Wed, Aug 23rd - 1:25PM

"They"

What if I decided to change my name to "They"?  Just as a fun way to address the common reference that people make to "they" .... People say "they do this, or they do that".  Or "They're" to blame.  When friends call my home they will have to ask "Is They there?"  My new name would drive grammarians crazy!

Abram's name was changed, but not on a whim.  The Lord changed it.  In biblical times, God often changed a person's name to indicate what He was going to do through that person.  Abram's name ("exalted father") was changed to Abraham ("father of many") because God had promised to make him a father of many nations (Gen 17:5) through whom "all the families of the earth shall be blessed".

In fulfillment of God's promise, Jesus came from the line of Abraham and blessed the nations by giving His life for our sins.  When we believe in Him, we are blessed and are promised eternal life with Him.  God now calls us by new names: "My people" and "sons of the living God" (Rom 9:25-26).  As His people, we can be used by Him to bless others. 

"I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants . . . to be God to you." Genesis 17:17

Thu, Aug 10th - 2:18PM

Scattered!

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the US Gulf Coast and displaced an estimated 1.3 million households.  With cities and towns evacuated, homes destroyed and jobs gone, people relocated to communities in every state including Alaska and Hawaii.  Because Christians are not immune to the storms of life,  it's likely that thousands of people who love the Lord found themselves in places they never expected to live.  Yet many of those same people whose hopes and plans were shattered by Katrina would also bring God's love to others across the US.  Like the early Christians who were forced out of Jerusalem by persecution, it could be said "Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word" (Acts 8:4).  While none of us would choose this kind of financial loss and disruption, would we see it as an opportunity to share the hope Jesus Christ has given us?  The apostle Peter's letter reminded Christians who had been scattered among the nations to "be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15)  We're always sowing seeds in life.

"TalkerCat"