue thee from hell, from hell,
And I have brought to thee,
Down from My home above
Salvation full and free,
My pardon and My love.
I bring, I bring, rich gifts to thee,
What hast thou brought to Me?
I bring, I bring, rich gifts to thee,
What hast thou brought to Me?

What hast thou brought to Me?
I gave My life for thee!

Words by Frances R. Havergal

Praise God for love such as this! Jesus is Lord! He’s coming soon to claim His own! Are you prepared?

Princess Story

I am a princess, the daughter of the King of kings! My Father has many, many mansions. I have one all of my own! He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. My Father is wisdom, and has strength, honor, and power. My lips fail to describe His glory and majesty!

Because I m His child, you will find me different than most girls you meet. My clothing, conduct, and speech are different because I have been joined to the royal family of the King of kings and Lord of lords. I use the word "joined" because I have not always lived with the King. I was not born into His family. No, indeed. I was born into the kingdom of the Wicked One who hated my very soul. His purpose was to destroy me. Before I tell you my story, I should start at the beginning so you will better understand.

In the beginning of time there was a heavenly kingdom of peace, but one day a rebellion arose in the kingdom, and the instigator, the Wicked One, was cast out into the nether kingdom by the Great King. He worked furiously to stir up the citizens against the Great King. The Wicked One deceived the people, telling them that if they would follow him, he would make them kings who would eventually be greater and wiser than the Great King. Together they would overcome Him. The citizens agreed, and the spell was cast.

Now these people were under the mind control of the Wicked One. The citizens blindly followed. The Wicked One made them wander aimlessly throughout his realm, trodding the streets called "Selfishness," "Greed," "Rebellion," and the highway called "High Way of Pride." They were told that on this high road the kingdom of the Great King could easily be seen, but for some reason the travelers of this road felt farther from the heavenly kingdom than ever. Could it ever be reached? These roads only led right back to the realm of the Wicked One. It seemed there was no way out, and a few of the citizens began to wonder if they were trapped...enslaved to the Wicked One.

When the Wicked One heard of these doubtings in his deceived people, he devised diversions ~ worldly pleasures that appealed to the flesh, and the feeding of their ego with the personal satisfaction of accomplishment. And yet, the emptiness, the gaping void in their souls, was not filled. The people certainly did not feel like the kings they were supposed to have become. In fact, if you would have gazed over the nether kingdom as the Great King did daily, your eyes would have beheld a sight very sobering indeed!

The eyes of the King saw through the Wicked One's dense mist of lies that covered the nether kingdom. He saw the true darkness, the dirt, the poverty. The people were no more than paupers. Occasionally the sound of dancing, laughing citizens drifted up and through the windows of the King's castle. But the sound was so empty, so hollow. There was no root of joy there. Then it would quickly die away as soon as it began.

Into this depraved kingdom was I born. I soon wandered the streets of "Rebellion," "Self," and "Pride" as everyone else did. There were many I trod. I was lost, cold, alone, and so very empty. How could I go on another day? What was the purpose of my life? I was so weary of those paths. They led to despair and guilt and grief. Oh, how I wanted to be loved! I did not realize that the One against whom I had hardened my heart did indeed love me.

In anguish and utter despair I fixed my eyes on that Heavenly castle, so high above, and sobbed for mercy (for the Wicked One had told me that the Great King was the He who inflicted such grief upon me). I wondered if my cry would go unnoticed. I slumped to the cold, cobblestone road, too weak to lift my head.

Suddenly I heard a soft, gentle voice in my ear. I felt a warm hand on my shoulder giving me strength. I slowly lifted my head, and my eyes met the most loving eyes I had ever beheld. He had found me!!! The King had compassion on my soul! He tenderly spoke to me, telling me that I could be free from my guilt load, that I could have eternal life, if I would trust Him with all my heart.

The King told me that years before I was born He had broken the cursed spell that had held so many captive. The King had bought His people back from the Wicked One. The King told me that the Wicked One had said he would only free us in exchange for the life of His Son, the heir to the throne. The King had been grieved. How could He give up His only Son? But the Son had been willing to sacrifice Himself. And so, the Father sent His Son to pay the price for His people.

The King told me that I had been bought back with a high price ~ the price of blood. Could I truly be of such worth? The King, in His wisdom, read my thoughts. He told me that His Son had deemed me so precious that He had allowed Himself to suffer and die in my place, redeeming me with His sinless blood. His blood bought my freedom! This meant that when the Wicked One had told me I was his, he had deceived me!

And now the King told me that His Son had not stayed dead, but had conquered death with life. He had risen again and had once again made His abode with the Great King! The thought overwhelmed me! The Son had seen that I was lost in my ways, and had redeemed me with His blood, because of His love for me! All I had to do was admit my lost condition and accept His gift!

In great relief and joy I threw myself into the open arms of the King. He received me as His child that day. He wiped away my ugly past. He adopted me into His family! Oh, the joy that thrills my soul as I recall!!!

Do you see why I could never go back? My Father, the King, has entrusted to me eternal life, a mansion in His heavenly kingdom, a new name, a robe, and a crown. It would be unfitting to behave as anything less than a princess. I would bring shame to my King. You see, I am bought with a price. My life is not my own. When I was adopted into the royal family, I pledged all my remaining days to the King. I gave Him possession of my soul.

I am presently in the school of obedience; I am being refined as gold for a special purpose. Someday my prince will come, for the King has chosen him just for me! Together we will serve the King with our lives, forever and ever. But for now I am fully persuaded to continue on for the glory of His Highness, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Oh, did I forget to mention His name? My Father, the King, is the Lord God of Heaven and Earth, and His Son is Jesus Christ.

~ * ~

Perhaps you think this is a nice fairy tale, but it is not. This is the story of humanity and the actual world we live in, only told in the form of a fairy tale. Have you ever noticed that all fairy tales have a common story line? In fact, there is more than one!

First, there is always good versus evil. Where do you suppose the writers of our popular fairy tales got this idea? Perhaps it is because they subconsciously realize that in our world there is an actual good force and evil force at work. Could it be that this knowledge has been etched in the hearts of the human race by the Creator? There is a very real, supernatural war that is being waged for the souls of mankind. Our lives on earth are but for a moment. Our short time here is merely the preface of a book ~ the book called "Eternity." This short life we live is the decision grounds where we choose where we will spend the all eternity, in Heaven or in Hell.

Secondly, have you ever noticed that the evil force is always overcome by good in these fairy tales? Do you know that good will prevail at the end of this world? The portrayed King in my story above is God, the author of all good things, who will be victorious in the end. Satan, the Wicked One, will be crushed. Just as it is in our fairy tales, evil seems to be conquering, and so it seems today. But don't be deceived! Good will win out, just as it always does in the fairy tales! God planned it that way from the very beginning of time! Everything that is presently happening is just going according to His time schedule. There is nothing new to Him! The world is not out of His control, though it may seem that way at times.

Third, in the story of Snow White she is given a poisonous apple by the wicked, jealous queen which causes her to fall into a deep sleep. Interesting! Did you know that in the beginning of time the devil offered fruit to the first two people ever created, and that forbidden fruit is what caused humanity to fall into the deep sleep of sin? This is why we are in the mess we are in today. Remember that there was a prince who kissed Snow White, waking her from her guise of death? Well, God sent the Prince of peace to come and "kiss" us, awaking us from our deep sleep of sin. The question is, will you accept the kiss of the Son of God who offers you eternal life freely? "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." Psalm 2:12

Fourth, in the fairy tales there is always a story line of love and a salvation experience either from death or a life of toil and hardship. Isn't this what we all long for? Love? And yet, have you looked around? The divorce rates tell us that love isn't enough. Could it be that there is a love that satisfies that deepest longings of the human heart? There is indeed, for I have experienced this love! There is the supernatural love that moved One to die in our place...in your place, on an old rugged cross. This is the love of Jesus Christ, who loved us while we were unlovely in our sin, and yet offers us the gift of eternal life. This is the story of the greatest love and salvation experience of all history!

Because I have accepted this gift of eternal life, I have become a part of the royal family of God. You can too! I do not boast when I say that am a princess. I am joyful that I have been counted worthy! I do indeed have a mansion which I will receive when I breathe my last. I will receive a new name which only my Father knows. I will receive a crown which I will cast at Jesus' feet, because He alone is worthy.

Tired of it? JESUS is the Answer!

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

I want to share the MOST IMPORTANT thing in my life with you. Since I accepted Jesus Christ into my life as my Lord and Savior, nothing has been the same. Now I'm part of God's family, and you can be too!

Everybody wants to live forever, and I have WONDERFUL NEWS to share with you! You CAN live forever. You can know for sure that you are going to Heaven when you die. Please read the following steps and I will explain how you can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Heaven is your home.

1. We are all sinners. The Bible says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 There isn’t one person in the world who is not a sinner. “There is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:10 Even if you have only lied once, you are still a sinner. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10 God is a just and holy God, and He cannot allow any sin into His Heaven, otherwise all of Heaven would become polluted, and things would be just as bad as they are here on earth.
We can’t get to Heaven by our works. Confessing your sin to the priest will not get you there. Praying will not get you there. Giving to the poor will not get you there. God’s Word says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9

2. There is a price for our sin. The Bible tells us that, “The wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23 Adam and Eve committed the first sin when they ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. That's where it all started. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:12
God could not allow this sin to go unpunished, and that is why everyone has to die now. The price we must pay for our sin is eternity in Hell. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Psalm 9:17 The damnation of the human race was sealed with one, small bite of disobedience.

3. That is the bad news. Now here comes the GOOD NEWS: God had mercy on us!!! He made a way out. He saw our lost state, and He sent His perfect Son to die on an old rugged cross in our place. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16,17
Jesus Christ became your substitute! He died in your place so that you could live for ever and ever! “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
Yes, “The wages of sin is death…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 God’s gift is eternal life which was provided by Jesus’ death on the cross. It is the greatest gift anyone can give, and it is free for the taking.

4. All you have to do to accept this gift is to believe on Jesus Christ and receive Him into your heart and life! Just like when a friend waits at your door for you to let him in, even so Jesus is eagerly waiting at your heart’s door. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20 Will you let Him in?
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13 “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9,10
If you believe that this is the truth, and you want to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are going to Heaven, please pray this pray. You must mean it from the bottom of your heart.

Dear Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner, and because of my sin I am going to Hell. I believe that You died for me and rose again. Please forgive me for my sin. Come into my heart and life, and take me to Heaven when I die.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Congratulations!!! You have just become part of the family ~ God’s family! If you have prayed and truly meant it, then you are now God’s child and you will go to Heaven for all eternity!!!

Your Assurance: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12
Jesus said: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.” John 10:28,29

Now, the next thing you should do is:
~ Buy a King James Version Bible, which is the only true Word of God.
~ Find a fundamental, Bible-believing, Baptist church in your area.
~ Get baptized. (Baptism symbolizes Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. It is a sign to the world that you have put your trust in Christ.)
~ TELL OTHERS!!!