Do you have a birth mark? I have one on the outside of my right knee. I have no idea what it is for or how I even got one. I suppose most people that have them are in the same boat with me. Years ago we were talking about birthmarks with the girls. I don't really remember if Marily or Hilary have one, that is not important. I remember Ana looking all over her little five year old body looking for her birthmark. Her beautiful chocolate skin didn't help in her search. After a few minutes Donna provided the best answer. She said, "Ana, your birthmark is right here in my heart".
I use that as an illustration for this thought. What are the birthmarks of an authentic Christian life? Jesus told Nicodemus that new life in Christ is like being, Born Again. So if that is true then there ought to be some evidences in those who make that claim. You may have some come to mind. I want to suggest that the very first mark must be the mark of Pentecost.
Pentecost came as the Power of God, to the people of God, to accomplish the Purpose of God. It is through Pentecost that His children have the inner witness of adoption. The Spirit of God bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. There may be other birthmarks, and there should be. Our lives should show the marks of love, devotion, kindness, the fruit of the spirit. Yet, the mark of Pentecost, a new life in Christ, must be the first.
Tedd Galloway is the pastor of West Adrian Community Church and the author of, A Mother's Heart Moved the Hand of God. You can find him on Facebook and Twitter.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
New Beginning
A new beginning, those words sound wonderful and full of promise. As a follower of Jesus Christ my heart is filled with hope and peace when I think of those two simple words, New Beginning. Each day is fresh and clean, full of beauty and promise. I will use the day for the benefit of people and God's Kingdom or I will squander the 24 hours that I can never retrieve.
Beginning, to start over. What a great thought. Each day I can start over. I can forget about yesterday's challenges, struggles, failures and success. Oh, it is nice to savor the sweet smell of yesterday's flowers, but I must press on to enjoy new blossoms and fragrances. The disappointments of yesterday, the failures in thought or actions, those I need to leave behind or they have a tendency to drag me down. That is just the person I am.
A lot of water has passed over the dam or under the bridge, whatever, since my last blog postings. I have a million excuses, no but no valid reasons, for the lapse. And, speaking honestly, if it were not for my meeting with Morgan James Publishing yesterday I would have continued to put this off. I guess this might lead you to believe that this blog has not been important. It is important to me and I hope in the future it will become part of your weekly reading.
The Apostle Paul made two points, among hundreds, that I want to remember this day. The first being his thought to the Corinthian Church that followers of Christ are New Creations, the old has past and the new IS. The second point being; I must leave what is in the past and press on each day for the ultimate goal, which is. A glorified human in the presence of Him, who always was and will be. May it be so.
Tedd Galloway is the pastor of West Adrian Community Church and the author of, A Mother's Heart Moved the Hand of God. You can find him on Facebook and Twitter.
Beginning, to start over. What a great thought. Each day I can start over. I can forget about yesterday's challenges, struggles, failures and success. Oh, it is nice to savor the sweet smell of yesterday's flowers, but I must press on to enjoy new blossoms and fragrances. The disappointments of yesterday, the failures in thought or actions, those I need to leave behind or they have a tendency to drag me down. That is just the person I am.
A lot of water has passed over the dam or under the bridge, whatever, since my last blog postings. I have a million excuses, no but no valid reasons, for the lapse. And, speaking honestly, if it were not for my meeting with Morgan James Publishing yesterday I would have continued to put this off. I guess this might lead you to believe that this blog has not been important. It is important to me and I hope in the future it will become part of your weekly reading.
The Apostle Paul made two points, among hundreds, that I want to remember this day. The first being his thought to the Corinthian Church that followers of Christ are New Creations, the old has past and the new IS. The second point being; I must leave what is in the past and press on each day for the ultimate goal, which is. A glorified human in the presence of Him, who always was and will be. May it be so.
Tedd Galloway is the pastor of West Adrian Community Church and the author of, A Mother's Heart Moved the Hand of God. You can find him on Facebook and Twitter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)