Mary Cantell

Sep

15

Standing forever

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The world as it exists today has a finality to it. God’s word assures us there will be a summing up of all things, and his return to earth is imminent. Praise God!

For the believer, this is great news. We hunger for his return and pray daily, Maranatha, Jesus, as we expectantly watch and wait for his coming. While we consider each day on earth a gift; still, our hearts are primed to be with him face-to-face.

With all of the worship of worldly things and materialism, we know that none of this will last into eternity. Not even our own bodies! As believers, our hope and assurance that we’ll receive a new body is based in biblical truth. We serve a risen savior and one day, we will be like Him. Our mortal bodies will give way to immortality.

Until the day arrives, take heart. Our hopes are built on the eternal wise God whose word is the foundation of truth. Everything that began with God’s word will also end with it, too. He is the Alpha and the Omega. His truth will carry us from here to eternity, and it’s the only foundation that will not crumble.

The grass withers; the flower fades, but the word of our God shall stand forever ~ Isaiah 40:8

 

Sep

08

The Good Shepherd

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As sheep, we can wander; though, as we rest in the nurture of the Lord, we can’t go far because his grasp is large. The word tells us that neither height nor depth…nothing at all can remove us from his hand. Even if one goes astray, our divine shepherd sets his sights on bringing the little one back into his fold.

One of the most well known and often quoted psalms in the Bible is the twenty-third, where Jesus is spoken of as our shepherd. How comforting to know we are in his flock and he has his eye on each of us, that he makes us to lie down in green pastures, leads us beside the still waters and restores our souls. He doesn’t just want us to pass through the quiet of the pastoral land; he makes us linger there as we’re led through His paths of righteousness.

If we should walk in the valley of the shadow of death, there is no fear of death because with God, it is but a shadow. And by His rod and His staff, he will comfort us.

When he comes again or takes us home, the knowledge that we’ll be together with him forever is beyond lovely. It’s the assurance to which we cling. Even with the uncertainty of tomorrow, we are sealed and have hope today that our tomorrows will be fine with the Lord by our side.

Sep

01

All things…

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It’s said that everything happens for a reason. Is that true? Frankly, that statement may have relevance to a New Age philosopher, but it’s really a knock-off, mainly due to the part that’s left out, the part about God. Of the saved, we believe that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose ~ Romans 8:28.

When strange things happen to us, we’re apt to sometimes look at the situation negatively. “What did I say?” or “What did I do?” or “Why me, Lord?” Sometimes, it’s not about us. There’s a greater power working in all who love the Lord Jesus.

A friend once said—after he’d come to find out his son, unsuccessfully, attempted suicide—that the situation was, for him, all for his holiness. Hold on. His son’s attempt to end his life was the catalyst for making his father’s life more holy? As a mature Christian, that was his response.

As part of our daily walk with Christ, we’re being sanctified according to God’s plans and purposes. It’s not always easy. As the scripture song goes…some through the waters, some through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood.

God works all things together for good for the ones who love God. Yes, it’s all for our holiness.

Aug

25

Fellowship of the Spirit

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Apostle Paul rejoiced at the good works of the disciples in the church at Philippi and for their generosity toward him while in prison. Even from afar, he ministered to them through his letters, despite the pain of not being free to join with them physically.

However, in the fellowship of the gospel, he is able to join with them spiritually, for he was content to see that their salvation was true by their good deeds, and this reality brought him much consolation.

The fellowship of the gospel is all about love. As we share in this fellowship, we are living out our faith. To that end, as Paul demonstrated, there is no length he would not go to bring mankind unto a saving relationship with the Father.

As challenging as it may be,Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” ~ Luke 9:23.

To share in the fellowship of the gospel is to love God and neighbor no matter what. Paul’s experience reminds us that even if you suffer for doing good, God will give you the strength to continue loving.

Aug

18

Amazing love

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To think about all that human beings love on earth—family, friends, pets—the list can go on. All of these things bring pleasure and we often love that which brings us joy. So, it’s hard to fathom why God loves us, despite the fact that we are a sinful human race that doesn’t necessarily love him back.

It’s a given we’re loved by the Lord. Though, the depth of that love, how do we measure? To fully comprehend how deep his love goes, we’d have to step out of time into eternity. While we’re on this side of heaven, we’ll just have to accept it and, literally, take his word for it!

When Jesus stepped from heaven to earth, he gave up himself for a while—set his power aside—to become our Emmanuel, “God with Us.” It’s the most humbling example of love there can possibly be. To leave his home, separate himself from his father on the cross, and to intercede for us in heaven is too wonderful to take in when one seriously dwells on it. Yet, dwell we should, every day that we have life and let the reality of it all sink in.

We may think we love our family, friends, pets, etc., but the love of Christ for all of humanity is in another league all together. That kind of love is divine. There’s no comparison. As the songwriter said, “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my heart, my soul, my all.”

Aug

12

Under his grace

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Jesus, who came down from heaven to become flesh on earth, knows full well the temptations of man. Aware of our foibles and the pitfalls that so easily befall us, he can sympathize with our struggles.

The Word says that we don’t have to be afraid to ask or approach God’s throne. As believers, we don’t have to wonder whether we are deserving of his attention because we belong to Him. We are to come to the Lord as our Dad as often as necessary to receive the grace to win the victory. The Word says with boldness we are to come. That’s not arrogance but confidence.

While here, Jesus fought the snares of the devil at least three times in the book of Matthew, and when we fight with the devil, there’s nothing more powerful than speaking out loud the Word of God. To that, he is powerless.

Grace is a blend of God’s mercy—not receiving what we deserve—along with His love—receiving what we don’t deserve—together. His grace is abundant, refreshing, and all that we need to live a victorious life here on earth.

Aug

05

Let it shine…

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God is the light of our salvation…the Father of Lights. As the Lord’s people, we are blessed to have the spirit of the living God—his light—dwelling in us. It’s an awesome gift and truly unfathomable that the creator of the universe wishes to tabernacle among his believers.

“In Him was life; and the life was the light of men” ~ John 1:4.

The Word tells us that we are to be both salt and light. What a privilege to be used to flavor and light the world with the essence of Christ shining through us. Lights are meant to dispel the darkness, and the purpose of God’s light is to reveal the truth. As Christians, it’s our responsibility to share what we’ve received from the Lord and not bury it. Our light should be like a beacon…to draw people to see the light of Jesus and to be drawn to him by our good works.

Anyone who has the faith in the power of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection can receive the light of Jesus. We need to spotlight this to the world. God, the Father, has prepared the way of salvation to come through His son. He’s chosen us through Christ to receive new life. This is the gospel that needs to shine.

Jul

28

A new song…

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Oh, sing unto the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord, all the earth ~ Psalm 96.1

In Exodus, Moses and the people sang a new song as they were delivered from Egypt. They acknowledged God for His mighty deeds and praised him through song for their deliverance from slavedom.

Equally, when the Israelites were freed from their bondage in Assyria and later, Babylon, they praised God in song. The book of Psalms is full of examples of the people singing to the Lord a new song.

‘I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD’ ~ Psalm 40:1-3.

We, like David, were once like this; our feet stuck in mire, our eyes sought that which would destroy, and our hearts were enslaved by the lusts of this world. However, through Jesus, we have a new song to sing. And it’s all about Him. As Apostle Paul said in Christ, we are new creatures…the old things have passed away and, behold, all things have become new.

Jul

22

Through His eyes

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He’s made everything beautiful in His time
~ Ecclesiastes 3:11

The old time crooners got it right. In their song lyrics: “Everything is beautiful” and “It’s a wonderful world,” God truly made our world a beautiful place. We often view our surroundings through a biased eye and don’t really stop to inspect the beauty of God’s creation–nor the way he sees it.

To even glimpse what our Lord has made here on earth, one cannot deny the divine intelligence involved. To watch a bumblebee pollinate a flower, or a bird forage for a worm, or an ant colony preparing its food, there’s an order, a divine order in everything, and all for God’s purposes.

God created everything under the sun and made it beautiful in its season. He’s ordered the stars in the sky and the moon and planets to orbit upon his will. His creation exists as he saw fit to make it, and we who are in it have one purpose: to glorify Him and love our neighbor as ourselves.

Whether in adversity or prosperity, one way or the other, all things of God truly work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose ~ Romans 8:28.

One day, we’ll look back and see the tapestry the Lord has created in each of our lives. Like Joseph’s coat of many colors, his divine providence will reveal the picture that was there all the while, if only we had the perspective to fully understand and appreciate all that is Jesus.

Jul

14

Exalting the Name above Names

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How does a believer magnify the Lord when he is already so large enough to be infinite? The psalmist, David, no doubt was expressing his humility in Psalm 34 in light of his feeble decision to feign insanity in the face of dealing with the treacherous King Achish. His choice may not have been ideal, yet he didn’t deny that it was the Lord who delivered him from his enemy.

In this verse, David entreats all of the people in his day to exalt with him. Being that David wore his humility outwardly, he must have realized that to magnify the Lord to any substantial degree would necessitate everyone’s praises and exultations together as he felt himself too lowly.

It’s only the humble of heart who desire to magnify the Lord, and there are a variety of ways we can lift up His name: Singing hymns, praying, praising, thanking, teaching, preaching His word, and witnessing of his greatness wherever we go.

If only the unbelieving and prideful would step down from their lofty pedestals to make room for Jesus, our world would be an entirely different place, and the humble believers would be the first to join with them in making the Lord’s name great in all the earth.