New Life

Recently, I was blessed to make an early morning boat trip to Cape Lookout Lighthouse along the crystal coast of North Carolina. It's the most beautiful of all the east coast lighthouses in my estimation -- a beautiful beacon painted with a black-and-white diamond pattern. As a boy, I was raised on the interior island, Harkers Island, very near this inspiring lighthouse. My childhood home is only about a 20-minute-boat ride across the sound to what locals call "The Hook of the Cape".

I am always rejuvenated when I visit this lighthouse location, but on this particular visit the lighthouse was secondary in inspiration, because one of the Shackleford Banks wild ponies had given birth in the night to a precious foal. We were likely the first humans to view the breath-taking vision of this new life on the shoreline.

I climbed out of the boat near "The Short Turn" and walked with my camera towards the mother and her newborn standing for the first time on shaky little legs. In amazement I clicked priceless images. Take it from me, witnessing new life is an unmatched gift on planet earth. The only event that compares to and surpasses physical birth on planet earth is witnessing what Jesus called "being born again".

Thank you, Creator God for new life -- physical and spiritual. We are speechless in the presence of Your creation and re-creation. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

John 3: (5) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (8) The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (NKJV)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Are You Weak? He is Strong!

I've come to realize that whatever spiritual independence is, it is not strength. In fact, I know that spiritual independence is in reality weakness in denial. We must not deny that we need God and each other. We especially need God.

Spiritual independence is the entry way to spiritual suicide. Spiritual Independence properly defined is self-centered ego, yes, the very essence of sin. And Romans 6:23 (NKJV) warns us with these 6 words: ...the wages of sin (spiritual independence) is death.

Actually, the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:3 might be properly paraphrased like this: Blessed are (the poor in spirit) those who admit they are spiritually dependent upon the Lord.

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NLT) ends with this declaration of spiritual dependency on God: For when I am weak, then I am strong. In other words, if I declare rather than deny that I am weak, I confess spiritual dependence on God and His strength becomes mine.

The "Jesus Loves Me" children's song says it best:
Little ones to Him belong; they are weak but HE is strong!

And another songwriter said it this way: His strength is perfect when our strength is gone.

Good news! Are You Weak? He is Strong!
In 7 words? Turn from sin. Turn to Him. Totally.

ALL JOY!
Grateful