Infants in Christ

Infants

“Brothers and sisters,

I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit

but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.”

(1 Corinthians 3 vs. 1) 

            I confess to you that I cannot quote a lot of scripture; I do not know a lot of biblical history; I have never visited the holy land; sometimes, I skip my Friday bible study to play golf or work out. At best, I am an infant in Christ.           

That is good because it leaves plenty of room to grow, to keep trying, and a reason to keep writing. There is growth ahead when we do the right things. Our life is a spiritual journey without limits or an end. That’s an excellent thought.           

As a young engineer, my mentor used to quote Aristotle, “The more you know, the more you know you don’t know.” It is true with our faith. The more we learn, the more the mystery and the higher our thirst becomes. That may be the best part of it all. 

Thought for Today: Recognize the opportunity to grow in the Spirit, that we are in our infancy and have room for exciting growth! 

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we are grateful for your presence in our lives and the peace brought to us through faith. We will face challenges today and go forth with the knowledge that you will be with us.

Amen

 

Control

 Today's world seems out of control. We must trust our faith.

 Control 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding."

(Proverbs 3:5).  

Life tests our faith in many ways. We go through valleys before we experience peaks, the good times. We find it easy to take credit for the recovery. After all, we generally "take control" and work through problems. That's the human way.

       

Several years ago, our pastor presented us with a pin, Christ's feet. The pin is symbolic of footprints in the sand, serving as a reminder that we never walk alone. We often think of God as a "Macro" rather than a personal assistant. When in control, we may not be aware of and feel God's presence.

       

Too many outside factors play out in life to have "full control." When we feel in "full control," we are misleading ourselves. We always need to have the trust that our faith teaches. With God as a partner, it is easier to get through crises. He is always our partner.

Thought for Today: Control the ball, keep our problems in our grasp, and handle it all. Then look back and thank Him for the help.

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, Heavenly Father, the world seems out of control. We doubt what role you are playing out with all the ills that exist. Economic struggles, terrorism, and world poverty all seem to dominate our lives. It is hard for us to keep trust and show the needed love. We pray for guidance on trusting you more, doing your will in tough times, and being a good follower of Christ's teachings.

Amen 

Power

Power 

"You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary;

the God of Israel, whose power is in the skies."

 (Psalms 68:34-35).

                 Power- what a word. What a feeling. We come into the world looking for power and equate power with security and control. We hear about power brokers. Books on leadership tell you how to gain. Use and retain power. The feeling of power can be addictive. It gives us an adrenaline rush.           

In relationships, power usually manifests itself as domination. When a significant other demands submission, a partnership is lost and will not reach its full potential. Power sometimes negates God's will. It can become a power broker's God.               

I have always said that two people working together are four times better than either. My definition of a partnership is when two become one in objectives, dreams, and goals. In a good relationship, power is not a problem. Power is only a problem when it is misused.               

In relationships (married, parent-child, and others), sacrifice and caring (love) will generate a better relationship than power and control. Often power and control are masks for insecurity and low self-esteem. It prevents bonding and growing in a caring relationship.

"Love one another, Just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."

(Ephesians 5:25) 

Thought For Today: Let us keep caring, consideration, and love at the forefront of our decision-making. 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, help us put the trials of everyday life in perspective. Guide us to inner peace. Help us find the love of Jesus.

 Amen 

 

Boldness

 Boldness 

"Almighty God, may they be filled with the Holy Spirit

 and speak the Word of God with boldness..."

-- Acts 4:31 

                April fool's day is a day of practical jokes, misleading emails, and general tomfoolery. That will not work because we cannot hide from God, who loves us. So, let's skip reading our devotional and forget the Holy Spirit and our Lord so that we may participate. 

            Today the comics in the newspaper will have Fool's Day jokes, the news and sports programs will be full of them, and there will be a few bogus press releases to get your attention. If I were to write a press release for today, it would be "Bob shoots par at St. Andrews!" or "… wins the Ironman." People would immediately recognize these were jokes, and some would know they were my fantasies.          

Like all days, I hope this devotional puts you on track to recognize the Holy Spirit in your life and its role in you. While others are playing jokes, we need to be sure that we are bold in our faith.

Blessings to you all, and enjoy the start of April. 

Thought for Today: Today, we will be bold in our faith and remember that it is ok to be a joker. 

Prayer for Today: Father, we give thanks for all we are and have. We thank you for having the freedom to enjoy a good joke, a great laugh, and the faith to know the absolute truth. We pray for good health, world peace, and prosperity for all. Amen 

Note: Today, 2023, In am sitting surrounded by six to twelve inches of heavy wet snow covering golf courses that are expecting to open soon.