One World, One Creation
The anticipation of the arrival of the Christ child must have been exciting as well as more than a little stressful. A couple of years ago in church we focused on trying to determine what God wanted us to “see” through the season of Advent. I thought a lot about maybe God really wanted us to be intentional and not just go through the motions–praying with intention, loving with intention, studying with intention, greeting one another with intention, serving with intention and rejoicing with intention. In being intentional about preparing for the arrival of Christ, I thought of Mary and Joseph and how they were intentional to continue their long journey and to find a warm, safe place for the manger–in a stall. The Wise Men were intentional about following that star having selected the gifts they brought to honor the birth of our Messiah. So, I’m being intentional in sharing my thoughts with you, as we all seek the true hope and peace in our God’s gifts of love, compassion, healing, guidance, and most important of His preparing a place for each of us in His glorious Eternal Kingdom. The year 2020 has been such a different time around our entire world. Perhaps, many of us have had a fresh reminder that we are One World, One Creation–so much brokenness, despair, loss, and, yes, hate. We must remember there is healing Light that each of us can shine as we intentionally work to reflect the gifts of our Creator. I wish for you the Joy and Peace that this season brings, and may it remain in our hearts always. Let us share it with intention to all in the hope of creating a more peaceful world we share. ...
Read More“Your beauty and love chase after me…”
There are many translations of the Bible, many versions where wording is used to speak the Word of God in such a way that it resonates with different people, reaching different souls. Some prefer to keep with the King James Version while others like the New International Version or American Standard. There’s also the Good News Translation, the Revised Standard Version and then, there is the Message Bible. I grew up reading and learning from the King James Version and one of my favorite scriptures is in Psalm 23, verse 6: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever .” What a blessed promise that is! To me that one promise from God stands me so firmly in His camp and I always find myself singing His praise and Hallelujahs around His campfire. Not until the other day (Thank you, Julie Estes) had I read the translation for that same scripture from the Message Translation. “Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.” In plain language, more contemporary format, perhaps, the words extend that same promise from God but in a way that seems literal, everyday language to which anyone can surely relate. I like the thought of God’s beauty and love chasing me…running after me around the corners I turn, along the various paths I pursue, and God is THERE! He wants to be there for each of us and He promises to do so. Did you play the game TAG when you were young? One person is IT and runs after others hoping to TAG someone else to be IT. In Psalm 23, verse 6, God is always IT. God is the one running frantically to catch up with us, to capture us and make us His. He has prepared a place, a dwelling place, for us to live with Him throughout Eternity. Chase on, Dear Lord, and know that I am so very...
Read MoreWhat's Your Passion?
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