I awakened early this Christmas morning from having a wonderful dream. Now I know that there are people who put too much stock in dreams. However, I have been living for God long enough to know that He does speak to us through dreams and I believe that this was one of those times. I would like to share it with you.
In the dream I was on a camping trip with several people who were not Christians. As I lay in my bed roll I could hear the Lord calling my name. I awakened before dawn to watch a beautiful sunrise. As I watched it I had an awesome sense of joy and was thinking, "only God could create something like that". I thought that it was happening and when I did truly awaken it was with a beautiful sense of peace. I also awakened to hear a beautiful sound; it was raining a steady downpour, the kind that makes one want to just lay in bed and listen to it.
This morning it was as if God linked the the rain and the sunset in my mind. There are times in all of our lives when we experience drought. The spiritual droughts are far more trying than physical drought. But God in his grace knows how to send the spiritual rain on our lives. He knows how to rejuvinate things that we have thought were long dead.
I had the thought this morning that God could have created a dry earth but He does everything just right. He sends the rain to gently water the flowers to life again. We all like the gentle rains that are so soothing to the soul. Sometimes the rain is more forceful than we would expect it to be because it is needed to wash away impurities. In the natural world we can always see a parallel to the spiritual. Everytime we experience a rainfall we can be reminded that God fulfills his promises. He told Noah that as long as the earth remained the seasons would continue. He would never leave the earth in winter without the sun to warm it up again or in summer without winters rains to cool it off.
Everytime we experience a sunrise we can again know that God has smiled upon us. Just as surely as the sun rises in the natural world it will again rise in our lives. It is no wonder that the sun rises every 24 hours. God tells us in his word in the book of Lamentations that his mercies are new every morning. I believe he put the sunrise there to remind us of that promise.
This is the morning we call Christmas morning. Today we are celebrating God's most precious gift to the world. We are celebrating the fact that He came as a baby so that we can all experience a Sonrise. Truly Jesus is the light of the world. If you are in need of a sunrise in your life just reach out to him today. He will water the disillusionment of your spirit and revive your courage. He will bring back the lost hope of a future. He will restore your sense of self-worth or purpose. He will be whatever you need him to be. He is the Light of life!
Merry Christmas,
Rev. Sullivan Jones
12/25/12
12/19/12
The reason for Christmas
I woke up this morning with a song in my mind. It is called "She laid hold on the word" and it tells the story of the woman who was healed from an issue of blood. It is found in Luke 19: 43-48 and is a powerful story of what faith can do. I found the song on youtube and had to listen to it several times. I could just feel the strength of those words pouring into me. There is something about the word of God that give strength when we need it the most. The word of God is not just printing on a page. It is alive and powerful and able to touch us. (Hebrews 4:12)
We are in the season we call Christmas when we celebrate the birth of our Saviour; more than celebrating just his birth we are also celebrating the reason he came. Jesus is the living word that came down from heaven so long ago. I believe the underlying reason that He came was to heal us. This healing includes not only our bodies but our minds, souls, and hearts as well. He came to heal broken relationships and to comfort the lonely. In short, whatever healing one needs, Jesus came to be the answer.
If you know of a situation that needs healing today, claim this promise from scripture. Exodus 15:26 says "I am the Lord that heals you". If you know someone who needs healing, whether emotionally or physically, share this scripture with them today. Let them know that Jesus still heals. Share the real meaning of Christmas. Jesus heals!
God Bless,
Rev. Sullivan Jones
We are in the season we call Christmas when we celebrate the birth of our Saviour; more than celebrating just his birth we are also celebrating the reason he came. Jesus is the living word that came down from heaven so long ago. I believe the underlying reason that He came was to heal us. This healing includes not only our bodies but our minds, souls, and hearts as well. He came to heal broken relationships and to comfort the lonely. In short, whatever healing one needs, Jesus came to be the answer.
If you know of a situation that needs healing today, claim this promise from scripture. Exodus 15:26 says "I am the Lord that heals you". If you know someone who needs healing, whether emotionally or physically, share this scripture with them today. Let them know that Jesus still heals. Share the real meaning of Christmas. Jesus heals!
God Bless,
Rev. Sullivan Jones
12/6/12
Attitude and Outlook
A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 18:22)
Did you know that not one scripture in the Bible can be discounted? That's right, not one. Some scientists who have tried for many years to discredit the Bible as God's word. Yet the more we understand about science the more credible our Bible becomes. Even archaeology and history bear out the great truths of scripture.
Take the scripture above for instance. Is there really a connection between recovering from a sickness and joy? Science has long told us that laughing releases endorphins from the brain into the body that cause one to tolerate pain at a higher level. Reader's digest for many years has had a section called "Laughter, the best medicine". Many studies have been done to show how a good laugh makes those in pain feel better.
We shouldn't be surprised that laughter makes us feel better. God said it didn't he? He designed our bodies and he knows how they work. And isn't it just like our loving creator to make something so enjoyable as a good laugh to work as a medicine! I believe laughter affects not only our physical bodies but our minds and spirits as well.
Are you feeling the weight of the world today? Life seem to be going all downhill? You don't see anyway out? Try laughter. See if you can cheer someone else up. Tell someone a good joke and feel the affects of their laughter. It may just serve as the missing ingredient that you need to have a good day. Let's spread some cheer, not only at Christmas time, but the whole year through.
Laughingly Yours,
Rev. Sullivan Jones
Did you know that not one scripture in the Bible can be discounted? That's right, not one. Some scientists who have tried for many years to discredit the Bible as God's word. Yet the more we understand about science the more credible our Bible becomes. Even archaeology and history bear out the great truths of scripture.
Take the scripture above for instance. Is there really a connection between recovering from a sickness and joy? Science has long told us that laughing releases endorphins from the brain into the body that cause one to tolerate pain at a higher level. Reader's digest for many years has had a section called "Laughter, the best medicine". Many studies have been done to show how a good laugh makes those in pain feel better.
We shouldn't be surprised that laughter makes us feel better. God said it didn't he? He designed our bodies and he knows how they work. And isn't it just like our loving creator to make something so enjoyable as a good laugh to work as a medicine! I believe laughter affects not only our physical bodies but our minds and spirits as well.
Are you feeling the weight of the world today? Life seem to be going all downhill? You don't see anyway out? Try laughter. See if you can cheer someone else up. Tell someone a good joke and feel the affects of their laughter. It may just serve as the missing ingredient that you need to have a good day. Let's spread some cheer, not only at Christmas time, but the whole year through.
Laughingly Yours,
Rev. Sullivan Jones
12/4/12
Determination
Thanks to everyone for all the calls, cards, well wishes on Facebook, etc for Gail. She is doing well. She decided to do a week of Rehab before coming home this Friday We appreciate the continued prayers as she recovers. Right now the plan is to have her next surgery in June or July barring any complications. That will give her time to truly heal and it will be more convenient for me with work. Gail said to tell everyone she has never felt more loved.
This morning as I was praying a phrase came to mind that I recognized as scripture but didn't know where it was or who it pertained to. It is "set thy face like a flint toward Jerusalem". It is actually parts of two different scriptures.
Isaiah chapter 50 contains a prophecy of the Messiah being scourged, having his beard pulled out, and being spit on. This was fulfilled so distinctly in the life of Jesus that it could not be accidental. Verse 7 says "I set my face like a flint". This somewhat archaic phrase means he was determined. The fulfillment of this verse is found in Luke 10:51, "he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem".
When Jesus knew that it was time to be crucified he resolved himself to follow through with it no matter what his flesh wanted. His purpose in coming to this earth was to redeem us and he was determined to fulfill it. At least one translation uses the same terminology here, "he set his face like a flint to go to Jerusalem".
There are times in all of our lives when we must make difficult choices. We are asked to do things that we'd rather not do. We find ourselves in situations we'd rather not be in. The writer of Hebrews tells us that we are to consider in those times "him that endured such resistence of sinners.. so that you will not be wearied and faint in your minds." (Hebrews 12:3 paraphrased) He continues to say that we have not yet resisted unto blood ....
It is true that none of us will ever have to go through anything near as agonizing as Jesus did when he was on the cross. So if we are facing a challenging circumstance we just have to "set our face like a flint" and decide with the help and grace of God I will get through this no matter the cost. Once we know the will of God, let's put our all into it. Heaven is counting on us!
This morning as I was praying a phrase came to mind that I recognized as scripture but didn't know where it was or who it pertained to. It is "set thy face like a flint toward Jerusalem". It is actually parts of two different scriptures.
Isaiah chapter 50 contains a prophecy of the Messiah being scourged, having his beard pulled out, and being spit on. This was fulfilled so distinctly in the life of Jesus that it could not be accidental. Verse 7 says "I set my face like a flint". This somewhat archaic phrase means he was determined. The fulfillment of this verse is found in Luke 10:51, "he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem".
When Jesus knew that it was time to be crucified he resolved himself to follow through with it no matter what his flesh wanted. His purpose in coming to this earth was to redeem us and he was determined to fulfill it. At least one translation uses the same terminology here, "he set his face like a flint to go to Jerusalem".
There are times in all of our lives when we must make difficult choices. We are asked to do things that we'd rather not do. We find ourselves in situations we'd rather not be in. The writer of Hebrews tells us that we are to consider in those times "him that endured such resistence of sinners.. so that you will not be wearied and faint in your minds." (Hebrews 12:3 paraphrased) He continues to say that we have not yet resisted unto blood ....
It is true that none of us will ever have to go through anything near as agonizing as Jesus did when he was on the cross. So if we are facing a challenging circumstance we just have to "set our face like a flint" and decide with the help and grace of God I will get through this no matter the cost. Once we know the will of God, let's put our all into it. Heaven is counting on us!
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