Faith

Our Chief Editor

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Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

Today I have small confession to make. I love to write but I hate to edit! I still remember the editing of Sister Mary Friel in my Child Psychology class. If she found a single error on our daily writing assignment she would give it a big red check mark and return our paper with a provisional F. If we corrected and resubmitted our work by the following class our grade would be redone: if not the failing grade became ours!

This method led me to carefully inspect my work. I checked for spelling errors, footnote placement and grammatical nuance. Seeing the large red slashes across my writing bruised my ego but it trained me to become a better writer.

I love the quote from Hebrew about Jesus being the author and finisher of our faith. However Jesus also wants to become the Senior editor of our hearts. He is waiting for us to submit our plans for final revisions to Him. If this morning we put our plans on His desk, He promises to lovingly correct us and help us turn in an A paper for the day!

Father before I begin this morning, I confess to you my inability to write a single line without your editorial assistance. Help me to be honest with others. Correct my easy tendency to self-serving motivations. Teach me how to use words as a healing balm not a knife of sarcasm that cuts with a smile. Help me to remember that the only article worth publishing today is the Good News of Salvation and hope through the cross. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen

person in gray jacket holding pen

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Point of Contact

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And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. Matthew 9:20 NJKVP1040067

There was only one hem on the garment of Christ. In fact when the soldiers went to divide his clothing they gambled for His outer garment because it was all on piece. The only hem available for the woman to touch was at the very lowest point of the robe of Jesus Christ. Like this woman in the crowd our own needs may have dominated our focus for years. Friends, family, and even her ability to enter a place or worship all were affected by her need until that day as Jesus was passing by in the crowd. We are not told if she had listened to Jesus’ words herself or if she had simply believed what others had told her about him. What we do know is that the message she had heard about Jesus Christ was enough for her to determine that she would do anything to get to Him. The power of her need for that one single moment had no ability to prevent her from pressing through the crowd in order to fall to her knees and reach up and touch the hem of His robe. The good news for us is that our invisible God gives us a visible point of contact in the lowest of places. When we are willing and hearts are humbled He may pass by to give us a visible connection to His invisible power and grace!

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud,But gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 NJKV

A Time to Fly!”

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No matter what lies in front of us, the sun will rise. Whatever unknown blessings or dangers lie in our path God remains at the helm of the universe. Today is chosen by him as the perfect day to accomplish His purpose and will in some way. We must trust that He keeps all things running according to His schedule and that no matter how slow of fast things seem to be happening; they are all perfectly on time.

Trusting fully in His care does not keep us from challenges or storms but it gives us His peace and to carry us through. Fear shouts, “Get down, stay in hiding, you can not escape!”. Faith answers, “No! My God is in control!” then gives us wings to fly.

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV