I had visited her before and had heard the same words. “I’m waiting for my son and his family. They might come see me today. I sure want to see them again.” No, she was not forgetful, just hopeful. Again, Mildred sat alone. Her hands, freckled with age, rested nervously on her lap. She wore her prettiest dress. Her hair was beautiful, and she held a picture of her son and his family. Proudly, she said, “My son got me this dress a couple years ago. It’s sure pretty, isn’t it?” Her nursing home room spoke of springtime. There were daisies in a vase, a poinsettia blooming outside her window and birds fluttering in the trees. “Sundays are special, you know. We used to get together as a family and spend the whole day with one another,” she said. I thought to myself how memory was not always a blessing. Her wall spoke of her love for her family. She again showed me each picture and talked about them. “That’s my grandson, Dwight, holding Sparkie” (family dog). ‘‘He’s a fine young man.” “Don’t you think Bill and Angie make a good-looking couple?” One by one, we talked about each picture. The one at which she always paused the longest was that of her husband and her cutting their 50th anniversary cake. “It would have been 57 years this June. I can’t believe he’s been gone so long; I sure miss him.” Again, a tear of love went down her cheek. “They

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36 NKJV). Consequently, “Jesus is Lord, my redeemer. How He loves me! How I love Him!” There are tremendous biblical truths embodied in the beautiful words of this song. The Lordship of Jesus implies several important essentials in regard to the relationship that He maintains to each Christian and to the church. The word “Lord” has among its many meanings, “a person having great power or authority; owner; ruler; master.” As used in the Bible, “Lord” means the relationship found between master and servant, between the king and his subjects, and between the head of the family and each family member (1 Peter 3:6). Jesus plainly defined the practical implications of the term when He said, “But why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). Acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as “Lord” ought to manifest itself in obediently doing what He commands. Those listening to Jesus the Lord while He was upon earth had the same difficulty that plagues our lives. They were willing to give Jesus this title pointing to honor, respect, competency and power, but they still wanted to live as they chose and not be accountable to Him as their Lord. They felt it should be enough to elevate Him without having to then subject themselves to Him. They desired Him as their Savior but

Satan is working constantly to blind and bind people (2 Corinthians 4:4; Luke 13:16). When we are hurting, broken, beaten down, angered and facing things beyond our control, he uses these situations to get our feelings and emotions to work against God’s will for our lives. His desire is to move us to be controlled by our circumstances and not by the will of Christ. It is his aim to lead us to become captives of, be blinded to and to be bound by our sins. When the painful results attack faith and the desire to pray, his blinders are there. Jesus came to save us, to “bind up the brokenhearted” (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18 ESV). When the unsaved see our reactions to life, this often leads them to question what good serving the Savior produces. If we don’t give our broken, blinded and bound lives to the Lord, what do we expect the unsaved to do? Do we struggle to give ourselves wholly to Jesus Christ? Do we hold back and ignore the life He offers (John 10:10)? Is Satan more powerful than the Christ? We know he is most deceitful, and we must not let him deceive us (1 Timothy 2:14). Let’s oppose and expose Satan and not be ensnared and enslaved by him. How does he bind people? Ignorance and Apathy Choosing to remain ignorant and not being energetic enough to question what we are told is used by our enemy. Imagine not wanting to leave slavery and have

“Where do we find out about Easter in the Bible?” “What kind of Easter service are you having in your church this year?” Based on the truth of the Bible, one Sunday is no more special than any other throughout the year. Many have been led to believe that observing and celebrating one particular Sunday appointed by the authority of man is what is found in the Bible. They are surprised, and often in disagreement, when they learn that historically Easter was both unknown and unpracticed by those taught directly by the Lord Jesus Christ and guided into all the truth through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13; 2 Timothy 3:14-17). What this means is its origin is not from God; its authority is not from the Word of God – His revelation. Therefore, observance of Easter as a holy day, supposedly established by God, is incorrect. Setting aside a Sunday between March 21 and April 25 is without heaven’s approval (Galatians 4:10-11). To study God’s Word, trying to find such an idea commanded, is fruitless and vain. Setting aside this particular Sunday was first adopted by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. Where’s the authority of God in that? God’s revealed and inspired Truth is completely silent regarding Lent, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday or Easter. Theses observances were neither commanded by God nor practiced by early Christians. We must turn to another source other than the Bible to find these days, and that’s forbidden (Revelation

“Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick” (John 11:3 NKJV). Jesus was not the only one to receive such a message. Most of us have or will spend time with family and friends who struggle through illnesses. I know of no exceptions. Sickness will confront us if it hasn’t already. Health is not forever, and illness releases strong emotions and fears. There are many things out of our control, and we don’t like this! Let’s learn some lessons from sickness. Sickness May Come toGod’s Very Best Children Job was righteous, but what incredible health problems he endured (1:1; 2:7). Hezekiah became mortally ill and was told to get his house in order (2 Kings 20:1, 12). Have you ever been exhausted and sick for several days? So was Daniel (Daniel 8:27). Sometimes we must cope with an ill parent. Joseph was told, “Your father is sick” (Genesis 48:1). King David was confronted with his sick child, who subsequently died (2 Samuel 12:15-23). How hard it is for a parent to go through a child’s critical illness and passing. Others know that what they contract will mean their physical life will end. “Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die” (2 Kings 13:14). We all have had those who have blessed our lives suddenly get sick and die as did Dorcas (Acts 9:36-37). Then some, like Timothy and Epaphroditus (1 Timothy 5:23; Philippians 2:25-27), have ‘‘frequent ailments” (1 Timothy 5:23 ESV) that cause them difficulties and

Someone described today as the “Age of Phobias.” There are many who are buried under their fears. The fears one has within are often as dangerous as the foes without. Fear is the enemy of achievement and advancement. Fear has been referred to as “the most crippling of emotions.” Fear can lead God’s children to function ineffectively and to be unhappy. Do we remember as a child singing, ‘‘Who’s afraid of the big, bad wolf?” Let me tell you, I was! There were a lot of things I feared as a child, but with maturing, my thinking and reasoning changed (1 Corinthians 13:11). I found something in my Lord that enabled me to deal with many of my fears (1 John 4:18). Bible fear may refer to running away or fleeing panic-stricken from battle. Growing up should cause us to realize “the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:4 7), and ‘giants’ of fear are defeated by Him. Fear can also mean reverence for an exalted ruler, especially God. All need enough knowledge to fear the Lord (Proverbs 1:7) and to obey Him (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Fear may refer to the feeling one experiences in the presence of someone who is infinitely his superior. There are many mighty men in this world, but there is only one Almighty before Whom we should bow in complete submission (Jeremiah 42:11; Exodus 18:21). Before Him we should have the attitude of awe and humility (Proverbs 15:33; Acts 10:2, 22). The most terrifying thing should

To understand the meaning and purpose of baptism as given by God, one needs to prayerfully study the Bible. Cleansed (Acts 22:16; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) There is a God-pleasing washing that cleanses the obedient from the past. God revealed that baptism washes away sins and cleanses one through the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 1:5). “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus…” One goes from spiritual filth to being washed or cleansed beneath the fountain filled with blood provided because of God’s love. Clothed (Galatians 3:26-27) The old identity is covered with Christ, whom we are coming more and more to resemble (Romans 8:29). It’s now our heartfelt intention to let the beauty of Jesus be seen in our lives (1 Corinthians 11:1). We pattern our lives after the Lord. We go from being soiled to the whiteness and brightness made possible through His shed blood. Freedom (Romans 6:16-18; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4) Sin is slavery, and only in Christ can we be freed from sin (Romans 6:20-23). As Israel was delivered from bondage in Egypt, we can be led triumphantly from sin’s bondage. Yet, this does not free us to do whatever we please, for liberty is not license but rather freedom to become what we should be through Christ. Imagine the blessing of going from the slavery of sin into the freedom provided by His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). Freedom has its price, and let’s remember what it cost our loving Father (1 Corinthians

Several things have come on to the national scene during the last few years to remind us of the ongoing moral war. Serious moral issues are involved. Many lessons may be gleaned from our national disgrace. Sin Will Find UsOut (Numbers 32:23) There have been denials, which were nothing but lies, about relationships, which were adulterous. These involved married men and young women who were vulnerable to people in positions of power. I believe those involved felt no one would ever learn the details. How wrong they were! Our sins are an open book, completely known to God. We all have seen some of those involved walking from religious services carrying their Bibles. Was this because they believed the Book or wanted to be seen through the media as men holding a faith? God’s Word condemns unfaithfulness, dishonesty, deceitfulness, lying and adultery. What people do in their private lives are reflections that carry over into their public lives. Their examples of character, fidelity and honesty must be consistent. Sins against others are wrong, whether they come to national attention or not. How can we be expected to respect men who cheat on their wives and children, dishonor those who voted for them, mock the taxpayers who pay their salaries, use government moneys and campaign contributions to pay legal bills that should not have been necessary in the first place, and then act as though it is no big deal? Sin is sin, regardless of who is guilty. Leadership DemandsCharacter and

A lady was walking down the street and saw several children standing around a kitten. She asked them what they were doing. “We’re having a contest,” said one little girl. “The one who tells the biggest lie, wins the kitten. “Naughty, naughty,“ the woman replied. “When I was a little girl, I never told a lie.” The children looked at each other, huddled together, and then a boy spoke up. “Give her the cat. We can’t beat her.” When was the last time you told a lie? To whom did you lie? What did you hope to accomplish with the lie? Is lying all right as long as it is for a good reason? Does lying violate the truth and violate trust? Is lying like building on a decaying foundation? Is honesty in a friend an important characteristic? Has our country seen an alarming decline in basic honesty? Are we a nation of liars as was stated in a U.S. News article? Do we agree with an elected official who recently commented, “We all make promises with no intent to keep them. All of us will lie when we have to, or when it serves our purposes. One quality needed in public figures today is the ability to tell a lie and make it believable to his constituents.” Could one say that in today’s world being a good liar is a necessary tool for success? Is there a prevailing attitude that if you can get away with it and it helps you