Where are you Going?

"Enter by the narrow gate.  For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."  Matthew 7:13-14 ESV

"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,  let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man is standing before you well.  This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."  Acts 4:8-12 ESV

"This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  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.  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."  1John 1:5-10 ESV

"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do.  But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. "  2Timothy 1:6-12 ESV

Let's pray:  Dear Lord,  I lift up all those who are reading these Bible verses today.  I pray for their safety and protection.  I pray that Your truth found only in the Bible would open the eyes of  people living in darkness (even though they don't know they are in darkness I pray that this will become clear to them.)  I pray that You Lord will give people understanding on what the "Narrow Gate" really is and why it is so narrow.  I pray Your Grace and wisdom will soften the hearts and minds of those lost.  I pray the arrogance of those who think they have no sin would be broken and that they would come to be ashamed of their arrogance and humbled before You.  I pray that they will understand what Your gift of salvation really means. Time goes so fast Lord and we are here for such a short time.  Thank You Lord for Your sacrifice on the cross and Your gift of salvation.  Thank You Lord for Your provision in all things.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

Remember...you will only find the truth in the Bible.  Do not depend on other books or writings to give you the truth.

www.karenejklein.com

My Sheep Hear my Voice

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.  So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:8 ESV

"At the time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem.  It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the cononade of Solomon.  So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense?  If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.  Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe.  The works that I do in my Father's  name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.  I and the Father are one."
The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.  Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?"  The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God."  Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, I said, you are gods'?  If he called them gods to whom the word of God came--and Scripture cannot be broken--do you say of him who the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blashpeming,' because I said, I am the Son of God'?  If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."  Again, they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands.
He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.  And many came to him.  And they said, "John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.  And many believed in him there.  John 10:22-42 ESV

"For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!):  I am the LORD, and there is no other, I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, Seek me in vain.  I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right." Isaiah 45:18-19 ESV

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus,  You are Lord over all.  You are a mighty God and we bow down to you and worship You above anything else.  You are always faithful and truthful and it is only in You, Jesus and Your sacrifice on the cross that we can be saved.  I pray for those who do not really know You, Lord, that their eyes will be opened and the spiritual darkness that envelopes them will be lifted.  I pray for those who think they know You, but in fact do not.  I pray that Your words in the Bible will touch their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Jesus said that no one can snatch believers out of His hand.  Thank You for this wonderful protection from the evil one in this world.  I pray for Your wisdom and Your favor over your flock.  Thank You Lord for all the wonderful blessings that You have given us.  I am so very grateful that You are always there and will never leave those who are believers in Christ. I say these things in Jesus' Holy name.  Amen.

Remember... you will only find the real Jesus in the Bible. 

www.karenejklein.com

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods which have not benefited those devoted to them." Hebrews 13:8-9 ESV

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, I pray for those reading Your Word (The Bible) that it will touch and soften their hearts and give them hope in You.  I'm glad You never change that You are the same yesterday, today and forever.  I pray for my unsaved friends and family that they will come to know Jesus personally.  Thank You for all the blessings You have poured out on us.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

Reconciliation

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled shall we be saved by his life.  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." Romans 5:1-11, ESV

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, I lift up all of you in prayer.  I pray that you will find peace with God through faith.  I pray for your healing and I pray your faith may be increased. I say this in Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

Which Path Will You Choose?

A few weeks ago Pastor Jon McNeff at my church spoke on the plot to kill Jesus.  The sermon is called "Satan's Cesspool" and if you want to listen to it you can go to www.Northcreekchurch.org   It was a really good sermon and I highly recommend it.  I had always wondered about Judas Iscariot.  I had wondered about him because if  Judas was remorseful because he betrayed Jesus was he a believer (born again Christian) or not? This sermon is the first time I had my question answered. Here is the Bible verses that speaks of the plot to kill Jesus.  "Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover.  And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.  Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.  He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them.  And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.  So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd." Luke 22:1-6 ESV

The first sign that Judas Iscariot was not a believer is the fact that Satan entered him.  If you are a born-again Christian Satan can't enter you.  Then the question of remorse that I had was answered because Judas had remorse and then killed himself.  He ran away from Jesus instead of running to Him.  So this is a description of someone who was only a follower of Jesus and not an actual believer of Jesus.  So Judas Iscariot was not a born again Christian.  This then got me thinking about so many people who know about Jesus, but have not asked Jesus to forgive them from their sins and to be their Lord and Savior.  They too are merely followers of Jesus, but not saved believers of Jesus. History books know there was a guy 2000 years ago named Jesus so you can know who He is and follow Him, but unless you have asked for forgiveness of sins and asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior you are not saved.  This then got me thinking about the Bible verse found in Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV) "Enter by the narrow gate.  For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."  There are not many paths to heaven.  I know many people think there are, but the Bible says that is not true.  Unfortunately, those who believe there are many paths to heaven will be very upset when they die and find themselves separated from God forever (to be blunt they will be in hell).  Only Jesus can save you.  There are so many philosophies that profess to have truth, but that is part of the wide gate that leads to destruction.  In my painting is a young woman walking on her journey of life.  The umbrella stands for the storms that may come her way and the blue sky stands for the happy times of her life.  She has a decision to make.  She must decide while she is in this life on earth which path she will choose.  Will she choose the wide gate that leads to destruction or the narrow gate that lead to eternal life with Jesus?  Just like you, only she can decide.

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, I pray that those reading this will choose Jesus and understand what the  wide gate and the narrow gate really means.  I pray they will choose to believe in You and ask for Your gift of salvation.  I pray that You will soften their hearts so they may receive You Lord Jesus.  I pray that You will show everyone who is unsaved that You are real and the Bible is God breathed and true.  Please open their eyes. I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

Worried? 2013 and Beyond

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."  Matthew 6:25-34 NIV

In addition to the "do not worry" message one other part of the scripture stands out for me and it is, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  So the next time you do anything in your life SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM.  You will be amazed at the miracles the Lord will do for you in your life if you seek Him first.  The Lord is the giver of everything you have and we need to give Him thanks and give Him the glory.

Let's pray:  Dear Lord Jesus, please forgive us for our lack of faith and our worry.  Please forgive us for not putting You first in our life.  I pray for those reading this that this new year will be the year they will accept Your gift of salvation.  I pray that we will put You first and in so doing You will heal our land.  I humbly ask for Your favor and protection.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com

Merry Christmas!

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made: without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
There came a man who was sent from God: his name was John.  He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.  He himself was not the light: he came only as a witness to the light.  The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who received him, to those who belived in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dewlling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."  John 1:1-14 NIV

"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:  His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"  which means, God with us."
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son.  And he gave him the name Jesus." Matthew 1:18-25 NIV

I hope you all have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Dear Lord Jesus,  I lift up all who are reading this today, this Christmas Eve.  I pray that those who know Your name, but don't really knbow You.  I pray for their salvation. I pray they will come to know You and have a personal relationship with You.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

www.karenejklein.com