Unexpectedly

 Every-time someone famous dies, or for that matter anyone; especially at a young age, the word unexpectedly is used to describe their untimely death. There was another mass shooting in Texas, and I don’t care about the politics side of things, but the deaths of all those involved were unexpected. I was sent some messages that Ray Liotta had passed away in his hotel room, unexpectedly. Later, the same day I heard that Andy Fletcher, one of the members of my favorite secular bands, Depeche Mode, also unexpectedly passed away. Mr. Liotta was Sixty Seven, and Mr. Fletcher was Sixty. The children killed were in elementary school. The word unexpectedly as Webster defines it says, “In a way that was not expected or regarded as likely.” The sad truth is that as humans; we believe that of every person that dies, when in reality we are all going to experience the same fate one day. It can be considered unexpected in the manner that people die, but in reality, should it be? 

Jesus in Luke Thirteen reminds us of a few things. It says, 

There were some present at that very time who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And He answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans WERE WORSE SINNERS THAN ALL OF THE OTHER Galileans, because they suffered in this way? NO, I tell you; BUT UNLESS YOU REPENT, you will ALL LIKEWISE PERISH. Or those eighteen on WHOM THE TOWER IN SILOAM FELL AND KILLED THEM: do you think that THEY WERE WORSE OFFENDERS THAN ALL THE OTHERS who lived in Jerusalem? NO, I tell you; BUT UNLESS YOU REPENT, you will all LIKEWISE PERISH.” (ESV) (Emphasis added)

Now most people will read this and claim heartless emotions of the “unexpected” or tragic deaths mentioned above, but if we PERISH without Jesus, then it’s a finality. There is no barometer to kinds of death, or different levels of what is considered normal and not normal death. The human mind likes to categorize the death or the people involved in the death, by how it happened or what kind of life one lived, but Jesus is telling us differently. What I mean by that, is that though death happens daily, there isn’t anything different from one person to another, only if you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. We must repent as Jesus says, not just thinking that the things that happened are because of guns, disease, or evil people, but because we all are going to die in one form or another, and that should be expected. 

Jesus says that the people weren’t more evil, so we can’t add to the statement to fit our belief or agenda, but again have we repented? Jesus said that because that tower fell; and we can add shootings, tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, wars, disease, or other, that unless we have repented, we too will perish! There is a death that can happen before we die and that is being away from God. Remember what the serpent told Eve and by the way Adam was right there next to her, in Genesis three, 

“but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, LEST YOU DIE.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE. For God knows that when you eat of it your EYES WILL BE OPENED, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman SAW that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” (ESV) (Emphasis Added)

Adam and Eve didn’t physically die, but yet their fellowship with God was broken, they had to leave Eden, not because God was mean, but because they chose the lie of dying, for self gratification, and self away from God. Notice that the word says that Eve saw, after the serpents lies, but what she saw was what sin is, a delight for the eyes and desire to be wise in their own eyes and minds, and not what God instructed or wanted from them. God atoned for them by sacrificing an animal and covering them, and He can do the same for you and me, if we repent. Paul reminds us in Romans six, 

“But what FRUIT were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the END OF THOSE THINGS IS DEATH. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become bond servants of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (ESV) (Emphasis added)

We all are sinners whether you believe that or not, and the message of the gospel is simple and clear, repent and be forgiven, because without forgiveness, our deaths, expected or unexpectedly will happen. The fruit of sin only looks good and may feel good, but it leaves us shameful, broken, alone, and ultimately we will perish, apart from God without His free gift of love. 

I loved Ray Liotta’s movies and thought he was a great actor, but that doesn’t matter without repentance. Andy Fletcher was on every Depeche Mode studio album and contributed to so many songs that I grew up listening to and still do today, but if he didn’t repent, it doesn’t matter. 

Depeche Mode has a song called Blasphemous Rumors, where the chorus says, “I don’t want to start any blasphemous rumors but I think that God’s got a sick sense of humor and when I die, I expect to find him laughing.” That is the mindset of many who don’t believe in Jesus and His atoning death, that we will laugh at God or give Him our two cents. We think that He doesn’t exist, because what kind of God allows this, but those are just the lies of the “fruit” that leads to death. The writer of Hebrews reminds us in chapter nine,

“And 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.” (ESV)

We are appointed, not unexpectedly, because God knows every hair on your head, all your shortcomings and the words you speak as the Psalmist tells us in Psalm One Thirty Nine, and He knows our every breath. When you stand before Him, will He know you, because you repented it will you be cast away because of your unbelief? We will all meet our maker, but will we be ready? Have you repented, have you asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, not with a little prayer at a conference or church, but truly in your heart, mind and soul, that was life changing? Remember Jesus reminds us in Mark eight,

“And calling the crowd to Him with His disciples, He said to them, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of Him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” (ESV)

The world is full of hate and pain, sadness and bitterness, and death. What are you willing to lose your soul for? Don’t put your hope in anything or anyone, for they will all fail and fall, but only Jesus can save you! It’s coming, that appointed time when we will all leave this earth, but will you be ready? Tomorrow is not promised, today is the day of salvation, today is the day to come to Jesus!“

Jose Barajas

Binocular Faith

 

“One of the first times I looked through binoculars happened to be at a Dodger game as we were in what is known as the nosebleed section. Now the pair I was using were a cheap knock off so I didn’t see the benefit of using them. It did make me look a little closer, but it took away from the overall picture of what was happening. The players were still small and I couldn’t track the play any better. When I took them out of my eyes, I had a quick feeling of being off balance, and it is why I really don’t like using binoculars. 

Jesus reminds us in His sermon on the mount about a lot of things and the center of it all, is love. When we love God, and I mean truly love God, everything else falls into place. Even people hating us and not agreeing with us is covered. The passage that speaks to me the most about our walk and unity is in Matthew Seven, 

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” ‭(ESV‬‬) 

I have been guilty of this passage more times than I can count. I used to run around like Pinocchio poking people in the eye, and all the while, I was committing those same sins. I could focus; like using binoculars on one small round view, and not worry about the whole “play” that was happening. I’m not one of “them,” or one of “those,” was my mantra, and yet in many cases I was worse. Paul in Romans reminds us in chapter Two, 

“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.” ‬ ‭(ESV‬‬) 

The fields are white for the harvest as Jesus reminds us, and instead of worrying about people’s souls, we are just hidden in our boxes regardless of “social distancing!” The only thing that has changed is that it makes it easier for us to not see, and have to talk to people about Jesus. I am thankful to the people in my life who were not afraid to share Jesus with me or who knows where I’d be, so it should be with us. 

You may say, well it seems like you’re passing judgment on others with this writing, but I pray you realize that like the Israelites ignoring the prophets and promises of God, they went into captivity and some didn’t get into the promised land. We can’t use the Bible to condemn people only, we have to use it to lead them to Jesus and let the Spirit convict them, as He did for me and everyone else. 

We never know where people are in life, and could end up pushing people away rather than drawing them nearer. Paul reminds us in First Corinthians Thirteen, 

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” ‬ ‭(ESV‬‬) 

I will never compromise and water down the Gospel, but we need to start with love, and not look down at people but look at them, like Jesus looked upon us, as He hung on the cross, knowing we needed a Savior and friend first. Jesus didn’t turn anyone away, but many turned and still turn away from Him. 

So my question is how are you using your binoculars? Are we only focusing on one part of people or are we realizing that people are lost, hurting, afraid, broken and in need of Jesus? Paul says in First Corinthians thirteen, 

 “Love is patient and love is kind, Love never fails!” [Jesus is love first and foremost!] “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (‭ESV‬‬) 

We are to make disciples, not build churches, or fences around us to keep people away!” 

Jose Barajas

Gym Faith:

 “I am going to admit that I am not a workout person, and if you ever saw a picture of me, you could probably tell.  I’m not super obese or completely out of shape because round is a shape and so is oval. I tried doing the gym thing one year, and looked around and saw these guys lifting, and thought I’m going to get laughed at for trying Fifty pounds on a weight bench. My little brother loves going to the gym, he even found one next door to where we were staying, when we went to New York. I do love playing basketball, but only shooting around as my cardio is not the best. I cleaned our living room and hallway carpets with a carpet cleaner once, that my muscles were aching and burning. You have to love those muscles not being used in a while, and then you overwork them, and now they’ll show you that hurting feeling. I guess I should have stretched out, as I’m not as young as I think anymore. 

Sunday mornings have always been a day to rest for our family, my dad started this,  and we all have continued it to this day. It of course was started with God after Six literal days of creation, He rested and made the seventh day Holy and a day of rest! It has also been a day of church and gathering with the saints and fellow believers to worship. Psalm One Hundred and Twenty Two says, 

“I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord!"” ‭(ESV‬‬) 

The writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews Ten, 

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”‬ (‭ESV‬‬) 

To me not going to church to meet with fellow believers is wrong in every aspect of the word. A building is not the church, but the people are as God reminded David, when he wanted to build a temple for God. Jesus said He had no place to lay His head, and He would go and meet people where they were and dine and fellowship with them in their homes. I know people have been cautious during this time, and I am not a breaker of rules, but I would rather break man’s rules than God’s rules! It says all the more as we see the Day or Day of the Lord approaching!! (Notice it’s not plural, because there is only One coming of Jesus)

It’s like only going to the gym once in a great while or using muscles occasionally, because they will fail and or hurt when you do. God’s people gathering and being in the word; is something we should all be doing, for the signs are there for His return. It is nearer today than yesterday, and we should be gathering, encouraging, and lifting each other up! Paul says in Romans Thirteen,

“And do this because we know the time, that it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep, FOR OUR SALVATION IS NOW NEAER than when we became believers. The night has advanced toward dawn; the DAY IS NEAR. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light.” (NET) (Emphasis added)

What day are the writers referring to? The day of your departure from earth and you standing before Jesus in celebration or judgment. It also refers to the Day of the Lord, whichever comes first. We don’t know our last day, and we always must be ready to meet Jesus. We can’t just open His word on Sunday at church, or when we are feeling down, but daily. Paul is saying that we need to put on the weapons of light, and that only happens in Jesus Christ. John writes in First John One,

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (ESV)

The world is dark and full of hate, loss, brokenness, pain, doubt, and too many walking around aimlessly in the dark. We have the opportunity to show them the light of Jesus, and more so when we fellowship and gather in person. Zoom is good for out of  state and work meetings, but we need to be personal with those God has put before us to minister to. Let’s break bread and dine, let’s gather and pray, let us come into His gates with thanksgiving. Psalm alone Hundred says,

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.” (ESV)

So my question is, are you afraid of man, who all they can do is arrest and kill you, or of God who after you die can throw us into Hell? I know my answer, and my prayer is you don’t neglect the Lord or the gathering together. Those aches and pains of Hell will be a thousand million times worse than any muscles hurting in this world. The Day is approaching and the harvest is ripe for us to share, so let’s be about our Fathers business. Let us serve the Lord with gladness!” 

Jose Barajas

Fallen Faith

 “Pastor Brian Houston, founder of Hillsong church resigned the other day, amidst complaints and allegations. I have been guilty of condemning churches like Hillsongs, because of their pastors being heretical, money loving, music centered ministries, and involved in sexual misconduct. The issue for me was though a lot of their songs are wonderful worship songs, their ministry was a mess, and not accountable for their leaders. Looking from the outside in, it was easy for me to throw stones from my glass house, and make myself feel holier than thou. The issue as I’ve come to realize is that when we are busy casting stones, we don’t realize, those same hands are sin filled weapons, that we ourselves just used for abominations. In my past, I too have sinned and been a laughing stock to my family, and former partners in ministry, but mostly of making a mockery of my walk and faith. It is  easy to forget the paths we have traveled,  and not offer the same forgiveness to anyone who is struggling and or have fallen, like was shown to us. We become like the cults that excommunicate their fallen leaders and believers, rather than to offer discipleship, prayer, and restoration.

David is called a man after God’s own heart, but many don’t realize or remember, that he was an adulterer and a murderer. David’s fall from grace didn’t just happen overnight, as many may think, because we can see signs of his compromises that ultimately led him to these sins. David as a boy, with the power of the Holy Spirit, killed Goliath with a pebble from a sling. We see David killing thousands upon thousands, as the top forty hit of his day referenced. But then we see the confidence of a man chosen by God, and being the line of where Jesus would ultimately be from, begin to be compromised and shaken. Second Samuel six says, 

“David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name of the Lord of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. And they CARRIED THE ARK of God on a NEW CART and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.” (ESV) (Emphasis added)

I love good worship music as much as the next person, but just because the music and the people are singing and dancing for the Lord, does not mean it’s being obedient to God. David was carrying the ark on a new cart, instead of how God had instructed His people to do so, using poles and having the Levites carrying it. Worship isn’t about what we want it to be, and how big of a concert we can create, about how many “sacrifices” or people we have in our church. God is desiring that we are obedient, to Him and not to idolatry of self. Samuel says this to Saul when Saul did not kill everything as commanded by God, as we read in First Samuel fifteen,

“Then Samuel said, “Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as he does in obedience? Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice; paying attention is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and presumption is like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”” (NET)

David had not obeyed the Lord, regardless of the procession before him and the dancing and “worship. As a result of David’s disobedience, Uzzah died for touching the ark as it fell, and David grew bitter towards God, instead of repenting for his incorrect worship. When our ministry isn’t successful, or people walk away due to circumstances that they felt God allowed, we become bitter, angry, and then blame God, when in reality it was our sin and disobedience!

Before this; David had started to gather more wife’s and not just love Michal. God call us all of us to love one wife or one husband, but according to Second Samuel Three David had many wives who names were, Ahinoam the Yizre'elite; Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; Maacah, the daughter of Talmay, king of Geshur; Haggith; Abital; and Eglah. 

I will not make excuses, but being a man, I struggle with sexual desires; partly because of my circumstances from my youth, but I have to take it constantly to God to help me deal with it. Paul writes in Romans seven, and this is not an excuse to be okay with sin or to practice sin, because that is not what Paul was writing. 

“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” (ESV)

Paul was sharing his struggles and how easy it is for anyone, even someone like Paul, or David to fall to temptation and into sin, if we allow the flesh to overtake us and not walk in the Spirit. If we read Paul’s writings we see that that was what he constantly wrote. David finally made the biggest mistake that led him to fall into Adultery, although technically, he had already committed this sin. This time he committed murder to try and hide him getting Bathsheba pregnant. In Second Samuel Eleven it says,

“In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”” (ESV)

David, a man of war and great at it, stayed home instead of being with his troops and men as he usually was. When he saw Bathsheba and inquired of her, he ignored one of his servants, saying isn’t this the wife of Uriah? David, unlike Paul, allowed the temptation to overtake him, as I have done, as Pastor Brian did, as many people have constantly done in their rebellion and want of sin, over walking away and walking in the Spirit. Paul writes in First Corinthians ten, 

“No TEMPTATION HAS OVERTAKEN YOU that is NOT COMMON to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will ALSO PROVIDE THE WAY OF ESCAPE, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, FLEE FROM IDOLATRY.” (ESV) (Emphasis added)

There are temptations everywhere and when Paul wrote this, he wrote it to the Corinthians who were allowing sexual sin and turning an eye from it, ultimately leading to many of them to walk away from their faith. Paul was saying that God gives us a way out, but notice what he says at the end? To flee from idolatry. 

I believe that ALL SINS are adultery to God because we make them our idols that we carve to satisfy our desires. The idols of self, pride, sex, drugs, alcohol, money, work, and even ministry’s, take us away from The Lord. Anything we put above God, and yes this includes ministry, because when we overlook sin, teach false doctrine, or do worship wrong like David, or any other churches, or even us, it is adultery and idol worship against God. 

We struggle daily, some more than others, and it’s easy to want to kick people when they're down, but we should pray, encourage and minister to them. I pray for Mr. Houston, because that is what we are called to do. The Holy Spirit will deal with his heart and if he repents, what a blessing, but if he doesn’t, it doesn’t change the positive messages and songs that came from his church. 

Paul reminds us of the grace of God, by sharing his own struggles, he writes in Romans chapter eight,

“There is THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. For the law of the Spirit of life has SET YOU FREE in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (ESV) (Emphasis added)

Someone said to me once during a show, “the enemy is good at isolating us from the pack” and when we think about our sins that we commit, we notice how true that really is. We can blame others, our upbringing, even Satan, but ultimately it is us running to those things that we feel are good, instead of fleeing idolatry. I’ve mentioned this before, but I feel it is appropriate for this post; that one of my favorite songs to sing and play is by Hillsongs, named, “All I Need Is You.” The lyrics say,

(Verse 1) Left my fear by the side of the road, Hear You speak, Won't let go, Fall to my knees as I lift my hands to pray, Got every reason to be here again, Father's heart that pulls me in, And all my eyes want to see is a glimpse of You!” (Chorus) All I need is You, All I need is You Lord, Is you Lord (Verse 2) One more day and it's not the same, Your spirit calls my heart to sing, Drawn to the voice of my Savior once again, Where would my soul be without Your Son, Gave His life to save the earth, Rest in the thought that You're watching over me!”

All we should need is Jesus, because we should rest in the thought that He is watching over us, and that all our fears should be left. So my question is, what small compromises and things are we allowing, thinking it is okay to overlook, be okay with, or think we can handle alone? Are you being isolated, walking towards the darkness, or looking back to the “fun” of sins? Paul ends chapter eight with words that we should all hold onto, it says,

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NET) 

Nothing but ourselves will keep us from Jesus, nothing but our idolatry and adultery to God. David lost the son born from the idolatry, but God heard David’s cry of repentance and gave Him Solomon, and eventually Jesus was born through his lineage. David cried in Psalm fifty one, which is one of my favorite chapter in all the Bible, 

““You are the only one I HAVE SINNED AGAINST; I have done what you say is wrong.”

“You are RIGHT when you speak and FAIR when you judge. Take away my sin, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Make me hear sounds of joy and gladness; let the bones you crushed be happy again. Turn your face from my sins and wipe out all my guilt. CREATE IN ME a pure heart, God, and make my spirit right again. Do not send me away from you or take your Holy Spirit away from me. Give me back the joy of your salvation. Keep me strong by giving me a willing spirit.” (NCV) (Emphasis added)

There is nothing too difficult, sinful, wrong, that we have done, or are doing that God won’t forgive or restore. We just have to be willing to repent and turn back to Jesus and cry out like David. He will create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit in us, but we need to cry out, “all I need is You, Lord, all I need is You!” Repent and live!

Jose Barajas

Mailed in Faith

 "Before email, we used mail to send notes to friends, and birthday cards to those far away. The time it took to write a letter, type it, or go buy a card that was special, and for that person was priceless. The time to go buy stamps, get envelopes, and all the other things that we wanted to send, was worth it. Now if you got the address wrong or didn't put the correct amount of stamps, the letter would come back with a "return to sender" stamp on it. With email, it has made it easier to send someone a letter, a note, and we can even add things to it for them to buy. It has taken some of the personable part out of it, as there are now templates, Gifs, or other things that we copy and paste. On social media  we just do a simple Happy Birthday post, or even send a text. It means something that people remember, although getting a reminder helps, but have we depended too much on technology, that the simple things of life are fading?

 

God did not mail it in when it came to not only sending us His word for guidance and peace, but also to give His Son for our sins. He nailed all that we had done against Him to the cross. He stepped down from heaven and made it personal, by taking the time to walk this earth, and experience the life we lived, to show His infinite love. Paul writes in Philippians two,

“Christ Himself was like God in everything. But He did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for His own benefit. But He gave up his place with God and made Himself nothing. He was born as a man and became like a servant. And when He was living as a man, He humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross.” (NCV)

Isaiah Fifty Five says, 

"Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My Word be that goes out from My mouth; IT SHALL NOT RETURN TO ME EMPTY, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for I sent it." (ESV) (Emphasis added)

The goodness of God abounds so deep and wide, that he provides us in all that we do! We as humans try to put God in a box, or think it is better how we do things, or handle things, that we think God can't handle our mole hill problems. BUT LISTEN LINDA! His word doesn't come back VOID, His purposes are always accomplished, even when people reject His word and truth, guess what, His word says, its His purpose. That’s hard for us to fathom, because how could God allow pain and suffering, but remember, His ways are not ours.

Our job isn't to judge people and think they aren't good enough to be loved, or that they will be saved. Our privilege is to preach and share the Word of truth, and to let the Holy Spirit deal with people. We aren't to mail in our "ministry"; but with our whole heart, we should do it for the glory of God. We should take the time to make that card, or buy it. We need to make that call, and not just go thru the motions. 

Let us be like Jesus, and come and be personal to one another when we are sharing the message of Hope. John writes in Revelation three,

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and OPEN THE DOOR, I will COME IN AND EAT WITH YOU, and you will EAT WITH ME.” (NCV) (Emphasis added)

Jesus will sit down and eat with us, if we open the door! What door? The door to your heart and let Him be Lord and Savior of your life. This isn’t for the current Laodicean era as some teach, but for all time of anyone who will repent and accept Jesus. Jesus purposed to go into every city and to sit with His disciples constantly, seeing the need and meeting the need.

So my question is with all this social distancing we have been experiencing, are you content being apart and away from everyone? My prayer is that we use this time to spend more time with God, with family, and especially making each moment count. God will never send your request back with a "return to sender" stamp.  Only you can reject His love letter and not accept His grace and mercy. Only our sin and selfishness can keep us from the love of God. Make your choice today, seek Him today, while He still can be found!" 

Jose Barajas

Late Faith

 “I hate running late above everything else, as it just isn't fair to my employers,  to who is throwing a gathering, and especially church. It's easy to just waltz in when we want for a lot of people, especially Dodger games, but not me. I would rather leave early and get where I need to be Thirty minutes early, than be late. It is something that I just never understood; that people have time to go to the gym, Starbucks, or anywhere else, and yet they walk in late to work or church and say, "well I just couldn't get up on time?" All the rules of being late also apply to anyone, the red lights we hit, the traffic being crazy, you get a flat tire, or anything else that could go wrong. I see Murphy’s Law everywhere. Being late shouldn't be a way of life, it should be the exception.

 

Zacchaeus was a man who heard Jesus was passing through Jericho, and he wanted to see who this Jesus was. Now Zacchaeus was a tax collector; who in those times were not popular, as they would overcharge the people, so they were hated by everyone. He, it says in Luke, was also a very rich man and small in stature, that he couldn't see over the crowds. Now Zacchaeus could have thought, let me go get a coffee, or go workout, or go and do some tax collecting, I'll catch Jesus later or when the crowds die away. But Luke Nineteen says, 

"He ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." so he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully." (NKJV)

Imagine if Zacchaeus would have been running late, and or stopped to do something else, or the herds of traffic and people would have stopped him or disheartened him? He would have missed the blessing and the reward of not only seeing Jesus, but of eating and fellowshipping with God incarnate. How many times have we lost out on the blessings and missed the opportunity of seeing Jesus, and being blessed because of life or our own "Lateness"? 

Luke ends with, "And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (NKJV) 

James the half brother of Jesus, and who didn’t believe in Him growing up, quotes Proverbs Twenty seven one,  in chapter four,

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”” (ESV) 

God desires for all to come to repentance, but too many are late, busy, not willing to climb a tree to see above the crowds, because to them, life is okay. We can run in circles for all of our days, but your life would be more at peace, if you ran to Jesus.

So my question is today what is making you late, or worried about other things in the world? My prayer is that we are like Zacchaeus and run to Jesus and allow Him to give you peace and a hope that this world will never give you! Paul reminds us to not be anxious, not that we always will be happy, but when we give it to Jesus, a peace the world will never understand, comes from Jesus. Philippians four says,

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (ESV)

Jesus came to seek the lost of which we all fall under. "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost, but now I am found, I was blind, but now I see!" 

Jose Barajas

Foolish Faith

 April First is the day where people will play pranks and try to outwit each other with practical jokes. It is derived from various versions  depending on what you know, study or believe. Some believe it came from Fifteen Eighty Two when France switched from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian and people of course didn't have the internet back then, so they still celebrated the New Year in April, so they were referred to as April's Fools. Some attribute it to festivals known as Hiaria,  (Latin for Joyful) that they celebrated in Rome by followers of Cybele; or a cult in which they dressed up and mocked citizens. Others were supposedly inspired by Egyptian legends of Isis, Osiris and Seth. Wherever the day came from, I remember playing it as a kid with my friends, trying to get them before they got me.

Psalm Fourteen says, 

"The fool says in his heart, "There is no God" They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one." (ESV) 

Wait what? I hear people say all the time, "Well I'm a good person, I give to charities, I help the poor, I don't lie, or steal, or murder, I'm not like them!" "I go to church every week, I tithe, I pray here and there, I don't drink or smoke, or I am not one of those kinds of people!" The issue with all of these is that we compare ourselves to each other and think that because we are better than "Those" we are okay. There is also an “I” before all of the terms I wrote above, because we think it’s all about us. I hear people all the time say, “Living my best life”, but is that truly okay when we are in sin and rebellious? There is always an “I” in the middle of sin and of pride. Proverbs sixteen says, 

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.” (ESV)

Paul writing about idolatry and warning the Corinthians about testing and being tempted says in First Corinthians ten,

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (ESV)

The issue is we are fool's compared to God; and to what He outlined in the Ten Commandments, or in just basic human nature. Paul reminds us that if we break one law, we break them all and I know I am guilty of at least breaking one a day! The jokes are cute and fun to play on friends and try to get a laugh, but salvation is not a laughing matter. Jesus came to die for us, who needed saving from ourselves, but rather than to accept Him as the Savior. We continually crucify Him over and over today in our hearts, and in our actions. The writer of Hebrews says in chapter six,

“For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding Him up to contempt.” (ESV)

SO my question is, what are you being foolish with, thinking that you are invincible and better than "Them?" My prayer is that we all humble ourselves and understand that true peace and joy comes from Jesus and Him alone. When we take the “I” of self and give it to Christ, and make Him the center, it becomes what Paul says in Galatians two,

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.“ (ESV)

Paul also says in First Corinthians fifteen,

“I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.“ (ESV)

I love what Solomon says in Proverbs one,

““How long, O simple ones, will you LOVE BEING SIMPLE? How long will scoffers DELIGHT IN THEIR SCOFFING and FOOLS HATE KNOWLEDGE? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.” (ESV) (Emphasis added)

Don't be fooled today or any other day, but submit to Christ." 

Jose Baraja