Fresh and New

What is he thinking? So small, so vulnerable, so adorable. What could be going through his little brain?

Is he thinking about his next meal or nap time? Perhaps he is wondering who is going to pick him up and cuddle him, smothering him in kisses. Maybe he is watching his big sister and wondering how long it will be before he can do what she is doing.

What must it be like to see everything fresh and new? Every day is a new learning experience when seen through "new" eyes.

We can have that same experience by reading our Bible every day and walking close to the Lord. He opens our eyes so that we see things from a fresh, new perspective.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5, New International Version)

Wow! We, too, can see through "fresh" eyes, much the same as a newborn baby, discovering the many wonders in the world around us. We can gain strength through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! We can learn to appreciate the "newness" we see all around us. We can grow to become the man or woman of God that he wants us to be.

A Quiet Hush

In the quiet of the early morning hours, a hush fell over the trees, which were shrouded in a thick, dense fog. Everything took on an eerie appearance in the gray stillness. A few people were in the park playing Frisbee golf or feeding the geese. Even these could not break the silence that hung over the trees.

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." (Psalm 24:1, New International Version)

In the peace and stillness of the morning, I can see the Lord's handiwork in all that He has made. What better place to draw close to the Lord than in the quiet of an early morning?

Just do it!

Have you ever noticed that when a child does something out of the ordinary, they jump in with both feet? They don't stop to analyze what is going to happen or why they are doing it; they just do it.

They do it because they are ready and willing to experience new things. They do it because they are doing it with someone special. They do it.....because.

As we get older, we are less inclined to jump in with both feet to accomplish a task. We tend to analyze and evaluate and weigh the results before we even take a step to start the task. Why? It may have something to do with the fact that our minds are littered with "tasks gone bad". How many times has a simple task turned into a lengthy chore? A project that we thought would take a couple of hours takes a couple of days instead.

Perhaps we need some of the childlike innocence in our lives, the willingness to do and not worry about the consequences (within reason, of course!).

The Bible says, "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3, New International Version) There is a difference between "childish" and "childlike". Jesus wants us to open our minds and have the simple trust and loving obedience that is characteristic of children. These are character traits that are highly treasured in the kingdom of heaven.

Simple trust, loving obedience--character traits of children--these are the desirable traits in the children of God who long to share heaven with Jesus.

No Words Needed

When I made the decision to post this photo on my blog, I tried and tried to come up with a story to go with it. Then I realized that the photo doesn't need any written text. The photos says it all. I should probably explain that the rubber mallet was a birthday gift, and Les had just opened it.

Good News - Bad News - Sensational News

Unless you live in a cave, you cannot avoid the news. It's on television, radio, and you hear it from friends, family and co-workers. News about fires, floods, airplane crashes, murders, and so on. The media produces very little "good" news because the public loves the drama and wants to hear the sensational news stories.

Have you ever heard this lead-in on the evening news? "We start tonight with our top story we've been following for you today here on the News at 6. Jesus was born in a stable tonight and will bring peace and eternal life to all men."

Do you think this will hit the news? "Jesus was seen by every man, woman and child on earth today, as foretold in Revelation 1:7." Hmm, I wonder if that will be dramatic enough to appease the public desire for sensationalism.

We have the most sensational news on earth: the news of Jesus' soon return to take His people home. We are tasked with the responsibility to get this news out to the public. Jesus IS coming again, to rule the earth, to take us home....for eternity.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16, New International Version)

Let the light of Jesus shine in you and around you as you share the most glorious, sensational news of all.

Creation or Evolution?

As I gaze into the face of a newborn babe, I have great difficulty believing in evolution. I don't believe for one second that this beautiful child developed over millions of years of evolution from an ape-like creature. This perfect little being with ten fingers and ten toes is, according to the Bible, created in the image of God.

Open your Bible to the very first book, Genesis, and turn to chapter 1, verse 26: "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.'" It doesn't say to make man from an ape or an organism that will crawl up out of the sea onto the land. It clearly states that man will be made in the image, or likeness, of God. Verse 27 continues, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Creation or evolution--which will you believe? Regardless of which you choose to believe, they must both be accepted on faith. There are no hard facts on evolution--that's why they call it the theory of evolution. It's based on man's opinion of how it all started without any hard evidence. Creation, on the other hand, has a strong foundation based on scientific evidence.

Archeological research has proven that what is written in the Bible is based on fact. History also supports the evidence of creation, through the life of Jesus Christ as told in the Bible. Man has been provided with this written history, yet still he tries to fabricate the origin of the species and support the theory of evolution.

By definition, faith is belief that is not based on proof. If we choose to accept the Bible by faith as the historical record of creation, it gives us all the proof we need to support that belief.

Evidence of creation vs. the theory of evolution--which will you choose to believe?

A New Year and a Time for Renewal

In a few short hours, we will be heralding a new year: 2010. People will be struggling with their New Year's resolutions, soon to be forgotten or thrown aside. The new year always arrives in the dead of winter, when everything around us is lifeless.

Winter is a time when nature takes a break--growth stops and plants and trees enjoy a respite from producing leaves and blossoms. They "die" for a season so that they can be revived in the springtime, when the rains offer refreshment and renewal.

Our lives also have the opportunity to be refreshed and renewed, through the power of Jesus Christ. We can "die" for a season, asking Jesus to take away that which is old and corrupt and creating in us a new heart--a heart that longs for refreshment and renewal.

It's a choice that each of us must make on our own, choosing to live a life that brings glory to God and doing those things that please Him. The first step is to ask Jesus Christ into our lives.

"By the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." (Romans 5:18)