God is watching over you.

Job 10:12  (ESV)

 You have granted me life and steadfast love,

    and your care has preserved my spirit.

The Reverend John Stuart Holden, rector of St. Paul's Church, Portman Square, London, was booked on the Titanic to sail from Southampton of 10 April 1912. He was to have occupied cabin D-11, one of the first class cabins. But on 9 April, Mrs. Holden became ill and Rev. Holden cancelled his trip to nurse her. He missed out on the maiden voyage of the most luxurious ocean liner that have ever been built. But four days later more than 1,500 passengers and crew died when the ship sank after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic. Reverend Holden was the only first class passenger to have cancelled his voyage.

After the ship sank in April 1912, he mounted the ticket he had purchased for the Titanic in a cardboard frame on which he wrote: "Who redeemeth thy life from destruction."

The ticket carried the warning: "The company's liability for baggage is strictly limited but passengers can protect themselves by insurance."

The ticket hung in the Reverend's study until his death and is now on display at the Merseyside Maritime Museum, in Liverpool.

The Lord watches over us and shows us all types of kindness.

Dear Lord, thank You for watching over us and showing your kindness to us.  Help us to keep our trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

What Does Your Goodness Buy?

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Here's a story that was supposed to have taken place in the early 1900s. It is similar to one a few weeks back but it serves as a good reminder of our need for the Savior as we enter the Christmas season.

The story tells of a man who had worked hard all his life. The earning of a fortune had not stopped him from being a good husband, father, employer and friend. He had given generously to charities and treated all men fairly.

Living that kind of good life, as you might imagine, had been most wearying.

That's why one day the man woke up, looked in the mirror and decided it's time for a vacation. "I've earned it," he said. A trip to America seemed like just the ticket. Two days later he was standing in the shadow of an ocean liner ready to make the crossing to New York. As he waited in line to board the ship, he felt good about the past and what he felt would be his future.

In short he was more than ready to take that trip his many selfless acts had earned.

At the foot of the gangway, the cruise company's representative asked if he had a ticket. The man replied, he had no ticket, indeed, he felt no need of a ticket. The representative informed him that without a ticket he couldn't go on board.

That was when the man reviewed his impressive and lengthy list of good works. He summed up his feelings by finally declaring, "I am sailing on this ship. I've earned my vacation."

The representative summed up the cruise line's position with the words, "No ticket. No travel. You may have been good, but nobody's goodness will let them take this trip."

This, of course, is the point St. Paul was trying to make to the church in Ephesus.

He wanted believers in every generation to know that if you're trying to get into heaven through your own accomplishments, you're not going to make it. No matter how big, how impressive, how dedicated you've been, you're not going to make it -- not on your own power.

Seeing our helpless condition, the Lord Jesus was born into this world to take our place. As our Substitute, He would have to live a perfect life by fulfilling all the Commandments all the time; He would have to resist Satan's temptations all the time; He would have to carry our sins with Him to the cross and die the death we had coming.

That Jesus did everything that was necessary is an example of love beyond understanding. All we can do with God's grace is say, "Thank You!"

Dear Lord, today we give thanks that You continued to love us even as You despised our sin. Thank You for sending Your Son into this world as our Substitute, we praise You and give thanks. May we always remember that we are saved by Your works and not ours. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Your Ticket to Heaven

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

As we head into the Christmas season there is no better gift then the gift the God has given to each of.

There was a certain man who had worked all his life and was ready for a vacation. He wanted to go to a faraway place he had never been before. He thought to himself; you are a good person, you've helped the poor and took care of the needy. So you deserve this trip.

He went to the airport and got in line to get on the plane. In his mind, he felt no need to buy a ticket because of all the great things he has done for people in his lifetime. He thought he had earned this trip. As the line got closer and closer to board the plane, he grew more and more anxious to start enjoying himself on his journey.

It came his turn to pass his ticket in and to the amazement of the ticket collector; he told her he didn't have a ticket because he deserved a free trip.

He went on to explain what a good person he was and how he never hurt anyone or caused anyone any sort of pain, but the ticket collector told him, "you still need a ticket sir"

He told her "I have never stolen from anyone, nor cheated anyone in all my life", but still she stood firm and insisted he could not board the plane unless a ticket was given to her.

He said "I have given money to the poor and fed the needy", but still not being moved the ticket collector said if you want to get on this plane you have to have a ticket. No exceptions.

The man was shocked. He walked away with his head held down low and thought to himself, "I figured if I was a good person, who never hurt anyone and took care of other people, surely I would be able to get a free ride on the plane, but I guess I was wrong".

That is what some people think of Heaven. They think if they are good people, who never hurt anyone and take care of others, they will get a free ride into Heaven. But the bible clearly says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9.

Salvation is a free gift through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. No man can buy his way into Heaven, but Jesus came down to Earth in his own free will to give us Eternal Life. All we have to do is trust him by Faith and accept him into your heart as your Personal Lord and Savior. He has bought our ticket on the cross, but it is up to you to claim it.

Here is how you can receive Christ:

1. Admit your need (I am a sinner).

2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).

3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.

4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior.)

Just pray a prayer similar to this one:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. I know now that I have a ticket to get into Heaven. In Jesus' name. Amen.

This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen this relationship you should:

1. Read your Bible every day to know Christ better. Start with the Gospel of John.

2. Talk to God in prayer every day. Bring all your troubles and worries to the Lord.

3. Tell others about Christ.

4. Worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached.

5. As Christ's representative in a needy world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others.

May the Lord bless you in your new life with Him.

Dear Lord, thank You for saving us today.  Help us to read our Bible, pray, tell others, worship, fellowship, serve and show others our life in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Is God Your Ticket?

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Here's a story that was supposed to have taken place in the early 1900s. It may serve as a good reminder of our need for the Savior.

The story tells of a man who had worked hard all his life. The earning of a fortune had not stopped him from being a good husband, father, employer and friend. He had given generously to charities and treated all men fairly.

Living that kind of good life, as you might imagine, had been most wearying.

That's why one day the man woke up, looked in the mirror and decided it's time for a vacation. "I've earned it," he said. A trip to America seemed like just the ticket. Two days later he was standing in the shadow of an ocean liner ready to make the crossing to New York. As he waited in line to board the ship, he felt good about the past and what he felt would be his future.

In short he was more than ready to take that trip his many selfless acts had earned.

At the foot of the gangway, the cruise company's representative asked if he had a ticket. The man replied, he had no ticket, indeed, he felt no need of a ticket. The representative informed him that without a ticket he couldn't go on board.

That was when the man reviewed his impressive and lengthy list of good works. He summed up his feelings by finally declaring, "I am sailing on this ship. I've earned my vacation."

The representative summed up the cruise line's position with the words, "No ticket. No travel. You may have been good, but nobody's goodness will let them take this trip."

This, of course, is the point St. Paul was trying to make to the church in Ephesus.

He wanted believers in every generation to know that if you're trying to get into heaven through your own accomplishments, you're not going to make it. No matter how big, how impressive, how dedicated you've been, you're not going to make it -- not on your own power.

Seeing our helpless condition, the Lord Jesus was born into this world to take our place. As our Substitute, He would have to live a perfect life by fulfilling all the Commandments all the time; He would have to resist Satan's temptations all the time; He would have to carry our sins with Him to the cross and die the death we had coming.

That Jesus did everything that was necessary is an example of love beyond understanding. All we can do with God's grace is say, "Thank You!"

Dear Lord, today we give thanks to You because You continued to love us even though You despise our sin. Thank You for sending Your Son into this world as our Substitute. Thanks for this special time of the year we celebrate Your birth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Ticket for the Journey

Romans 5:6 (New International Version)

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

Do you ever worry about what might happen in the future? Or do you find yourself anxious about things over which you have no control? If so, then a teaching from author and lecturer Corrie ten Boom may help.

She learned a powerful lesson as a little girl. Having encountered the cold, lifeless body of a baby, she realized that the reality of death would someday strike her family, too. Perhaps her father or mother or sister, Betsy, would soon die. She anxiously worried about these possibilities until her father came in one night to tuck her into bed. Corrie burst into tears and sobbed, "I need you. You can't die. You can't!"

Her father sat on the edge of the narrow bed and spoke tenderly to his daughter. "Corrie," he said gently, "when you and I go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?"

She sniffed a few times and considered the question. "Why, just before I get on the train," she answered.

"Exactly," he continued. Then he gave her assurance that was to last a lifetime. He told her that a wise God knows when she will need things, too. "Don't run out ahead of God," he cautioned her. "When the time comes that some of us have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need -- just in time."

Corrie and her family were sent to concentration camps where she suffered greatly during World War II. She, indeed, was to experience the deaths of her parents and sister, as well as numerous friends. She was to endure hardships which she could never have imagined as a young child. But the words of her father stayed with her and proved to be true. "You will look into your heart and find the strength you need -- just in time."

Regardless of the suffering or hardship she encountered, when she looked inside her heart she found the strength she needed -- just in time.

If you find yourself worried or anxious about an uncertain future...perhaps you are running ahead. You have not yet been given the ticket for the journey. And if that thing you fear should ever arrive, it is then you must look inside your heart.

The strength you need can be found there -- just in time.

Dear Lord we pray that we would not run ahead of your timing. Thanks for giving us the ticket just in time for the journey. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.