FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST - biblebuffjournalbiblelady99

FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST

When I wish, I like writing poetry.   Here is one I wrote in 1991 about LIFE IS TO BE LIVED.

Philippians 1.21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

My life 
My focus
My whole being
is
related to only one thing

JESUS CHRIST IS LORD 

From even my early years 
God had a plan for me.

God knew just how to work in my life. 
He knew just what I needed.
There were many times when my life was protected, 
and though surrounded by life circumstances which were not stable, moving a lot, having uncertainty, and never knowing who God was, yet He directed my life.

Romans 2.4 suggest that 
"the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." 

When things happen, 
they are meant 
to draw us closer to Him who made us,
and redeemed us.

What do I mean by that?
He "redeemed" us.
Jesus came from heaven to be born as that little baby in the manger, and it is TRUE.
What did Jesus say about Himself?

John chapter 3, verses 13 - 16 

       v.13.    And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 

      v. 14.   And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.

       v. 15.   That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 

       v. 16.    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.

                   That is what he said of himself.    Most people who hear that verse 16 do not know that Jesus was speaking of Himself.

      

                  

John declared of Jesus when he spoke to his disciples of him,
John 1.v.29   BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD, WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.

Jesus said to his disciples that "The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him, and after that he is killed, he shall rise again the third day."    (Mark 9.31)  Another time, Matthew tells us "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go into Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised from again the third day. (Matthew 16.21). Again, he said  "The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. (Matthew 17.21 - 23)   Yet again, (Matthew 20.17 -19) it is recorded for us "And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him, and the third day he shall rise again."   

       He later comments (Matthew 20.v.26 - 28) 

 it shall not be so among you, but whosoever will be 

great among you, let him be your minister;

 and whosoever will be great among you, 

let him be your servant;

 even as the Son of man came

 not to be ministered unto,

 but to minister

 and to give his life

 a ransom for many."    

As Jesus blessed the children

He told the disciples not to forbid them to come to Him.
He also told them
THAT AS A LITTLE CHILD
ONLY IN SIMPLE FAITH
CAN WE ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Yet He said,   VERILY VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN."
JOHN CHAPTER 3.3 
EVERYONE HAS ONE BIRTHDAY.
BUT WE CAN HAVE TWO
THE FIRST BIRTHDAY IS EARTHLY, OF WATER AND BLOOD, BORN  AS A HUMAN BEING IN THIS WORLD, THIS EARTH OF OURS.
THE SECOND BIRTHDAY IS ONLY POSSIBLE AS WE ASK FOR GOD TO FORGIVE US AND TO WASH US CLEAN OF SIN, NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE SIN,
BUT BECAUSE WE ARE INDEED
SINNERS.
ROMANS 3.23
ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.

AS THE LIGHTHOUSE BY THE SEASHORE WARNS SAILORS OF 

THE CLOSENESS OF THE SHORE AND ROCKS WHICH WOULD BREAK

APART THE SHIP,

SO TOO, CHRIST HAS GIVEN HIS CHURCH THE TASK OF 

BEING A LIGHTHOUSE TO THOSE THAT ARE LOST.

JESUS AROSE FROM THE DEAD 

AND IS NOW ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN

 AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER.

AS THE PASSOVER LAMB HE BECAME OUR SACRIFICE

HIS BLOOD SHED FOR ME BECAME MY ATONEMENT 

MY PEACE OFFERING
MY SIN OFFERING
AND
I AM FREE
TO
BE HIS CHILD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.

with the dear Holy Spirit 

whom Jesus sent 

as our Comforter

I am now 

a

child of God.

JOHN 1.12 

as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

ROMANS 5.8

God commendeth his love toward us,

in that while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

SO I CLOSE MY POST WITH THIS THOUGHT - 

JUST AS THE FOR-GET-ME-NOT  BLOOMS 

EVERY SPRING - AND REMINDS US 

OF THINGS WE DO NOT FORGET 

OF FRIENDS WE WANT TO REMEMBER

OF THOSE WHOM WE LOVE 

IT REMINDS ME OF HOW I CAME TO KNOW JESUS 

AND HIS SPIRIT MADE ME A CHILD OF GOD

AND MY LIFE NOW BELONGS TO HIM

IT IS HIS SANCTUARY

AND HE LIVES IN ME

AND I AM NOW LIVING 

CHRIST IN ME,

THE HOPE OF GLORY.

HE IS MY PROMISE.

HE IS ALL IN ALL TO ME.

WITHOUT HIM I CAN DO NOTHING.

WITH HIM I CAN DO ANYTHING HE ASKS OF ME.

WHY NOT ASK HIM TODAY 

TO BE YOUR 

SAVIOR?  

NO BETTER DAY THAN TODAY. 

Have a cup of coffee, and mull on who Jesus is

He is waiting for you to talk to Him.

Matthew 11.28 - 30

COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN,
 AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.
TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN OF ME;
FOR I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART:
AND YE SHALL FIND REST UNTO YOUR SOULS.
FOR MY YOKE IS EASY
AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT.

FORGETTING THE PAST LILACLADY JUNEBUG2

IT IS NOT WHERE I HAVE BEEN,
BUT WHERE I AM GOING THAT MATTERS MOST

by HENRY'S JUNE THE TUNE
bibleladyjunebug - facebook

BIBLEBUFFJOURNAL

By William Henry Cash Jr   Feb. 11,1968

SERMON:   FORGETTING THE PAST

TEXT :    Philippians 3.8 14

INTRODUCTION:   In this text Paul gives the secret for becoming a dedicated, victorious Christian.    We are to forget the things that are behind; make an earnest effort and endeavor  to reach for the things that are before;  and a strenuous concentration;  set our eyes on the perfect goal – Jesus Christ.       Philippians 3.13 – 14 .    Let us think about one of the most difficult things that is hindering the spiritual growth of many Christians – the matter of forgetting the past.

There are some things that God wants us to remember: 

Deuteronomy 8.2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldst keep his commandments, or no.

Psalm 103.2   Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

Ecclesiastes 12.1  Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth”

   People forget things that they should remember, such as borrowed books, money, debts, kindness, gracious deeds.    There are other things that people remember that they should forget:  we should forget those things that may hinder our progress by their constant remembrance.  

PROPOSITION:  WE SHALL CONSIDER SEVEN THINGS THAT WE SHOULD LEAVE BEHIND.

I.              PAST BLESSING. 

We should bid farewell to past blessing when we make them the ground of present confidence and self-satisfaction.   Past blessings should be remembered only as an inspiration to strive for better blessings.    We must constantly be bearing fruit in the Spirit instead of resting “on the good old days”.

II.                  PAST ADVANTAGES

Many people hide behind their godly home or parentage of Christians who truly loved the Lord.    However, having Christian parents’ is no guarantee that the children will become Christlike and live a dedicated life.

III.            PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS

We often sing with praise of our Christian heritage and the brave martyrs.    What the heroes of the faith suffered will be of no avail or use to us unless we are willing to enter into their labors. 

IV.          PAST EXPERIENCES  

Paul could have gloried in what he accomplished and suffered for his Christian faith.    But Paul’s only glory was in the ever-present power of the crucified  and resurrected Christ.     God gave Paul a thorn in the flesh so that he would ever be in his conscience to glory in Christ instead  of what his own accomplishment was.    

Peter wanted to stay on the Mount of Transfiguration.     God told him “This is my beloved Son. Hear ye him.”   We are to put our eyes upon Jesus, and on what Christ is able to accomplish through us today.

V.              SORROWS.

There are some agonies that we cannot forget.  

-       The nail is removed – but the scar is still there.      Time is able to heal many heartaches.   We must let Christ fill the empty place in our grief, disappointment, or heartaches.    Many people are unwilling to bury the hatchet, or take the chip off his shoulder.      Past tears are sanctified when they become a telescope , bringing us a clearer vision of Christ who wept for us.  

    VI       PAST DISAGREEMENTS.

                Spiritual progress is being hindered by past ill will, divisions among friends, misunderstanding, jealousy, prejudice, etc.      We must remove these roots of bitterness if we are to live a happy Christian life.  

VI.           PAST SINS               

Many people dwell on the past pages of their life that is stained by sins.   If we have received divine forgiveness, we should rest assured that our sins have been covered by the blood of Christ.    Satan will seek always to hinder our progress by reminding us of our former sins.    Past sins should keep us humble. 

CONCLUSION

WE MUST CLOSE THE GATE

There are gates to homes, farms, pastures, cemetery  gate in Arkansas, a gate to keep a big dog in a certain part of the house or yard.This was the gate to our home for many years. 

We must close the past gates, and look ahead.

LET US CLOSE THE GATES OF THE PAST

   Paul persecuted Christians.

   He depended at that time on the righteousness of the Law.  He realized that he had not yet arrived nor become perfect, but he left his past behind.      Let us do the same, forgetting the past mistakes and failures, and go forth.

LET US OPEN THE GATES OF THE FUTURE

     As Paul desired to know Christ, and looked forward to the wonderful Day of Resurrection, he looked for the things ahead, and pressed on knowing the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  

As I walked along Peace Portal Drive, I took this photo of 
Drayton Harbor.     Many people running take in the view 
as they prepare physically for marathons.    I would like to think that we are looking forward to that Day when we see the Lord God.   He wants us to open the gates of the future.