Patience, Love, and Forgiveness! ( 1 )

Romans 8:16-17 (esv)

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Who are we? Why are we here? What are we to look like to this world? How are we to live?

Just a few common questions that Christians ask of themselves and others.

So where do we go to find the answers? Obviously our answer is the Word of God! And the Bible clearly tells us that we are Children of God. Those who have wholly trusted in Christ Jesus as the only source of salvation, and look to Him for all things! Those who fully know that they have been taken from the domain of darkness and have been transferred to the kingdom of God's beloved Son! Colossians 1:13 (esv)
So if the Spirit bears witness that we are truly Children of God, then what do we do from there? How does the world view us? How do those around us speak of us? What sets us apart? The Bible also clearly answers that!
John 13:34-35 (esv) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Bottom line... If we are the Lord's, then we will love like He loves us! Sometimes that will not be understood. Sometimes the world will call us crazy to love unconditionally, without want of recognition or praise, without conditions. But it's how we are called to live.
I believe there three basic principles, or words, if you will... that we can hold on to as we navigate life. Patience, love, and forgiveness. I will attempt to clarify and expand on those words, in the upcoming posts, in hope that God will be glorified and that His children will begin living the life of joy and fulfillment He has intended for us!

?? Father's Day ??

Happy Father's Day!

OK, I know it's late, but this last week has really got me thinking...

How often do we as Dad's get thanked for all we do on Father's Day?

Every year we get cards, gifts, video thank yous, etc.

But how often, on Father's Day, do we thank our Heavenly Father

for all that He has done for us in our lives? Or even mention Him in anything?

Ever since Father's Day, I have not been able to shake that question

from my mind, or even give it a good answer.. 

All this time, we as Dad's have our day, but we seem to forget 

the Father who made us all and provides so generously for us!

Exodus 3:4-6 (esv)

When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, 

"Moses, Moses!" And he said, " Here I am." 

Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, 

for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."

And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, 

the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." 

And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

As we see above, having any encounter with the Father is a big deal!

Moses could not look once he knew what he was seeing! 

Neither could he stand!

I am often baffled at how we forget the awe and power of the Father!

He created all things! He holds all thing together!

He guides those who love Him to rest and peace!

But so many of us forget that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom!

Humility is a must! Who are we that we should even stand in His presence?

No matter how much we love Him, and no matter how much He loves us,

When we see Him, we will not be standing!

Bottom line... We all need to start thanking our Father in heaven

for all the wonderful things He has done for us!

Everyday can be like Father's Day! 

For each day that we thank and praise our Father in heaven is a good day!

So the next time Father's Day comes around, think of God our Father!

Thank Him for all the things He has, is, and will do for us!

He truly is a good good Father!

Colossians 1:16-17 (esv)

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, 

visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities 

— all things were created through him and for him. 

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Is It Really Dark?

Try this for me when you get time...

When the sun goes down, turn off all the lights in the house.

Take a minute and sit in a room.

When your ready, open your eyes.

Spend a few moments focusing your eyes.

Take note of what you see.

I have done this many times and it really paints a wonderful 

picture that I will try to put into words.

Unless you are buried underground there is always light.

It may not be the brightest of light, but there is light.

The Lord made it that way. One light to govern the day.

And one light to govern the night. 

In order to pick up on the light, we need to spend a few

moments waiting for our eyes to adjust.

 When you look at the picture posted above, it really 

speaks to the type of light we see.

I purposefully removed the dominate light in the picture 

in order to see the more subtle light that we don't normally focus on. 

Playing around with the light can sometimes give unexpected results!

There is a Light that someday will replace the need for any other light. 

One that will make all other lights look dark!

Revelation 21:22-25 (esv)

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the
Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it,

for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 

By its light will the nations walk, 

and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 

and its gates will never be shut by day
— and there will be no night there.

We have the ability to know this Light and see it

before all other light is made dark.

Jesus is the Light I speak of.

You can know Him today! His gift of life is free
and available to all! No matter what you have done.

Don't stay in the dark!
Focus your eyes on the Light of the world, Jesus Christ!
He is all the light you need in this dark world.