The path to joy is found in JESUS!

We rejoice.
By God's mercy
through His Son
We are blessed
with a new birth
a living hope --
The resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead.

Our inheritance
not of gold or silver
but of that which
will not perish,
undefiled, unfaded,
kept secure in heaven
for you and me.

We rejoice.
Our obedience to God's call
brings us to salvation
- the new birth -
our souls have been cleansed,
and to faith.
It is our genuine faith
in the Lord Jesus
that fuels our obedience.

We rejoice
when we've come through
the fiery trials
that bewilder us
and bring much turmoil.

We rejoice
bestowing praise and honor and glory
upon the Lord Jesus

Him
whom we have not seen
yet love
Him
whom we believe in
and have
glorious JOY
(paraphrased from I Peter: 1:3-9)

Where is the path to joy?
Jesus is our joy!

Henry van Dyke penned the words to "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee." Music was written by Ludwig van Beethoven.

verse 1:
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, Opening to the sun above,
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day.

verse 2:
All Thy works with joy surround Thee, Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain,Call us to rejoice in Thee.

verse 3:
Thou art giving and forgiving, Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living, Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother -- All who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, Lift us to the joy divine.

verse 4:
Mortals, join the happy chorus With the morning starts began;
Father love is reigning o'er us. Brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us sunward In the triumph song of life.

That One ... JESUS!

You who do not believe
who proclaim there is no God,
that JESUS is NOT His Son,
that He is mere human
and nothing more

THAT ONE
died for You
and You and You

For Your Sins
He hung on the cross

For Your Sins
He had nails pounded into flesh

For Your Sins. ... And mine.

THAT ONE
who you refuse and reject.
who You buried and laughed at
and said, "no more."

THAT ONE
His Father God
resurrected
And lives among us still.

Yet You continue the path
you've chosen.
JESUS conquered death.

But You
You who do not believe
who proclaim there is no God
that JESUS is NOT His Son,
that He is mere human
and nothing more

You have achieved nothing.
Your path leads
to death and destruction
and judgment.

Jesus -- "a new cleansing wind"

A puzzling equation of science …
The resurrection of Christ - for how can it be?!

A miracle …
God’s miracle
The Holy Scriptures are filled with the miracles of God surrounding us
Not to be puzzled over, questioned
But simply to believe
in God
in His Son
in the Holy Spirit
to Trust.

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)

“…You believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1)

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29a)

God is the master of the universe.
He can do anything.
He can do all.
He is all.

Of Himself
Yet separate
He is the Lord Jesus sent to Earth to save its people from damnation

Jesus
the perfect atonement,
replaced the dove, the animal sacrifices of old.

Jesus
He took the sin of us all upon Himself
carried to the cross
because of His love for us.

His Father loved Him too and loves Him still
but He had to look away
He could not witness all the evilness of the world
loaded onto His precious Son. Overwhelming dismay for this One, His Son.


And so it was finished. Jesus died.
And was buried.
But death, alas, was not the end.

He said He would … after 3 days in the tomb, arise.
And so He did.

He is risen!

The Lord has risen! He has risen indeed!

Christ overcame death.

Some of us only sleep, perhaps a very sound sleep, giving the appearance of death, because we cannot be awakened.


A “new, cleansing wind,” Dietrich Bonhoeffer says.
The resurrection of Christ
rings anew, brings renewal.
Easter is coming.

Christ was reborn. He died. He was buried. After three days, He was risen.
Risen from the dead.


The dead of darkness, of sin, has died, been destroyed.

The Lord has risen to new life.
And we, as believers, through Him, live in this new life.

Our old has died. We have been reborn. And in the Last Day, our bodies in the grave or still alive on Earth will be resurrected to join Him in the heavenly realms.


Divine, supreme Love
intervenes, coming against guilty humanity and is the ultimate winner.

Easter.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17)

“For when we were still without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while were were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

The judgment of sin is death. Jesus’ death was the only and final act of judgment made for the future of mankind as well as past and present. Upon Him was all our sin.

“…For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift (given by Christ) which come from many offenses resulted in justification.” (Romans 5:16)

“For as by one man’s (Adam) disobedience many (all) were made sinners; so also by one Man’s (Jesus) obedience many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19)

For Christians, our life has meaning only because of Easter.

If Easter wasn’t – if the Jesus Christ who died for the sins of mankind and was buried, did not arise, then our life would be meaningless. We would not be Christians, we would still be living in guilt, we would still make sacrifices for our sins and hope whatever we do/did would be good enough. The foundation upon which our whole live rests as Christians, believers in Christ, falls, collapses.

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up – if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ; we are of all men the most pitiable.

“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” (I Corinthians 15:13-22)

“What you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be; … But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fish, and another of birds.” (I Corinthians 15:36a-39)

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. Sown in dishonor, raised in glory. Sown in weakness, raised in power. Sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” (I Corinthians 15:42-45)

Love, God’s Love
overcame sin

Sin and death were defeated at the cross
upon which His Son
The Christ
hung and died
buried in a tomb
and after 3 days,

AROSE!

There are no what ifs or how can you be sure. The Scriptures say it.

Do you believe?

You who do not are already damned.

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

Christ lives because God lives, because God’s love lives.

God forgives us of our sins through Christ, His Son, when we accept and believe.
God loves us / loved us so much He came to earth as His Son to save the children of the world.

God has committed Himself to Christ, and Christ has committed Himself to us.

In Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, the faith of His disciples was confirmed, giving their faith new meaning. That new meaning encompasses Easter.

When we believe Jesus and God are one yet separate entities, that Jesus came to earth, born of God and the Virgin Mary, that He walked upon the earth teaching, suffering, being tempted (all that we too come in contact) that prophecy foretold, His destiny came to be, was fulfilled.

He died for us, was buried, and after 3 days, God set Him free – He arose. Jesus Christ arose!

And because my life is wrapped in His, I too have been set free.

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

“And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. … For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:18-23)

The kiss of remorse

"One of you will betray Me.” (Matthew 26:21)

Scripture must be fulfilled. Jesus knew the path. He couldn’t waiver from it. The course of history could not be changed.

Betrayal … a turning against, a lack of trust and belief. It never comes from outside the ranks, but from within.  

The hour is at hand.

“… See, he who betrays Me is at hand.” (Matthew 26:46)

Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, whom Jesus selected. For 30 pieces of silver, counted, Jesus was delivered unto death.

Judgment was executed because of God’s love for mankind. Mankind was doomed, wickedness abounded everywhere. It was this wickedness, this evil of the world, in the world, that nailed Christ to the cross. It had to be.

Judas …

he brings a multitude … chief priests and elders and others with swords and clubs… he comes to Jesus and says, “ ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kisses Him. (Matthew 26:49) Jesus knows why he has come, yet he asks of him, “ ‘Friend, why have you come?’ (Matthew 26:50a)

The kiss of death. The kiss of comdemnation.

“Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.” (Matthew 26:50)

“… all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death.
And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.” (Matthew 27:1-2)

The kiss of remorse.

Judas, the betrayer, was filled with guilt, great sadness, extreme remorse. For Jesus, His teacher, the One whom He did not believe nor follow, the One whom He delivered unto death at Calvary for a mere pittance realizes the error of his ways.

“Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’ And they said, ‘What is that to us? You see to it!
Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.” (Matthew 27: 3-5)

Jesus, from the cross, forgave all of mankind.

Was Judas forgiven at the moment he realized what he had done?

Men can be saved from damnation at the last moment before death. Is Judas among those counted? 

You are a chosen vessel of the Lord

"But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel." (Acts 9:15) 

You too are a chosen vessel of the Lord, 

to bear His name before all you come in contact. 

He will show you how 

and in what way. ... 

but not necessarily the way you think it should be.

Remember ... ? 

His ways are not your ways. 

His way is better, far better 

than anything we suppose.

We are to show "cares for the things that belong to the Lord - how he may please the Lord."                          (I Corinthians 7:32)

Whatever our stage in life, 

the Lord's desire is for us to care, 

to be concerned about what is pleasing to Him.

Sometimes you run when you're scared or frightened or frustrated; sometimes you withdraw. 

God doesn't want us to be stagnant, but to run, run with endurance, in the way He has destined for us. 

"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured ... lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls." (Hebrews 12:1-3)

The Lord knows your heart
He knows your innermost being

Remember ...? 

He formed you.

He understands your desires, 

your misgivings,
your pain

He tells us to lay aside every hindrance, every sin which traps us so easily. 

Discouragement is not a sin, nor is frustration or disappointment.

But all can lead to places God does not wish us to partake in. 

God has forgiven you
He has cleansed you 

of your sin

of your guilt

He has pardoned you

He has restored you to righteousness. 

God does not keep a record of your wrongs

He is not like your peers

who remember

and bring before you

your faults, failures, 

making claim to 

disqualification.

Who are they to judge

Who made them Lord

What makes them higher and more powerful than the Lord God Almighty? 

He has pardoned you

Of what matter, 

of what consequence is it

when others put us down. 

Their level is not where God wants you.

He has forgiven you.

Once. Twice. and more. 

He forgives us our trespasses 

again and again, 

when we actively seek His forgiveness

and live the life 

He has chosen for us. 

 

"But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you." (Luke 10:10-11)

Whatever city

Whatever church

Whatever congregation 

Whatever people

if so embittered 

against you

to not receive you

then wipe off the dust

wipe the slate clean

move on 

It is not they who ultimately decide your path. 

It is God. His will. 

Follow Him. 

Jesus went places of which His disciples cringed.

Jesus' determination super-ceded those who followed Him. 

He listened and discussed with others, 

But it was His Father to whom He obeyed. 

The hostility we face should not deter us 

from following and being obedient 

to our Lord Jesus Christ. 

We need to meet our opposition 

head on, 

not withdraw from it.

Move on and do. 

Perhaps 

not literally, as moving your place of residency to another 

but symbolically, within your heart and soul

Don't become complacent

Don't let those who oppose 

control. 

Let God. 

The Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, saying
"Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you." (Acts 18:9-10)

Do not be afraid. 

Do not keep silent.

Sometimes silence of words is necessary, 

but the silence of the heart need not be.

Seek the Lord

Seek His way for you to go. 

He is with you.

He is always with you.

Nothing another says 

because of their fears and unstableness

can truly harm you

if it is to the Lord 

we look and seek and pray and be.

He is our enabler. 

Our all. 

In Him do we trust. 

Amen. 

His charge to us: we are to love one another

Jesus loves all the children of the world, and that includes you and me …  for we are all children, little and big, young and old, rich and poor, dirty and clean. God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, loved us once and loves us still. He has never stopped loving us. 

Jesus, in John 13:34-35, says a “new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

But the commandment is not new.  "For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:11)  In the Old Testament, Leviticus 19:18, God says, “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

No, the commandment is not new. It is old. It has been there from the beginning, but who has heard it, who has listened, who has obeyed? 

The Ten.
Commandments
written
in Exodus
The basics
But
There are more
much more
Specifics
some, such as
the laws of sacrifices
told of
in Leviticus 1-7.

Fulfilled, all
with
Jesus’
birth, death and resurrection

 and upon his return,
Complete. And final.

The Lord God
commands us
“You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2)

God calls us to, in holiness, not uncleanness, not sin.

 “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.” (I Thessalonians 4:7)

But are we holy? Do we live as He … in holiness?

Ephesians 5:1-2 tells us,
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children and walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

Christ is our offering
Christ is the sacrifice
None other is needed
None other is required

Christ fulfills all
that is spoken of, foretold
in the Old Testament.

You who still wait
for The Messiah
He has come
He is here.

For those who are “sons (and daughters) of light and sons (and daughters) of the day” (I Thessalonians 5:5), “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” (I Thessalonians 5:9) Live together with Him in Love and in holiness. 

You who are waiting
for His return
The Most High
He is coming again
soon
and very soon
Be watching
Be on guard
Be alert
Remember
His instructions
His Love

Do not show partiality
Do not show preference
God is not partial
There is no favoritism
with Him.
To all
He extends His love
and as the Lord Jesus instructs
See it all throughout the Scriptures …
to love one another.

“⁵Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love him? ⁸If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well; ⁹but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. ¹⁰For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:5, 8-10)

One sin

tiny or big
it matters not
a sin
is a sin
is a sin
making
an individual
a sinner,
facing condemnation.

Jesus paid the price
for our sin
and his command!?
To love one another
To love your neighbor
as yourself
to live as He lives

 “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (I John 2:3-6)

 “Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” (I John 2:7-11)

 “Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard   from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.” (I John 2:6)

“Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” (I John 3:10)

Jesus loves the Little Children video

Children of the World Choir video

God created us to have dominion over every creeping thing, BUT ...

On the sixth day of creation God created humans.

“²⁶Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. ²⁷So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸Then God blessed them….”  (Genesis 1:26-28)

Think about that for a moment. God created us, with dominion over the fish, the birds, the cattle, EVERY CREEPING THING. 

God blessed us … and then we took advantage of  it. 

Adam and Eve gave in to their impulses and greed … they sinned.

 “¹Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? ²And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; ³but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die. ⁴And the serpent said to the woman, You will not surely die. ⁵For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. ⁶So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. ⁷Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.” (Genesis 3:1-7)

We were created in God’s image. It is the Lord Jesus himself who shows us what God is like, for “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” (John 1:18)

The (moral) image of God, as shown through Jesus Christ, is sinless. 

The first man and woman were created in a natural and moral likeness to God. When they sinned, their moral likeness to God was no more. It went out the door. As each generation of children are born they are created in the natural image of God and the moral image of their earthly father (and mother). Because of the first generations’ sin act, all generations share equally in the guilt of that sin.

But God is our creator, our ultimate creator. And it is because of His love for us in the world that He sent His Son to show us the way out of the darkness of sin into the light.  

 “¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. ¹⁴And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of The Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1, 10, 14)

“¹⁶For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

Where are you bound?

Have you given your heart to Jesus, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, are you walking the life path of His way for you?

Or, do you rebel against God and pursue a life filled with sin, facing the consequences thereof?

It is your choice. 

For an interactive flash presentation of the Gospel: www.thekristo.com 

Who is the Good One?

The Good One
is not you
Nor me
But God above
The Lord almighty

The Good One
is
King of Kings
Lord of Lords
The I AM
of
yesterday
today
tomorrow

The young ruler
asks
"what good thing
shall I do
that I may 
inherit eternal life?"

There is nothing
good or bad
not one thing
not his works
nor yours
nor mine
Nothing
we could ever
do
will enable us
to achieve
eternal life

It is not
to work for
like buying a house
or car
There is
nothing
we can
accomplish
on our own

But,
we can
accept ...
God's gift.
For it is
His gift
of eternal life
that He gives
to you and me
through
His Son.

Thinking
all you need do
is obey
the Ten Commandments
or
what you deem right
in your
personal thinking
lowers God
from the
honor and glory
He rightfully deserves.

The young ruler asks.
And Jesus,
God's son,
answers.
"Go, 
sell what you have
and give 
to the poor, 
and you 
will have 
treasure in heaven;"

Be obedient
to your Father
in heaven
Seek to do
the Lord's will,
not your own
Hear, see, be open
to what the Lord
instructs you.

The Good One
is not you
is not me.

It is not about
your rights
It is about
what is right.
GOD.

"No one
is good
but One,
that is, God." 

"...with God all things are possible." 

Matthew 19:16-21, 26

Are we One with (or against) the Father?

Conscienceness came into being the moment Adam and Eve realized they did wrong and attempted to hide from their sin and from God.

Sin separates us from God. Our conscience, our realizing we did something wrong, and our attempt to run from it, is the result of sin.

We didn't have a conscience before sin entered the picture. We were complete and whole, one with the Father.

BUT ...

The darkness of the world - Satan utilized the serpent to cast doubt on God to His created beings, Adam and Eve. "Had God indeed said...?" (Genesis 3:1)

Their thinking led to their choosing against God and His commandments and unto themselves. It resulted in sin. It brought about conscienceness - shame before God, justification for acts done or not done.

Mankind was doomed. Mankind had fallen out of God's favor, fallen from God's supreme sovereignty, fallen into darkness, a deep dark hole of separation. Mankind listened to another of God's creatures, preferring to follow the physical desires they had over the commandments given them by their Creator.

It is more than disobedience. We do not accept our individual blame, we pass it off to someone else. We run, go into hiding, fearful of facing the very one we should face. We do not seek forgiveness.

He gave us life and we want more?!

Because of this separation, mankind was no longer one with the Father, no longer dwelling with Him. That is not to say none followed after the Lord, for some did and some do. When sin entered in, however, God's wrath was kindled and the curse He doled out to Adam and Eve and the serpent fell to all future generations as well.

"So the Lord God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

"To the woman He said: I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you."

"Then to Adam He said, Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it, Cursed isthe ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles itshall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In thesweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3:14-19)

It was God's  grace, God's love that brought us into being. His love that provided food and water. His love that gave us instructions, guidance. His love that brought man and woman together. His love that we trampled on, disobeyed, ignored. His love we chose to forgo for something different. The Lord gave and gave and gives still and instructs us, guides us in His purpose for us, which ultimately is to praise and glorify Him.

When we follow, listen to opinions, abiding there instead of with the Father, when we listen to our conscience we tend to hear negativity and our actions are based on what we perceive, however right or wrong they may be.

God's  love. God's  grace. God's  curse.

BUT...

God's grace, His love, toward us all was extended when He sent His Son into the world.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

When we believe and accept that Jesus came and lived among us, walked and taught, went to the cross of Calvary bearing our sins, died for us, was buried and after three days, was resurrected, when we believe, when our faith, however small, takes precedent over all else, the wide gulf of separation with God the Father, handed down since the beginning of human sin, is no more.

Jesus' death and resurrection and our faith thereof  bridges the gap. And we are once again One with the Father and with the Son and with the Holy Spirit.

We are One. We dwell with Him. Our faith has made us whole and complete with the One who is and was and is to come.

And we are at peace.

The Light has come into the world

"for with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light." (Psalm 36:9)

The first light, to separate the darkness, the formless deep, was formed / created by God. It is in light, through light, that we as created beings are enabled to see and also understand.

Light -- the light comes from the sun, the moon, the stars, ...

"Then God said, Let there be light; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day." (Genesis 1:3-5)

"Then God said, Let there be light in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth; and it was so." (Genesis 1:14-15)

"Then God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the fourth day." (Genesis 1:16-19)

... and from Jesus. The Light IS Jesus.

"...Let us walk in the light of the Lord." (Isaiah 2:5)

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8)

God and Spirit.
Two-thirds of the Trinity were an awareness to those who lived during Old Testament days.

The foretelling of Jesus was present, but when He came to earth as a human baby, when He grew to manhood and proceeded to do the works of His Father, the awareness of what was to be stopped. Unbelief, refusal to believe was the standard.

"Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will rise over you; And His glory will be seen upon you." (Isaiah 60:1-2)

Jesus came. He is the light that overcomes the darkness/the evilness that penetrates our very being. He came to his own, but they received him not. The peoples of Israel / Jerusalem were to be instrumental - they were a city on a hill.

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

Yes, the peoples of Israel were to be instrumental in leading others to God the Father through Jesus Christ, His Son. But their light was hidden, their light did not shine to glorify God, but was tarnished.

"The Gentiles shall come to your light," (Isaiah 60:3)

The light / the revelation of Jesus, the message of the gospel was given to the Gentiles - you and me. And as Christ'as followers, we become, individually and collectively, the light of the world - we show others the way to Christ.

"... the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness ... He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." (1 John 2:8b-11)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1:1-5)

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)

Before Jesus began his earthly ministry, John the Baptizer was chosen / sent by God to be a witness for Jesus Christ, the true light, "that all through him might believe." (John 1:7)
John preached repentance - a turning away from the sins of the flesh ("adultery, fornication, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries and the like" - Galatians 5:19-21) to a changed life ("love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" - Galatians 5:22-23).

Jesus, the true light, was baptized by John, the foreteller of He who is and was and is to come. Baptizing by water became a symbol, a witness of this changed life. Prophecy was fulfilled with Jesus' baptism by water.

"And John bore witness, saying I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him." (John 1:32)

"Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice from heaven, saying (audibly, for all to hear), This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17)

"For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:34-36)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)

"... the light has come into the world..." (John 3:19a)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Added Jan. 28.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Light creates form. In total darkness there is no form.

Like us, God's created beings, until we "know" God on an intimate level, we are in darkness. The light (that separates the darkness) is Jesus. He came. He suffered. He died. He was resurrected.

"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." (John 1:10-11)

We, the world, did not recognize / do not recognize Jesus as The Christ, "The Light," thus they were and we are in darkness.  When we believe, accept Jesus as the light that saves us from the darkness of hell and damnation, we are re-born and truly alive.

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God ... who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13)

Are you a child of The King?
Have you accepted His gift of salvation?
Do you follow in His steps?


("More About Jesus," by John Starnes, with subtitles in Portuguese)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Added Jan. 30.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"In Your light we see light." (Psalm 36:9b)

It's interesting how what we read one day says something to us and then just a few days later, there is more said on the same subject. God speaks and if we are in tune with Him, we hear, we see, our blindness is stripped away and we are in awe of what we have found.

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10)

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined." (Isaiah 9:2a)

"I will bring the blind (those who do not acknowledge, understand, follow the True God) by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known, I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them. And not forsake them. They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, who trust in carved images, who say to the molded images, 'You are our gods.' " (Isaiah 42:16-17)

"I will deliver you ... to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." (Acts 26:17-18)

"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (II Corinthians 4:6)

("Turn your eyes upon Jesus" by the Newsboys)

Be alive! Come to Jesus

"You are dead -- and yet you have risen! You are in the dark -- and yet you are in the light. You are afraid -- and yet you can rejoice." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Dead in our sins
Christ came
to die for us
for our sins
everyone and all
not one to leave behind
unless ...
by our choice
we refuse
we say no to Him
over and over and over
countless times
Always no.

Christ came
for you
He sees
He hears
Our tears, our sighs
Our pain
reaches out
to pull us in
because of God's love
God's mercy.

Why oh why do you say no
Why is all He has done
still not enough
What more do you need
What do you seek if it is not
 Jesus the Son
God the Father
and the inner voice of the Holy Spirit?

What else is there
Jesus is The One
The Only One
The Only Way

One alone
Him alone

He will guide you
everyone and all

But you must give yourself,
every bit of you,
to Him
Let Him guide you.

The lonely path you travel,
the one that leads far into
the world of fear and dread,
can be overcome

Give your heart and soul to Jesus
Step out into the light and rejoice
Be alive!



"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the wold to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)                            

He lives ... He's here

"A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. But others fell on good ground, sprang up and yielded a crop a hundredfold."  (Luke 8:5-8)

"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved, But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience." (Luke 8:11-15)

The seed in the field ... the word of God in our hearts.

God does not want His word to simply lie on the path of our life, whereby you walk over it, concerning yourselves only with personal cares and riches and pleasures to obtain. He wants His word to take root, gain a foothold, continue to grow, hungering more and more for Him and His word.

As the word or the memory of a beloved person lives in your heart, that is how God wants His word to live within you. God does not replace your beloved's heart love, but builds upon it.

The pain of losing a loved one.
God understands your loss.
He knows what you feel, what you can't always put into words.
He was there.
He brought His Son into the world
to save us from our sin.
He allowed His Son to be sentenced to death
to save us from our sin.
He watched
He waited
He looked away
He forgave us
of our sin ...
Because of His Son.

God was there.
God is still there. Always.

When a loved one dies
When a relationship fails
When we cry out in pain
over our losses
our dreams
our hopes
our mistakes

To take so long
to find Him
To hear
To really hear
God calling

Do you answer Him?

How long do you take
May be years
decades
forever it seems.

So much time -
many years perhaps
you spend holed up
in your own personal world
of glum and gloom.

Questions bombard you from every corner -
why,
when,
how,
who,
where,
what

Questions you struggle to answer.
Questions
like
What on earth am I here for

Questions that only grow,
consuming more of your day,
so you feel you are
not living.
not doing.
not being.
Absent.

I was there.

Your life - filled with remorse,
misgivings,
questions with no answers,
only your own seemingly worthless thoughts.

Maybe not so worthless,
but they were getting you nowhere.

You didn't know where to turn.
You wanted to hide,
yet not.
You wanted answers.
You wanted love.

I found my way to Jesus.

Not quite that simply.
An individual comes into my life. Someone who asks about me, who is interested in me, who becomes my friend, who teaches me about Jesus, who becomes my mentor, who guides me, but doesn't judge me, doesn't tell me what I should do, who prays for me.

The seed is planted. My choice what to do.
Your choice too.

I sought a Bible-believing and teaching church. I found. I learned. I felt God's tug at my heart strings. I believed. I accepted. I allowed God's seed, His word, to penetrate my being. I grew. My faith grew and grows - up and down, in and out. Sometimes my growing seems stagnant. Sometimes it bursts wide open and I am awestruck - filled with wonder and excitement.

Every day is a new beginning, a chance to build upon past experiences, to see where God will lead you, what missions He has for you and you alone.

The road is winding and still rough. But I'm not on it alone. God is beside me, behind me, in front of me.

I still have pity parties, I still cry with pain and sadness, I still have moments of feeling alone.

But the seed was planted. And the seed has grown. And has remained and does not fall away.

He is patient. I not so much. But I learn and I strive to be obedient to the Master - my Lord Jesus Christ.

The one who saved me from eternal damnation
The one who loved me and loves me still
The one who was and is and is to come

The one who brings hope and love and peace and joy ... to me and to you ... JESUS!

Information on how you too can be a child of the King: http://windowtochristianministriesiniowa.com/ReflectionsOnJesus.html
or for an interactive presentation of the gospel: http://www.thekristo.com/

I believe

"I believe in the sun, even though it doesn't shine,
I believe in love, even when it isn't shown.
I believe in God, even when he doesn't speak."

Max Lucado wrote these words penned from a prisoner in a concentration camp many years ago.

They are the words of many, come and gone.

I believe.

What about you? What do you believe?

Do you have to see to believe, or does that which is unseen bring you to the place of I believe ...

in God, the Lord Almighty, the One who was, who is and who is to come ... Jesus.

The Truth vs Lies

Following is a continuation of my July 22 post on Whose truth?

"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.' " (John 8:31-32 NKJ)

"... if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

"I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.

"I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your Father." (verses 36-38)

Being a descendant of Abraham does not make you a believer.
"If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham." (verse 39)

But they seek to kill Him.

"You do the deeds of your father." (verse 41)

Their father, whom they profess is God, is not. It is the devil. For Jesus says in verse 42, "If God were your father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me."

"Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

"But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me."(verses 43-45)

"He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear because you are not of God." (verse 47)

Days of thoughts

A week's worth of thoughts are here. Hopefully they are not mumble-jumble.

Judging ....

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you." (Matthew 7:1-2)

How I personally judge another will in turn be how I am judged. Not completely, not fully. I do not know what happened yesterday nor what will happen tomorrow. I only see this moment and that is not enough to make a blanket statement of judgment and/or condemnation.

"Only one who has followed yesterday's steps can be their judge," says Max Lucado.

Were you there? Did you witness the day or days before? Have you assumed too much? Do you think your personal knowledge is all that is needed? Is how you judge the same way you would like to be judged or do you think there should be a different criteria? Why are you different from me?

"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." (John 7:24)

Injustices ....

"Do not repay evil with evil." -- Do not raise your hand to strike. Do not open your mouth in anger; but remain still.

Suffering injustice does not hurt the Christian, but doing injustice does. Evil can do only one thing to you - make you also become evil. If this happens, Satan has won. You have given in. Don't want to go there, nor be there. What you dole out will in the end hurt you. If you never want to do evil to another do not raise your hand, do not open your mouth, be still. Be silent. Pray. Think on other things.

Will this also keep unnecessary arguments at bay as well?

When you or another strikes out in anger, the best response would be to say nothing; let the evil envelop empty space, have nothing to keep it aflame.

To overcome evil, you have to forgive endlessly.

How? See the evilness in others or yourself as Jesus sees -- He died for us. He loves us.

Jesus ....

"I am with you ..." (Matthew 28:20b)

Who?

Jesus!

Where?

Here. There.

When?

When you want Him, when you don't

At anytime.

Always.

Why?

Because He loves you

How?

He died for you

and me

He was obedient to His Father

He gave His life for you

He took your sins, my sins, upon Himself

He went to the cross

He died, was buried, and after three days,

He rose again.

Why?

Because He loves you.

Me?

He loves me?

Yes! Jesus loves you

and me

all of us

everyone

everywhere.

How about you?

Do you love Jesus wherever you go, wherever you are, whenever, at all times? Are you as obedient to Him as He is? Would you die for Him? Do you know Him and accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior?

"I am with you" - Jesus

The calm of Jesus

We say

"Lord, save us!
We are perishing!"

(Matthew 8:25)

He says

"Why are you so fearful,

O you of little faith?"

(Matthew 8:26)

He rises, He rebukes.

There is calm.

He is The Conqueror

The Victor

The Mighty One

He is our Hope

Our Eternal Hope

past present and in the days to come

He is The One

who overcomes the evil one

who sentences him to eternal punishment

He hears our plea of guilty

when before the judgment seat we stand

and He hears the sinister laugh

of the evil one who thinks he has won

He is The One

who knows our heart

who understands our pain and weakness

who is always there,

ready to encircle us

with His love.

We say

Save us Lord!

Help me Lord!

He is there.

He is The One

who calls your name.

Do you hear?

Do you respond,

"Here I am!"

(1 Samuel 3:4-10)

It is in responding that our life walk with the Lord Jesus Christ begins.

Has your walk began?

Have you found the calm of Jesus?

The ground is emptied

Not many days past
the ground cover
was snow.

Not the
pure white freshly fallen
variety
that beautifies
God's glorious landscape
But
the filthy dirty
kind
that sits around,
reminding us
of a fallen world
filled with
sin and misery

The ground
covered with snow
is emptied...

God's creation --
the Sun --
its warmth
enveloped the earth
bringing about
a transformation,
a renewal.

A soggy mess
of brown
and dull
gives way
to glorious greens
of grass
and wondrous arrays
of colorful flowers
buried deep
within the
crevices of the ground
winding their way
to the top ...
searching.

Just as we.

Jesus came to earth.
He was born to bring us life.
He lived among us.
He died to set us free.
He was buried.
He rose again.
He lives.
He reigns.

So we too can live.

Cathy Orrick Luders
3.16.2010

Live a Holy Life

No matter what befalls us in the world, human power is not the answer. God alone, His being, His power. Only God accomplishes all that is. As human beings we are not personally capable of bringing about ultimate triumph in any situation.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, “Only when we look at reality with clear eyes without any illusion about our morality or our culture can we believe, otherwise our faith becomes an ‘illusion.’ ''

We must “believe in God alone and in His power. We must have faith and utilize it every moment of every day. When we give in to ourselves, when we fail to see the world and live in the world as God commands, where is our faith? Is it an illusion? Faith is way more than accepting Jesus as our personal savior. That is the beginning. But faith is how we live our lives with God as our commander.

“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16

Live a holy life.

Max Lucado notes, “People are watching the way we act more than they are listening to what we say.”

I penned these thoughts yesterday before my husband shared a Letter to the Editor published in The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) that day. The letter was titled “Compassionate family was gift from God” (page 4A, 3.8.2010 copyright 2010 The Gazette www.gazetteonline.com).

Here it is in its entirety.

On the evening of Feb. 6, my husband was feeling ill. He thought we should go to the hospital. En route, his condition began to rapidly deteriorate. I panicked and pulled into the drive of the first house I saw with lights on. This was at 10:30 on a Saturday night, and as I pounded on the door, I prayed to God that someone would answer. My prayer was answered. The gentleman who greeted me at the door called an ambulance and sat and prayed with me until they arrived. He and his daughter then drove me to St. Luke’s Hospital, where they stayed with me and other family members to await word on my husband’s condition. When the doctors delivered the devastating news, they grieved with us and tried to give all the comfort they could to people they had never met until that night. On Sunday morning, I received a call from this caring gentleman asking if there was anything that he or his family could do for us. He and his family came to console us during the visitation and also at the funeral. Words cannot explain the feelings we feel toward this man whom God sent to help in our time of need. Compassion and hope are still very much alive; sometimes it just takes awhile to find. - Bev Martin, Central City

My daily devotionals come from “I want to live these days with You” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I think, Yes, how I want to live these days with My Lord. And yet I wonder how I will accomplish it. I won’t really. Not fully. Nothing will be fully completed, fully accomplished, until Jesus returns, until we have gone on to meet our maker, until we have arrived at our eternal home on that celestial shore, until we see Jesus, face to face, on bended knee. Oh yes, I want to live these days with You.

Jesus, our protector and The One to whom our allegiance is show in all we do, everywhere we go. He is with us. We are with Him. It is through Jesus we are able to endure and it is through Him we are enabled to live a Holy life. It is because of Jesus' sacrifice we have been set free. He reigns. Jesus lives in us, we live in Him.

Only with Jesus

Risk-taking faith. Healing begins when we do something. Is it any something or must it be something phenomenal? Going to the doctor may not be enough. That perhaps is not a risk? Healing begins when we reach out, when we take a step. How big a step? How much?

God, Max Lucado says, honors radical, risk-taking faith. What is radical. Where can I find healing from the pain, relief from the pain. The pain that distracts me, that prevents a good night's sleep and through the day.

There are many, besides myself, who seek healing - from pain, disease, anything and everything. Many, many.

Leg pain, reoccurring leg pain, newborn surgery, foot surgery, diabetes, arthritis, carpal tunnel, shoulder surgery, cancer. So much, so so much.

And then there are answers. Thank you Lord for answers. You do answer. You provide the answers we seek. Sometimes we don't always see them staring us right in the face. Sometimes we are so blind. Our understanding takes so long, doesn't come as fast as we'd like. You know all. We are so slow.

But we pray. We continue to pray for our friends, our family, ourselves and we continue to praise you and give thanks for all you bestow upon us.

It does not come easily to thank you for the turmoils that come upon us. But when we seek you in their midst, we do find, perhaps, a bit of relief, possibly complete healing or remission. But best of all, we find peace. And rest in you Lord Jesus.

And because of You, we can overcome. Because of You dear Lord, because of You in us, we can overcome. Thank you Lord.

Thank you for helping me to remember that it is through You, in You, walking beside me, carrying me, I can overcome each struggle. Only by your power is it possible.

"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth." - Psalm 145:18

"With God, all things are possible." Matthew 19:26a

Only God

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31a)

"Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?" (Romans 8:33)

"Who is he who condemns?" (Romans 8:34a)

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (Romans 8:35)

The answer ..... No One

God is in control of all, of all the earth, over all the earth. He knows our comings and goings, our desires and dreams, our sinfulness, our evilness. What! we say we have none. We deceive ourselves. We are not perfect. There is only one who is perfect. The great I am. The Lord Jesus. Unblemished and pure.

God knows our struggles, the misfortunes we are dealth. You think He doesn't care?! He cares. When we are one with Him, He is one with us. We have to rely on Him alone. Saying that is one thing. Doing that is entirely something else. He does not rejoice in our pain. It does not make him happy, only sad.

True Love for Him, the Lord Jesus, True obedience. Studying His word, not those of false teachers, not oral traditions handed down from one generation to the next. Being mindful of what the Lord God says in His word and through the Holy Spirit who lives in the hearts of His children.

Negativity downtroddens the best of us. We allow negative thoughts from others and from ourselves to overpower all of God's goodness and even though God has promised to be with us we fund it hard to believe that. We give in to depressing thoughts and wallow in self doubts and pity, grieving for what we don't have.

But Jesus says to us, "With God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26a)

With God. Walk with Him, Talk with Him, Praise Him, Seek Him, Remember Him, Rejoice in Him, Pray to Him.

All things are possible ... with God.

But without Him, we are doomed.