The World Needs Jesus

  What better time than now for the remembrance and celebration of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on a cross to save us from our sins? And boy, do we need saving. We need Jesus.

  Recent headlines of chemical attacks on innocents and live streaming murders weighs heavy. It sure seems like violence and evil among our fellowman is rising to a full boil. Story after story of humans hurting humans has become a daily occurrence. We need Jesus.

  When God made the earth and placed Adam and Eve in the garden, it came as no surprise to Him that we would need Jesus. Adam and Eve made an independent choice that separated them from God and left its mark on the whole of humanity. We opened the door to sin and in return, our gracious God opened the door to salvation.

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:7-10

  Sin comes in many forms. It can come hard and violent like murder and it can come quietly like a whisper of gossip. Sin is sin regardless of its manner of style. Which is why we all need Jesus. From the evil dictator committing horrendous acts of violence to the soccer mom making a snide remark against another, the world needs Jesus.

  Jesus is a necessity, but He is also a choice. You and I and the rest of the world need Him, but we have to choose Him. Jesus is free for the asking but we have to ask.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7,8

  Jesus freely gives us life because He freely gave His. The world is hurting and walking in darkness. The world needs Jesus.

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12

Dina Pugh

There Are No Throw Away Days

  Do you ever have those times in your life where you have something unpleasant that you have to deal with but you’d rather not? Like maybe an upcoming medical procedure, or confronting a friend who hurt you, or filing your taxes. We all have things, whether planned or not, that come into our lives that we would rather ignore.

  When I have something unpleasant on the horizon, I find myself first of all dreading it, then wishing it would go away, then finally when it gets here I just want the whole day to pass quickly so that I can be done with it and move on to the next day. Kind of like making the day into a throw away day.

  But when I throw the day away, I’m not only throwing away the bad parts I don’t like, I’m also throwing away all the good parts. When all I can focus on is the thing I want to ignore, I end up blinding myself to God’s goodness around me. And believe me, no matter what a day holds, there is always God’s goodness to be found. Our attitude determines whether or not we see it.

  Even if we are facing the most horrendous and painful day and there is no joy to be found, we are still handed the good gifts of grace and mercy. We may be having a difficult day, or two, or three, or four, but our lord and Savior did the unimaginable for us. The day Jesus faced (because of us) is a day that changed all other days, past, present, or future. We haven’t a clue really as to what God has done on our behalf. That day on the cross marked the beginning of every single one of our days being filled with grace and mercy.

  So if grace and mercy are all you can find in your day – it is enough – and it is to be celebrated, not thrown away with the rest of it. I’ve learned now that because of grace and mercy there are no throw away days.

Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 

They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (Emphasis added)

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

John 1:16

Dina Pugh

Dare To Be A Daniel

“But Daniel purposed in his heart…”

  Those six words from the book of Daniel, chapter one, verse eight have lingered on my heart recently. The Bible tells us that Daniel was a teenager when he was taken captive by the Babylonian king, King Nebuchadnezzar. Although Daniel was relatively young when he was captured, (some say as young as 15 years old) Daniel refused to compromise, he refused to follow the crowd.

  Verse 8 says, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” That must have taken great courage for Daniel to stand his ground on what he believed.

  Those words, “But Daniel purposed in his heart”, were the result of Daniel’s belief and reverence for God. From a young age, as well as throughout his entire life, Daniel was determined, resolved, resolute, and intentional regarding his walk with God. I so admire that.

  There’s a well-known Sunday school song titled, Dare to be a Daniel, with a chorus that goes:

Dare to be a Daniel,

Dare to stand alone;

Dare to have a purpose firm,

Dare to make it known!

  Like Daniel, I too, want to purpose in my heart. Purpose to live my life in a way that honors God. How about you? Will you join me in daring to be like Daniel?

Dina Pugh

Beautifully Kept

  Our first month of 2017 is drawing to a close. A brand new year is ahead of us. Are your New Year’s resolutions still holding strong or are they beginning to wane a bit? Or maybe you are like me and you don’t even bother making resolutions because you already know you’ll never stick to them anyway.

  Does a new year hold promise for you or does it bring hesitation of the unknown? I try to look at a new year with hope instead of hesitation, but we just never know what a new year will bring with it. I think we can at least expect a mixed bag of blessings and hardships. Hopefully the blessings will outweigh the hardships but even if they don’t, God will see us through. No matter what a day, a week, a month, or a year brings, God is in it.

  God is there when the doctor helps to deliver your new baby and God is there when the doctor delivers the news that you or a loved one has cancer. God is there when you land that perfect job and God is there when you lose your job that supports your family. God is there when you say, “I do” to the love of your life and God is there when the love has grown cold and walked out the door.

  God smiles in our joys and holds us in our sorrows. I have said this before: God is our One True Constant. We were made by Him and for Him and yet we are the ones who receive the wealth of His love. We can do nothing to earn this kind of love. This kind of love is absolute. God freely gives it. It is ours for the taking and it is by far the greatest thing you will ever have on earth. It far exceeds your best day ever and it far outweighs your darkest night.

  So if you have placed your life in God’s hands then no matter what today, tomorrow, or this next year brings, you are and will be beautifully kept by God.

Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-5 (Emphasis added)

Dina Pugh

Christmas is Messy

 I’m not sure when it began, but for several generations now we have been duped. We have been led to believe that alongside the celebration of Jesus’ birth there needs to be more. There needs to be decorations on trees, lights on houses, gingerbread cookies warm from the oven, gifts to buy, parties to attend, and the list goes on. And with all of these “necessary” things comes the misguided idea that it all has to be picture perfect and Pinterest worthy.

  But what happens when it’s not? What happens when you strive to make everything perfect but you burn the cookies, forget to buy Uncle David’s gift, and your beautifully decorated tree is dead two weeks before Christmas Day? Is Christmas ruined?

Christmas can never be ruined because Christmas isn’t about things, it’s about the Person of Jesus. It’s God leaving His dwelling of unimaginable splendor, glory and perfection and stepping into a messy, filthy world.

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7

  Jesus brought His goodness into our brokenness, He shed His light into our darkness. And guess what? Jesus still does this today. He is Emmanuel; God With Us.So if you are finding yourself striving for the perfect Christmas, don’t. It already came. The perfect Christmas was given to us 2,000 years ago. Let the wonder of Jesus be your Christmas.

Then the angel said to them, 
“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 
For there in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11

Dina Pugh