All that’s left of Summer is …

…a 3-day weekend.

By Tuesday, everything will return to normal. Kids will be back in school. Traffic will increase as summer vacationers re-learn how to drive again. Mass transit will return to crowded platforms and standing only between Jamaica and New York. After weeks of sun, fun and hurricanes, reality returns and it’s back to homework, full offices and waiting for the weekend. At least the weather is beautiful.

It’s a time for a new beginning. Of course, this time we’re going to do it right. Like New Year’s Eve, we make promises of reading the bible more often; praying more often; and staying with that bible study class you’ve been wanting to attend.

King Solomon wrote in

Ecclesiastes 1:8-10 (ESV)

All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.
Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has been already in the ages before us.

There is nothing new under the sun: Been there, Done That.

Some will succeed; most will fail. But, when you give it all to Jesus, you are the big winner. Only He can turn your life around. Only He can give you the strength to persevere. Only He can make things NEW!

It’s time for a new beginning. It’s time for Jesus!

And that’s the word of The Day.

He who has the most toys…

…dies like everyone else.

Nobody likes to bring up the subject of death. People just don’t like to talk about it. Surveys have shown that 100% of the population will die, whether you have the most toys or not.

Atheists believe that once you die, that’s it. That’s all there is; there ain’t no more. Some religions believe that when you die, you are reincarnated until you get it right. Others believe that God would never send a “good” person to hell. They’re all are wrong!

Hebrews 9:27-28 says, “just as it is appointed for man to DIE ONCE, and after that COMES JUDGMENT, so Christ, having been offered ONCE to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

God’s Word declares that ALL DIE ONCE and then the Judgment. Notice it also says that Christ was offered ONCE for the sins of many. The sin of many not all! Why? Because not all have accepted the sacrifice of Christ to reconcile us to God. Even a “good” person needs to be forgiven. Even a “good” person needs to accept the salvation that only Christ offers through His shed blood.

There is a judgment for sin. But, believers are not subject to that judgment. We have already been judged and redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Non-believers will be judged for their sin and their fate will be sealed to an eternity without God. That’s just a nice way to say the Lake of Fire.

Believers will be judged by the works they did for Christ and His Kingdom. Good works don’t get you to heaven. Good works are a result of your commitment to Christ. But, the end result is still eternity with Jesus.

Make the commitment to Christ now before it’s too late.

It’s as simple as ABC:

• A  - Admit to God that you’re sinner and repent and turn away from your sins.
• B  - Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and accept His gift of forgiveness.
• C -  Confess your faith in Jesus as your Savior and your Lord forevermore.

Jesus paid it All!

And that’s the word of The Day

Some random thoughts on Hurricane Irene

This past weekend, Aug 26-28, 2011, Hurricane wrecked havoc on the eastern seaboard from North Carolina to New England. Packing winds of 100 MPH, she slammed into North Carolina and Virginia. As she weakens on her journey north, she made landfall once again in Brooklyn and travelled up the Hudson River into Vermont and eventually lost all her energy in NE Canada. As of today, 38 deaths are attributed to her. Property damage may well reach over $12B.

Many areas were badly affected including my hometown on Long Island. Thankfully, God spared us and our property. We lost no siding or roofing and amazingly, never lost power. We cleaned up the tree debris on Monday and by the afternoon, it looked like just another beautiful summer day on LI.

On the Friday night before the storm hit us and throughout the storm, We prayed constantly these bible passages asking God for His protection in the storm:

• Ps 107:29-31

  He made the storm be still,
     and the waves of the sea were hushed.
  Then they were glad that the waters[a] were quiet,
     and he brought them to their desired haven.
  Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
     for his wondrous works to the children of man!

 

• Ps 121:7-8

  7The LORD will keep you from all evil;
     he will keep your life.
  8The LORD will keep
     your going out and your coming in
     from this time forth and forevermore.

 

• Ps 34:8

  8Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
  Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

There were others and we continued trusting in Him.

In the aftermath of the storm, I’m thankful that he spared us any damage and took us through the storm.

Other areas were not so blessed. The floods in New York and Vermont have been devastating. Does that mean that there were no Christians in those areas praying for protection. No, it doesn’t. I can’t explain it and I don’t want to try. It just happens. The best and only blessing each Christian can rely on and put all their faith in is their salvation. Regardless of what happens to us, we are always blessed. You might not think so if your basement is flooded or your house is damaged, but, you are blessed. God sent His only Son to take the punishment meant for us and reconcile us to Himself so that we can have eternal life. There is no greater blessing than that.

One more thing about the sovereignty of God: He is in total control.

Job 37:11-13 says  

He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
   the clouds scatter his lightning.
They turn around and around by his guidance,
to accomplish all that he commands them
   on the face of the habitable world.
Whether for correction or for his land
   or for love, he causes it to happen.

He turns the clouds around and around (like a hurricane) and it accomplishes what He commands. God may use it for correction or one translation says judgment. Everyone concentrated on the wind and rain from the Hurricane, yet, New Jersey, New York and Vermont unexpectedly, are dealing with massive flooding. Two of those states, New York and Vermont, have passed same-sex marriage laws allowing gays and lesbians to legally marry therefore making a mockery of God’s Word. Never underestimate the sovereignty of God. He will not be mocked.