A Pastor in The Northwest

As we get into the new year, I've been diving deep into the letters of Paul to Timothy and Titus - what Bible scholars call 'The Pastoral Epistles." I find these quite helpful in my role with our church family. So, the other day I read this from 2 Timothy 2:11-13: 11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12  if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13  if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. [The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (2 Ti 2:11–13). (2016). Crossway Bibles.] What I find encouraging is that God's faithfulness is never contingent upon our ability to be faithful. The Bible Knowledge Commentary states, "True children of God cannot become something other than children, even when disobedient and weak. Christ's faithfulness to Christians is not based on their faithf...

As I write this, the morning sunshine is peaking through my office windows and I'm in awe. The sky is blue, there are high clouds and it is cold but clear. Spending my hour in prayer walking earlier was so life giving and refreshing that I didn't want it to end. Days like this draw me to focus on this created earth. I realize, however, that I can sometimes forget WHO is behind it all - the great designer, artist, and Creator Almighty God. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth...and it was good, very good!" -Genesis There is a danger to us over focusing on the created rather than the Creator. As Paul David Tripp has written, "Creation was never designed to satisfy your heart. Creation was made to be one big finger pointing you to the One who alone as the ability to satisfy your heart. Many people will get up today and ins some way ask creation to be their savior, that is, to give them what only God is able to give." May we all be looking ...