God has no enemies, and we really don’t need any either.  The beautiful gospel reveals the absolute and unlimited Love of God for us all (John 3:16).  This is actually the same Love that was poured into our hearts by His Spirit (Romans 5:5), and when we are aware of it, we experience the wonderful joy and peace of the kingdom of Heaven within us.

Last year, as we were touring Yellowstone Park, Judi would sometimes say, “Look. Love did that.”

We felt like we were being loved by God with every gorgeous sight we saw.  It made us think and talk about how only Love could create the things that were made for us to enjoy.

Sometimes, I get the impression that a lot of believers in Christ think that we are in a battle that could possibly be lost as if the church and the ways of God are teetering on the edge of annihilation or, at least ineffectiveness. I have GOOD NEWS!  God’s kingdom is NOT fragile!

“That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” – 1 John 1:3-4

Everyone has something that they speak most about, are most passionate about.  When you think of them, you often think of their favorite subject also.  With some, it’s political ideas, with others, religion, with some, art or music, with others it’s sports. 

The apostle Paul angrily wished some troublemakers would castrate themselves.  Disciples James and John wanted to burn some Samaritans with fire for rejecting them.  The prophet Elisha caused some boys to be killed by a bear because the boys had made fun of the thin-skinned, vindictive prophet.

I love to remind people of what they have, not what they don’t have.  The grave-tending life is a life of lacks, wants, needs, unfulfilled hopes, and woulda shouldas.  It is obsessed with the past.  It measures its future by its past.  It laments what was, or could have been.  

I want to share with you two things I have noticed as I’ve grown in my fellowship with my heavenly Father.  

Looking back over my nearly 40 years in ministry, I have taught on a lot of Biblical topics. I also realize that there were times that I failed to live up to my own message at times. Those were the times I would wonder if I was still qualified to even teach God’s Word.

Have you ever left a faucet running in your home? I’ve left the outside faucet on, and flooded the yard. I’ve also left the bathtub faucet running while it overflowed into the house. We know that a home faucet, if left open, will never stop flowing on its own. It’s coming from a seemingly endless supply of water that is MORE than enough for your needs. The only thing that stops it is a closed valve.

It’s interesting how eventually, all thoughts lead to the beauty of Christ in us. Today I was thinking of the controversies of our present time, and how it seems that people fight over every single thing. They rant and argue about politics. Do black lives matter or do all lives matter? Do we wear masks or not?

Remember when you became angry and said or did some things that you later regretted? It wasn’t the devil that did that, it was the amygdala. You were the victim of what is called “amygdala hijacking”.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

I had a nice little chat with my father-in-law recently about this verse. He said it means that Jesus does all the work for us. That’s why being yoked with him (like two oxen yoked together) is an easy yoke for us!

We’re in a time where there is much concern about our country, where it’s headed, the economy, and much more pertaining to our well-being. There is also concern and sometimes fear about one’s own health as we try to deal with a pandemic. This is in addition to each person’s individual trials concerning their relationships, money, insecurities, and so on.

I loved this documentary for a number of reasons. Perhaps it’s the fact that I grew up on a small farm and can relate to so much of what they  discovered along the way. Maybe it’s because it’s a gem of a story about a daring risk and hope amidst adversity. But perhaps the biggest reason is that ever since I’ve come into a revelation of God’s wonderful grace, I see it everywhere, even in movies that have little to do with spiritual things.  

Last month we had a great question from Bruce. He wanted to know how others deal with attacks of negative thoughts, either regret over a past sin or a feeling of self-condemnation for having said or done something that hurt someone. We've all had these kinds of thoughts. Those thoughts that seem to stick in our minds, no matter how hard we try to push them away. We've tried ignoring them or fighting them, but sometimes, they seem to override all else and we feel stuck with them.

Rick and I own a small publishing business. Recently, I spoke with a new author who was quite anxious about receiving a large number of books on a particular date because he was hosting a book release party. Totally understandable. Our printer typically delivers an order much quicker than their allotted time and we have worked with them for years. However, this year during the Christmas season a few of our orders took much longer than we anticipated because of high demand.

There is just something about the freshness and unscripted possibilities of a brand new year. I love starting new, opening a new calendar, dreaming of what the future may hold. It’s exciting and overflowing with hope. A wonderful year of fullness and expectancy stretches out ahead of us. Yes, I am sure there will be challenges. And yes, there will likely be celebrations. Instead of approaching the new year with a list of things I want to improve in my life, what if I simply was thankful for already having everything I will need for the coming year?

A hurricane is hurtling towards my home in Florida right now and I am 1200 mile away. With the possibilities of damage and destruction looming, I can't help but feel incredibly grateful for that little home. It is the first house I have ever owned, an 1100 square foot house that had been in foreclosure. I could barely afford it, but it was mine.

He tormented me, he held a gun to my head, he raped me, he demeaned me. I was a teenager and he was my enemy. Whenever I would hear the name of Satan or consider the word “evil,” his face would come to mind. He (and others) took from me. My innocence, my value, my self-esteem, my strength, my purity, my hope, my joy. All that was precious and good and lovely about my younger self was charred by these heinous incidents. I hated them for what they had done.