GLENN'S PODCASTS!

TRANSITIONS

One way of looking at life is that it indeed is a series of transitions.

From 2006 to 2007, childhood to teen years, teens to twenties and so on.

From single to married, childless to childbearing and child-raising.

The cycle of change and transition happens to us all.

This new year you may begin ill and end up in heaven, begin ill and end up healed! You may begin without illness and end 2007 quite sick.

We have few assurances, but one is that God, the true God, the Lord Jesus Christ (Immanuel) IS “with us”.

Moving to a new city or country, going off to school and away from family and friends for the first time, taking a new job or position in a company, no matter the transition, He is present with us each and every step whether we notice, feel Him near or not. But it sure pays to pay attention to Him.

He promised to “never leave nor forsake” us. He alone is unchanging and totally trustworthy. This of course doesn’t mean everything will go as we wish, but that we will go over, under, around and/or through it WITH Him, not alone.

Belonging to Jesus Christ also means one doesn’t have to face life without other human beings alongside us. The church is literally the “assembly” and getting together as much as we can with others who love and truly serve Jesus as opposed to simply talk about cerebral beliefs is a wonderful gift from God.

Suffering? You truly don’t have to face it alone. Showered with grace and blessings beyond measure? Share it with others who love God or are in need of His love and at this point still don’t walk with Jesus.

Regardless of changes or transitions in this year, we never walk, run, crawl or stand alone- those who trust and follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior have a benefit that begins now and only grows in eternity.

This could be THE year you move from being merely a Christian to a genuinely maturing disciple... and you may hardly recognize yourself by year's end.

Love, trust, obey Him, for God LIVES with us, our ever-present help regardless of the transition.

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS 2006

Most of you who read this know what Christmas is really about:

Jesus Christ born into our world so that we might believe, trust and follow Him and receive eternal life through His sacrifice. It is about my and your changed life because of a daily, growing relationship with Jesus!

It's about family -especially children, about loved ones, remembering and honoring those who have passed on, those who have served God, served others and ourselves.

It's about giving thanks for all the grace God has given- sufficient and incredible, unearnable kindness from our heavenly Father.

But Christmas is not just about these relationships.

It is also about lost jobs, homelessness, hunger, people dealing with all sorts of difficulties perhaps including extreme illness or abusive living conditions, prison time (guilty or not) and more.

This holiday take time to pray, visit, bring a gift or simply your presence among people in such circumstances. Consider the widow, the orphan, those in your immediate neighborhood who are alone (and very possibly forgotten) for the first time at a time of year most of us are celebrating the goodness of God and His provision.

I'm convinced God wants his children to be part of His provision for those in need.

Christmas began with God, continues among the least of these our brothers and sisters and will one day progress to include the entire family of God surrounding His throne!

Wherever you are, regardless the needs- we wish you a Blessed & -Shared- Christmas!

-Glenn