Posts Tagged ‘ Relationship ’
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior”
Luke 1:46-47, ESV
We find joy in Christ, and it comes in knowing He has saved us from sin and filled us with the Holy Spirit. Let us rejoice with our Immanuel.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14, ESV
We find joy in Christ, our God who became one of us. He came as a baby, but He grew into a man who took our sin and shame to draw us into relationship with God. Let us rejoice!
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8, ESV
God has given us His peace through Christ, restoring the relationship lost in the Garden, because He loves us.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
Psalm 8:3-4, ESV
God has said He will be with us, the Creator of the universe who can hold it all in His hand, wishes to live with us by the indwelling of His Spirit.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Romans 12:1, ESV
God has said He will be with us, and we invite this relationship when we repent of our sins and love as He has called us. Wonderfully, He is in us helping us along the way.
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.
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
Hebrews 5:8
Jesus demonstrated the understanding of the pain of serving God in this life, giving us the example as our High Priest so that He could present us to the Father.
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
Hebrews 5:7, ESV
Jesus Christ is our greatest example and High Priest, the one who cried out to the Father as a human and now delivers us from death to the Father.
May we properly revere our God.
as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 5:6, ESV
Jesus Christ is our eternal God and High Priest who presents us to the Father, because He was our faithful Savior who understands us.
He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.
Hebrews 5:2, ESV
Regular human priests and pastors (and all Christians) relate to all of us, because we are dealing with this life along with everyone else. Thankfully, we have a High Priest who knows us and welcomes us to God, because He overcame the things of this world as one of us.
a simple man of God 