The Simple Life

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)   We all desire security and we seek security every day. However, security is only secure if the one who grants it is secure. Security cannot be based on health, money, power, authority, possessions, or anything that is limited and can change.   Therefore, security is found in God alone. Those who know Him have placed their trust in Him and have found security in this life and the next.   There is nothing God cannot do, and He only does what is best for those who love Him. Therefore, I can choose to know and obey Him, and enjoy the security only He can provide. This new year can be my best as I learn to rest in the significance and security my Heavenly Father offers. I hope you will join me in this pursuit.   https://www

"Behold, God is my Salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my Salvation." Isaiah 12:2 (ESV)   " Persons may be liberated from slavery by the arm of power; they may be rescued from oppression by the exercise of justice; they may be relieved from want by the hand of bounty; but to pour reviving consolation into the dejected mind is the kind office of pure affection and pity (Isa 66:13)." (R. Macculloch)   God alone can and will revive the soul and give hope for now and the future. Those who know Him trust Him. Those who trust Him rest in Him and His promises. There is nothing more important or precious than knowing God, which is the grasp of all who desire it and pursue it. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-28 (ESV)   We tend to focus on what is uncertain, while forgetting what is inevitable. Concentrating on the uncertain causes us to be constantly confused, and confused people act confused, and usually battle anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. We have changed the certainty of family, gender, life, and death into uncertainty, and then wonder why we need mental health care.   The answer to messed up thinking is knowing and accepting God's Word's simple truths.   For now, the choice is yours. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will." Acts  15:11  (ESV)   All people have the same need and the same solution. If we are in God's family, we have acknowledged our sins and accepted God's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ's finished work on the cross. Regardless of our nationality, time in history, or the sins we committed or omitted, we are the same.   We are precious to God--precious enough to have sent His Son to ensure our status/position should we choose.   God loves and gives His love freely and fairly to all who seek Him. I am eternally grateful. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

But now having come to know God, indeed, rather having become known by God, how is it possible that you are turning back again to the weak and beggarly rudimentary principles to which you are again bent on being in bondage? Galatians 4:9 (Wuest)   Christmas was not a single day in history that would not affect history. Rather, it was the beginning of our beginnings. Knowing that God, Jesus, was born in Bethlehem is nice, but powerless.   Those who paused to think for a moment of God and His gift of Jesus to the world, and then resume their lives in the cares of this world will have wasted this precious gift. Those who truly understood and accepted this gift of salvation cannot turn back to the beggar rudimentary principles to which the non-believers are in bondage.   If you have turned back, perhaps you have not understood what you have seen or never really seen who Jesus is and why He came to earth. Our lives indicate what we believe far more than our words.   What did this Christmas

God knew our needs and met our needs by sending His Son to make way for us to join Him. This is extraordinary because God does not need us to be God or be successful, yet He wants to include us in all He does. Jesus tells us, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11 ) Jesus came so we could live life in the proper context. He came to give us abundant life, not a “coping life.”   Those who accept the gift of Jesus Christ also obtain the gift of abundant life both here on earth and for the eternities to come and are given the opportunity to live the intended way.  Apart from Christ, we have no way to live “abundantly” and will live meaningless lives that will yield a plethora of mental problems leading to a pandemic of anxiety, anger, depression, and hopelessness.  Let this be a year that we demonstrate what it looks like to live l

And there were shepherds in that very region bivouacking in the fields under the open sky, and guarding their flock during the appointed night watches. Luke 2:8 (Wuest)   Shepherds were bivouacking, or living in temporary, primitive places while watching sheep. Then, when the unexpected began, they were doing their business, checking the sheep and enjoying the night sky.   This moment in history starred the angelic host and a group of no-name shepherds who got front-row seats to history's most grand event. These shepherds were in tune with reality and responded by leaving one responsibility to understand a more important one. The comfort of the bivouac and the importance of watching the sheep became secondary to seeing the Savior.   That night many in Bethlehem were busy with family, friends, and obligations, and missed this historic moment. Their focus was making their bivouac comfortable, and they were oblivious to the angelic hosts' proclamation. Their focus kept their lives

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. John 10:28-29 (ESV)   I cannot lose something that is not dependent on me to maintain. My salvation is from God and dependent on God. I am not in God's family because of my sinless life, but because of God's mercy and grace.  The only thing I brought to God was my neediness, and He supplied, with His resources, what I needed.   I have a physical mother and father, and regardless of my activities in life, I will always be their son. Therefore, my status is not dependent upon my attitude or action but on the fact that I was born into their family.   This passage in John tells us that those who have accepted Christ's gift are "born-again." Christians are born into God's family, and there is nothing we can do or not do to escape God's grip. Thi

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:18 (ESV)   There are two types of individuals in this world; those who have understood and responded to the Gospel, or good news, and those who have refused to accept Christ's precious gift. There is no third category of people; all fall into one of two.   If you say you believe that Jesus is God's Son, yet do not trust Him, you are a fool. If you do not believe Jesus is the Son of God, you will be proven a fool.   God did not make this life difficult to navigate; Satan does. From the beginning, Satan has tried to confuse the simple, blur what should easily be focused upon, and obscure the obvious. The simple truth is that I either have placed my trust in Christ's finished work on the cross, or I have not, and this trust is what has put me in one or the other categories. Security is found in Christ, not me; for th

Simple yet Profound The profound must be simple, and the simple profound. There is a God; I am not Him.  In the beginning, God. He created all that is and ever will be.  A child understands the simple.   The professor stands confused. The who in creation is simple. The how of creation profound.  Knowing the Who answers the how.  Love is simply about choice  to both love and be loved. God’s character is love  He makes the right choice.  I must choose to love, and be loved.  This is a simple truth profoundly complicated by narcissistic feelings. Eve's choice in the garden was simple until  the serpent of old complicated God’s directive.  Hence, the blame game began,  the truth obscured by complication  leaving all humanity to wander rather than ponder.  The simple always leads to the profound- Understanding profound always depends on grasping the simple.   https://www.podbean.com/relate365

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:17 (ESV)   Many think that God is a cosmic killjoy waiting for them to make a mistake so He can make their life miserable. Yet, in reality, God is loving and waiting for them to respond to His love so He can give them abundant life today and eternal life tomorrow.   God does not need us. He wants us and wants us to experience the joys He intended for us when He originally created us.   The rich in this life are those who are saved from the horrible experiences thread into a sinful lifestyle. They are saved from a meaningless life and a fateful future.   God did not send Jesus into this world to condemn but to save.   What is your understanding of Christ, and how is that affecting your life? https://www.podbean.com/relate365

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (ESV)   God loves, so God gives. Unfortunately, we tend to define the concept of love, and we try to get God to fit into our definition, when God is the definition of love. Everything starts with God and flows toward us; therefore, we must learn how God defines love to understand love.   God sent Jesus to this earth to pay the price you and I owe. He did not need to do this and does not need us for Himself to be God. God depends on nobody for His existence, purpose, success, and more . Instead, God wants us in His family. He wants us to experience His love, purposes, and plans as "insiders." He wants to share the joy of life with us and knew that without Christ's payment for sin, we would lose out in this life and for eternity. Therefore, God acted in His love to ensure we could participate with Him in life's ultimate thrills and

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up…. John 3:14 (ESV)   The children of Israel had grumbled, disobeyed, and seemed to be generally annoyed with God and His messages. God allowed snakes to do what snakes do and bite people, promoting deadly consequences. As people laid in pain, Moses prayed, and God gave Moses a directive to build a bronze serpent on a pole, and that all who looked at the snake would be healed.  God solved the problem by giving them something that all could do, look at a snake.   This Old Testament story is referenced in today's passage when talking about Jesus Christ. Just as Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness, Jesus was to be lifted up, and His death on the cross is what is necessary for life to continue as it was meant to be.   Those who refused to look at the bronze serpent died. Those who refuse to place their faith in Christ's finished work on the cross will also die and be separated from God fo

…he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, Titus 3:5-6 (ESV)   Mercy is defined as not getting what you deserve. Because I am a sinner, I deserve to be separated from God. I deserve to live an anxious, depressed, meaningless, and confusing life. Yet, God, in His love, showed compassion on me while I was in my sinful state, and sent Jesus to this earth to live, die, and be resurrected for my sins. Since my hope is in Jesus and not myself, my hope is secure, and I can now live the abundant life I was meant to live.   I am a child of God because of God's mercy. Therefore, I am most thankful, and I pray that you have accepted God's precious gift.       https://www.podbean.com/relate365

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts  4:12  (ESV)   Opinions cannot make facts or truth. Facts/truth cannot be created; it must be discovered. The Bible states facts as they are in that we are told that all mankind is sinful and falls short of the purpose for which they were created. (Rom  3:23  …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.)   The Bible did not say all people are bad or all people are good because those words can only be used in the comparison, leaving generations open for debate about their meaning. The fundamental question people ask who are trying to be good enough to win God's favor is this: "How good is good enough?" The simple answer is that nobody is good enough because everyone has sinned.   All people are on the same playing field. All people have sinned, all have been separated from God, and all need to have the payment of death made by them or o

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)   I am in God's family because of God, His mercy, grace, and faithfulness to the undeserving. Being a part of God's family demonstrates my significance and provides security-two things I could never do on my own. All that I have is a gift from God; like any gift, it is unearned and undeserved.   Anyone who boasts of themselves is a shallow thinker, for all that is good, all they have is from God, and any boasting should be about Him. God gives us the gift of salvation and His precious Word. God's Word allows us to see how we were created so we can live in the context of our purposes. We were designed to toil or work beneficially.  Our work is not meaningless, and we will be re

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing Salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus  2:11-14  (ESV)   Trouble comes when we think of our salvation in two rather than three aspects. First, most celebrate the fact that Jesus paid the price or penalty of their sins, and equally focus on the fact that one day they will be in glory, where they will be free from the very presence of sin.   While rejoicing in the fact that our penalty is paid and one day we will be out of the presence of sin, we ignore the present aspect of salvation, being saved from the power of sin.  God's mercy ensures that I will never get what I deserv

…because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)   Jesus is the only payment for sin acceptable to God, and He freely gives this payment to anyone who will accept it. Those who accept Christ's payment for sin will be saved from the disaster of being separated from God during this life and the next. God never intended us to live apart from Him, but He gives us real choices that have consequences due to His love.   Someone can't have his/her sins paid for who thinks they can earn this forgiveness by being "good enough." It is impossible for someone who does not know that Jesus is God, that He came to die and then defeat death by resurrection, to be a true child of God.  Jesus is God, and those who reject Him reject a preponderance of the evidence that points to Him

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God's is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (ESV)   Our sin separates us from God. God's gift gives us eternal life.  Sin always separates us from what is right and how it is supposed to be. Sometimes we wonder why God gave us a choice if He knew some would choose to live apart from Him. Yet, love demands choice; without it, we would be meaningless robotic beings whose decisions would be pointless.   Because of love, we get to accept or reject God's gift of payment for our sins. Our choice matters. What choice have you made? Will you accept God's gift and allow God to love you, or will you go on your own through this life and be terrified for the eternities to come? https://www.podbean.com/relate365

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:22 (ESV)   All flesh dies. This is a fact of which all humans are acutely aware yet is often ignored. All people will be dead a lot longer than they were alive, and the time to prepare and invest in eternity is while we are alive.   We had no choice about being born, what family we were to enter, or what part of the world we would inhabit. Our gender, looks, personality, and DNA were not up for debate, yet our future now depends on our choices.   We often like to live as if our choices do not matter, as victims rather than victors, yet our choices do matter and will determine much about our future. Those who live in the truth live in this temporal, war-torn world as if it is temporal and war-torn while looking forward to a time when they can enjoy life the way it was meant to be.   Christ gives us physical life. He alone gives us eternal life. Everything that is right in life comes from Him; without Him

…the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:22-24 (ESV)   God created us and knew our capabilities. God never asks us to do something we cannot do. He does not require our perfection to be His children. He does not demand religious training, specific catechisms, or creeds. He alone can supply what His requirements demand.   God always speaks the truth; we have all sinned and fallen short of the standard He has set. Long ago, archers of old would compete, and a target spotter would shout one of two words back to the crowd watching the competition. If the spotter called the word "mark," the archer hit the intended target. On the other hand, if they shouted the word "sin," they missed the intended target or missed the mark.   The apostle Paul is letting al

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10 (ESV)   Being wanted is far more critical than being needed. God does not need any of us for Him to be God. He needs nobody to sustain Him, aid Him, or give Him advice. God has no opinions, lives outside perspective, and provides us with the truth, not advice.   God's truth is the only truth, and the fact that He created us, loves us, and wants us to be a part of His family and purposes is incredible. The Bible clearly teaches that anyone who wants to know God will know God; in fact, He sent His only Son to seek and save all who will come to Him.   I am thankful that my significance and security come from Him. I am grateful I am wanted and not needed, loved, not used, and wonderfully and purposefully made, not a random blob of protoplasm. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. James  5:19-20  (ESV)   Our goal in life should be reconciliation, not retaliation. Separation from God is disastrous beyond our comprehension, and, if we have the same mind as that of God, we will wish for all those around us to be reconciled to God.   Often it is difficult for us to live in a world that ignores God. But, unfortunately, those who ignore God act like they ignore God and live for the moment, using what they should love, and loving what they should use. This should not surprise us, but it should break our hearts. This should also motivate living in the context of knowing and loving God to point to Him.   Demonstrating who God is to a lost world is our greatest privilege. We must see this as a privilege and not a burden.   https://www.podbean.com/relate365

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. James  5:16-17  (ESV)   Honest communication with God and one another is vital to our purpose. Elijah was concerned with the condition of the nation and felt helpless. Yet, he knew God could intervene and put these people on the right track. His concern was for the confused, lost, and hopeless. His prayer was simple and to the only one who could make a change. He prayed for crisis so the comfortable would begin to seek the only one that could bring comfort.   God honored his humble, loving prayer.   What are you and I praying for today?   https://www.podbean.com/relate365

As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. James  5:10-12  (ESV)   We are all good or bad examples. Those who know God and act like they know God are good examples. Those who do not know God continually demonstrate the "futile life."   Those who know and follow God find this life simple to live. We have one goal, to glorify our God, and to use all our time and resources to do just that. We do not have pages of regulations to check, sound bites to interpret, or legislation to read.   Pointing people to God is a simple task for all

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:7-8 (ESV)   Regardless of the circumstances, we can be thankful that God holds the future. This life is full of uncertainties, yet, in reality, there are no uncertainties with God. His mercy, love, and grace are always abundantly available, and His children's future is secure.   Those who know God patiently wait for Him to provide and sustain, and they will never be disappointed. Unfortunately, those who do not know God are continually disappointed. It's time to "establish our hearts" and prepare for God to care for our future https://www.podbean.com/relate365

We wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and hope you are able to spend time thanking God for His many blessings as you are a blessing to your friends and family.   Psalm 34 (ESV)   I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!   I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.   Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.   Come, O children, listen to me; I will tea