Idolatry of the Heart

Today's reflection: " But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provisions for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." Romans 13:14

This entry is about selfishness. It is about the self-centered lives we lead. I think many people need to step back and take a hard look at their lives and think about the direction they are going. I have to admit, I am often guilty of being selfish and self-centered. It is difficult to walk in a way that is right, if I don't submit to Jesus. I wonder how many times things go wrong because I don't take myself off of the throne in my heart where Jesus is supposed to sit and rule. 

Are you letting Jesus rule your heart? Or, are you trying to do it all by yourself? When you try to do things independently of Christ, I believe that God will allow you to do just that, but you won't like the results of your labor. Additionally, if we do not start our day with Jesus, it is just too easy to give the devil a foothold and he is our greatest accuser. I don't like talking about the enemy, but when we walk outside the protection of the Bible, the enemy seeks to destroy us. Don't let pride in to your heart. If you are not walking in Christ right now, return to Him and submit yourself. Genuinely tell Him you are sorry for the way you have been living. 

When we are selfish, that is idolatry because, we make our selves to be more important that God. I have heard my pastor mention many times that self-pity is idolatry, also.  Ask yourself which is more important, and what you desire more: Savior? Or, self? I believe that if you are a Christian, and you are sinning, you will be miserable doing it. God will do everything He can to help you realize, "Hey, I am not supposed to be living like this!" When you realize, then repent, that is to turn away from what you were doing that was sinful and don't look back. If you have a habitual sin that doesn't seem to want to go away, you have to change your life, sometimes your surroundings, the places you go, and likely the people you associate with regularly, especially if they are leading you stumble.

If you are reading this today, know that you are not alone. God loves you. He is merciful and is always good. It is His kindness that leads us to repentance. Take the time to do a personal inventory. Is it time to clean out the temple like Jesus did? Do you have any idols lurking in your heart? I know I have found some in my life lately, and it was a wake up call for me to get right. I don't think that struggle will go away over night, but I have Jesus, and He is my helper. He will make my heart right. It is my desire to submit to Him daily, and to live rightly in Him. Guard your heart today by reading God's word, and seek His will.

Jesus, my prayer for today is that You will guard our hearts. Help us to walk in the Spirit, and not conform to the patterns of this world. Help us to put You first each day, that we will not commit idolatry through our own self-centered interests. Be at the center of our hearts. Keep loving us and guiding us. Today show us how to live according to Your will and be holy, as You are holy. Thank you for Your kindness and mercy. Fill our hearts with Your grace. Reveal the dark spots in our hearts and make them clean again. Forgive me for the things I have done and made more important than You. Help me to change and to not give into temptation. Purify my heart that I might seek You with a clear conscience. In Your name, Amen.

An Update

I am currently trying to update my blogs and trying to revise the design format for it. I have fallen a little bit behind, but have just a couple remaining subjects for the July Archives, and then to play catch-up with August.

It is difficult for me to sometimes write because I want what I have to say to mean something. So, if you happen to read this entry, just know I am trying to put blog entries that are important and address issues regarding the times on here. 

I am struggling in my walk a little bit, but if I was not, then there would be no growth. I have been a little distant from fellowship at church this last month. A lot has been on my mind. I have been thinking a lot about my mom's passing as it has almost been a year since she died from cancer. I know I ought not to neglect that gathering of saints. I feel like I really could use some encouragement for this dry spell I am going through in my life. 

On a positive note, I am beginning a study in Galatians by John Stott. Please look for entries that discuss the apostle Paul's discourses in Galatians.

Please pray for me that God will show me what to do as far as writing. It is His voice that should speak and not mine. Also, I am still looking for a job, and have been out of work for what seems too long. I am dating someone very special also and need God's guidance for being in a relationship. It is not easy, especially, since I have been a single man for a very long time. I need to have wisdom and discernment for handling decisions made within our relationship.

Lastly, I want to see my life the way that Jesus sees me. I am unfocused and self-critical to the point that I forget God's grace sometimes, and need to step back and look at the way things that Jesus sees them.

Do you know how to receive Jesus in your heart? (archived edition pt. IV )

Today's reading: "By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works that no one should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

God deals with each of our lives differently according to how we are receptive to Him. But the one thing every person has in common when becoming a Christian, it is coming to Jesus in faith. Faith is a type of trusting expectation of something that is do be done, but has yet to happen. Our faith in Christ is the belief and hope in the promise of salvation, an eternal relationship with Jesus in heaven. It involves recognizing that we are sinful before God, who is holy. It means saying that we are sorry (genuinely) for not having lived our life in a way that is pleasing to Him, ( we can only please God by being obedient to the truth, this involves loving Him first, and loving others.) Also, becoming a Christian means taking yourself off the throne of your heart. Imagine you being in charge of everything you do. Do things go smoothly all of the time? Or, do things go wrong from time to time?

Being a Christian means stepping down from your life and letting Jesus be in charge. You can do this by asking Him to be in control. It might seem a little frightening, at first, surrendering your life over to a God you cannot see, but, it is with that belief of faith that things are going to change for the better, that Jesus is going to give you a new heart, and your life will change. Turn away from your old self (repentance) and let Jesus in to your heart. Let him be the king in your heart. Let Him guide your ways. In the New Testament it says that you won't be put to shame.

It is not enough to believe intellectually, although we need a certain amount of knowledge to make decisions. It is not enough to have an emotional experience because our hearts can certainly deceive us.  By believing in Jesus through faith it is an act of one's will. I am just reiterating what I mentioned above.

If you haven't yet received Jesus in your life and you would like to do so, you just need to pray a simple prayer asking Jesus to make Himself real to you, and ask for the forgiveness of your sins, and let Jesus be your Lord and Savior. Praying is talking with God. He hears every word. When you come to Him through prayer you have to believe that He will do what He says He will do. He will forgive you. (see 1 John 1:9)--

Here is that simple prayer- 

Lord Jesus, I need You. I recognize that I have led a sinful life, that my life is lost without you in it. I realize that I need you, and I need forgiveness of sin, and I want to have a new heart. I want to have a relationship with you. Please forgive me. I believe You are who You say that You are, and I open the door of my heart to You and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take charge of my life and dwell on the throne of my heart. Make me the kind of person that You want me to be. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.

Do you know how to receive Jesus in your heart? (archived edition pt. III )

Today's reading: "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

I think I may have mentioned before, that Jesus is the only way to heaven-(John 14:6). There are those who might say otherwise, and if you run across people who say there are more ways than one to get to heaven, steer clear of those people unless you really want to be deceived. There are people today, and an alarming number of people in the church who are falling away or succumbing to false teaching. They are looking for a warm fuzzy feeling based on experience rather than believing the truth. They are invalidating God's word and place no value on it. Again, steer clear. There are different guises, but this movement I have been reading about is known as the *"emergent church or emerging church" movement. I will talk more about this another time, as I am still research this topic. I think it is important to warn people to steer clear of false doctrine. Seek the truth in the Bible. If you are a believer in Christ you will know this to be true, that the Bible is the infallible word of God, accepted and believe to be true.

I know I have digressed a little, but I felt it important to address the issue briefly. 

Returning to receiving Jesus in to your heart: Jesus died for our sins. He was buried in a tomb. He rose again like He said, on the 3rd day, according to the Scriptures. Jesus appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. Additionally, Jesus appeared to more than five hundred people." (Read more about this in 1 Corinthians 15:3-6). If you can imagine this, try to understand: {GOD}----JESUS----{man} ----> Jesus is the ONE that bridges the gap between God and man. 

Part of receiving Jesus into your heart is being open to, and desiring to know Him. He wants to have a relationship with you. He wants to give you a life that exceeds anything you will ever experience here on earth.  When you die, can you be certain that without Jesus you will go to heaven? Have you asked yourself this question: Is this all that I am or ever will be? Is there anything better in life? Is there life beyond this one? If you haven't asked these questions, now is a good time to ask them, and begin to ask Jesus to make Himself real in your life, to reveal Himself and show you His love. I think when you can begin to see that Jesus loves you, asking Him into your heart is not such a difficult thing. But don't take too long to ask him. Time is short. Jesus will return. We do not know when He is returning, but we must be ready. How would you like to be invited to the best party ever? You have an invitation. Say you took too long to RSVP, what do you think your chances are of being able to attend that party. Jesus wants us to RSVP Him, by receiving Him into our heart.

Jesus, my prayer today is that people will not hesitate to RSVP you by believing in Your name. I pray that people will begin to ask those questions and come to the saving knowledge and grace of who You are. You are mighty. You are strong, in Your power. Jesus, I have friends, and even family that need to know You love them. Please make Yourself real to them, and continue revealing who You are to me. In Your name, Amen.

Do you know how to receive Jesus in your heart? (archived edition pt. II )

Today's reading: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23 NKJV

Without Jesus in our heart, we fall short because of sin. God is holy, and His requirement for us is to be holy also. The only way that this can be achieved is by recognizing you have a sinful nature, ( you can read more about this in Genesis accounting for Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden).  We were created to have fellowship with God, but our fellowship with God was broken when Adam chose to sin way back in the garden. God saw Adam's choice as rebelliousness, and without Jesus in our hearts, changing our lives, we are heirs to that rebelliousness. Sin can be characterized as missing God's righteous expectation of living obediently in Him, and going against that obedience out of  rebelliousness. Because of sin, it separates us from God, spiritually.

The Bible explains in Romans 6:23 "The wages of sin is death". When you try to reach God by your own efforts that is considered being 'religious', and this always falls short in God's eyes. But, when you receive Jesus, He is our mediator with God. He is the reconciling factor and relationship builder.

Jesus is the one who restores our fellowship with God.  Are you with me? There is nothing you can do on your own that will ever bring you close to God, unless you have Jesus.  In John 14:6, "Jesus said to him,'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." 

Jesus- my prayer today is simply that people who do not yet know You or have yet to receive You, that they would consider the truth. We are sinful to You. We are not holy. We can only be made holy through the work of Jesus in our lives, by receiving You as our Lord and Savior, and to have an eternal relationship with You. The ones who do not believe, the ones who scoff, they do not get it. I pray that You would begin to make sense to them, and begin changing their hearts. In Your name. Amen.

Do you know how to receive Jesus in your heart? (archived edition pt. I )

Do you know how to receive Jesus in your heart? This is my first time asking this question in a long time. I know. I feel a little embarrassed because it really shouldn't be that difficult to ask someone if they would like to receive Jesus into their heart. Yet, I think it is something that gets neglected or we assume somebody already knows who Jesus is in their life.

I don't know if you have heard what it means when you assume something....well it is not so good. I don't think we should make excuses for ourselves to share the gospel. The following verse says why we ought not to make excuses for God's word:  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." Romans 1:16 NKJV

The following is from a tract I used to use with Campus Crusade for Christ when I was in college:

1) The first thing to recognize is that God loves you, and has a wonderful plan for your life.

John 3:16 tells us, "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that who ever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Can you believe this? I do. But, I have believed since I was a young boy. If you are reading this verse for the first time, you might need some time to think and make a decision. Yep. You have to decide whether this is true or not. We are all given that choice. I hope you will believe it true. Can you believe that God loves you? I have asked myself this question often in my adult years, and it seems logical to say yes, because if Jesus didn't die on the cross for me, then I have believed in vain. It's not impossible for God to love us. It is not impossible to believe we can have eternal life with Jesus. That, is what He came here for, to establish a means to reconcile us with God, to have a relationship with us. Just for the sake of continuing this idea, read John 3:17- "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." God takes no pleasure in condemning anyone. He wants us all to be saved, but the only way is to have Jesus in your heart. When you come to believe in Jesus, you receive Him in your heart by asking him into it. 

According to John 10:10, Jesus says, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly." The enemy wants you to believe there is no better life after you leave this one. But, Jesus has made sure that the enemy is proved wrong. Jesus came that we might have a life that is full and rich (in God's love) in Him.

 

--Jesus, for my friends who I have known for years, who still need you in their hearts, and for those I have yet to meet, please prepare their hearts to receive Your truth. I believe the Bible is infallible, that everything you have spoken in it is true. I believe You are the risen Lord, the Messiah. I realize that people make their own choices, and it is often sad when people don't believe in You, but let me rejoice the day I see my friends who have received You, when we all get to heaven. In Your name, Amen.




Cited:

Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for '"I" AND "am" AND "not" AND "ashamed" AND "of" AND "the" AND "gospel"' in the NKJV". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2011. 4 Aug 2011. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?
Criteria=I+am+not+ashamed+of+the+gospel&t=NKJV >

Blue Letter Bible. "Gospel of John 3 - (NKJV - New King James Version)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2011. 4 Aug 2011. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=3&t=NKJV >

Blue Letter Bible. "Gospel of John 10 - (NKJV - New King James Version)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2011. 4 Aug 2011. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=10&t=NKJV > 

Inconsistency Can Hinder Your Walk. (archive edition)

Today's reading: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2-NIV

It is easy to get caught up in the way of the world, even after you become a believer in Christ. And, one of the things that can really hurt your walk in Christ is inconsistency or a lack of spiritual discipline. As a believer it should be our passion to desire God's Word, the Bible. If you choose not to read your Bible each day (having been guilty of this sometimes,) it can wreak havoc on your day. I have heard it said that you read your Bible each day so that you can learn to hear God's voice in your heart. I believe this. The Bible is also our "Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth." In a way, it is our passport. When we leave one day, Jesus will ask us for our passes (that being evidence of Him in our life-Did we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior?)

Much like working out and exercising, we read the Bible so we can grow in our walk with Jesus. It gives us a historical perspective on the lives and times of the people who lived before Jesus came and was prophesied about, and the times after Jesus came and fulfilled the things He was sent here to do. There are still some things He must do, and that is another reason why we must read the Bible daily. When you read your Bible it gives you instructions on how to pray, maybe even what to pray. It teaches you how to resolve relationship conflicts and really how to live your life. 

As I close this entry today, think about what this verse says, because I think it is one of the keys to understanding why we need to have consistency in our walks when we read each day. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12-NIV

Jesus, please help each of us to love Your word more, and to hold on to Your promises. Help us to walk in a way that says we not only value the truth taught in the Bible, but how we live the truth, too. It is important for us to not see Your word as a chore, but as a regular habit like exercise helping us to have strength to get through each day. In Your name, Amen.





Cited:

Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for '"Your" AND "Mind"' in the NIV". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2011. 4 Aug 2011. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?
Criteria=Your+Mind&t=NIV >

Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for '"God" AND "word" AND "is" AND "sharper" AND "than"' in the NIV". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2011. 4 Aug 2011. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?
Criteria=God+word+is+sharper+than&t=NIV >

An Update

"In Bloom." by Kirk McConnell (c) 2011

My last entry was July 10th. It has been an interesting month of July. I wanted to write in this blog, but have been so busy trying to tend to other matters, this has been a little neglected. I am not going to attempt to write any entries dating back to the 10th for my archive, and this entry is simply an update to say I am back.

I want to continue writing this blog. I do not know if I can do this daily, but I will put out at least two a week, and hope that will be good for now. I know people read my blog, and I do not want to lose any readers. It is not my desire to write just anything. I am prayerful of what I write, and am sensing that God wants me to continue to pen entries so that people will be encouraged, myself included. 

These last two weeks God has been speaking to my heart, and I realize that I cannot write everything I want to say in this entry. I will likely be touching on issues about listening to God: How well do you listen? I will write about praying for others: Ask God to help that person! I will also likely write often about not giving up, and God's faithfulness. Another important issue I will address is the importance of keeping your word, when others do not. These are just a glimpse of what God has been pressing on my heart. 

Do you need prayer? feel free to leave a comment or message me. Intercessory prayer is one of the gifts God has given me, and I will pray for you.

Please pray for me, too. I am still out of work, struggling with discouragement caused by employer rejection and uncertainty due to the times we live in. I really do not know what I am supposed to do with my life, and need direction. As an artist, God is putting me back to work in small ways, so if I can be faithful in those, perhaps things there will open up also. Thank you in advance for your prayers. All praise to God. In Jesus' name, amen.

What you believe says a lot about your life.

A banner I made for a possible website later on. (c)2011- Kirk McConnell

Today's Reading: "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:10

You are loved. This is the first thing you need to know and believe when you receive Christ into your life. Your life does not necessarily get any easier, but be thankful when you have little blessings that come your way when they do. Being a Christian is not about living an easy life. It is about being obedient and growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ, being shaped by our faith in Christ Jesus, continually being changed through sanctification -(being made holy by God's love and  being set apart from the world,) Being a Christian is not about being religious, or having a "warm fuzzy feeling," it is about relationship.

Having a relationship with Christ means means to follow Him, to be an imitator of  Jesus in the way that He lived, and loved others. One of the ways we can imitate Jesus is reading the Bible, and learning to understand and love God's Word through prayer and fellowship with Him. We imitate Christ by the love we show others. We imitate Christ in the way we live day by day. We imitate Jesus by believing in Him. Have you ever seen a child try to be more like their parent? A boy sees his father doing things that are good, he learns goodness. A girl sees her mother showing kindness, she learns kindness. A boy sees his mother and father giving food to someone in need, he learns generosity. The list could go on, but my point is you learn to live as a Christian by seeing how Jesus lived and acted. Can you name some qualities Jesus demonstrated? How did Jesus show love to people? How far did Jesus go to make his point?

If you do not read your Bible, how do you expect to listen to anything God says to you? I say this as a warning not just to you, but to me, also. I sometimes forget.

Jesus, help us to remember your Word, to hide it deep in our hearts, to hear your voice and do what you have told us. Help us to love one another, to help those in need, and to learn more about you. Help us to be more like you each day. Thank you for loving us, always patiently. In your name, amen.

Nothing Can Separate You from God's Love. (Weekend Edition)

Another design I made. It is based on a T-shirt design I once wore in the 1980s through Living Epistles. I have modified it by quite some degree. It retains only a little element of the original design. Although, I have modified this artwork, I cannot claim it as original artwork, but art that has been modified. I usually classify it as "Fan Art". The purpose of this design is only to showcase my ability to create an illustration with typography with something that has influenced my life.

Today's reading: "For by one offering He has perfected those who are being sanctified." Hebrews 10:14

I hope that I don't have to spell it out here that the work Jesus did on the cross was the 'one offering.' He did it for you and me, and He did it once and for all. 

Jesus came to this world knowing that we would not accept Him. He lived a blameless life, and yet He died on a cross for you and me. And He arose 3 days later, witnessed by thousand before He ascended into heaven. The good news is He has promised to return for us, those of who believe. 

Each day I am getting more excited about having Jesus in my life. It is not the same today, as it was when I was 9 years old. I have been a Christian for a long time, and will hold to this position adamantly that when you receive Jesus into your heart, you are His, and no longer your own. I do not think that there is anything in this world that can ever separate me from the love of God (See Paul's writing in Romans.8:34-39). I think there are those who would try to have you believe that you aren't really saved, or, that you are not good enough.

The truth is, we may never be good enough,(see Romans 3:23) but that is why we have Jesus in our hearts to continue sanctifying our hearts, setting us apart from the world. There is nothing we can ever do to be holy on our own. Any righteousness we have comes from God, and that is because he deems it righteous. I am reminded of this because in Hebrews 11, it mentions that God saw the individuals mentioned as righteous because they believed, and not by anything else. If you believe in Jesus, and receive Him in to your heart, it is He who will change you and give you a new heart, a new attitude and a new life. 

Jesus, thank you that we can be new creations in you (2 Cor. 5:17), and that nothing will ever separate us from Your love.Thank you for your goodness, and kindness. Continue to work in our hearts, and help us to believe when it seems difficult to believe. Fill us with Your love, and let your grace be evident in us today. Thank you for loving us. In Your name, Amen.




Jesus: Savior typography design by Kirk McConnell - (based on work created by Living Epistles) 

A Brief Note, and Prayer Request.

There is no reading for this entry. It is just a short note to say that I did not write much in the later part of the week, and it seems that the last two weeks have been hard to write about things. That does not mean I am not thinking of things to say, it has just been difficult to articulate what I wanted to inscribe digitally. I really could use some prayer to know God's will concerning what I should write, and to remain faithful. One of the good things about this blog is it keeps me reading my Bible.

I receive a lot of joy from writing this blog.  As I interact with people or go through my week, I am often thinking about what is important to say. The whole purpose of writing this blog is so others may have a means of getting inspired, encouraged, and get back to the Bible. 

Sometimes I will just post some artwork that I have done. I feel that it is worth showing off to people, so that they can see God working through me, and He receive the glory.  I will either just put a few short thoughts when I do this, or just put a short prayer . I am not great at praying, but I don't think it matters if I am good at praying, so long as I am doing it, (and not just for myself).

During this last week I had to deal with some difficult things. I felt a few times I had a crisis of faith. If you are unfamiliar with this term, see John Blackaby's work: Experiencing God. In making my decisions, I decided God's plans were way better than any that I had, so I am choosing to trust God with what has been on my heart so that I might focus more on how I can join Him in the work that He is doing.

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but I have been out of work for some time, now. I am actually pretty discouraged. I really don't need people offering me advice on how to look for a job. It really doesn't help my situation, but I do ask that you pray for me. If you can, and are able, will you commit to praying for me? This is probably the most important thing to me that anyone can do. 

Please pray for me to continue walking in faith, trusting Jesus daily. Please pray for me to not be discouraged but to have good cheer, and to seek God's will daily through scripture and prayer. Please pray for me that God will open a door for me, and if not, break a window. 

There are some good things going on. I have a mural that I am working on for a married couple who are having a baby. I have had opportunities to teach art at church for the daycare, and have been greatly blessed. My father has been very supportive of me, and has encouraged me to continue being diligent.


Kirk

When you follow Jesus, you make the right choice.

This is some artwork I designed. I like the brightness of the colors. I don't know if you will notice that there is a road. Often a road is symbolic in a Christian's walk. We walk a straight and narrow line. We walk a long road. Sometimes the road is divided. Which direction will you choose to go? Will you take the easy way or the more difficult path? When you walk in Christ, you choose to follow Him. If you don't see Him at first, maybe He is just waiting for you to catch up to Him. 

The verse in the above design is important to me. We all must make a choice. I think I chose long ago that regardless, I will choose to serve the Lord.  Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and one cannot have one without the other. What is your choice? If you don't know, ask Jesus to speak to your heart and show you how to proceed. That, really is the first step to trusting God, by asking Him what He thinks. After He tells you ( He knows what is best for you,) will you do as He says? This is day by day for me, and sometimes moment by moment, too. It is totally worth it, though.

Jesus, help us to keep choosing you and putting you first. In your name, Amen.




Joshua 24:15-Artwork by Kirk McConnell, Copyright 2011

John 3:17

Do you see Jesus? You can see Him if you look closely. We often quote John 3:16, but I happen to like this verse to because it is stating God's intentions, that Jesus came not to condemn us, but that we would have the hope of salvation through Him. 

This is an illustration I did. It is a variation on another design I remembered from the 1980s era. The flame-text design is meant to describe my renewed passion for Christ in my life, something I have desired for a long time that I now know God to be at work "lighting the fire again," in my heart. I know the verse is difficult to read as the font is small, but it is from John 3:17.



Sometimes when you walk, as a Christian, your faith can grow cold. God might even seem distant. But, God never moves away. It is like being at the beach, standing in the water, and not realizing you have allowed the tide to move you far away from your point of origin. God doesn't move away from us. We move away from God.

I think about the many people I have known, that have professed to be Christians, and love Jesus, only to see them moving farther away. The only way we can be close to God is through Jesus, and hearing His voice through the narratives and whispers in the Bible, by being still and recognizing that God is in control. We must draw near to God, and He will draw near to us, as it mentions in James.

If your faith is cold, or seem to have forgotten what it was like to have that fire inside your heart for Christ, you are not alone. Resolve to get right with God. Choose each day to serve Jesus. We must "take up our cross" daily and follow Jesus. If it seems too much to carry, ask God to give you the strength to keep moving forward. Life is tough. Jesus carried His own cross, and it must have been very heavy. Rest in Jesus. He is the source of your strength. His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses.


If Jesus didn't love us, He would not have died on the cross. But He did, and He does. Continue to remember each day that Jesus loves you, and that He laid His life down for you. Jesus told us that there is no greater love than to lay your life down for others. We don't know exactly what that might entail, but we do know that through obedience to God's Word and our love for Jesus, makes it possible to set aside our old lives.

I hope you are encouraged today. 


It is my prayer today: Jesus, please guard our hearts, our minds, our eyes, our lips, our ears, and keep us safe. You have done the work on the cross and have risen from the grave. You are coming back again, one day. Rekindle the hearts of believers whose faith's have grown cold. Help each of us to be filled with your love. Reawaken us to the truth and to love our neighbors. Help us to let go of the things that would hinder our lives, and to let go of the old "self." You are our God and might king. For those who have yet to receive you as their king, I pray for their hearts to be open to hearing and receiving the truth. In Your name, Amen

July 4th

Today's Reading: "37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers , nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8: 37-39 NKJV

The last few days have been busy for me, and have had little time to write, but I have been thinking of things that I will be writing about this month. Today we celebrate our 235th year of independence as a nation. I would like to ask God to bless America, but I feel we need to actually ask God for forgiveness as a nation and seek Him again. I believe that America has lost its way, and only through humility can she become strong again.

Liberty is important. I often think we have taken it for granted. But it is good to sleep in security at night as our soldiers serve to protect this nation. Also, I think of the safety I have in Christ, and the freedom I have in Him. I am learning new things each day in my walk, as grace is afforded to me. I believe what the verse above says, that nothing can separate me from the love of God, which frees me to love others.

It is my hope that we will endeavor to not lose our freedom as a nation. It is something that I think is slowly eroding. If we are not watchful, more freedoms can be lost in times to come. It is my prayer that we will be vigilant, and continue to walk according to the truth and promises outlined in the Bible. None of us are perfect, but if we continue to abide in Christ, He is perfecting us a little more each day through our sanctification, by being set apart for God. We are not our own, but are bought by Christ's death upon the cross. Our freedom is to choose Him and an eternal relationship versus choosing a life of eternal separation from God as a result of denying Christ. 

I think people need to wake up and see what is going on around them. Quit watching television for a day, a week, or a month. It's mostly the same stuff anyway, and it won't make you any smarter. I sometime feel like television is like a vampire sucking the life from me. Yet, back to seeing what is around you, there is much going on in the world. People are hurting and we need to pray for them. People are lonely, we need to befriend them. People are hungry, we need to feed them. People are unloved, we need to love them. This is what our freedom in Christ empowers and enables us to do. 

Peace and freedom in Christ to you. Continue to grow in the knowledge and grace that is in Christ Jesus. Walk in all wisdom, being blessed as you learn. In Jesus' name, Amen.



The above 4th of July illustration is designed by Kirk McConnell commemorating his take on 4th of July fireworks. Copyright 2011.

The Art of Encouragement (Romans 8:28)

Whatever you are going through today, just know that Jesus loves you. Whatever trial you face, you are not alone. Remember, when you are experiencing hardship to acknowledge God's goodness. He is good all of the time. He sees the bigger picture and is just waiting for you to trust Him. Your life does have purpose. Trust in His timing and His perfect will. 

May you grow in grace and see the good in today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The above illustration is in watercolor, painted by Kirk McConnell, copyright 2010.

Bread of Life.

Today's reading:  "33 "For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34 Then they said to Him, "Lord, give us this bread always." 35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."" John 6: 33-35 (NKJV)

What is interesting about John 6, is that Jesus is making it clear that we ought to hunger for heaven, and not the things of this world which cannot stand up to the truth. Our food spoils if we leave it out too long, or let it go inside the refrigerator. I think it is also interesting to consider that food that has a longer shelf life has preservatives in it. Though, I don't think that much of our food that is high in preservatives is really that good for you. And, yet, food during Jesus' time was preserved with salt. I think I may have mentioned in an earlier blog that salt is a preservative. It keeps food from spoiling, it gives flavor and has healing properties. I think in relation to what Jesus is sharing in John's gospel here is that we ought to focus our attention on the truth, having an eternal perspective. Jesus is making it clear that He is sent by God, and that we cannot go wrong by Him. He is everything we need.

Food is necessary for us to live. Our human bodies fail if we go too long without food. We hunger and we thirst. The other word I was trying to think of here is sustenance. By remaining in the Bible, and seeking to know Jesus more and learn about Him, you will find that your soul will be sustained and lifted up. It is a truth it took me a long time to realize. As much as I enjoy food, who doesn't? I want to be hungry for the the truth, and let Jesus work in my life. Food which fuels our bodies will only sustain us so long. The spiritual food we hunger for will satisfy us all of our days when we are walking right with Jesus.

What do you hunger for today?  Do you desire to know the truth? Do you desire to be satisfied and have your spirit filled? One of the things I have longed for is joy. Only as I walk and make it through the different trials I have faced, have I learned that I am not alone, and I am filled by the promises in the Bible. I want to mention that John 6 is kind of a deep chapter in this gospel. Jesus was being affronted by people who only wanted to see signs and miracles or to ridicule Him. He was with them and proclaimed His intentions and they still did not believe Him. Jesus was pointing out that where manna is to the Law of Moses, that He is the bread of life. Manna only sustained the people during Moses' time, then it perished, and went bad. Jesus is saying that without Him, the living bread, one cannot live. Jesus is the means our hearts long to be fed.

I was reminded today about the importance of reading the Bible. There are many people who only get to hear the Word of God second hand. We are blessed to be able to read Bibles in America. In China, many have to be smuggled in to believers, and those who smuggle them risk life and freedom just to secure believers with the truth. I have been told that we can consider the Bible our daily bread. What happens when you don't eat? You starve, right? Seven days without reading the Bible makes one weak, and not eating weakens one's ability to stay healthy, ( I am speaking spiritually, here.) If we are to remain healthy in Christ, we must read daily to know Jesus' voice in our lives. It is about our relationship with Him, and how He will transform our lives.

Take time to consider what you have hungered for in life. Are you satisfied with the direction your life is going? You have the ability to decide which way you will go. Although I have believed Jesus is who He says He is, since my early boyhood, I think most of my life has been spent being religious. It is only in the last decade that I can clearly see that I have a real relationship with Christ, and He is making changes as I am willing to believe and receive power in my life from Him in the Bible.

My prayer today  is: Jesus, I want to hunger for Your word more each day. I want to eat daily, and have my spirit filled with Your love, Your joy, and live in a way that is pleasing to You. You are the bread that sustains me, and gives me new life. Thank you for revealing this truth in my life. I pray for my friends who do not yet have a relationship with You or who have fallen away. Help them to be fed with the truth of Your Word. Only in You, Jesus, can we have eternal life, a life where we are new, imperishable, incorruptible, and satisfied. Thank you for Your gentle love. In Your name, Amen.