In the Book of John, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Chapter 14, Verse 6)
He did not say He is a way.
He did not say He is one way.
Who do you say Jesus is?
Your answer will determine the spiritual abundance of your earthly life.
Your answer will determine where you spend eternity.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Autumn in the Midwest
The autumn leaves. . .
Waltz across tawny lawns
In golden gowns,
Swaying, swirling
to the symphony of the wind.
Tumble across
The mat of asphalt streets
Like acrobats,
Colliding in exhausted heaps
Of red and orange.
Play tag among passing cars
Like naughty children;
Auburn hair in tangles,
Whispering secrets as they scatter.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Happy, Happy, Happy
Recently a college friend whom I see only occasionally told me that I looked young, beautiful and happy!
Now, it was nice to be regarded as young and beautiful, especially when the reflection in the mirror reveals a sixty-year-old face with lines around the mouth, a slackness in the jaw, and dark circles under the eyes. The image is definitely not air-brushed!
But when I heard the word HAPPY, my heart leaped because that is a transformational gift from God! Through biblically based counseling at Living Foundation Ministries, God renewed my mind (Romans 12:2) and healed my broken heart (Isaiah 61:1) as He unraveled the tangled threads of depression and perfectionistic thinking embedded so deeply within me. Recovery demanded a lot of tears and a lot of prayers, but over time, I began to notice a deep joy bubbling within.
What joy
to be free of false guilt
to be free of unhealthy shame
to walk in the grace of God
to laugh at myself
to be authentic
to enjoy people with all their quirks and foibles
to love them with abandon
to experience God's faithfulness and redemption
Life is not perfect; I am not perfect! When pounded by busyness, grief, or fatigue, this spring seems to slow to a trickle. But, in truth, life's stresses and burdens will never squelch this bubbling joy, for it is the Living Water (John 7:38) Jesus Christ who said, "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water . . . shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14).
He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Now, it was nice to be regarded as young and beautiful, especially when the reflection in the mirror reveals a sixty-year-old face with lines around the mouth, a slackness in the jaw, and dark circles under the eyes. The image is definitely not air-brushed!
But when I heard the word HAPPY, my heart leaped because that is a transformational gift from God! Through biblically based counseling at Living Foundation Ministries, God renewed my mind (Romans 12:2) and healed my broken heart (Isaiah 61:1) as He unraveled the tangled threads of depression and perfectionistic thinking embedded so deeply within me. Recovery demanded a lot of tears and a lot of prayers, but over time, I began to notice a deep joy bubbling within.
What joy
to be free of false guilt
to be free of unhealthy shame
to walk in the grace of God
to laugh at myself
to be authentic
to enjoy people with all their quirks and foibles
to love them with abandon
to experience God's faithfulness and redemption
Life is not perfect; I am not perfect! When pounded by busyness, grief, or fatigue, this spring seems to slow to a trickle. But, in truth, life's stresses and burdens will never squelch this bubbling joy, for it is the Living Water (John 7:38) Jesus Christ who said, "Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water . . . shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14).
He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
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