TODDLER FAITH

Imagine for a moment that you're a toddler and God visits you tonight. How will you react? Could your kiddo mind comprehend it at all?

Remember God is Spirit and must take some form to let Himself known.

Hmmm... that's why there are parents. Parents are the first tangible evidence of God's love. Because a parent loves, quite unconditionally, just like God.

How? With actions and words that say, "I love you." For God Himself is love!

A mom or a dad hugs. Kisses and bandages your booboo. Dresses you up. Gives you a bath. Feeds you. Sings you to sleep. Wakes up at night—even if very tired—to give you milk. Trains you to potty. Prays for you.

Early on, our parents teach us to behave. That's God's disciplining character in them. Loving parents teach their children the highest fear.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the holy one is understanding," Proverbs 9:10.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it," Proverbs 22:6.

Fear is not a nasty word. There's a fear which saves, others which lead to disaster. And kids must understand which one is which.

The fear of God debunks all kinds of fears. The fear of God is a blessing! It directs one to the right path. Right choices. Right values. Right companions. Right desires. Right decisions.

Then there's the fear of man. "The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is set securely on high." Proverbs 29:25

Many develop low self-esteem because somehow in their childhood, their elders unwittingly made them feel: "You won't amount to anything." "You disgust me." "You're fat." "You're ugly."

I know. I grew up thinking I was stupid and ugly so I tried to court others' approval by proving that this nobody could be a somebody. But the more I did that, the more my insecurities ballooned; and the more pride and self-sufficiency reared their ugly heads.

Oh the fears we bottle in our hearts! Fear of being rejected. Fear of failure. Fear of being in lack. Fear of sickness. Fear of calamity. Fear of death. Fear of what-ifs.

Fears that make us do stupid things—when we do things without wise counsel or His approval. Like rushing into relationships or deals that compromise our values. Or following self-destructive lifestyles.

Yet—and even if our very human parents have somehow failed us—He wraps us with His grace so we can move on; and lets us know:

"I am God. I created you. I love you. I will never leave you or forsake you. I am your heavenly Father! And I'm here for you."

God came in the most tangible way! His only begotten Son, Jesus, was born a human being that first Christmas morning.

Understanding the cause of our pride, self-centeredness, and dysfunctions, He embraced us anyway by dying on the cross for us—yes, even when we were still sinners.

Where we or our parents missed it, Jesus took the fall; strengthening us so we can complete our race, yes, even if it has been a rat race; and ensuring our cross-over to eternity with Him.

He forgives. He saves. He heals. He stores His word in our hearts. He sends us help when we scream, “Help!” His Holy Spirit teaches us—not just our ABCs, but most especially valuable life lessons.

He offers Himself as our Way, Truth and Life. No lifetime of education, a Ph.D. to your name, or self-help courses can top that.

We can't remain toddlers in our faith. God has given us the most tangible expression of His love. Take the deal. Jesus is worthy of every ounce of your trust. No one else compares.

Prayer: Jesus, I come to you with childlike faith. Give me the faith to believe that what you did on the cross is enough. I repent of my sins. I commit my heart and everything in me to you. Save me. Be my Lord. Thank you for bridging the gap between me and God. Holy Spirit, teach me ways which lead to life. In Jesus name!

 

DON'T CHEAPEN GOD'S GRACE

image credit:
http://www.robfullmer.me/angry-little-girl/

Kids are at their cutest at their toddler stage, when these once cuddly and utterly innocent bundles of joy turn a hundred-fold smarter.

That's when they discover that, “Hmmm... I can really spin people around my pinky finger with my overload of cuteness even when I throw tantrums here and there.”

Have you noticed that they can lie, oh my, like deny to death that they've done something naughty just to save their cute behinds?

These small infractions you confront—with either a stern look, a face-the-wall, or a no-dessert warning. Or you ignore them, to their peril.

Worse than the above? You lavish them with praises for their misdeeds, excusing them as just child's play.

No parent in his right mind would want his child going wayward.

Disciplining is part and parcel of that package called love. And love's many facets include our bringing them up in the fear of the Lord.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he may not depart from it,” Proverbs 22:6.

That's how our heavenly father deals with us too.

The Bible tells us that God is love. And rightly so, for why would He send His only begotten Son to die a horrible and shameful death to save us?

Romans 5:8 "God demonstrates His own love toward us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

“There's no one righteous, not even one... there's no one who does good,” says Paul in Romans 3:10-12. In His eyes, we're all spoiled-rotten kids, having inherited the sin nature of our first parents.

That's why even at toddler stage, sin is evident. And you can't deny this: in spite of our best intentions to be good, our minds are muddled with anger, envy, lust, judgment of others.

Those around us don't know of course, but He knows our most despicable thoughts!

So yes, we are all sinners, by Jesus' standards. Matthew 5:21-22 says that anyone who is angry with his brother is liable to judgment... liable to the fire of hell.

The very people He chose for Himself sinned. Their idolatry, grumbling and complaining made the Jews wander in the wilderness for 40 years.

Sin has its consequences—eternal separation from Him. Yet He offers a way out—salvation through our faith in Jesus Christ.

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing might come from the Lord." (Acts 3:19)

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

"Repent" and "confess" are strong words. These are not suggestions.

When Jesus in John 3:7 said that “You must be born again” (John 3:7), He was commanding, not suggesting.

Faith in Jesus is our visa to the Father and His kingdom. “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me” (John 3:16).

To dismiss all these as stirring up fear in people's hearts is beyond me.

Why would a call to repentance incite fear when it is our heavenly Father's offer of a way out of His wrath? Why would many pooh-pooh God's judgment when the Bible clearly tells us that sin has its consequences? Separation from Him!

I've often read comments like these:

"Why would you want to instill fear when God is a loving God?"

"If I love someone of my own gender, that's OK, because God is love."

"Why harp on a judgmental God when you can focus on a loving, merciful and gracious God?”

By disregarding God's offer of salvation, aren't we likewise denying His offer of grace?

God's grace is not cheap. It had to take God's only begotten Son, coming down from heaven, willingly giving Himself up to the humiliation of the cross, so that with His resurrection, those who'd put their trust in Him would experience new life:

Our sins blotted away as the west is from the east. And reconciled with our heavenly Father throughout all eternity.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs :10)

As the world descends from bad to worse, shouldn't we take shelter in God instead? The fear of God is the only fear worth possessing. Faith in Jesus cancels all other fears.

Prayer: Jesus, I repent of my sins. I confess that I am a sinner. I put my trust in you alone, for there is no name given, in heaven or on earth, by which I can be saved. Be my Savior and my Lord. And let Your Holy Spirit teach me your ways. In your Name I pray.

WOULD YOU PRAY FOR AMERICA?

The Philippine declares its independence
from Spain, 1898---image captured
in an old Philippine currency

I've always admired America—regarded it as a land of promise, a place where dreams can come true, as long as one works hard and lives by its moral standards and rule of law. 

And why not? It was the US of A which liberated the Philippines from two foreign powers—Spain and Japan.

While I was growing up, it seemed that the best products to acquire were those labeled “Made in the USA”. And for good reason. They were really better.

And American missionaries have come to the Philippines in droves. They introduced the bible to us and preached that the only way to be saved is through Jesus Christ. My family has been discipled by, among others, two American pastors.

We know too that the US is a super-power—military-wise, industry-wise, influence-wise.

It's a recurring imagery we always talked about in my business classes: “When America sneezes, the world catches a cold.” (Statement attributed to aristocratic Prussian diplomat Klemens Wenzel Furst Von Metternich during the Napoleonic era: When France sneezes, the world catches a cold.)

But something sinister has crept into Americana. It is by all means still great, but it is sliding downhill. Fast!

Why is America great? Christians the world over, but especially those in America, believe that America has soared to such great heights mainly because of its Judeo-Christian foundation.

Its first pilgrims, arriving in Cape Cod November 11, 1620, obtained their legal mandate through the Mayflower Compact which dedicated this new nation to God. (plimoth.org)

(My) abridged portions of the pact: “In the name of God, amen. Having undertaken for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one another, covenant...ourselves together... enact... just and equal laws... constitutions....”

“In God we trust” appeared on US coins in 1864. Congress adopted it as the country's official motto in 1956, and printed on paper currency in 1957. (photo credits to the nationallegalfoundation.org)

America has become one industrial, military and political behemoth, obviously because it was built by people of purpose and principles; but mainly because they trusted in the sovereignty of God over their lives.

Yet, notice how God has been slowly eased out of the Americans' consciousness. It all started in 1962 when the US Supreme court banned school-sponsored prayers in public schools, saying it violated the first amendment. The rest, as they say, is history.

The America we're witnessing today faces monumental inner crises: Broken families. Wrong lauded as cool and believed as right. Christian values and their practice scoffed at. Praying ridiculed. Sexual promiscuity celebrated and sexual reassignment promoted—even among innocent school children. Abortion on demand not only tolerated but encouraged.

As if drugged and incoherent, America struggles to keep its foothold on its former glory.

Apart from God, there is no America—the country Filipinos used to dream of being part of. Notice how sinister elements have pulled this country down.

Leftists, using the platform of politics and the rule of the mob, have inched into its inner cities. Demagoguery so sinister so that ordinary folks—and yes, especially the youth and university students—are unable to see themselves being used as pawns in a grand design to control America with a godless ideology.

I am no Trump fan. You're probably not too. I see him as a bit tactless and brazen. Some ridicule him as an anomaly in the hallowed halls of government.

But his actions and his party's policies speak volumes: America first as a policy. Withdrawal of support for an organization whose main agenda is abortion—paid for, mind you, by taxpayers' money. Protection of the rights of people to express their religious beliefs. Jobs back to Americans who lost them to cheap manufacturing facilities elsewhere. 

The economy has never been more robust since the great depression, most analysts say—until the pandemic.

Trump even cancelled the former Obama government's hefty billion-dollar support for Iran. This country whose main preoccupation is building up its nuclear arsenal, for what? To blow up the US and Israel! Duh!

The coming November election is crucial. It will either be a vote for good sense, or a "Goodbye, America!"—the latter a free-for-all reign dictated by those who would like to defund the police, encourage violence as a way of protest, silence religion, and espouse population control through the killing of the unborn, yes, even late term pregnancies.

Deutoronomy 10:15 “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.”

God set aside for Israel a land flowing with milk and honey, just like this new world (America) for its first settlers. When they disobeyed, He stood back and let them be—rudderless and defeated from all sides. When they repented, He blessed them.

Many Christians believe that the United States is a shadow of Israel because it was founded on the very same godly values. It is currently tottering, and we know why.

Would all of us please pray for America?

For God's perfect will. That repentance may sweep this nation. That Jesus may be Lord. That righteousness may reign. That lawlessness, greed and lust for power be restrained. And that believers may stand their ground, pray and bless this nation with their obedience to the Word of God.

RAPTURE: FACT OR FICTION?

When the last trump sounds, are you ready to
meet the Lord in the air? Image credit: CBN.com

Can it get any worse than this? A grim picture of the days to come.

As the corona virus pandemic escalates—yes, worldwide—will our sheltering, physical distancing and face-mask days ever end?

With many businesses dead or gasping for air, will unemployment—thus increased criminality—be our daily fare?

In the Philippines, neighbors are warning each other: Bolt your gates. Be extra-extra cautious in public places. Scammers and criminals have risen in number. Once hailed as heroes, our OFWs have returned in droves, mere statistics among the ranks of the unemployed.

Americans' sense of prosperity, peace and security has been rocked not only by this pandemic but also by violence. With just a few months before elections in November, many warn of more destabilization by leftists.

And more: Unrest and increased defiance of authories in many other countries. Earthquakes and natural disasters becoming more frequent.

What on earth is happening?

Don't be alarmed, the bible says.

Are we already in the great tribulation which Jesus Himself talked about in Matthew 24? In verse 12, He says, “Lawlessness will abound, and the love of many will grow cold...”

In Luke 21:11, He spoke of earthquakes, famines, pestilences, fearful events and great signs from heaven.

These things will come to pass, yet Jesus assures us: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in Me,” John 14:1. What assurance! But why does He say this?

Have you studied bible prophesies? If you do, you'll soon realize that almost all—except the “end-of-days-events” which Jesus talked about in Matthew 24, and which He revealed to John in the island of Patmos (Revelations)—have come to pass.

“The bible accurately foretells specific events—in detail—many years, sometimes centuries, before they occur; and of the 2,500 bible prophecies, about 2,000 have already been fulfilled to the letter, with no error,” writes “Reasons to Believe” author Hugh Ross, an astronomer who has made it his life mission to prove that “science and the bible are allies, not enemies”.

Of the 44 prophecies about Jesus in the old testament, all have been fulfilled. It is this same Jesus who promised in Revelations 3:10, “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”

Most bible scholars agree that the “hour of trial” refers to the seven-year tribulation, the horrors of which the world has never experienced before; and that the words “keep you from the hour of trial” is the rapture, the experience of being caught up or taken away—saved from the prophecied seven years.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so we shall ever be with the Lord.”

God saved Noah and his family from the great flood which killed entire humanity. Archeological finds have confirmed the authenticity of this event.

Biblical characters Elijah and Enoch were themselves caught up in the air and were “no more”.

Jesus ascended to heaven after His resurrection.

God is powerful. He loves us so much He sent His Son Jesus to save from our sins. How could the rapture be laughed at by others as just a myth or a fairy tale if Jesus Himself revealed it and everything which He taught was true? Millions of changed lives all over the world would attest to that!

Is anything too impossible for God?

Man's pride/self-centeredness, aka sin, has turned our world into a madhouse—where right has become wrong and vice versa; where science and godlessness are praised and God is shunned.

But whether people believe or not, God is still God. He is still seated on His throne. And He will take us—rebellious, hardheaded dust—to account.

Jesus is the way back to Him! If we do return, we become His adopted children.

So let today be the day of your salvation. Tomorrow may be too late.

Prayer: Jesus, I repent. Save me from my sin. The world has indeed gotten worse by the day. Save us from the worst still to come. Help me to understand your Word that I may walk in faith and obey Jesus all the days of my life. Amen.

ELSEWHERE CLASSROOM

   Kids have taken to digital learning
 as easily as fish to water. 

How long has it been since the corona virus brought humankind to its knees, making our lockdown state seem eternal?

Not much of an agony for retired folks; we're used to just staying put. But younger generations? Pity them!

This shuttering has dashed marketplace people's dreams of flying high. Many are unemployed. Families are struggling, money-wise. Economies are in tatters. Seems like a bad dream.

Online learning has become the forced normal for virtually all students. Such a shame that for kids among the poor, the prospect of schooling has altogether stopped, making the yawning gap between rich and poor even wider.

What unusual times! We can only believe that soon, God—by His amazing grace—will wiggle us out of this pandemic's deadly tentacles.

I've been pleasantly surprised that today, I'm into online teaching (courtesy of a dear colleague), the only mode left for schools to continue educating their students.

Do I like it? I love teaching, but it feels lonely in my virtual classroom. I miss the interaction, the impassioned debates, the excitement in the air during workshops, the wide-opened eyes which seem to ask for more, my students' eureka moments.

I miss doing live lectures, my own aha! moments as I learn from from their learnings, and being their go-to person when they struggle either with their lessons or their lives.

I used to complain that today's students no longer read books but rely mostly on the internet to complete their tasks. Books used to be a student's best friend and bed-mate. No longer.

My worst nightmare is magnified ten-fold as I see the culture of reading going puff, more so today.

I've always believed that reading legitimate authors' well researched and carefully-written works—as opposed to snippets of information gleaned here and there in the world wide web—inspire imagination, creativity, independent thinking, innovation, and yes, even wisdom, as students try to make sense of the harsher world they'd face after school.

But adjust we must, teachers and students alike, even in our shuttered state. I've gotten used to meeting and conversing with them in our virtual classroom. 

What about younger kids' education in these sheltering days?

We know that mastering reading, writing and math is just part of the whole equation; and that getting a grip on their EQ (emotional quotient) preps them to be prim and proper, best of all, considerate, kind and people-savvy individuals. That's what schooling equips them with—the firmness, understanding and grace to be around bullies and nice classmates alike.  

Nowadays, young kids get their “formal” learning online.

For our eight year-old granddaughter, school today means sitting in front of the computer and accessing her lessons online. She's taken to it like fish to water. I catch her from time to time acting out or voicing a stage character—prompted by an online theatre program. Cool, huh.

Children are resilient. They easily adapt. But we wonder how this forced normal will impact their lives down the line. Will sheltering cause them to be crumbly wafers? But who's to say which way of teaching is better?

It's tough being a parent nowadays. Especially in the US, parenting has turned doubly tedious as mother or father takes up the slack from their kids' teachers . This calls for creativity, inspiration and patience.

Parents are still their children's best teachers, stepping up their game when they need to.

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Prayer: Lord God, we pray for parents and their children. This current pandemic has upended their lives. Parents struggle with making a living and teaching their kids. Give them wisdom to manage their time wisely so that they can spend productive and enjoyable learning times with their children. May teachers cope well with teaching online and students make the most of their learning online. In Jesus' name, amen.

CHOICE AND CONSEQUENCE

Grandkid three crowned her hair with spiked covid-like plastic globules, resulting in tangles. Crying (hers) and sighing (mine) sweetened our drama. The untangling took forever. 😜

Then it was grandkid four's turn—with her sister's Barbie doll. The entanglement was so severe, my first impulse was to shear her mangled hair. But a half-bald Barbie? No way. So I let it be. Let them play with their messed-up doll.

Buying a new Barbie came to mind (These two girls share only one.), but then, where's the teaching opportunity in that? 

Entanglements—better to experience them at play where crying and sighing are just skin-deep, than  in adulthood with their more ouchie consequences. 

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a life of wisdom. 

A day has 24 hours. More than half of these we spend making choices; the rest for gaining back strength through rest or sleep. Choice is a day-in, day-out affair. 

Will I sleep a little longer or rise early to take my usual walk? Will I have breakfast? What kind? 

At work, will I shut the door to finish that report my boss has been bugging me for days? But what if other hassles get in the way? 

Bedtime. No not yet. Got to watch at least one more episode of Crash Landing On You (favorite Korean telenovela). But oh, got to watch the next one too, kasi bitin (cliffhanger) naman. 

Each decision has a consequence. Go without breakfast or exercise? Lack of sleep? Health issues!

Slacking at work may lead to a miniscule or zero salary raise, no promotion; worse, your behind being kicked out the door. 

It gets more serious than those. We've known folks who've been entangled in drugs, gambling, pornography, illicit relationships. The higher you step up the ladder of poor choices, the harder the fall—even with one careless move. 

One sniff? One night of thievery? One fling? One thing leads to another. 

It may not happen to you, but to a loved one. The pain is equally unbearable, isn't it? Especially when that someone takes his life and renders innocent children fatherless. 

So this freedom "thing" which many tend to shout out loud to authorities so that they mock the law—where will it lead them, and us? 

That's why there are rules. They're our even playing field. Obey the law. Respect the authorities. Within these boundaries, we can live peacefully—even enjoy our days. 

 

These covid-19 days: wear your mask, practice physical distancing, do a fist or foot bump instead of the usual beso-beso (kiss).

Where rules are flouted or common sense disregarded, uncertainty prevails. That's why God has given us His Word—our standard. The Bible is the whole expression of God's instructions, our life manual if you will. 

Matthew 22:37-40 "Love the Lord your God will with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength... love your neighbor as yourself... on these two commandments hang all the laws..."

This is our level playing field. 

Yet Jesus knows our weaknesses. Who could follow all these rules? No, not one. 

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

That's why Jesus came, offering Himself as the Way, the Truth and the Life, John 14:6. 

From tangled hair to tangled life—it's His business to unentangle our mess. Better yet, to help us from getting tangled! 

Prayer: O God, I repent and humble myself before You. Cleanse my heart and keep my way straight and safe. Forgive me for my wrong choices. Renew my mind. Change my heart of stone with a heart able to hear and obey your Word. Jesus be my Savior and Lord. Amen. 

GLORY WHERE IT’S DUE

   My grandaughter Natalie and I outdo each other with our Mona Lisa smirk.. er... smile. 3rd&4th image credits: Netflix, Our Planet

Ever heard a painting arguing with it's creator? Here's a sampler: 

Mona Lisa portrait: I don't look that nice. Add a little more smile to my grin.

Leonardo da Vinci: I'm quite happy with it. Your smile exudes mystery. 

Portrait: But I don't like it. What's a portrait if the subject is boring? 

Leonardo: Ah, but I love it! So let it be. 

And it shuts up. 

Of course I just made this up. My apologies, Leonardo. 

The truth is, the Mona Lisa smile has for ages been studied, interpreted and written about—one of the reasons Da Vinci, a genius of his era, is widely regarded as an icon. 

Taking inflation into account, the Mona Lisa fetches today for $2.67 billion—humongous enough to wipe out France's debt, a writer quipped.

And of course I'm using the Leonardo-portrait conversation as a metaphor. Because if truth be told, most of us behave like the Mona in my imagined story.  

"Why am I trapped in this body?" 

"When God poured out ugly, I must have been given the biggest umbrella to catch it all." 

Unknowingly, many of us have taken for granted or pushed our Creator aside, replacing Him with  the lesser gods of self will or pride, money, fame, power. 

“I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul,” wrote William Ernest Henley in his poem Invictus. I once believed that, till I realized it should be the other way around.

What a slap on our Creator. He has from the very start wanted His design, His way, reflected in us. 

Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting is admired the world over. Michelangelo’s Creation painting on the ceiling of Sistine chapel is Rome’s pride. The Mona Lisa has brought Da Vinci glory. 

Just like their works of art reaping accolades for these artists, we too—created beings—must give Him glory, referred to in the original Greek language as an opinion of praise, honor, splendor. 

He gets the glory if we trust and obey Him, because He being Our Creator has fitted us with the wares to not only survive but be a star in this soundstage called life, with Him as our Director. 

We are clay in the Potter’s hands (Isaiah 64:8). He molds and fires and glazes us just like a priceless porcelain fit to adorn a palace. 

Remember where we come from. "The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being" Genesis 2:7. 

Proof that we're but dust? Wait till you're cremated and your body is reduced to just a bagful of dust. Mud more likely. 

The breath of God sustains us, so He deserves all the glory! The created's purpose is to glorify his Creator. 

Psalms 150:6  “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”

Nature it seems does it better than us. 

“Praise the Lord from the heavens... angels... hosts... sun... moon...shining stars... waters above the heavens... Praise the Lord from the earth... great sea creatures... all deeps... fire and hail... snow and mist... stormy wind... mountains... hills... fruit trees... cedars... beasts and livestock... creeping things and flying birds...” Psalms 148:1-10. 

I’ve recently started watching Netflix’s “Our Planet” series. And I’m awe-struck. Words are not enough to describe the incredible tapestry of God’s creation, how the nano-est and the biggest of them are so uniquely fashioned—they take my breath away. 

More awe-inspiring is this: everyone has a gig all its own. The krill sustains the squid, salmon, seabirds and whales. Tiny  phytoplanktons are not just their appetizers; these microscopic beings also affect oceanic formation of clouds which are then sucked inland to rain down on us. Lions feast on wildebeests and wildebeests thrive on succulents and grass. 

One giant symphony of life—of dependence and harmony—and God’s unseen yet obvious hand conducting everything to perfection. Simply mind-boggling!

And look at us. We can plan, lead, design, invent, analyze, concoct, compute, compose, act, sing, dance, even fly to the moon. Ever wonder where dust such as us get all that limitless wisdom and daring? 

Life. Sustainability. Creativity. Power. Integrity. All of these and more He’s effortlessly put together to make the earth a habitable place for you and me, courtesy of Jesus our Creator. 

Art collectors pay out-of-this-world prices to possess paintings like the Mona Lisa. Jesus paid the highest price—His shed blood through His death on the cross—to repossess us and guarantee our victory up to the time we leap out of this world into His.  

So please, please, give Him all the glory. Let it be His and His alone.