Category Archives: Knowing Him

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January 26, 2015

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Challenges & Difficulty, Church & Worship, Faith & Hope, Fear & Doubt, Holy Spirit, Knowing Him, Salvation: A New You

THE EVOLUTION OF FAITH

But to all who believed him and accepted him, 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 1:12-13 (NLT)]

When we’re born again, we come into God’s family through faith in Jesus Christ. This spiritual birth is a new beginning, but for some of us, it seems like we’ve had several new beginnings in our lifetimes! In my infant Baptism, my sponsors dedicated me to God and promised that I would be raised in the Christian faith. At my Confirmation in eighth grade, I made a public affirmation of those same promises and accepted Jesus. My teen years were rather troubled and I briefly lost my way. Once in college, I found my way back and once more accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Accepting Christ, however, is not quite the same as walking with Him. When my children were quite young, I again lost sight of the Lord. Serious doubts even briefly kept me from taking communion. God led me back and, once again, I ate at His table. Several years later, perhaps because I got too busy, comfortable and overconfident, I grew lax in my prayer life until a series of crises brought me back to Him.

There were times in my life when I floundered spiritually and others when I walked confidently with the Lord as my shepherd. Whenever I lost my way, once I turned back to Jesus, the Father welcomed me back into His family with open arms. Each time, I’ve been reborn in my faith and each time my faith has become stronger. I can only hope and pray that this time my faith is great enough to keep me firm and strong in my belief until my dying day.

We are so incredibly blessed to have a loving and patient Father in Heaven. Like the father of the prodigal son, He forgives us when we wander off and He patiently waits for us to find our way home to him again.

We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found! [Luke 15:32 (NLT)]

Being born again is a new life, not of perfection but of striving, stretching, and searching — a life of intimacy with God through the Holy Spirit. There first must be an emptying, and then a refilling … It is a highly personal and subjective experience, possible only if we are searching for greater truths about ourselves and God. This experience is challenging, even painful at times, but ultimately deeply rewarding. It provides answers to the most disturbing questions about our existence, the purpose of life, and how to deal with sorrow, failure, loneliness, guilt, and fear. In it, we come to know that our gifts from God are not earned by our own acts but are given to us through his grace … For me, it has been an evolutionary thing. Rather than a flash of light or a sudden vision of God speaking, it involved a series of steps that have brought me steadily closer to Christ. [From “Living Faith” by Jimmy Carter]

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January 16, 2015

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Fear & Doubt, God's Grace & Love, God's Promises, Knowing Him

UNWORTHY

I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. [Jacob’s words in Genesis 32:10a (NLT)]

 Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. [The Romans officer’s words in Matthew 8:8 (NLT)]

Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal. [John the Baptist’s words in John 1:27 (NLT)]

For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church. [Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:9 (NLT)]anemone (rue) - MHSP24 (2)WEB

When people say they love us, sometimes we worry that we’re not worthy of their love. “If they only knew!” we think. If they only knew our past, our secrets, our weaknesses, our faults, our fears, or our failures then they’d stop loving us. Jacob knew he was unworthy, so did the Roman officer, John the Baptist and the Apostle Paul. They were all unworthy of God’s unfailing love and mercy. So are you and so am I! That doesn’t matter because God loves us anyway! He can peer into the deepest part of our hearts and minds; He knows everything about us and yet He continues to lavish his unfailing love upon us. We didn’t earn it and we certainly don’t deserve it but it’s there for us, just the same. Thank you, Father Almighty, for your extravagant and unwavering love.

I’m so unworthy, but still you love me
Forever my heart will sing of how great you are.
[“Cannons” by Phil Whikham]

The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.” [Exodus 34:6-7a (NLT)]

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! [1 John 3:1a (NIV)]

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December 27, 2014

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Church & Worship, Holidays & Holy Days, Knowing Him

IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH

Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. … But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” [John 4:21,23-24 (NLT)]

Christmas night we drove through a nearby neighborhood, famed for its holiday display of lights and decorations. A steady stream of cars and golf carts slowly drove through the streets, admiring the over-the-top displays of candy canes, Santa, elves, snowmen, illuminated trees, reindeer, and sleighs. The sounds of holiday songs came from several loudspeakers, cheerful neighbors gathered around outdoor fire-pits roasting marshmallows, and homeowners waved at passersby while shouting holiday greetings. Amidst this wonderland of festive holiday decorations, we noticed a home with a lovely nativity display. What caught my eye, however, was the make-shift altar set up in their side yard. Illuminated only by two candles, a simple cross and a communion set lay on the altar. Family and friends were gathered together in worship, commemorating our Lord’s birth by celebrating in His last supper.

How clearly this scene points out that we are in God’s house and able to worship Him no matter what the setting: even with the strains of “Jingle Bells” heard in the background and surrounded by inflated Santas, snowmen and an endless line of cars. I’ve attended church services at elaborate European cathedrals, simple rural chapels, ski lodges, inner city storefronts, parks,  and the beach. I’ve joined worship in living, dorm and hospital rooms, gyms, drive-ins, suburban mega-churches, and even an indoor skate-board park. I’ve sat on sofas, centuries old pews, folding chairs, picnic benches, and cushy auditorium seats. God was present every time. Where we worship is of no matter; that we worship is! Every place is sacred because God is truly everywhere.

For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them. [Matthew 18:20 (NLT)]

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December 5, 2014

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Bible Stories, God's Grace & Love, God's Word: The Bible, Knowing Him

NOT HOW, BUT WHO (Genesis, part 2)


Grand Canyon-cape royal 171aFaith convinces us that God created the world through his word. This means what can be seen was made by something that could not be seen. [Hebrews 11:3 (GW)]

For some of us, the Book of Genesis doesn’t satisfactorily explain how the world was made. But that doesn’t matter, because it does explain who made it all happen. It answers the basic questions we all have. Who made the universe? God. Who created me? God. Why am I here? To have a relationship with God. What keeps me from this relationship? Man’s sinful nature.

The Book of Genesis tells us about man’s character: we sin. We want what we can’t have, we lie, we get jealous, we disobey and we don’t trust God. More important, however, the Book of Genesis tells us about God’s character. We see that God is omnipotent; He has unlimited power and authority over all things. He not only gave form to the universe, but He also filled the earth with all sorts of living things. He can speak things into existence and create something from nothing. He is omnipresent; He can be everywhere all of the time. He was here before anything else existed and yet He is transcendent. He exists outside of our universe; things like time and space don’t limit Him. He is omniscient; He knows everything. No one can hide from Him and nothing escapes His notice. Although He is a demanding and jealous God, He is also loving and forgiving. He is a personal God who will speak to us. That is what Genesis tells us and that is all I really need to know and understand.

O Lord, you have been our refuge throughout every generation. Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, you were God. You are God from everlasting to everlasting. … Indeed, in your sight a thousand years are like a single day, like yesterday—already past—like an hour in the night. You are God from everlasting to everlasting. [Psalm 90:1-2,4 (GW)]

 

 

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December 3, 2014

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God's Grace & Love, Knowing Him, Salvation: A New You

THE VALUE OF ONE SOUL

For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. [1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NLT)]

These questions were posed in my grandson’s math book: “When is $1,000 too much? When is $1,000 not enough?” That made for an interesting discussion considering we had just seen an article about a gold-infused cupcake in Dubai that sells for over $1,000. While we readily agreed that $1,000 was too much for a cupcake, at least seven others who had already purchased this treat clearly disagreed. It seems that worth, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

Some suffer from low self-esteem and think they have little value. Others suffer from misplaced self-esteem and may over-estimate their worth based on such transitory things as looks, wealth, education or position. We’re all valuable, but not for any of those reasons.

We’re valuable not because of who we are, but because of whose we are: God’s. We’re valuable not because of what we know, but because of who we know: Jesus. We’re valuable not because of what we have, but because of what has hold of us: the Holy Spirit. We’re far more valuable than a $1,000 gold-infused cupcake or even a $4.5 million Lamborghini Roadster. Moreover, we were purchased at a far higher price: the sacrifice of God’s only son.

Thank you, Father Almighty, for seeing the value in our lives and purchasing us with your Son’s life. Help us see our worth through your eyes and not the eyes of men. May we daily grow more like Christ and become worthy of the high price you paid!

So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. [Ephesians 1:6-8 (NLT)]

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November 21, 2014

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God's Word: The Bible, Knowing Him, Trusting God, Wisdom & Guidance

NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

“Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully. [Luke 20:21 (NLT)]

I’ve had a busy week of hearing from a variety of authorities. “In my expert opinion,” said the physician. “It’s my understanding,” opined the lawyer. “From past experience,” offered the political science professor. All of their statements allowed for some wiggle room, different interpretations, or alternative conclusions. Did I hear the truth or only their version of the truth? Jesus never guessed, or assumed, and certainly never presumed; He knew! Let’s remember that Jesus didn’t offer an approximation, a guesstimate or an opinion; he offered the truth—the whole truth and nothing but the truth, because he was the truth!

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [John 14:6 (NLT)]

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. [Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT)]