The Blue Cadillac

Several years after we were married (in 1977), I got an itch for a new car. Not just any car mind you, but the fanciest hunk of metal on the car lot. I am not sure what possessed me but I had new car fever bad. For a man just out of college with two young children, my desire was disproportionate with my income. Yet there I was, faced with the dream of cruising down the streets of Nashville, Indiana in a new "sled".

And I knew exactly which sled. Touted as one of the largest cars ever built, I had fallen in love with a Cadillac Eldorado. It was light powder blue with a white leather interior, had a 454 engine, and a hood nearly as long as the rest of the car.  It was front-wheel-drive (very unusual in those days), had auto dimming headlights, rain sensing wipers, and the list goes on. I thought we-all would look very sharp driving down the road in it.

I am not sure what happens to a person that zeros in on a toy like that, but I can tell you the draw is powerful. I got to a point in my thinking that I couldn't imagine life without it. I dwelled on that car in my mind for many weeks.

For illustration sake, let's call the car "the world." We are called in 1 Peter 2 to live in the world, yet not be a part of it, to influence the world through our Christian principles and inheritance, yet not be tarnished by it. Yet the world tugs at our heart-strings and calls to us, wooing us to the pleasures it holds. And therein is the battle all Christians must face every day. Do we love the world, or do we love Jesus? How would you answer that question? Is the object of your affection found in the world, or is it the face of your Savior?

Things of the world aren't necessarily bad (though of course some are), yet it is when they sink into your heart like a flying arrow that you are in trouble. They pierce your heart with barbed hooks and are nearly impossible to pull out and still survive the experience. They mingle with your life blood and begin to pump through your body, flowing freely into the recesses of your heart and mind. And like any foreign body that invades, they change you. They squelch the fire of the Spirit and replace him with a counterfeit God designed to kill and destroy.

Like I was with my Cadillac, many of us are today; consumed, engaged, enamored, and duped into believing the world holds something better than the grace of God. It is a device of our wily enemy, a lie permeating us that is so subtle it becomes hard to recognize the truth. But there is an answer, a safeguard against such attacks. It is found in the person and pursuit of Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of it in Ephesians 6.

Ephesians 6:10-17
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

As Christians, we are warriors engaged in daily battle. Our protection and advance depend on how seriously and genuinely we put on the armor of God and know his Word. God has miraculously provided for us a hope and a future that makes the things of this world look like old rusty metal. And most importantly, he loves us, you and me, not because of our deeds, but simply because he chooses to. Praise be to the Author and Giver of Life.
Shannon

1John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world?the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life?comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

You are not Alone

The house was filled with joy as we entered my grandmother’s home on Alfred Street in Northern Indiana. Waves of comforting heat danced on our cheeks from the fire she had built up in her fireplace. The blast of warmth defrosted our cheeks and fingers which had been chilled by the -15F air that attacked us between the car and the front door. Grandma Blech was a widow, though I really didn’t understand what that meant, and lived in a humble home; small yet well-kept and inviting.

In the living room she had set up multiple tables pressed together to seat our large family for Christmas dinner. They were lovingly covered with festive adornments fitting for the season. The house smelled fabulous as hints of ham and pie filled the air. On the fireplace mantle sat five of those pies, each assembled with the love and care that grandma was known for. You see, she truly loved us, pouring herself into each of our lives as we grew up during a restless time in history. The star of the pies was her Christmas pie. What I liked best about the pie was that it was huge! It had a flaky crust filled with a sweet white meringue sprinkled with colorful fruits in a custard base. I am longing for it even now. What an amazing desert!

Grandma was no nonsense, always telling it the way it was from her perspective, yet in love. “Comb your hair!” “Eat your vegetables!” and “Don’t you sass your mom!” were typical phrases we heard. As we walked in she barked, “Wipe your feet!” then she gave each of us a bear hug and kiss. We piled the presents we were carrying for her under the live white pine Christmas tree she had decorated for the season. The presents fell into a great pile mingling with the meticulously wrapped gifts she had prepared for each of us.

One thing that always blessed me about Grandma Blech was that she knew us, each and every one. Yes, she knew our names but she also knew our likes and dislikes, our dreams and passions, and our foibles…and she loved us anyway. She knew us because she took the time to get to know us. We weren’t just her daughter’s children, we were special, loved and cherished just as we were. What an amazing feeling wells up in me even today, many years after her passing, knowing that I was loved by her. Just speaking her name brings back a flood of wonderful memories. Grandma Blech.

What happens in your mind…in your heart…in your soul when you speak the name of Jesus Christ? Is there peace? Is there joy? Is there thankfulness? Are there wonderful memories? Not only does he know your name, but he also knows your heart, your needs, your fears, and your dreams. He is the Giver of Life and the Restorer of all that is broken. He knitted you together in your mother’s womb and breathed life into your body, and he has secured your future, for eternity, through his death and resurrection. And did you know that he loves you…beyond measure?

When we met as a family, grandma would always sit us down to a feast, a feast prepared with her loving hands. The fellowship, the food, and the conversation surrounding the meal brought joy to our hearts and peace to our lives. Those meals were special because the one who invited us and fed us was special.

Dear friends, a day is coming in the near future when the love of our life, Jesus Christ, will sit us down to a banquet. It will be a time of joy, of fellowship and of delight. The blessings we will receive will have just begun because the Host…the Bridegroom, loves us and with perfection, has prepared a place for us in heaven. During this holiday season, remember why there is hope for mankind; because of the love of our Savior. I pray you will experience peace, joy, family, and hope as you squarely place your faith in the Prince of Peace and as you fix your eyes on the Author and Perfector of our Faith; Jesus Christ.

Shannon

John 14:1-4
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Dreams of a Future

Deep in the heart of the Corn Belt sat a northern Indiana home with four rooms and a path leading to the privy. Behind it ran a creek lined with great cottonwood trees that defecated cotton-like seeds all over the ground in the fall. The house sat next to a rutted dirt road, its foundation only feet from the roads fractured surface. Lilac bushes separated the elongated yard from the home next door that housed a small family whose father was always yelling. Shouts and slamming doors were often heard through the tiny homes windows; always open in the summer to move the stagnate air.

The four rooms consisted of a living room, kitchen and two bedrooms, forming a perfect square. Across the front of the house was a covered porch made of round stones from a local creek. It provided a respite from the scorching sun that always accompanied the long, humid summers in that area of the country. The largest set of railroad tracks in northern Indiana ran by the house only a half block away. Day and night the engineers blew their whistles warning of impending danger as they left the train yard a few miles away.

In the living room sat two young newlyweds. The house was the fulfillment of a dream for them, a dream envisioned years before.  They purchased the house in May and occupied it in September after their wedding. The year was 1951. The depression and war were over and prosperity was growing in America.

The groom was an electrician. Having recently completed school for the trade, he looked forward to many years of opportunity to share his skills. The bride was a housewife who in later years would complete her RN studies and tend to many hurting and sick people. They looked forward to raising a family together in the little house, making it a home suited to their specific needs and purposes. They had a special drive to accomplish this that rose out of their past.

The bride’s father had divorced his wife (her mother), leaving her in Arizona with two small children. This was long before divorce was a socially acceptable living situation and well before stringent laws had been developed to protect the oppressed. The hardships that ensued were at times unbearable but her mother, Thelma, managed to keep her remaining family together.

The groom had gone through a very difficult childhood, being raised in a depressed area of town and having to deal with a very challenging father. Harsh would be an adequate term to describe him. The groom was the first of the “latch-key” children, having to find hours of activity after school while his mom and dad worked. From these backgrounds, they both purposed to raise and love a family…the right way; with tenderness and care.
And so started the marriage of Jerry and Roberta Dare; my parents…little money, fractured families, yet big dreams and a singular focus to better themselves…new beginnings – a fresh start. Mom was 18, dad was 19.

It wasn’t long until their first child, my brother, was born. Andy was a romping baby boy who was dearly loved. You and I can both imagine the cuddles on a chair, the baths in the sink, the rattles that were shaken to entice a smile, and the prayers over his crib. For months they nurtured and loved him, yet one day he was found dead, a result of sudden infant death syndrome. That I can’t imagine, yet it was a chapter in the book of their life together that was lived; one of pain, hardship and tears.

When you are in the midst of the circumstance…the hardship and pain…it seems that dawn will never come and that the pain will never ease, yet God was faithful even then in providing the comfort and encouragement they needed and desired. Andy was buried next to a plot my parents had purchased for themselves. You see, even though he is gone, after all these years he is not forgotten. They know that one day they will see him again.

Even with that challenging start to their marriage, mom and dad stood firm on the promises of the cross. Four other children were born to them, Chris, Cindy, Shannon, and Tim. We were each given the same loving and gentle care that they both gave little Andy. Perfectly? No, but made perfect in Christ.

They added to their home one room at a time to meet the needs of their growing family. It was added on to so many times that it grew to be quite a place. A bathroom was added. They enclosed half of the porch with large windows that were festively decorated with painted scenes every holiday. Then a carport, bedroom and garage, and a backroom were added….and it was home…home for 53 years.

A few years ago we spent two weeks in Indiana where mom and dad lived in an apartment, having sold their family home. It was the first time since 1987 that all my brothers and sisters were together with their families for Christmas. What a crowd! After hours and hours of talking, I realized that we were each filled with hopes and dreams for our lives.

Each of us, to the best of our abilities, pursues those dreams seeing only some of them come to fulfillment. I can confidently say that if those dreams and efforts are rooted in Christ, with our families as our primary ministry, though difficult at times, our lives will be a living testament to God’s grace. If, however, they are rooted in selfishness, they have no meaning. When you look at your friends, your spouse or your children, remember that they have dreams for their lives. I can think of no better act of love than to invest in those dreams.
Shannon

Psalm 127
  1 Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. 
2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat for he grants sleep to[a] those he loves. 3 Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. 
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. 
5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. 
They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.

This devotion involves a true story about a day in the life of my wife Becky. She was only nine years old, and what a day! Read on….

Shannon


A Plague in the West

It started just like many days start. We had been traveling around the American west, satisfying an urge to get out of town and feed the adventurous spirit in each of us. We landed in a small motel somewhere in northern Wyoming late the night before, and everyone slept in. I opened my eyes the next morning and saw the sun peeking through the drawn curtains, realizing it was well past breakfast. Throwing back the covers, my nine year old frame ran to the door and pushed it open to see where we were. Misty mountains poked up on the horizon, their peaks capped with fluffy white clouds. The sun was climbing quickly in the sky spreading its heat on the rugged Wyoming countryside. The day had begun and we were wasting it!

I had made enough commotion that mom and dad were beginning to move around in the room behind me. People were moving back and forth outside, getting on with their day and I was ready to meet them all! The desire to get outside came over me with compulsion. Almost beyond control I turned to implore my parents asking, "Can I go outside to play?" They were compliant and helped me into some appropriate clothing. "Don't play in the parking lot," was the last instruction I heard as I ran out the door.

Scoping out the area, I spied a small weedy pond near the back of the motel. Oh joy! I loved ponds. They were always full of interesting insects, critters and fish. Filled with anticipation, I snuck up to the edge, carefully watching for any movement. I saw a dragonfly lounging on a bulrush not three feet from my nose.  A water-skater whizzed by as if called to an emergency, and a small group of minnows scooted through the shallow water.

A small disturbance irrupted in the weeds next to the path. I noticed dark green frogs with white underbellies and brown spots everywhere; climbing over each other, weaving through the tall grass, and splashing the muddy water. Exciting!

With one perfectly executed victorious pounce, I leapt toward a frog capturing the wiggling creature in my hands. Awesome!  I ran back to our room, water flying, frog wriggling, frog legs flopping, and slimy weeds falling to the ground everywhere. My path looked like a crime scene with all evidence leading to room 107, our little room on the first floor next to the ice machine.

I burst through the door, dripping bits of sludge onto the carpet. The ruckus should have startled my mother but she had dealt with my exuberance for many years and had nerves of steel. "Mommy, mommy, look what I caught!"

"Ribbit!" The frog just stared at my mother, eyes bulging because of the pressure I was applying with my little hands. "Ribbit....crooooak!" Translated he was likely saying, "Mom, can you get me out of this mess? I mean, really!"

Mom looked up, assessed the situation, and simply said, "Honey, why don't you go ask the cook for a jar to put your friend in? When you’re ready for breakfast, come to the dining room over there,” and she pointed.

I shot out of the door and into the kitchen of the restaurant attached to the motel. The cook obliged with a gallon glass pickle jar sporting a metal lid. I stuffed the frog into it and quickly returned to the pond. Throwing some weeds, mud and water in the jar, I continued to collect more frogs. When the jar was full to the top of the little amphibians, I sat down to admire my handy work. Countless beady little black eyes looked back at me as if to say, “If you let me out and kiss my head, I’ll turn into a prince!” They looked longingly at me.

I ran back up the path toward the restaurant with my jar full of prince’s. What I quickly learned however was that a gallon jar full of mud, water and frogs is heavy! Numbness began to radiate through my fingers from the pressure the jar applied.

“Mom, dad, look what I caught,” I cried as I burst through the diner door! A few people near the door absent mindedly looked up from their brunch, coffee cups in hand. And then it happened. The slippery jar flew from my numb fingers and burst on the concrete floor.

Everything went into slow motion scenes as if recorded for the horror movie: Frogs Attack! Diners sat there, forks half way to their open mouths, frozen in astonishment. There were muffled screams, wet muddy frogs hopping every which way, and broken glass all over the floor.  One dignified lady jumped up with a contorted look on her face, her hands in the air, and her new Italian heels splattered with mud. An older gentleman brushed a frog off of his plate, while another frog hopped onto a high chair staring down its patron atop a pile of mashed potatoes.

As I look back on that event, it was just “one-of-those-days.” My folks tried to pay for the damage, but the manager said it was the most excitement they’d had in a year, and no real damage was done. A few years later we stopped again at the same restaurant. The manger shared that people still talk about that day, and it sort of “put them on the map”. “Besides,” he said, “it made for some funny memories.”  

No matter how well we plan, sometimes things don’t turn out as expected. There are times in our lives that seem like we’re staring down a grizzly bear and there is no clear way out. God promises us in Isaiah 43, that whatever the circumstance in our life, he is with us. When you walk through swirling waters, he is there. When you step into the fire, he is there. There is no situation and no place that God does not inhabit for the good of those who love him.

Are you standing at the edge of a precipice today with no way across? Cry out to God, seek his help, his love and his comfort. He is faithful. Take a moment to read Psalm 91. You are called beloved! He will lift you up in the hands of his angels so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Amen

Shannon



Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

He Knows My Name

Go with me if you will, to that still, quiet place that is seated within your inner-most being. Here’s how you get there. Find a place that is free of distractions. Sit or stand in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Sit quietly for at least 2-3 minutes and just listen; eyes closed and ears open. You are not listening for audible sounds, rather you are listening to your heart. 

Have you ever called yourself by name? “Shannon, how are you doing today?” Now listen for the answer. Your mind will flood with the core condition of your heart. “I’m sad. I’m lonely. I’m not doing so well. I’m stressed. I’m worried. I’m fearful.” All you have to do is listen. Remove the distractions and listen. Assess, consider and evaluate your condition. 

OK, now turn your spiritual attention and ask the question, “God, how do you think I’m doing? I mean deep inside my being, how am I doing?” Then listen, just listen. There is an amazing truth about our God and it begins with the words, “I love you. Really, I love you.” And in that love God’s purpose and desire is to commune with you, to nurture you, and to raise you up on wings like eagles so that you might run and not grow weary, and so that your strength will be renewed. 

That is the God who loves you. That is the God who saved you. He so cares for you that he sacrificed his son on a cross that you might be saved. And then he chose to dwell inside you, to teach and keep you until the day of your redemption. Amazing!

Can you identify with Psalm 84? “My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”

You don’t have to be alone anymore. You don’t have to be a solo act, lonely, misunderstood, ignored, or any other thing that can result from this earthly life. You don’t! You are loved by the Father, by the Star Breather, by the Great “I Am.” No matter how deep, or dark, or painful, or desperate your situation seems, you have a Father and he knows your name. He will never leave you or forsake you. You are never alone.

Do you identify with the theme song of the long-running TV serial, Cheers? Do you want to go where everybody knows your name? If you call yourself Christian, your past, present and future is secure in the blood of Jesus.

Tommy Walker sings, 
I have a Maker, He formed my heart
Before even time began, my life was in his hands
I have a Father, He calls me His own
He'll never leave me, no matter where I go
He knows my name, He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls, And He hears me when I call

Amen!
Shannon

Psalm 84:1-5
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young-- a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. "Selah" 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

Hiding from God

It was not a good sign. Mom rushed into the kitchen and I knew where she was going. I caught the tail-end of her statement to me. It was something like, "Your fathers going to hear about this!" Not good at all.

I had just finished eating about 2 dozen freshly baked cookies that mom had set on the counter to cool. Chocolate chip, peanut butter, and my favorite, oatmeal raisin. I'm really not sure how it happened but mom was ironing in the utility room and the temptation was too great. My little stomach, now nearly 5 years old, was distended and I was belching incessantly. I think that's what caught her attention. If it wasn't for the belching I would have gotten away with the perfect crime. "Cookies? What cookies? I haven't seen any cookies!" But alas, I was caught red handed.

As mom stepped into the kitchen she turned immediately to the wall next to the refrigerator where "the dog house" hung. Dad had neatly cut out a little dog house and hung it on the wall. It was flat and had a red painted door. In the middle of the door was a small nail. Hanging below the doghouse on detachable hooks were four little dogs cut out of wood and dangling vertically.

Each dog had a child's name on it; Shannon, Chris, Tim, and Cindy. Me, my brothers and sister. Whenever one or more of us got into serious trouble, mom would detach the appropriate dog/child and hang it on the nail in the entrance. This was very bad in the Dare house. Bad because the dog house was the first thing dad looked at when he came home. If your name was in it, it was similar to being sentenced by a judge for a felony offense. Really bad.

I knew my hour of judgement was coming and at 5 years old I decided to run away from home rather than face the music. I somberly went to my room, found an old scarf, put a package of peanut butter crackers in it I had stashed under my bed, and left.


Out the back door I went, mom none the wiser to my exit. I made it about halfway up the driveway next to our house when I got tired and was already missing everybody. I spied a widow well attached to the house that let light into our basement. It looked like a suitable refuge and I decided to climb into it and hide. I figured I had enough food to last for a while. Just to make sure I wasn't found, I pulled an old piece of plywood over the top of the window well to mask my presence...seemed like a good idea!

I saw dad drive up about an hour later. Mom ran out to meet him in a panic yelling, “I can't find Shannon anywhere.” I chuckled. My brothers, sister and parents surrounded the house calling my name. "Shannon...Shannon!" After a few minutes dad said, "Let's call the police. They will help."

Now I quickly put 2 + 2 together and realized that I would rather face my dad than be arrested by the police. Five years old and a rap sheet....no way. My dad's foot was three feet from the window well when I popped up out of it and shouted, "Here I am!"

I envisioned warm hugs and relief as they saw my shining face. Instead I received a sharp swat on the rear and a stern talking to from my dad and mom....apparently I hadn't been gone long enough!

The same scene played out not that long ago in the Garden of Eden. Except then, it wasn't cookies that were eaten, but forbidden fruit. Both Adam and Eve did the same thing I did; they hid from their Father because they were afraid of him. And they were afraid of him because they were disobedient.

The act of being disobedient directly affects your relationship with your father or mother, or anyone that has authority over you. If you do what you know you're supposed to do, you have a clear conscience and your heart does not condemn you. However, if you do what you know you're not supposed to do, you struggle with guilt, fear and other unhealthy emotions. In essence disobedience drives you from those you love.

Are you at peace with God? It was the scheme of the enemy back in the Garden to thrust us into sin and darkness, and he was successful. His sole desire is to strip us of our inheritance and of our identity in Christ. He has so orchestrated the world as to fill our heads with lies and confusion. But are you at peace with God? Is your relationship with him so powerful that you are overcoming the world?

Or are you hiding in a window well, fearful of what the future may bring, or even worse, fearful of your Father: Jesus? Talk with him. Tell him your heart, and then listen. He is faithful and just to cleanse you from all unrighteousness and fully restore you to your proper inheritance.

1 John 3:21
"Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God." 

Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
To receive power and wealth and wisdom 
And strength and honor and glory and praise! 
Revelation 5:12

Worthy is the Lamb

Are you a river watcher? I mean, have you spent time watching water slip down a cool stream, bubbling over rocks, dipping into holes, and spraying into the sky when it hits an obstruction? I have. The roar of a dropping stream, the coolness of a deep pool under the overhanging branches of a tortured old tree, they bring peace. They stir the soul. Blocking out most sound except the river, you relax and dream of days gone by.

Where the fast water meets the slack water is a shifting line. On one side the water is moving so quickly that few things remain in place. On the other side the water is barely moving. What movement there is flows opposite the flow of the larger stream. And at the edge, there is constant change and confusion. Water molecules in one moment are headed full bore down the river only to be sucked into the slow water and be carried back up to where they started. The line is blurred.

And that is how we should walk as Christians; so engaged in both sides of the line that the distinction between the two is blurred. We walk in the world which takes us like a rushing stream down a defined course. Yet we hit that edge, that edge of heavenly engagement, and are pulled to the slack water for renewal, rest and encouragement. We walk in the world yet our eyes are set on Jesus, our Hope and Future. We walk, we talk, we adore, we read, we live in relationship, we pray, and we fix our faith in the strength of God.

Then not only is our future glorious beyond description, but our day to day life has victory. We make a difference. We bring light to darkness, and hope to the hopeless. We participate in miracles and walk with God on this earth. We are ambassadors of Christ.

Be a river watcher. Live in the line between the fast and slack water. Be so engaged with Jesus and heavenly purposes that the line between heaven and earth is blurred, not sure whether you’re standing in heaven or on earth. You are a holy people, a royal priesthood, a people set apart by God. Don’t merely exist, but exist for him, the Author and Perfector of your faith.