The Light
Yes, Jesus is the Light!
For Him alone we live.
He gave the blind their sight.
Yes, Jesus is the Light!
Only through Him we might
Have faith enough to give.
Yes, Jesus is the Light!
For Him alone we live.
This was a triolet poem that I attempted to write in 2008.
January has kept me busy this year. I plan to get more articles out on a regular basis. If you have any thoughts or comments, please feel free to share them.
I hope you have a blessed day.
Layman Ray
Today, my wife and I have been enjoying watching snow flurries outside of our kitchen window. We live in the southeastern part of the United States, where we do not see a lot of snow, so it is a treat to watch it. Snow flurries start with little white fluffy flakes gently falling. Then, you notice some of it sticking to the ground. Next, you see white patches on the back deck, and finally those patches start merging to create a light blanket of snow.
A few years ago,
I authored an article called FLURE Revival for the website allsoulscount.com.
The premise was that during Jesus’ ministry, He seemed to focus on five key
areas when addressing his followers. Those areas were:
·
Forgiveness
·
Love
·
Unity
·
Repentance
·
Evangelism
You may note that I did not
mention prayer, but that is because prayer is foundational to all of these. I
was looking for the key teachings and examples Jesus imparted to those who
believed in Him.
As
Christians, when we learn to forgive others and to truly seek forgiveness from
others, we can have a significant impact on both non-believers and our fellow
believers. They will see that we are walking the walk, and this will enhance
how others perceive Christian integrity.
When
we strive to live a life of sacrificial love, those we encounter are positively
affected. Loving the way Jesus loved us is an incredible goal. Imagine how many
marriages would be strengthened if couples did this, how many lives would
improve if we served others with love, and how much your life would change if you
took the time to love others as a Christian. Once we push aside our own egos
and put others first, we open a whole new life of enrichment for everyone.
Unity
among the followers of Jesus is something He prayed for the night before his crucifixion.
Yet, the world often sees Christians fighting among themselves. We need to focus
on what is truly important. If you take the gospel down to the main message, that
is where our focus should be. John 3:16 – 17 is where our focus needs to be. God
so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
Him shall not perish. For Jesus did not come to the world to condemn the world
but to save it. That is where we should find our unity.
Repentance
should be a key part of our lives. This goes along with seeking forgiveness. We
need to not only seek forgiveness but also turn away from sins in our lives. The
world watches Christians with a critical eye, so we need to live like we
believe in the message.
Evangelism
is the last of the group, but it is vital. The world is filled with people who
are lost and sometimes, that sounds too simple. If we want to be blunt, we will
say the world is full of people who are destined for eternal damnation. If we
believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation, and I do, then we need to try
to reach those who are lost. God sent his Son because all souls truly count. We
are his hands and feet to spread the good news. God has made it amazingly easy
for people to get on track for an eternity of joy and love. Our job is to share
that message with them. God absolutely loves everyone, and He has given Himself
to bring them to safety. So, we need to show the world the same love and share
this blessed news.
Why
did I mention the snow? I see FLURE Revival working in the same manner as the
snow flurries outside my window. At first, it may appear in scattered areas
around the world, but as more Christians start putting these five areas into
practice, it will begin to spread. Can you imagine the impact we, as Christians,
could have on the world? A united group going out to the world in love, living lives
that honor the Lord, and sharing the gospel of hope and love.
I
pray that my life serves our great and wonderful Father in a way that brings Him
joy. This year, my New Year’s resolution is to do more to serve him. That is my
hope for all of you.
May you all be blessed, Layman Ray
The Christian What If Zone: Room Vacancy
I remember when I was about six years old. The school I attended brought all the students into the gymnasium. There, we watched three short films: a version of The Night Before Christmas, the story of the Nativity, and a movie about animals in Africa. When we watched the story of the birth of Christ, I was surprised that the innkeeper told Joseph and Mary that there was no room at the inn.
This Christmas
season I started wondering - what if the innkeeper had room for Mary and Joseph
at the inn that first Christmas Eve. It almost seems like it would have taken
something away from the narrative. After all, the image of the baby Jesus being
placed in the manger is impactful. Still, my mind wandered to the innkeeper.
How would giving Mary and Joseph a place to stay possibly have changed his life?
These thoughts
brought me to Obed-Edom the Gittite. In 1 Chronicles chapter 13, there is an interesting
story of the time King David first started brining the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
Along the way, the ark seemed to be unsteady, and a man named Uzzah reached out
to steady it. When he touched the ark, the Lord became angry and struck him
down.
When this happened,
David became angry and afraid. He decided that he was not ready to bring the
ark into the City of David. So, he took the ark to the house of Obed-Edom the
Gittite, and he left it there for three months. During that time, Obed-Edom’s
entire household and everything he had was blessed. The commentary in the New
International Version Bible suggests that his blessings may have included
numerous sons.
So, what if the
innkeeper had a room in the inn for Mary and Joseph? What if he had invited
them on into his place to stay? First, the Christ child would have been born in
his home. The Son of God would have started his earthly journey in his inn. That
would have been a blessing enough, but if we can equate the story to that of
Obed-Edom, the blessings might have spread to his entire household. I cannot
help but wonder what he may have missed.
I have a question
for you. Have you told Jesus that you have room in your heart for Him? I hope
the answer is yes. Still, for some, the answer may be no or possibly not yet.
Either of these answers means you are missing out on the blessings God has in store
for you. Trust me, there are blessings - first and foremost, the blessing of
eternal salvation, and more than you can imagine.
Now, do not get
me wrong. I am not saying that once you accept Jesus in your life, you will
never have trials. That is not the case. You will go through hardships because
that is part of life. The difference is that you will recognize the blessings
you have.
In the last 14
months, I have had to go through four different surgeries, including a
quadruple bypass and a splenectomy. I also endured months of chest pains, infusions,
and a round of chemotherapy. It was challenging, to say the least, but during
that time, I saw blessings after blessings in my life. One of the biggest
blessings I had was hope. I knew that no matter how bad it got, in the end, God
had me. If I did not survive my surgeries, I would have gone on to spend eternity
in Heaven.
I also had fellow
believers praying for me during my challenge. Just as I pray for all my
brothers and sisters in Christ, including you. If you are not a believer, I am
also praying for you. I am praying you will open the doors and invite Jesus to
come and stay with you. He is knocking, and he is waiting for you to welcome
him in.
What if you said,
“Yes, I have room for you. Come on in.”
Have a blessed day,
Layman Ray
For more information on salvation,
please visit Salvation's
Path (allsoulscount.com) This is a link to All Souls Count’s web site.
Here we are in the heart of the Christmas season, and I really enjoy this festive time of year. One of the many things I enjoy about Christmas is giving people gifts. Sure, it is nice to receive presents, but there is something special about giving someone a gift that you took the time to either track down or make. It is a way to show someone you care about them, to express your affection in a unique way, and to bond.
While exchanging gifts is a wonderful tradition, Christmas ultimately celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of our Father in Heaven. So, let me ask you this, “Have you ever wondered what kind of gift you could give Jesus?” If not, then maybe I can help you with some Christmas gift ideas for Jesus. Here are just a few gift ideas.
·
Spend time with Him: Set aside some
special time this season to really talk with Him in prayer.
·
Introduce someone to Jesus: Share the
gift he gave to all who will receive it.
·
Forgive someone that you feel has wronged you:
Start by praying for that person; you may find that your feelings towards them will
change.
·
Seek forgiveness from someone you have wronged:
Don’t just say you are sorry, instead seek ways to show the person you are genuinely
remorseful.
·
Help a stranger: Remember the story about
the good Samaritan.
·
Join a local church: If you are not a member,
look for one to attend. Most churches would love to have you there.
·
Thank Jesus for his sacrifice and repent.
·
Volunteer with a local charity.
· Worship God the Father.
These are just a few ideas and remember we do not know when Jesus was actually born. So, these are good things to do any time during the year.
I hope you have a merry Christmas
this year.
Layman Ray
In 1983, I was stationed at Hahn
Air Force Base in West Germany. At that time, East Germany was still part of
the Soviet Bloc, but tensions had started to calm down. In fact, our biggest
threats came from terrorists. We were all aware of the Baader-Meinhof Gang, also
known as The Red Army, and their bombing attacks. Plus, in that same year 241 service men were killed by Hizballah terrorist in Beirut, Lebanon. The
bombing sparked a strengthening of security on the bases.
The knight rides through the dark,
Upon his sturdy steed.
Never straying from his course,
Destruction is his deed.
Soon his voice will sound like
thunder,
And our world will shake.
His sword is swift, and with a
flash
Many lives he’ll take.
He doesn’t care whom he kills,
Man, woman, or child,
And all the world will feel
As if we’ve been defiled.
The world will be burning,
With no one left to care.
Darkness will befall us,
With no one left to spare.
This evil knight keeps coming,
Astride his metal horse.
Is there no one to stop him,
And stray him from his course?
Have a blessed day.
Layman Ray
I keep seeing the cursor blinking on my blank screen. Every blink seems to be saying, “Writer’s Block.” I stare at my computer trying to figure out how I want to begin, and still nothing has come forth. I have also started typing multiple times just to hit the delete key and then stare at the blank screen once again.
As I look over at my bookshelf, I see the inspirational books of so many great Christian writers. There are books by C.S. Lewis, A.W. Tozer, Billy Graham, Charles Colson, Erwin Lutzer, Dr. David Jeremiah, Voddie T. Baucham Jr., R. Albert Mohler Jr., Greg Laurie, and so many others. Some authors may not be as well-known, yet they have written things that have brought me new insights that I cherish. I have read some of these books multiple times.
Of course, my shelves hold several Bibles. The one I have read the most has been The New International Version, a gift from my wife. I have read it several times. When I read it, I often discover something new that I have missed before. I can only explain these things as God revealing something new to me. We have an amazing God.
The Bible never ceases to amaze me with its rich history and intricate connections between books, which can only be described as divinely inspired. There are the prophecies that cannot be explained, except as a supernatural gift. Then there are the awe-inspiring words of Jesus that show his pure genius. Finally, the love and sacrifice of God leaves me in awe every single time.
Still, I sit here going through a
mental block.
Maybe, just maybe, this writer’s
block is a nudge from God to pause and reflect, to immerse myself deeper into
His word.
If you find yourself staring at a
blank screen, remember—you’re in good company. God’s revelations come in His
time, and they’re always worth the wait.
Have a blessed day, Layman Ray
As a Deacon in my church, I’ve had the honor of helping serve communion. These days, we use small, hourglass-shaped communion cups. One end holds a piece of bread, and the other holds grape juice. (Although, some older cups in our church might have turned to wine!)
Years ago, the Deacon’s would pass the plates of bread around and then serve little cups of juice. There is a science to this, as you do not want to spill grape juice on someone’s Sunday best. Blessedly that never happened. Afterwards, the Deacon’s would go to the front of the church, and the Pastor would serve them. He would explain what the elements represented, and the entire church would then eat the bread and drink the juice.
One Sunday, the other Deacons and I were lined up in front of the church, with our backs to the congregation. The Pastor approached each of us with the plate of bread in his hands, symbolizing Christ’s body. When he came to me, I picked up a piece of bread and brought my hands together in prayer as he continued to the next person.
The Pastor began to tell us that the bread represented the body of Christ, and he was telling us how Jesus had broken the bread during the Last Supper. As I stood there, the bread was between my left thumb and index finger, my right index finger twitched for no apparent reason. The twitch knocked the bread out from between my fingers. I watched in disbelief as it fell in slow motion to the floor.
There have been times in my life when the brain seems to kick into overdrive, with thoughts moving faster than seems possible. This was one of those moments. After a split second of shock, I started trying to figure out what to do. Should I ask for another piece, pretend to eat it, or pick up the bread from the floor?
I quickly decided I could not pretend to eat it. As a Christian I felt that would be a lie, especially while taking communion. I also did not want to ask for another piece. Communion bread is a Holy Sacrament. I was blessed to be partaking in that moment, and asking for another piece would imply that any piece of bread is fine. The piece of bread that had dropped represented Christ’s body broken for me.
So, I reached down, picked it up, gave a prayer of thanks, and at the appropriate moment, I ate it. It was important to me as a believer to partake in the meal in remembrance of Christ. I needed to push my petty concerns aside and focus on Christ. It was a humbling experience.
From time to time, things happen in our lives that make us reassess our focus. As long as we put Him and His desires first, we can be confident we’re moving in the right direction.
Have a blessed day.
Layman Ray
