Stressed to the max?

Stress, coupled with anxiety, is as common an ailment as the ordinary cold! Pressures, conflicts, chaos, misunderstandings, and disappointments conspire to give us knotted muscles, tension headaches, and restlessness that drives sleep away until the early hours of the morning. Many do not understand that the anger or depression they are experiencing are rooted in a failure to deal with life’s stress in a healthy way!

What’s stressing you today? Financial problems, perhaps? Health issues? A marriage that is faltering? Expectations at your place of work that conflict with your family life? Internal struggles with some habit you cannot overcome? Kids? …

In fact, stress is part of life and can make us stronger and more productive, IF we manage it. How?

Scripture tells us to “Let the peace of Christ rule your heart... live in peace... be thankful!’ " (Colossians 3;15) There is great wisdom there, reminding us that we have a choice in how we respond to the pressures of life. We can become victims, panicked by things we believe to be out of control OR we can choose to accept a gift of God – peace of mind.

REAL peace is not circumstantial. Even if we change our place, position, or find greater resources, the relief will be temporary, and we will find ourselves in yet another situation that causes stress.

True peace transcends our present situation!
Peace is not discovered; it grows from deep faith.
It is a gift from our Abba.

The Bible tells the story of Gideon, a farmer in Israel at a time when raiders were attacking God’s people, stealing their resources, and driving them into the hills where they hid in caves. Desperation was everywhere! Gideon needed to feed his family despite the raids and attacks in Israel. So, he ventured from the caves, down to the fields. Judges 6 says that he was hiding out near a winepress, threshing grain, fearing for his life.

Suddenly he is aware of a Presence and a voice! "The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, "Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!" {Judges 6:12 NLT} Gideon knew he was no “mighty hero!”   In that moment of desperation, God spoke. “Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." (Judges 6:15, NIV)

He questions God's messenger about the hard times that his people are experiencing. But, when he sees the evidence of God's power, he chooses to accept the promise of God with faith, and he found something wonderful – peace! "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!" But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die." So, Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. (Yahweh Shalom)" {Judges 6:22-24 NIV}

The Lord God desires to be our “Shalom.”   "Shalom" means more than the absence of conflict. The Hebrew word, “shalom” includes the ideas of wholeness, restfulness, and satisfaction.

IF we will come to God, willing to let go of our need to control, faithfully and worshipfully, we can enter Presence of God right where we are. We do not have to go to a church, find a retreat center, or go into some altered mental state. We ‘let the peace of Christ rule.’

His Spirit produces serenity. When the world around us is falling apart, when others are stressed to the max, we are productive, at peace in the middle of the storm.

Pray a simple prayer - “Lord, teach me to live in your holy ‘shalom.’  When you want to try to manage the world, attempting to fix things and people by imposing a 'peace' of your agenda, turn to the God of the universe and invite Him to take charge. Hard? Yes, it is! He seldom works at the pace we want and often in ways that are beyond our understanding at the moment. However, if we accept His offer of peace, patiently waiting to receive His wisdom, we will live remarkably differently from those around us.

Even if the situation remains the same, we are changed and able to experience peace and bring peace into it.

God’s peace is NOT a Zen-like detachment from life.
God’s peace is NOT an escape into denial or delusions.

God’s peace is a gift- His Spirit owning our mind and heart, giving us the resources we need so that we are partners with Him in His work: healing to the broken, defeat evil powers wherever they make their ugliness apparent. His peace is like a river that flows through us.

How did Jesus say it? “Out of you will flow rivers of living water.”
We can get exhausted, yet serene! He stands alongside us to steady us, to quiet our fear.

Serenity is learned, much easier to talk about than to live. Like Jesus’ disciples that stormy day on the Sea of Galilee, sometimes my first impulse is the cry out - “Lord, don’t you care that we’re drowning?”  He does care. Sometimes He stills the storm. Sometimes He stills my soul in the middle of the storm.

Today, before you engage in life's challenges, present yourself to your heavenly Abba. Meditate on His Word and give that problem, person, or pressure to Him. Invite the Spirit to impart holy ‘shalom’ to your soul. Breathe a prayer for peace. Here’s the word from the Word:  "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 (NIV)

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Dunked!

Yesterday our church witnessed baptisms, the public declaration of faith in Jesus made by new Believers. I love those moments! At Faith Discovery Church we practice baptism by full immersion in water as did the first Christians. Why?

When that Believer is plunged under the water by the Pastor, their previous life is ‘buried’ and they emerge, raised to new life with Christ Jesus. That is what Paul wrote to the Romans. “We died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.”  (Romans 6)

Those baptized are called to a whole new way of living, beyond just this world, focused on the promise of God’s purposes, their day-to-day experience not just physical but spiritual.

Jesus taught the Church that baptism was a moment of initiation. His words to us tell us to “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28) What has taken place in the heart through faith is made evident in the moment of baptism.

The significance of the moment is amplified in Galatians 3. “All who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  The primary identified of the baptized Believer becomes “Christian,” not American, not white nor black, not man or woman, not rich nor poor. Those social identities are erased by the ONE unifying truth – “I am a Christian.”

One of the reasons that Christianity spread so quickly throughout the Roman Empire was that people found a place to belong regardless of their race, gender, or social status. In the Church they were ‘brothers and sisters,’ the family of God; “ONE in Christ Jesus.

I have two questions for us today.

First, have you trusted Jesus, finding the new life in Him that is promised, and baptized as a declaration of faith? It’s not just a ritual; it is a moment of obedience to His command that opens the door to wonderful life in the Spirit.

Second, if you have been baptized is your new identity as a Christian evident?
Do you know the Presence of the Spirit, live in love, and enjoy the privilege of being part of God’s great big family?

Here is the word from the Word. May the truth inspire us.
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call. With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2)

Yes, we dunked those Believers in water yesterday, but the reality was more than that! They were immersed in the water, buried with Christ Jesus, now raised to new life. What a promise.

Your Best Life

It is a delight to watch a person develop a skill, seeing them put in the time and effort necessary that makes it possible for them to do that thing they do with excellence and joy. Many of us dream about ‘what could be’ but our wishes never turn into a reality … be it a toned body, a solid marriage, a useful skill, or a mature Christianity. Why? We do not value the process.

The folly of merely wishing for the best life comes through this humorous old proverb – “If wishes were horses, then all beggars would ride.”  Think about that.

Generally, we have little patience, right? We are accustomed to quick fixes. We love the self-help gurus that offer us 3 easy steps to our goal, whose words imply there is a single thread that we can follow to success. That has not been my experience.
 *Our marriage that brought me much joy demanded that Bev and I work hard on our relationship consistently.
*Becoming an effective Pastor was a process encouraged by many, over time, including making mistakes along the way that required change and development.
*Christian maturity that allows me to have a rich relationship with God has been the result, at least partially, of living out the disciplines of the Spirit over time.

The holy Scripture says “do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere (patient endurance) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” (Hebrews 10:35-37) The writer was addressing people who were going through persecution for their faith, who wondered about the reward of serving Jesus. His counsel? “Never give up. God is faithful!”

An inspired dream is a wonderful thing, but it only becomes reality when we are willing to sweat, to learn, to adapt, all parts of the process of becoming!

Paul teaches us to live with purpose. “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.” (1 Corinthians 9)

Have you prayed for real vision, asking God to give you a glimpse of what He can do in your life, through your service, which will lead you to joy?

Have you committed yourself to Him, letting Him form a God-shaped vision, not for just more money, happiness, or temporal success, but for a life that has eternal purpose?

The ancient preacher, Habakkuk, received a vision from God. Listen to the counsel about that vision. “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets … For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

Refine your dream. Write it down. Pray over them for clarity asking God, the Spirit, to make it clear. Seek godly counsel, then commit to the work of living God’s best life, planned for you.

This is not just a plan for some ‘super-saints.’  God invites each one of us to live by the Spirit, gifted in the unique way He plans, so that we will find His rich commendation as we enter the Father’s house for eternity.

The word from the Word encourages me, I pray it does you, as well.
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.”  (1 Corinthians 3)

Lord, help us to be faithful to Your work, for Christ’s glory. Amen

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Fear’s awful cost

Most adults experience those wakeful moments at 2 am when fear takes over. That lump that appeared in the body might be cancer. The note from the kid’s teacher seems ominous, signaling a deeper emotional issue. The spouse’s distance becomes a concern for the marriage. The mood at work is sour and might mean a pending cutback in staff.

Fear exacts a terrible toll from us. Next to the promise of reward, fear is a powerful motivator for our choices. T. Dalrymple, in Christianity Today (May 2025) notes that “panic is profitable.”  A torrent of information warns us of all kinds of pending disasters and advertisers answer our correspondent fear by offering us cures, diversions, and distractions ranging from the newest medicine (“ask your doctor”), a vacation, a new car, or even a cruise. For some the cost of fear includes addiction to work, to alcohol, to sex, or to illegal drugs!

Christian, God gives us the best way to overcome our fears. He invites us to live in FAITH. The Word says “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5) Jesus invites us to lean on God as our good Father, promising that HE is able to provide what we need.

Faith is a choice we make even in moments of crisis. The book of Daniel has great lessons in faith for us. Remember the three Hebrew men – Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego – who were commanded to kneel to the king’s image? A refusal meant being burnt alive! They did refuse and the king flew in a rage but tempered his anger by giving them one more chance to show their loyalty. Certainly they were terrified! The fire was already burning that would consume them if they would not obey his edict.

But they chose faith! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”  (Daniel 3 NLT) Their faith was greater than their fear.

Daniel also faced a terrible choice. Ordered not to pray to anyone other than the king, he chose to go to his room as he had always done and pray to the LORD God of Heaven. His choice earned him a night in the lion’s den. He did not think he would survive but he, too, chose faith over fear.

We must remember that faith does not promise us we will never feel afraid, nor does faith always clear the pathway ahead of us of every obstacle. Faith does fuel hope and gives us strength to overcome our fear and to remain steady in our commitment to God.

The Bible defines faith this way – “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”  (Hebrews 11) Faith is based in the Person of God, revealed to us in Christ Jesus, and is anchored to eternity, beyond time.

Faith is informed by the truth that there is more to our existence than what we see, feel, or experience. It finds a foundation in the fact of eternity, made evident to us by the resurrection of Christ. We, as Christians, know while we are alive in this world we are blessed by His love, but the best is yet to come when we are welcomed home to the Father’s house.

Without a solid belief in Eternal Life in Heaven our faith will weaken and crumble. Indeed, Paul reminds us that “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. … if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. … If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”  (1 Corinthians 15)

Answer fear with faith, real faith not mere bravado.
Built faith by making Christ your true hope, gaining a new identity as a child of God through Him.
When fear rises refuse panic and choose to pray, even if that prayer is just a desperate cry.
Declare to yourself, to your world, even to the Devil – “I am a child of God, held secure in the grace gift of Jesus!”

The word from the Word is my declaration of hopeful faith. Make it yours today.
“Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? … No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 8)

Choose faith!

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That Trait Few Desire to Own

A long time ago one of my uncle’s advised me that success in life would require self-promotion. His line stuck with me: “He who tooteth not his own horn, the same shall not be tooted.”  While the line was humorous, his advice was serious. Think about it. Who do we tend to admire – the person who gathers attention or the one who works quietly in the background?

Several times in my work as a Pastor it was part of my responsibility to select assistants. I quickly learned to read between the lines of the resumes that were submitted looking for inflation in their descriptions of actual work and experience.

We are all tempted to try to look better than we are, to carefully tend to an image that distorts reality, or to seek to shape the world around us to our personal preferences, don’t we?

Christians are called to a different way of living, built around a trait that few desire – humility. The Scripture speaks to this point repeatedly.

• Jesus said- "whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:4, NIV)
• Paul urges us to "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." (Ephesians 4:2, NIV)
• James is clear- "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (James 4:10, NIV)

Humility is an indispensable trait in the character of the godly.
Humility is foundational to living in harmony with others.
Humility defuses anger.
It facilitates forgiveness.
It gives value to those who are wounded or broken, viewing people as being worthy of respect. 

Humility allows us to strengthen our relationship with God as we surrender the need to ‘have our own way,’ when we come on bended knee and with an open heart before Him.

Some confuse humility with a lack of healthy self-esteem. That is untrue. Humility does not ask to say ‘I am worthless” nor does it require that we hide our abilities and/or skills. What humility does require is our use of those things in service to God and others.

When we have come to know ourselves, our strengths, our weaknesses, our gifts and callings; we need no longer pretend, nor will we feel the need to try to find applause to validate our worthiness. Truly humble people do not need to please others or to copy the trends that would make them ‘cool.’ (Yes, I am a person from the 1970’s)   

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that humility says – “I don’t care what you think, I march to the beat of my own drummer!”   It willingly serves, readily adapts to the greater good. Isaiah reminds us that "The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled)." (Isaiah 2:11-12, NIV) 

Humility is both a work of the Holy Spirit in us and a part of character that demands cultivation. There are real choices to be made if we want to grow in this grace.

First step is to acknowledge Christ as Lord.  Every day we renew our submission to His rule. Almost every day, among the first thoughts in mind is a prayer – “Lord, this is your day, I am your servant. May You be honored by my thought, word, and action.”  (Sin being what it is, I fall short of that aspiration too frequently!)

Second step is honest confession of need, of sin, of reliance on His grace and goodness.  WE are absolutely dependent on the Holy Spirit moment by moment for real holiness. Without the life of the Spirit actively working in us as we give ourselves to Him, we cannot please God.

If you think you are capable of living for Christ Jesus without daily dependence, without real prayer, without learning the Truth of the Word, without remaining in close fellowship with other Christians – you are deceived by pride, attempting ‘cool’ Christianity, an impossibility. 

The third step is the choice to serve, to give away the need to be first, to be recognized. That is much more difficult than it sounds, believe me!

When you pray for humility to develop, prepare for struggle! Self does not die without a fight. And then, bow your head, open your heart, and learn to lean, like a child, on the complete sufficiency of the Father.

Here is a word from the Word. Peter directs us to rely on God for promotion.
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand,
that he may lift you up in due time." (1 Peter 5:6, NIV)

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The Language of Devotion

How do you understand and receive love? Dr. Gary Chapman wrote a book on the subject over 30 years ago that couples still read with interest – Five Love Languages. He opines that there are five basic ways that marital love is demonstrated -

Words of Affirmation: communicating affection through spoken and written praise, appreciation, encouragement, and frequent “I love you’s”.
Quality Time: expressing love by fully focusing attention on your partner through shared activities, conversation, and togetherness.
Physical Touch: showing care through intimate and affectionate physical contact like hugging, kissing, and sex.
Acts of Service: doing thoughtful deeds and gestures to help make your partner’s life easier by relieving burdens.
Receiving Gifts: giving meaningful surprises and symbolic presents to celebrate affection.

Chapman believes that each one of us ‘speaks’ one of those languages as our primary way of seeking love and affection and that if people in marriage learn to understand their own language and that of their spouse, the bonds of their affection grow stronger and richer. Interesting, isn’t it?  

So, let me ask you this today –
what is your primary language of devotion and worship in your relationship with God?

Yesterday, in the afternoon, I wandered into the sanctuary of our church and sat down at the grand piano. For about 15 minutes I played worship songs and hymns as my soul communed with God. Music is a primary language of devotion to me. The lyrics of hymns become the words of my prayers and meditations. Nothing beats “Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God, my Father. There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!” 

Others express their devotion in serving others, particularly those in difficult situations. As they distribute food at the church’s pantry, they praise the Father.  When they care for sick friend, their heart is moved into His Presence.

Some stand along a river or climb and mountain and as they do, their love language for God is a deep appreciation of that which He has created.

Eric Liddell, a Scottish Christian and athlete at the 1924 Olympics, a man whose accomplishments were made famous in the movie, Chariots of Fire, had a unique language of devotion - “I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

C. S. Lewis, after his conversion to Christianity, poured out his devotion in his many books and essays.  Theologians study and defend the doctrines of faith to express their worship.

So, what is your language of devotion?
How do you experience God’s joy and the wonder of worship?

That is worthy of some thought, my friend, for we are made to worship. When we speak our language of devotion with excellence, we praise and lift up our God. And, we also become closer to Him, deeper in faith.

While I do hope you find yourself in a church and in focused ‘worship’ with other Christians on a regular basis, I also pray that you experience God’s Presence in a way that fills up your soul.

The word from the Word today invites us to love Him.
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God,
the great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.”  (Psalm 95)

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Completely Dependent

Forty years ago, my household included 4 children who were completely dependent on their parents, little ones who needed provisions of food, clothing, emotional support, and shelter. Today, though those same people love their Dad, they are independent, fully capable of caring for themselves. The truth is that their abilities have now exceeded mine. They have become amazing people, each in their own way.

There is a relationship that none of us outgrows – being a child of God! 

Even as we mature in life and in faith, we must remain utterly dependent on Him if we want to know the best of what He has in store for us. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3)

Our loving Father desires our dependence. He created us to know and love Him. He delights in us, cares for us, and has provided an eternal home for us. Jesus describes the Father’s care. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So, if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” (Matthew 7) Human parental care and love pales in comparison to the eternal love of our Father.

I remember those turbulent years as my children became teenagers, seeking more independence from me. It was difficult to navigate the best path, giving the counsel and guidance they still needed, even as I released them into their world. It was natural for them to want to find their own path and yet I had a responsibility to try to help them avoid the difficulties that they could not see. Eventually, our relationship was redefined. I became a friend and counselor, but no longer am I the primary resource in their lives.

The pattern does not hold for our spiritual life. We never move on from our Father in heaven, having achieved self-sufficiency. We may enjoy an illusion of independence for a time, thinking that we have life well in hand and under our control but … reality is far different. In a moment, life can turn inside out for us. Disappointments come, disasters strike, death visits. All are reminders of just how fragile life is and teach of our need for God’s fathering care.

Are you in His care? You can be, by faith, as you receive the gift of rebirth! “To all who believed him and accepted him, (Jesus Christ) he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” (John 1)

When the Spirit calls you into the family of God, when you are reconciled to your Father. Yes, in Christ, possibilities are released in us and for us – identity, intimacy, inheritance.

Are you living in a way that invites the Spirit to lead you to discover the full expectation of Your Father?
Lean on Him in faith.
In prayer bring every request – big or small – to Him.
Actively desire to be guided by His wisdom.
These are your rights as His child. Treasure that relationship.

Meditate on this word from the Word. Here the Spirit reminds that our full rights as children of God are fully declared, but as yet not fully realized. Pray for faith to accept what He has said, so that you will live to fully inherit His promise.

"Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." (Romans 8:14-17, NIV)

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He’s our Hope

In correspondence this week, a man raised in the church, spoke of the constant fear he felt about his spiritual state when he was younger. The “Gospel” he heard was focused on the wrong thing – the awful state of the sinful- rather than on the amazing love of God! I could empathize with him because that is how I heard the “Gospel” as well.

Yes, it is true that ‘all have sinned and fallen short’ of God’s plan for life. None of us can claim to be without fault or failure. Even our best efforts to be good enough for God never come close to His perfection. “But God …” is how Ephesians says it. The focus is not on me, nor you, nor on our guilt. The Good News is that He “is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life.”   (Ephesians 2)

That truly is Good News, the Gospel! Multiplying guilt and deepening shame is not what God does in us. He offers us restoration with Himself, hope for the future, and a life marked by love, joy, and peace. Knowing Jesus is not just about gaining a ‘get of Hell’ pass, nor is it even about ‘going to Heaven.’  It is about moving into a completely different way of living, centered on God’s care and goodness.

The late Dallas Willard spoke of the tragedy of reducing Christianity to mere moralism, attempting to make people act marginally better than their neighbors using fear of judgment. He coined a phrase I truly love – “the gospel of sin management.’   Christians who try and try, on their own, to reform their ways, who work hard at just managing temptation, have embraced a Sisyphean task, rolling a stone up a hill over and over, only to have it come tumbling back to bottom. The result is increasing fear, a defensive spirit that is often critical of others, and an utter lack of the joy of living that Jesus offers us.

We are called to true transformation, not because we ‘do’ better but because we are truly changed, inside out, and become whole!

When a religious leader came to Jesus seeking an answer for his spiritual hunger, the Lord did not tell him to work harder at perfecting himself, nor did he teach him moral principles. He turned that man’s gaze to God’s grace and told him - “For this is how 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. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3, NLT)

Have you placed your trust in Jesus?
Have you learned to rest in the fact of the finished work of salvation from sin that HE accomplished on your behalf?
The Word teaches us that we are ‘justified’ by faith in the Son. Amazingly wonderful is the promise of the so-called second chapter of faith which is that we are then called to be “God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”  (Ephesians 2) Life that is whole, hopeful, rich in love, deep in forgiveness, which seeks peace with others flows from the life of the Holy Spirit which Jesus says flows out of our inner being like ‘rivers of living water.’  

What a different from the miserable life of those who know just enough about God to become obsessed with their sin and failure, stuck in fear and dread.

Come home to the Father! He is waiting with open arms to embrace you today.

The word from the Word comes from Romans and summarizes the hope we find in Jesus’ love. “Since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” (Romans 5, NLT)

Now that’s Good News!

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Just the Good Stuff?

For a long time, the evening news was a regular habit. At 6:30 pm I was watching ‘the news.’ Not so much anymore but the reason for that decision is a subject for another blog. I truly enjoyed a segment at the end of the Friday broadcast called “On the Road.”  (https://www.facebook.com/OnTheRoadCBS/) 
The stories in that part of the news were always full of hope, human kindness, and caring!  Sometimes I just want to say, “just tell me the good stuff.” How about you?

We Christians tend to do that same thing with the Bible. A study that looked at the social media posts for Scripture quotes found that Christians posted Paul’s words from Philippians millions of times:  "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13, KJV) Another favorite passage often posted is: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7, NIV)  And nearly equal were the hopeful words of Jeremiah:  ^“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (29:11)

Sharing hopeful words is a good thing, however… there is much more to the Bible than a few quotable passages of promise! The whole of Scripture is a gift of God to us, but there are parts of it that get a lot of play and others we seldom, if ever, read. There are, in addition, to those promises, passages that challenge us to serve, many that call on us to consider our ways, and even those which speak of God’s judgment. We are not nearly as fond of the stark visions of the Revelation as we are the warm words of Psalms, are we?

Think about this: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT)

We need the whole Scripture to become healthy and godly Christians.
-If we only read the passages that make us feel good, we will lack correction.
-If we avoid passages that reveal the holiness of God, we will slip into careless sins.
-If we stick to the Gospels, we will not know how to order our lives in the Church. 

Some parts of the Bible arrest us and make us realize the majesty and mystery of God.  The Spirit tells us to grow up in our appetite and tastes. "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (Hebrews 5:11-14, NIV)

I hope you will commit yourself to the whole truth, not just the so-called ‘good stuff’ in the Bible. Be willing to wrestle with the ‘hard parts’ so that your faith is strong and mature. Jesus taught us that we live from the content of our heart.

Reading straight through the Bible, cover to cover, may sound like a noble thing, but it will lead you to long stretches in passages that are hard to understand, or in books that demand more study to mine the wealth of His wisdom.  We do better following a plan that mixes readings from the whole of Scripture.  Get a plan and hang with it.  Does it require discipline? Yes, it does, but what a reward we enjoy when the Word takes root and produces a harvest of holy living. 

 (Need a plan?  A great site online offers many. See Bible Gateway)

Here’s the word from the Word, a prayer, to know and understand the Scripture.
"Teach me, O Lord, to follow every one of your principles. 
Give me understanding and I will obey your law; 
I will put it into practice with all my heart. 
Make me walk along the path of your commands, 
for that is where my happiness is found. 
Give me an eagerness for your decrees; 
do not inflict me with love for money!

Turn my eyes from worthless things,
and give me life through your word.

Reassure me of your promise, 
which is for those who honor you.
Help me abandon my shameful ways; 
your laws are all I want in life.
I long to obey your commandments!
Renew my life with your goodness." (Psalm 119:33-40, NLT)

Amen

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Hope is Important!

Jean is very old, a resident in the care facility where I lead worship services twice a month. Her once active life is limited by infirmity. But most of the time, her face is lit up with a smile. This past Tuesday as I greeted the little congregation after worship she quietly said, “That was very inspiring.”  It made me glad to know that the powerful story of Christ’s death and resurrection was a source of hope and encouragement to her, as it is to me!

Are you a hopeful person?

One of the most powerful forces in life is hope. The dictionary defines hope as:
-A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment,
-Something that is desired: “Success is our hope.”
-The theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good,
difficult but possible to attain with God's help.

Hope can be diminished, even lost, if our life becomes complicated with pain, disappointment, or sadness. It can be strengthened by a friend’s encouragement, by an infusion of Scriptural truth, and even the dawning of a new day.

Where we place our hope is a critical choice.

Hope that is based on unrealistic expectations will prove a failing foundation for life. So many of us choose to form our life choices and hope around gaining wealth, maintaining eternal youth, creating the ‘right’ image, or enjoying the approval of others only to discover eventually that such things are subject to failure.

Peter tells us to "set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:13, NIV) What a source of security. Nothing in this world can erode the strength of a hope built on Christ Jesus. Financial security can be lost with a quick drop in the stock market. Death comes, sometimes unexpectedly, and takes away a family member. A position of influence and prestige can be taken away in an instant. But nothing can take away God’s gift of salvation and the promise of a home in Heaven.

John, the disciple of Jesus who lived well into old age and who suffered terrible persecution at the hands of Rome, wrote of that foundation of hope. He says - "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." (1 John 3:2-3, NKJV) The hope of being received by the Lord Jesus, seeing Him in His glory, produces a single-minded focus that lifts over the distractions of the world to a life of godly purpose.

Friend, in a world that offers so much false hope I urge you to consider the foundation of YOUR hope. Be realistic about what you are chasing after. Talk with a trusted friend about your dreams and aspirations. It is good to desire to do well in life, to enjoy a good return for the work we do, to invest ourselves in rich relationships. Only a fool ignores his health and physical wellbeing. But we are even more foolish IF we fail to prioritize worship and prayer if we do not make our faith in Christ Jesus the core value of each and every decision. The wise counsel of Scripture teaches us to understand that despair is born when we trust the wrong things to give us hope. "Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!" (Psalm 42:11, NLT)

Meditate on these words from the Word. Begin to give thanks for the grace of God. Focus beyond the moment on the promise of eternal life and HOPE will rise in your heart.

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.  And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.  So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.”  (1 Peter 1)

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Easter, 2025, is history, or is it?

The holiday is history. “What did all mean?” I asked myself this morning. There were the bunnies, eggs, and flowers carried over from ancient pagan celebrations of Spring that were all it was for some.

Christians focused on the story of Jesus’ Resurrection, a pivotal truth of the faith. But does it all have any meaning for this Monday morning?

Luke tells us about two disciples walking outside of Jerusalem, on the road to Emmaus, who were wondering what it all meant, too. The crucifixion had drained them of all hope.  Jesus Whose words had filled them with dreams and hope was arrested and crucified and all the dreams of the Kingdom Come died with him.  They wondered aloud - How had that triumphal procession into Jerusalem, filled with shouts of “Hosanna,” turned into a hateful scene in Pilate’s courtyard where people screamed, “Crucify Him!”?  And, then their talk turned to the report they had heard just that morning about His body being missing, the tomb empty. With a sigh, they walked on, resigned to disappointment!

Let’s pick up Luke’s story - "As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”

“What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”  (Luke 24:15-24, NLT)  

The report of the Resurrection was already circulating, but it was being rejected.  Everybody knew that dead meant dead.  Yes, there was an empty tomb and stories of angels who said He was alive, but… well, who could believe such things?

Later, over dinner, the Man offered prayer and broke the loaf of bread, and they realized it was HIM! “Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining what all the Scriptures said about himself.”  (24:27) He encouraged them, then as suddenly as He came, He was gone! That encounter changed their lives. They headed back to Jerusalem with yet another amazing story about the Risen Lord.

On this day after, are you tending to discount the reports? 
As echoes of “Christ, the Lord, is risen today…”  grow quiet, are you leaving the wonder behind for another year until Easter rolls around again?  

I suggest a different choice today.  In prayer and meditation, go back again to the Story. Think it through. The second look will provide greater clarity.  Ask, ‘what does this mean for my life now?’ 

The Resurrection is the cornerstone of our hope.  Because He lives, we will live also. That supernatural event turns a story about a kind Teacher into a compelling Gospel of a Living Lord.  In that inspired chapter, 1 Corinthians 15, Paul presents the facts that support the reality of Jesus’ Resurrection and then he says – “And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.”  It means that humanity’s greatest fear no longer holds us in a tight grip! We are people of LIVING HOPE.

After a couple of months of waiting, we learn that those disciples found their way and took up Jesus’ challenge to take the Word to the world.

Fifty days after the Resurrection, at the Feast of Pentecost, God, the Holy Spirit, fell on the disciples and the rest is history!  "Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:43-47, NIV)  

My friend do not just settle back to the routines of life. 
Instead, let us live the faith, praying - 
“Lord, pour out Your Spirit on us!  
Fill us with the power to take your good news to our world. 
May Your kingdom be born anew in us, we pray. Amen.”

Let’s live what we celebrated.

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Finding Peace

This week I wrestled with making a decision that would have brought significant changes to my life. I pondered the best choice, trying to factor in each component – my financial state, the future, how it would impact my personal happiness, and what it would mean for my current relationships. For two days my mind was occupied with the issue, restless, without peace. Then finally, the matter was settled by circumstances beyond my control. Relief!

Most of us have come to those kinds of crossroads in life, haven’t we?
And no one likes living in that kind of limbo, lacking serenity.

There is a choice I made long ago that provides me with the deepest peace.

It was and is and will always be the most significant choice of my life. I responded to the invitation of God’s Spirit to trust Christ Jesus as my Savior and was granted peace with God and life everlasting.  

This Good Friday finds me worshipful, grateful for the amazing goodness of God that we can know through His Son, Jesus. Come with me to a passage that captures the essence of what happened at Golgotha that Friday so long ago. Golgotha was a hill outside Jerusalem where the Romans took Jesus to be crucified. The name is Aramaic for "place of the skull."  

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.”  (Colossians 1)

We who were separated from God by sin, guilty, and captive of the Evil One needed rescue. The chasm was too great to be closed by any attempt at morality or goodness. God loved His creation and took the initiative. He gave Jesus who was the “God-man,” fully God, yet fully human, bearing “all God’s fullness.”

For what purpose did HE come to this earth? The Scripture says “to reconcile all things” to God. That is what happened at the Cross. He was the Last Sacrifice for sin, the offering of His life is the Way for us to know peace.

Ponder that today! Because of Jesus you and I are now “holy in (God’s) sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”  This is the Gospel of Christ.

Good Friday is the heart of the Good News of God, a message received by faith which changes everything about us, making us, once again, God’s own children. Have you trusted Him?

The rest of the story was told on the First Day of the Week, when the Empty Tomb was found with the assurance that we, like Him, will live forever in the home of the Father.

Take this word from the Word with you in your mind and heart today. Spend some time “near the Cross” and let the peace with God become the foundation of life, the peace of God.

“Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God.

For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.”
(Hebrews 9:13-15)

Wonderful peace! Amen

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For the whole world!

The reality of suffering and evil that exist all around me are too real to me today. This globe knows millions who live among the devastation of war. Thousands die when strong men order missiles and bombs to fall. National leaders care little for the people of the street who live with the results of their decisions. Greed drives nations and causes ordinary people to suffer in poverty.

Closer to home, bullying bosses make life miserable for their employees,
families divide when petty people choose to fight and hate.
Oh yes, my sins are real to me, too.

So, on this first day of Holy Week I can identify, in a small way, with the tears of Jesus after His raucous welcome into Jerusalem on what we call “Palm Sunday.” Luke says that “as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace.”  (Luke 19) He saw the awful sorrow that would come on that city’s people in years ahead, something that they might have avoided if they had accepted Him as their Messiah.

On this week’s journey to the Cross and onward to Resurrection Sunday, I want to feel something of the weight of sin so that I will better worship the One whose sacrifice changes everything for those who believe Him and accept His grace. Peter tells us that “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2) Those are such wonderful words, even more meaningful against the backdrop of human depravity.

Think about that, my friend. Jesus knew the depths of evil that terrible day. He carried the sin of slave traders, war mongers, child-abusers, and murderers. He carried sins less dramatic to us – jealousy, pride, greed, lust, and apathy about spiritual matters – that most of us experience. No wonder His anguish caused Him to groan and cry out.

Crucifixion was a horrible and cruel way to execute a person, but Jesus’ cries went beyond the suffering of His body. He, the Perfect One, felt the guilt of the whole world in an unimaginable moment when He took it all on His shoulders and gave His life to make a way for us to be right with God, our Creator-Father.

John’s words cannot be read casually as we think of that. He says, “And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”  (1 John 2)

Let me offer three thoughts about our response to the Cross of Jesus.

First, let’s worship with true wonder.
“That God should love a sinner such as I, how wonderful is love like this.
Such love, such wondrous love!”  says the old hymn. If we rush too quickly past the ugliness of the Cross in our hurry to know the joy of Easter, we will not worship as we ought. Our salvation becomes all the more rich when we ponder the depths from which Christ Jesus has lifted us.

Second, let’s choose to live in His grace and with grace towards others.
We need not live in guilt or shame when we remember the Cross, because what He did there is finished, the work of atonement for sins complete. The inspired writer of Hebrews contrasts the yearly sacrifice of the first Covenant with the final sacrifice of the New. We learn this – “But he (Christ) has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,  so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”  (Hebrews 9)

My sin, your sin, the sin of the world was paid for, in full, at the Cross, by the sacrifice of the Final Lamb, whose shed blood was sufficient for the redemption of the world for all time!

So, third, let’s become messengers of Life and Hope!
Christians should NOT be known for their condemnation of others. We should be the most hopeful people in the world! Our message is not about death, it is a word of life. Paul says “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. 

And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  WE live in peace with God, and we lead others to know that peace, too. In this work, evil is defeated. The broken are made whole. Those who suffer are comforted. Oh, what a Savior.

So, this Holy Week, may we live soberly, pray to know the cost of our salvation, even while we anticipate the great promise of the Resurrection that brings us to life eternal in the home of our Father. Amen.
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Surprise!

Ever found yourself in the middle of a situation that you never thought possible? Maybe it is a great thing and you feel ‘lucky’ that it happened to you. Or, more likely, it is some sad or difficult development that blindsided you.

If you are a planner like me, you have a preferred path, goals set, and preparations made to achieve those things. It is good to plan and prepare. I love the old saying, “Those who aim at nothing, hit it every time!”  The surest way to live aimlessly is to drift with the currents.

 There are those things we think could be possible, but that we hope never happen to us. We purchase insurance to repair our vehicles in the event of an accident but we hope never to make a claim. I know injuries are possible in various situations and I take precautions to make them less likely. That’s just common sense. But …

There are always unforeseen things that come our way, things that change everything – like divorce, chronic illness, career loss, a relationship that breaks down without explanation, natural disaster, and even spiritual crises.  It’s not always the awful, terrible.  Good things can disrupt our lives too – an unexpected promotion, an opportunity in business, conceiving a child, the discovery of love, or spiritual awakening!

Christian, through it all the critical choice is faith –
“Lord God, steady me on my way, keep me faithful and true!” 

In the times that test us with sorrow, without a renewal of faith we may well turn into bitter and miserable people, full of self-pity.
In times of great blessing, without grounded faith we may grow apathetic about the things of God, feeling that we have life in our grasp, under control.

I am a great believer in what are called ‘spiritual disciplines,’ things like regular church attendance, service, generosity, prayer and meditation, and regular Scripture intake. We do not do these things because they will make God love us more, nor are they a way to eliminate every surprise along the way.  Regular disciplines of the Spirit ground us, build strength of character, and create channels for the Holy Spirit to flow into our life.

Jesus told a story to illustrate the importance of building a solid foundation. “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  (Matthew 7)

Surprises will come. That’s life! In spite our best preparations we will deal with unforeseen circumstances. Build a foundation that will hold up in those days.

In the book of James, the Spirit urges us to greater faith. Let this word from the Word encourage you today, knowing that God is Lord of all. "Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. . . . The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." (James 5:13, 16, NLT)  Join Job in this declaration of faith today. "But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside." (Job 23:10-11, NKJV)

Amen.

More than an act

This weekend, I watched some gifted teenage students step into roles for a stage production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Nick, who is a kind and grounded young man, transformed into the selfish and cruel archdeacon of Notre Dame. Other students convincingly became soldiers, gargoyles, and street people. Rachel brought Esmeralda to life, singing “God Help the Outcasts” with such heartfelt emotion that real tears rolled down my cheeks.

But when the curtain fell, the costumes came off, and the characters faded—the students returned to being themselves.

Let me ask you this: how do you understand what it means to be a Christian? Is it something you put on—like a role you play on Sundays or around certain people? Or is it who you truly are?

How wonderful to know that people who are the children of the Heavenly Father. do not just act like a Christian. In Christ, that is who we are.

Jesus met a man hungry for spiritual reality, a religious leader who apparently felt a disconnect between how he acted and who he truly was. Knowing his need Jesus told Nicodemus – “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.  So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’”  (John 3) 

What a revelation! We are born into God’s family, becoming children of God, not by human heritage or religious effort, but through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit Who is accepted by faith. This makes a whole new way of living possible.

Paul teaches us that “this means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”  (2 Corinthians 5:17)  This way of life emerges from the inside out. We gain a new identity through Jesus and it changes the ways in which we think and act. It is never just a role we learn, it is a way of life.

A person who has not come to Christ in faith and received the gift of the Spirit will only find himself frustrated by trying harder to ‘act like a Christian’ through determination. With concentration and effort he can control the natural impulses but in a time of stress, fatigue, or excitement his true nature will break through the act.

Having experienced the new birth and entered the life of the Spirit, we can take up Paul’s direction “to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

In this new life in the Spirit, every day is shaped by Christ in us.
Love replaces hate.
Peace replaces fear.
Hope replaces futility.
Life overcomes death.
Eternity envelopes time.

I want to end this thought today with excerpts from one of the most magnificent passages in the Scripture, the 8^th chapter of the book of Romans. Those inspired words are full of meaning, describing the new life of the Believer.

Meditate on this word from the Word and then go be that person that God made you to be.

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death… 

Letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. …

You received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8)

Thank God, we are alive in Him, a new creation. Let’s live that way!
Amen

 

Your Life Depends on It

Most mornings, around 5:30, I awaken and my first act is to turn on the lights in the  bedroom!  I love light! Yesterday a gray, foggy morning made me feel depressed, but with the arrival of the sunshine later in the day, my spirits lifted.I truly do love to watch the sun’s ray breaking through the trees at the edge of my backyard, splashing my little corner of the world with warmth, making the colors brilliant. Light changes everything!

Without the light of the Sun, life would end.  We may survive a season in the darkness, but to thrive we must have light. God’s creation requires the energy of the sun to sustain us and the ‘magic’ of photosynthesis turns that energy into sustenance that makes its way up the food chain.

A consistent theme in the Holy Scripture is “light.”  
Light, in the Word, represents God's presence, truth, goodness, life, and salvation.

David sang that “the Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27)
Jesus declared “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8)

Think deeply on those words and ask “Is God truly my Source, the Person who makes true and eternal life possible for me?  Do I draw from Him my strength, my hope, my joy – just as the earth draws on the light of the sun for survival?” Yes, friend, God’s light is that essential for us if we desire to truly live.

When we turn to Christ, in faith, we find a whole new identity.  Paul says “you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”  (Ephesians 5) Christians who are filled with the Spirit of God can live a supernatural life, one of purpose that shines brightly into the darkness of this present world.

Jesus says that He is the LIGHT of life and that we are to carry that light wherever we go, in what we say and do.  His commission is simple and clear. “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:16, NLT)    

I remember a happy song of a past generation that captures something of the joy of living in God’s Light. Evie Tornquist sang,
“Step into the sunshine,get out of the shade.
This is the one time that you've got it made
And you can feel yourself smilin' way down to your shoes.
Step into the sunshine, find the great Good News.”

Are you living in the darkness of hatred, bitterness, pride, greed – ignoring the goodness of God?
Does life lack clarity, leaving you with feelings of emptiness, like you are stumbling around?
Step into the sunshine of Christ’s love, by faith. Give yourself, your situation, to Him with a simple prayer – “Lord Jesus, here I am in need of the Light.”  I pray that you will feel the warmth of the Son’s light making it’s way into your life.

The word from the Word comes from John who loves that theme of light. He says ^“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1)

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O God, early in the morning I cry unto you.
Help me to pray. And to think only of you. I cannot pray alone.

In me there is darkness.
But with you there is light.
I am lonely but you do not leave me.
I am feeble in heart but you do not leave me.
I am restless but with you there is peace.

In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience.
Your ways are past understanding,
but You know the way for me. Amen.

(Dietrich Bonhoeffer - 1906 – 1945,
Martyred by the Nazis for his faith)

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Video of this blog

The Power of the Truth

Last week, I reconnected with a man I’ve known for years. In his youth, he was entangled in drugs and crime. But then he encountered Christ, turned his life around, and built a future many would consider blessed. He married, started a business, and lived in a beautiful home. Yet, after decades of stability, addiction crept back into his life. Over time, he lost everything—his marriage, his business, his home, and his self-respect. Witnessing the wreckage of his present life shook me to my core, and I wept for my friend’s self-inflicted suffering.

I do not judge him because I understand the power of temptation. While I may not fully grasp the grip of addiction, I know that each of us faces our own unique lures. For some, it is pleasure; for others, pride or greed. The truth remains: if we listen to the seductive voices of "the world, the flesh, or the Devil," the outcome will never be good.

In Genesis 3, the story of temptation unfolds as humanity encounters a Beautiful Liar. Twisting God’s words, he entices Eve by suggesting that God is withholding something good from her. He plants doubt: “Did God really say…?” When Eve clarifies God’s command, he boldly contradicts it: “You won’t die! God knows that when you eat it, your eyes will be opened. You will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The deception works. Eve sees the fruit as desirable and eats. She shares it with Adam, who also eats. Instantly, they realize their nakedness and cover themselves in shame (Genesis 3).

I want to scream—“He lies!”—because this same deception plays out millions of times every day. People hear the enticing voice of temptation and ignore the truth.

Are you listening to the serpent’s whispers?

• Is he telling you that another car, a new house, or a trendy pair of shoes will fill your emptiness?

• Is he offering a shortcut to success, asking you to compromise your integrity?

• Is he luring you with fleeting pleasures to escape life’s difficulties?

He lies!

Luke records Jesus’ encounter with the Devil in the wilderness. After fasting for forty days, Jesus was hungry. Then, “the Devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’ But Jesus answered, ‘No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone’” (Luke 4:2-4, NLT).

Jesus countered every lie with truth. He quoted Deuteronomy 8:3: “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (NIV). Every temptation Satan presented was met with the power of God’s Word.

When questioned about true discipleship, Jesus declared, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32, NLT). Truth may be hard to accept, but it is always liberating.

Admitting our failures and sins is difficult. No one enjoys confronting their shortcomings. But when we meditate on God’s Word and allow the Spirit to shape our understanding of Him, the world, and ourselves, we experience true freedom.

Need a place to start? Here are truths about you, declared by your Heavenly Father:

• You are more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37)

• You are the apple of God’s eye. (Psalm 17:8)

• You are a joint heir of with Christ of Heaven's riches. (Romans 8:17)

• You are a beloved child of God. (1 John 3:1)

Silence the Liar with the Truth and find 'life abundant.'

Here’s a word from the Word:  “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:9-11, NIV)

Choose life and truth today. Let Christ, through the Spirit, defeat sin and death for you.