"I Would Rather Die."

What Christian event today doesn't charge a price? Christian conferences, music concerts, major drama productions, men's and women's retreats, children's camps, boys and girls clubs, and most all church socials and special events cost money. And when you think about it, church costs money---lots of it! Very few people today work volunteer or for low wages for the Lord any more. I don't think very many people today would say like Paul, "I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge."

Pastors who minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ in remote or small areas, living off minimal wages or God's provisions, are often looked down upon by other Christians and pastors who minister in large fancy churches today. However, even though people may look down upon these dedicated Christ-filled pastors, God raises them up way beyond the arrogant others who would rather live with man's honour than die with God's honour.

"In fact, I would rather die

than lose my right to boast about

preaching without charge."

1 Corinthians 9:15 (NLT)

The Spiritual Best Interest Of Others

Paul didn't see anything wrong with eating meat that was offered to idols because idols are not real gods. However, because some of the Christians thought it was wrong, Paul chose not to do it. He didn't want to cause another believer to stumble if he ate the meat. 

The Bible states that if we sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, we are sinning against Christ. As long as we live, we are to walk the Christian life with the spiritual best interest of others in mind.

"And when you sin against other believers

by encouraging them to do something

 they believe is wrong,

you are sinning against Christ. 

So if what I eat 

causes another believer to sin,

I will never eat meat again 

as long as I live---

for I don't want to cause another believer

 to stumble."

1 Corinthians 8:13 (NLT)

In other words, don't do it, if there is the slightest possibility of causing another believer to stumble, otherwise you will be sinning against Christ. God does not want to see a weak child of His destroyed. The stronger Christians are called by God to help the weaker ones.

Not Only Do, But Teach

The Bible strongly states we should not be concerned about what others think or what we think is right or wrong. What matters is what God says in His Word, and we are called by God to not only live out His commands, but teach them as well.

"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.

I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

For assuredly, I say to you,

til heaven and earth pass away,

one jot or one title will by no means pass from the law

til all is fulfilled.

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments,

and teaches men so,

shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven;

but whoever does and teaches them,

he shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven.

For I say to you, that unless your righteousness 

exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees,

you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5:17-20 (NLT)

Detrimentally, God's commandments are very seldom taught today. (The last time I remember being taught God's commandments is in Sunday School.) As a result, many professing Christians are breaking them and teaching others to do the same. And the few who do obey God's commandments are too afraid to teach them to others for fear of being labeled a "Scribe" or "Pharisee" because their relationship with God was nothing more than a set of legalistic rules and rituals.

However, the Bible says the one who does and teaches His commandments will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven, and the one who breaks one of the least of God's commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Scribes and the Pharisees actually disregarded God's commandments. They lived by their own rules, contrived not by their love for God, but by their love for themselves. When God walked among them through His Son Jesus Christ, their hearts were so depraved, they couldn't even recognize Him. They thought God was the enemy, when in fact they were the enemies of God.

Today, there are many rules, traditions, and services in our churches that make professing Christians look righteous from the outside, but in the inside, many of the people's hearts are as far from God. His commandments are being broken continually, His people are being hurt and neglected, and the unsaved are not being reached in a world of fear and confusion.

Loving God means loving His commandments, and teaching others to do the same.

The Importance Thing

A Large Assembly of Birds on Lake Pend Oreille

In the New Testament era, Paul lovingly planted a church in Corinth, consisting of his dear brothers and sisters in Christ. However, later Paul brokenheartedly discovered many of the people in this assembly were no longer controlling themselves. They were engaged in sexual immorality. When the Apostle Paul found out, he wrote the church a letter telling them it is better to marry, (even during a time of severe persecution of Christians) than to burn with lust.

"But if they can't control themselves,

they should go ahead and marry.

It's better to marry than to burn with lust."
1 Corinthians 7:9 (NLT)

Ironically, the people were more concerned about a ritual of whether or not a man should be circumcised. They were not concerned about keeping God's moral commandments, especially regarding sexual purity. But the Bible says the important thing is to keep His commandments. Sadly, this truth is something we do not stress in our churches today. As a result, many people are giving into their lustful desires, not fully realizing the dire consequences of their actions.

"For it makes no difference

whether or not a man has been circumcised.

The important thing is to keep God's commandments."

1 Corinthians 7:19 (NLT)

The Skies Disappear, The Earth Wear Out, And People Die

It is hard not to grieve over loss, whether it be the result of a loved one passing away or a change we are facing. However, the Bible tells us we are not to be absorbed by the things of this world because this world is passing away very quickly.

"Those who weep or who rejoice 

or who buy things

should not be absorbed by their weeping

or their joy or their possessions.

Those who use the things of the world

should not become attached to them.

For this world as we know it

will soon pass away."

1 Corinthians 7:30 (NLT)

The skies may disappear, the earth wear out, and people die, but we can always rejoice. As God's children, we are attached to Him, not to the things of this world. And we have the confidence in knowing God will never change. His salvation will last forever and His righteousness will never end.

"Look up to the skies above,

and gaze down on the earth below.

For the skies will disappear like smoke,

and the earth will wear out 

like a piece of clothing.

The people of the earth will die like flies,

but my salvation lasts forever.

My righteous rule will never end!"

Isaiah 51:6 (NLT)

God Is Preparing A Place Just For You

In Heaven, God eagerly waits for all His children to come, so much so, that He lovingly prepares a special place for each of them.

"There is more than enough room

in my Father's home.

If this were not so,

would I have told you

that I am going to prepare a place for you?"

John 14:2 (NLT)

A Home Yet To Come

"For this world 

is not our permanent home;

we are looking forward

to a home 

yet to come."

Hebrews 13:14 (NLT)

Many times much excitement comes to us when we are preparing to move to a new home or a better place to live. However, this new home or new place will never be our permanent residence. As God's sons and daughters, our permanent home is in Heaven. And Heaven is the place we longingly look forward to with the greatest amount of fervor and elation.

"Abraham was confidently

looking forward to a city

with eternal foundations,

a city designed 

and built by God."

Hebrew 11:10  (NLT)

God created this beautiful earth in which we live in, but He didn't design or build the houses or cities on this earth. Man did. In Heaven it will be phenomenally different because our homes and cities were designed and built by God Himself.

Do You Not Realize?

This week I flew down to visit my Mom who is in a retirement home in Langley, BC.

Even though her memory is almost gone, she miraculously remembered who I was when she opened her apartment room door to let me in, and we had a wonderful visit talking about heaven and the things of God. There was so much my Mom couldn't remember, but she did remember the Bible.

For example, Mom couldn't remember my four sons, but when I told her their names, she responded in excitement, "You named them all Bible names!" My Mom also couldn't remember the place she was born and raised, but she remembered Heaven is the place she was going to. And even though my Mom couldn't remember much of her childhood, she remembered leading her own Mom and Dad to the Lord, stating to me with certainty they were in Heaven waiting for her. Not only that, my Mom never became sad when she talked about death, but she became sad thinking about those she loves not going there.

My Mom's mind may have been gone, but the Spirit of God in her remains. And she spoke to me not from her mind, but from within.

Then when I was about to leave, she cupped my face in her hands, and told me, "I will always love you." I have never heard my Mom utter those words to me in all my life, and weeks before going down to see her, I brokenheartedly told God that. My visit with my Mom was a visit with God.

Half and hour later when my brother came to see our Mom, I was told she couldn't remember anything about me or our meeting.

We need to realize the Holy Spirit which lives inside us will never abandon us. He will stay with us to the end because we belong to God.

"Don't you realize

that your body

is the temple of the Holy Spirit,

who lives in you

and was given to you by God?

You do not belong to yourself."

1 Corinthians 6:19 (NLT)

My Mom responded to me not from her intellect, but from the Spirit of God who still remained inside her, and reminded her the truths in God's Word.

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,

whom the Father will send in My Name,

will teach you all things

and will remind you of everything

I have said to you."

John 14:26 (NIV)

Called To Judge Immorality Inside The Church

A large group of Big Horn Sheep were licking the road salt off the pavement. I was really worried they would get hit by a car and be killed.

To satisfy their appetite for salt, these animals risk their lives.

There are some professing Christians who do the same. To satisfy their fleshly desires, they also risk their lives. The Bible states clearly that a person cannot live in habitual immorality as a professing Christian and still hope for heaven. And one sin of immorality that is prevalent in our churches today is sexual sin.

The Bible says when we become children of God, our bodies no longer belong to us. They have been bought with a price. Therefore our bodies now belongs to God. His Holy Spirit then comes to reside in our bodies and at all times our bodies are to glorify God. For the ones who join themselves to the Lord are one spirit with Him.

"Yet the body is not for immorality,

but for the Lord,

and the Lord is for the body. . . .

But the one who joins himself to the Lord

is one spirit with Him.

Flee immorality.

Every other sin that a man commits 

is outside the body,

but the immoral man sins against his own body.

Or do you not know

that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit

who is in you,

whom you have from God,

and that you are not your won?

For you have been bought with a price:

therefore glorify God in your body."

1 Corinthians 6:13b,17-20 (NASB)

As Christians we are to flee immorality. We are told by God to not even tolerate immoral sins in our churches. But grievously we do all the time. We sit by and not say anything about it, in fear we will be judged for judging. However, the Bible says we are called to judge those who are within the church because God must be glorified. 

"Do you not judge those who are within the church?

But those who are outside,

God judges.

Remove the wicked man from among yourselves."

1 Corinthians 5:12b (NASB)

When our many worldly churches today tolerate immorality, God is no longer glorified. Instead, He is disgraced and berated by the world. And without the glory of God, His power and presence is gone, and so is His attraction to the lost and unsaved.

With Wonderful Perfection And Skill

The trip home was spectacular! The sky was clearing, revealing the beauty of freshly fallen snow.

Sometimes we need to stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God! He controls the storms and balancing the clouds.

"Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!

Do you know how God controls the storm

and causes the lightning to flash forth from His clouds?

Do you understand how He balances the clouds

with wonderful perfection and skill?"

Job 37:14-16 (NLT)

God Will Personally Go Ahead Of You

The morning after the snow storm, we left to travel back home. The ranch looked much different now from when we first arrived.

However, the snow had stopped snowing, the visibility was clear, and the scenery was wonderful! (My husband Brian is driving in front of us.)

There is nostalgic beauty in the times gone past.

A tree had fallen across the road, but someone had already cut a way through, so we were able to proceed ahead.

The Lord personally went ahead of us all the way and made our path back home safe, despite the heavy snowfall the night before.

"Do not be afraid or discouraged,

for the Lord will personally go ahead of you.

He will be with you;

He will neither fail you

nor abandon you."

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)

Have Fun And Experience Happiness

My sons Tim and Matthew decided to have some fun one night. They built a large snowman in front of the lodge the night of the snow storm.

It took the two of them to carry the middle part of the snowman's body and put it on top.

However, by the next morning, the snowman had tilted. I thought it gave him more character.

"So I recommend having fun,

because there is nothing better

for people in this world

than to eat, drink and enjoy life.

That way they will experience some happiness

along with all the hard work

God give them under the sun."

Ecclesiastes 8:15 (NLT)

We Plan; The Lord Establishes

"In their hearts

humans plan their course,

but the Lord established their steps."

Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

The booking on our sleigh ride at the Western Pleasure Guest Ranch was made weeks in advance. I wasn't sure what day would be the best day for it, but in my heart I dreamed of snow falling. God knew my heart and I guided me to pick the perfect day for it.

The main lodge at the Guest Ranch could hardly be seen in the late afternoon of the snow storm.

Lady and Fancy were the horses chosen to pull our sleigh.  

The husband in the nice family we went with asked if we would like our picture taken. We of course said, "Yes!" I then returned their favour and took their picture.

The owner of the ranch was loving and kind to his horses, as he gentle guided them through the snow covered forest.

The sleigh ride was a magical, God established night for us!

You Are God

On December 26th, we all went snowmobiling at Selkirk Mountain. We had a blast! Daniel drove behind me, so I was able to take a picture of him.

The weather was perfect! It wasn't too cold and the sky was completely clear.

I was able to take amazing scenery pictures!

This is my favourite picture of all of us together.

I was first, so I could choose the speed. However, three of my sons complained. They said I drove way too fast. LOL! I guess I will be put at the back next time.

The earth and the heavens all proclaim God's majestic glory.

"Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is Your Name

in all the earth!

You have set Your glory

in the heavens."

Psalm 8:1 (NIV)

Before mountains were even born, God existed from everlasting to everlasting.

"Before the mountains were born

or You brought forth the whole world,

from everlasting to everlasting

You are God."

Psalm 90:2 (NIV)

God's Wisdom

God's wisdom is inconceivable!

"Is it Your wisdom

that makes the hawk soar

and spread its wings

toward the south?"

Job 39:26 (NLT)

"I create the light
and make the darkness.
I send good times
and bad times.
I, the Lord, am the One
who does these things."
Isaiah 45:7 (NLT)

There may be times we cannot understand God's reasoning for what occurs on this earth and in our own personal lives, but we can always put our trust in God's unfathomable wisdom.

"I create the light
and make the darkness.
I send good times
and bad times.
I, the Lord, am the One
who does these things."
Isaiah 45:7 (NLT)

Every Tear Will One Day Be Wiped Away

Idaho's largest lake is Lake Pend Oreille. 

It is 69 kilometers long.

And the fifth deepest lake in US with regions as deep as 350 meters.

The Farragut Naval Training Station was located on the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille during World War II.

 A small part of it is still active, conducting US Navy acoustic underwater submarine research.

As I looked upon this beautiful lake, I am reminded that one day Jesus Christ, who is both the sacrificial Lamb and Shepherd, will one day lead us to springs of living water where every tear from our eyes will be wiped away.

"For the Lamb at the center of the throne

will be their Shepherd;

He will lead them to springs of living water.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Revelations 7:17 (NIV)

Surrounded By A Great Cloud Of Witnesses

Wild turkeys roamed Idaho, as in Montana. We saw them daily. These birds can be hunted during the two hunting seasons a year in Idaho.

We found them to be quite amusing to watch.

I was surprised to see how fast one can run.

Of all the turnkeys, the one that attracted our attention the most was the one running. As Christians, we are to do the same---run, throwing off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us. Why? Because we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded 

by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us throw off everything that hinders

and the sin that so easily entangles.

And let us run with perseverance

the race marked out for us."

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

Our goal as God's children is to attract others to Jesus and we can't do that unless we are running, not stumbling, or standing idly by.

Faithful And True

These are my favourite horse pictures at the ranch we stayed at for the Christmas holidays.

The horses were all extremely friendly and well taken care of. The one above is busy eating his breakfast.

This horse kept photobombing while I went around trying to take pictures of the other horses.

This one gave me a crazy look when I took his picture.

This horse was a sweet heart.

And this horse was impressively muscular.

When Christ comes to reign in Jerusalem over the earth, He will ride on a white horse, not a colt because this time He will judge and wage war with justice. A horse has long been a symbol of power, grace, beauty, nobility, strength and freedom, so it is not surprising Jesus will choose a horse to ride on during this anticipated time.

"I saw heaven standing open 

and there before me

was a white horse,

whose rider is called

Faithful and True.

With justice He judges

and wages war."

Revelations 19:11 (NIV)

Jesus is our heroic knight in all His glory and power.

God Made It All

The Western Pleasure Guest Ranch consists of 960 acres of God's creation.

I eagerly reached for my camera to take pictures of the handiwork of God on the morning we celebrated Christ's birth.

When we first arrived at the ranch there wasn't a lot of snow, but that was soon to change. A snow storm was predicted in two days.

But on Christmas day, the ranch was a quiet and peaceful setting for us to enjoy the wonder of God's miracle when His Son was born.

Our dogs were happy and my heart was glad they could be with us.

The theme song for the television series called "Green Acres" came to my mind.

"Green acres is the place to be.

Farm living is the life for me.

"Land spreading out so far and wide.

Keep Manhattan; give me the country side."

I love the country side because when I look upon the majestic beauty of God's creation, I can get a greater sense of who God is. Peace and trust enfolds me like a comforting blanket in cold and dark world. 

The earth around us and the heavens above all speak of God's sovereign power, infinite wisdom, and absolute understanding.

"He made the earth by His power;

He founded the world by His widom

and stretched out the heavens 

by His understanding."

Jeremiah 51:15 (NIV)