Testimonies

Exodus 15:11 (NET) - Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, fearful in praises, working wonders?

Testimony is defined as “evidence or proof provided by the existence or appearance of something.”

If so, then the Scriptures are a collection of individual testimonies.

These words from Exodus provide a good example.

They are words from a song that Moses and the people sang to the Lord.

They sang these words in praise of the Lord who delivered them.

This is their testimony.

They praised the Lord who delivered them from bondage.

They also praised the Lord who delivered them from Pharoah’s chariots.

Those who oppressed and pursued the people worshipped many false gods.

But it was the one true God who triumphed, delivering His people.

In the prologue of John’s first letter, he also gives his testimony.

He speaks of what he has seen, heard, and touched regarding the word of life.

1 John 1:2 (NET) - and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.

The people, prophets and apostles testify about God.

As we enter the season of Lent, let us be grateful for these testimonies which guide us.

Through these words, we witness faithfulness.

We also witness God’s unconditional love.

God extends that same love to us and everyone around us.

The season of Lent also reminds us of Christ’s journey to the cross.

Nothing testifies to God’s love more than this unselfish act.

But, thanks to the testimonies recorded for us in Scripture, we have hope.

For beyond the cross lies an empty tomb and there is no better reason for us to give thanks!

There is no better reason for us to give praise!

There is no better reason to share our own testimony.

And there is no better reason (or time) for us to share God’s love in Christ with others!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 11, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, March 15, 2022

Divine Inheritance

Psalm 108:1 (NET) - I am determined, O God. I will sing and praise you with my whole heart.

Here, the Psalmist is brimming with confidence.

This is evident in his opening words: “I am determined.”

Therefore, he will confidently sing and praise God with his entire being.

The remainder of Psalm 108 bears this out.

Confidence and determination come from God.

But why would God give us these qualities?

Paul speaks of this in his letter to the Colossians.

This can be found in his prayer for the growth of the church.

Colossians 1:11-12 (NET) - being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.

When the news of Colossian believers reached Paul, he began praying for them.

Paul prayed for God to grant them knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

This would allow them to grow and please God.

Paul understood that God would grant them strength and patience to live according to His will.

As believers and part of the growing church they could claim the inheritance of the saints.

Such an inheritance is eternal.

Centuries after Paul’s letter, we too are part of the Church.

The Church I refer to is not any denomination.

Rather, it is the entire body of believers (past, present, and future) with Christ as its head.

Because of God’s love for us, we also share in this inheritance.

This is a gift given to us out of love and not something we earned.

Like the Colossians, God grants us knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.

Therefore we, like David, can confidently sing and praise God.

And, with God’s help, we can lead others to Jesus.

Then they can become inheritors as well.

Remarkably, our share of this inheritance never diminishes.

That is because the inheritance of the saints, like God’s love, is limitless.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 25, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, March 4, 2022

God's Will?

Psalm 34:1 (NET) - I will praise the Lord at all times; my mouth will continually praise him.

Psalm 34 is attributed to David.

In verse one, he states that he will praise the Lord continuously.

That means praising the Lord even when things are not going well.

Praising the Lord when circumstances are in our favor is one thing.

In fact, it is rather easy.

Praising Him during times of loss and tragedy is another matter.

Is it even conceivable that one could praise the Lord when a loved one dies?

Can a person praise the Lord when they have lost their sole means of income?

Is praising the Lord at all possible when a person hits rock bottom?

According to Paul, it is possible.

It is, in fact, God’s will!

Paul says so in his first letter to the Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NET) - Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Paul echoes David’s words.

But Paul goes a step further.

Paul reminds his readers that this is “God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

This is God’s will for us as well.

We will encounter both good times and challenging times throughout our lives.

But, no matter what happens, we should always praise the Lord.

Yes, that even applies if we should hit rock bottom.

For when all else is lost, one understands that God is truly essential.

2 Samuel 6 reminds us of the time when David and his men brought back the ark of the covenant.

David danced in the streets.

This angered Saul’s daughter because she thought David looked foolish.

She was probably not the only one.

When we praise God under adverse conditions, people might think we act and sound foolish as well.

But when a loved one dies, we can praise God for their love and lasting influence.

When we lose our job, we can praise God for friendships created and opportunities ahead.

And, if we hit rock bottom, we can praise God for reminding us that He is all we need.

So always praise God.

Pray and give Him thanks for all circumstances.

As Paul says: “For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 11, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, February 18, 2022

Love Without Limit

The Christmas season is now upon us.

The signs are everywhere.

There are Christmas songs on the radio.

Christmas trees are everywhere.

At night, the soft glow of Christmas lights cast their light into the winter darkness.

Even reluctant actors like me are preparing to appear in Christmas programs.

One nearby church will do their annual live nativity scene.

I find myself grateful for the season.

I am also grateful for currently teaching about heaven and hope.

Christmas is a celebration of the time the Lord took our human form and dwelt among us.

He was born in the humblest of circumstances.

But that is only the beginning of the story.

The course I teach reminds me that His life with us was full of service and love.

His earthly journey would ultimately lead Him to a cross and to an empty tomb beyond it.

                                                                                                                          

Therein lies real hope for us all.

I reminded my students that Jesus took this journey to obey His Father’s will.

He also took it to save a fallen mankind that could never save itself.

He did this out of love.

It is a love for everyone which includes you and me.

It is a remarkable love that has no limit.

It is never diminished by the vast numbers of people He loves.

A number that grows larger with each passing generation.

Upon sharing these thoughts with my students, one of them shared the feeding of the 5,000.

The time Jesus took a very small amount of food and fed a vast multitude until each had their fill.

When that meal was over, leftovers were collected.

The love Jesus has for us is a great deal like that.

In truth, I consider this contribution by my student to be a blessing to everyone in the room.

I find myself especially blessed.

I share that blessing with you.

As Christmas day draws nearer, we will hear more songs and see more decorations.

We may see Christmas programs or attend nativity scenes.

I hope that we will also set aside some time to be still and really feel the love Jesus has for us.

A love that is without limit.

1 John 4:10-11 (NET) - In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:19 (NET) - We love because he loved us first.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 14, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, December 21, 2018

Our Daily Manna

I recently watched a DVD in which the speaker discussed miracles.

One of the miracles the speaker focused on was the quail that the Lord sent His people in the book of Numbers.

The speaker made this sound like a wonderful thing for them.

He did this to imply that God will do marvelous things for us if we but ask Him.

Unfortunately, the speaker neglected to tell the entire story.

While everything God does is miraculous, sometimes His purpose is correction.

The account of the quail really began much earlier when the people complained about the Lord's provision.

In Exodus chapter 16, the people complained to Moses and Aaron about hunger.

God told Moses that He would rain down bread from heaven for the people.

He also gave Moses very specific instructions.

The people were only to gather as much as they needed for the day.

On the sixth day, however, they would be able to gather twice as much so that the seventh day of rest could be observed.

Moses instructed the people that they were to keep none of it until morning.

Some, as if doubting that God would continue to provide, gathered more.

What they kept overnight went bad.

This angered Moses.

So, each morning the people went out and gathered their daily portion and returned.

On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much as the Lord had instructed.

The people called this bread from heaven “manna” and it was in this way the Lord provided for them.

Then, in Numbers chapter 11 we find the account of the quail.

This was preceded by complaint as well.

The people missed the food they ate in Egypt.

They even believed they received it freely forgetting that they paid for it by being slaves.

It was at this point that they openly declared their dissatisfaction with what the Lord had provided.

Numbers 11:6 (NET) – But now we are dried up, and there is nothing at all before us except this manna!

One can almost imagine how that made God feel.

God informed Moses of what would take place.

He would give the people meat.

Numbers 11:19-20 (NET) – You will eat, not just one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, but a whole month, until it comes out your nostrils and makes you sick, because you have despised the LORD who is among you and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we ever come out of Egypt?”

The Lord then caused the wind to drive in quail from the sea which fell around the camp to a depth of three feet.

The people eagerly gathered quail all that day, through the night and all the next day.

That is when it happened.

Numbers 11:33 (NET) – But while the meat was still between their teeth, before they chewed it, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very great plague.

The speaker on the DVD left that part out.

We really need to be grateful for God's daily provision.

Just as He provided His people with enough manna for each day He provides for us.

Jesus echoed that sentiment.

Luke 11:3 (NET) - “Give us each day our daily bread,”

It reminds me of something an old friend said to me years ago, “Be needy, not greedy.”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Why Me, Lord?

To slightly paraphrase the old hit song by Kris Kristofferson:

Why me, Lord? What have I ever done to deserve even one of the [blessings] I've known?

Every day, I am astonished at all the blessings the Lord has bestowed on me: wise and loving parents; a sweet, patient wife who raised with me three fine children; reasonably good health; a stable, satisfying job; living in a free country . . . the list goes on and on. Of course, the greatest gift of all is God's infinite love in sending His Son into this world to live, teach, suffer, and die in ransom for my sins--the just for the unjust--so that I may live eternally in the company of Him and my loved ones. I don't think anyone has ever been more richly blessed than I.

I was reminded of that recently when my wife and I had the opportunity to travel across the country to spend a few weeks during the Christmas season helping our daughter and son-in-law care for their newborn twin children--their first, and our second and third grandchildren. These two came after years of trying, crying, and prayer by their parents, and were the most wonderful blessing (and Christmas presents) God could have given them. Nothing has ever touched and engaged me more than holding those precious new babies in my arms, gazing into their bright, curious eyes, and even feeding and diapering them--whatever the hour! Nothing has delighted me more than my wife's beaming face as she embraced these little miracles, thanking the Lord for answering our children's prayers.

I was struck by how a loving and giving family like this is an echo of our Heavenly Father's relationship with us--how helpless and dependent on Him we are, how utterly selfless and infinitely generous He is toward us, even when we go astray. He would, and did, give his very life for us, just as our children would for theirs.

I feel so unworthy of His boundless grace. Of course, we can never be fully "deserving" of all God's blessings. If that were possible, we would be "earning" them through works in contravention of the teaching that salvation, like other blessings, comes by grace through faith--lest we should boast (Ephesians 2:8,9). "A faithful man shall abound with blessings" (Proverbs 28:20), and surely a steady faith in God and obedience to His commandments will bring those spiritual and familial blessings that the commandments were intended to secure to us, if not all the worldly benefits men desire.  I know that I am not always faithful to my heavenly calling, and I am too often disobedient. Yet God blesses me still, and remembering this keeps me in humble awe and deepest gratitude. If I never fully "deserve" His gifts, I can at least strive to live worthily of them.

Tom Fleming
Songs of Praises

Thank You, Jesus

As I write this, we are just two days away from celebrating Thanksgiving Day where I live.

I am very much looking forward to what is considered a traditional Thanksgiving.

I am especially looking forward to my favorite part of that holiday and that is spending the day with family.

Someone once said that you pick your friends but you are stuck with your family.

If that is true, I am indeed blessed because I am "stuck" with a wonderful family.

As the day approaches, I find myself reflecting on the only miracle of Jesus that is recorded in all four gospels.

That miracle is the feeding of the five thousand.

Matthew records this account in chapter 14.

Mark records this in chapter 6.

Luke’s account is in chapter 9.

John tells us of this in chapter 6.

Although Jesus performed many miracles, we are told about this one more than any other.

A very large crowd follows Jesus.

Jesus takes pity on the multitude.

He tells His disciples to feed them.

They are unable to do so.

Jesus, on the other hand, does.

Jesus takes a young boy’s lunch consisting of five barley loaves (we would likely call them buns by today‘s standards) and two small fish.

With these he feeds the multitude until they were all satisfied.

Afterward, twelve baskets of leftovers are collected.

While it is true that food plays a major role in a traditional Thanksgiving celebration, that is not why I find myself reflecting on this miracle.

The reason this occupies my thoughts is what Jesus did just before he fed the multitude.

He gave thanks.

John 6:11 (NET) - Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, He distributed the bread to those who were seated. He then did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted.

While I am glad that there is officially one day set aside for giving thanks, Jesus reminds me that I should always be thankful.

This is true for things like food that are necessary for life.

This is especially true when it comes to the One necessary for eternal life, namely, Jesus Himself.

Thank You, Jesus!


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Thank God

Psalm 9:1 (NET) - I will thank the LORD with all my heart! I will tell about all your amazing deeds!

Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day where I live. It has become a day set aside as a reminder that we are to give thanks.

Although I am happy to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, I find it just a little ironic as its original purpose has diminished from the original intent.

True, we are to be thankful but it goes beyond just being grateful.

Anyone, even someone who does not believe in God can be thankful for what he has.

Days of Thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states for a long time.

Thanksgiving Day was established as a national holiday where I live by President Abraham Lincoln (one of our most beloved leaders) in 1863 when my country was in the middle of the Civil War.

This day was set aside not merely as a day to be thankful but to be thankful to God.

"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God," ~ Abraham Lincoln

Even though the nation was torn apart by the Civil War, Lincoln established a national holiday in which we were to give thanks to God.

As the years have gone by, other elements have crept into this day and may have even taken it over.

For some, the day is about planning an elaborate meal or parades or sports.

To some, It has even become the official beginning of the Christmas season.

I will admit that I was fortunate enough to share a nice meal with wonderful family members.

I will also admit that we watched some sports on television as well.

Yet we also recognized why the day was established and we gave thanks to God for all He has done and continues to do for us.

We have many reasons to be grateful to God.

Yet one reason far outshines the others.

God loved us so much that He sent his one and only Son to pay the price we could not pay.

John 3:16-17 (NET) - For this is the way God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

Now, Thanksgiving Day is over.

But is it ever REALLY over.

Should we not be thankful to God every day of our lives.

The Psalm I opened with says that I should thank the LORD with all my heart.

That means I should be thankful to Him every day including today.

Allow me to begin today by thanking Him for you.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/

Thanks and Giving

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” ~ Psalm 100:4, 5

It's Thanksgiving Day in the United States, so much is being said and written here about thankfulness.  Many people make and share lists of things that they're thankful for--employment, home, health, family, and friends being prominent. But for those more wanting in these and other of life's benefits, feeling of thankfulness may be harder to summon. When times are hard, we can be overcome with disappointment, grief, bitterness, or envy of those whom we think are more abundantly blessed. We think: if there is a loving God, why did He leave me with so little of those good things, or, why did He take them away?

As one who might be counted among those more abundantly blessed, it would be too easy for me to respond with thoughts like: God never promised us a rose garden; it rains alike on the just and the unjust; even, we should be thankful for whatever we have, as little as it might be. These things are true, and we should remember them when our own road in life becomes rocky. But toward others on that rocky road now, we need to offer more than pious platitudes.

I need to do more to help those less fortunate than I--much more, and soon, as we don't know the day or the hour when our Savior will return (or we'll return to Him) to "close the books," as it were, on our well-doing. I need to go looking for my needy brethren, not wait until they knock on my door. I must, if necessary, go down into the gutters of life with them and get my hands "dirty" in their service--not just donate a few dollars now and then to a charity. Can I be that selfless? Do I have that kind of courage?

We should remember that "thanksgiving" actually consists of two words, "thanks" and "giving."  The Lord is pleased whenever we thank Him for the things He has blessed us with. But, whether our means are great or small, the very best expression of our thankfulness is to joyfully share our blessings with all others we encounter in life--to try to do for them, in a great way or small, what God has done for us. If it is truly in giving that we receive, then every person, comfortable or poor, can have the "richest" of lives.

Tom Fleming
Songs of Praises

Thank You, Lord, for Allowing Me to Serve You

This Sunday we celebrated Holy Communion as part of World Communion Sunday.

In my new church role, I am expected to assist in serving Communion.

This Sunday was particularly special, because I was asked to arrive at church early and help prepare this meal so that everything would be ready and in place by the time people arrived for church.

A wonderful couple who helped provide this service for a very long time were no longer able to do so. Another member of this group was going to be out of town. Thus, the "Communion Stewards", as we refer to them, were in need of some assistance this particular Sunday morning.

I assisted them by filling the cups with wine while they made the other preparations.

As I did so I reflected on the significance of both the bread and the wine.

I also reflected on the significance of the service these stewards provide on a regular basis.

They really are special people.

They work quietly behind the scenes to make sure everything is just right.

They do this even if few people thank them.

They do this even if few people notice.

I would venture to say that everyone in my church feels as I do that Communion is a vital and essential part of the Christian experience.

Yet, human nature being what human nature is, it is easy to arrive at church with everything prepared and not give a second thought to the fact that someone had to wake up early and work to make this a reality.

Perhaps work is not the right word.

It is, rather, a labor of love. A labor of love they perform time after time after time.

It is a labor of love they perform for their Lord.

After all, we share both the bread and the wine in remembrance of the Lord.

As the congregation prepares to partake in this meal, our pastor always has some special words prepared prior to the distribution of the bread and wine.

These words always incorporate specific scripture.

Matthew 26:26-28 (NET) - While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks, He broke it, gave it to His disciples, and said, "Take, eat, this is my body."  And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood, the blood of my covenant, that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

He also incorporates Jesus’ words from Luke 22:19 which state, "Do this in remembrance of Me."

The pastor then called the elders forward and we took up our positions and prepared to serve.

Two elders guided the congregation forward in two lines.

The pastor and one elder served the bread and gently reminded each person, "This is the body of Christ, broken for you."

After reflecting on this, each person consumed his bread and approached the next elder in his line and selected his cup.

As he did so, he was gently reminded, "This is the blood of Christ, shed for you."

After reflecting on this, he drank his wine and made his way to the next elder in line.

This was the role I filled along with another elder.

I held a basket in my hands for those in my line in which they could deposit their empty cup.

As each did so, I gently stated, "Go in peace."

I said earlier that this was a special day and it was in many ways.

Not only did I assist in preparing and serving this meal, there was one more thing.

As I collected their cups, several of them reached under the basket which I supported with one hand.

They wrapped their free hand around mine and gave it a gentle squeeze.

No additional words were said.

No additional words were necessary.

This simple and silent gesture spoke volumes.

It was their non-verbal way of saying, "Thank you for serving the Lord."

It was also a great reminder for me to say, "Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to serve you."


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/