Same Name

For unto us a child is born....and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them....let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole....for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4: 8-12

There's a new show on TV called "Same Name". The concept is that an ordinary person switches lives for a couple of days, with a celebrity of the same name. It was pretty entertaining to watch Mike Tyson, a white, middle-classed nurse, from Michigan, switch lives with the boxer, Mike Tyson. Not one person in Michigan mistook the real Mike Tyson for the nurse that worked in their clinic. I've heard people say "it doesn't matter which god you choose, as long as you're a good person, you will go to heaven. I'm sorry...but that is incorrect. I know in whom I have believed...no other name can save me...no other name can heal me...no other name can make me whole....only Jesus.

Made new...made whole.

Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. Acts 4:10

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me,“Write, for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:5

Transformation is an amazing thing. I've watched plenty of those shows on television where a decorator takes an ugly room in someone's house and completely changes it. I've watched the shows about people who loose hundreds of pounds and houses that get extreme makeovers, but a transformation of the heart is truly the most amazing of all transformations. Jesus can create in us a new heart; a heart full of love and a life filled with purpose. He repairs brokenness and trades our sorrows for his joy. How? We simply need to ask, and then surrender....so my prayer today is for Jesus to transform me...to make me new...to make me whole.

Flooded with light

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. Ephesians 1:18

The neat thing about light, is that even a tiny bit of light can shatter the darkness. The neat thing about confidence, is that it chases away insecurity and fear. As my heart is flooded with light, a rush of confidence drives away my fear and doubt. I am swept away in light...and in His love.

Rescued!!!

Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen. Galations 1:4 (NLT)

God, our father, devised a plan for my rescue. How could you not feel special when you realize and except the fact that Jesus came with a mission to rescue you! To rescue all mankind....from ourselves (our sins) and from the world in which we live. A world that disappoints, distracts and destroys. But thanks be to God for a way of escape. I've been rescued!