Tag: new creation

  • God’s Promise of Renewal

    american robin on the lawn

    I’ve seen a few robins around, but yesterday I saw a pair in our backyard.  Most years a pair (or two) nests somewhere on the property, so it’s a promise that spring is on the way. 

    We will likely get more cold, winter-like weather, but we are through the worst of it. I miss some aspects of the places we’ve lived most of our lives, but the long, cold weather isn’t one of them. 

    It won’t be spring officially for 28 more days (March 20 this year), but the true weather seldom follows the official seasonal starts. When we lived in Alberta, it saw snowfall in every month of the year, and the same for spring-like weather.

    Even if it’s not officially Spring, the hope and promise of it bring me joy. Spring is a time of renewal, fresh growth, and great beauty. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest of times, God is in control and has promised us something better.

    The coming of Spring doesn’t negate the possibility of bad weather ahead; it comes with a promise. In the same way, becoming believers doesn’t mean we won’t have dark times, but it comes with the promise of something greater.

    You can’t avoid the cycle of seasons; every year gets some winter. We can’t avoid tough times; they are an integral part of our Faith walk. Hard times turn us to God for help, hope, and comfort. 

    Winter is a time for plants to be dormant and rest in preparation for the busy growth of Spring. Hard times are when we sink our roots deeper into Christ, preparing for deeper growth and a closer relationship with Him.

    The scriptures are full of promises for renewal.

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

    …he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5

    If you are facing hold times, hold fast, He has something better for you. If you aren’t having a struggle, prepare because one is coming.

    In everything rejoice, the best is yet to come.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

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  • Celebrate your identity in Christ

    Fireworks against an urban skyline

    My goal today is to provide you with a small taste of who you are in Christ, no matter what comes.

    If you belong to Jesus, you are safe in His hands.

    I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one. John 10:28-30 ESV

    You are sealed.

    In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guaranteeof our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV

    You are an overcomer

    For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:4 ESV

    You are a new creation.

    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

    You are being made complete.

    I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 ESV

    You are loved and adopted into the family of God.

    Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:4-5 ESV

    We may stumble and fall, but in Him, we are secure. Nothing can take us away from him.

    Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 ESV

    Times might get hard, and the world might turn its back on us. We might face struggles or persecution. Whatever comes, my dear friends, we will remain victorious in Christ.

    As we celebrate the coming New Year, let’s remember the one who stepped out of glory to reconcile us to the Father. Through Him, we have the victory. That’s worth celebrating.

    May you come to truly understand who you are in Christ and give Him the praise and honor due His name.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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