Live Your Best Life

I am inspired by this poetry penned by Emily Dickinson. I keep it in a frame where I can see it each day. We all need hope! Hope is the energy that moves us forward and brings us joy. As Christians our hope is in Jesus, who he is and his promises. Perhaps most of all, his promise to return to earth one day. (John 14:3, Acts 1:11, Revelation 19:11-16) That promise has sustained Christians for over 2000 years now.

Over these years, the Christian church (all denominations) has allowed the influence of human culture (especially Greek culture) to distort this plan (this truth) that the Bible describes so vividly. I believe that understanding these wonderful plans for us and for our planet influences how we live each day now! We are looking forward to the New Earth and the Next age! God will dwell with us. (Revelation 21)

Jesus talked about this new age extensively. I believe he wanted to give us hope and a vision for the future. We may think in terms of “eternal life” because that is the language used in many translations, but the Hebrews thought of things differently and Jesus is speaking to them. In fact, there are 72 scriptures that mention “the end of the age” and the “new age to come.”

About now, you may be thinking, “but what about going to heaven?” I believe that if you look at scripture closely, you will be inspired by the wonder of this new age as described by the prophets. Read Isaiah chapters 2, 25 and 65. Or Ezekiel 36, or Amos chapter 9. These are just some of the promises that give me hope each day. I hope you find them hopeful each day and they put a song in your heart.

If you are concerned, talk with King Jesus. He knows what will make each of us truly happy.



(Poetry and artwork from Pinterest)

“You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.” (Jim Rohn) Research confirms that we become like the people we spend the most time with. Who are you spending your time with? Are you spending time with King Jesus?

When we spend time with people consistently, we get to know them. We see more than their personality, we see their character, their nature. The more time we spend with Jesus the more we experience his character of love and grace. He speaks to us through scripture and the Holy Spirit. He reminds us of what is true.

Understanding what is “true” has become more important than ever before. We are bombarded by false culture and theories, hatred and information that misrepresents our God. It is easier than ever before to get “off in the weeds” because our digital devices are continually streaming information and it is hard to sort out what is true.

When we have breakfast with the King, it helps us to reset our minds and manage our thoughts. During this time, we are encouraged to examine our beliefs and ask if they are consistent with what He tells us, consistent with who he really is. We learn to adopt his ways, his culture.

Paul talks about this in his letter to the church in Rome. (Talk about false culture!) He says, “don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out in you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:2 MSG

It is so easy to get off track and think of false information and ideology as being accurate. Even “religious leaders” will sometimes give us the wrong ideas about God. That is why spending time with him is so important and rewarding!

What are some false beliefs about God that you have encountered? I’ll share a few that I have encountered in my next post!

I believe in Vision Boards, especially if they are done correctly.

A powerful vision board should be fairly simple with images that remind us of our goals and dreams. The images should connect our minds immediately to the things we want to focus on most. You know the saying “what we focus on get’s bigger!” Our vision board should be filled with images that reflect our values, what matters most to us. And it should be displayed in such a way that we look at it each day.

Much like our vision boards, Habakkuk was instructed to share a vision from God. “Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision message is a witness pointing to what is coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.” (Habakkuk 2:2-3 MSG)

The author of Hebrews quotes this scripture to remind us that we need to keep our focus on God and his plan, so that we will be there with him when his plan is completed. Always keep the vision in front of us, much like a vision board, his promises should have a place in our everyday lives. Faith in his promises is the hope that sustains us. The energy that keeps us going each day. “But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust;” (Hebrews 10:39 MSG)

Think about the vision that God has given you. If it isn’t clear, talk with Him about it. He cares about every part of our lives today and in the future. You are valuable to Him and He wants you to trust in His vision for you. “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Luke 12:7 NLT)

My own vision board changes periodically as I enter new phases of this current life. My next phase is “Grandma.” But what keeps me encouraged even when problems seem overwhelming is a vision of the New Heavens and New Earth. Read about them for yourself in Isaiah 65 and Revelation 21. My vision is life with God in our newly created earth where we can pursue all of the things he has planned for us without all the setbacks we experience now.

Abraham also dreamed of this vision. He lived by faith “keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the city designed and built by God.” (Hebrews 11:10 MSG)

What will you include on your vision board? I suggest including immediate dreams that keep you energized alongside the bigger picture of God’s eternal plans for you!

Let’s talk about faith! Why is it so important? What does faith look like in our lives?

I have found that faith is a choice. Our world today is filled with constant crisis, and it is easy to feel anxious about the future. Whether it’s the upcoming election, unrest in the middle east, money or a whole list of things that could go wrong, choosing faith in Jesus keeps it all in perspective. Because even the little things can be overwhelming at times.

Even now, there are things pending in my life that tend to make me anxious. Some of them are work-related, others are family related. Some are trivial and others have fairly serious consequences. In the middle of the night, they can all feel overwhelming.

Jesus talks about faith. He says that “if you have faith as small as a mustard see, you will say to this mountain move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:30 Putting these words from Jesus in context, at the time he was talking to the disciples about their inability to cast out demons. (see verse 16) Jesus tells them (and us) that this discussion is all about faith.

What is Jesus saying? Eugene Peterson translates it this way in the Message translation: “Because you are not taking God seriously.” Perhaps the disciples were not convinced completely themselves that God would work through them?

The Andrews University commentary reminds us that “in Jesus’ theology even the tiniest faith can lead to the accomplishment of what is generally thought of as impossible. This teaching of Jesus, of course, must be understood in the light of the rest of scripture and not taken without understanding. Faith has to be in accordance with God’s will and to his Glory.

So faith is a choice, something we act on when we know we are acting in accordance to his will. How do we know his will?
For me understanding his will means spending time with him and being open to the direction of His Spirit. Doing that each day reminds me to choose faith in him in every part of my day.

How do you choose faith? When have you seen faith in action in your own life?

I will be posting my thoughts about faith over the next few weeks. I welcome yours!

Do you ever find yourself wondering if God’s promises are really for you personally?

Sometimes it’s hard to believe, to have faith, and yet faith “is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living.” (Hebrews 11:1 MSG)

For inspiration, I recommend Hebrews chapter 11, the “Hall of Fame” for many who have demonstrated their faith, set an example for us. “It’s as if the writer is saying for faith to be faith, it must be lived faith. It must be walked out a stop at a time, a day at a time.” (Eugene Peterson, Hebrews 11 MSG Commentary)

Another thing we notice reading Hebrews 11 is that faith grows over time. It’s like a muscle we must use and exercise or it will atrophy.

For example, “faith for Abraham and Sarah didn’t arrive full bloom. No, it developed throughout their lives.” (George R. Knight, “Exploring Hebrews”) In fact, when God visits them in person and confirms the promise of a child, Sarah laughs. (Genesis 18:11-15)
Later, when God confirms His promise and she has a son, she says, “God has blessed me with laughter and all who get the news will laugh with me!” (Genesis 21:6 MSG)

In my experience the best way to confirm God’s promises personally and build your faith step by step is talking with Him. Spending time with King Jesus, reading the promises He gave to us as recorded in the books of the Bible is the best way to experience them for ourselves. Believing his promises is believing in Him, the foundation of our faith which leads to a “life worth living.”

Have you watched "the news" lately? Many of the stories that we may consider to be news are not really newsworthy. They are propaganda. We all know that, right.

It reminds me of how thankful I am that we have a heavenly father that wants to share things with us that are truthful, powerful, energizing. In John 15:15 Jesus tells them that we are included in the real truth of what is happening in our world. "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

It seems that Jesus and His Father are going out of their way to share their plans with us! But we have to be paying attention! That means testing everything we hear or see against his word with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Which reminds me of a great book that I read recently by John Mark Comer. Sometimes it is hard to simply open God's word and start reading. Where do we begin? I believe that a helpful tool for Bible study is a great book that references scripture and encourages us to read those verse for ourselves. Seek the truth! This is one of those books!

In my experience, it is always a good idea to look for the truth according to our Heavenly Father and examine our beliefs with his help.

Perhaps this book will inspire you to look a little closer at what is "truth" and what is not!

Shabbat Shalom. Enter into God's rest. "The promise of "arrival" and "rest" is still there for God's people." Hebrews 4:9

"We often labor under the illusion that everything depends on us or on those around us. But it doesn't Everything depends on God. And this is the great lesson that rest has to teach us." (Eugene Peterson MSG commentary)

Enter into his Sabbath rest. Amen.

Begin each day with praise!

“What a beautiful thing God, to give thanks to sing an anthem to you, the High God! To announce your love each daybreak. Sing your faithful presence all through the night. Accompanied by dulcimer and harp, the full-bodied music of strings.” (Psalm 95)

There’s nothing like the start of a new day when we begin each day having faith in Him and his promises. Our faith brings us a sense of resting in Him, peace of mind and assurance. We begin the day with confidence. We remember his promise of “resting in him which pulls us on to God’s goal for us.” (Hebrews 4:1 MSG)

“When we rest, we look back and see how God has providentially led us along the way, how he has protected and provided for us.” (Eugene Peterson, Commentary on Hebrews 4)

It is impossible for us to experience this “rest” if we are always in a hurry. We have to slow down to rest in Him. Usually, our impulse to hurry on to our next task is based on thinking that we have to make everything work with our own efforts. We think it’s all up to me! (us) I need to get to work, meet that deadline, fix that problem. Eugene Peterson reminds us, “we often labor under the illusion that everything depends on us or those around us. But it doesn’t. Everything depends on God. And this is the great lesson that rest has to teach us.”

We experience this “rest” when we take a few minutes to begin each day trusting in Him!

Today Matters!

Jesus calls to us with a sense of urgency. He reminds us not to put off our relationship with Him, his grace is available now-Today!

In Hebrews, the author illustrates this urgency with the story of Israel after leaving Egypt. God had delivered them from Egyptian slavery, led them through the wilderness filled with fiery snakes and scorpions, gave them gushing water from hard rock, and provided them with daily manna. (Deuteronomy 8:11-16) And yet, they continually doubted God’s word and ended up dying in the wilderness never entering the “promised land.”

What should we do instead? Looking at Hebrews chapter 3, we are reminded to focus on Jesus, be confident and listen to the Holy Spirit-Today!

Today is the day to hear his voice.

Today is the day to examine our beliefs to be sure they are from Him.

Today is the day to encourage one another.

Today is the day to focus on Him for the long term.

Today is the day to enter his rest.

“In short, “Today” is a crucial time. It is “today” that we make choices on which hang our future destiny.” (George Knight, “Exploring Hebrews")

It seems to be true that the choices we make every day define our lives and determine our destiny. Today matters! Today is the day to drop everything and spend time with the King. King Jesus!

Easter reminds me that our salvation is a gift that we cannot pay back. Our part is to receive it graciously every day allowing the Holy Spirit to restore us to the image bearers we are intended to be “from glory to glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) It seems to me that the hardest part for humans is giving up on “self” (lest anyone should boast Ephesians 2:9) and allowing ourselves to be changed to people who are focused on loving others instead of self-focus. This shift in focus is not easy. It is a daily commitment and reminder for me personally. I like the way Paul talks of this daily renewal in his letter to the church in Philippi.
4-5 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Phil 4:4-5 MSG

Easter reminds me that we were Created to be a Part of His Kingdom!

Jesus came in person to tell us more about his kingdom. He uses stories to tell us what it is like. The disciples asked him why he used stories, and his answer still resonates for us today. He told stories to create readiness in people’s hearts. (Matthew 13:11-15) We still read those same stories today to create readiness in our hearts and understanding of his kingdom. A kingdom that is so different than anything we can imagine here.

His kingdom is “earth becoming like heaven.” (Mathew 6:10) That is what he tells us to pray for. He doesn’t say we are to leave earth for something better, we are to pray for and work with him make earth like heaven. Isaiah describes this “New Heaven and New Earth” as a place we would all love to be! (Isaiah 65:17-25) There is sheer joy, no more death, building homes that last, planting fields that grow tasty food without weeds. Everyone gets along with each other.

Matthew records the words of Jesus telling us how to live like citizens of this kingdom, even now. In Matthew chapters 5-7, (We call this the sermon on the mount.) We are given practical lifestyle tips and guidance for living. Jesus says to those listening “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on.” (Matthew 7:24) His words are more effective than any self-help book.

The disciples were looking forward to this kingdom and asked Jesus about it. They didn’t understand the immensity of his kingdom. Two days before his crucifixion, Jesus tells them more about his kingdom and Matthew records it for un in chapter 25.
But the disciples weren’t alone in looking forward to God’s kingdom. Abraham looked forward to this kingdom. The writer of Hebrews says that Abrahm lived by faith in God looking forward to “an unseen city with real, eternal foundations, the city designed and built by God.” Hebrews 11:10

Jesus made it clear that his kingdom is spacious with room for all. In John 14:1-3 he tells his disciples, “There is plenty of room for you in my father’s home. I’m on my way to get a room ready for you.” This is reassurance for all of us that we have a place in his kingdom. It is an inclusive place for those who want to be a part of it.
Peter was looking forward to this kingdom. He said to live with hopeful expectation for its arrival. “The galaxies will burn up and elements melt down that day, but we will hardly notice. We will be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens (sky) and the promised new earth all landscaped with righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13)

John saw the promised “city,” New Jerusalem coming down to the re-created earth. Our home and God’s home. (Revelation 21:1-3) God makes his home with us, bring his promised city to us.
When we say the “Lord’s Prayer,” the one Jesus shared with the disciples 2000 years ago, we pray for this kingdom. “They kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) The Message translation says, “set the word right.” Put things back the way God intended when He created the world. Jesus called it the “re-creation of the world, when He would rule gloriously.” Matthew 19:28

As we celebrate Easter this weekend, we look forward to the answer to this prayer, “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” “As I see it, the prayer was answered at the first Easter and will be answered fully when heaven and earth are joined in New Jerusalem. Easter was when hope in person surprised the whole world by coming forward from the future to the present.” (N.T. Wright, “Surprised by Hope”) Wright goes on to say that our task in the present is to live as resurrection people between Easter and the final day, with our Christian life.
I am looking forward to that Kingdom!

Kingdom artwork by Chloe Johnson.

Jesus came to do what Israel failed to do.

He didn’t come to condemn or criticize Israel or anyone else, (John 3:17) but he came to do what generations of humans had struggled to do. Be his image bearers.

Israel, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were rescued from Egypt as “God’s son.” (Exodus 4:23) They were the nation promised to Abraham, the nation through whom all the families of the earth would be blessed. (Genesis 12:2-3)

Before entering the “promised land,” God reminds them of their mission or purpose as “his son,” his chosen people. They were to be his ambassadors to a world that was struggling with false gods, hatred, and violence. In Deuteronomy 4:5-8 God reminds them of the decrees (guidance) he has given them to help them live healthy, happy lives in this new land. He tells them that this way of living will make them wise and understanding. They will be role models for other nations to follow. They will reflect the loving and inclusive character of God so that others will be drawn to him, their creator and source of life.

Even a brief reading of history will show that Israel failed in this way of living. (As have most humans down through the ages.)
This is what could have happened. “All the nations of the world would have come to Israel in order to learn of their good God. The principles of the covenant would have given them success and they would have flourished in every aspect of life. The kingdom of God would have filled the whole world through Israel’s witness. “(Ty Gibson, “The Sonship of Christ”)

Matthew makes sure we understand that Jesus came to do the things Israel failed to do. In Matthew 4:23-25, the connection is clear. Jesus breaks down ethnic barriers, heals the sick and taught the much-needed truth about God. He is fulfilling the mission first given to Adam, “son of God,” (Luke 3:38), then given to Israel, “son of God.” (Exodus 4:23) Of course, we know that Jesus as God and human goes further than we ever could, he actually gives his life for all humanity. He sets things right in our relationship with him, God. (Romans 5:1)

God calls us today, much like he called Israel. He wants a relationship with each of us that spills over into the world around us. He calls us to a better life practicing “the way” of living he intended at creation. The way of life taught by our rabbi, Jesus (John 3:11) He wants us to walk with him and follow his ways, “to master the art of living in God’s good world by learning from Jesus how to make steady process into the kingdom of God.” (John Mark Comer “Practicing the Way”)

Looking forward to this Easter we are also looking forward to the “next age,” the next part of God’s great plan-the earth and all that is a part of it will be recreated as our home. (see Revelation 21, Isaiah 65:17-25) Once again, Matthew connects the dots for us.
“In the recreation of the world, when the Son of Man will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule.” Matthew 19:28

As we celebrate his resurrection, we are celebrating our own future looking forward to the restoration of his original plan for our planet and our role in that new earth!

The God of Yes!
Sometimes we think of God as the God of “no,” the God of “thou shalt not,” but Paul reminds us that this is not true. It is a misrepresentation of God’s character, who he is. God is the God of love and promises kept. He is the God of “yes.” And all the promises we read in the library we call the Old Testament are fulfilled in Jesus!

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NKJV) The Message translation says it a little differently. “Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s yes and our yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ putting his yes within us.” (2 Cor 1:20-22 MSG) Wow! Not only is God’s message to us a positive “yes,” he is affirming us and putting that “yes” inside us. “By his Spirit, he has stamped us with his eternal pledge-a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.” (v 22) There is more to come, more to look forward to!

“Yes, is God’s favorite and most repeated word. Mostly it’s spoken in its Hebrew form, Amen. The Hebrews said amen where we would say yes. The word can be understood in its richness only in relation to God. The church knows God as the one who says yes to us, who establishes and makes our being firm and secure.” (Eugene Peterson Message commentary on 2 Corinthians 1)
So why did Jesus become human and walk this earth? Why do we celebrate his resurrection? Well, he came to be the living embodiment of “yes” to all those covenant promises. And, God continues to say yes to us no matter where we are in life. He is our creator, and He loves us.
The next time you are tempted to think of God as the God of “no,” remember Jesus and his story of unfailing love. Amen!

Looking forward to the celebration of Easter I am reminded that when Jesus came to earth, He literally came to save our planet. The prophet Isaiah said, “Earth is polluted by its very own people, who have broken it’s laws, disrupted it’s order, violated the sacred and eternal covenant.” Isaiah 24:5-6

What does it mean that Earth’s own people have violated the sacred and eternal covenant? “To keep a covenant means to be relationally faithful as God has been through the ages.” (Ty Gibson, “The Sonship of Christ”) We might think of the covenant as a promise or a vow. Covenant breaking occurs when we put ourselves ahead of others. We are self-centered. This has been true for everyone since the fall in Eden. We struggle to be other-centered. And Isaiah says that our covenant breaking has hurt our home, planet earth. And of course, our covenant breaking has hurt our relationship with God and others.

“So God became human in order to live out the relational terms of the covenant for us, toward us, in us and as us.” (Ty Gibson, “The Sonship of Christ,” page 59) Because He honored His covenant, his promise through the ages, we can all look forward to “the coming good times.” (Romans 8:18-21 MSG) “The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and the creatures are ready and can be released at the same time into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile the joyful anticipation deepens.” In other words, Paul is saying that living between the two comings, even the earth itself is waiting to be made whole. This hope is ours because God became human. Becoming human he lived out his covenant of love for us and for our lost planet.

Sometimes we think of Jesus’ death and resurrection as sort of a “get out of jail free” card, or a pass into His Heavenly kingdom. But it seems that He had bigger plans in mind. For Jesus it is all about love, “So that your love for me, might be in them, exactly as I am in them.” John 17:26 Jesus seems most interested in filling our world and our lives with his everlasting love that has existed long before our world was ever created. (John 17:24) His death on the cross confirmed that love and because he kept his covenant in the past, we know that we can look forward to his promise for our future. A future where our planet is made “new,” and He makes his home here with us. (Revelation 21) We can be filled with anticipation for this recreation because of Easter!

The plan to set things right in our world is multi-faceted. At Easter we focus on the cross, but the plan is much grander than that single event. When Jesus came to earth, he also came to show us the true character of God, the true character of the Trinity. He came to show us who God really is. John explains that when the word became flesh, (Jesus became a human being), “We saw with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father , like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.” John 1:14 MSG
God’s reputation and character had been distorted repeatedly. The lies of the deceiver, (see John 8:44) beginning in the garden of Eden gave humans the wrong information about God.
Not only did Jesus live his life in a way that reflected the love of God, but he also told stories (we call them parables) to help us understand the overwhelming love of God. Three of these parables are in Luke, chapter 15. The parable of the shepherd seeking one lost sheep is first. Although he has the 99 sheep, he will not rest until he finds the missing one. The second parable is about the woman who has 10 precious coins and loses one. She turns her house upside down until she finds it and then celebrates. The third and perhaps most famous parable is about the prodigal son. Regardless of the son’s mistakes, the father welcomes him home with no hesitation and no scolding. In all three parables the unconditional love of God is show through illustrations we understand even today. As David put it, his love is chasing after us every day! (Psalm 23:6 MSG)
At that time the people’s picture of God had been distorted by religious leaders and this is still true sometimes today. In fact, we are bombarded with false ideas about God from the media and the culture that surrounds us. Paul warns us about becoming too comfortable with popular culture that impresses us to believe things about God that are not true. He says, “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking…Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12:2 MSG)
Jesus knew that to truly live the way we are designed to live we need an accurate picture of our creator, savior, and friend. (John 1:3-5) He wanted to include us in his plans so we would understand what is really going on. “I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.” John 15:15 MSG These words are true today. We have the friendship of Jesus. He is on our side!