Change

When I was young, I loved change. When I heard the Ice Cream truck coming down the road, playing its’ tune, I would gather up my change and buy a treat. When I was a teenager, change could buy me a soda. Now that I am a little older, I put my change in a jar. Change doesn’t seem as important to me now, until I take a good look at the jar, then I see “real” money.
In my spiritual life, I need to understand the value of change. Change is what God is doing. He takes me from lost to saved, that’s change. He takes me from selfish to giving, that’s change. He takes me from hopelessness to hope, that’s change. While God never changes, I am so glad He sees the value of change, and is willing to patiently change me.
2 Cor 3:18
18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
(NIV)
In Him
J. Tom Washburn

Dirty Diapers

Recently I read my nieces blog, she had a dirty diapers count, 705 dirty diapers and counting. It made me laugh. I wondered how many dirty diapers my wife and I took care of. I know she took care of a lot more than I did. It’s funny the things we keep track of, dirty diapers, broken bottles, spilt milk.
I am so glad that I have a Heavenly Father who doesn’t keep track of dirty diapers. He has forgiven my messes, my spilt milk, and my sin. What my Heavenly Father keeps track of is me. What my Heavenly Father delights over is me. I am so blessed.
Zeph 3:17
17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
(NIV)
In Him
J. Tom Washburn

Beauty

Recently my wife received a card in the mail that carried with it a powerful message. The card was a quote from The Great House Of God by Max Lucado.
“Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, “Do you like it? I did it just for you.”” When we opened the card there was a passage from The Message “Take a good look at God’s wonders – they’ll take your breath away.” (Psalm 66:5)
In my life I have been blessed. I have seen the beautiful sunsets of the west Texas plains and I have seen the colors of an Oklahoma storm. I have seen the majesty of mountains and the colors of a coral reef. We do live in a symphony God is performing just for us.
But do you know what takes away my breath even more than the beauty of this earth, the loving acts of God’s created; an older couple holding hands, parents holding their baby, friends selflessly supporting each other. I see God’s love in waiting rooms, with the quiet support of caring friends, I see God’s love at finish lines, with cheering friends after a long hard race. As beautiful as God’s creation is, the hearts of God’s created is breathtaking.
In Him
J. Tom Washburn

I can't, God can, I think I'll let Him

"God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us." (The Message, Eph. 3:20)
I know there are times in your life that your circumstances seem impossible. Remember what God has done. Money is nothing to God, He paved the roads of heaven with gold. Sickness is nothing to God, He formed me in my mother's womb. Despair is nothing to God, He parted the Red Sea and let His children walk on dry ground. Fear is nothing to God, He calmed the storm with just a word. Death is nothing to God, He will give life to all those who are His.
The only things God can't handle, are the things we don't bring to Him.
The next time the world closes in on you remember "I can't, God can, I think I'll let Him."
In Him
J. Tom Washburn

Ears to hear

Ps 25:4-5 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.(NIV)
Recently my prayers have included a phrase that describes my hearts desire, when it comes to my walk of faith. The phrase is this "Lord, give me ears to hear, so you only have to tell me once." God has said in Heb 13:5-6 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?""(NIV) I want that faith, so today, I am making the choice to trust God. Today I proudly proclaim "I trust God." When the car breaks down, I trust God. When the air conditioner freezes over, I trust God. When dreaded news comes, I trust God. When my life is over, I want to be able to look back and say "I trusted God."
In Him
J. Tom Washburn

YES

Have you ever had a day that just screamed "YES"? You know the day, it is the day when the sun seems brighter and the birds sing sweeter, it is the day when you have an extra bounce in your step and a little grin on your face. I love those days, and they always seem to come just when they are needed. They sneak up on you, sometimes just after the hard days.
Jesus had been crucified, and it appeared to those who loved Him that those "good" days were gone forever. In one moment all of that changed. With just seven words, the angels proclaimed a message that gives every believer hope. With just seven words the angels turned every day into a day of "Yes". With just seven words everything changed.
When the angels in the tomb of Jesus Christ proclaimed "He is not here, He has risen!" the only thing the heart of the believer can ever say is "YES!"
In Him
J. Tom Washburn

Jesus Love Me, This I Know

I love the way that the "The Message" translates Romans 8:39, "absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." I love that picture. This is the picture of a parent holding a precious little child. This is the picture of companion giving strength to the exhausted. This is the picture of a friend giving comfort to the broken hearted.
How many times have I relied on the promise that "nothing can get between me and God's love"? So when you sing those little songs that help you through the day, sing this song and remind yourself of the great love of our God.
"Jesus loves me this I know"

In Him
J. Tom Washburn