Posts Tagged ‘ Relationship ’
I will say to God, my rock,
Psalm 42:9, HCSB
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why must I go about in sorrow
because of the enemy’s oppression?”
It can feel like God is distant, especially when life is difficult and people mock our faith, but we know that He is always with us by the Holy Spirit and understands mocking and suffering. We can rest in His faithfulness.
The Lord will send His faithful love by day;
Psalm 42:8, HCSB
His song will be with me in the night—
a prayer to the God of my life.
God should be our greatest desire, and we can rest in His love and grace, seeking Him through prayer and praise by day and by night, even in our bed in the middle of the night and surrounded by fellow believers in church.
I remember this as I pour out my heart:
Psalm 42:4, HCSB
how I walked with many,
leading the festive procession to the house of God,
with joyful and thankful shouts.
God should be our greatest desire, and our time with His Church should be the reminder of His faithfulness and reason to celebrate His coming to us, pushing us to love Him even more.
I thirst for God, the living God.
Psalm 42:2, HCSB
When can I come and appear before God?
God should be our greatest desire, and coming into His presence through reading the Bible, prayer, and being with the Church are the start. Our hope is eternity through Christ.
17 years ago this day, God blessed me with an amazing helper and friend, my wife Caitlin.
She has been with me through years of want and years of plenty.
We have encouraged each other through college degrees, and she made it possible to finally finish my M.Div. after two attempts and two schools.
We have been members (or “members”) of six churches, four of which I have been in leadership roles of some capacity. She has helped me grow in Christ and as a leader, especially as a pastor. This has helped me step into a new pastoral role, and she is an amazing pastor’s wife.
I know she has grown in Christ, for I have seen it, yet I pray she continues to grow deeper in her love and commitment to Christ and in drawing others nearer to Him.
She’s also beautiful and has become quite the amazing cook!
To quote The Beatles, “and I love her.”
Thank You, Lord, for this blessing. May we be a picture of Christ and His Church.
I love you, Caitlin!
Signed,
Daniel
“Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:38, HCSB
When we put our faith in Christ and His work on the cross, He gives us the Holy Spirit who leads us into repentance and Christ-like living, including turning from sin, being baptized, and leading others to repentant faith.
Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25, HCSB
Though we are sinful, God made a way for us through Christ’s work on the cross. When our faith in in His work, the Holy Spirit fills us and guides us to love like Christ.
“All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.”
Acts 10:43, HCSB
Though we are sinful, God made a way for forgiveness of our sins through Christ, the one prophesied for centuries and who said Himself He is coming back. Let us spread the hope of forgiveness and Christ’s return.
But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name
John 1:12, HCSB
Though we are sinful, God made a way of redemption through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. When we believe in Him, we are adopted by His blood into oneness with God and called to bring others to faith.
God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
1 John 4:9, HCSB
Though we are sinful, God sent Jesus to live, die on a cross for our forgiveness, and rise again. His love gives us hope for peace and everlasting life, and we should share this with all people.
a simple man of God 