12-31-13 “A Look Back at 2013”

Well, that’s it for 2013! Tomorrow it’s time to start a new file for GTWO. What an amazing year! I  personally would call 2013 a really bad year, but the fact that God saw our family through some really tough times actually makes this a really good year! (Only God can do that!)

My husband got bacterial meningitis (the deadly kind) in late January of 2013 followed by a long week in the hospital, ridiculous amounts of intravenous antibiotics at home for two more weeks after that, and a 4 month recovery beyond that. It was scary and sad at first especially in the hospital when he was unconscious for so long. (He was unconscious with his eyes open and involuntary muscle movements - very creepy to watch!)

*But then he woke up from unconsciousness and knew who we were. (God did that!)

*The medicine he received worked. (God did that too!)

*Our families were in a position to meet our needs: Rob’s dad was traveling with him and got him some awesome medical attention. Rob’s sister flew out with me to San Jose be where they were with only our purses in hand. My parents cancelled a trip to Hawaii and kept our kids, and my sister and her family also kept our kids - and kept them entertained and comforted most importantly.  And literally thousands of people (many we don’t even know) prayed for us constantly and continually. (Only God prompts hearts like that!)

*We got to come home to our kids and finish his treatment at home. (God made that work out!)

*Our church family raised funds for our hospital bills - every single bit of it was paid for us. (God certainly did that!) Side note: Did you know an air lift chopper from hospital to another hospital is  $34K?

*Rob stayed home with us while off work and enriched our school time and morning devotions. (God blessed that time so preciously!)

*Many wonderful people stepped in at church to help with Rob’s duties so he could stay home and recover. (God arranged all of that!)

*Rob made a full recovery - something his follow up infectious disease doctor said he’d never seen before. (God healed him miraculously!)

*We finished our school year on time, enjoyed a fabulous summer together, attended family reunions on both sides of our family this year making it possible to catch up with almost everyone we are related to in one summer! (God arranged that!)

*Rob returned to work and continues to thrive at his job encouraging many people each week with teaching and leading worship, keeping the facility up, and maintaining his influence on our school subjects at home. (God sustains him daily to do all that!)

*Rob and our 14 year old son, Josiah, were talking about how fun it would be to work on an old car together and a guy from church just gave them one out of the blue without even knowing they were in the market for one! (God!)

*We enjoy a beautiful home, warm beds, running water, a garden, cars that run, appliances that work, family close by, food on the table every day, clean clothes, and good health. (God, God, God, God, God, God, God, God, God, God!)

The list of provision and protection is numerous and phenomenal. God has certainly outweighed any bad that may have happened with an overwhelming amount of good! And only God can do that! Usually bad is followed by more bad. But for the ones who love and trust the Lord He promises this: Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (Matthew 6:33)

And He promises this: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28)

And this:  Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. (James 1:17)

I would love to encourage ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE, Believers or not, to find out how God wants you to live and live that way and watch him give you everything you need (Matthew 6:33). I want everyone to know that God makes really good things happen out of bad situations causing everything to work together for good and not for more bad (Romans 8:28). And the good things that happen are not a coincidence or just luck but the fact that everything that is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father on purpose (James 1:17).

Lastly, I found this to be true - and I do believe this with all my heart because God showed me in 2013 that everything I believed about Him to be true is really really true - Even if Rob hadn’t been healed or made a full recovery, I would still be able to look back and call 2013 a good year because I know God would have worked out any other scenario for good too. He can’t help it! It’s who He is, it’s what He does!

You see, when Rob was not conscious the doctors told us that some people stay like that for weeks and some even don’t wake up at all. That’s a horrible thought as we have 4 young kids at home. But the truth is this, I believe God’s Word. I believe Philippians 4:6-7 that says, Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  And then promises, Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. I found that to be true in the hospital - FOR REALS. I was given really bad news but had peace at the same time. How is that possible? (God does that! He has done it before for me and he did it again when I REALLY REALLY needed him to!)

Please feel free to share my experience with anyone who needs encouragement. If something bad happens in your life what is your plan? What can you rely on? In my experience, God was the ONLY option! Most people in Rob’s situation DON’T respond to medication, so I couldn’t rely on that. Most people out of work fall into financial hardships and we didn’t experience that. What we did experience was just like what God promised: Peace that exceeds anything we can understand. I can’t explain it, I won’t even try. But I want everyone to know it was not my imagination; it is real and really worth delving into a relationship with a loving Heavenly Father who promises and delivers GOOD to what should be a bad situation. (God does that! He REALLY does!)

I know that 2014 (and every year) will be a good year for all who trust in the Lord. He has no other kind of year in mind for us but GOOD!

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Dear God,
Thank you! Thank you so much!!!
Amen!

(The posted picture is one of the first pictures we took of Rob after his recovery about 4 months after he got sick. Looks pretty good!)

12-24-13 “Are You Crazy?”
Luke 2:17-20
After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.


Even if the shepherds intended to secretly and quietly go check out what the angel had said to them, they didn’t stay quiet about it when they found everything to be EXACTLY like the angel had said. And it’s the middle of the night (Luke 2:8)! After seeing Jesus, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child (Are they talking to strangers on the street in the middle of the night? Did they stop in a tavern? Are they telling their family members?). The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen (Then they went back to work, but I bet they didn’t stop talking about it!).

But Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often... I love to think about Mary and her responses recorded in the Bible. This here is an awesome response. She knows something amazing, more amazing than the miracle of childbirth, has just occurred and she is reflective. Not proud, not overwhelmed, not fed up, not a drama queen. Just reflective.

How about when the angel, Gabriel, first tells her she’s going to have a baby in the first place?

Luke 1:29-38 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

There’s no record of Mary being doubtful just confused. “How?” She’s just honestly curious how a virgin is going to have a baby. I can tell her response wasn’t cynical or doubtful because she receives a gentle response. The angels just details how it will be possible and simply answers her question. And her response to that is, “Oh, ok.” No wonder she’s pondering in her heart at Jesus’ birth while other people are busy being astonished. She has seen this whole thing through from beginning to end. She endured telling her fiance and living under scrutiny for 9 months. She was confident in the explanation given her. She asked a simple question: “How?” And got a reasonable answer: “For nothing is impossible with God.”

Contrast her response with other people’s responses to being told they will have a miracle baby.

Luke 1:18-20 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.”

Zechariah doesn’t ask simply, “How?” out of curiosity. No, he says, “How can I be sure...” I can tell his response is offensive because he doesn’t receive a simple gentle explanation. He is scolded and punished for accusing God of not being as logical as himself.

How about Abraham’s wife, Sarah’s response to baby news?

Genesis 18:10-15 Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’  Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, “I didn’t laugh.” But the Lord said, “No, you did laugh.”

Why does Sarah feel the need to lie, “I didn’t laugh,” if her response wasn’t offensive to the Lord who had already told her husband he would have countless descendants (Genesis 17:1).

There’s a big difference between asking God “How?” out of innocent curiosity and telling him, “Are you crazy?” out of doubt and arrogance.

It’s best just to believe like Mary did, nothing is impossible with God, and reflect on THAT!

Dear God,
NOTHING is impossible for you! Look what you’ve done! So when your Word tells me to return a curse with a blessing, or to submit to my husband, to not gossip, not cheat, not lie, turn the other cheek, and everything else that sounds weird to modern society - I KNOW nothing is impossible with you and I can obey you confidently and reflect on all you’ve done. I love you and I pray my responses are good and pleasing to you this day. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!

12-23-13 “How Could a Loving God...”
Isaiah 45:18-19
For the Lord is God,
and he created the heavens and earth
 and put everything in place.
He made the world to be lived in,
not to be a place of empty chaos.
“I am the Lord,” he says, “and there is no other.
I publicly proclaim bold promises.
I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner.
I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found.
I, the Lord, speak only what is true
and declare only what is right.

Rob used this passage in his message yesterday at church. It’s one of my favorites! This passages answers the conversation ender that unbelievers like to try and frustrate Christians with: How could a loving God let bad things happen?

Answer: God doesn’t want anything bad to happen. He did not create the world to be a place of empty chaos. Sin and the people who commit them have made the world chaotic where bad things happen not God. But God very kindly listed sins - behaviors to purposefully avoid - so the world wouldn’t be a place where bad things happen.

Instead, unbelievers state that the Bible is outdated without any authority to back up such a claim - just a societal consensus to make excuses for sinful behavior.

I would not have told (people) to seek me if I could not be found... The Lord doesn’t ask us to seek while he hides. In fact, he showed up here! God in heaven becomes who we are so we could become who he is (Anasthasian Creed). We are celebrating that fact right now at Christmas time. That definitely isn’t hiding. He lived in plain view, showed us how to live, and took the punishment for our sins.

So the question isn’t “Why does God let bad things happen?” Rob said the real question is, “Why did God let the most horrific things happen to himself?!”

Answer: So we could be forgiven and live in heaven with him forever! And in the meantime obey him and NOT live in a chaotic empty place where bad things happen.

Dear God,
Thank you for not hiding. In fact, thank you for being in plain sight as you lived among people and left your Word for us that is not missing, outdated, or obscure! I love you and thank you and pray for Believers everywhere to be bold to answer the question, “How could a loving God let...” with “Why don’t we all obey him!” I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

12-19-13
"God is Tolerant"
Luke 1:76-78 (Zechariah talking to John the Baptist)

“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us."


God wants us to find salvation, to be forgiven from our sins because of his tender mercy not because of his wrath. The list of sins we need to be forgiven from are included in 1 Corinthians not because God is mean and mad but because he has tender mercy towards people, and he wants us to be with him; and sin (this list) is what would separate us from Him.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Some of you were once like that... Paul is writing this letter to a church full of saved forgiven people - including people who used to do some of these listed things. If God were intolerant, if Christians were intolerant, then verse 11 wouldn’t be included right after a list of sins. 

Christians love adulterers, prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, cheaters, and drunks. We love them so much we want them to be right with God and live forever in Heaven. Don’t be fooled those indulging in sin will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

I suppose a drunkard or abusive person could raise a fist at God and say, “This is who I am. I don’t want to be with God if he won’t accept my behavior.” They have every right to do that. But why attack the messenger?

Just yesterday Phil Robertson from the A&E show Duck Dynasty got suspended for quoting this very passage from 1 Corinthians to a magazine. He didn’t even say it on the show, which is a comedy show not a documentary or reality show or religious program in any way. 

But we are not intolerant. Intolerance would mean there is no hope for you, sinner. You are rejected and unacceptable and God wants nothing to do with you. But that’s not what Phil or any of us are saying. We are simply saying, Don’t be fooled. Just because no one has been hit with a lightening bolt recently for their behavior doesn’t mean they’re right with God. He has decided what he will and will not tolerate. And he tells us because he loves us and wants us all to be saved. Firing Phil Robertson won’t change a thing.

Bottom Line:
The truth is that God is very tolerant. Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (Romans 2:4) And he delays Jesus’ return for this reason only: The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. (2 Peter 3:9) Including homosexuals. I know they don’t think they need changing or repenting, but God is saying they do, not Phil. We’re not judging, we’re just repeating out of love not hate.

Dear God,
How frustrating it is to live in a day where every idea is tolerated except for yours. Please forgive our intolerant and politically correct nation. It’s horrible. I am so thankful that you have shown us how to be made right with you whether we are free to discuss it anymore or not. Help us to be bold regardless of the momentary consequences, for at just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up (Galatians 6:9)! I love you and thank you for tolerating me! And I pray for Phil and his family and bold Christians everywhere to keep being bold in Jesus’ name, amen.

12-18-13 “We’re just telling it like it is!”
Luke 1:68-70
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.

During our family Bible Study last night Tim Keller pointed out in a video segment that the Christian religion is different from all other religions because Christianity claims exactly what the Bible asserts. The Bible says that God became a man. Jesus, who is fully God, expressed that he is God.

“Only God can forgive sins,” said the teachers of the law in Mark 2:7. And Jesus’ response, “I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. (Mark 2:10-12) Therefore, Jesus is God. He didn’t just say it, he proved it so they would know. 

Other religions claim their prophets (Buddha, Mohammed, etc) are God’s helper, God’s servant. None of them claim they are God, and had they made claims like that they could not be able to prove it. But Jesus made the claim and proved it.

God has come to his people and redeemed them!  That’s Jesus! His name Emmanuel literally means “God with us.” So Merry Christmas! Merry Christ-with-us Day!

Hebrews 1:3 tells me exactly who Jesus is. He is God. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

Hebrews 2:14-18 tells me why God expressed all he is as a man. Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death... For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Why did God become a man? For me, his child! For me not to be in bondage to the Enemy. For me not to be afraid of death. For me to have  my sins forgiven. For me to know what to do when I’m being tempted by following the example he set as a person for persons!

That’s why Christians are labeled as being intolerant of other religions. The One who proved that he is God (by rising from being dead) made it very clear that believing in HIM is the only way to have a relationship with God.

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 
(John 14:6) We’re not intolerant, we’re just telling it like it is!

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for who you are! Thank you for making it so clear! Thank you for your mercy and your sympathy. There really is no one like you! Thank you for making me right with God. Thank you for Christmas - the day you came HERE so that I can one day go THERE! I love you and praise you, amen!

12-13-13 “It’s Not Impossible”
Ephesians 5:1-2
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.



When Rob was teaching on Sunday he said that people are responsible for “destroying the evidence of God’s love by ruining the pattern God has set for us through marriage and family.” Isn’t that so true? Love your wives like you love yourself and respect your husbands (Ephesians 5:33) and do not exasperate your children (Ephesians 6:4). These are all behaviors intended to illustrate how God loves and parents us. And God intends for us to copy them. It is clearly the Enemy’s plan for marriage and family to disappear.

This makes me wonder about what other areas I could misrepresent God in because I choose selfishness, rudeness, bitterness, and unforgiveness over love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)?

I hope people see God and the joy, peace, and comfort that accompanies a real relationship with him through my behavior as I ask God to help me imitate the examples Jesus set for me to follow. It’s not impossible, right?

Philippians 2:13
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

It’s not impossible.

The Bible also says that nothing is impossible for God. (Luke 1:37) So I can be patient and kind, stay married, respect my husband and submit to his authority, and discipline and disciple my children properly. It’s not impossible.

Dear God,
Thank you so much for the joy and peace that accompanies living how you prescribe. I thank you that my relationships are illustrations of how much you love me and I pray for that pattern to be reestablished among Believers again. Help me not to be lazy or become indifferent but to faithfully share who your really are by my words and my lifestyle every day. I love you so much and I just can’t thank you enough. And I pray in your Son’s name, according to your good will. Amen.

12-12-13 “Best Boss”
Ephesians 2:8-10
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

1. Salvation isn’t some kind of reward for doing good things.
2. Salvation is a Gift from God.
3. Salvation is the way we have a relationship with God.
4. God has good things for his people do.

These truths are fundamental to the Good News of Jesus Christ. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:17). No other religion is like this in the entire history of all the world. 

Most religious systems are just that - systems. Their faithful followers do lots of works (tasks, sacrifices, giving, obligations) and then hopefully achieve nirvana, heaven, or the privilege of coming back as something else if they did enough works to please whomever it is they think they are trying to please. They do a bunch of stuff to get into the religion and then just wait and see. They work, work, work, and hope for a big payoff.

But God’s plan is like getting a paycheck and then working. And working for the best Boss in the world at that!




Christianity is the exact opposite of world religions and nothing even compares. Jesus just saves us with nothing on our part, nothing from us. He saves because he loves and he has great mercy and doesn’t want to see anyone deceived or destroyed. 




Titus 3:5

He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.




And we Believers are God’s masterpiece. And he has chosen to use us to do good works so others will see him too not the other way around.




God kindness, mercy, his Son, Jesus... There’s nothing like it!




Dear God,

Thank you for your mercy. Thank you for saving me out of unparalleled kindness and love. Thank you for having a plan in place, a way for me to live, a Guide for me to follow. I love you and thank you and pray that you will help me please you today out of an incredibly thankful heart. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

12-5-13 “Come and Go Freely”
John 10:7-10 Jesus said,
I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

I love reminders of why Jesus came! The world is so guilt ridden and full of shame that they have concocted God to be mean and cruel, a punisher or harsh task master. But when you actually read the Bible for yourself you find out why God sent Jesus and no cruel purpose was intended.

John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned.

God sent Jesus to save us, not judge us. We’ve already been judged as sinners who need saving, so God sent us the Cure not a punishment. Those who believe God is cruel are the ones who don’t believe in Jesus. They feel condemned because they are unless they repent and believe.

And look at who God sent to save us! Jesus! Those who come through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pasture. He came so we could believe God exists and the benefit to that is freedom! And good pasture aka: pleasant things! And a rich and satisfying life! That does NOT sound like punishment to me. Neither does it sound like God is mean or mad. It sounds like he loves the ones who love him an awful lot.

They will come and go freely... is just the opposite of what the unbelieving world thinks is going on in a Christian’s life. They think Believers are trapped and forced to follow a bunch of rules and that we are leading restricted bland lives. But we are not. We freely go about our business without fear like a sheep entering freely in and out of a pen to find food. The Shepherd is constantly watching the ones who belong to him and there is no way a wolf is going to get to those lambs. No, that doesn’t sound like God is mean at all.

Dear God,
Thank you so much for who you really are and that you are nothing like the raging angry  God or kind grandfather in the sky the world has decided you are. You are loving, and generous, and kind, and attentive. Thank you so much for sending Jesus so we can be free and looked after. I love being free and free from worry and well cared for and I thank you and praise you in Jesus’ name, amen.

12-4-13 “Why Are We Christians?”
John 8:12 
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” 


Some Christians find it hard to tell others why they are Christians. It’s something they feel, something they like, or the family tradition. But the answer to why Christians want to be Christians is simple:  The reason that Christians are Christians is because we get Jesus’ life.That’s wonderful!

We have received forgiveness from our sins and our guilt and shame gets taken away. But we also get His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, eternal life, and Holy Spirit. It is awesome! 

1 John 3:19-24 says:
Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

Did you catch all that in there? If we live the way Jesus shows (obey the light that leads to life) then we don’t feel guilty for anything because we aren’t doing anything guilt worthy. If we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence like Jesus does. And God gives us what we ask for because we have become His children through Jesus. And continuing a life of obedience and loving others results in our relationship with Him to remain ongoing for ever and ever!

THAT’s why I’m a Christian. 1 John 3:19-24 sounds really good to me!

Dear God,
Thank you so much for your Son. Thank you that you made it so that by believing in Him, I can have His life and all that comes with it! I love no guilt, no despair, no shame, love, patience, self-control, and eternal life. I am so glad you freely share these things with those who trust and obey you. I pray for the ones on my heart right now who are Believers but do not understand what literally is available to them because of Jesus. Help them to see that they get the Life of Jesus and be happy and not caught up in the circumstances around them. I thank you and praise you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.