Mary Cantell

Apr

24

Grace and truth come through Jesus

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

The path Jesus traveled to the cross at Calvary has become a pivotal point in history where his shed blood and selfless sacrifice allowed the curtain to the Holy of Holies in the temple to be torn in two—top to bottom, yes! The immovable barrier between sinful man and a holy God is now changed forever.

Jesus didn’t say he would show us the way. Rather, he demonstrates that He is the way. He is the only source that can lead fallen mankind to the true God—to his Father in heaven. Jesus did not say he would reveal some truths but that He is truth. He is the personification of it. Jesus is the life in whom we put our faith and hope. Christ’s claim is exclusive. He is the one and only way to truth and life. There is no other path, or philosophy, or religion that can lead a sinner to redemption.

It’s a simple message, yet so profound. Knowing this, we can be overjoyed to share the good news that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life to whomever the Lord places in our path. With so many people lost, it’s our privilege to share the gift we’ve been given with those who don’t have it.

Apr

16

His abundant grace

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

The magnificent works of the Lord are above and beyond amazing. Can words do them justice?  There really aren’t words enough to describe or measure the goodness of the Lord. Taking the rich abundance of all he supplies, it would take an eternity to count the blessings God bestows. Surely, we’d run out of numbers!

We are so blessed by what our Creator lends us for life on this planet every day. He brings the sunlight, provides our food for harvesting, and His word tells us that the rain, too, falls on the just as well as the unjust.

Take a look at the natural beauty of the sky, a flower, or a butterfly, and marvel at the handiwork of our Lord. If he can be concerned for such things, how much more for you?

As God has given us life more abundantly, we need to make it a priority to share the good news with others who do not know Him. What a privilege!

 The goodness of God is infinitely more wonderful  than we will ever be able to comprehend

~ A.W. Tozer

Apr

08

His goodness and mercy follow us…

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

The magnificent works of the Lord are above and beyond amazing. Can words do them justice?  There really aren’t words enough to describe or measure the goodness of the Lord. Taking the rich abundance of all he supplies, it would take an eternity to count the blessings God bestows. Surely, we’d run out of numbers!

We are so blessed by what our Creator lends us for life on this planet every day. He brings the sunlight, provides our food for harvesting, and His word tells us that the rain, too, falls on the just as well as the unjust.

Take a look at the natural beauty of the sky, a flower, or a butterfly, and marvel at the handiwork of our Lord. If he can be concerned for such things, how much more for you?

As God has given us life more abundantly, we need to make it a priority to share the good news with others who do not know Him. What a privilege!

 The goodness of God is infinitely more wonderful  than we will ever be able to comprehend

~ A.W. Tozer

Apr

01

He is risen, indeed!

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

Pierced, bruised, and crushed all describe our savior at the scene of his fateful death. Many would have passed out from only a portion of what Jesus endured on the cross. Amazingly, he hung in there through the suffering. All for you and me.

The sacrifice he made, the torture, the humiliation, and how he was mentally and emotionally brought down by the weight of humankind’s sin is mind boggling. What the Lord went through is stirring in the deepest of ways because what he suffered was what we deserve.  An innocent lamb led to slaughter. Though because of this miraculous feat, we are now set free…set free spiritually from everything that besets our souls forever.

The compassion of God is truly greater than anything we’ll ever come to know. The more we dwell upon the flogging he endured… the stripes upon his back… the nails in his wrists, and the crown of thorns on his head, the more fully we can understand the magnitude of his suffering. The greater meaning of it all, we’ll understand in heaven, but for now, we can rest in the truth of God’s word that these things were designed from the beginning for good.

The only remedy for the world’s sickness and disease of sin with all of its manifestations is the Lord. Isaiah tells us: “By His stripes we are healed.” We take medicine for our physical ailments, but the only medicine to cure our souls is the blood of the perfect lamb.

Mar

18

A friend to the friendless

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

Friends are wonderful. Without them, where would we be? They are supportive, loving, and often go out of their way for us. While there are friends in name only—more like casual acquaintances—there are others who stick by closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).

While we appreciate our friends and what they can offer, what’s even greater is that Jesus is so much more; he’s both our savior and our friend. He’s been called a prophet, a priest, and a king when he walked the earth. Today, he’s all of that—and more.

Bright Morning Star, the Alpha and the Omega, Prince of Peace…the list of Jesus’ names goes on… But with all of his titles, the fact that he is our friend, too, is stunning.

So, what has Jesus done for me lately? This may be a thought in your mind. Though if you have to ask that question, you may want to look no further than the book of John.

For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but has everlasting life ~ John 3:16

What Jesus accomplished on the cross in doing his Father’s will is above and beyond anything we’ll ever need. Whatever we may require, it surely will not go unnoticed to him. He is faithful to supply all of our needs.  Sometimes, it’s just a matter of trust.

Mar

11

His perfect peace

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

Pain and worry from personal struggles and issues of the day are often bound up in us when we take our eyes off the ball. Not a ballgame; it’s serious matters of life that so easily entangle us when we look at the problems instead of looking to Christ.

In difficult times of trials and troubles, Jesus—and he alone—is the only healing balm we need. With all of the power he has, what is your life’s situation that he cannot handle for you and give you peace in your soul?

Whose burdens are you carrying that you are so weighted…or that you’re overburdened and spread so thin that there’s nothing left by the end of the day and you are worn and stressed to the point of breaking? Is this where God has called you?

       For my yoke is easy and my burden is light ~ Matthew 11:30

No matter what is going on, the calming peace of Jesus is there to take in. It’s like no other. He leads us beside the still waters and restores our souls. His peace is like a river, and it flows as a fountain of blessings to his faithful followers, who put their trust fully in Him.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. ~ John 16:33

Mar

04

Holy is his name

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

No matter how holy we may appear on the outside, our righteousness will never be enough to please a holy God, as the word says in the O.T. that all of our righteousness is akin to filthy rags. Sadly, our goodness will never suffice in pleasing Him or pave a path for us into heaven because it’s not really about us. We can never become holy enough on our own unless we first “put on” Christ.

So many feel that they must earn their way into heaven…or do some kind of work or penance to appease our holy God. Really? Is that what God’s word is saying?

According to Hebrews 11:6, it is impossible to please God without a genuine conviction that he exists. And as far as getting into heaven…Ephesians 2 tells us that it is “by his grace that we have been saved through faith…” and by which we trust Him for our salvation.

Try as we may, God is too great to impress with our own self-righteousness. The only way to please God is by having faith in his Son, the Lord Jesus, who graciously gave up his life in order we may live.  No one can save themselves, which is good to know because Jesus did it all through his free gift of salvation by His grace alone.

Feb

28

Got hope?

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

Do you swim in a sea of doubt and fear and get so far off shore that you lose sight of your peace or hope? Satan loves to pull us into the deep and leave us there any chance he gets. Most of the world is floating aimlessly out in turbulent waters seeking comfort and searching for a life preserver somewhere in the waves.

The world offers relief from the burdens that can weigh us down, but it’s only a temporary fix. Just a crutch. For the children of God, our Lord supplies us with real hope and peace—not as the world gives—and it totally surpasses our understanding of how it works, but it does,

When struggles seem bound to steal our hope, now is the time to rejoice in the Lord and count it all joy (James 1:2) because the Lord has overcome the world, and as a believer, you have the Lord. Your trials are the chisel which conforms you to be more like Jesus…to make you more like him. Let him do a good work in you by faithfully keeping your mind on Jesus, and He will do the increase while he keeps your hope alive—in Him!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” ~ Romans 15:13

The world is a battlefield for mind control. We will always be in a battle until we’re far away from this earth, though there is assurance that in Him, our battles are already fought and won. Our deliverer is Christ.

Feb

12

His light

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

God is all about the light. He doesn’t just display light, he is light. He is “The Light of the World” and the “Bright Morning Star.” There are plenty of knock-offs, but Jesus is the only real deal. He is the true light.

As believers, it’s our joy to bring the story of Jesus to others who may not know the Lord and who, as a result, walk in darkness. Though to people accustomed to living without the light, they have adjusted to it, and even a small ray of sunshine could, indeed, be harsh at first.

It’s uncomfortable to have a light shined directly into the eye, especially to creatures of the night. Though it should not deter us from sharing the love of Christ with them. The story of Jesus never gets old. For if we do not share our faith with others, we’re only making their path to hell a bit easier. If their route led them to a sheer cliff, wouldn’t it benefit them to know? If there’s danger ahead, it’s out of love that we tell people there is a better road to follow.

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am The Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” ~ John 8:12

So, share the light of Jesus  with others however the Holy Spirit leads. As an ambassador for Christ, you may be the only source of truth they’ll hear today.

Feb

04

What time is it?

Uncategorized  Posted by / 0 comments

Some would define God as a great clockmaker, who wound the world up and then walked away to let the world-clock run on its own. But God is anything but negligent of his creation. Though God lives in eternity and dwells outside of time, he still plays an active role in it.

God’s gift of time is precious. As stewards of our time, it’s our decision in how we use it. With our pre-determined number of days, what are we to do with them?

With the 86,400 seconds in each day, the way we prioritize those moments is important to getting the best out of life. We can be distracted with the unimportant, or we can live each day as though it were our last. Oftentimes, for some, we are consumed with the unimportant. We can choose to honor him through what we spend our time on or dishonor him. It’s our choice.

For the saved, we’ve come to know that seeking his face in all we do is better than doing things on our own. Let it be our resolution to seek His kingdom rather than possessions and Godliness rather than selfishness. Though it is so easy to fall short, we should aim for the highest.

Always remember, our days are numbered by God for a purpose. Today could be our last. Make the best use of what he has given and know that each day is in his hands.