Month: December 2008

God’s Marriage Proposal

I know, it’s Christmastime and Boxing Day sales are creeping up even ‘before’ Christmas!!!

Some people ask me how come God had to come as a baby. Why did He need to do something as drastic as that? Well, I guess I could try to explain it this way:

I love my wife… terribly. I remember how much I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I hardly had any money but I got a ring and asked her to marry me… and she said “Yes!”

Would she have said yes if I sent a messenger? Or maybe in a letter? Would she have jumped for joy if I had sent her an email or text message? Probably not. It was SO important to me that ‘I’ needed to do it!

John 3:16 says that “God so loved the world the He sent His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” That’s how much God loves us and that’s why He sent Jesus… No other way could He express His love for us but to come and tell us Himself… through Jesus.

At least that’s how I see it,

Craig

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Spiritual RRSP’s

With all the talk of stock market crashes, dollar values, and plunging markets, it sometimes makes you ask why you put money away in the first place. You could use that money to go on a vacation, buy some expensive gifts, or even just hide it under your bed. But you know that you put it away now so that you can have it later. That the cost now is far less than the reward later.

In Galatians 6:9 Paul tells the readers “let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

It’s about ‘investing’ in the future. Sometimes it may seem futile to be good and selfless in a world of greed and hate. But we are reminded that it’s not about the cost of doing good now, but rather the reward in the future for all of our hard work. When you stop and think of it, the reward will be SO much more worth the investment.

At least that’s how I see it,

Craig

Stop The Traffic!

I’ve done some pretty dumb things as a kid… tried to jump over a ditch with my bike forgetting that front wheel was not attached properly… got my tongue stuck to a metal pole in the winter (yes… I had to find out for myself). I think one of the dumbest things I ever did was decide to become a toll-booth on my street with a big long stick telling people to stop… and go. When my dad saw me doing it… I stopped… and I ‘go’ed!

But my dad hardly remembers that moment. He disciplined me and was upset… but he loved me more than he was mad about what I did. It was his love that I remember that day… even though I DO remember the discipline.

Psalm 25:6-7 says “Overlook my youthful sins, O Lord! Look at me instead through eyes of mercy and forgiveness, through eyes of everlasting love and kindness (NLT).” Some people think that their past prohibits God from forgiving them. Nothing could be further from the truth. His love is everlasting. His forgiveness is always available.

At least that’s how I see it,

Craig

Enhancing or Killing Intimacy

This quote is taken from the book I’m currently reading:

“Routines. Rituals, Customs. Traditions. They can be used to enhance or to kill intimacy. Over time, intentional thoughtfulness can be lost since the routines do all the thinking for us. We are left with something that looks good on the outside, but is filled with nothing but the bones of a long-dead relationship…

“We must remember that the enemy is not tradition itself, but the complete dependence upon tradition and routine to the point where we disengage from thoughtful, purposeful, intentional intimacy.”

The End of Religion by Bruxy Cavey – pp. 54-55

Thoughts?

 

Craig