Rolled Away

The Lord said to Joshua, "today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." Joshua 5:9

This verse struck me today. I instantly thought of the stone that was rolled away from the tomb of Jesus. Is there a correlation?

When the stone keeping the savior entombed was rolled away was the reproach of sin removed? Jesus died once for all. He knew no sin yet became sin for us. He takes away the sin of the world. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Sometimes we look at the mystery of the stone being rolled away, but we miss what it means for us. The stone represents separation because of sin. Our Savior died for our sin and His father turned his back. Now three days passing by and we remain separated from the salvation, from the Savior from forgiving grace, from redemption...

That is until the stone is rolled away! Now, it is here...salvation is here. The work was finished! The gift is open and freely accessible since the stone has been rolled away. 

What does Egypt represent? Prosperity, slavery and sin. All confused together in one place. This was a place that we are all in. A sinner's prison and paradise. So much so that the Israelite were pleading to go back. Sometimes we. we beg to go back: I missed out, I liked those friends, I liked those experiences,  I wanted more, I want to do it again. However, the reproach of Egypt is gone. The whole reason for being left there for so long has been taken away. Now, we must choose where we want to go and what we want to do and whom we want to serve. We can serve many gods, sin and self or we can serve the Lord. 

I choose the Lord who saves, who gives life abundant, who rolls away the stone so that Iall can be with him eternally.

it was Jesus

He didn't know who it was at first. When asked why he was carrying his mat on the Sabbath, he simply said that the man who healed him told him to pick up his mat and walk. This newly healed man was obedient to the one that healed him...Walking and carrying his mat.

It wasn't until later that day in the temple that Jesus found the man and informed him that it was Jesus who had healed him.

The man was warned of Jesus to stop sinning or something worse would happen to him. The man regardless of faith in Christ was healed, was well.  Now, the one that healed him gave him the message of repentance. A helpful message and a life-changing message..repent for the kingdom of heaven is near and real!

We don't know what became of the man, but we do know what he did with the news of Jesus...he told the ones that asked him earlier who it was

IT WAS JESUS.

Question: do you and I give credit and glory and fame and thanks to Jesus when he does miracles mundane or marvelous in our lives? I do not always. However, with the testimony of this man healed by Jesus I can say of all things...it was Jesus.

When Life Gets Tough

Evaluate what you are doing, saying and thinking. Is it right?

When things in your life get a little bumpy, do you fall off your 'bike' or adjust and keep on going? I find myself 'loosing it' sometimes when money runs out before bills do. I sometimes forget to recheck my priorities and then the little things become giant waves around me and I begin to sink into worry and concern when really I should give my concerns over to the One most concerned for me. God.

Today, are you anxious? Worried? Sinking? Take a moment to breathe. Then, ask God to step in with His peace, plan and power. You may not be able to tackle the mountains alone or swim the 7 seas, but God made them and He can show you how and carry you if need be.

~Aaron

Hate not

I HOPE You Do Not Hate

Stop right where you are and think for just a moment...

Who do you hate?

HATE? That is such a big word! What do you hate about a person and why do you choose to hate them?

What if you changed the word hate to murder? "I murder him!" you might say. Is that what you want to do? Jesus equates hate with murder.

For in the same way you judge other, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:2, Holy Bible

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? Matthew 6:46

Take Your Camels through the eye of a needle

Rattle my faith

When I saw the "camels do not belong in Genesis" articles my faith was rattled a bit. I am not going to lie. I asked some questions and read some of the write-ups in the many articles printed around the country. It rattled my cage as it were.

   The faith I have been given by God is not my own and is already placed in God's Son, Jesus Christ, His Word, and His Truth! I was called and heard His knocking on my heart's door and answered at the age of 8 years old. My faith BECAUSE of HIM is set in stone (the stone that the builders rejected!)

   So, an article about some camels in the book of Genesis is not and should not be a big deal. It was however a big deal for me. Science had found something! Knowledge is now here for the world to be awakened! Enlightenment has come! (In the form of camels that God misspoke about.)

   Though small and insignificant, it rattled me.

I Told My Wife a Believer

   I told my wife how my faith was being tested. She gave me some insight about how Satan is ruling this world and that is why the world is looking for the smallest things to come against Christ and His few followers. 

This conversation calmed my nerves and resettled my cage, but camels were still simmering on the back burner. That is until this morning at 4'oclock in the AM.

My 11 month old son woke me up with an early morning cry for a new diaper and a bottle (not nearly the first time as he is my 3rd child and he is 11 monhs old.) However, unlike recent feedings he went back to sleep after just one cry. That's when I paused and said quietly to the Lord, "thank you, Lord."

I was struck 30 minutes ago by that simple moment, that powerful moment to write my stand. I am choosing to stand on God's Holy Word, the Bible, CAMELS and all! I am standing for Jesus (I am writing this post actually standing in my kitchen typing with two thumbs on the tablet!

Paul the apostle wrote to Timothy, a younger Pastor left inEphesus by Paul to preach and teach, a final statement in one of his letters, "O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge (science)."

Paul goes onto explain that by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. I don't want to stray. A little bit off can become way off. So, I will stay with Jesus and his claims and His Holy Word. I believe with the faith God has given me that the Bible is real and true, camels and all!

The world is ruled by the prince of the power of the air. The world is trying to get what they can without God and if they can trying to get God or get Him out! They try to fit camels through the eye of the needle by coexisting  not believing and searching for the truth. Jesus said that it is harder for a rich man to get to heaven than it is to get a camel throuh the eye of a needle. What does that mean? When the world tries and tries to get to God or be God, it will not work. The world cannot strip away God's plan, truthe normWord. God is God and we are not. We, like a camel must have all earthly things stripped off us to supernaturally get throuh the eye of the needle. Christ gets us through by faith because He alone as God planned before all things, suffered and died and rose from the dead on the third day. Place your faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

May grace be with you who believe, Amen.

Aaron

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Lotsa Space!

With lotsa space out there for us to explore I hope that we find that we are not alone, small and insignificant. Do I think there are aliens to be found?

No.

I do think that there is a Creator of all that is natural and can be found if we search whole-heartedly. The Holy Bible is where I have learned of God our Creator and He reveals himself to us here on Earth first as the Creator...'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth'. Gen. 1:1

The story continues throughout the Holy Bible telling us of our past relationship that we share with our Creator and how that was a good thing. Then our ancestors chose sin and fell from that great relationship and God made a way for us to have it again through a sacrifice of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. We have to put our faith and trust in Christ for our salvation and redemption and in doing so we will receive eternal life!

So, with lotsa space out there, I hope that we don't come to the end of our searching and gaining of knowledge and at the end of it all miss a good relationship with God. Especially since God is so very close to us all.

'Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door then I will come into him and eat with him and he will eat with me' Revelation 3:20

May your days be filled with peace and blessings from the Lord.

Aaron Grubbs

Where Are You, God?

Sometimes it seems as if God is so far away. Wouldn't you agree?

I think that is why He has given us His Word. Take heed and take heart in knowing that God is not that far from you and me.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

And, lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age.

both verses of scripture can be found in the new testament one spoken by James in a letter he wrote to his brothers and sisters that had be scattered from Jerusalem and the other by Jesus himself.

So, be still and know that He is God and He is near to you now and you can find Him if you truly search for Him. Make searching for God and having a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus, His only son.

Have a Better day today!