The Wisdom of Snow

The Wisdom of SnowTrans-Siberian Orchestra

Now why this man's soul was bleeding

The angel had to understand

So invisible, he stood by him

And then gently touched his hand

Which caused the man to stand there still

Despite the winter's cold

And while he stood there in that trance

The angel read his soul

It seemed the man was not always like

The man he had become

And that angel wondered how that change had happened

And when it had begun

The man had been born to a kind and religious family

And raised in the midwest

And all throughout his childhood

This man, clearly, had been blessed

He grew up believing, among other things

Man was made in the image of god

He went to school, observed all rules

While working very hard

He had always tried to help others

Excelled at nearly every task

And when he'd graduated high school

Of course, he was the first one in his class

And in his eighteenth summer

When it was time for him to leave

He had offers from several colleges

All of them ivy league

And at college in all his studies

He always received straight "a"s

And when he tried his hand in theater

He got the lead in the senior play

It appeared to nearly everyone

There was no talent that he lacked

And for three years on the football team

He was, the star quarterback

And there he also met the girl

Who did become his wife

With her, his world was now complete

He had the perfect life

When they had graduated college

They were wed in a ceremony quite grand

Then they moved to new york

In a dream they seemed caught

Where all had been perfectly planned

She decorated their park avenue apartment

In a 1920's art-deco style

And six months after they had moved in

She told him, they would soon be having a child

And after their first ultrasound

He knew they were having a son

Their lives could not have been better

And they had only just begun

Together they arrived early at the hospital

On the delivery date

The father was taking no chances

And did not want to risk being late

But while waiting outside the delivery room

He could tell that something was going wrong

For too many doctors were rushing in

With none coming out for too long

When her own doctor finally came out

With several nurses at his side

He said that his wife had started hemorrhaging

And despite their best efforts, she died

Then in an effort to console him

A nurse gave him his newborn to hold

But from the way the child felt limp in his arms

He knew there was still more bad news to be told

The doctor then gave the prognosis

As gently as anyone could

But before he could finish explaining

The father only too well understood

The child had been cut off from oxygen

For minutes, which is far too long

The damage was now irreversible

His brain permanently malformed

He'd never hold a job,

Learn to read or ever talk

And it would be a miracle

If the child even learned how to walk

And with those words the father felt

His entire world falling apart

And he stumbled for the words to express

The tearing inside of his heart

He cried out, why did god have to take her

While she was still so young

And then as if to cut him deeper

Leave this thing here as his son

"please explain to me god's wisdom

How could he decide

To take from me my precious wife

While leaving this alive

There is no reason for this life

Why does he even exist

And if he had never been born

There is no way he'd have ever been missed

If man is made in god's image

Then something here is surely amiss

For there is nothing of god

Nothing of god

Nothing of god

Nothing of god

Nothing of god in this"

And then he asked for the child

To be placed in a state run home

And after he had signed the papers

He walked into that night alone

And in this world he found unkind

He built a wall around his mind

And every year he'd add new parts

Until it had also enclosed his heart

He kept his job and paid his debts

As he slowly became a silhouette

Of a man walking among the tombs

While living his life within his wounds

He distanced himself from all his friends

Even his sisters and brothers

And as time it went by, he developed his eyes

So they could only see the flaws in others

With this final glimpse, the angel stepped away

And the man shook himself out of his trance

Then continued his walk back towards his home

And few would have given his soul half of a chance

And the angel himself felt helpless

As he watched that old man there

So he did what even humans do

And he quickly said a prayer

And as the prayer flew to his lord

The angel did decide

To carefully follow the old man

And stay closely by his side

For on this night can one deny

The gift of a more sympathetic eye

To cast upon our fellow man

And on this night to understand

The frailty of childhood dreams

Like fireflies over summer streams

And if one dared to remove time's veil

Could one retrace those childhood trails?

But whispers in the winter's wind

Told of rescued dreams, forgiven sins

And who among us shall be deemed

To rescue some forgotten dream?

So on this night of christmas eve

As once again the spirits weave

Its snowswept dreams and colored lights

With bits of magic into each life

And as the snow comes gently down

Its soul intent to reach the ground

To cover scars the world still feels

Perhaps to give them time to heal

For as men invest in money

And professors in what they know

God invests in mercy

Like winter invests in snow

Love - 1 John 4:7-21

Love - 1 John 4:7-21 (ESV)

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot[a] love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

What kind of person sacrifices His only son out of Love? Abraham, maybe? God also? God did. Abraham did, but God stopped him and made a new way. Would you do what Abraham did?  Abraham did it out of obedience and trust in God.  I'm sorry but nothing is more important to me after God then my family. God first, Family Second, Others and myself last. I won't sacrifice my family or my only Son. He is that important to me. Same as my wife. But look at the fullness of Love that God the Father had for us in those verses. They are for the world and also individually. It's not because we loved God, on the contrary, it's because God loved us first and made the decision to love us so much that He sacrificed His only Son for us. Jesus said that no one has more love than this to lay down their life for another (I'm paraphrasing here). But is says in John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. That says the same thing that I said, so God is showing us the greatest of all of love in that He sent His Son to show us the greatest love by laying down His life for us all.

These verses really explain Love, especially God's love and how we can as Christians know love and how we should show love.  But is that enough?  No it's not.  The Holy Spirit directed the use of the word Agape for this section and many others.  Why, because the Spirit needed to redefine the word and make it even more powerful.  It took Agape to a whole new level.  Agape became a stronger word that also helps us understand our place within God.  God has preferential love towards us and towards His creation.  Remember when I said in a previous lesson that God is jealous over the spirit He put within us.  It bears repeating, even to me.  He is showing us preferential love not because of anything we did or our worth, but because He is Love.  It's based solely on the fact that God wants to show us His love.  These verse explains that and help us to recognize it so we can show it to others.

  God is Love and Love comes from God.  To understand Love you need to understand God, to understand God you need to understand Love.  Love is such an unusual concept that people sometimes can't comprehend it, is it chemical, emotional, or just something we came up with.  Well God the great creator is the one who created Love and is the perfection of Love.

Which leads us to the next verse in line about God's Love.  How much more can God love us or the world than to send His only Son as a sacrifice for us and for our very salvation.  John 3:16-18 is very clear on this.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  God sent Jesus to save, to rescue, to free the world from it's Sin and shame and corruption.  Jesus doesn't need to judge us, that's not his job as the Son of God, His job is to show us the Love of God.  He does that very clearly.  Jesus came to be Love for us not condemnation or judgment, but to help us experience and understand God's love better.  Without an example the Jews and Gentiles would have nothing to model after and would therefore continue to live by the Law and not by Love.  It's a new way of life based on Jesus living that example for us while He was here. 

You want to know Love look at Jesus example in the Gospel and how He treated individuals and communities.  Jesus was always caring, compassionate and never judgmental or demanding of people, it was always to show Love and Paul, who knew Jesus later on in life after Jesus was gone from the world understood and was able to describe Love in a way that everyone understands.  Paul was trying to help the Corinthians understand in his first letter to them what they needed to do in regards to a lot of things that were making their church have issues.  If you notice that is mainly what Paul was doing in his letters, instructing the intended audience on how to deal with the issues they were facing.  In 1 Corinthians 13 he was showing them Love and God simultaneously.  Lets look at an excerpt from 1 Corinthians 13, specifically verses 4-8 and 13  4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. 

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

  All that is defining love and it's importance.  Now back in 1 John 4:8 says 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.  So now read over the verses in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 again.

4 God is patient and kind; God does not envy or boast; God is not arrogant 5 or rude. God does not insist on His own way; God is not irritable or resentful; 6 God does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 God bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 God never ends.  Just take a look at that.  And in regards to believes all things, it also translates to have faith in.  So God has trust or faith in all things, why not He created it all.  From every atom to every object God trusts his creation and all that is in it.

To further emphasize my previous point in 1 John, these verses looked at in conjunction to the earlier ones explain God's character since God is Love. God exudes all these attributes of Love and Himself simultaneously. God the creator of Love and the epitome of Love is more than we can handle. He does all things in Love, because He Himself is Love. He shows preferential Love.

He is jealous to be near us, yet we push Him away. We take the world and it's things, things He created, and choose them over Him. We who were made in Love, don't show our creator and His creation, including ourselves, the Love we should. We are blinded by the world. But the Bible opens our eyes to what we are missing. It makes us aware that there is more outside ourselves, our selfish selves. That there is a Love beyond all reasoning and that we can attain it, show it and be a part of it.  We can see the beauty of Love from these verses taken all together. We are not more aware of our worth in God and our privileges as His children. God shows us His Love daily through His creation and through His words.

In summary, let me make three points clear from all this.

1. God and Love are one and the same. They epitomize each other and compliment each other.  To truly know Love you need to know God, to fully know God you need to know Love.  Knowing one will assist you to and help you know the other.

2.  God’s Love is unconditional.  It’s not based on anything we do and it’s available to the whole world.  If they wish to know it.  It’s available, but they need to accept it to truly know it.  And I’m not saying there aren’t loving people out there, but they don’t fully know Love unless they know God.

3.  God’s Love is preferential, meaning it’s directed toward His creation, just because. Nothing we did can make God more jealous over our souls and knowing us and being near us.  He Loves and desires us jealously to be near Him.  Yet, we decide to chase after other things.

So God’s Love is directed toward us because He Loves us not because of anything we did and Love and God are one and the same.

References: 1 John 4:7-21, John 3:16, John 15:13, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8,13

Holy - 1 Peter 1:14-16

Holy

What is Holy? Who is Holy? What does Holy Mean?

Definition: dedicated or consecrated to God, hallowed, sanctified, devoted to the service of God, saintly, godly, ordained

From the germanic origin of whole, complete

Holy is to be different, set aside, called out, special. Most people see Holy as being perfect, sinless, blameless and complete. Theses are all true statements. So unattainable as humans as we strive for the perfect body, face, hair, family, job, house, car, etc. We work for unattainable goals. Here’s another one: 1 Peter 1:14-16  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Peter is reminding us, actually commanding us to be Holy and Obedient children. Just because God who called us is Holy. That seems unreasonable, doesn’t it? Let’s look at this reference; Leviticus 11:44-45  For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

After listing all the unclean things they were to avoid God summarizes His feelings towards His people. Be Holy because I am Holy and again He says You are Holy because I am Holy.

So we have one section referencing another, that’s not enough, but it is because God said it. Now Jesus also states the same over His followers, which includes us. John 17:14-19 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.  And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified[d] in truth. and then John helps us out again in 1 John 3:3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

We are to be Holy, sanctified, complete, pure, consecrated people because Jesus, because God, because of the Holy Spirit. We don’t belong in the world, but we minister, we work, and we live here, but it’s not our home. Don’t get comfortable here. Be Holy, but be ready to leave because we don’t belong, the world doesn’t like truth and we are sanctified in the truth of Jesus. We are consecrated by God.

That makes us alive in Jesus and dead to the world. Living sacrifices and living stones as part of worship to God. We are sacrifices for God daily, it’s part of our services to God to sacrifice ourselves daily. To be available to God in whatever way possible. Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  puts it nicely as we present ourselves to God daily we are Acceptable and Holy sacrifices to God. And when we focus on God we will know what is pleasing and acceptable to God. God makes us Holy and Acceptable through Jesus and because God is Holy therefore making us Holy and Acceptable. Which means we are the Church, the Bride of Jesus. We are living stones that make up the Spiritual house of God. So we are part of God’s Temple, the building blocks that make it up. That is how Holy and Acceptable we are to God. Again we are Holy. Look at 1 Peter 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,  you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ., because of Jesus we are found to be Holy and Acceptable.

We are Holy to God. Holy beings that are not of this world, sanctified by Jesus, consecrated and set apart, called out to be a Holy priesthood. All because God gives us that gift. God makes us Holy. Jesus has sanctified us because we hope in Him and that brings us close to God. Just as grace is God’s inclination to bless us which means to come near. All that combined makes us the most awesome sacrifice living on God’s altar while we are at the same time part of God’s Temple. Stones that make up His building, where this altar stands, that’s where we are an ever present sweet smell to God.

We are the Holy, Acceptable, Pure people of God who represent His Temple on earth and bring Joy to God who desires us Jealously.

Grace - 1 Peter 1:3-12

Charis (Khar' ece) is the Greek for Grace.  Defined as divine influence on the heart and it's reflection in the life including gratitude.  Also benefit, favor, gift, joy, pleasure, thanks, and kindness.  It's also synonymous with mercy - being able to give without the merit of worth of the receiver.  The greek refers to the hebrew of /kana' grace - extension toward also meaning to God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them.

In the OT spoke of Grace but mostly it was the Grace that we were to know, future grace.  The grace being prepared for us.  Our Faith is sown in God's grace - a soil we don't deserve but God provides.  Just like our Faith is a gift from God but we must do something with it.  It is by God's grace that we receive anything.  Yet what do we do with what God provides is just as important.

Peter states where and how this grace came to be.  In 1 Peter 1:10-11 he says:  Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.  It was prophecy about grace that was directed about Jesus and his bringing the grace, but also about us being the receivers of grace.  The prophets were hearing God speak about us and what we were to receive (without our merit) and about Jesus being the one to provide us with the grace.

Zechariah prophesied about Jesus by God's word in Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn."  Jesus is that Spirit of grace and mercy that God poured out on the world.  Without Jesus arrival here we would have no grace.  Also there would be not fulfillment of prophecy and scripture.  We would continue to be lost in our sin and attempting redemption by our own sacrifices and penance.

Look at John 1:14, 16-17  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth........ 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.   Jesus again the one bringing grace and truth.  Jesus is full of grace ans so out of His fullness we receive grace upon grace.  Grace because Jesus is grace and again because Jesus brings grace.  With this grace comes access.  Hebrews 4:14-16   Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.   Jesus is bringing His followers right to God's throne of grace and mercy.  Tearing down the barrier that separated us from God.  Giving us as Jesus's brothers and sisters an inheritance that is imperishable and access to the Father's throne room where we will find grace and mercy always.

So humility, being humble is a part of understanding grace and we need to be humble.  We are not to be proud as James 4:5-6 states.  Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  We have access by being humble. So be humble because God is jealously want us for His own.  He doesn't want to share us with others.  Also Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.  Humility makes us able to receive the grace of God better.  Which is the fulfillment of the Spirit of God that indwells in us all.

God's grace is our gift and we need to treat it as such.  Be humble in regards to it since we did not earn it and can't work for it.  We can grow our Faith and strengthen that muscle, but we need to remember that grace is God's unmerited gift to us.  So treat that gift very carefully and stay tuned to what being Holy is all about in the next post.  It will help you understand somethings better.  Also who you are in regards to God and His wonderful gifts to us as Born Again, Christians, Followers of Jesus.

References:  1 Peter 1:10-11, Zechariah 12:10, John 1:14,16,17, Hebrews 4:14-16, James 4:5-6, Romans 12:3

Salvation - 1 Peter 1:3-12

Salvation in the Greek is soteria it's reference in 196 different occurrences of the Bible.  Soteria translates to rescue, safety, deliver, health, salvation, save and saving.

So to continue from the previous post we can't see Faith, Salvation or Grace.  These words are concepts, nouns, products of God, things that we work with and work out within our limited minds and our limitless spirits.  Faith is us putting to practice and work out choice to follow and God equipping us to do that work for which we are called.  Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.  It means following the will of God for our lives by following the Word of God so that we find calling and purpose.  If we follow God's Word we allow God to lead us and opportunities present themselves that God wants for us.

Now one of those is Salvation.  It is an opportunity provided by God. Salvation is freely given from God through Jesus.  From our choice to hold our Faith, our Trust in His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.

Here are some things to look at in regards to Salvation:

1 Peter 1:5 - It's guarded by our Faith and will be revealed in the last days.
1 Peter 1:4 - It's imperishable (guaranteed), undefiled (pure, can't spoil), and unfading (won't / can't wear out), untouchable (protected in heaven), long lasting (eternal)
1 Peter 1:9 - It flourishes as an outcome of Faith
Romans 6:22-23 - Is a result of God's Grace
1 Peter 1:10 and Luke 10:24 - Was foretold by the prophets
1 Peter 2:9 - Separates us from the world
Hebrews 5:9 - Jesus is our source of eternal salvation

The first reference of Salvation is Genesis 49:18, the last reference is Revelation 22:17.

All of that denotes that God provides the Salvation.  Jesus name also means to deliver, to rescue and salvation.  Just look at the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:9 to be specific.  And so He is salvation.  Jesus the perfect sacrifice makes us who Trust, Sons and Daughters, family without which we have no inheritance, but in verse 4 of 1 Peter 1 we do have that inheritance so we are family.  Psalms and the Old Testament when speaking of salvation say it's God's.  But for our our time, not then, but now.  It's intangible.  We will see it's result in the revelation at our final calling, when Jesus returns.

From start to finish the Bible focuses on God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit from end to end.  Exodus 15:2 - God has become our salvation, this if from the Song of Moses.  Isaiah 12:2 - Putting our trust in God for our salvation.  Let me leave you with a few references more to look over.  Luke 1:76-77 - John the Baptist was sent to proclaim the coming of Salvation (Jesus)to the world.  Ephesians 6;17 - We wear the Helmet of Salvation - sign of who we belong to and a protection against death.  Titus 2:11-15 - Salvation is freely available to all.  1 Peter 2:1-2 - We grow into our salvation.

Salvation is freely available to all who will Trust in Jesus and put their Faith in what He did to abolish sin and death.  Accept it and Live it before it's too late.

Faith - 1 Peter 1:3-12

1 Peter 1:3-12

To start off here are some attributes to Faith: Guard, Shield, Seal, Producer, invisible, looks to the future, evidence of things unseen, non-tangible.

In 1 Peter 1:3-12, Faith and Salvation are mentioned 3 times each and Grace once.  In verse 5 it speaks of Faith being our guard over out salvation.  When you look at Ephesians 6:16 it's our shield against satan's attacks.  In Romans 9:30-33 it brings righteousness and in Hebrews 11:6 it would be impossible to please God without our Faith.  Given to us by God, but our choice/seed to use as God expects.  In James 1:2-4 our Faith is tested daily and produces steadfastness.  Then in 2 Peter 1:5-8 we need to supplement our Faith.  This helps us to strengthen our shield, guard and fortress.  We work on this and so does God.  It's not our work alone or anything to earn heaven it's just our way of growing.

We grow by our daily walk, devotional time in the Bible, relationships with other Christians, attendance at Church and many other ways but these are core to strengthening our faith.  Our Faith grows and is strengthened by various trials that test us and how we respond can either strengthen or weaken our Faith.  Both of these provide us with a Faith so we can defend our salvation and provide a defense against satan's attacks.  Practice and application within these areas means that our Faith will and is more precious than gold.  Our salvation is that important that we have a system in place to protect it all costs.

In verse 9 our faith produces / outcome is a strong, flourishing, fruitful salvation that brings in v. 7 praise, glory and honor at Jesus revelation at the last time as shown in verse 5.  Now Faith is interesting because it's our side of the coin.  It is ours to make the decision.  God draws us all to Him but each of us makes the choice.  Faith is reference as ours.  Possessive to the person. God provides the grace to all and salvation to those who put their Faith, Trust in God and what Jesus accomplished on the cross and His resurrection.

Just look at Matthew 17:19-20 where Jesus speaks of the disciples Faith and how they needed to have little faith to at least so the little things.  In Luke 17:5-6 the disciples ask to have their faith increased by Jesus and Jesus says again how they need to have just a little faith and they will have enough.  Grace is the soil for our seed of Faith that we provide the choice to do something with it.  Ephesians 2:8-10 states that it's by Faith that we are God's not by anything that we do beyond making the choice to follow.  Here are some more references: Matthew 21:21-22, Mark 11:22-23 and James 2:22-23.

The act of doing completes our Faith.  Our works are our outward expression of our faith and it builds our faith, and strengthens it.  Do you take responsibility for your Faith?  Do you nurture it, feed it, help it to grow?  What are you doing with your faith?  It's like a plant so take care of it.

Our Faith is the words in the book of our life.  What's written in your book?  Are you daily trusting God for your well being?

A Believer’s Position in Grace

A Believer’s Position in Grace

Ephesians 1:1-14

I. Paul’s Letter (Epistle) to Ephesians was written around 62-64 AD, while he was under house arrest in Rome.  It was carried by Tychicus w/ the letter for Colossians and Philemon.  We are going to look at Ephesians Chapter 1 and the Theme of “A Believer’s Position in Grace”.
A letter of general instruction.  One of the churches Paul helped start.  It was his base of operation for 2 years while spreading the gospel to the area of Asia Minor.  Was a wealthy port city.  The are referenced in Revelations 2:1-7 as abandoning their first love (Jesus) and not continuing to do what they should.  They needed to remember what they were like when they first believed and what they did then and to do it again.  They fulfilled John’s prophecy in that there isn’t a single Christian living there now.

II. v. 3 All or Every Spiritual Blessing in Jesus - What do you think that phrase means?  Do you believe they are yours to claim?  The are all still available to the Believe today.  Pure doctrines of the Gospel.  Full graces and gifts of the Spirit.  Transferred and conveyed by the Holy Spirit.  Necessary in the work of God among men.
Blessings of God are the Teachings of Jesus and the unmerited. Love, freely give to us from God and the wonderful gifts of the Spirit, also freely given to us by God.
Based on our knowing Jesus as our Lord
Nothing we do improves that.  Unearned.  No work justifies it.
We show our works now because we love God and what He did for us and want to return a small portion back.

III. v. 4 Holy and Blameless in His sight - Who wants to be Holy and Blameless in God’s sight?  How can we be Holy and Blameless in God’s sight?  Before time God chose that those found in Jesus would be Holy and Blameless before Him in Love.  It’s because God sees us through a Jesus filter.  If it wasn’t for Jesus sacrifice, where he stood in our place on the cross, between heaven and earth as our ultimate sacrifice, God would not be able to look upon us due to our daily sin.
Being holy and blameless is a goal set by God, it’s not optional.  We are Holy, in other words, morally pure.  We are blameless, as in guilt free from sin.  These are only available because of Jesus and what He did for us.

IV. v. 5 Predestined us to be adopted by God’s will - Who is predestined?  Adoption into the family of God as Christians.  This is God’s will to make us His children in Jesus.  By Jesus sacrifice and shedding of blood we are now blood relatives.  Blood relatives to each other as part of the family of God and blood relatives to God.  Officially children of God.

V. v. 6 Made acceptable in Jesus - Why do we need to be made acceptable?  Blessed us and favored us in the Beloved, that is Jesus.  Again if it wasn’t for Jesus we would not be made acceptable to God.  And because we are made acceptable for God’s glorious praise.  Another way of putting it, is that coming to Jesus in salvation benefits God, because it brings glory, honor and praise to Him.

VI. v. 7 Redeemed by Jesus Blood - What does this mean to you?  Bought back from our sinful death by Jesus loving sacrifice.  If it wasn’t for Jesus we would die once and be done, but have eternal damnation since we can’t ever earn our way to Heaven or to God’s good graces.  This redemption entails / promises / guarantees our forgiveness of sins by God’s perfect grace.  It is God’s riches in grace that has freed us from slavery to sin and guilt and death.

VII. v. 8 Lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight (understanding) - What did He lavish upon us? His Grace.  We have peace in grace.  We can’t know peace without his grace.  It’s lavished and abounded or slavished or slathered upon us by God and w/ all His wisdom and insight.
By His Grace - Just Because . . . . He Loved us
By His Grace - Just Because . . . . He Knew us
By His Grace - Just Because . . . . Cared for us
That’s how much He Loves us.

VIII. v. 9-10 God’s mystery will is to unite all under Jesus - What is our Job?  God’s great mystery is to unite all under one umbrella, that is Jesus.  So since the beginning of time God wanted all to be united to Him.  To that end we sent Jesus who was obedient unto death to be the ultimate sacrifice and free us for the uniting of all.  It’s our job to assist in bringing all to Jesus.  We are called to be His instruments, either in word, action or visual representation.  Sometimes we are the only view of Jesus other people will ever have.

IX. v. 11-12 Inheritance in God - What did God give us here?  Gave us the ability to be heirs in eternal life.  God gave us Jesus and His obedience.  Jesus who agreed with God’s will made the inheritance possible.  Therefore we are called Son’s and Daughter’s of God.  Children of the living God.  Predestined people to be His to further reach out to others and bring them into the Body of Christ.

X. v. 13-14 Sealed with the Holy Spirit - What is our Guarantee?  The Holy spirit is our guarantee on our inheritance w/ Jesus.  It’s God’s seal upon us before all creation that we are His heirs.  Brothers and Sisters in Jesus.  Covered with a Royal Seal, that means we are protected and preserved.

XI. Summary - I want you to look at verses 6, 12 and 14 again and see if you see any similarities.  God’s blessings upon us as Christians bring praise, glory and honor to God.  So the little things we do each day for others and for God bring praise to His glory.

Support the WindHunters trip to New Orleans

Check this site out since they are trying to raise money to get to New Orleans for National Championship of KidWind Competition.  Help if you can.

WindHunters

What Do You Want Me To Do For You?

Matthew 10:46-52

46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him,“Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed Jesus on the way.

Jesus asked such a simple question and He already knew the answer.  Everyone in the crowd knew the answer.  It was as plain as the nose on the man’s face.  If he could have seen his nose he would have agreed.  Here is where it diverts from the expected path, because Jesus wasn’t looking for the obvious answer He was looking for the conversation.  Jesus wanted a relational conversation.  He knew what was needed, but He wanted to hear the man ask for it and to trust.  When Jesus calls, trust is involved.  And not just any old trust, but a trust founded on a belief.  Proverbs 3:5-6 says; “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”  There is a level of trust here that allows Bartimaeus to show his own needs, wants, desires and aspirations.  But, Jesus as always, wanted to get to the heart and soul of the moment and He wanted those around to see and believe.  Jesus wanted witnesses to the exchange between Him and this blind beggar and for those there to witness the man’s trust.  Jesus uses every moment to the fullest.

Now, Bartimaeus wore a beggar’s cloak, yet when Jesus called him he threw it off.  You would think he knew he wasn’t going to need it any more.  There is a level of trust shown there.  Beggars wore cloaks that signified their position in society as a beggar.  So everyone knew Bartimaeus as a beggar.  I’m sure it didn’t hurt that he was blind.  That was probably a dead give away.  But listen again to what it says, “throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus”.  He seriously knew what he was expecting from Jesus.  He put his trust right out there and that is something that Jesus wants from us.  Jesus wants us to trust Him and trust that he knows what is best for us.  Bartimaeus trusted that Jesus could and would heal him if he just asked.  It must have had something to do with his position along the road.  He had heard things about Jesus and wanted the opportunity to speak with Him.  Now here’s his opportunity and what does Jesus do, but ask him an obvious question.  It might have even been the question that Bartimaeus was hoping to hear.

Everyday Jesus asks us that same question… “What do you want me to do for you?”  You wake up in the morning and right there before you is a brand new fresh day.  Unopened, clean, untouched and ready to be used by you.  So Jesus asks you “What do you want me to do for you?”  He knows you so well, yet He wants you to tell Him.  To talk to Him.  To converse with Him.  To trust Him.  To have a relational conversation with Him.  You know the kind I’m talking about.  The kind you have with a friend, a spouse, a neighbor (without the gossip), a family member even.  He longs to hear from you.  Talk to Him in prayer, but not with the usual corporate prayer, but more conversational.  Not the “Lord take care of this”, “please help me with this”, “heal so and so of that”, “thank you for the other thing”.  But more like, “Lord today was hard, it really took me by surprise I really am thankful you were there with me”, or “you know Jesus I had a fun time today with my family.  Keep them safe on the road”.  Conversational like with a friend.  One of the most notable conversations was in John chapter 3.  Nicodemus and Jesus.  They talked and listened and Nicodemus learned.  Petitions are one thing, but relational conversations are another.  Relational conversations build, dare I say it, intimacy.  They build closeness. They build understanding.  They build relationships.  It’s not possible to have a petition only conversation with someone all the time.  That becomes an all take (the petition or request) and no give.  One sided.  One can’t very well keep or have any friends if that’s how you treat them.  No..., conversations are meant by sheer definition to be relational.  One definition of conversation is “association or social discussion; intimate acquaintance”.  That sounds to me like a relational conversation.  

For us to build a relationship the conversation has to be relational.  You need to relate to the other person to build a closeness and an intimacy.  That means we need to take our prayer time from petition time (wants, needs, etc) to a more relational time (how are you, I’m fine, here’s what happened in my day, what’s been going on with you?).  Still asking for needs and and requests for others, but in a more conversational way.  With more interaction with Jesus like you are talking to a friend.  This type of conversation will bring a closeness and intimacy like you’ve never known.   It builds TRUST and it builds CONNECTION and it builds a path of conversation that strengthens the bond between those speaking.  Being interested in Jesus and allowing Him to be interested in you will create a friendship and a relationship that will strengthen and grow.

Jesus wants relationships with each and everyone of us.  He wants us to trust that He knows what is good for us.  It’s important for growing and learning more about Him.  So What Do You Want Jesus To Do For You Today?  What can you tell Him about how things are going and how you are doing that will start the conversation off and get a trusting relationship started in a whole new way?  Open up to Him and share with Him your feelings and your fears.  Talk to Him like He is your friend and family member, because He is!  Take the time to build your relationship with Jesus in conversational prayer time!

This devotional was given on Easter Sunday April 5, 2015 at New Beginnings Community Church at the Easter Morning Breakfast.

Strong Faith

Mark 10:46-52  Bartimaeus (a blind man) receives his sight by faith.

Jesus healed many people in his Ministry.  Many we know about from the accounts of the Bible, but there are so many more that we don't know.  Bartimaeus in this section heard Jesus was coming and called out more than once that Jesus the Son of David would have mercy on him.  Jesus used many different ways to heal people, but this one needed no more than a few words.  Do you know why?  Here is why.  Jesus says to Bartimaeus, "Go your way; your faith has made you well."  At that point Bartimaeus is healed immediately and follows Jesus.  Bartimaeus faith was all that was needed besides Jesus allowing him to be healed.  Bartimaeus knew that Jesus could and would heal him if he just asked.  He had heard the word going around about Jesus and he knew, without a shadow of a doubt that when he could get his attention he would ask for healing.  That is why he through off his cloak.  It was his beggars cloaks and he wouldn't need it any more after that.  Jesus healed Bartimaeus on the basis of Bartimaeus own faith.  Nothing else was needed.  So how strong is your faith?

I don't mean to say you can have anything and everything you want by your faith.  What I'm saying is that we need to have strong faith so that we can find the Will of God in our lives.  What we believe and have faith in has to be strong enough so that we can know that it will happen if it's in God's will.

Writing Exercise Part 3 - First Person

I'm Tobias Kefer.  I'm the person these two guys are talking about.  Since they have no idea what's going on with me and are doing a terrible of job of narrating, I figure I better just take over and get things set straight for you the reader.  Hey! We resemble that remark.  How come you get to explain everything to everyone.  Isn't that the job of the narrator(s)?  Yes it is, but since you two don't know half of what's going on I thought I would step in before this becomes some strange mess that needs some cleaning up.  Serious cleaning up at this rate. We can do the job, it's just that it's our first time doing this and we aren't entirely sure how to begin and where to go with this.  That's okay, I understand, but sometimes the narrator needs to be quiet and at all times the narrator needs to know everything about everyone and know what's going on at all times.  What kind of narrator(s) would you be if you didn't know the ins and outs of everything going on in the story.  Seriously?  So why don't I self narrate for a little bit and you guys can fill in the gaps?  Does that sound like a plan or not?  Silence......Thinking........Grbgrbgrbgrbgrb.......Whispering.......Conversing........Discussing........I think you have a deal.....under one condition if you don't mind?  Let me hear it and we will see.  That we reserve the right to jump back in when appropriate and add to the story as needed.  We figure while you are telling your part we can take some time and do some research and get the other background information that you don't know about ready for the appropriate time.  How does that sound to you?  Acceptable.  I think we have a deal.  Great we'll get out of your hair and move along and allow you to tell what you need to tell.  We will be watching and keeping an eye on you.  No funny business now and keep it honest and don't slander us.  We're doing the best we can as first timers.  We just need a little more time to develop our background info.  Will do.  Enjoy the break and the time doing your research.  We will!

As I said before, I'm Tobias Kefer.  I live in the house they told you about and one thing you don't know as of yet is that I go out every morning before I eat to come to this tree and enjoy some quiet time watching the sunrise and enjoying the view.  I watch the boats come in and marvel at the wonder that God made all around us.  Usually I arrive well before sunrise and don't eat until I get back.  This morning is a bit unusual since this ship is trying to outrun the storm and if not it appears to be bringing it along with it.

Same Sex marriage

The title alone is enough to start people talking and thinking and wondering what do I have to say about something that the Supreme Court thinks they have the right to litigate over.  The laws of man don't amount to much when it comes to the laws of GOD, yet these elected officials are our law makers.

Where do I begin?  Well, my son and I always quote Lewis Carroll "Begin at the beginning, the King said, very gravely, and go on till you come to the end: then stop".  So I will do my best to start at the beginning and when I get to the end I will stop.

I read the Bible almost daily.  It is my devotional each day and I'm working through the book of Mark right now and I'm in chapter 10:1-12 right now.  Jesus talks about marriage and divorce.  Right there you probably know where I stand on Same Sex marriage.  It would be interesting to see your face right now as you read this, or if we were to talk face to face about this topic and you and I were to discuss this at length.  Would it take us minutes, hours or days of discussion?  Hmm...I wonder.  If you feel so inclined you can stop reading right after I state my position on this issue.  I leave that up to you and your curiosity or lack thereof.

My stance is that I'm Pro-Life on Abortion and I'm Pro-Marriage as a Man and Wife!  There you have it, that is my stance, but I'm not taking the time to write this just to state this position on this issue.  I want to offer some insight as to what GOD had in mind and what we as a world are putting aside.

First of all nowhere in the Bible does it advocate a Man and a Man being together.  It clearly states that this is against the normality of life and what GOD created.  No where in the Bible does it state that a Woman being with another Woman is acceptable either.  Neither is any type of sexual intimacy with Man and animal or Woman with animal.  All these are clearly stated in the Bible (GOD's Word) to be abominations against what GOD set forth for how people should live their lives.

Secondly, every mention of any of these acts is considered a Sin and is punishable by death.  In the Bible that death is immediate upon finding out that this is happening.  After Jesus came it meant that continuing in Sin will lead to eventual death since living in Sin, prevents one from going to heaven.

Seriously this is pretty straight forward.  Sin = Death.  The only real trouble we have these days is that people don't believe this anymore.  They think that everyone's way of thinking is right.  No one is wrong and we can all have a happily ever after.  That is the biggest lie that Satan has perpetrated on this generation.  Nothing that anyone says that contradicts the bible is acceptable.  The simplest truth is that what the Bible says is undisputed, accurate and correct and cannot be denied as being what we all should be following.  The Lie is that everyone is right and no one is wrong and the Bible is just an old out of date book that is too strict, too conservative, too restrictive and not liberal enough.

Jesus said that "What therefore GOD has joined together, let not man separate." Do you realize that only what GOD sanctions is going to last or stand the test of time.  It is GOD's foundation that shapes this world, shapes our lives and gives us the Freedom to be Free under his Will.  No Same Sex marriage will ever stand the test of time, because GOD does not stand for it or support it.  The Bible is very clear on this and no amount of Laws or decisions by people can change GOD.  The only thing that can stand the test of time is that which GOD supports.  All others will just fade away.  GOD does allow us to make our own mistakes.  This is one of many in our long line of mistakes, including the 1973 Abortion decision.

Someday the Judgement from GOD will be dealt on this people.  In the mean time we must live with our mistakes and this one will scar our generations for many years.

Writing Exercise Part 2

Well we are back again.  It's about time.  I was beginning to wonder if we would ever get back to writing since we had the breakthrough and found out the information about what's going on.  What too you so long?  Hmm?  Well I've been busy...now wait a minute.  What are you going on about?  You were there and you know how busy things have been.  Leave me be and I will explain what's going on.  Deal?  I guess so.  Deal.

As I was starting to say, we are back again and we have some new updates as to what was missing in the last post.  We found out that the person is Tobias Kefer.  He lives a little over a mile away from the edge of this cliff in a nice two story log cabin house.  The house is in a very deciduous forest full of pines, cedars, spruce and many other evergreens.  The forest of trees goes from the edge of the cliff several miles in all directions away from the coast and along the coast.  Due to the forest and it's location his house is well hidden and hardly ever visited.  He likes his isolation, but does go down to the nearest port for supplies occasionally.  The port is the only one on the south side of this land and it's called Kuraba.  In the bay of Sactickph on the southern side of the land.

That's a strange name.  So is the guys name.  Whoever heard of the name Tobias or Sactickph?  Where did you come up with these names? Hmm?  Well if you must know?  Yes I must know this is getting a little strange. I did the research while you were away so don't give me any lip!  Do you hear me?  Yes, but...But nothing.  You were out and I found out about the port, its name and his name and the rest of the information.  If you weren't out then you would know this too and not be questioning me about it.  Now would you?  No, I guess I wouldn't.  So let me tell what's going on and if you want you can do some more of the research next time.  Fine.

We are currently facing east and watching the sunrise over the ocean, which is one of his favorite things to do in the morning.  Get out to the cliff edge before the sun comes up and watch it rise from his view point on the top of the tree.  The rock/boulder will have to stay a mystery as we have yet to ascertain the reason, origin and how it got to be there.  But since there are storm clouds out there they are slowly swallowing up the sunrise and creating some very red skies right now.  The ship appears to be either trying to outrun the storm clouds, which are brandishing the occasional lightning or it's bring the storm right along with it.  Pulling it along you might say.  The storm clouds are definitely following the ship in to land fall.  From what I could make out the ship is a sloop/schooner with a 5 man crew.

Tobias is climbing down from the tree and taking his leave of the scene to head back the way he came.  Home.  It's time to break his fast and continue his day.  A ship and storm clouds are of no importance to him or have any bearing on his day.  He lives alone and likes it that way.  He is planning to head to the port in a few days for more supplies, but other than that he is going about his business as usual.

Well are you satisfied with the results of my research?  Yes it was satisfactory.  When will we know more and what else is there?  I 'm not sure right now, but I do believe there will be more to come soon.

Writing Exercise

Why exactly am I doing this?  'Cause I need to develop my writing and it's a good...Wait a minute! Did you say develop?  What are we developing?  I meant to say grow.  Now what are we growing?  This sounds very suspicious!  Okay, let's just say that it's a writing exercise.  Wait how can we exercise our writing?  It's not like a muscle or something is it?  I thought that it was just words put on paper or in this case words put to a screen?  Besides, who writes anymore?  Isn't it all just regurgitate words over again?  Nothing original, just someone else's thoughts, rehashed?

No, that's not what I'm saying at all.  Look it's even in the title of this post "Writing Exercise"!  How do you explain that?  Listen, calm down and let me do what needs to be done.  All this bickering is getting us nowhere and we are going there faster than I care to go.  How can we go nowhere fast when nowhere is actually nowhere, so technically it's impossible to get there and we can't get there any faster at any point in time? Okay, okay.  I concede.  Your questions have hounded me enough to throw in the towel and surrender.  It's a writing exercise to see what's in my head and to put it to words to see what comes of it.  Maybe I will find a novel in all this mess that runs around in my head or maybe I won't.  That's for me to find out and for you to just let me get there on my on.  Can you be satisfied with that explanation and just leave me alone for now? Sure that sounds acceptable.  No guarantee I won't come back to visit sometime later on, though.  That will just suit me fine, as long as you can let me be right now so I can see what's rolling around in my head.  Now that we have that out of the way, let's see where we go from here.

There was a time....No that's not how to start.  It was a dark and stormy night....too cliche.  Where do I begin....how about in the beginning and then go from there?  In the beginning has been done before, too.  Just saying.

I'm going back to "There was a time" and start with that.

There was a time.  Maybe in the future or maybe in the past, it all depends on when you are reading this.  So there was a time that a man appeared.  He showed up on top of a rock that was on top of a very tall deciduous (pine or cedar can't make it out from here) tree that was on the edge of a forest that happened to be on a very tall cliff over looking the sea.  Which sea, we don't know from this vantage point either, but if you've seen one sea you've seen them all.  It's all salt water anyway.  Now we aren't sure where this man came from either since our view is a little obstructed and there are a lot of trees in a forest.  Also we don't exactly know how the boulder came to be on top of the tree either.  There's a lot to be taken at face value for right now until we can get some better information.  We shall see if we can get any better information shortly, but since this is all we know this is all you get for know.  Stay tuned for updates.  In the mean time, what I can tell you is that this gentleman, well let's call him a person since we don't know his general disposition, is staring out to sea at two things, okay maybe three things.  One is the sun either rising or setting.  We don't know which since we just got here ourselves, only moments ahead of you the reader.  Two is a ship on the water. Can't tell what kind, 'cause it's too far away.  Three is some very nasty storm clouds near the ship.  Don't know if they are coming or going either.  You know for a narrator/writer you certainly don't know a lot about this event, or scene or moment, do you?  Well do you?  No.  Okay then, don't quibble with me right now, it's not helpful.  For now, just know that this is what we have to work with and more will be coming.  I still need to track down this persons' origin and place of residence.  Since we need more information we will leave it here for know and come back to fill in more blanks as soon as we can.

Jesus vs. Christ

This might seem odd, but I feel that society/satan/the world are trying to minimize Jesus.  If you really think about it we know for a fact that his name is Jesus.  J-E-S-U-S!  It's not Christ, which is his title, and His last name is not Christ.  We honor Jesus at this time of the year by taking an old pagan holiday and Christianizing it and calling it Christmas.  Mass for the Christ.  It's a mass for the only Savior (Christ), Messiah of the world.  It's His title, not a part of His name.  It would be like calling me Marc Network Administrator.  Or calling me Network Administrator.  We do give people honorary titles, do show respect sometimes, like boss, chief, chef, mother, father, pastor, brother, sister, friend, but why do we not call them by their title all the time.  We have names and sometimes we take the time to not use people's names so much to the point that we forget their real name.

We are slowly replacing Jesus with Christ in a lot of our speech.  We say "come to know Christ", "Christ came to set us free", "the only way to heaven is through Christ", and many other ways.  It just feels like we are trying to cover up Jesus with a title so we don't say His name any more.  The only way it's said no a ways is with irreverence or as a curse or in a derogatory way.  We can't seem to keep Jesus in Christmas, because we are to busy trying to keep "Christ" in Christmas.  Jesus is the reason for the season, not Christ.  We took Jesus out of Christmas before we got into trying to take "Christ" out of Christmas and wishing everyone a Happy Holiday.  You can keep Christ out of Christmas for all I care.  I want to keep Jesus in Christmas and keep it that way.  I will continue to say Merry Christmas, because this is the reason we have Dec. 25th.   It's not about Boxing day or Kwanzaa, both are not as old as Christmas which dates back to 336AD.  We are talking about the opportunity to celebrate the birth of the Savior of the World and we bicker about His title more than what the day is about.  Atheists want to remove it from the calendar along with Easter.  What are they so afraid of?  That's it right and they are wrong?  You can't remove the celebrations to fix your feelings.  It will always be there no matter what and it will always be the only way to be free and live.  Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life.  There is no other way.  The sooner you learn that and live by it the better.

My point is just this.  Jesus is the person to worship.  The one who is part of the great Three In One of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Not His title of Savior, Messiah or Christ.  We are here to show the Love of Jesus, not Christ.  We are Brothers and Sisters of Jesus, Children of the Living God.  Why can't we use his name with respect instead of degradation?  It's with respect that we call others by their name.  We need to do the same with Jesus and not keep using His title.

Healing Our Image of God and Ourselves

This is from Chapter 1 of "The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus", by Brennan Manning.

"Religion is a matter not of learning how to think about God, but of actually encountering Him."

"Don't Put God in a Box"

To encounter God we must strip off all allusions of God that have been purported onto us.  We can't grasp the infinite that is God with our human finite minds.  God is the one and only God.  He is Love and so much more.  When we think about God we need to think outside our boxes.  Outside the box we try to put Him in.  We need to think big.  We need to know that our ideas aren't anything that God is, but He is so much more and bigger.

Look at the parable of the farmer and the workers.  It's in Matthew chapter 20.  Their is a crazy farmer hiring workers and it doesn't matter what time of day they start working for him, they all got the same wage.  All got a full days pay, it was "divine generosity".  Do we grumble when others get a break?  Why do we say "it's not fair" or someone "got a lucky break" when something good happens?

What about the parable of the prodigal son?  It's about a reckless, spendthrift who is a wasteful person.  Those are definitions of the word prodigal.  Yet the Father is also a prodigal.  Instead of treating the returning son the way we expect him to be treated, the father acts as a prodigal and is wasteful, reckless and a spendthrift in welcoming a disgraceful son back.  I think a more appropriate title would be "The Wayward Son and the Prodigal Father".

This is how our image of ourselves and of God need to change.  God is that farmer giving everyone the same pay and He is the father of the prodigal, welcoming home the wayward son.  We are that wayward child and we are the workers for the farmer.  We are getting what God wants us to have regardless of our lives or our actions as long as we come to God, He will take care of the rest.

Our images of God and ourselves change when we see Him as merciful, caring and more importantly loving.  Then we can we see ourselves as worth God's time and in need of His Salvation.  Try to look at things a little different.  You might surprise yourself.