“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31b-32).

I will never forget the first time I held Karis in my hands.

When Helen told me we were having a baby, I knew I was going to be a dad. I mean, the growing bump in her belly was proof that I was going to be a dad. I knew that. I had even read some books about being a dad.

But that first moment when the nurse handed me Karis…wow!

I saw this tiny human being and the whole time I was thinking, “Holy cow! This little person thinks I’m her daddy!”

You see, what was wrapped up in that statement is my dad. There was never a time in my life when I didn’t know he had my back. He was the first person I turned to when I was in trouble. He was my rock. He was my provider. He was always there for me.

Now, this little person thinks that’s who I am for her! That reality rocked me.

While growing up I saw two types of kids:

• I messed up. Dad’s going to kill me
• I messed up. I need to call dad

Which one were you? I was blessed to be the latter.

As I come to think of it. There are two types of Christians, and they are the same ones as the two types of kids I grew up with.

• Religion says – I messed up. Dad’s going to kill me
• Gospel and grace says – I messed up. I need to call dad

Friends, your Father, your God, loves you. In fact, he’s crazy about you.

Words and action.

They go together.

There is not a single thing that God says that does not lead to action. In fact, in God’s reality there is never a moment where what God speaks is not what is real. How did God create the heavens and the earth? God spoke it. God said, “Let there be light. And there was light.”

There is never any second guessing. There is never any doubting. What God says, is.

It’s when words and action don’t go together where problems start. That’s the problem with us. The more our words and actions go together, the more we resemble God.

The LORD is trustworthy in all his promises.

The LORD is faithful in all his does.

Words and action.

Always together. Words simply mean what they mean.
– “I do” really means forever
– “I will” really means it is good as done
– “Yes” means yes. And “no” means no

No need to wonder. No need to second guess.

What an amazing world that would be.

That’s the world as God meant it.

“Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it” (Psalm 34:13-14)

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2021!

Realized today that I have still been entering the dates as 2020 in my daily journal entries. It typically takes me a few days to get it through my head that tt really is 2021 and a beginning of a new year.

New beginnings is what God is about. If we are breathing today it’s because God is offering us a new day, a new year so we can begin again.

The verses from today are great advice for living a life that blesses others and for living in peace. Wouldn’t that be great if each of our lives blessed others and we were agents of peace?

First, we are told to keep our tongue from evil and our lips from speaking deceit. Few things have power to destroy as words. If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, your words are to speak the truth in love. Speak words that build up. Speak words that offer life. Speaking evil about others and speaking deceit destroys peace and relationships. So, keep your tongue from evil and our lips from speaking deceit.

Secondly, we are told to depart from evil, and do good. Imagine looking back at 2021 in January of 2022 if you led a life that fled from evil and in all things, you pursued the good in all situations. Wow! You would be a brand new you! Not only that, every single person around you would have been blessed and impacted through you. That would be a terrific 2021!

Finally, seek peace and pursue it. Peace is not something that just happens or something that we run into. Peace is something that must be sought after and pursued. This means you can be the instigator of peace wherever you are as you seek and pursue it.

Keep our tongue from evil and our lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil, and do good.
Seek peace and pursue it.

Sounds like it’s going to be a fantastic 2021!

Happy New Year!