FOUNDATIONS

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The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone.  The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eight beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.  Revelation 21:14; 19-20.

When my parents built their house, we went over daily to see the progress.  The concrete was poured for the foundation.  Several mornings later, we found a puppy had wondered onto the property.  He was curled up in the foundation, looking quite content.  He came home with us and Kimba became part of our family.  He was a little thing but his paws told another story.  He grew, and grew, and grew.  He looked to be part St. Bernard with his furry body and big jowls that dripped constantly.

The definition of foundation describes it as the lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level.  Foundations bear the weight of the building and must be strong.

Jesus chose his disciples carefully.  He was the cornerstone, the first stone set in the construction of a foundation but the apostles were the foundation.  Ephesians 2:19-22 states, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.  In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

 We are members of God’s household.  We have Jesus as our chief cornerstone and the prophets and apostles as our foundation.  We are the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit.

Over time, some houses are known to settle.  They sink a bit and your porch might be a little uneven.  Cracks can appear in the walls and ceilings.  Houses need repairs and maintenance and so do we as Christians.  We want a solid and firm foundation with a well maintained dwelling for our Lord.  We’ve all seen condemned buildings that were once thriving homes or businesses.  Now they sit alone and deserted waiting to be torn down.

One of my favorite chorus’ says, “Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true and with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you”. Daily maintenance checks in his word will keep your building looking brand new which is fitting for the residence of a king.  
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HOLD ON TIGHT

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“Now, stay strong and steady.  Obediently do everything written in the Book of The Revelation of Moses-don’t miss a detail.  Don ‘t get mixed up with the nations that are still around.  Don’t so much as speak the names of their gods or swear by them.  And by all means don’t worship or pray to them.  Hold tight to God, your God, just as you’ve done up to now.  God has driven out superpower nations before you, and up to now, no one has been able to stand up to you.  Think of it-one of you single-handedly, putting a thousand on the run!  Because GOD IS GOD, your God.  Because he fights for you, just as he promised you.  Joshua 23:8-10 The Message

I like the honesty of a recent transport posted on Facebook seeking volunteer drivers to take a dog to a foster home.  All posts tell how the dog may be transported and its personal characteristics.  Some posts inform you whether the dog is to be crated or securely tethered.  It passes along the information of who it gets along with like cats, other dogs, etc. and they all remind you to double leash and use slip leads.

This post was for a young hound and stated no under the leash trained category.  In the section reminding you to double leash and use slip leads when transferring from and to the car, it said, “Double leash and hold on tight!”  It was a touch of humor but the total truth.

Our dogs are leash trained but you still have to hold on tight.  I’ve found myself flat on my face bleeding from many a walk where an unannounced squirrel has decided to cross our path when I was unprepared.  I usually have a tight hold on the leash and the walk is anything but relaxing.

My walk with God mirrors the same type of journey.  I hold on tightly and don’t enjoy the time we spend together.  The special moments are lost in the long haul to get to my final destination.  Instead of relaxing in the freedom and grace of my Lord Jesus Christ, I’m stressed out worrying that at any minute I might make the wrong choice and his wrath will be rained down from heaven.  I don’t enjoy those unexpected interruptions and feel I must be prepared for every circumstance.

God doesn’t work that way.  In modern terms he would have announced to many of our bible heroes saying, “Hold on tight!”.  Abraham had to hold on tight for the journey of a lifetime (Genesis 12-25).  God said he would be blessed.  He was called to leave home and go to an unknown land.  He had to wait years for his promised son and then was told to offer him as a sacrifice.

Joseph had to hold on tight (Genesis 37-50).  The dreamer dreamed he was destined for great things and ended up betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery.  He kept rising to the top only to be thrown back into prison thinking he was forgotten.  Finally, he was elevated to the second highest in command in Egypt and all his dreams fulfilled.

Elijah had held on tight and was God’s man in the spotlight (I Kings 17-19, II Kings 1-2).  He was taken up to heaven in a blazing, fiery chariot.  Moses survived the baby massacre (his story starts in Exodus 2) and was raised in Pharoah’s house.  After murdering an Egyptian, he was met by a talking, burning bush and turned into the tour guide and leader of all the Israelites on their very long exodus to the Promised Land.

When you start out with God it is always a “hold on tight” journey.  The twists and turns, the ups and downs, the bends in the road that are shaded by dense forests and lit up by intense heat are not always easy.  You can trust that God is in control and hold on tight to his hand.  It’ll be the ride of your life with a truly worthwhile destination.

 

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Do You Want to Get Well?

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Buddy the Elf

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”  John 5:6 NIV

Buddy the Elf was rescued by Furever Yours Rescue.  He has his own Facebook page where you can follow his progress.  He is being fostered and receives physical therapy to try to regain muscle.  He is very blessed to have wheelchairs, doggie diapers and other necessary items donated.  He is loved.  If you asked him if he wants to get well, I know he would respond with an emphatic yes.  His daily progress is amazing as he and his caregivers give it their all.

John 5:1-8 tells the story of a man who had been an invalid for 38 years.  There have been many sermons preached, bible study discussions and devotions written on this encounter with Jesus.  The pool of Bethesda had the reputation of having healing powers when an angel came to stir the waters.  The bible states that a great number of disabled people use to lie there in hopes of getting into the water first to receive their healing.

Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time.  He asked him, “Do you want to get well?”  He told Jesus he had no one to help him get in the pool when the water was stirred.  Someone else always got there ahead of him.

I’ve always looked at the question and applied it to my life.  I’ve wondered if there was something wrong with me.  Do I really want to get well?

This time my attention was drawn to the fact that the man had waited by the pool for 38 years.  This time, I saw patience.  This time, I saw hope.  This time, I saw perseverance and endurance.  I saw faith and strength.

This man didn’t lose his focus on healing or what God could accomplish.  He waited for the promise.  He didn’t give up when everyone else received healing and blessing from God.  He could have went home, knowing he’d never make it into the stirred water first.

During the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments, God had been silent.  Some had given up.  A few like Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:21-38) waited and hoped and believed God’s word.  Their faith was rewarded when they saw Jesus the Messiah in the form of a newborn baby.

How often do I pray and if I don’t see immediate results, I hobble off?  My faith isn’t strong enough to hang around the pool waiting till it’s my turn.  I don’t endure till Jesus passes by and asks me if I want to be made well.

There is a song that states:

Teach me Lord to wait down on my knees, till in your own good time You answer my pleas.  Teach me not to rely on what others do but to patiently wait on an answer from you.  They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.  Teach me Lord, teach me Lord, to wait.

The man in John 5 waited till Jesus passed by and was told to take up his bed and walk.  He didn’t have to wait on an angel to stir the waters.  Jesus was enough.  Simeon and Anna waited to see the salvation of God, and they saw Jesus presented at the temple as a newborn babe.  If we wait on Jesus, what will we see?

Do we have the endurance and patience of the man at the pool and Buddy the Elf?  Do you want to get well?  Wait on the Lord!  Jesus was and is enough!

 

Donate to help Buddy @ Furever Yours Rescue, 1722 Norristown Rd., Amber, PA 19002

 

 

 

 

THE WAY FORWARD

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.  Philippians 3:13 NIV

 

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