Posts Tagged ‘ Relationship ’

Double-Baker’s-Dozen Re-Birthday

On this day 26 years ago, at 6:46 PM CST, I bent my knee to Jesus as Lord and Savior. (If you do a search on this site for “birthday”, you will see the various explanations.)

I like to call it my Re-Birthday, as we call faith in Christ being born again. This comes from John 3 and 1 Peter 1. I encourage everyone to remember their own re-birthday (and if you aren’t sure/can’t remember, just claim your baptism day or your birthday.)

I also like to bake some sort of cake and then serve it to others as a way to teach self-sacrifice and becoming a servant to all as our shared salvation is celebrated.

Sometimes it’s messy, or we’re still a little crisp on the sides, but we have a sweet salvation.

This year, I am still helping teach Christian Worldview and Intro to Philosophy courses with 270 students (+46 for a CWV class I am covering for 2 weeks for a friend who had surgery) who were all born after this momentous day in my life. (I am also taking classes with fellow seminarians who also were mostly [not 2 of about 100] born after this date!) It is also in April that I am set to finally graduate with my M.Div.

There is a good probability I will be serving at a new congregation this year, but (as of today) it is still purely in God’s hands.

It is a little weird to think that I have been a Christian so long, especially having come to Christ as a teenager and now working with teens and 20-somethings as a youth pastor and college instructor.

God is so good.

Also, it is my mother-in-law’s birthday, so join me in wishing her a happy and blessed day! If not for her, I would not have my wife!

Also also, it is my friend Fletcher’s birthday. We met in seminary. He’s a TheoBro of the highest order.

God bless you, and remember that Jesus Christ is the reason we live and move and breathe and have meaning and being!

Be excellent and party on!

VerseD: Hebrews 12:2

keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2, CSB

We find joy and peace by remaining focused on the joy Christ could see on the other side of the cross, knowing He took our shame and punishment on Himself to bring us into fellowship with God when we believe He saved us from the curse of sin and is always with us.

VerseD: Malachi 4:6

And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers.  Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

Malachi 4:6, CSB

A life of holiness relies on Christ in all things, especially our relationships. As the Father has brought restoration to us in Christ, He will help restore relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and enemies.

VerseD: Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice.  Correct the oppressor.  Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.

Isaiah 1:17, CSB

God is love and desires to be with us, and He has called us to follow Him in bringing peace and justice to this world by inviting others into relationship with Him.

VerseD: Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28, CSB

God is love and desires to be with us, and He calls us to find peace and rest for our minds and souls in relationship with Him through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, giving us hope of eventual physical rest for eternity, as well.

VerseD: Luke 9:23-25

Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it.”

Luke 9:23-24, CSB

God is love and desires to be with us, but we must admit we need His life and forgiveness, that we have no real control over our lives and need Him. He offers new life and relationship through Jesus and empowers us by the Holy Spirit to grow in faith and love others.

VerseD: John 20:21

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”

John 20:21, CSB

God is love and desires to be with us, and He showed this by becoming one of us to save us from sin and now sends us out to share that love with others and bring thwm inot relationship with Him by the power of the Holy Spirit.

VerseD: Ephesians 4:29

No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29, CSB

God is our Creator and Savior, and He frees us from fear of others, giving us compassion and love for others that should make us want to speak kindly and with grace.

VerseD: Matthew 2:10-11

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 2:10-11, ESV

God showed His love through Jesus, our God made flesh, worshipped by commoners and kings alike. Let us love the One who loved us enough to come as a baby to grow up to take on our punishment.

VerseD: Galatians 4:4-5

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Galatians 4:4-5, ESV

God has shown His love through Jesus, coming at just the right time as a human so that He could redeem us through His life, death, and resurrection. He has adopted us through Christ and sealed us with His Spirit.