Over the years I have seen some of the children of God, those who I thought had a deep, abiding relationship with the Lord Jesus “change” because of situations and circumstances of what was going on around them. As I have seen it in others, sad to say, I have even seen it in myself more times than I want to admit. As I have witnessed through experience that a heart that is not continually surrendered to Christ can slowly drift without even recognizing how far it has wandered until it is too late. When things are going good, there is money in the account, everyone is healthy, food is on the table, our family relationships are peaceful; we feel blessed beyond measure, it is easy to praise God for all that He is doing and end up keeping Him at a distance. The greatest danger is not always open rebellion, but the quiet acceptance of a life that tolerates the very sins Christ died to save us from. There are many that experience Jesus’ “triumphant entrance” into their lives and are so excited as to what is going on as we see in Matthew 21:9…Blessed [praised, glorified] is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest [heaven]!” These words are spoken with power in the beginning, then for some comes the change, the lies of the enemy, the self-doubt, the questions, is this real, is it true that the God of the universe really cares about me and what I am doing? We forget how desperately we need to anchor ourselves in God’s unchanging truth instead of the ever-changing emotions of our hearts. The Holy Spirit does not expose our sin to condemn us, but to lovingly lead us to repentance where forgiveness and restoration are found. Can you ever think of a time that you didn’t really care about what Jesus thought, that you were going to do whatever you wanted, to satisfy your flesh? At that point, that very moment, you joined in with those calling for His blood to be spilled as they did in John 19:14…He (Pilate) said to the Jews, “Look, your King!” 15 But they shouted, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!”… Charles Spurgeon said, “My sins were the scourges which lacerated those blessed shoulders, and crowned with thorns those bleeding brows: my sins cried “Crucify him! crucify him!” and laid the cross upon his gracious shoulders. His being led forth to die is sorrow enough for one eternity: but my having been his murderer, is more, infinitely more grief than one poor fountain of tears can express.” Brethren, I admit that my heart has been hardened at times, I have had moments of complacency about the power of the cross and His sacrifice for me. In some of the most memorable times of my life I have been guilty of writing my blessings in the sand and engraving my trials and challenges on stone, not taking into account the atonement and cleansing that I should embrace. Yet even in those failures, I have found that His mercy has always been greater than my weakness, drawing me back to the foot of the cross pleading for grace and forgiveness. There is no sin too precious to keep if it separates us from deeper fellowship with our Savior, and there is no sacrifice too great if it brings greater glory to His name. Please pray for me as I pray for all those who read these words with similar struggles, that we take our relationship with the Lord Jesus more seriously today than ever before and live to glorify Him in everything we do. Our actions will either bring glory to Him or we will yell at the top of our voices because of pride and selfishness, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” May we never become so familiar with the message of the cross that we lose our wonder of the Savior who willingly bore it for us. Every new morning is another gracious invitation to repent, believe, and walk more closely with the One who first loved us. Let our lives be a continual testimony that Jesus Christ is worthy not only of our words on Sunday, but of our obedience every other day of the week that He gives us breath. 

My BeLoved, may the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

Special Note: I want to thank those who read what I write and are encouraged to support the ministry God has entrusted to me either one time or have decided to give on a monthly basis. I am encouraged to see certain verses playing out before my eyes like what is written in *Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.*

To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support at pastord.blog@gmail.com or I do have a Zelle account associated with my phone number, 5202720387 last name Blaser. Thank you my Beloved for your ongoing prayers and support.