Mary Cantell

Mar

07

Fan or Follower

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No doubt, the 2018 Superbowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles have a large following. They spend money on season tickets, fervently rally for them at games, and talk about them, praise, and promote them at every turn. When the Eagles lose a football game, the true followers—the dyed-in-the-wool ones—are devastated. Their whole lives and identity hang in the balance of their beloved team. There are others, though, who are merely fair weather friends, who glom on only when the team is winning.

In the Lord’s time on earth, when Jesus invited Peter and Paul and the rest of the disciples to be his followers, they went. They gave up their plans and laid them aside to follow Jesus—literally and figuratively. Would you have been one of them?

Today, there are many who claim the name of Christianity. Of course, I’m a Christian, they say. I go to church! Not being a Jew, a Hindu, or a Muslim… Christianity is the demographic some claim for lack of any other. But going to church does not a Christian necessarily make. When someone is a true follower of Christianity, he aligns his will to the one he’s following. Not merely jumping on the bandwagon of fandom, true followers abide through thick and thin, no matter the tide or season. They lay down their lives, as many have, for the sake of the Lord and the Gospel.

In Matthew 7: 21-23, the Lord said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven…  Did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.”

Feb

26

Hope springs eternal…

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What is your source of hope? Is it in your material abundance? Intellect? Your fine house, car or bank account? These are all good things in and of themselves, but how long does that new car scent last? Or the house stand? Our abundance today may be our scarcity tomorrow.

Despite Jeriemiah’s grief after King Nebuchadnezzar’s army ravaged Jerusalem and killed many Israelites, he directed his thoughts toward God (Lam. 3:21-24): “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

The world is passing away. Through all of the evil and mayhem stemming from the actions of the lost and sinful who have no hope, we need to continue keeping steadfast and holding onto our true anchor of hope—our Lord and Savior. And it’s only in the power of the Holy Spirit that true joy is fulfilled in us.

The Lord says not to put our trust in riches or even in our fellow man, for he will often let us down. The only sure thing we can rely on is the Lord. Jeremiah says, “The Lord is my portion… therefore, I have hope in Him.”

In Christ alone we have peace, hope, and joy that doesn’t just have to trickle down to us; he is the fullness of all we need… the fount of all blessings today and forever.

 

Image result for waterfall pictures

Feb

22

Divine healing…

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In chapter five of James, he writes to a struggling people who are weighed down by adversity and hardship. He encourages them to proactively seek restoration—both to God and to each other. Falling into the temptation of doubting God’s purposes and to blame him is not difficult to do, and James is advocating the power of prayer rather than a negative response to their trials.

When we turn a blind eye to God, we suffer. The sufferings can take the form of pride, egoism, judgment, and even sickness. Prayer is the intercessor through Jesus that brings results, particularly if the one who prays is convicted of his own sin. James assures that prayers will make the sick person well . . . the Lord will raise him up . . . he will be forgiven . . . so that you may be healed.

The sickness spoken of is not always a physical ailment. The verb is translated in Greek (astheneo) and means “weak or “weary.” The people in James are spiritually weak and are encouraged to call for the elders—the spiritually strong. The Lord promises to restore and raise up the sick person spiritually.

The concept of being healed can have a spiritual sense with the verb, iaomai, as in 1 Peter 2:24, which refers to Isaiah 53, although James recognizes a possible combination of illness and sin. The vision he is sharing is for both the physical and spiritual healing of their lives. “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Feb

07

Striving or abiding?

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As humans, we like control. Seeking control keeps us feeling like we’re on top. Large and in charge. Nothing wrong with being a leader—the world can use them, particularly those with moral fiber and who seek after God’s heart. But often we struggle and strive to control things that are not ours. Namely, our own lives. Controlling our lives too tightly can make us lose control.

Being godly does not require striving or to be controlling. Organization and orderliness notwithstanding, to be controlling means you have an excessive need to be the boss. There are things out of our control that can only be dealt with by God. One of those things is our sanctification.

In John 4:14, Jesus says, “… whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

God wants our cups to be filled with the water of His will and design. This is something we don’t need to strive after. Jesus died that we should be free of stressful striving. We only need to trust and abide in Him and be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

We don’t have to strive to be good before God. He only asks that we abide in the source of the river of living water—the fountain and the one true source of grace and mercy, which is His love. Your cups will then be filled even to overflowing as you are watered from the fountain. No stress or striving… just abiding.

It can be a lifetime process to let go of our controlling desires. It begins on our knees to confess and be still before a gracious and loving God, whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light.

Jan

31

A new creature

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We all  may struggle at times in the flesh. Whether by word or deed, our choices are not always fruitful. Don’t let Satan get the victory for we belong to God now, and it is by his strength that we can overcome our own fleshly weaknesses. The first step begins with turning over our struggles to the only wise God and Savior, our heavenly father, and allow the Holy Spirit to work within us.

This time of year brings many to make New Year’s resolutions which not long afterward come to nothing but empty words. People want to make a change or turn over a new leaf; however, what they really need is to turn over a new heart.

For the Christian, making a change is sometimes gradual and, like Apostle Paul, we need to remember that it’s a destination. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 3:14 ), and “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6 ).

Real change comes only from the Holy Spirit working to change us. Leaning on the spirit to guide and deliver us from sin and evil is a sure thing we can depend on. Change hurts because we are sometimes stubborn and afraid to move out of our comfort zone. Let’s continue to press on—not for ourselves—but to honor the Lord in word and in deed, renewing our minds to seek His will in all things that He may be glorified.

Jan

23

What kind of faith do you have?

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To what do you ascribe your faith? Most would say they have faith in things that make them secure. The Hebrew word for faithfulness literally means “firmness”; figuratively, it means “security” and “fidelity” is the moral definition.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Apostle Paul appeals to the believers and reminds them that “The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one” (NAS). Faithfulness is an essential part of who God is (Psalm 89:8; Hebrews 13:8) and it is multi-faceted. He demonstrates this to us in several ways. Through his faithfulness, God not only protects us from evil, he sets limits on our temptations, forgives our sins, and sanctifies us.

While God has faithfulness covered, our faith in him has different facets as well. There are different ways to ascribe our faith to God:  Faith as belief, faith as commitment, faith in our waiting on God, and faith in him as our refuge.

God’s faithfulness is the pivot upon which turns his whole purpose for humanity. God calls and then through his goodness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4; 1 John 1:9). “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The better we truly know God, the more we will want to trust, imitate, and rely on him. We cannot be faithful to our Lord without a total commitment to him as the most important thing in our lives. By having the right kind of faith, it will produce righteousness in us in contrast to pagan faith in one’s self, which leads to unrighteousness.

God’s faithfulness is the pivot upon which turns his whole purpose for humanity. God calls and then through his goodness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4; 1 John 1:9). “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The better we truly know God, the more we will want to trust, imitate, and rely on him. We cannot be faithful to our Lord without a total commitment to him as the most important thing in our lives. By having the right kind of faith, it will produce righteousness in us in contrast to pagan faith in one’s self, which leads to unrighteousness.

Jan

15

Life’s not fair–so what else is new?

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Because of the cross, who of the saved can demand any other fairness in light of the unfair exchange of life that granted you an eternal one?

Looking to the world to assure your worth, value or joy? Looking to man to assuage your distress? There’s unfairness everywhere. No one has cornered the market on that. The deeper the pain, the more there is to give over to the ONE source of hope and joy. It’s Jesus.

Jesus is the only hope for mankind. Remaining in the struggle as a way to blame everyone else for your lot in life is a waste of precious time. Why not cling to Jesus? He’s overcome the world.

Jan

08

New Year… new self

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Happy New Year!

Do you live in the past? Do you dwell on former mistakes or missteps? It’s easy to do. Though, God’s word tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV), “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

In life, we may struggle at times in the flesh. Whether by word or deed, our choices are not always fruitful. Don’t let Satan get the victory for we belong to God now, and it is by his strength that we can overcome our own fleshly weaknesses. The first step begins with turning over our struggles to the only wise God and Savior, our heavenly father, and allow the Holy Spirit to work within us.

This time of year brings many to make New Year’s resolutions which not long afterward come to nothing but empty words. People want to make a change or turn over a new leaf; however, what they really need is to turn over a new heart.

Making a change is not always easy and can come gradually. In he words of the Apostle Paul, we need to remember that it’s a destination. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 3:14 KJV), and “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6 KVJ).

Only the Holy Spirit can affect a real change. Leaning on the spirit to guide and deliver us from sin and evil is a something we can depend on. Change can chafe because we resist moving out of our comfort zone. Let’s continue to press on—not for ourselves—but to honor the Lord in word and in deed, renewing our minds to seeking His will in all things that he may be glorified.

 

Dec

30

Global warming is chilling…

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To think that man is capable of ruining the earth is pompous.  Global warming is the new reality to some. Really? I thought the earth has been experiencing the ups and downs of temperature change since time began.

While we need to be good stewards of our land, the mindset that we suffer from some kind of catastrophe in the making is ludicrous. God is in control of our planet–nothing man can do will change that.

The greatest hoax to come to America by the likes of the few elitists who wish to make money and instill fear in people is this chatter about global warming. The scare mongering they’ve engendered has stirred up the masses to a frothy brew of ignorant name calling and useless fervor.

I believe people are concerned more with God’s creation than God himself. The Lord God, whom we just celebrated this Christmas, will take down this whole planet one day and it will no longer be. Imagine that. I would be more concerned about the price we will pay if we do not put our faith and trust in the almighty, the CREATOR. The rest is talk and speculation.

Dec

25

What does Jesus want for Christmas?

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Every year, we hear the classic music of old time crooner, Bing Crosby. We’re familiar with his smooth vocals—particularly the song where he’s dreaming of a white Christmas… “Where the treetops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow.” Now that Christmas is almost here, we can hear his immortal words once more.

We also hear about what those nearest and dearest to us want for Christmas. How many times have we been asked through the years:  “What do you want for Christmas?” If a child wants a new toy or gadget, his parents will often say, “Wait until Christmas.” What do you want for Christmas? Do you expect to receive it? Hang on, Christmas is only a day away.

In a quiet moment this Christmas Eve while wrapping our presents or preparing tomorrow’s Christmas meal for our families, there’s something we can ponder. We can muse on higher ground and ask ourselves what the Lord may want this Christmas.

In the book of Micah, the question is asked of the prophet 700 years before Christ came to earth:  “Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”

Micah 6:8 states: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

While there was no room for Jesus in the old Bethlehem inn, may it be different for him today. May you find room for him in your heart. For that is the only room he desires… and all he wants for Christmas.