A pleasant surprise

I was pleasantly surprised to open the Sunday comics the other day and discover this Bil and Jeff Keane "Family Circus" panel. My father traveled a great deal when I was a boy. My mother and siblings prayed many a prayer for safe travel and delivery home. Today many of my Christian brothers and sisters are also faced with periodic separation from families due to the demands of work. I know daddies and mommies "on the road" continue to be the focus of many bedtime prayers. I believe in the power of prayer. I believe in divine intervention ... and I am grateful to the Keanes for this encouraging "comic!"

From everlasting to everlasting

Father, Son and Holy Spirit -- one forever and always. When we acknowledge Christ as God, our Redeemer, we are made a new creation. We experience by the power of the Holy Spirit a new birth, with the blessed assurance of life with Him forever. Everlasting life. In the meantime, in our earthly bodies, His death on the cross broke the power of sin in our lives. Penalty paid. Power of sin smashed. On this side of the cross, the only power sin has over us is that which we relinquish. His desire for us is to bask in the unfathomable joy of a life that reflects Christ in our hearts ... HIS righteousness reflected in our lives as His children. Thanks be to God, Everlasting to Everlasting!

"Be careful little mouth what you speak"

"I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken." Matthew 12:36.

Oh, LORD, how I needed that reminder this morning! Each interaction with others presents opportunity for a careless word (or MANY careless words!), all too often in exchanges with those we hold most dear.

I am also reminded that as a child of God, the Holy Spirit lives in my heart ... and I can count on Him to teach me even as I ponder words BEFORE I consider sharing them out loud.

LORD, may I be ever ready to respond to Your prompting, Your discipline as I speak to others. May I speak words of encouragement and be ready always to pray for and with those who You put in my path. I thank You, LORD, for the opportunities You give to us to represent Your Son, Jesus, in word and deed.

Practice these things

Empty cross; eternal life in Christ

	Jesus said to her (Martha, sister of Lazarus): "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world." John 11:25-27

Billy Graham "goes home" at age 99

"America's Pastor" Billy Graham passed away Wednesday, February 21 at age 99. From my perspective over six decades, Billy demonstrated a God-inspired combination of personal characteristics including passion and humility. Not "goodbye," Brother, but "See you soon!" Condolences in this time of mourning to the Rev. Graham's family, and to all who loved him.

"All that I have been able to do, I owe to Jesus Christ. When you honor me, you are really honoring Him. Any honors I have received, I accept with a sense of inadequacy and humility, and I will reserve the right to hand all of these someday to Christ, when I see Him face-to-face." —Billy Graham

I'm with Him

"And He said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.' Matthew 4:19

I started this day as I do many Tuesday mornings, meeting with a brother in Christ over coffee at McDonald's. This morning John shared about challenges in the workplace. He pointed out that he often asks Jesus to go before him on his way to work.

As he spoke I immediately had a mental picture of myself walking with Jesus. We encounter others and I point to Jesus over my shoulder and say, "He's with me."

Wrong! That picture should reveal me pointing to Jesus AHEAD of me -- as I point forward and tell others: "I'm with Him!"

Thank you, Dear Shepherd, for Your commitment to each of Your precious sheep, at all times and under all circumstances. Forgive me my habit of pushing my way in front of you. I ask that I would hear The Shepherd's voice always, and follow in obedience. Thy will be done.