The Lifeboat

Every time I look at the headlines in the newspaper or watch the news on television, it saddens me to see how this world is declining so rapidly.  Many people have become lovers of money, lovers of evil, and even lovers of themselves.  Some individuals have no regard for human life, whether the human is an adult or even a newborn baby.  Even in my short 32 years on this planet, I can see the numerous changes that have taken place since the 1980’s.  Some of these changes have been good; however, some of them have simply led to destructive ends.  In reality, this world resembles a sinking ship.  I am so thankful that I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to carry me through the storm.  He is my Peace for the present and Hope for the future.  Jesus Christ is the Lifeboat for all who believe in Him.

Looking back in history, there was another time when the world became corrupt to the point that God wished His Creation did not even exist.  There was so much wickedness on this earth, the Bible says, “The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled” (Genesis 6:6).  Just imagine.  The humans on earth had gotten so evil that their very own Creator regretted creating them and was troubled by what He saw.  Only one man was found to be worth saving.  God’s Word goes on to say, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8).

But Noah: those two little words saved a family’s life forever.  Noah was found to be faultless.  He was different than the rest of the population.  Let’s just say he stood out from the crowd.  God saw something special in Noah and his family.  Genesis 6:9 reads, “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.”  I’m sure Noah wasn’t perfect.  He probably slammed a few doors in his time and he may have gotten upset if one of his sons didn’t do their chores the first time they were asked.  But he didn’t engage in wicked deeds and sinful ways.  Noah trusted God and knew that the Lord would take care of them.

What would you do if God came to you and said that He was going to destroy the earth because of the destruction people had brought into the world (Genesis 6:13)?  Would you make a phone call, Facebook about it, or just sit down and cry?  Well, this actually happened to Noah.  But he didn’t question God.  He didn’t have a panic attack either.  He didn’t even Tweet about it or text his best friend to tell them the news.  Instead, he listened intently to all of the instructions, detailing the size of the ark that he was to construct, what animals to bring aboard, how much food to pack, and all of the other tasks that must be completed.  Then the Bible says, “Noah did everything just as God commanded him” (Genesis 6:22).  Noah didn’t just do half of the job and then sit down to watch his favorite program on television.  He didn’t delegate someone else to do the job.  He simply did what God asked him to do.

So many times, we complain about jobs that the Lord asks us to do.  Sometimes, we are tired and it’s hard to find energy to get the job done.  Other times, people often try to discourage us, even though we know God has enabled us for the task at hand.  I am sure Noah was discouraged when his friends laughed at him for building an ark. They had never seen a flood like that before.  They surely thought Noah had lost his mind.  What would your neighbors think if they saw you building a big boat in your front yard, standing tall at approximately 45 feet high?  I am sure the Neighborhood Beautification Committee would have something to say about that at their monthly meeting!  Look at Noah, building that atrocity!  And bringing all of those animals so close to where our children play!  Something must be done to prevent such outlandish behavior!

But God had asked Noah to accomplish a monumental task.  Noah ignored the backlash from the opposing side and immediately obeyed God.  He didn’t tell God that he had to fit it in between watching the Sunday afternoon football game and improving his golf swing at the range on Saturday.  He didn’t tell God that he just didn’t have the energy and would try to get around to it next week.  He didn’t even tell his neighbors what was going on.  He just got the job done.  Oh, and Noah didn’t try to cut corners when building the ark.  He accomplished the task precisely as God commanded.  Noah did all of this without complaining, even at the age of 600 years old.

God provided a lifeboat, so to speak, for Noah and his family, along with two of every clean animal.  Everything else was destroyed.  Because Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord, he and his family were spared.  God tells Noah that the rainbow will be a sign of the covenant between God and all life on earth, promising never to destroy the earth by flood waters again.  The rainbow is a promise not only to Noah and his family, but also to you and me.  God will be our Shelter from the storm.  Just as this world seemingly spirals out of control, we have a safe haven in the midst of the tumultuous seas.  Every single person, young or old, who puts their trust in Jesus Christ, will be saved.

Whatever you are going through right now, there is no situation too hard for God to handle.  Jesus even told His disciples, “‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:26).  God is greater than every prison, every hospital, every nursing home, every bottle of alcohol, and every other thing that may try to pull you away from the love of Jesus Christ.  The Bible says that nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:39).  He will rescue us when the raging waters rise.  He will be our beacon in the night, directing us toward safety.  No matter what you are facing today, remember that Jesus Christ is your Lifeboat.

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

Jesus Gave His Life For Love

My dad is one of the best examples of Christ’s love that I have ever known.  He loves me so much that he would truly do anything to ensure my well-being, safety, and health.  That’s how fathers and mothers are.  They would run into a burning building, or dash in front of a moving truck, in an effort to protect their children.  So how much more did our Heavenly Father love us?  So much that He gave His only Son to show His love for us.  John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  God didn’t just give His Son’s life for one or two people.  He gave His only Son for every man, woman, boy, and girl on this earth. 

When was the last time you said, “I love you,” to someone you know?  Was it this morning at breakfast?  Or last night before you went to bed?  Sometimes, we just get busy.  Before you know it, a day, a week, or even a month may go by before we realize we have not recently told our loved ones how much we love them.  Funny, isn’t it?  How can we become so busy that we do not tell the ones we love that we love them?  Sure, they know this already; however, we all have an inherent need to be loved.  We all need to hear those three little words every now and then.  Of course, sometimes love is shown in a different way and requires no verbalizing whatsoever.

Consider the love of Jesus Christ.  He didn’t just send us a card on Valentine’s Day.  He didn’t send us a text message, follow us on Twitter, or befriend us on Facebook.  And He didn’t make a phone call, send a letter, or e-mail us either.  No.  Jesus Christ died to show us how great His love is for us.  I John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is; Jesus laid down His life for us.”  The Bible clearly states that love is the selfless act of Jesus giving His life for us.  He loved us so much that He endured the agony of the cross, so that we might have eternal life in Heaven.  The Son of the living God went above and beyond every gift ever given in the history of mankind.  He gave His life.  Not just for a particular person of a certain race, culture, socioeconomic status, or other demographical statistic.  Jesus Christ died for every single person on the planet.

As Jesus Christ hung on the cross, He thought of you.  He knew you needed redemption.  He knew you needed a friend.  He knew you needed to be loved.  He didn’t die for fame or fortune.  He didn’t die to have His name engraved on a plaque in a prominent place or have His picture on the cover of People Magazine.  Jesus Christ died to cleanse us of our sins.  I am a sinner.  You are a sinner.  We are all sinners.  The Bible says that everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  God’s Word also states, “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5).  It doesn’t say that He was pierced for the transgressions of criminals, murderers, or abusers.  It says He was pierced for our transgressions.  He bore all of the pain and suffering for everyone.  Why?  Because that is how much He loves us.

No matter what you’ve done in your life, there is no place beyond the reach of Jesus Christ.  He can make the vilest sinner clean.  Maybe you have taken drugs to the point where you think life is pointless.  Perhaps you have consumed enough alcohol that you have medical concerns being raised.  You may be abusing your family, whether physically or verbally.  In spite of all you have done, there is forgiveness found through Jesus Christ.  As Christ hung on the cross, one of the criminals hanging next to Him said, “Remember me” (Luke 23:42).  He had likely never walked in the door of a church.  He may have never read the Bible, given to his favorite charity, or even said a kind word to anyone.  But he believed that Jesus Christ had the divine power to redeem him of his sins.  Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Jesus Christ extends the same grace and mercy to you.  Romans 10:9 states, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  There is no special prayer or secret code.  It is simple enough that a child can understand.  Just call on the name of Jesus Christ.  Believe that He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who arose on the third day.  Put your trust in Jesus Christ today and you will be saved.  He will cleanse your sins, mend your broken heart, and fill your mind with peace that passes all understanding.  There is hope in Jesus Christ.  He loves you more than you could ever imagine!  That’s why Jesus gave His life: for love.

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

Prayer Works

This week, Oklahomans faced one of the most horrific storms they have ever encountered. The EF5 tornado ravaged the town of Moore, Oklahoma and surrounding communities. Lives were lost and countless individuals were injured. As I watched the video footage on the news, I was saddened as I heard the stories told by those left behind. Little children witnessed scenes they should never have had to come in contact with. Men, women, boys, and girls are now searching for one book, one photo, or one memento to remind them of the life they once knew.

On the flipside, I have seen the heart of America band together. I have seen the flag raised. I have seen families pray together. And I know that through it all, Oklahoma will rebuild and their resiliency will shine through. The teachers who have become hometown heroes will keep praying. The citizens who keep digging through rubble to find just one more photograph will keep searching for the pieces of the puzzle that will enable them to put their lives back together. The rescue workers and clean-up crews will continue removing debris, serving up meals, and distributing clothing, food, and water to those in need.

While you and I may not be able to be there on the ground to assist with clean-up efforts, there is something that we can do. We can pray. Earlier today, I read a news article concerning the use of the hashtag #PrayforOklahoma. Sadly, the article implied that some people feel that God does not answer prayers uttered via Social Media sites, even going so far as to say that the people who post these hashtags simply do it to look like they have compassion on the ravaged areas. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 75,000 people have used this hashtag in one of their tweets on Twitter. From President Obama to pop music icons, many people are showing their support for the citizens of Oklahoma through their prayers.

While I certainly cannot answer for all 75,000 of these individuals, I believe that God sees each and every Tweet. More than that, I know that He sees inside the hearts of man. The Lord told Samuel, “‘The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’” (I Samuel 16:7 NIV). You see, God doesn’t care if we have long hair or short hair or if we wear the latest brand name clothes or the newest arrivals in the Goodwill. He sees beyond what we see when we look at a person or when we read someone’s tweet as it comes scrolling across the screen. He knows their heart. He knows if they have compassion for their fellow human being. He knows if they mean the prayers they post. He even knows if they truly pray for those involved in this natural disaster.

Many people through the years have had differing opinions on prayer and whether or not it is a worthwhile action. When I was born, I was born premature and lifeless. The doctors gave up on me. But my parents continued to pray. They didn’t read a formal prayer from a book. They didn’t recite some eloquent speech. They prayed two simple words: “Jesus help.” The doctors did not have an answer. All of their scientific studies could not explain why I began to cough like a little kitten and why I am sitting here today writing this blog. They certainly did not expect that I would make something of myself, saying that I would be nothing more than a vegetable if I did survive. Now that I have earned a Master of Science degree with a 4.0 GPA, I beg to differ. I do not say this to brag, but to show evidence to the fact that Matthew 21:22 (NIV) is absolutely true. It says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." My parents believed, they asked, and they received. Bottom line: prayer works.

Through every trial, I am grateful that we can pray to the God who created us. He hears every single prayer, even the ones that are unspoken, never uttered, but remaining in our hearts. He loves each and every one of us so much that He gave His only Son. Jesus Christ died for us so that we could have eternal life. That is the only example of perfect love that this world has ever seen. He is watching over the precious people of Oklahoma as they begin to pick up the pieces of their lives. He is comforting the hearts of those who lost loved ones. He is bringing peace to an otherwise devastating scene.

No matter what you may be going through, whether it is a mental, physical, or emotional battle, Jesus Christ will help you persevere. Jesus Christ wants to be your strength when you are weak. All you have to do is ask Him. If you do not know Jesus, I want you to know that He loves you more than you could ever imagine. I want to challenge you to read John chapter 3. It will only take 3 minutes. These 3 minutes could change your life forever. It’s not about religion. It’s not about Christianity. It’s about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer