PRAISE THE LORD! HE ABIDES!

PRAISE THE LORD! HE ABIDES!

The world outside my window is arrayed in glorious fall colors.  The weather is now chilly and frost in the air.  And people are celebrating Halloween.  To me, Halloween is a dark day, colors of black and orange and there is talk of spooky and haunting things.  The world seems to be so “dark” on this day.  When I was a child Halloween was so different.  It was a fun day and we were not aware of the “darkness” of Halloween.

But I want to turn my attention to my Wonderful Lord Jesus today.  I desire to praise Him, who made heaven and earth.  I want to bow down to my Savior, the One who died on Calvary for me, the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is Him I want to honor today.  He is the One who brings light to our darkness.  He is the One who brings peace and joy to our lives.  He is the one who constantly abides with me, and who will never leave me.  He is the One who is to be exalted on this day and every day!  So if you are out and about with your children tonight, just remember Jesus and that He is King of kings and Lord of lords, and His kingdom is forever, O Praise the Lord!

CONSTANTLY ABIDING

“There’s a peace in my heart that the world never gave, a peace it can not take away; tho’ the trials of life may surround like a cloud, I’ve a peace that has come there to stay!

Constantly abiding, Jesus is mine; constantly abiding, rapture divine; He never leaves me lonely, whispers O so kind: “I will never leave thee,” Jesus is mine.

All the world seemed to sing of a Savior and King, when peace sweetly came to my heart; troubles all fled away and my night turned to day, blessed Jesus, how glorious Thou art!

This treasure I have in a temple of clay, while here on His footstool I roam; but He’s coming to take me some glorious day, over there to my heavenly home!  (Anne S. Murphy).

In the midst of our days, sometimes we have trials that do surround like a cloud.  Even today I heard of several people who have great trials, and it seems that their lives are so complicated.  But it is Jesus who brings peace to even the darkest of trials.  My heart just breaks when I hear of the burdens that other people are carrying.  My trials seem so small sometimes.  Only Jesus is the answer to this world’s struggles.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” John 16:33.

As Jesus spoke to His disciples on this night, the night that he would be arrested, tried and crucified, He proclaims peace.  He tells His disciples to be cheerful, as He overcomes the world.  And He could only do that by going to the cross, the place of suffering and death.  But He would be victorious and rise from that tomb on the third day!  And when Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace, brings us peace, it is there to stay, no matter what trial may come into our lives.  Oh, I know that is hard sometimes, we take our eyes off of Jesus, but when we turn back to Him, He reminds us of His peace and we can walk in that peace.

I remember so well the night I asked Jesus into my heart as a child.  My night did turn to day, and everything looked different and brighter.  I was raised in a Christian home and my whole world was church, but I still was a sinner needing Jesus. And my trials were easier to bear all because of Jesus in my life.  I learned to pray and read my Bible.  I witnessed to my friends at school.  And in those days, I could carry my little New Testament to school.

And someday Jesus is coming back to take me home.  And I believe He is coming very soon. And He is waiting for men and women, boys and girls to come to Him.  His nail pierced hands are reaching out for men and women, boys and girls to come to Him and receive salvation and eternal life.  And then comes that wonderful peace that only He can bring.  We don’t know what tomorrow may hold, “now is the day of salvation, (II Corinthians 6:2).  There are only two choices, heaven or hell.  Which will you choose?

“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words” I Thessalonians 4:16-18.

So I bring comfort to you who love Jesus, the promise of His coming.  And I look forward to that day when He comes to take us home, what a day of rejoicing that will be.  And if you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, I pray that you will make that decision, and be there with the believers as they meet their Lord in the air.  I pray that if you should meet the Lord in death, you will be ready to be welcomed home by our Blessed Lord.  And Praise the Lord that He constantly abides and that His love is everlasting.

In the Name of Jesus,

Pastor Sharon