My Jesus!

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Psalm 51:10-11 NIV

Happy New Year!

"My Jesus!" I don't recall what I was dreaming about last night. But, I do remember that just before I woke up, sitting around a huge round table I was asked who I would most like to be with. My response was "my Jesus."

Jesus promised to be with us always and he is. Who could ask for anything more than to abide in the presence of God for all of eternity? Living in God's presence is a gift from God. But, we are not worthy to even kneel at His feet by anything that we say or do or don't say or do. There are no new year's resolutions that are going to get us to heaven. Our hearts; are whole lives, are heavy with the burden of sin. But, thanks be to God, He can change our hearts!

And, so this new year's day we pray: create in us clean hearts, and renew steadfast spirits within us. Do not remove us from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from us. Grant that we should always live in your presence!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Like Grasshoppers We Sit Upon the Circle Of The Earth

The earth's inhabitants are like grasshoppers.

Have you not known? Have you not heard?    Has it not been told you from the beginning?
    Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
    and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
    and spreads them like a tent to live in..."
Isaiah 40:21

I've always wondered why Columbus had to prove the earth was round. How could they not have known? Had they not read scripture? Had they not read Isaiah in Columbus' day? It is clear, at least, to me that the circle of the earth refers to the globe shaped planet that we live on under the protective canopy of the ozone layer.

We, are so very proud of our scientific achievements and advancements. But, in reality, we know nothing; we understand so very little, when we consider all that God has done.  We truly have not understood all that there is to understand. We, are not so unlike the grasshoppers, knowing nothing, hopping about like we do; yet, totally dependent upon the providence of God. In a moment the circle of earth could disappear and the curtains of heaven could be pulled back. What then? What happens when we stand without these things before the One who created all things?

May God give us a heart to understand His Word, His will for us.

God's Peace - Pr. J