Category: Our Walk

Posted on

The Message

Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” John 14:6

“I am the Christ, the Son of God. What I am going to tell you, are Words of life. They are the key to your survival”

“Don’t be deceived, or mistaken, I am the only way by which a person can be saved”

“I know you. My eyes, indeed all of my senses, have watched your life. I have seen who you are, and I know that you are in need of a savior; someone who will act on your behalf, to watch over you in realms and situations far beyond anything that you know”

“I am the only way a person may be saved. For you cannot, by any effort or work, gain, what I alone, give”

“Every other way is falsehood. They all lead to nowhere, and ultimately, death”

“Seek Me, Jesus Christ, and you will be doing the most important thing in life’

“Follow my way, and you will be saved. For I am God”

“I am God, your Savior, and I love you”

“Your ways have always been known to Me. All of your good traits, and also the bad, and I love you, exceedingly”

“There is no other way by which a person can be saved, than through faith in Me, Jesus Christ, the Savior of all mankind”

“I know what you’re thinking. Your doubts and fears are known to my thoughts”

“Can I invite you to draw closer to Me, to consider My love for you, and to begin to walk in my footsteps?”

“If you do, then I will never leave your side. I will be there with you, and always uphold you, and bring you into my presence, alive, when you die”

“Indeed you will never die, for I will give you everlasting life. This I earned for you upon the cross”

“But, if you disregard My Words and My love for you, then you will not be able to share in My gift. For I cannot give salvation to someone who will not receive it”

“Know this, that all the world dwells apart from me. Only through faith, and by drawing close to Me, can a person be saved”

“This I give to you, if you so choose. It is only within my power, to do this, for, I am your God, Creator, and Savior”

“Will you come to me in faith, today?”   3/1998

Posted on

Rejoice! The Season of Renewal

Create in me a pure heart, Oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalms 51:10

Rejoice, all you who believe in Christ. Lift up your eyes towards heaven and be glad, for your redeemer lives and watches over you in love

The days of Spring and its promise of renewal have come. When the passion of our Christ overflowed upon the Earth, and changed our world forever

Rejoice, sing with all your heart, for His abundant love. Be glad, for you are the children of the living God. Brighter days await, they lie just ahead of you

Look unto the mountains, turn your gaze unto the heavens, fix your eyes upon Jesus, for He is your help and your savior

Let your joy burst out like the flowers of Spring, for He is for you in every way. With new eyes, look upon your King, Jesus Christ, and He will reintroduce you to His glory in surprising ways

He is our God, our creator, the one who knows us best of all. Jesus has walked with us through the darkness of recent times, and watched over us, to help us overcome every hardship

Seek Him, and be lifted up. Let His hands pull you up from the mud and the mire. Give to Him all the glory He so richly deserves

Renew your life, make this Spring a time to flourish and grow. Allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the greatness of God. Soak in the brightness of His Spirit, as you become more grounded in His truth

Jesus walks before us this day. He carries the banner of His Kingdom, and reigns victorious over all evil, darkness, even death

Rejoice, be exceedingly glad, all you who have faith in Him, for your inheritance lies in the Kingdom of God

Be consoled, all you who have mourned and suffered loss, because you will find comfort from the God of the universe. He will not forget or ever forsake you

Renew yourself each day that you live before Him. Turn towards Christ and He will be there beside you. Follow in His ways, through the leading of the Spirit and by the power of His Word. They will be as life to You

Our God will come to you and lift you up. He will give new wings to those who follow and seek His goodness and mercy, who humble themselves before Him

For these will become as living lights shining forth His truth and righteousness, as they live out a life manifested by their faith in our savior, Jesus Christ

Rejoice, all you who believe in the one true God. Lift up your spirit and be glad, for our redeemer, Jesus Christ, reigns above all the earth.  3/13/2021

Posted on

God’s Honest Reminders

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared for us in advance to do. Ephesians 2:10

I was created by the God of the universe. What He made in me was more than what I’ve made of myself

I sulk and waver, procrastinate and seek after things with no meaning. My purpose is often lost on the wrong things. But, God still loves me

He gently nudges me and shows me the way I should go. In prayer He inspires me, showing what we could accomplish together; marvelous things in His name

Yet, I hesitate and stumble. My walk becomes a crawl, then I slumber

Thankfully, God has been patient with me. He has forgiven me a thousand thousand times, and lovingly forgot my wrongs and the things I have neglected, while encouraging me daily to do my best in love for others

He is honest enough to remind me what could have been if I listened to Him and followed the course He had laid. In kindness, God tells me there are still great things to do

His path is not like mine. It is like traveling upon a stream of the purest water to places of beauty and inspiration. Where life becomes a wonderful adventure

But, I have travelled the rutted and worn dirt roads. The trails of false hope and empty promise, where I labor without adequate reward

Lord, when will I ever learn to trust in Your judgement? When will I understand that Your ways bring life, but mine continually lead me to bitterness and despair?

When will I begin to live up to what You created in me? Such potential, and yet I have manifested mediocrity?

When I feel this way, Lord, I feel as if I’ve failed You, and yet You only send encouraging words back to me. You remind me that You love me, that I am on track, and to never let go of the bond of love between us

So I press on, imperfect as I am, yet made new in the power of our Lord Jesus Christ

Praise God for this incredible gift and for His Spirit that leads us; for His Son who has saved us, and for His love and forgiveness that transcends all of our wrongs and shortcomings, continually leading us forward on the paths of eternal life   3/27/2001

Posted on

Psalm of Surrender

“If any person be in Christ, they are a new creature: old things have passed away.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Today, this day, I give over my life to God

My right, to myself, I freely give to You, for I am not my own

You formed me from this earth, and breathed life into these lungs. You placed Your Spirit into this body, and set me here, to walk amidst this place

There is nothing I have that was not given to me by You

Why am I here, at this place, in this time? Is it not to praise You, and to lift Your name up above all names; to bring honor and glory to You, oh Lord, for You are holy, above all things

I am nothing, filled with sin, but You filled me with Your Spirit, and placed a joy within my heart

Your presence amazes me. That you, who are above all, and who dwells, even beyond all creation, would spend time with one so lowly

My spirit sings praises to You. I lift up my hands to honor Your Name. For you are my God, you have blessed my life to overflowing

I cry out Your name and feel the presence of Your Son. His love and righteousness hold me. They keep me safe from harm, and give me hope within eternities span

How glorious is our God! I am amazed at the depth of His goodness

Today in humility, I give myself to God. I let His perfect will be the light that guides me, and His love, the strength that moves my feet

May every particle of my being be given over to Him, so that I may glorify my God and my Maker. 4/9/2006

Posted on

Turn Towards God

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19

Turn towards the Lord and He will direct your path. Turn towards Him with every choice you make and He will make your life sound.

Cease from listening to lies and from giving in to destructive behavior. Let God heal you from the inside out, so that you might be made complete in every way

There exists a din of persuasive noise that tries to lure us with deception, so that we might be swept from His way.

But you, stand strong. Live in opposition to that which wars against God. Make a stand, when sin tries to persuade you from the truth. Grind sin beneath your feet, as you walk in the ways of the righteous

Let the love of God be your guide, not the selfishness of sin; which will drag you down, and also, those around you

There is great hope for those who follow the Lord, and goodness will bless those who trust in His will for their life; but to those who fall into the ways of sin, great trouble will surround them.

Trust in God. Turn to Him at every fork in the road. For He knows the way in which you should go

God will bless your life through His wisdom and by His love, but sin, will make you an embarrassment, it will leave you weak and full of doubts

Turn again and again towards God, for He alone holds your life in His hand. Believe in Him, because He is the only one worthy of our faith

Return to His way each day. Do not grow weary, or think that your faith does not matter. But be renewed each day as you seek Him in prayer and in study. Be guided by His Word, and by His righteousness

When I have sought my own way, I found my life filled with trouble and turmoil. But, as I learned to trust in God’s will for my life I found great peace, understanding, and blessing. 12/29/2006

Posted on

A Conversation

Thorncrown Chapel, Eureka Springs AR
For this is what the high and lofty One says- He who lives forever, whose name is holy; “I live in a high and holy place, but also with those who are contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite”.

My life is continually before You, Oh Lord. Every particle of my being is known to Your Eye; and yet I don’t always see the face that so loves me, and my thoughts are often on earthly things

How far, oh Lord, am I from You; yet Your thoughts are always upon me

Even though I seek You diligently, my mind is apt to wander; and though I often spend time in prayer, I can lose sight of You

As I make my way through life, I realize more each day just how weak I am, and how dependent I am upon You. For my life is held in Your hand. You could crush it out, but all I have ever felt is Your love and Your power

If You were to judge righteously, my life, and how I have managed it, You would not be found too harsh if You were to give me the stiffest of penalties

But, in all that You have done, I have found only gifts of forgiveness, second chances, and the chance to live the fullest life imaginable

Where do I go from here Lord?

It’s hard to believe that You have not grown tired of me asking that question. But I am reminded, that You have a plan for me, as You do for everyone

Help me to have the courage to follow Your ways, and not my own. Remind me of how futile it is to strike off in my own way, and strengthen me to know that Your way is always the best path I can take

You hold my life in a vise grip. I cannot wander far before Your Word reminds me of the route I should take

I praise You that You care enough lay hold of my life, and I thank You that You have never let me go, even when I have struggled with all my might against Your grip

I do not know what the future holds, only that someday You are going to send Your Son back to us. Someday, I am going to stand in front of You, Jesus; and I don’t know if I am going to be able to look You in the eye. For I would be undone by You. There is nothing worthy enough within me to stand in Your presence

But, You have placed Your Spirit within me, and it is preparing me for that day.

The very Spirit of Your being dwelling inside of me, attesting day by day of the incomprehensible goodness that is in You, that leads me to live out that goodness in my life

Lord, You have formed me from the dust of this incredible universe, breathed life into my body, and placed me here in this time and place

No doubt, You have a purpose for my life. I know now that it is not always to achieve the success of mankind, but to live out Your loving ways day by day throughout my life; and to continually seek to glorify Your most Holy Name.   1997

Posted on

The Connection

But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 1 Corinthians 12:20

The famous naturalist John Muir once said, “If you pick out one thing in nature, you will find that it is hitched to everything else in the entire universe”. It is an astounding thought. No matter what you look at, you will find that it, in one way or another, it has a connection with everything else. The beauty in it is that the connections come in various ways and in an almost infinite number of means. There are the cycles of nature, placed into the fabric of God’s creation, that transport energy and matter from one place to another. Within these cycles, are checks and balances, that regulate their flow in particular ways, based on how God has placed His physical laws. Every movement in this natural realm, each life, every person and believer; has an effect on the rest of the universe around them. Most often, these effects are at levels beyond our perception and understanding. However, all that we sense, every interaction within this world and with others, is our conscious part of this equation of connection within God’s creation.

When I am working in my garden, I can see how it is uniquely placed within the matrix of creation. Energy and matter are shuttled in and transformed by the life that lives there, then flow outward in various ways. I can see this transformation taking place in the compost pile, where last years leaves full of nutrients and latent energy are changed by the actions of bacteria, earthworms, and fungi. I see the bright green leaves filled with Chlorophyll absorbing sunlight to create sugars that fuel a whole host of reactions that build the plant, flowers, and fruit. And then there are all the millions of ‘guests’ who come to visit and chew on the leaves, sip the nectar, suck on the juice, fix nitrogen in root nodules, steal my just ripened berries, or grace the place with their beauty. It is an amazing miracle, what takes place in the ordinary garden.

Yes, everything is connected, and ultimately it all is connected to God. Think of all the infinite number of events that happen around us, both big and small. Consider the storms and the calms; the brightest days and darkest nights; the basic processes in nature and the dynamic revolutionary actions of DNA. The list is endless. Everything is connected, and we all connected to the God who created all things. He moves by the power of His Spirit throughout the entire world, and out into the farthest reaches of the universe. There is no place where He is not. He dwells even within our gardens, and especially so, within our hearts.

God knows all the subtle connections that tie together His creation. It is amazing to see just how gently He works, but also, how awesome are the results. A nudge here and a  jostle there, and a whole series of events is set in motion like a building wave. They culminate in carrying out His will to His glory and honor. God speaks with a still and quiet voice. He can move things with the gentlest of breezes, and yet His strength is beyond our comprehension.

The Church, the living body of Christ, is also interconnected in a tightly woven fabric. Even the most insignificant church and every poor unnoticed believer, has great value and importance to the health of the whole body. We suffer together the hardships of other believers. Together, we rejoice when others are uplifted and God is glorified. Each member is responsible to the whole. We are not islands, but more like one continent in Christ. In God’s eyes, we are both individuals, and parts of one body that makes up His church. Always connected to one another, and never separate from Him who made us to live.

Posted on

Our Reason to Praise

Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty. Psalm 104:1

 

Holy is the Lord God Almighty. He reigns over all the earth, and all of His creation

Our Lord looks out across the universe and sees that it is good. By His will it was created, along with all the things that exist within it

He formed all the nuances of light, motion, and matter. It was His thought to blend them to be just as they are, so that awesome formations like galaxies, black holes, and solar systems would exist; and so that life could spring forth to praise and worship His name

Holy is our God who made all this to be. He exists in every dimension He has created

Our Lord, and God, blesses everything that is, because He loves all that He has made. Glorious is our God; through the creation He has given us life. When we observe what He has done we cry out to Him, and praise Him for His wisdom, power, and love.

You are worthy, oh God, to receive all honor, and glory, and praise. For we amount to nearly nothing in relation to what You have made. We are but a breath, a small flash of light against the backdrop of the creation; inconsequential, but you have given us meaning for our life

For You, oh Lord, have considered us, and come to us. You have blessed us with Your Word, and sent to us Your very own Son as a minister and savior, so that we might live in harmony with You, forever

How great is Your love, it stretches out across all the universe. Yet, has become focused here upon this earth, our home; the place that You made for us, and for the life we share this planet with

Therefore, we give you our praise; we worship You alone, oh God. For there is nothing else as worthy as You

Great is our God, the One who has created all things. By Your will they were created and have their being. We bow before You and acknowledge that You are our God

We lay down our pride and possessions. The power that we thought we had over our life, we give to You.

The little strength have, we turn over to You, oh Lord; so that Your will can reside in us and allow us to consider You always, that we might receive Your love and live near Your throne, forever

Great is our God, and worthy of our praise. We were created by You, and in You we have our being. May You alone receive all our honor, our glory, and our praise

For You are our God and You love us and have blessed us with the gift of life. May we understand the depth, width, and height of all this, so that we might glorify You all the days of our life.   1/5/2021

Posted on

Hope For This New Year

And we, who with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Arise, all you who trust and believe in the Lord God Almighty. Stir yourself and awaken to this new year. For there is hope for our future, and brighter days ahead

The wisdom and goodness of our God will lead us; He will show us a way, for He loves those who trust in Him and cares for every believer

He calls out to us so that we might follow His ways; and encourages us to pray and study His Word, so that we might be instruments of peace and goodness

His Spirit is with us, to lead us on pathways of healing that fosters renewal and mends divisions between us

Praise our God and seek Him, for He is just and will guide us in the best course

Arouse your heart and your mind to create a spirit of forgiveness. First, towards others, and then to mend a wrong spirit within you.

Confess these to our God, and seek His forgiveness. Repent of anything that does not side with His nature. Align yourself with the perfect power of His love, for it will be as healing you, and to those around you

Become a living blessing upon this earth, so that God’s will could be made real through your life, and so that its goodness might ripple out across our land

Arise, awaken His life within you. Lift up your spirit to meet His. Praise Him, and thank Him, for allowing you access to His heart

Cast off the Spirit of blame, and seek a way to mend divisions and distrust

Denounce any scourge of hatred of others that resides within you. Replace it with understanding, for we all share the same needs; we all require love and care to survive in this world

The Lord, our God, calls out to every one of His believers; He speaks to those who call upon His name

He whispers to us in gentle words that pack infinite power; they are strong enough to break down the walls between us, and convey truths that can melt away our fears and anger

God brings us to the realization that His Wisdom is greater than ours; that we are weak and easily misguided

Arise, all you believers, go before your God; seek peace and harmony, for our God is a God who values peace far above conflict

He is a God of love, not hatred. He wants to draw all people towards His truth, so that His love would be all in all throughout the world.  1/19/2021

Posted on

There Is Proof All Around Us

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Each day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2

 

When I see wonders throughout all of creation, it is proof enough to me that there is a God

Clouds streaming across the sky, even from beyond the curve of Earth’s horizon. Some form before my eyes, others shrink and disappear altogether

And in the distance, mountains rise up in their own quiet strength, beckoning me to explore their lofty reaches.They are not so much places where the Spirit of God resides, but temples, filled with the inspiration of beauty and solitude; places where God can speak to our hearts and reveal a measure of His glory

There are countless marvels within this creation. If we take the time to look and to explore, then we will become convinced of the priceless value of God’s creation

Who can gaze up across the expanse of stars that are spread out across the vastness of the heavens, and not be shaken deeply within their soul

Or, who can attempt to explain their place within the reaches of the universe, without being humbled by the scope of its magnificence, after looking at the small size our footprint

What man has learned about this place sheds light on the awesome power of God

But, there is so much more. God only knows the wonders He has formed, that we have not yet seen or explored; or barely determined, through the efforts of our curious minds

God is due our honor

He is worthy of our praise

The Most High is great beyond all measure. Give thanks to Him for what He has done

It is sufficient that I experience His presence; that I feel the touch of His Spirit upon my life. That I know without a doubt, His goodness and love towards me

And, it is proof enough for me to believe, as I contemplate His Word and His promises, because, I have experienced how His instruction has changed my life; To live in a way that is so much different than before.

I believe in His love for me. I have hope; and I know, each day, the blessing of peace and joy

I also trust in God, because all of life and creation validates Him, and proves to my heart, that there is nothing more important than to have faith in Him.   10/7/2007