Daily Bread

In His Image

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Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26 NKJV

That we were made in God’s image is the first thing God said about us and yet the easiest to forget. Sin tempts us to mar that image, the world to doubt it and our failures to give up hope of attaining it. But Jesus came to restore us and to create through His forgiveness and healing a new person on the inside who will reflect the love and mercy of our wonderful God!

Are your bags packed?

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:18‭-‬19 NKJV

Because we are in the middle of moving our lives are more than a little topsy-turvy. Deciding whether to rent or sell our current home and choosing what to keep and or leave behind is really stressful. As Rex Harrison once sang, “I’ve grown accustomed to her face.. ” we have grown comfortable in the familiar sights and sounds of our home. But nothing really stays the same in life. All things at all times are in flux – except God. He alone is unchanging and if we will follow Him we must always be ready to pack our bags and go where He is calling. He delights in doing new things. He saw darkness and decided to create the light. He saw Adam alone then created Eve. The God who designed planets and filled the oceans is at work in you and I at this very moment. He says through the prophet Isaiah to get ready for change. Stop thinking long melancholy thoughts about the “good old days” and get ready to move forward. No matter how good those days were God is at work on something better. We can either mope in the back seat of the station wagon looking behind as we drive off or we can eagerly examine the road map for our journey ahead. Our destination is God’s choice but our attitude is ours. We need to be sure to pack our bags with everything that He has done in our hearts, then leave behind the keys with Jesus to close and lock the doors!

Facing Fear

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As I was reading this morning this verse stood out and I remembered how God used it to deliver me in a very dark time of my life. I often create a verse image as a way of underlining its importance for the day.

Later in the day I met a woman who had just been put into hospice care as I greeted people at the end of the chapel service at nursing home. Kathy was sweet, gentle and yet naturally afraid at knowing she had come to the end of her life. As we talked I shared how God had helped me when I had passed through a time of great fear and anxiety. I wish I could say she instantaneously received peace, but she did begin to become more calm. Then Kathy began to talk about her own experience of needing to perform CPR on her mother. She recalled that time and how difficult it had been being the care giver. We prayed together and committed ourselves to God’s care. I know that finding ourselves weak and helpless is not easy. God loves all the Kathys and the Sues, the Joes and the Bobs. We are all loved whether we are just beginning our voyage or whether we are pulling our boats into shore. God is our light. He is our Salvation. He alone gives us courage at every dark hour. Who shall we fear? He is also the strength of my life and His promise is that every fear will be defeated!