Tag: joy

Count it all Joy! 1 Peter 4:14

“If you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you; for the Spirit of Glory of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he is Glorified!” Comment: For the past ten years I have passed out Gospel tracts almost everyday everywhere I go. At home or on the road I spread the Good News! I plant a seed praying for a harvest! On average I distribute about ten tracts per day. The response over the years has been favorable with an exception of a few! I always tell the people on their jobs to please read on their lunch or break times! Timing is everything! When a clerk gives me my receipt I hand them a tract. I had one young high school girl at a McDonalds up along the I-95 corridor in Virginia immediately open the tract and completely read it while their were customers behind me in line waiting for service! Then she called a co-worker over to the counter and asked him to read it! People are looking for hope! Yesterday a young cashier at Walmart put the tract in her pocket and thanked me! Up in Lexington Kentucky I gave a tract to a Walmart employee working in the meat department. As I was on my way out of the store he grabbed my arm and thanked me for the tract! He told me that this very day he was struggling with whether Islam, Hinduism or Christ was true? He said now I know Christ is the truth! However yesterday as we were leaving a Sam’s Club the employee was checking receipts of people leaving the store. I handed her a tract and she told me she did not want my damn tract and threw it in the trash! These are rare but I get them! An employee at another Walmart escorted me out of the store! This is when it gets hard to count it all joy! Some people are going through difficult things and they are angry and blame God! I plant the seeds of hope and leave the outcome to God! Jesus hung on the Cross between two thieves! One received Christ as Savior and one rejected him! The Holy Spirit reminded me yesterday that they are not rejecting you they are rejecting me! The hope of 1st Century Jerusalem is the same hope for 21st Century America! The world changes but God does not! He is the same yesterday, today and forever! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

RideShare Pass!

It was 1973 and Hamsa and I were just married! It was also the start of America’s greatest recession which lasted until 1975! It was the year of the Arab Oil Embargo and President Nixon being impeached! In a matter of a few months living in Denver Colorado we were both laid off from our jobs! So together each day we would go out to the Aurora Colorado unemployment office and look for work! We were still excited about our daily trips to the office because we were living life together! We shared our problems and our joys! We no longer had to be alone! We were having fun in spite of the economic downturn! Our world was bigger now because it included two instead of one! Two could pull easier than one! We solved problems together! I was newly saved and had found Christ! Together we shared our Savior! A three stranded cord is not easily broken! I remember coming out of that office and meeting a blind man on the street! He had an escort and I asked him if I could pray for him? The escort seemed irritated but allowed so I prayed for this man for Salvation and a healing! I long for some of those days where our possessions were few but our Faith was great! When we accumulate too many earthly possessions we can begin to trust those rather than God! So what is the cure? Give them away! That is what Jesus told the rich man to do! To be rich in Christ is better than silver and gold! As Christmas is approaching remember our joy is not based on what we can do but based on what God has done for us! We have not deserved or earned his gifts we just need to receive them! Jesus purchased our RideShare tickets! He has punched those tickets for us and are now along for the ride! Never get off this Gospel train because it is taking you home! There is a joy in the journey because you are not alone and Jesus promised to never leave you or forsake you! He is true to his word! Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Choosing Good or Evil! Isaiah 56:2

Hebrew Translation: Blessed, happy and successful is the man that works, labors, toils and the son of man that layeth hold unto it; that keeps, watches and guards the Holy Sabbath, the 7th day of the week, on the same day God rested from His Creation and ceased from work. Keeping from polluting it or making it common and committing violence against God’s established law. Also keeping his hand of authority and responsibility from doing evil. Comment: The choice should be easy and obvious but it is not! The first day of the week is Sunday! Not Monday! In early America you could not find a business open on Sunday! If you are trusting in your own works then Sunday is just another work day for you! A chance to make more money! Then you believe the time you have is not a gift from God but belongs to you! All of it! This is an ownership question! No faith in God causes people to trust themselves and their own efforts! God rested on the 7th day so are we greater than God? Do you believe God is looking after you? Then show it! Pressures build as you try to carry the load by yourself! Your health is affected! Do not make Sunday just another day in the week! Do you follow God and His example or do you make up your own rules? I am almost 70 years old and have been walking with Christ for 44 years! The peace, joy and prosperity is beyond measure! I have been retired for 22 years! I have never been a slave to work but God works for me! May seem a prideful statement but not really! I do what I can do but understand I can do nothing without Him! My efforts are futile unless God Blesses my efforts! When I cease from my own labor and rest in Christ each Sunday I leave the results to God! Whether the experiences seem good or not my trust is in the Lord! When I tithe and make offerings each Sunday I am giving back to God what He has already given me! I watch for the Sabbath! I guard the Sabbath! Sorry sir I cannot work on Sunday! We will fire you! So be it! God will provide another job! I prepare for the Sabbath! My soul, mind and body prepare for it! Then I rest in Christ and he renews my soul, mind and body! My thoughts are continually on Him! My expectation is from Him! My reward is in Him! My joy comes from Him! My peace from Him and the relationship to Him! My eternity is framed by Him! His promises are mine! You can please God by making the right choice! Then your remaining choices for the rest of your life will be easy! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Jews Return to Israel 1948

Isaiah 51:11 Hebrew Translation: “Therefore the redeemed, the ransomed, the rescued, these set free from slavery, these severed from sin, those that only God can liberate, the transferred of ownership from the first born that were slaughtered, the redeemed of the Lord shall return to Jehovah from their idol’s. They shall return to their point of departure as God reversed the sun dial for the Jews to win the battle. They shall come singing to Zion and everlasting joy that is perpetual without end, that continues without change, that is past, present and future, that is eternity without end and what is hidden and concealed from the unbeliever’s. This joy shall remain upon their Head. They Israel shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” Comment: If God cannot be faithful to Israel He will never be faithful to you! If He breaks His covenant with Israel no covenant will stand for you! What stood out to me in this passage is the reference to the slaughter of the first born of Egypt that was the ransomed paid to deliver the Jews from their enemies! Also Egypt turned all their gold over to the Jews! The sacrifice of life and treasure for redemption! Likewise God slaughtered His only Son Jesus Christ for the redemption of the Jews and the Gentiles! Jesus also sacrificed all treasure and became poor for your prosperity! One day the Jews eye’s will be opened to their Messiah! Then the earthly treasure will look worthless to them! God did not make us to pursue things but to pursue God! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

The Joy Set Before Him! Hebrews 12:2

What is the difference between love and law? Jesus came to fulfill the law though love! If the only God you know is law then your attitude is I HAVE to obey and keep the Commandments! Even though you are miserable you have to do your duty! We must be in church on Sunday and keep the Sabbath! When we discover the love of God through Christ our attitude changes about worship! Now I WANT to keep the Commandments! I want to please God! He loves me and I do not want to disappoint Him! I love Him because He first loved me! I obey out of love! My attitude now is to love other’s as He has loved me! I take joy in suffering for other’s as He suffered for me! My present and future is in Him so I no longer have to store up stuff for myself! I can joyfully share what I have with other’s! I no longer have to store up anger, hate and worry to be released on other’s for He has taken it away and given me love to replace it! I am free now to do the Father’s will. Jesus endured the Cross with joy! Why? Because He loves you! He knew the return on His sacrifice would redeem billions of souls! However had the return only been you He would have done it! The same joy is available to you but you must forsake the things that are taking your joy away and take up your Cross and follow Jesus! Why not begin this journey by attending a Easter Service this Sunday! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Love & Success!

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) Comment: I have found in life that when you find your highest purpose in life to love God and man you can do anything else and you will be happy! The joy of the Lord is our strength! Our purpose is not dependent on circumstances but takes joy in serving others reflecting the image of God! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Christmas Message from the Martyred! 150 A.D.

Since we find it recorded in the memoirs of the Apostles that he is the Son of God, and since we call him the Son, we have understood that he proceeded before all creatures from the Father by the power of his will…. and that he became man by the virgin, in order that the disobedient which proceeded from the serpent might receive its destruction in the same way it devised its origin. For Eve, who was a virgin and undefiled, have conceived by the word of the serpent, brought forth disobedience and death. But the virgin received faith and joy when the Angel Gabriel announced the good news to her that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon her and the power of the highest would overshadow her. Therefore, also, that which was begotten by her is the Son of God. Justin Martyr (100-165 A.D.), Early Church Father and Apologist, Martyred in Rome 165 A.D. Comment: This is why Jesus said we must be born again! We as descendants of Eve can never live right before men and God! It is impossible because we were conceived by our ancestors who believed the word of Satan rather than the Word of God! Sin produces sin! We cannot just be born once! The virgin birth makes it possible to be born again! The choice is up to you! You can believe your ancestors or you can believe the Word of God! Why not choose the best Christmas gift this Christmas and receive the Savior born in a manger and  sacrificed to redeem your life from Hell and separation from God forever! Justin Martyr paid the ultimate sacrifice to get this good news to you! The truth is costly! Never forget it! Merry Christmas! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Rich Young Ruler! Matthew 19:16-30

You would think by hearing the prosperity message of the 21st Century from American pulpits that this guy would have the most coveted position on earth! Many spend their entire life pursuing these goals! The rich young ruler wanted to be sure he had all his ducks in a row and right with God! So he asked Jesus a question that we should all ask Him! What shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said he should keep the Commandments to love God and people! He told Jesus he had done all these things since his youth! Jesus said you just lack one thing if you want to be perfect! The word perfect used here means reaching one’s goal of Heaven being blameless and righteous before God! Jesus told him he must sell all he has, give to the poor and follow me! This was just too much for this guy and he walked away sorrowful. Jesus only asked him to give up something he loved more than God! Jesus went on to say it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter Heaven! The sin was not being rich but loving money more than God! Jesus is telling all of us that we cannot go on a sin diet! We have to forsake it all. The last words that Jesus said somehow echo in my ears! Follow Me! Follow Me! If we hang unto a little sin it will turn into a monster! This is what happened to the Las Vegas shooter! Bill Gates is giving all his money away! The money no longer controls him! This is an important lesson when it comes to our tithes and offerings! It is a statement to God that He owns it all and we are acknowledging His authority! Sin will control us unless we forsake it! When you love God more than your sin and confess your sin to Christ victory is your estate! Jesus is God because only God can forgive sin! The rich young ruler refused to confess his sin! The joy of the Lord is our strength! If we will confess our sin He is Faithful and Just to forgive our sin! Then the bondages and chains of guilt, shame and condemnation are cut loose from our soul. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com