Good morning!
 
In Bible Study Fellowship a few years ago, we were studying the Gospel of Matthew. One lesson covered Matthew 16. This part of Matthew 16 (verses 13-20) really stood out to me:

• “13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock[a] I will build my church, and the gates of hell[b] shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[c] in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.”

 
There are two questions in this passage –
 
One is pretty general asking what others think – easy not to get pinned down. It is an easier lift for us when we can speak to what we think others are saying or might say. Nothing is weighing on our shoulders specifically and our answers are referential to what others think.
 
The second one is direct, specific and piercing.
 
A question that demands an answer. A question we all will be asked to answer… most of us today would probably answer that He is the Messiah, our Lord and Savior.
 
But answering that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, our Savior begs us to also ask these questions - what is the cost, what does that really mean for me to declare or proclaim this? Are we – are you willing to put this stake in the ground, firmly planted, without conditions or positioning?
 
We know that really following Jesus, putting Him as the reason and center of our living will lead to trials (James 1:2-4) and test our faith.
 
How do you answer Jesus’ question – "...but who do you say I am?"
 
Lord Jesus, lifting up my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend that all will firmly answer your question inspired by the Holy Spirit in true depth of faith that You are the Messiah, our Lord, our Savior. And that we will stand steadfast even in the trials that come with that declaration! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick


​

Good morning!

Some thoughts have been bubbling around in my head for a while. It seems patience in letting God help me form these thoughts is often needed.
 
This Idea – even today as we live in this world yet not of this world – we can cast our crowns at the feet of Jesus as He sits on the throne.

What are these crowns?

Our accomplishments, our overcoming of trials, our perseverance in difficult seasons and situations, our humility, our forgiving others, our seeking forgiveness, our sharing of God’s mercy, grace, love and truth. Anything we do that might glorify God.
 
Today when we achieve something, something good happens, we endure, we have compassion or put ourselves aside in service, it is really because of 1) how God gifted us and 2) His power working through us.
 
So these crowns, these accomplishments, these times of living for others, seasons of endurance and times of worshiping Him belong to Him…without Him they do not happen.

For us, when we “cast our crown”, that is, give Him all the credit - that is an act of surrender to God through Jesus Christ. That makes possible our restored relationship with the Father…casting our crowns is WORSHIP OF OUR GOD…we recognize that the worth, our worthiness belongs to God, not to ourselves.
 
As we pray in the Lord’s prayer…Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, here on earth as it is in Heaven…I am led to these verses in Revelation (Revelation 4:9-11):

• And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

 
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.
 
The elders credited God for their own work and reward, and they did this as they cast their crowns before the throne. They recognized that the worth, the worthiness belonged to God, not to themselves.
 
It seems then even now we can cast our crowns before the throne of Jesus. That is maybe why I appreciate the attribution that some Christian athletes give when they point skyward, to God, giving Him the credit for their accomplishment – which seems to me to be casting ones crown before the throne of Jesus.
 
Are you casting your crowns now, giving God all the glory? What do you think?
 
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we go into the weekend is that we cast all of our crowns before you Jesus, whether it is some big accomplishment or surviving a supremely difficult season in our life, for all the glory is Yours, my Lord! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick

Good morning,

At times as I have been praying, I have had some interesting thoughts about God and Jesus Christ. I want to be careful here and make sure you know I am not claiming these are thoughts inspired by God. At the same time I think they align with who we know God is through His word. I have tried to write these thoughts out over when this happens. I am moved, really prompted it seems by the Holy Spirit, to share these thoughts.
 
We all experience pain, suffering, trials and tribulations (of course, to varying degrees, but none the less all of us). Often we lament, pray to God, plead with God, even blame God for our pain or the pain of others we know – or even walk away from God.
 
So starting at the beginning, On the sixth day God created man and woman. (See Genesis 1:26-31). And it was very good.
 
We came to life through God’s breath (Genesis 2:5-8 – “When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.” And Job 33:4 – “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”)
 
Just let this sink in…God’s breath brought life. The origin of our breath and life is from God…
 
So imagine God before he initiated creation. He had a perfect vision and plan of creation. He also knew that for His creation to be truly perfect and right, that we, who were to have dominion over all the earth and all creatures, needed to be made with free will. The ability to choose. In doing so God knew, as an all knowing, ever present God, that we would fall, we would sin. And God’s plan from the beginning accounted for that fact.
 
So think about pain and hurt you might have felt in your life. Was it at times at the hands of someone else? From maybe a sinful act on their part? Or maybe the pain and hurt came from something you did – a sinful act on your part (similar to Adam and Eve)?
 
We can see in this that our sins between ourselves and by ourselves cause us pain and suffering...
 
You are likely wondering where I am going with this. If we are image bearers of God and we feel pain and suffering wouldn’t it make sense that God does as well. I am not sure I will be able to give you any specific scripture for this but want to put this before you to consider –

• God created Adam and Eve – it was very good
• Imagine the pain and hurt God felt (even in the joy of His very good creation) first knowing that Adam and Eve would sin – and then the pain and hurt when Adam and Eve when they sinned. Even though this was a part of His plan and He knew, I imagine He knew His plan would bring the Trinity pain and suffering.
• How about the pain of punishing them and sending them out of the Garden?
• I imagine our fall, every sin that followed the fall through all the offspring of Adam and Eve all the way to us – imagine His pain, this hurt likely dampening the tremendous joy the Father, Son and Holy Spirit experience.
• The pain each time we rebel and sin
• The pain God felt knowing the Son would be sent to live among sinners, lowering himself to serve us – coming for us as sinners – knowing the Son would take all the sins on Himself, spilling His blood in both physical and spiritual pain and agony – in order that God’s Plan be fulfilled
• God knew this as he conceived us before the foundations of the world right? He knew this as he knit us together in our mothers’ womb – we were perfect in that moment – yet God knew we would be marred and he would be hurt as we entered the world – Adam’s and Eve’s sin would stain us
• God knew the cost would be His Son Jesus Christ.
• And finally what about the pain God feels knowing that many will reject Him – and be lost

 
Yet, despite all this pain, in it we have hope – our hope is literally born out of God’s pain and His sacrifice of His Son on our behalf. And in that we are asked to have hope and joy – even when we pay the cost of discipleship or the consequences of our past sins – we know the joy because we know reconciliation with God has happened through Jesus Christ. Would not knowing that God felt the pain of our sin deeper than we could ever imagine increase or deepen our understanding of the love He has for us in providing the way for our reunion with Him?
 
I think sometimes we think all of this should be like a fairy tale – or a story without pain and hurt and sorrow. God knew His perfect creation required it go through the fire of pain, hurt and sorrow including His pain, in order that His creation is made perfect when we return Home to him.
 
It was no magic wand God waved to create us in perfection but rather He sacrificed for us from the beginning in ways we do not totally understand so we could stand and worship perfectly in His Holy presence breathing in His breath of Life.
 
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us going into this weekend is that we realize our lives, the crucible of pains and suffering are meaningful in God’s perfect plan to bring us home as transformed and made perfect children of God filled with the breath of our Creator! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick

Good morning!

My wife Kathy shared this with me several years ago. It spoke to her as to how the Bible should be regarded. What a great perspective on the Word of God:
 
THE BIBLE - A beautiful paragraph, found in the introduction of every Bible produced by the Gideon’s International:
 

• The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
• Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.
• Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy.
• It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. 
• It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword and the Christian’s charter.
• Here too, Heaven is opened and the gates of Hell disclosed. 
• Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.
• It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. 
• Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.
• It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.
• It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever.
• It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

 
I am reminded in reading this of Matthew 7:24-27 were Jesus shares – “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
 
If I do not have an unshakeable basis for my faith, I have nothing. When I came to faith, not only did I receive the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ, in that moment of transformation, I needed to decide if I trusted God fully which means not only making the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior but also accepting the written Word of God in the Bible as that rock foundation.
 
Here in Hebrews 11:8-10 you see the writer of Hebrews declaring God the designer and builder of the foundations of our eternity in the promised land where we will live with our designer and creator – “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”
 
Does reading scripture deepen your relationship and understanding of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ?

Does reading scripture leave you standing on rock and not sand?

I have found that when I read God’s Word, He is speaking and often directly to me.
 
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we go into this weekend is that each of us builds our lives on the foundations that come from God; His Word made Flesh, Jesus Christ and His Word as shared in the Bible! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick

Good morning!

These verses from God's Word caught my attention during a sermon I heard a few years ago.

• Matthew 13:3-9 “Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.””

Many of us have heard this part of the Matthew’s gospel and we know that what follows is the disciples asking why Jesus spoke in parables. We know from His response that, if our heart is hard our eyes and ears will be closed and we will miss His message and call to us.
 
I remember listening to a sermon where this part of scripture was the main focus of the sermon which looked at what this might mean to us - the idea being commitment (an inflexion point in our relationship with Jesus)…when we make our commitment to Christ, when we receive Him, surrender to Him, our eyes and ears are opened.
 
We know this is not a one-time event – that keeping our eyes and ears open means deepening our relationship with Christ – what makes that possible is God is now indwelling through the Holy Spirit.
 
So how can we deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ?
 
As I was listening, a clear thought came to mind about the idea of “good soil” or “rich soil”…our soil – our hearts become good or rich (we receive a new heart when we receive Jesus - our heart's of stone are replaced with hearts of flesh) when we spend time with God… through His Word…we can enrich the soil of our faith and how we live it every day, we can enrich the openness of the hearts (openness of the soil to receive and nurture truth) by spending time in God’s Word.
 
And for me, this thought becomes really interesting when you read John 1:1-5 and 1:14:

• “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

 

• “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

 
Here John shares that the Word of God is not just scripture, it is God and through Jesus Christ, the Word became one of us.
 
This seems to all tie together – even with Jesus back in heaven, we have God with us through the Holy Spirit and we have God’s Word in scripture which tells us the Word was God.
 
So if we want to enrich the soil of our hearts, open our eyes and ears, and to really understand and embrace our relationship with Christ, have our faith grow and be shared in the world and for Christ light to shine and overcome darkness…we need to spend time in the Word and with the Word (in prayer)– it will bring us to closer to God. 

We need to abide in Him...John 15:4 "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."
 
So much for my musings.

Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we go into the weekend is that we each are finding time daily to enrich the soil of our hearts, where our faith is nurtured and grown through the presence of the Holy Spirit, by being in The Word. Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick
​

Good morning!

The Lord has been speaking to me the last couple of days (well maybe the last several years...), convicting me of some lingering sin and of the need to change. And I praise Him for such clarity! The need for humbling creeps into my life often and the last few days/years God pointed it out.

This is so appropriate as we just walked through Holy Week, drawing near to the Cross, God’s Cross - and the Resurrection, His solution for bringing us home.

We need to be humble when we approach the Cross – because we know what Jesus Christ suffered – so that God could, through the power of the Resurrection, allow us to approach Him.
 
This conviction this week (and in the past) forced me to re-engage God’s Word and look again at what humility looks like from a Jesus perspective – so I love in those moments to turn to the image of Jesus kneeling before each of His apostles to wash their feet – as I imagine this in my mind, I see the love and humility of Christ pouring out into the room, humility on display as we should be humble…read and reflect:

John 13:3-17
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

I need to serve others humbly including those I clash with at times and including my enemies. It is just that simple – I need to live it out in all my relationships.
 
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we go into this weekend is that we find You speaking to us of how we can live to glorify You through humble, peace and love filled living that looks like You Lord Jesus – beautiful in expression of perfect love! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick

Good morning!

​Often, it is suggested that part of our time on Good Friday be spent pondering sin, our sin which Jesus Christ took on himself and nailed to the Cross, considering how we sin and why we sin, to repent and walk the other way from our sin.
 
As I was in prayer in the recent past, God put on my heart to consider “When we receive Christ we are born again. What does that mean?”
 
I found the topic of sin to be front and center in my thinking as a result of that question.
 
This led to me to consider the origin of sin. We find that in Genesis. In Genesis, chapter 3, we see the fall – original sin. God sends Adam and Eve from the garden, carrying their sin with them. We see clearly that sin being passed down generation to generation in scripture…no one without sin (Romans 3:12)…not one of us is righteous on our own merits.
 
So even today, as newborns come into the world, they start with the taint of sin going all the way back to the garden. We each started out stained – before we knew and received Jesus.
 
These thoughts brought me to Jesus speaking with Nicodemus (see John 3:1-15). Nicodemus is struggling with the idea of new birth, being born again.
 
This led me to the thought that of course we need to be born again…we need to be born without the taint of the original sin and all the sin that followed in our lives --- in order that we may stand before the judgement seat, clean and holy.

When we accept Jesus and receive Him, we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive His righteousness – and erased from us in this rebirth is that stain of original sin and for all other sins, past present and future, we are forgiven.
 
Wow – for me the new thought here that leaves me marveling at God’s amazing plan is that my sin rooted in the Garden is erased – this is the SIN that introduced death and spoiled creation and has touched all of us.
 
That is what Jesus was trying to tell Nicodemus – that is rebirth.
 
I may have this all wrong but I do know that rebirth does mean we have been made clean before God.
 
What do you think? I hope this has you considering these deep and precious gifts as we celebrate Jesus and His work on Resurrection Sunday.
 
Just an aside going back to Genesis, chapter 3, we see God make reference to the coming Savior, Jesus Christ, our ultimate salvation through the Cross and Resurrection, when He tells the serpent that his head will be bruised by the heal, and we know that is the heal of Christ.

This reminds me that the Cross, as we remember it this Good Friday and ponder what it means to God's kingdom and to His people, on one hand my sin put Jesus on the Cross, yet on the other hand Jesus in His perfect sacrifice washed me clean and gave me rebirth.

Jesus says as He completes His work - "Tetelestai" - "it is finished" - meaning God's plan to restore all things that were broken in the Garden in Genesis, chapter 3 will be restored by the perfect work of Jesus.
 
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that each of us are being led into a deeper understanding of depth of love displayed and given each of us by You and what you did for us on the Cross and through the Resurrection. We look forward to worshipping you this on Resurrection Day and every day! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick

Good morning!

I read a book a few years ago by Randy Alcorn, a pastor out in Oregon, founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries and an author of many books both fiction and non-fiction. This particular book is a work of fiction titled “Safely Home”. It is a story about what it is like to be a Christian in China today. One of the commentaries on the book is how accurately Randy describes what life is like as a Christian in China. That brought to mind the verse you see below, a verse I have shared before:

• 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

          Colossians 1:10-12
 
 
Here in the US we do not have the same challenges as those who live in more oppressive parts of the world (although in recent years we have seen some attacks and incursions related to faith, it is negligible in comparison).

So rather than endure a challenge, I know sometimes I want to be in a hurry and get to the end point of some effort really fast. It is challenging sometimes when projects seem to take forever – at least that is what I tell myself. But in China anything related to living out your faith is a challenge in endurance, steadfastness, patience and tears.
 
Often we point to God’s timing as the answer to our need to endure. Often for me, that is a great answer. In other parts of the world this is the only answer.
 
Sometimes, though, the answer is God wants us to endure, on His behalf, in the service we are doing in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ. In other parts of the world this is always the answer.

In many places our church has faithful mission partners, this is in some cases always the answer.

If you look at what we (our local churches) do through Christ, it hasn’t been a sprint, but a story of endurance, patience, often tears but many times joy! For our mission partners or others around the world that suffer significant oppression, this is their hope – not a sprint, but endurance in Christ, through Christ.

We each can take to heart though that each of us brings some level of our own endurance as a gift from God to what you do as members of the Body of Christ. How awesome is that. And that is beautiful.
 
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that we never forget to pray for those whose only answer is endurance in Your name, that we hold them up in prayer for Your strength to be life giving blood to their lives daily and that they know Your presence as we know Your presence in our work and endurance (when we need it)! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick

Good morning!

Resurrection Sunday is fast approaching. As we consider Good Friday and Jesus death on the Cross, He (Jesus) demonstrated the ultimate in gaining victory in spiritual warfare as He was fully obedient and trusting in the Father for victory over satan that day 2000 years ago when He gave His life - not just for us, but for the Kingdom, for restoration of all things!

I do not know about you, but most of the time I do not remember dreams. But the ones I do remember stick with me because of a) the content of the dream; b) how it might relate to what is going on in my life; c) some fear or terror I might have felt during the dream; or d) some physical manifestation that occurs during the dream.
 
I would suggest that sometimes, maybe often, dreams relate to spiritual things happening in our lives, possibly spiritual battles that we need to entrust to God. We need to wrap ourselves in His love, trust in our Savior Jesus in those moments – even as we retire at night to sleep, to rejuvenate ourselves for the day to come. I see these verses as speaking to me about how I can prepare myself before going to sleep at night – seeking His protection for my spiritual well-being while I sleep

• “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” – James 4:7-8

 
I am not sure you will find this funny, but a few years ago I fell (actually seemed to me like I flew) out of bed. I was having a dream and I had to dodge something in the dream and ended up on the floor…made me laugh (that morning…not so much when it happened that night). How does this relate to God and this verse from James? My heart was racing from the intensity of the dream and some fear I must have been feeling.

Life can make us feel that way so for me asking God to be with me in those moments brings peace and calm…stills my heart and in that, I can really feel the nearness of God. Paul spoke to us about spiritual warfare (see Ephesians 6:10-20 - putting on the full armor of God for battle) – it is real and can happen – even while we are sleeping.

So let us seek the presence and protection of Jesus at all times. Drawing near to God is a weapon against the darkness of this world, against the power of sin, against fear and a weapon that allows us to share the Good News and God’s love with our neighbors and our enemies alike.

Remember this as you prepare yourself - heart, body, mind and soul - to celebrate Resurrection Sunday!
 
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that at all times we look to you for our safety and protection, Your armor, allowing us to know Your peace as the evil one tries to distract us with fear and uncertainty. We trust in you Lord Jesus! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick

Good morning!

​When I first really realized God knows me, tears ran, at least they did for me.
 
I remember that moment that is not too far in the past, when I realized that God really does know me, He knows me by name. Just that fact is something that should make us joyful and secure in the knowledge that God loves each of us. Jesus shares in Luke 12:7 “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows”. God is talking about ALL of us – each of us is dearly valued by Him.
 
Here are some other ways God shares through His Word about how he knows and thinks about us:

1. You are each made by the hand of God, each unique – Psalm 139:13 - For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
2. You are loved by God; God cares deeply about you – and he wants us to know this! - so many verses speak to this - here are a couple – Jeremiah 31:3 - The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Ephesians 3:16-19 - I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
3. Each of us is special to God, within us a purpose – His purpose – Ephesians 2:10 - For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. And Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
4. As believers in His Son, we are important and precious to God, so much so he shares this in 1 Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
5. We know this truth, that Christ died so we could be forgiven our sins so we should remember this… and God back in the Old Testament shared this in Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
6. When we become believers we are no longer seen ugly in our sin but beautiful as we are covered in the blood of Christ – we are seen as a new creation – 2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
7. We are chosen – wow – John 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
8. We are now friends of Christ, daughters, sons of God, family – John 15:14-15 - You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. And in Hebrews 2:10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Ephesians 2:18-20 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
9. We belong to Him. Each of us has been called back to the Father through Jesus Christ in the same way we see Jacob called back and claimed by God in Isaiah 43:1 - But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

 
When I reflect on that moment I realized the depth of love involved in God knowing me, my heart was filled with joy to the point of tears because I could hear the truth of God’s Word being shared through the Holy Spirit that God knows me AND cares about me AND cares about how I use my life – the life he gave me – in service to my brothers and sisters – known and strangers.
 
There is just so much here about how amazingly God cares; what is shared above is just like one sliver of how God loves us.
 
One question for each of you. Have you had that moment in your life when you knew with certainty, that God knows you by name – really knows you?
 
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we go into the weekend is that each of us take our knowledge of God’s depth of love for us and we share it with one person – just one person! Amen!
 
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
 
Patrick