Posts Tagged With: promise

THE Most Important Holiday That We (Sadly) Never Celebrate

Ready to hit the ground running? This is so exciting. And just remember, I Love this stuff!

As you will hear in this PODCAST, in the culture of Jesus’ day, the agricultural cycle of sowing and reaping, planting and harvesting, was absolutely central to the existence of the Jewish people. So much so that the agricultural calendar was an essential part of the day-in and day-out rhythm of their lives, including Jesus’.

You can understand why. They could not simply go to Roths, Winco, Alberstons, Safeway or some other grocery store to buy their food. Their lives literally depended upon, revolved around their agricultural calendar. Hold onto that thought for a second.

Allow me now to shift gears ever so slightly, to this thought:

God wants you to know with absolute certainty, beyond the shadow of any doubt, that death is not the end, but is a gloriously grand beginning. Think about that for a second.

We live (in theory) with an awesome, palpable sense of anticipation for the day when we will get brand new bodies, just like Jesus’ resurrected body. That day coming in the Future.

Here in the Present, we are now watching the fulfillment of God’s promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit as He moves throughout earth in real time, every single day, saving the souls of precious people from Hell, and guaranteeing them, and you, an eternal place in Heaven. We are talking about the redemption of our bodies in the future, and the redemption of our souls in the present.

In order to paint that picture, God inserted Himself into the very soil of the culture of the New Testament. And He did so on two separate specific, picturesque days — separated from each other by exactly 50 days. Two Holy Days, Jewish holidays each, that were exactly 50 days apart. Both of which were agricultural. Both of which the people felt keenly.

And after hearing this podcast, you will feel it too.

Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it may take up to 60 seconds for this podcast to begin to play.

God bless you richly as you listen.

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Amazing Love, How Can It Be?

Well, I’ve got good news for you. Great news, at least as far as Jesus and His disciples were concerned. Just in case you were worried about this.

As you will hear in this PODCAST, Jesus finally got a break in the action.

Finally, mercifully, after His enormously long and draining and tiring day — in which He taught a series of seven parables, sailed to the other side of the sea, stilled a raging storm, sent two thousand or more demons to flight, healed a bleeding woman, raised a dead girl, all of which we have discussed in minute detail over the past (if you can believe it) 4 months — this one singularly momentous day has now finally come to an end.

Then, after an indefinite period of time, Jesus and His disciples once again took to the road.

No sooner did Jesus get out the door, He was met by two blind men, begging Him to heal them.

It is most intriguing to me that of the three Gospel-writers — Matthew, Mark, and Luke — who gave us the record of Jesus’ so-called longest day, it is only Matthew who recorded this encounter with the two blind men.

I have got to ask the reason why. Why did Matthew, and only Matthew include this story? Especially given the fact that we have seen Jesus heal the blind before. This was old news.

Or was it?

Trust me when I suggest that after hearing about this singularly significant story, you may never view God’s love for you the same way again.

Yes, THIS story is THAT significant.

Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it may take up to 60 seconds for this podcast to begin to play.

HAPPY LISTENING, and God bless you as you listen.

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A Sparkling New Message from a Frail Old Man

He is truly an unsung hero of the Christmas Story.

Ironically enough, as you will learn in this Christmas-themed PODCAST, his name means “one who listens.”

Are you ready to listen?

Having read the biblical accounts of the birth of Jesus, I have no doubt that you have heard of him. But I would be very much surprised if you knew much about him.

THAT is about to change.

Ready to view the coming of Christ through a slightly different lens? My Yuletide gift to you, in a little more than 30 minutes.

Please remember that depending upon your web browser and connection speed, it may take up to 60 seconds for the podcast to begin to play.

If it is a blessing to you, PLEASE share a link to this podcast with your family and friends.

God bless you as you listen. And have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

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The Search for the Holy Grail

Get ready to be encouraged. Super-encouraged, truth be known.

I say this because THE THING that everybody wants (and I say “everybody” without any fear of contradiction, without any worry of exaggeration)… THE THING that everybody wants is readily available, and ours for the asking.

It’s just that so many people have no idea what it is they really want. But trust me, we all want this…

You could call it “The Search for the Holy Grail.”

The Holy Grail: defined in two ways by our friends at the Webster Dictionary website: 

1. In its formal usage: The cup/chalice from which Jesus supposedly drank in the Upper Room during the Last Supper, sought after (some would say) protected throughout the Middle Ages by the Knights Templar.

Which is NOT the Holy Grail to which I refer.

2. Informal usage: Something that we all very much want, but that is very hard to receive or to achieve.

Which is indeed the Holy Grail to which I do refer.

However, I would dispute the part about “very hard” to receive or to achieve. 

As we are about to discover in this PODCAST, it’s not hard at all to find and to enjoy that Holy Grail — that which we all so desperately want and need (even if we don’t realize what the “that” is for which we are so desperately searching).

Please note that depending upon your web browser, it may take up to 60 seconds for the podcast to begin to play. HAPPY LISTENING!!!

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The Fingerprints of Providence

Jesus pronounced this amazing blessing on His followers: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

An amazing blessing to be sure. But is it an empty one? Who of us is actually “pure in heart”? Did not Jeremiah pronounce our hearts “desperately wicked”? Yes, I’m afraid he did.

And who of us can actually see God? Did not God tell Moses that “no one can see Me and live”? Yes, I’m afraid He did.

So what gives with this blessing, and its corresponding promise? Is this a bankrupt blessing? A pointless promise? At least as far as this life is concerned?

Oh, my friends. As you listen to this PODCAST, you are about to see some things that you have perhaps never seen before.

If this podcast is a blessing to you, PLEASE share it with your loved ones and friends. PLEASE “Like” it and “Share” it on Facebook and/or Twitter. I’d be most grateful, and so would they!

Please note that depending upon your web browser, it may take up to 60 seconds for the podcast to begin to play.

HAPPY LISTENING!!!

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