Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus
The love of our God is beyond words. He created us out of His love and the desire to share it with others. He was and is totally self-sufficient, but He has so much love that He could not help but share it. From the beginning He has desired to collaborate with us in the creation of human history. He gave us everything we would ever need, yet if you are anything like me, you rarely take the time to contemplate how amazing is our God.
Every day we read the news and it seems our world keeps going from bad to worse. It can be discouraging as we try and live for Christ on a planet that seems determined to eradicate His name from its vocabulary. Intellectually we know that God is in control and in the end He will triumph. Through our logical eye, however, we question how that will ever be possible in a world that seems to have simply gone mad. Good news seems even better than it is because it has become so rare. Newspapers and web sites are full of negative stories be it concerning the economy, war, or violence perpetrated against random individuals. Over time it becomes numbing to the point that we simply get used to bad news.
God created the first man and the first woman; He continues to place His fingerprint on every child born today. He has specific plans for each soul and has equipped them with a unique blend of skills, talents, dreams and passions. You are born loved into a world of hate. No matter what happens you can always return to the love of your Father. He crafted you and He cares for you. There is nowhere you can run from His love, no place you can hide from His gaze. He is with you at all times and in all circumstances. God wants nothing but good for you and longs to see you fulfill the purpose He instilled within you before birth. These are the facts for every person ever born. It is true when we embrace His love, and it is true when we reject it. It is true when we praise Him for our blessings, and it is true when we blame Him for our pain. We may change depending on our situation and circumstances, but God never does. He is constant and sure. He is trustworthy and longs to collaborate with you as you live out your days.
What if Jesus treated us as we treated Him? Would we still be in love with Him? Would we be willing to sacrifice anything, much less everything, to follow someone who treated us as we treat Jesus? Relationships are two way streets, and our relationship with Christ often teeters dangerously close to dysfunctional.
Photo courtesy of Alex Bruda
Ours is a relationship that is heavily one-sided, yet He continues to love us still. Do you ever wonder why? [Read more…] about Relationship Check
I recently had a conversation with Annette Biggers of the ministry, Heart4Africa. I came away amazed by the work they are doing and wanted to share a bit of their vision with you. Annette is a professional photographer who, along with her husband Mike, started the ministry six years ago. Mike and Annette attended Saddleback Church in California at the time, and were encouraged to reach out to other nations through the teachings of that fellowship. They soon developed a heart for Africa and have hosted many African pastors at their home over the last several years. Upon visiting Uganda, their hearts were broken by the very poor conditions of a local orphanage.
Knowing they had to do something, they pulled together funds to purchase a new home in a safer area in which to house the children. They partnered with a local pastor to run the orphanage for them. I cannot do their story justice in such a limited space, so I encourage you to check out their web site at www.heart4africa.org. Watch the mini-documentary detailing the creation of the orphanage by clicking here. [Read more…] about Heart4Africa