Father, Son and Holy Spirit

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." John 14:26

Swallowed up in His will

Technology has its rewards. My day started off with a precious blessing Monday when I received this text from my daughter:

"Praying your day is filled with surrender to our Lord with each new situation that unfolds. I pray that your heart will be swallowed up in His will in order that your life in Christ would continually reflect His glory. Love you…"

Colossians 1: 10-11

“… that you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God (with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance and recognition). We pray that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory.”

Through it all, He is with me

I woke up recently with a renewed clarity that I believe was sent from the LORD. I faced a particularly busy day, with even more varied assignments scheduled for coming days.

My understanding that morning was this: Life with Christ is an adventure, but the reality is that we must be prepared for challenges as well as peace and tranquility as we "walk" with Him through this life.

On one day I will enjoy our LORD's company as "He leads me beside still waters." On another, I will cry out His name and desperately seek His hand of support as I find myself in "the valley of the shadow of death."

I have experienced the grip of fear as a father who has just lost his job. I have suffered the anguish associated with selfish decisions that impacted the lives of others. I have lived in mourning in the wake of the death of a loved one.

I have also experienced the joy of a wedding day, and the births of healthy children. I have witnessed the power of Christian fellowship, and been on the receiving end of powerful intercessory prayer.

So how do I live a life prepared for not only the "strolls" with the LORD but for the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that I encounter?

I recall that God, the LORD Almighty, is a God of relationship as demonstrated so lovingly in Christ's life on this earth. I recall details of the incredible journey that began when I surrendered my life to Christ

Our God, dear brothers and sisters, is a faithful God, and He is love. We are pilgrims, walking in faith in this life as we prepare for life eternal with the Father. Christ miraculously dwells in our hearts, ALWAYS with us no matter the circumstance.


"Though I walk through the valley of death, I shall fear no evil, for Thou art with me." (Psalm 23)

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23)
"I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

Special delivery

I created this e-card this morning, marrying an image I took last year on a family adventure with a Scripture sent by son Brian as my wife prepared for a medical procedure. Brian was "team leader" last year on an unforgettable mountain adventure that yielded many beautiful images. We truly experienced God's creative genius that day. When I shared this e-card with a friend today I initially noted the Psalm was delivered by Brian to my wife at the perfect time. Correction: It was delivered at the perfect time by a loving, ever-attentive Father who used his loving servant Brian as courier. He is faithful! He is our Rock!

Mother/Teacher

I received a special treat this morning in response to an email I sent to my daughter featuring Thomas Boston's statement on "Praying in the name of Christ." She emailed me a photo of the latest message on her giant home school chalkboard. (left click on image to see larger version)

The central passage on the board is 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Among other elements of the message are examples of wise counsel to young and old alike: "Fix your eyes upon Jesus" and "Let Jesus be Jesus in you."

What a precious privilege, an awesome directive, to be called to reveal Christ to others in our words and actions. As Boston wrote, we can take our encouragement from Jesus: "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through many heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16

God's will. In Christ, depending wholly on His merit and intercession. Jesus Christ, Redeemer King, is indeed the Way. The only way.

"Just because" note

From time to time my daughter reaches out with a "just because" love note. This one came a few days back when I was under the weather, calling to my remembrance Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live but Christ in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave His life for me." Old man dead. Christ in me. Wow! Thank you, Jesus!

One way. Hurray!

Satan, the accuser, is frantically active these days as the return of Christ draws closer.
There is pressure, even in the Christian church, to believe the lie.

One of those lies is this. Satan charges: “What!? Only one way to Heaven?! Surely a god of love will welcome all, no matter what path they have chosen to take to the next life.”

But Jesus Himself said: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.”

If I was in a burning building and someone called me to the one way out of the building and sure death, would I complain that there were no OTHER exits to safety? That's ridiculous.

Here is the truth. God created us in His own image, setting us apart from all other creatures. He invited us to walk and talk with Him … but He gave us the choice to deny that invitation.

Adam and Eve chose to believe Satan’s lie and defy God’s will. Since that time all people, we are told in the Bible, have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

But in His grace, God offered a way to once again walk and talk with Him as He intended from the beginning … and The Way includes the promise of life eternal with him.

Jesus Christ is indeed the only way. Is that reason to question God?! To offer an enlightened alternative?! Of course not.

Jesus is the Good News … the AMAZING news. He is THE way unto the Father, and for that we must all be grateful.

Thank you, Father, for your invitation to relationship. You are light, perfection … and cannot abide the darkness of sin … but in Your Son, our Redeemer King, you have provided a way … THE WAY … to forgiveness and the promise that though our sins be like scarlet, they will be washed white as snow.

We thank you Jesus, the perfect Lamb, for taking on our sins, and for the promise of your return to gather your sheep.