December Parent Newsletter:

For Parents on the GO:

1.      Saturday, December 5^th 7:00-9:00 PM: Christmas Party at T and Julia’s house. Come wearing your ugliest Christmas sweater and bring a $5 gift.

2.      Saturday, January 16^th 8:00 am-3:00 PM: Hawksnest Snow Tubing. Cost is $35 plus lunch. We have 12 spots remaining so please sign up and pay ASAP.

Dear Parents,

From all of us in the Youth Department we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...

Wednesday Worship:

Should We Pray for ISIS To Be Defeated or Converted?

Original Post: Should We Pray for ISIS To Be Defeated or Converted?
Original Post Date: November 18, 2015
Original Author: Russel Moore

Over the weekend many of us watched with horror and heartbreak as reports of terrorism came from Paris. At least 120 people were killed in what appears to be a coordinated operation by the Islamic State (ISIS), a terror organization that has murdered thousands of innocent people over the last year, including many Christians.

ISIS is one of the clearest embodiments of persecution and evil that we in the West have seen in many years. Their very existence is a commitment to wiping out political and cultural opposition through violence. They prey relentlessly on the innocent, including children. There’s no question that ISIS is a menace that must be engaged through just war.

But is justice the only thing that Christians should pray for when it comes to ISIS? Should we pray that our military, in the words of singer Toby Keith, “light up their world like the Fourth of July”? Or should we pray that, as a friend of mine posted on social media, there would be a Saul among those ISIS militants, whose salvation might turn the Arab world upside down with the gospel?

These are not contradictory prayers, and to each of them I say, “Amen.”

Justice and Justification

Jesus says to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us (Matt. 5:44). The Spirit of Jesus in the prophets and in the apostles also tells us that those who turn a blind eye to the killing of others are wrong. The reason we feel contradictory praying for both justice against ISIS and salvation among ISIS is partly because we fail to distinguish between the mission of the state in the use of the temporal sword against evildoers (Rom. 13:4) and the mission of the church in the use of the sword of the Spirit against sin and death and the devil (Eph. 6). But that’s not, I think, the main problem.

The main problem is that we sometimes forget we are called to be a people of both justice and justification—and that these two aren’t contradictory.

It sounds awfully spiritual, at first blush, to say we shouldn’t pray for the defeat of our enemies on the field of battle. But that’s only the case if the enemies aren’t actually doing anything. This terrorist group is raping, enslaving, beheading, and crucifying our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as other innocent people. To not pray for swift action against them is to not care about what Jesus said we should seek, what we should hunger and thirst for, for justice. A world in which murderous gangs commit genocide without penalty is not a “merciful” world but an unjust horror show.

As Christians we ought to be, above all people, concerned with such justice. We don’t just have the common grace motivation, rooted in the image of God and the law written on the heart, to care about stopping murder and injustice. We also have the personal implication. It’s our household being wiped out in the Middle East, the very place where our church started. For us, this isn’t a matter of “they”; it’s a matter of “us.”

Gospel and Punishment

At the same time, praying for the salvation of our enemies, even those committing the most horrific of crimes, isn’t a call to stop praying for justice against them. The cross, after all, is not forgiveness in a contemporary therapeutic sense—in which one is merely absolved of wrongdoing as though it were all a misunderstanding.

The gospel does not say, “Don’t worry about it; it’s okay.” The gospel points us to the cross where sin is absorbed in a substitute. God’s righteous condemnation of sin is there—he does not, and cannot, enable wickedness. And God’s mercy is also there in that he is the One who sends his Son as the propitiation for sin. He is both “just and the justifier of the One who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). The gospel doesn’t leave sin unpunished. Every sin is punished—either at the Place of the Skull, in Christ, or in the judgment of hell, on one’s own.

The repentant thief on the cross—a Middle Eastern terrorist by Rome’s standards—did not believe his salvation exempted him from justice. He confessed that his sentence was just, that he was receiving “the due reward for [his] deeds” (Luke 23:41) even as he cried out to Jesus for merciful entrance into his kingdom (Luke 23:42).

We ought, indeed, to pray for the gospel to go forward, and that there might be a new Saul of Tarsus transformed from murdering to gospel witness. At the same time we ought to pray, with the martyrs in heaven, for justice against those who perpetrate such wickedness. Praying for the military defeat of our enemies—and that they might turn to Christ—aren’t contradictory prayers, because salvation doesn’t mean turning an eye away from justice. We can pray for gospel rootedness in the Middle East, and we can pray to light up their world like the Fourth of July, at the same time.

We are, after all, the people of the cross.

Refugees, America & God's Heart:

My heart is heavy today and my brain is confused as I scroll through social media, listen to the news and talk with people about refugees. I have been staring at my computer screen and wondering what to say about this incredibly  complex situation (that's probably the understatement of the year).

On one hand I want to say we should accept all refugees and love them but on the other hand I know the situation isn't that easy and I can understand the reality that ISIS could use the refugee situation to spread their troops around the world.

On one hand I want to say we should love our neighbor and that means we should have compassion on refugees and welcome them but on the other hand loving our neighbor also means loving the people around us and not wanting to see them suffer a terrorist attack.

The situation with refugees is very very complex. I wrote a lot this morning but in the end I hit delete grabbed my Bible, conducted a word study on the word refugee, strangers, poor, aliens and sojourners and discovered seven truths from Scripture.

Seven key principles describe God's abiding concern for refugees:

1. God loves, protects, and provides for refugees.
• He watches over them. Ps. 146:9.
• He provides refuge for them, a shelter from the storm, and
shade from the heat. Ps. 9:9, Is.25:4.
• He shows no partiality to natives of a country. Refugees and
natives have equal status is His sight. Deut. 10:16-19, Num.15:16.
• He defends their cause, providing food and clothing for them.
Deut. 10:16-19.
• Jesus announced that the essence of his ministry was to help and serve people in refugee-like situations. Luke 4:16-2

2. God expects his people to love refugees and to give freely of their resources to help them.
• Love refugees as you love yourselves. Lev. 19:34, Deut 10:16-19.
• Treat refugees fairly and stand up for them when others mistreat them. Ps. 82:4, Ex. 22:21, Lev. 19:33, Zech. 7:9-10, Deut. 23:15.
• Share your food, clothing, and shelter with them. Is. 58:6-11, Lk. 3:10, Mt. 25:31-46.
• Invite them into your homes. Heb. 13:2. Is. 58:6-11, Luke 14:12-13.
• Set aside part of your income to help them. Lev. 19:10, 23:22, Deut. 24:19-21, 14:28-29, 26:12, Gal. 2:10, Ja. 1:27.
• Sell your possessions to help them if need be. Lk. 12:33, Mt.19:21.
• Encourage them. Is. 1:17.

3. God views our compassionate treatment of refugees as a fundamental indicator of true Christianity.
• When believers stand before Him on judgment day He will ask them how they treated refugees. Luke 14:12-13, Matthew 25:31- 46.

4. God expects the nations to rescue refugees, to take them in, and to treat them just like her native born.
• Rescue refugees from persecuting nations. Is. 16:3-5.
• Give shelter to them from their destroyers. Is. 16:3-5.
• Never return refugees to their oppressors. Let them live with you. Deut. 23:15.
• Give them a choice as to where they can live among you. Deut. 23:15.
• Treat refugees just like you do your own citizens through your laws and regulations. Treat them fairly. Lev. 19:34, 24:22, Num. 15:16.
• Set aside part of your income to help them. Deut. 14:28-29, 26:12

5. God promises to bless the family and nation who take care of refugees.
• He blesses them and the work of their hands. Deut. 24:19-21.
• He answers their prayer. Is. 58:6-11.
• His glory is their rear guard. Ps. 41:1-3, Is. 58:6-11.
• He strengthens them physically. Is. 58:6-11, Ps. 41:1-3.
• He satisfies their needs. Prov. 28:27, Is. 58:6-11.
• He protects them. Ps. 41:1-3.
• He will repay them at the resurrection of the righteous. Lk. 14:12-13, Mt. 25:31-46

6. God promises to purse the nation and people who mistreat refugees.
• The judgment and curse of the Lord is on a nation that withholds justice from the refugee. Deut. 27:19, 24:17, Ez.22:9f, Mal 3:5, Ez. 16:49f
• The Lord will not answer their prayers. Pr. 21:13
• He who closes his/hers ears to refugees will receive many curses. Pr. 28:27
• You show contempt toward God if you oppress the poor. Pr. 10:31.
• A nation's right to its land is predicated upon treating refugees well. Jer. 5:5-7

7. God views our care for refugees as a concrete expression of love and service to him.
• When we take care of refugees, we take care of the Lord.  Mt. 25.

I don't know what to say to end this blog post or what to say to even add anything of substance to the noise except maybe just more noise I should probably just hit delete..... In the end here's all I know; whatever you think in terms of policy there is one inescapable reality: God loves refugees.

Tough Question: Can a Christian Lose Their Salvation?

First, the term Christian must be defined. A “Christian” is not a person who has said a prayer or walked down an aisle or been raised in a Christian family. While each of these things can be a part of the Christian experience, they are not what makes a Christian. A Christian is a person who has fully trusted in Jesus Christ as the only Savior and therefore possesses the Holy Spirit (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8–9).

So, with this definition in mind, can a Christian lose salvation? It’s a crucially important question. Perhaps the best way to answer it is to examine what the Bible says occurs at salvation and to study what losing salvation would entail:

A Christian is a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). A Christian is not simply an “improved” version of a person; a Christian is an entirely new creature. He is “in Christ.” For a Christian to lose salvation, the new creation would have to be destroyed.

A Christian is redeemed. “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18–19). The word redeemed refers to a purchase being made, a price being paid. We were purchased at the cost of Christ’s death. For a Christian to lose salvation, God Himself would have to revoke His purchase of the individual for whom He paid with the precious blood of Christ.

A Christian is justified. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). To justify is to declare righteous. All those who receive Jesus as Savior are “declared righteous” by God. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to go back on His Word and “un-declare” what He had previously declared. Those absolved of guilt would have to be tried again and found guilty. God would have to reverse the sentence handed down from the divine bench.

A Christian is promised eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Eternal life is the promise of spending forever in heaven with God. God promises, “Believe and you will have eternal life.” For a Christian to lose salvation, eternal life would have to be redefined. The Christian is promised to live forever. Does eternal not mean “eternal”?

A Christian is marked by God and sealed by the Spirit. “You also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13–14). At the moment of faith, the new Christian is marked and sealed with the Spirit, who was promised to act as a deposit to guarantee the heavenly inheritance. The end result is that God’s glory is praised. For a Christian to lose salvation, God would have to erase the mark, withdraw the Spirit, cancel the deposit, break His promise, revoke the guarantee, keep the inheritance, forego the praise, and lessen His glory.

A Christian is guaranteed glorification. “Those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:30). According to Romans 5:1, justification is ours at the moment of faith. According to Romans 8:30, glorification comes with justification. All those whom God justifies are promised to be glorified. This promise will be fulfilled when Christians receive their perfect resurrection bodies in heaven. If a Christian can lose salvation, then Romans 8:30 is in error, because God could not guarantee glorification for all those whom He predestines, calls, and justifies.

A Christian cannot lose salvation. Most, if not all, of what the Bible says happens to us when we receive Christ would be invalidated if salvation could be lost. Salvation is the gift of God, and God’s gifts are “irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). A Christian cannot be un-newly created. The redeemed cannot be unpurchased. Eternal life cannot be temporary. God cannot renege on His Word. Scripture says that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).

Two common objections to the belief that a Christian cannot lose salvation concern these experiential issues: 1) What about Christians who live in a sinful, unrepentant lifestyle? 2) What about Christians who reject the faith and deny Christ? The problem with these objections is the assumption that everyone who calls himself a “Christian” has actually been born again. The Bible declares that a true Christian will not live a state of continual, unrepentant sin (1 John 3:6). The Bible also says that anyone who departs the faith is demonstrating that he was never truly a Christian (1 John 2:19). He may have been religious, he may have put on a good show, but he was never born again by the power of God. “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16). The redeemed of God belong “to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God” (Romans 7:4).

Nothing can separate a child of God from the Father’s love (Romans 8:38–39). Nothing can remove a Christian from God’s hand (John 10:28–29). God guarantees eternal life and maintains the salvation He has given us. The Good Shepherd searches for the lost sheep, and, “when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home” (Luke 15:5–6). The lamb is found, and the Shepherd gladly bears the burden; our Lord takes full responsibility for bringing the lost one safely home.

Jude 24–25 further emphasizes the goodness and faithfulness of our Savior: “To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

The Story of God

Teens Talk About Family:

Daddy's Little Girl?

I spend a lot of time with Piper— around the house, at the playground, running errands, etc. People (especially women of a certain age) sometimes see us together and smile, heads cocked just so. What a wonderful thing to see a dad with his daughter, the smile says. I appreciate it, even as I recognize the double standard — my wife gets no such heartwarming looks. But sometimes someone will say, “Oh, she’s daddy’s little girl, isn’t she?”

Um, no, she’s not. And God forbid that she ever becomes one. Just as I wouldn’t want to raise a sniveling, wimpy “Mama’s boy,” I have no intention of raising a spoiled, dependent “Daddy’s little girl.”

The “Daddy’s little girl” idea is a powerful one – it is embedded in our language, it is written into our stories and movies, it’s emblazoned on our t-shirts and tutus. As fathers, we see ourselves as the Protector, our girl’s shield from the big, bad world. We love being the hero, the one to save the day with a bottle of milk or a comforting word or a helping hand when she needs it. That desire comes from a deep and wonderful place, but we dads have to resist it whenever possible. Because when we step in to protect our daughters from danger, we are undermining their ability to build their own defenses. When we swoop in to solve the problem, we short-circuit their learning process. When I play the hero, she becomes the damsel in distress.

But don’t we dads have an “instinct” to protect our children, especially our daughters, from all harm? Maybe, but the emphasis on a dad’s “instinct” to “protect” his daughters is just too simple and convenient. Too often, “instinct” is just an excuse we use to justify all sorts of behavior that ultimately cripples our girls’ ability to develop into tough, resilient human beings. “Instinct” often really means “I love being the hero.”

There may have been a time in a previous century when the budding “damsel in distress” model of girlhood fit the reality of the lives that girls would grow up to lead. Before the long women’s rights movement in this country – I’m talking about going back to the 1830s, not the 1960s – girls and women really were dependent on the men in their lives. They often could not vote or own their own land or file for divorce or even get an education. They worked only menial or subservient jobs, and they needed (and often longed for) the protection of a good man. It was the fathers, and later the husbands, who were culturally and legally responsible for the women in their household, so it made sense, perhaps, for fathers to act as the “protectors” of their daughters.

Those days are long gone, thanks to a century and a half of persistent pushing by women’s rights advocates. Our daughters are not growing up in a world that expects them to be dependent. When they come of age, their opportunities are limitless – they can seek and explore and discover any number of different careers and destinies. In this world, a girl needs to be adventurous and tough. She needs to be able to stand up for herself and assert herself and rely on herself. It does her little good for her to be dependent on some benevolent male to help her out whenever she needs it. We need to consistently challenge our daughters in a variety of ways – physically, intellectually, emotionally – to prepare them for this wonderful kind of world. Twenty-first century America does not need damsels in distress or “daddy’s little girls”; we need courageous, thoughtful, bold, tough, adventurous women. It’s our job as fathers to raise those girls.

November Parent Newsletter:

For Parents on the Go:

1. Wednesday, November 4th 7:00-8:00 pm: Fill Operation Christmas Child Shoe boxes. We will be going to the Family Dollar and purchasing supplies to fill shoe boxes. We will than return to the church and fill our shoe boxes. Cost: Money to fill a shoe box.
2. Friday, November 20th at 6:00 pm-Saturday, November 21st at 5:00 pm: YouthGIVING. Teenagers will have a lock-in at our house on Friday night where we will make home made pizza, play games, watch movies and share what we are thankful for. On Saturday, November 21st we will wake up early and travel to several church families to serve them with various yard work and other small repairs. Cost: $10.
3. Saturday, December 5th 7:00-9:00 pm: Christmas Party. Annual Christmas Party in the Welch's basement. Cost: FREE.
4. Saturday, January 16th: 8:00 am-4:00 pm: Snow Tubing in Seven Hills, NC. We will be going snow tubing in the mountains of NC. I only have 12 tickets so the first 12 who let me know and pay the amount will receive a ticket. Cost: $35 plus money for lunch. 

Dear Parents,

Did you know that there are days when I wish I was an African American Preacher? I wish I was an African American preacher because then I could stand before a group of people and in a loud booming voice say, "Never Underestimate the Power of Thanksgiving!"

However,

I am not an African American preacher but rather a "slightly" over-weight white boy who dreams to tell people to "never underestimate the power of Thanksgiving!" Giving thanks is an important concept in the Bible and is used over 40 times by the Apostle Paul, alone. From these uses we learn that thankfulness is a mental and/or verbal expression of one’s acknowledgement and appreciation of God’s person, His grace, blessings, and sovereign work in one’s life and the world.

The power of thanksgiving is important because it focuses our attention from all that we do not have to all that we do have. I repeat, the power of thanksgiving is important because it focuses our attention from all that we do not have to all that we do have. What are you thankful for this year? 

God has blessed Julia and I in numerous ways this year. This Thanksgiving season, I wanted to take a few lines and just say thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you for all of your hard work raising your sons and daughters. Everyone in CREW is well-behaved and has manners and shows respect to Julia and I. I know it may not always seem that your job as a parent is having an effect but now that it is and Julia and I can see it. I want to remind you that I am praying for everyone in CREW along with their parents by name daily. You are prayed for! Continue to parent your child and know that Julia and I are right beside you to assist and cheer you on. You are doing a terrific job. I am thankful for your investment in the life of your child and because of your investment it makes my job easier. Thank you.  

Thank you for supporting Julia and I. Thank you for driving your teenager to the church for events and for bringing them on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Thank you for the emails of support and encouragement. Thank you for being flexible when we do not arrive preciously when we said we were going to arrive. Thank you for being patient with me as I learn how to communicate with each of you and better minister to your son or daughter and also minister to you. Thank you for supporting my vision of reaching, teaching and releasing 7th-12th grade students. Thank you for volunteering and always willing to lend a helping hand. 

Each of you has been an encouragement and a joy. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for entrusting your son or daughter to CREW Youth Ministry and I look forward to many more years of partnership together in the Gospel. Thank you!

Reaching, Teaching and Releasing,

T Welch 

The Giving Tree, Piper & Fireplace:

I grew up loving to read and I want to instill in my children a love for reading also. I have a philosophy as a parent which is if any of my children pick out a book in a store I will purchase it for them. We have a large collection of Spot books because of this philosophy. Spending money on a book is never wasted money besides if we don't have enough money at the end of the month because we've spent it all on books I can just burn the boring pages. ;) The other day I was near a book store so I pulled in to purchase Piper a new book. I went to the children's section and was looking for a book to read to Piper at night. I came across "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein.

You may recall the basic plot of the book. Graced with Shel Silverstein’s simple black-and-white line drawings, it tells the story of a little boy and the tree that loves him dearly. The boy and the tree play joyfully together at the beginning, when both are young. As the boy turns into a teenager, he drifts away to pursue girls, then becomes a man and is consumed with his job and his family. The lonely tree pines away for her little boy and the times they shared together. Every time he comes to visit, he needs something more from her, and she happily gives it to him.

First he needs the fruit from her branches so that he can start a business; later she offers her very limbs so he can build a house for his family; finally, she sacrifices her entire trunk so that he can build a boat to sail away and start a new life. Each time she gives him something, Silverstein writes, “The tree was happy.” When the boy returns as a frail old man, the tree has nothing left to give except her stump, which he uses to sit down and rest his weary bones. Once again, “The tree was happy.”

Though I had not thought about it in years, I remembered the book as a beautiful story of love – deep, unconditional love – and it evoked warm memories from my childhood. I thought she would love it.

But as I flipped the pages, the book took on a new look. Dark shadows crept across the white page as an ominous soundtrack crescendoed in the background of my mind. The sweet little boy morphed into a manipulative little devil who preys upon the unsuspecting tree. Their innocent, loving relationship transformed into a hideous case of domestic abuse, a classic case of a guy bullying a girl into doing what he wants and expecting her to like it. He takes and takes and takes, giving her nothing but scorn. He ignores her, he uses her, he destroys her very being – but he never offers a hint of gratitude, let alone reciprocity.

Yet what does the tree do? She takes it all and responds with a perky “Thank you, sir, may I have another?” kind of joy. She is not a devoted friend; she is a doormat. Instead of telling him to build his own house, she accepts the abuse willingly and even looks forward to it. This is the sort of thing you read about in psychology class or in a police report, after the woman finally has had enough and starts shooting.

From a boy’s perspective, sure, The Giving Tree seems like a wonderful story. The lesson is downright heartwarming: no matter how much of a jerk I am, I can always count on some chick being there to give me what I want. But what does it teach Piper and other girls? That love means “standing by your man,” no matter how much he neglects or abuses you? That love demands unreciprocated sacrifice? That you should be happy with whatever your boy does to you?

Imagine if the sex of the characters in the book were reversed. Seriously, try it. (It’s hard to do because it runs counter to our cultural conditioning – we simply cannot imagine a male putting up with that kind of crap.) Now it’s a little girl relentlessly heaping abuse upon a stoic male tree. Would we fondly remember it as a moving book about love? Probably not – readers would see the girl as a miniature Cruella DeVille and the tree as a spineless wimp. Neither character would come across as sympathetic, and readers would scurry off to safer books with more traditional gender roles. It simply would not be written with the sexes reversed.

As I finished The Giving Tree in the book store, my mind flashed forward about twenty years. Piper is in college and dating a “sweet little boy” like the one in the book. What would I think of their relationship? Would I think it was “beautiful” and “loving”? Would I want her to be the devoted tree giving, giving, giving to an ungrateful lout who neglects her? No! I did not raise her to be a cheerful victim.

In case you think I am being a little over the top on the week of October 18-24th, USA Today ran a story on Shel Silverstein and his risque life. The article reported that Mr. Silverstein was Hugh Hefner's sidekick and was welcome into the inner circle of the Playboy mansion. He fathered two children with Playboy bunnies (fatherered is a loose term since he never spent any time with them) and was reported to have slept with hundreds of women. I can't help but think that this lifestyle influenced his view on women & affected/infected the writing of The Giving Tree.

The bottom line: The Giving Tree is fit for the fireplace and nothing more.

Wednesday Worship:

Monday Morning Humor:

The Glorious Gospel:

We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to the Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.-1 Corinthians 1:23-24

Over against the terrifying news that we have fallen under the condemnation of our Creator and that He is bound by His own righteous character to preserve the worth of His glory by pouring out eternal wrath on our sin, there is the wonderful news of the gospel.

This is a truth no one can ever learn from nature. It has to be told to neighbors and preached in churches and carried by missionaries.

The good news is that God Himself has decreed a way to satisfy the demands of His justice without condemning the whole human race.

Hell is one way to settle accounts with sinners and uphold His justice. But there is another way.

The wisdom of God has ordained a way for the love of God to deliver us from the wrath of God without compromising the justice of God.

And what is this wisdom? The death of the Son of God for sinners!

The death of Christ is the wisdom of God by which the love of God saves sinners from the wrath of God, all the while upholding and demonstrating the righteousness of God in Christ.

My Kid Doesn't Deserve a Trophy:

Let me paint a picture for you. Your daughter is in the third grade, and she plays on a co-ed basketball team. The scoreboard is never turned on at games and at the end of the year all of the kids go home with a medal. Everyone is a winner—even your daughter who was afraid of the ball and looked like a deer in headlights every time someone passed it to her.

This approach to kids’ sports isn’t unusual. When I played sports growing up, I was a mediocre athlete at best (I was the kid out in far left field picking flowers)-yet at the end of the sport season I received a participation trophy. I think my generation is the generation of participation trophies. Heaven forbid if we got our feelings hurt.

The idea is to teach kids that sports are about having fun, not only about winning (and losing). The concept is wonderfully warm and fuzzy, but many child experts are finding that this approach is doing more harm than good. Today’s kids are growing up in a unrealistic world where everyone goes home with a trophy, a medal or a ribbon for just showing up and doing nothing particularly special. Sports teams are passing out so many tokens of recognition that the that “trophy and award sales are now an estimated $3 billion-a-year industry in the United States and Canada,”  journalist Ashley Merryman noted in a New York Times op-ed piece about this culture that over-rewards kids. Is this good for kids? What happens when these kids don’t get into the college of their dreams? Will they have the coping skills to deal with such loss? What happens when these kids start their first jobs? Are they going to expect a raise just for showing up?

Merryman, who co-wrote the blockbuster parenting book Nurture Shock with San Francisco dad Po Bronson, believes this “nonstop recognition does not inspire children to succeed.” She explains:

By age 4 or 5, children aren’t fooled by all the trophies. They are surprisingly accurate in identifying who excels and who struggles. Those who are outperformed know it and give up, while those who do well feel cheated when they aren’t recognized for their accomplishments. They, too, may give up.

It turns out that, once kids have some proficiency in a task, the excitement and uncertainty of real competition may become the activity’s very appeal.

If children know they will automatically get an award, what is the impetus for improvement? Why bother learning problem-solving skills, when there are never obstacles to begin with?

If I were a baseball coach, I would announce at the first meeting that there would be only three awards: Best Overall, Most Improved and Best Sportsmanship. Then I’d hand the kids a list of things they’d have to do to earn one of those trophies. They would know from the get-go that excellence, improvement, character and persistence were valued.

As a parent I fear that I will find it difficult to provide opportunities for my children to win and lose, especially in those early, impressionable years, from preschool to third grade. I fear they will be playing on fields and courts where nobody keeps score and wont experience the joy of winning and the sting of defeat.

I don’t want my children growing up thinking that they can go half way and still get a trophy or put in half the effort in class and still get an A, an award or a trophy (even if it’s the seventh place trophy). I would rather that they learn the lesson that they have to work hard and earn things based on their own merit.

Wouldn’t life be a breeze if everyone “earned a trophy” as they grew into an adult? Applying for your dream job? Just show up and it’s yours. Want to get into a prestigious PhD program? Everyone gets an acceptance letter.

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t support out children, make them feel loved or encourage them to participate in life. Instead, the next time that your little one cries because Johnny won first place at the swim meet and he didn’t even get a trophy, calmly explain that not everyone can win all of the time. Sure, that metallic-coated plastic trophy sparkles with a faux shine, but “winning” it for just being there doesn’t inspire your child to succeed.

In conclusion, not every kid deserves a trophy. You know who does deserve a trophy? The kid who works the hardest. The kid who puts in the most time. The kid who shows up and BRINGS IT.

But after that, kids deserve what they put in, nothing more and nothing less. And I’m not getting all “American bootstraps mentality for the win!” on ya. Come on. I know there’s more to the story than that, and hard work alone doesn’t guarantee “success” in the world, but I also know 100% that I cannot teach my kids the world is here to serve them, or even, really, as harsh as this sounds, that the world cares about them. The world does not care about my kids. The world cares about itself.

My job is teach my kids to ask themselves “What can I contribute to the world?” Rather than “What can I take from it?” So many takers. I want to raise givers. If you want to see the number of takers in the world just look at the popularity of Bernie Sanders. His whole campaign is being boosted by a bunch of takers. (Yes, I just went there).

Imagine if we all raised kids who grew up asking what they could contribute to the situation, to each other, and to the world? Imagine if we taught kids that there are winners and losers? Imagine if we taught kids the value of hard work and dedication? Imagine if we taught kids that not everyone deserves a trophy just for showing up.

October Parent Newsletter:

For Parents on the Go:
1.      Dixie Classic Fair, Wednesday October 7^th from 4:30 pm-10:15 pm. Admission to the fair is free with a donation of 5 cans of Lowes Food Product. We will be eating, riding rides and attending a Christian concert. The 5 cans get you into the fair and concert but your teenager will need money if they want to eat or ride rides.

2.      Kersee Valley Corn Maize, Saturday October 10^th from 10:00 am-3:00 pm. Cost for the maize is $12 plus money for lunch on the way home.

3.      Fields of Faith, Wednesday October 14^th from 6:30 pm-9:00 pm. This is a student led event at West Stokes High School where high school students worship Jesus and hear testimonies of how God has transformed the lives of other students.

4.      Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat, Saturday, October 31^st 5:30 pm-8:30 pm. I will need students to help me set up, take down and run carnival games in the Family Life Center.

Dear Parents,

School and activities are in full swing. Julia, Piper and I have enjoyed attending several of your son or daughters sporting events at their school and we look forward to attending many more. (If you would please have your son or daughter bring a schedule of their events on Sunday morning we will try and attend). As many of you know I love sports as I’m sure most of you do as well. If you don’t love sports, I bet you enjoy watching your son or daughter compete and do well in sports. Have you ever wondered how God views sports? Below is an answer to how I believe God views sports.

A Common Grace

Though we usually credit humans for creating sports, God ultimately created sports as a common grace—described by Wayne Grudem as “the grace of God by which he gives people innumerable blessings that are not part of salvation.” We don’t believe God set the world in motion and then stepped away to let humans do their thing, nor do we believe He elevates the spiritual and separates it from the material. Through Scripture, we know that God, out of love, established and maintains a world that we are to enjoy and cultivate—for His glory. He gives us every good and perfect gift (James 1:17)—often through human ingenuity—including sports.

So, first and foremost, we have to stop seeing sports as purely a human creation, outside the rule and reign of the sovereign Creator. And, as a result, we have to stop feeling apologetic for caring about—and sometimes even spending time and money on—sports, as if it were all futile. God gives sports to Christians and non-Christians alike as a free gift to embrace and enjoy, and for that reason, they’re intrinsically sacred and meaningful.

The Imago Dei

As beings created in His image, God gives many men and women the physical, intellectual and emotional capabilities to play sports. Sure, animals are smart and physically adept, but they can’t do sports in the same sense that humans can. The imago dei doesn’t just distinguish humans spiritually but in other capacities, as well, specifically those required for sports.

When we watch and play sports, we see the image and glory of God reflected in all the extraordinary aspects and feats. Whether it’s in a sophisticated basketball offense or the unique throws of a pitcher in baseball or softball, the imago dei comes on full display, and the great and glorious nature of our God is showcased for the world to see.

Growth and Formation

There’s a reason we have so many sports cliches, like “There’s no ‘I’ in team”: Sports provide unique training grounds for growth and maturity. As we interact with sports, especially as our children participate, we’re given opportunities to practice selflessness, giving up our preferences and pride for a bigger purpose. We’re also given opportunities to learn self-discipline and perseverance.

Even as mere spectators, we can benefit from observing athletes. As we recognize the hard work and drive of others, we can look inwardly to consider where we lack self-discipline, where we are putting ourselves before others, hurting the health of our families, churches, workplaces and communities. This is why, in 1 Corinthians 9, Paul likens the self-discipline of sports to that required of believers in their faith.

Sports also function as what James K. A. Smith calls “cultural liturgies,” artifacts and rituals that shape us and instill in us a true, good and beautiful vision of human flourishing. For many of us, sports can stir up a greater delight in the Lord; as a common grace stewarded responsibly, they can form us more into the likeness of Christ.

Signposts and Shadows

All of God’s creation reflects His glory, and this includes sports; they function as signposts and shadows of greater realities. For example, the fandom of sports points to the innate desire in every human to be part of something bigger than ourselves—a bigger story, a bigger purpose, a bigger community. In the many moments of awe and excitement that we experience when watching sports, fandom also offers a foretaste of the sort of worship we were created for, the sort of worship we will fully experience in the new heaven and new earth.

But probably the most overt of these signposts is the concept of a team and all that it mirrors. NBA hall-of-famer Isiah Thomas once said that “the secret to basketball is that it’s not about basketball.” He was pointing to the fact that the greatest sports teams succeed when the athletes put their egos and differences aside for the greater good of the team, working collectively toward the same end. When we see a team doing this well, in any sport, it paints a compelling picture of community and the Church and, even more, the greater community of the triune God, allowing us to see His beauty and character in a whole new light.

Worship, Sin and Eternity

Of course, like any cultural artifact or activity, sports are affected by the presence of evil in the world. They are corrupted and tainted by sin, from the human ego to the greedy corporations that monetize them. It’s also easy to make sports a god, putting our hopes in them, trying to fill a void.

Nevertheless, we can’t let the reality of sin warp our view of sports. We need to be careful, for sure, always using discernment, always aware of our tendency to drift away from the gospel and to make things other than God ultimate in our lives. But we can’t forget that, in the end, sin doesn’t win. One day, we will live in a kingdom void of sin and corruption—everything that robs sports of all they might be. And it is our role now to usher in and live in this kingdom, making it on earth as it is in heaven—and that includes the way in which we see and interact with sports.

Reaching, Teaching & Releasing,

Pastor T

Monday Morning Humor:

Wednesday Worship:

God: The Creator

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.-Genesis 1:1

This opening verse of the Bible, seven words in the Hebrew, establishes seven key truths upon which the rest of the Bible is based.

1) God exists. The essential first step in pleasing God is recognizing His existence.

2) God existed before there was a universe and will exist after the universe perishes.

3) God is the main character in the Bible. He is the subject of the first verb in the Bible (in fact, He is the subject of more verbs than any other character in the Bible) and performs a wider variety of activities that any other being in the Bible.

4) As Creator, God has done what no human being could ever do; in its active verb bara, meaning ‘to create,’ never has a human subject. Thus bara signifies a work that is uniquely God’s.

5) God is mysterious; though the Hebrew word for God is plural, the verb form of which ‘God’ is the subject is singular. This is perhaps a subtle allusion to God’s Trinitarian nature: He is divine persons in one divine essence.

6) God is the Creator of heaven and earth. He doesn’t just modify pre-existing matter but calls matter into being out of nothing.

7) God is not dependent on the universe, but the universe is totally dependent on God.

Bad Dad:

Hello, my name is T Elliott Welch and I am a bad dad. I am. It feels good to get that off my chest.

I fail miserably as a father. I lose my temper at my daughter. I've been known to yell and I think there is a plastic golf putter which no longer is straight because in my anger I slammed it down. I not only lose my temper but the other day in the mall I forgot to buckle my daughter's stroller and she about face planted in the middle of the mall reaching for a pretzel. At times I pay more attention to my phone than I do my own kid in fact one day I was paying attention to my phone (in my defense it was probably something very important like a funny Youtube video or something) and while I was paying attention to my phone Piper was attempting to climb off the couch and she fell off smacking her head on the flood. I don't think there was a bruise ;) Just kidding I know there wasn't, I checked because I didn't want Julia to see and yell at me.

 I'm a bad dad because I use her cuteness in pictures to get more likes and followers. To be honest I used her picture for this blog because I knew it would get more visits and clicks if I used her picture instead of my own. I feed her things I'm not suppose to at youth events i.e. Doritos, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Dairy-O hot dogs/ice cream and I think she has even had a very small amount of Pumpkin Spice latte from Starbucks. My daughter is addicted to Taylor Swift and One Republic. It's so bad that a children's song will come on in a store and she will not move but if T. Swift comes in she throws her hands up and begins to dance.  I'm a bad dad.

I am a bad dad. I admit it but you know what? The other day Piper and I were sneaking out of the house to get ice cream (listening to our girl T. Swift) and while I was driving I caught a glimpse of her in the rear view mirror looking out the window and I was overcome with love for her. I'm not talking about simple love but an overwhelming since of love for her which wells up from the depth of my soul. A love which desires to give her the moon if she asked. A love which will cause me to do anything to provide for her and spend time with her. I love her and there's nothing she can do or will do to change that. I realize that times will be tough but I know that my love for her will only deepen and increase as she ages. I may get mad at times and yell but at the end of the day I love her. Every little annoying piece of her (admit it you find your kid annoying at times as well).

I realize I'm not perfect and have made and will continue to make a lot of mistakes but in the end I love her and I think, just maybe, love and expressing that love in words and actions is all I need to be a good dad. 

Wednesday Worship

Psalm 102 & Abortion

Health, Wealth and Prosperity Gospel:

The Soul's Final Feast

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.-Psalm 27:4

God is not unresponsive to the contrite longing of the soul. He comes and lifts the load of sin and fills our heart with gladness and gratitude. "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!" (Psalm 30:11-12).

But our joy does not just rise from the backward glance in gratitude. It also rises from the forward glance in hope: "why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God" (Psalm 42:5-6).

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope" (Psalm 130:5).

In the end, the heart longs not for any of God's good gifts, but for God himself. To see him and know him and be in his presence is the soul's final feast. Beyond this there is no quest. Words fail. We call it pleasure, joy, delight. But these are weak pointers to the unspeakable experience:

"One thing have I asked of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple" (Psalm 27:4).

"In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11).

"Delight yourself in the Lord (Psalm 37:4).

Wednesday Worship

Monday Morning Humor

Monday Morning Humor

Mercy for the New Year:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.-Lamentations 3:22-23

I love New Years! The excitement of beginning afresh washes over me every year and I look forward to the clock striking midnight and starting a new year. As Christians we don't have to wait for a new year to start over with God; His mercies are new every day.

God's mercies are new every morning because each day only has enough mercy in it for that day.

This is why we tend to despair when we think that we may have to bear tomorrow's load on today's resources. God wants us to know. We won't. Today's mercies are for today's troubles. Tomorrow's mercies are for tomorrow's troubles.

Sometimes we wonder if we will have the mercy to stand in terrible testing. Yes, we will. Peter says, "If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you" (1 Peter 4:14). When the reviling comes the Spirit of glory comes. It happened for Stephen as he was being stoned. It will happen for you. When the Spirit and the glory are needed they will come.

The manna in the wilderness was given one day at a time. There was no storing up. That is the way we must depend on God's mercy. You do not receive today the strength to bear tomorrow's burdens. You are given mercies today for today's troubles.

Tomorrow the mercies will be new. "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9). 

I don't know what awaits us in 2016 but I do know that God's mercies will be new and fresh. I know that the same God who sustained us in 2015 will sustain us in 2016 and that is why I look forward with eager anticipation to a brand new year.

Live Confident in God's Power:

The immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe...-Ephesians 1:19

The omnipotence of God means eternal, unshakable refuge in the everlasting glory of God no matter what happens on this earth. And that confidence is the power of radical obedience to the call of God.

Is there anything more freeing, more thrilling, or more strengthening than the truth that God Almighty is your refuge-all day, every day in all the ordinary and extraordinary experiences of life?

If we believed this, if we really let this truth of God's omnipotence get hold of us, what a difference it would make in our personal lives and in our ministries! How humble and powerful we would become for the saving purposes of God!

The omnipotence of God means refuge for the people of God. And when you really believe that your refuge is the omnipotence of God Almighty, there is a joy and a freedom and a power that spills over in a life of radical obedience to Jesus Christ.

The omnipotence of God means reverence, recompense, and refuge for his covenant people.

I invite you to accept the terms of His covenant of grace: turn from sin and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the omnipotence of God Almighty will be the reverence of your soul, the recompense of your enemies, and the refuge of your life-forever.

The Proverbs 31 Man:

You have heard of the Proverbs 31 woman but have you ever heard of the Proverbs 31 man? Let me describe him to you.

A husband of noble character: who can find one? He is worth more than winning the Publisher’s Clearinghouse Sweepstakes or the lottery.

His wife has full confidence in him and she lacks nothing of importance.

He brings her good, not harm, all the days of her life.

He works hard to provide for his family. Getting up early he helps get the children ready for school, then dashes off to work.

With his shoulder to the grindstone he works with energy and vigor, as one who is working for you.”

He promptly comes home from work and immediately pitches in with the chores, helping the children with their homework, or with making dinner if he can cook! While hot dogs and baked beans are his specialty, he doesn’t fear the microwave, remembering nothing metal should be in there. He does this with such ease that all are amazed and in awe.

When his wife prepares a meal he always eats with gusto, and when finished, he never forgets to smile and tell her how great the meal was. Of course, he is always the first to volunteer to do the dishes or at least to volunteer the children to complete the task!

All in all, he is a joy to have in the kitchen.

As a father, there is no equal on the face of the earth. No matter how exhausted from work or chores, he always takes time for his children.

Whether it’s making funny faces at the baby, tickling the small child, wrestling with the kids, watching football with his sons, or making pained and disbelieving expressions at his teenagers, he is always there for them.

He is a whiz at math, science, spelling, geography, Spanish, and any other subject his children are studying at school.

And if he should be totally ignorant of the subject at hand, he skillfully hides his ignorance by sending the child to their mother.

He can fix any problem, from a scraped knee to loose bicycle chains, from interpreting rules for a kickball game to refereeing sparring matches between his kids.

More importantly, he is also the spiritual leader in the family. He loves Jesus, and he always takes the family to church. He shows his children, by his example, what it means to be a man of to pray for God.

He teaches his children how to pray and the importance of knowing and loving the Lord Jesus. He often rises early to pray for his wife and children, and he reads from his Bible at night before sleeping.

He disciplines his children with loving firmness, never by yelling or with humiliating words. He is always more interested in teaching a lesson than in simply punishing

During the day he meditates on God’s Word and on how to live it. He shows Christ in all his dealing with others and is considered a valuable employee to his bosses. His co-workers respect his hard work, his integrity, and his kindness.

He always shows his wife the utmost respect, even opening the door for her. He is always quick with a word of encouragement, and is constantly telling her how beautiful she is, even when she isn’t wearing any make-up.

A day seldom passes that he doesn’t tell her of his love for her. Praise for her is always on his lips.

Anniversaries and birthdays are never forgotten and gifts and flowers are often given, “just because.”

He even makes superhuman efforts to be nice when her family is visiting.

He is full of compassion for the pain of others and willingly helps those in need. Whether it’s changing a stranger’s flat tire, helping with a friend’s home improvement project, or feeing the poor at the local soup kitchen, he is the first to volunteer.

He is not afraid to shed a tear with a friend in pain or to be rowdy in laughter at another’s joke.

He loves life and lives it with passion.

His children, while not always calling him “blessed,” have no doubts about his great love for them. His wife also calls him many things, among them, “the best man there is,” and she thanks God for him.

Many men do great things but he surpasses them all.

There is no man better than this man, except Jesus.

Flattery is deceptive and good looks, like hair, is fleeting, but a man who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give him the reward he has earned, and let his deeds bring him praise. His Lord is pleased, his wife loves him, and his children are proud of him. He is a blessed man indeed.*

*Dr. Danny Akin, Commentary on Songs of Solomon. Pages 159-161.

Monday Morning Humor:

Monday Morning Humor:

Wednesday Worship

Our Greatest Gift: The Word of God

He said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”-Deuteronomy 32:46-47

The Word of God is not a trifle; it is a matter of life and death. If you treat the Scriptures as a trifle or as empty words, you forefeit life.

Even our physical life depends on God’s Word, because by His Word we were created (Psalm 33:6; Hebrews 11:3) and “He upholds the universe by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3).

Our spiritual life begins by the Word of God: “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth” (James 1:18). “You have been born again… through the living and abiding word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).

Not only do we begin to live by God’s Word, bu we also go on living by God’s Word: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3).

Our physical life is created and upheld by the Word of God, and our spiritual life is quickened and sustained by the Word of God. How many stories could be gathered to bear witness to the life-giving power of the Word of God!

Indeed, the Bible is “no empty word for you”-it is your life! The foundation of all joy is life. Nothing is more fundamental than sheer existence-our creation and our preservation.

All this is owing to the Word of God’s power. By that same power, he has spoken in Scripture for the creation and sustenance of our spiritual life. Therefore, the Bible is no empty word, but is your very life-the kindling of your joy!

Through God's Eyes:

You Are Valuable

I am the Creator and you are my creation. I breathed into your nostrils the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). I created you in my own image (Genesis 1:27). My eyes saw your unformed substance (Psalm 139:16). I knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). I know the number of hairs on your head, and before a word is on your tongue I know it (Matthew 10:30; Psalm 139:4). You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

You are more valuable than many sparrows (Matthew 10:31). I have given you dominion over all sheep and oxen and all beasts of the field and birds of the heavens and fish of the sea (Psalm 8:6–8; Genesis 1:26, 28). I have crowned you with glory and honor as the pinnacle and final act of the six days of creation (Psalm 8:5; Genesis 1:26).

However, from the very beginning, you exchanged the truth about me for a lie. You worshiped and served created things rather than me, the Creator (Romans 1:25). You have sinned and fallen short of my glory (Romans 3:23). Just as I said to Adam and Eve, the penalty for your sin is death (Romans 6:23; Genesis 2:17). And in your sin, you were spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1). You were children of wrath, living as enemies to me (Ephesians 2:3; Romans 5:10). You turned aside from me. You became corrupt. There is none who does good, not even one (Psalm 14:2–3). What you deserve is my righteous judgment (Psalm 7:11–12).

And yet, in my great love, I gave my unique Son, that all those who believe in him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). While you were still sinners, Christ died for you. While you were still hostile toward me, you were reconciled to me by the death of my Son (Romans 5:8, 10). Sin doesn’t have the last word. Grace does (Romans 5:20).

Now everyone who calls on the name of Jesus will be saved (Romans 10:13). You who have believed are born again (1 Peter 1:3). I have adopted you (Ephesians 1:5). You are children of God, heirs of God (1 John 3:2; Romans 8:16–17). You are no longer orphans. You belong to me (John 14:18; 1 Corinthians 6:19). And I love you as a perfect Father (1 John 3:1; Luke 15:20–24).

You Are New

In my eyes, you are a brand new creation. The old has passed away; the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). Sin is no longer your master, for you died to sin and are now alive to me (Romans 6:11; Ephesians 2:4).

You are finally free from the slavery of sin and death. There is now no condemnation for you (Romans 8:1–2). All your sins are forgiven (1 John 1:9). All your unrighteousness has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7, 9). You are now righteous in my sight with the very righteousness of my perfect Son (Romans 4:5).

You’ve been saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8). You’ve been justified by faith (Romans 5:1). You are utterly secure in me; nothing will be able to separate you from my love in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39). No one is able to snatch you out of my hand (John 10:29). And I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

You Have My Spirit

You not only have a new Father, but also a new family of brothers and sisters (Luke 8:21). You are now part of the people of God (1 Peter 2:9). And together the life you now live is by faith in my Son (Galatians 2:20).

Look to Jesus. Keep your eyes on him. He is the author and perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). Christ is in you by my Spirit, and you are in Christ (John 15:5;Colossians 1:27). Stay close to Jesus. Abide in him (John 15:4). For your life is found in him (John 14:6; Colossians 3:3–4). To live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).

Don’t live by your own power or understanding. No, live by my Spirit within you (Zechariah 4:6; Proverbs 3:5). Remember, I have given you the Holy Spirit to be with you and in you (Romans 5:5; John 14:17). The Spirit will guide you into all truth, help you to obey me, and empower you to do my work (John 16:7, 13; Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:16).

You Will Be Transformed

As you seek me and see more of my glory, I am transforming you into the image of my Son (2 Corinthians 3:18; Exodus 33:18). One day you will be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet sound (1 Corinthians 15:52). When Jesus appears, you will be like him, because you shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2; Romans 8:29).

You will be delivered from your body of death through Jesus Christ, and your dwelling place will be with me (Romans 7:24–25; John 14:3). And I will wipe away every tear from your eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore (Revelation 21:3–4).
You will drink from the spring of the water of life without payment, and I myself will make for you a feast of rich food and well-aged wine (Revelation 21:6; Isaiah 25:6). You will enter my rest, inherit the kingdom I’ve prepared for you, and step into fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Hebrews 4:9–11; Matthew 25:34;Psalm 16:11).

But most of all, you will see my face and be with me where I am (Revelation 22:4;John 14:3).

You Represent Me

Therefore, walk in a manner worthy of your calling (Ephesians 4:1). You are no longer darkness, but light in my Son. Walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8). You are the light of the world, a city set on a hill (Matthew 5:14). I have called you (2 Peter 1:3). I have chosen you (Revelation 17:14). You are now a saint, a servant, a steward, and a soldier (Romans 1:7; Acts 26:16; 1 Peter 4:10; 2 Timothy 2:3). You are a witness and a worker (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 2:10). Through Jesus you are victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57). You have a glorious future (Romans 8:18). You are a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20). You are an ambassador for my Son (2 Corinthians 5:20).