Archive for the ‘ Relationship ’ Category
God is in control.
He’s got this.
Regardless of who is in power.
Trust Him.
“The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8, CSB
I wrote a thing about some of my trip to Kenya, and I shared it with Domain for Truth while Jimmy is overseas.
Go read it there!
Daniel
Note: This is a guest post since presently I am overseas. This is by Daniel M. Klem. His blog be found here. Mixed Bag of Christian Nationalism? (No, not the USA) I was invited to speak and preach in western Kenya in mid-August 2024. Many churches were involved, including many Kenya Assembly of God congregations. I […]
Mixed Bag of Christian Nationalism? (No, not the USA)
As an overreaction to the feminist movement there’s a lot of talk these days about manhood among some quarters online. I think there’s a place for being tough as a man of God. But there seems to me a lot of hype and edgy online contents that is more LARPing than real biblical manhood. And […]
Moscow Mood: Middle Finger?
From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!
Psalm 113:3, ESV
God has shown His faithfulness and goodness, first through the consistent reliability of nature but mostly through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
All this happened
Psalm 105:45, CSB
so that they might keep his statutes
and obey his instructions.
Hallelujah!
God showed His faithfulness and goodness by redeeming Israel and showing His nature through His commands. He has shown us His love and expectations, and He proved them through Christ. Now He empowers us to love, rejoice, and obey while sharing this gospel with the world.
For he remembered his holy promise
Psalm 105:42-43, CSB
to Abraham his servant.
He brought his people out with rejoicing,
his chosen ones with shouts of joy.
God showed His faithfulness and goodness by keeping His promise to redeem Abraham’s descendants. We can rejoice like Israel that God has remembered His promise and saved us through Christ and empowered us to rejoice and share this good news in this world.
He opened a rock, and water gushed out;
Psalm 105:41, CSB
it flowed like a stream in the desert.
God shows His faithfulness and goodness by providing water for Israel while the wandered in the wilderness. Likewise, He shows His faithfulness through Christ and empowering we who believe in Him with the Holy Spirit to remain faithful in sharing the gospel.
I got to thinking this past week about my mom. She would have been 63 yesterday.
My brother’s 10th anniversary was on Tuesday. They got married in a large room down the hall from mom’s room in the hospital, because we knew, barring some super-amazing miracle, she was going home to Jesus. The hospital staff was amazing, clearing the room and helping with decorating and some of the food. (A celebration of love and life is probably very welcome in that ward!)
10 years later, my brother and his wife have a house, some pets, and two rambunctious and adorable boys (the oldest starting Kindergarten this month.)
I think about that mom got to see me start teaching in Special Education (self-contained autism classroom), but she missed my then going on to get a masters in education and teaching 7th Grade Algebra and later some courses at Grand Canyon University (GCU).
She missed that I not only grew to enjoy coffee but become a barista and business owner.
She missed when I entered paid ministry as a Youth Pastor (and eventually an elder for my congregation) . Add to that the apologetics speaking I routinely do, including a YouTube channel to go with this blog, and eventually achieving a dream of teaching at a college, specifically Christian Worldview at GCU.
There are many things I know she would have loved to see happen in my life that I wish I could share with her.
But I also remember all the conversations had 10 years ago with people who used to “hate God and religion” but had come to faith or at least became more friendly toward Christianity all because of her. That had been her just 14 years before that. (Take it from one who took a lot of her badgering and questions!)
I remember seeing a church filled to standing room only to celebrate her life and share more of those stories.
I like to think there was so much more she could have done in this world, but I’ve talked with hundreds of those lives God used her to change. I think the fact that I have been used to impact hundreds of lives, and I talk about the role she played in that with many of them.
Do I miss my mom?
Absolutely! Is it everyday? Not anymore. Some days are so busy that I barely have time to remember my own needs! (Youth Pastor/Elders, Worldview instructor, and back in seminary.) But most days she is remembered. Even by friends who barely met her or only talked to her on the phone.
Actually, more often than not, I think about the fun we could have in any moment, how she would have responded to a situation, and – most importantly – the fun we’ll have in eternity.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. [14] For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, ESV
Her legacy definitely continues through many who still praise God because of her life and so many other reasons, and, if not for her, I wouldn’t be here. I thank God for her life and the glory of God that is spread because of her life.
Was she perfect? Absolutely not! But she drew near to God for the last 13 years of her life, and that has made her perfect in Christ’s righteousness.
I long for the day we can praise God together face to face.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12, ESV
The only true source of power, authority, and faithfulness comes from our Creator and Savior. Thanks be to God that He also empowers us to remain faithful by His power and authority as we seek Him.
a simple man of God 