A New Tattoo

 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." Isaiah 49: 15, 16

    From her earliest memories, Meghan Connors was sold by those who were supposed to take care of her. At age 31, she had never known anything but trauma and abuse. Any attempts to gain freedom were met with beatings and unwanted tattooing to remind her that she was owned. Her body paid the bills.

    One day, with the right mixture of guts and circumstances, Meghan broke free from her physical bondage, but it wasn't until she met Jesus Christ that she truly became a new creation. She found love for the first time. 

    To aid in putting her past behind her, she had her tattoos covered over with beautiful new ones of her own designs. As the artist worked to complete the task, tears freely flowed as Meghan released her pain.

    Just as a fresh blanket of snow covers the muddy ruts of a scarred land, the blood of Jesus washes away our sins, our bitterness, our painful hurts and traumas. What happened to Meghan is a perfect illustration of what it means to be redeemed: Jesus paid the price to buy us back from slavery and bondage. "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36) 

    The lyrics of a Gaither song come to mind: "Something beautiful, something good; all my confusion, He understood. All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife, but He made something beautiful of my life."

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name. You are mine." Isaiah 43:1

      

Seeds of Promise

 "Then God said, 'Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seeds in it, according to their various kinds.' And it was so." Genesis 1:11

    After paring a pear this morning, as I gathered up the stem and core, a small brown seed captured my attention. It was a tiny, tangible reminder of the faithfulness of God; a promise within a seed. Every since He created the world, pears have been providing the necessary seeds for more pears without fail. That seed in my hand, if planted would not produce an apple tree, nor would a stately oak emerge. No, just as God said, it will bear fruit according to its kind. 

    How simply amazing and easy it is to believe in our Creator! The seasons come and go in a rotation according to His divine plan. A new day dawns and comes to a close with the precision of clockwork. Knowing that my soul is more precious than many sparrows and that I have been created in the very image of God, to believe in any other explanation for my being here is pure blasphemy. To believe in evolution is to call God a liar, plain and simple.

    That wee pear seed has a place of honor on my kitchen windowsill where its sight will remind me of my Creator God. If you ever doubt the very real presence of God, just pare a pear. All the evidence you need is right there.

"Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures. Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you." Psalm 119: 89-91 

Be Utterly Amazed!

 "Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Habakkuk 1:5

    A few days ago, a Christian friend texted me saying, "Have you heard what's going on in Asbury?" I watched the link she sent which told the news of a revival going on at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. Since then, more reports have been pouring in of this amazing outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

    Alison Perfater, the student body president of the university, was interviewed by Tucker Carlson. What began as a regularly scheduled chapel service at this private Christian college transformed into an unplanned revival that is drawing attention around the globe. It's been reported people from Singapore, Brazil, Indonesia, New Zealand and Italy have either come in person or have joined via social media. 

    An excited Alison told Tucker, "There's a young army of believers who are rising to claim Christianity as their own." Hundreds of calls have flooded their switchboard and overflow areas have been made available to accommodate the growing crowd as the worship continues for over 144 hours now. As Alison said, "The Holy Spirit interceded for us here at Asbury...No one wants to leave!"

    Justin Knoop shared a video on Instagram of a woman at this revival who, it was thought initially needed medical assistance, but was actually possessed by a demon, who was then driven out in the Name of Jesus by the prayers of others, shrieking as it left her. Praises were raised for this victory!

    This generation of students have endured the pandemic, the riots and cultural divisions in this scarred land which generated loneliness and the need for unity. Set aside any reservations you may have and let your heart rejoice in the utterly amazing things God is doing. Strongholds are being broken. Spiritual battles are being won. God is flexing the muscles of his righteous right arm reminding us that no purpose of His can ever be thwarted! Hallelujah, amen.

"If my people, who are called by my Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

Jesus Loves Me

     I thought I would mix up my format this time. Rather than introduce God's Word prior to adding my two cents, I am giving the floor to Him. This is one topic of which He knows aplenty! 

    Most of us are familiar with the Sunday School song, "Jesus Loves Me." The words go on to say, "This I know, for the Bible tells me so."  Indeed, the Bible has LOTS to say about the love of God for the simple reason that God IS love. 

    But, enough of my chatter. Let's see how God answers this question: Does Jesus love me?

    "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written, 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

    "Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

    "Behold, what manner of love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! We love because He first loved us. Whoever does not love, does not know God because God is love.

    "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

    "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. This is my command: Love each other.

    "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us."

    As we spread the love on Valentine's Day, we must be sure to add, "Jesus loves you!" There's no doubt about it.

PS: All of God's answers were quoted directly from his love letter to us, the Holy Bible.