live generously

 What does it look like to live generously? We are called to live as Jesus lived . . . generously. After all, He gave everything so we could have eternal life with Him. He told us to freely give:

And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. (Matthew 10:7-10)

Nothing we have really belongs to us now that we belong to Jesus. So what are we holding on to anyway? Even our very life is in His hands! Being kind is one thing, but living generously is living a life out of love for God and others. 

Let's try that today and in the final days leading up to the Resurrection celebration. Just maybe it will become a lifestyle of living generously!

only human . . .

We are only human . . . not an excuse anymore, but a reason! Jesus too was fully human while fully God. We hunger . . . we thirst . . .  we get lonely . . . we get cold . . . we experience rejection . . . we even fail at times . . . so did Jesus! (remember Judas?)

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

Our human needs and desires go through cycles, sometimes hour by hour, week by week, and year by year. It is the same for us spiritually. Just like our desire to eat every so often, we need to desire spiritual food on a regular basis. As we experience rejection and loneliness, we need to turn to our Father Whose presence is always available. Our failures should cause us to turn to the Word for encouragement . . . God has a plan for us to succeed! (Jeremiah 29:11)

As Jesus constantly turned to His Father when times were challenging, we too need to be sitting at His table more often in order to be fed! What needs are you experiencing today? God can and will meet them all! After all, we are only human!

I can only do my best and trust God with all the rest!

What me . . . worry? What good will it do. I can only do my best and trust God with all the rest! While I know God has my best interest in mind, I still cannot simply sit back and think He is going to hand things to me. There must be some movement on my part as well. Many times, God is simply waiting for us to move, so He then can MOVE! As we go about serving and blessing others, He may just bless us with the wherewithal to continue to serve. That is how we then are blessed! 

So, seek to serve and allow God to handle things you need.

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:31-33)

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Friendship with Jesus

How do I get to know Jesus? Great question!  Well, how do we get to know anyone? How do we become friends?

• We have conversations . . . meaningful conversations with one another.
• We walk with them from time to time, spending quality time to get to know one another. 
• We listen to one another to hear what is in one another's heart.
• We follow along with them in life's journey.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.  No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit . . . (John 15:13-16)

Are we willing to invest in the friendship Jesus offers? It is a definite choice one must make. It must begin somewhere . . . some time. Is today the day?

"I am a friend of God!"

 What does it mean to be a friend of God? We hear it in song and we love to quote it: "I am a friend of God!"So, you're telling me that the Creator and Judge of this world is my friend? Many people do not even like me, but God is my friend? 

It is true. Jesus said so. As long as we pursue Him and abide in Him, we remain His friend. We seek Him, listen for His voice, and cherish the intimacy with Him. We follow His instructions and invite Him into every aspect of our lives, even in our giving to others. We must also trim away the things in life that are not like Him....selfishness, greed, lust and envy. As we do this day after day, the friendship grows!

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. (John 15:14)

Plugged in?

 Are you plugged in today? From what source are you receiving your power? Every thing in life needs a power source . . . electric, battery, the sun . . . . or The Son? Which is your power source? 

Many of us are more plugged in to our electronics than we are our Creator! Our smart phones, smart TV's, smart cars, and smart homes consume most of our time. Even our refrigerators can talk to us nowadays! We can control lights, alarms and more from long distance. However, those sources can run out at any time . . . ever hear of a cyber attack????

There is One Source that will never run dry. If we are plugged in, this Source gives us constant power. Who or what is this Source? It is God the Holy Spirit! Once committed to Christ, His Spirit lives and moves in every believer . . . if we remain plugged in! His power cannot be removed but must be used. We must stay connected!

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (John 15:5-8)

Chosen

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another. (John 15:12-17)

Remember what it was like to be chosen when picking teams or sides? Whether it was for a pick up basketball game, a school spelling bee, a scholarship, or even a job, that call meant so much. 

"I choose . . .  you!"

Well, just imagine this: God chose you and me! He hand picked us for His team. WOW! That means more than any other choosing in the world. Now, what are we going to choose to do . . . just sit on the bench or get in the game and go to work?

The GOOD life?

Everyone wants a good life, right? Sure, why not? But what is good? A better questions might be, "What is good enough?" We all want good health, a good family, a good job, etc. When Jesus was addressed as "good teacher" however, He said that no one was good but God!

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. (Mark 10:17-18)

So in actuality, if we really want the good life, we must become more like Jesus. We must want the things He wants and do the things He did. We must get to know Him better in order to be better! We must love one another, care for one another, serve one another and sacrifice for one another. 

To have the good life, our life must not be about you or me, but others! 

Breathing is spiritual

 Breathing is involuntary. We cannot decide to breathe or not to breathe. We can influence it of course, but not for long! Learning how to influence our breathing can lead to relaxation however. It actually unites parts of our brain to function together! While breathing can be both physical and mental, more importantly for us as believers is that breathing is spiritual.

God gives us each breath we take. Realizing this brings us aware of God in our lives. As we focus upon each breath we take, we realize just how much God provides for us!

He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ (Acts 17:26-28)

BREATHE God!

the gift of life

Who likes gifts? I know I do! What kinds of gifts do you prefer......food, gift cards, team collectibles, flowers, jewelry? Everyone has a preference. But what can be better than the gift of life? Without life, gifts would not matter!

God brought us to life through His will. In fact, every good gift is from God!

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17)

We are here because of God, not our parents. None of us are accidents. God gives us life and sustains life. We are not on our own! God loves you and me deeply!  

St Patrick....Lent 2022

 For Patrick (Succat),it was all about Christ and not the situation in which he found himself. He is all we need! Here is one of his prayers . . . 

Christ shield me today

Against wounding

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ shield me today against wounding

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Allow God to awaken our hearts and minds

 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.      (Isaiah 49:16)

We are His "beloved"! God is constantly attentive to what we experience in life. Knowing He is concerned about everything we do should cause us to seek Him even more. It should even change the way we see ourselves!

God's love for us is deeper than any love we have ever or will ever experience. Dwell upon that for a moment! Let's allow God to awaken our hearts and minds to who we are in Christ this Lent!

Religion or Relationship?

 Religion or relationship . . . what is your choice? We can choose to develop a religious habit of worshipping an idol or a building or we can experience a daily relationship with the Creator of the universe, whereby each day brings new encounters and surprises. We can commit to a schedule of worship or dedicate ourselves to deepening our relationship with the God Who holds us within His hands.

Do you know this God? Do you trust this God? Rather are you religiously seeking something to keep you occupied day after day? The God I know, as Paul states below, both gives and maintains my relationship with Him! He gives me life!

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. (Acts 17:23-25)

His family!

 We are His children . . . wrap your minds around that for a minute! Family is important. Whose we are matters. However, many today (including me) come from fractured, mangled, broken and unknown families. We have single-parent families, in and out parent families, foster families, adopted families, and non-nuclear families . . . and then we have our church family!

While God chooses where we are placed physically, we can choose whether or not we want to be in His family! Once in, we are in forever! No one can take His love from us nor His presence. 

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 10:28-30)

This should change one's perspective on life, no matter the challenges we face. We no longer need anyone's approval nor do we need to meet other's expectations. We are children in His family! I like the sound of that . . . who's your Daddy?

by our love...Lent 2022

 What do we do with His love? We share it everywhere we go! This is how people will get to really know the God we serve . . . by our love for Him and one another! 💗

Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35.)

The way we love demonstrates who we are. Jesus spent time with children. He reached out to the outcast (Samaritans). He fed the hungry. He accepted the rejected. He valued people! His love was obvious!

You gave me life this day over sixty-two years ago. I haven't always loved You, but You have always loved me. Lord, allow me to be more like You so others can see You in me and desire You for themselves!

How God loves us . . . Lent 2022

 I love me. Do you love you! 

Loving ourselves is a good sign that we understand how God loves us. As we get closer to God this Lenten Season through prayer, fasting, giving and simply focusing upon God and His character, we need to understand just how much He loves us. If we are to follow His basic commandments, love God and love people (Mark 12:30-31), than we need to understand that we need to love ourselves. Don't forget the second part of the passage: We are commanded as well to love our neighbor as ourselves!

It is important to know ourselves as Christ followers; our needs, our desires, our talents, our shortcomings, etc. God loves us just as we are. After all, He made us and He makes no mistakes. This Lenten Season, as you get closer to the Lord, get closer to YOU as well! Ask God to help you appreciate how He made you so you can be the best you and bring God glory in the process!

How does God see you and me? Lent 2022

 Ever wonder what God sees when He looks down upon us? I usually think He only sees my failures and sin. He must be disappointed in me! But that is NOT the case! We have to realize that God is our Father, so like any parent, He yearns to see us succeed and wants us to do so. He sees the potential in us, not our shortcomings. He sent Jesus to forgive us and restore us, so He sees our potential, not our past failures! His plan, if we believe in it and follow it, is to succeed!

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

 How does God see you and me? He looks upon with unconditional love and mercy . . . full of grace to forgive us, restore us and give us eternal hope! We are His kids after all!

Who am I? Lent 2022

 Searching for who we really are is something we all go through, no matter our stage in life. Often times we ask ourselves, "Who am I?" and "What am I doing?" Jesus too had these questions, but He knew where to turn. . . . to His Father! Remember in the Gospels when Jesus' life mission took on its crucial role? 

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

Whenever we are in doubt, whenever the enemy has us believing lies concerning our relationship with our Saviour, turn to the Father. 

Jesus never had to prove Himself to anyone. He never had to win anyone's approval but the Father's. He was focused on accomplishing the Kingdom work God had enlisted Him to complete!

So "Who am I?" "Who are we?"We are no longer slaves to this world . . . we are children of God! Cherish that thought for a moment!

https://youtu.be/f8TkUMJtK5k

How should we fast? Lent 2022

 How should we fast? Most identify fasting with some sort of denial f food for a period of time, as when Jesus. fasted forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11) However, fasting can also be about giving up anything that keeps us from Christ and our proper relationship with Him. It is not only a time of giving up, but giving back!

Whether it is giving up food or and activity, we spend that time we would have been eating (or  something else) and spend time with the Lord in prayer, song, scripture reading, etc. We can also use the expenses normally used on the activity and give back to a local charity,  a local mission, or even our church!

While fasting, we are also reminded by Jesus not to advertise it! It is between us and Him, not for anyone else's benefit! 

Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (Matthew 6:16-18)

So what is hindering your relationship with the Lord today . . . . food, language, sports, social media, relationships? Do we need to take a closer look at these things and spend less time here and more time with Christ and His Word? Have a conversation with Jesus today! 

How should we fast?

Do you really want to follow Jesus? Lent 2022

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:23-27)

It ain't gonna' be easy folks! Living the life of a Christ follower is a daily challenge! Jesus invites us to join is His suffering, not His celebrations. So, do you really want to follow Jesus? 

While the world tells us to be a go getter and make a name and a career for ourselves, Jesus calls us to serve others, sacrifice our will for His and others', and humility. It is not about our name but His name and the spiritual legacy we create.

This Lent, today, let's reflect upon what "taking up our cross daily" means. Do we really want to follow Jesus? 

The depth of sin....Lent 2022

In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19)

Death . . . mourning . . . sorrow . . . loss . . . regret . . . separation . . . loneliness . . .all the result of sin . . . my sin your sin, Adam and Eve's sin. The depth of sin can last for generations, even an eternity, but for Christ! 

Many around the world receive a cross of ashes upon their foreheads on Ash Wednesday as a sign not only of our mortality, but also our hope in Christ. Our sinful nature causes us to be at enmity with our God, yet Christ made the ultimate sacrifice to redeem our very souls.

God created man from the very dust of the ground and that is all we are without Him. Ponder that for a minute! No matter our talents, our portfolios, our degrees, our titles, our bank accounts, cars, homes and families . . . we are nothing but dust without God! 

The depth of sin makes me nothing but dust, yet the redemption provided by His death and resurrection makes me eternally whole and eternally His! 

Too "CULTURAL"?

Have we as believers become more culture followers than Christ followers? Are we now too cultural? While it is true we are in this world and need to reach the lost, we are not of this world! (John 17:16) It is a real challenge to reach the lost today. Churches are challenged to find ways to draw in the lost, especially our youth. There are so many half-truths being thrown around and semi-CHRISTian doctrine, that many of all ages are following the lies, thinking their soul is saved . . . not true! The Gospel is still the Truth!

Peter almost missed the point by sticking too close to culture. His cultural diet was keeping him from going to the next level of ministry with Jesus. He was comfortable sticking with the Jewish diet and those who looked like him and ate like him . . . until God reminded him in a vision:

Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 1In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. (Acts 10:10-16)

Cultural practices are not bad in themselves. Family traditions can be fun and enlightening. Yet if they keep us or others from the Truths of the Gospel, then we must not engage in such activities. Be careful of becoming too cultural and miss Christ!

. . . as I follow Christ

Making disciples of myself is easy . . . "follow me"! Making disciples of Jesus Christ is difficult . . . follow me as I follow Christ"! Many times, I am the worst example to follow! If one is to truly regenerated by the blood of Jesus, then that person is a CHRISTian, not a clone of me. 

God designed culture to glorify Him and we all have so much to offer to Christ and one another. If we all look alike, sound alike and act alike, then we diminish His glory. Agreed?

"We" are no longer Caucasian, African, Latino, American, Puerto Rican, Asian, El Salvadorian, black, white yellow, or tan. "We" who are transformed by the Spirit of God are now CHRISTians first! 

Paul said it best: "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ."        (1 Corinthians 11:1)

Who is following whom?