"I am the Living One, I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever." (Revelation 1:18)
One can't, or at least I can't, leave this thought without talking about myself.
Being dead and then alive is an accurate description and depiction of what happens to us when we finally give in and give our lives over to Jesus.
The New Testament definitely points out that without Jesus we were/are dead! People don't want to hear that today. But it is, nevertheless, true.
We are brought to life through and by Jesus Christ. We no longer have anything to do with death. It has no victory or sting (I Corinthians 15). The only dying we do now is to self (Romans 6) and to sin (Romans 7).
Between the death and becoming alive again is a glorious resurrection!
Can we not or should we not be able to walk up to people and say, " I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever."
It is great to be alive!
Blessings,
L.T.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Who is Jesus? #119
"I am the Living One, I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever." (Revelation 1:18)
I just wonder what the early Christians thought about Jesus as they were having to endure hardships and persecution because of their belief in Jesus.
They believed He had died and then was alive again. How many of them now thought that for all practical purposes he was dead again? Life had gone out of the church so life must have gone out of Jesus, they thought. Maybe He was dead and then alive, but now He must be dead again.
He wasn't of course. Jesus was still alive and John heard His declaration to be, "alive for ever and ever."
If life has deivered you a severe blow, don't think that Jesus is not around. He promised to be with us. "always." He still declares to His faithful ones that he was dead and now is "alive for ever and ever." Don't count Him down and out just because life has tumbled in. He is alive!
Because He is alive, He is near and He is at work. Look for Him! Be aware of His presence! Bathe in His love!
Forever!
Blessings,
L.T.
I just wonder what the early Christians thought about Jesus as they were having to endure hardships and persecution because of their belief in Jesus.
They believed He had died and then was alive again. How many of them now thought that for all practical purposes he was dead again? Life had gone out of the church so life must have gone out of Jesus, they thought. Maybe He was dead and then alive, but now He must be dead again.
He wasn't of course. Jesus was still alive and John heard His declaration to be, "alive for ever and ever."
If life has deivered you a severe blow, don't think that Jesus is not around. He promised to be with us. "always." He still declares to His faithful ones that he was dead and now is "alive for ever and ever." Don't count Him down and out just because life has tumbled in. He is alive!
Because He is alive, He is near and He is at work. Look for Him! Be aware of His presence! Bathe in His love!
Forever!
Blessings,
L.T.
Friday, January 11, 2008
The Devil and Divorce
The devil continues to have a heyday in and among our families. I learned today where another marriage is over. Satan not only plants thoughts in our hearts about our marriages but also provides opportunity for us to really mess things up.
He brings together two people who probably shouldn't be married. He infiltrates hearts to the point that negativity and criticism invade the home. He brings outsiders into the marriage to confuse and tempt.
I am all for declaring a day at our church where we have a Satan exorcism service. With one voice we will tell Satan to get behind us. We will no longer allow him to infiltrate our families and wreak the havoc that he is so proficient at producing.
"Satan, you have done enough! Away with you!
Blessings,
L.T.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Who is Jesus? #118
"I am the Living One, I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever." (Revelation 1:18)
There was such a movement during Jesus' ministry in Palestine to finish Him. Very early in Jesus' ministry, according to Mark, the Pharisees hatched a plot, "how they might kill him." (Mark 3: 6).
Though as Christians we see the blessings in the resurrected and alive Jesus, the death of Jesus would have been a blessing to many people. As a matter of fact it was some of those people who managed to eventually have Him killed. They thought that it was over after that. He was gone!
There was perhaps no greater impression God could make on mankind than to demonstrate a Savior -alive!
Interesting that Jesus explains this John in His description of Himself. "I was dead,...I am alive..." Why did John need to recognize this? Why do we? Much to contemplate, here!
He is Risen indeed!
Blessings,
L.T.
There was such a movement during Jesus' ministry in Palestine to finish Him. Very early in Jesus' ministry, according to Mark, the Pharisees hatched a plot, "how they might kill him." (Mark 3: 6).
Though as Christians we see the blessings in the resurrected and alive Jesus, the death of Jesus would have been a blessing to many people. As a matter of fact it was some of those people who managed to eventually have Him killed. They thought that it was over after that. He was gone!
There was perhaps no greater impression God could make on mankind than to demonstrate a Savior -alive!
Interesting that Jesus explains this John in His description of Himself. "I was dead,...I am alive..." Why did John need to recognize this? Why do we? Much to contemplate, here!
He is Risen indeed!
Blessings,
L.T.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Who is Jesus? #117
" I am the first and the last, (Revelation 1:17)."
Can't let it go, yet. There is just too much here in this description of Jesus.
Have you ever been in an argument with someone or maybe in a fight and either you or they said, "You started this but I am going to finish it."
It seems that in this life we rarely get to complete something like it was originally intended. I have lost count of how many projects I have started that either didn't reach completion (learning Spanish) or did not reach completion in the fashion I have imagined.
Even Solomon commented that no matter what we may accomplish in our life that it will all be handed over to someone else when we die.
Jesus is an amazing exception to this fact of life.
He completed with amazing power in Jerusalem what started in the mind of God way before creation. What if there had been a manger but no cross? It was announced to Joseph and Mary that Jesus would be the Savior. When His earthly ministry was complete, His mission was also complete. He started it and He finished it.
Quite obviously, to be more like Jesus I need to finish for Him what I start.
Thank you Jesus for finishing!
Blessings,
L.T.
Can't let it go, yet. There is just too much here in this description of Jesus.
Have you ever been in an argument with someone or maybe in a fight and either you or they said, "You started this but I am going to finish it."
It seems that in this life we rarely get to complete something like it was originally intended. I have lost count of how many projects I have started that either didn't reach completion (learning Spanish) or did not reach completion in the fashion I have imagined.
Even Solomon commented that no matter what we may accomplish in our life that it will all be handed over to someone else when we die.
Jesus is an amazing exception to this fact of life.
He completed with amazing power in Jerusalem what started in the mind of God way before creation. What if there had been a manger but no cross? It was announced to Joseph and Mary that Jesus would be the Savior. When His earthly ministry was complete, His mission was also complete. He started it and He finished it.
Quite obviously, to be more like Jesus I need to finish for Him what I start.
Thank you Jesus for finishing!
Blessings,
L.T.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Who is Jesus? #116
" I am the first and the last, (Revelation 1:17)."
I am sitting in my somewhat cluttered office today determining that my blogging would be more regular than in the past year. Last year was both an amazing year as well as a trying one.
I still want to learn more about Jesus and try more and more to become more like Him. That happens to be our theme for our church this year, "Becoming More Like Him."
I am still stuck on this thought of Jesus being the first and the last. As I look around my office at the shelves lined with books, there are several bookends. There is a section on the New Testament with bookends at each end. There is section on family with bookends at each end. There is a section of books I need to read (way too many) with bookends at each end.
Everything that my library has to say on that particular subject can be found between the first and last bookend. As far as my library is concerned that is the only place you need to go.
That is what Jesus is. He is the first and the last. Everything you want to know about things spiritual will be found in Jesus. Stop short of the first bookend and you have stopped way too short. Go beyond the last bookend and you are going way too far.
Everything you and I need to know is right there between the first and the last. His name is Jesus!
Let's pull the book down off of the shelf and read!
Blessings,
L.T.
I am sitting in my somewhat cluttered office today determining that my blogging would be more regular than in the past year. Last year was both an amazing year as well as a trying one.
I still want to learn more about Jesus and try more and more to become more like Him. That happens to be our theme for our church this year, "Becoming More Like Him."
I am still stuck on this thought of Jesus being the first and the last. As I look around my office at the shelves lined with books, there are several bookends. There is a section on the New Testament with bookends at each end. There is section on family with bookends at each end. There is a section of books I need to read (way too many) with bookends at each end.
Everything that my library has to say on that particular subject can be found between the first and last bookend. As far as my library is concerned that is the only place you need to go.
That is what Jesus is. He is the first and the last. Everything you want to know about things spiritual will be found in Jesus. Stop short of the first bookend and you have stopped way too short. Go beyond the last bookend and you are going way too far.
Everything you and I need to know is right there between the first and the last. His name is Jesus!
Let's pull the book down off of the shelf and read!
Blessings,
L.T.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
2007
This was a year of transition for Grammy and Paw Tittle. The "Big" move to Clovis, NM was a major activity. Moving is never fun and it usually presents many an opportunity for things to go wrong. However, it went very smoothly and we are happy in our ministry for the West 21st Street Church of Christ. Preaching has been very fulfilling as well as very challenging. The members here continue to be encouraging.Having two more grandchildren added to the excitement of 2007. Ty came in April and Carter in May. They are doing great and growing like the proverbial weeds. They are a tremendous addition to our first grandchild, Emily, who will be three in February. We are expecting our fourth in April. Brandon and Joy and very excited.
We have had opportunity to travel and be with our children and grandchildren several times.
Our only "downer" this year has been the health of Grammy. She has been diagnosed with Eosinophillic Faciitis which is an auto-immune disease. She is not responding to the Prednizone as we had hoped. Her rheumatologist continues to work with her on her medication. She had gall baldder surgery in November as well as other procedures. We covet your prayers in her behalf.
We have a cruise planned for the entire family this summer to Mexico. This should be a great family experience. We are all looking forward to it as we pay for it and get passports in place.
Blessings and Happy 2008 to everyone.
L.T.
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