John 15: 13. “Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends.” ‭‭

 God is my friend. One thing I have found as I get older, is that my friendship with God has become more profound and brings me greater peace and overwhelming joy. His presence is nearer and His leading is easier to submit to. Perhaps I’ve discovered over the years that the fact that His ways are not my ways is a good thing. 

I have given God many reasons to turn His back on me over the years, but I now appreciate the Grace and Patience that is manifested by His love. He was building a relationship and friendship when I was walking away.  I thank Jesus for being that Savior and Redeemer who has brought me into this friendship.   Because of His Spirit, I will draw on His Love to treasure the relationships and friendships I’ve had over the years.  Jesus did not turn away and neither will I.

START MY DAY WITH GOD...not worldly noise.

 Romans 12: 2 "...do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

This scripture passage of Paul to the Romans is a great ideal and certainly a valid quest, but I believe that it is impossible to achieve by my own efforts.  My default condition is to surrender to the worldly clutter around me, so that I see the world through my own eyes and my own wisdom.  The key to avoid conforming to the world is the Renewing Of My Mind.

The renewing of my mind can only happen by the Holy Spirit, who lives within when I accept Jesus as my Savior.  There is no persuading someone to believe and accept Jesus as Savior/ Son of God.  This adoption process is a one to one encounter...Jesus and His Spirit comes to those who recognize that he or she needs a savior, needs forgiveness of sins, and needs a faith and hope that rescues them from the chaos of the world.

That is why I frequently start my day making this verse a prayer.  If I want to be transformed and rescued, it begins with God renewing my mind day after day.

Heavenly Father, 

Help me to not conform to the world.  Help me to see the world and people through your eyes...loving, forgiving, caring for the world and people you have created.  Transform me by renewing my mind, letting Your Word take root in my heart.  Help me to spend time with You in the Bible so that I can come to know you more fully and see myself more honestly.  Jesus, forgive me of my sins and become my Savior so that Your will becomes my will as well.  Let my life be witness to Your will, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

In Jesus' Name, Amen

John 14: 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

How does Jesus open the doorway to the Father? I think the story of Philip and the Ethiopian illustrates the mysterious working of the Holy Spirit and answers this question.

Acts 8 26-39 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:

“He was led as a sheep to slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He does not open His mouth.
"In humiliation His judgment was taken away;
Who will relate His generation?
For His life is removed from the earth.”

The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.

God comes to us in His Spirit, meeting us on the road of life, and answers our questions related to Him.  Jesus was born, died, and resurrected in order that the Holy Spirit could lead all humanity to salvation through Him. The Bible points to Jesus and the Salvation He provides and His Holy Spirit brings guidance, correction, encouragement, and clarification as we read His Word. 

As this story illustrates, the Spirit appears mysteriously yet timely, and accomplishes His mission and we continue our journey through life.  Once you call on Christ to be your Savior, His Spirit will find you mysteriously and always at the right time to reveal God's love and grace.