Acts 10:34-35
34Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Earlier in Acts 10, Peter had a vision from God that encouraged him to eat foods he had never been allowed to eat. Through this and a discussion with a man named Cornelius we learn that God wants all people to hear the truth about Jesus and to have a personal relationship with him. God has no favorites, he loves you whether you are rich, poor, tall, short, peaceful or full of vinegar (as my grammy used to say).
Yesterday for work, I dressed up for Halloween. This is just something we do for fun. I dressed as a hippy, not a far cry for me some days. But I wore a tye-dyed t-shirt, jeans, lots of beads and a crocheted hat. After work, I went to a store. I didn't think anything about being dressed a bit different, but I noticed people giving me funny looks. I guess they thought I had gone back to the 70s or that I was just a bit--looney. That made me think about how I view people. Do I look at them through my eyes or God's eyes? He loves all of us and created all of us. He wants all of us to know peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Freedom!
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
As a child I bundled up in my coat, scarf, hat, boots and mittens and joined the neighbor kids and my brothers on the snowy hills around our home. We jumped on wooden sleds and glided down the hill as all the cares of the world drifted away in the wind. As the snow sparkeled and the trees flew by, I felt free. Much like folks must feel when they sky dive or ski. That freedom pumped me up and gave me energy and excitement. But, it was fleeting, lasting only until we trudged back up the hill.
The freedom we find in believing and following Christ lasts forever. Through the Holy Spirit, this freedom allows us to stay calm amid chaos and stress. With Christ we know we are free and not bound to the ways of the world. Instead we know that when we leave this world, we have an eternal home in heaven. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!"
17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
As a child I bundled up in my coat, scarf, hat, boots and mittens and joined the neighbor kids and my brothers on the snowy hills around our home. We jumped on wooden sleds and glided down the hill as all the cares of the world drifted away in the wind. As the snow sparkeled and the trees flew by, I felt free. Much like folks must feel when they sky dive or ski. That freedom pumped me up and gave me energy and excitement. But, it was fleeting, lasting only until we trudged back up the hill.
The freedom we find in believing and following Christ lasts forever. Through the Holy Spirit, this freedom allows us to stay calm amid chaos and stress. With Christ we know we are free and not bound to the ways of the world. Instead we know that when we leave this world, we have an eternal home in heaven. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!"
Friday, October 16, 2009
Hope
Romans 5:1-5
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Hope, just the sound of the word reminds me that even in the darkness of life, Jesus light shimmers. My friend Nancy is a cancer survivor; she has been in remission from lymphoma for about three years. Most days on her jacket, she pins the word HOPE. She knows from experience that suffering brings perseverance that perseverance grows character, and that character opens our eyes to hope.
We wonder why the bad things happen, especially to good people; the only reason I know is that we live in a world filled with sin. Even as our hearts break from sin and sadness, we can rejoice that God’s power, love and hope outweigh anything that Satan pushes our way. As God’s children we have the Holy Spirit to call on, who guides us and protects us and helps pick up the pieces of this difficult life.
May God bless you this week as he makes his presence known in your life.
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Hope, just the sound of the word reminds me that even in the darkness of life, Jesus light shimmers. My friend Nancy is a cancer survivor; she has been in remission from lymphoma for about three years. Most days on her jacket, she pins the word HOPE. She knows from experience that suffering brings perseverance that perseverance grows character, and that character opens our eyes to hope.
We wonder why the bad things happen, especially to good people; the only reason I know is that we live in a world filled with sin. Even as our hearts break from sin and sadness, we can rejoice that God’s power, love and hope outweigh anything that Satan pushes our way. As God’s children we have the Holy Spirit to call on, who guides us and protects us and helps pick up the pieces of this difficult life.
May God bless you this week as he makes his presence known in your life.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
God's Hand
Genesis 49:23-26
23 With bitterness archers attacked him;
they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady,
his strong arms stayed limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of your father's God, who helps you,
because of the Almighty, who blesses you
with blessings of the heavens above,
blessings of the deep that lies below,
blessings of the breast and womb.
26 Your father's blessings are greater
than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
than the bounty of the age-old hills.
Jacob sat down to tell his sons what the Lord had in store for them. Jacob told Joseph that he would be attacked, yet he (Joseph) would remain strong and steady because the hand of God would hold his hand.
Life comes at us hard and fast, often blindsighting us, attacking us where we stand. When you accept Christ as your Savior and put your hope in Jesus, God's hand rests on yours. As our Rock of Israel, God never moves away from us. He remains the same and stands beside us, he dwells in us through his Holy Spirit, he speaks to us through his Word and his people. He never moves away, we may move, but he never does.
When you are under attack, call on God, seek his face and he will stand with you. Always...
23 With bitterness archers attacked him;
they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady,
his strong arms stayed limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of your father's God, who helps you,
because of the Almighty, who blesses you
with blessings of the heavens above,
blessings of the deep that lies below,
blessings of the breast and womb.
26 Your father's blessings are greater
than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
than the bounty of the age-old hills.
Jacob sat down to tell his sons what the Lord had in store for them. Jacob told Joseph that he would be attacked, yet he (Joseph) would remain strong and steady because the hand of God would hold his hand.
Life comes at us hard and fast, often blindsighting us, attacking us where we stand. When you accept Christ as your Savior and put your hope in Jesus, God's hand rests on yours. As our Rock of Israel, God never moves away from us. He remains the same and stands beside us, he dwells in us through his Holy Spirit, he speaks to us through his Word and his people. He never moves away, we may move, but he never does.
When you are under attack, call on God, seek his face and he will stand with you. Always...
Saturday, October 3, 2009
An Interview
My friend, Teresa Slack, interviewed me on her blog. If you would like to read the interview go to http://teresaslack.blogspot.com/ Friday, October 2.
Jesus Never Changes
Hebrews 13:8
8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
1 Peter 5: 6-7
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Recently my daughter's duck had several chicks, all fuzzy and cute as-can-be. As they grow, their baby cuteness will fade and they will look more like their mom, with a big duck beak and smooth feathers. The ducks continue to change just as we continue to change. But, one thing that never changes is Jesus. He always stays the same, loving us and wanting us to seek his guidance and help.
Change often brings anxiety, frustration and grief. God asks us to humble ourselves before him so that he may help us, through his scripture, prayers, and our friends. He wants us to give our anxiety to him so that he can carry the burden for us. We are so blessed to have a Father who never changes, who never leaves us, who loves us anyway.
8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
1 Peter 5: 6-7
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Recently my daughter's duck had several chicks, all fuzzy and cute as-can-be. As they grow, their baby cuteness will fade and they will look more like their mom, with a big duck beak and smooth feathers. The ducks continue to change just as we continue to change. But, one thing that never changes is Jesus. He always stays the same, loving us and wanting us to seek his guidance and help.
Change often brings anxiety, frustration and grief. God asks us to humble ourselves before him so that he may help us, through his scripture, prayers, and our friends. He wants us to give our anxiety to him so that he can carry the burden for us. We are so blessed to have a Father who never changes, who never leaves us, who loves us anyway.
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