Rebirth?

09.13.21– Rebirth –1 Peter 1:1-9)

My friend, may I ask you a question? Does real change, the kind that affects us within as well as without, an easy thing to achieve alone?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

Did you ever wish that there was something about yourself cosmetically that you could change? Judging from the number of people who underwent cosmetic surgery last year, over 4.5 million, there are many who do. It seems that we live in a culture that is captivated with the whole idea of makeover. Through all the mania there seems to be one common denominator among these life-changing prescriptions; we're motivated to do them to serve ourselves. It's, in a very real sense, a demonstration of our individuality and the eternal search for something better, more befitting the "real person" locked within. But, real change, the kind that affects us within as well as without, may not be so easy to achieve alone.

Here's a story: "Danny was born with no ears. Thankfully, he had loving parents and a strong family to sustain him. In high school, his doctor told him of a procedure that made it possible to transplant ears. That meant Danny could get new ears if someone compatible donated theirs. But Danny soon found that donor ears were extremely scarce. Eventually, he graduated from high school and was accepted at a major university thousands of miles away. One day he got a phone call from his father. 'Go to the hospital tomorrow, Danny. A donor's been found.' The very next day he checked into the university hospital where doctors performed the surgery. A few hours later, he had new ears. For the first time in his life, he wasn’t ashamed of how he looked. A few weeks later, he received a phone call from his father. 'Son, your mother is very ill,' his father said. 'She may not live through the night.' When Danny arrived, his father gave him the sad news that his mother had died. Together they went to the funeral home, where Danny was able to see his mother for the last time. He leaned over to kiss her cheek. Brushing her hair back from her face, he noticed that she had no ears. (Guy Doud, Sermoncentral.com)

It was a mother's incredible love that provided Danny with new ears. And it was a Father's incredible love that provided us with new our new life. God demonstrates his own love for us in this: "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Change that makes a difference changes us on the inside as well as the outside. New ears gave Danny not only a new look but also a new life. But, it took a loving sacrifice on the part of his mother to give him that life. When Jesus died on the cross His death became the surgery that removed the ugly sin that had scared our lives. It was a total makeover, we no longer looked like the sinners we had once been. That re-creation came with a very steep price–His disfigurement for our makeover, His death for our new life. He did it willingly for our sakes that we might be able to look into the mirror every day and say, "I like this Christian look. I think I'll keep it!"

We pray. Heavenly Father, change that makes a difference Lord, changes us on the inside as well as the outside. Thank You Father. Because of Your indwelling Spirit, Lord, we have a new look and also a new life. But, it took a loving sacrifice on the part of Your Son to give him that life. When Jesus died on the cross His death became the surgery that removed the ugly sin that had scared our lives. It has been a total makeover, as we no longer look like the sinners we had once been. Christ was disfigured in body for our makeover, His death for our new life. Forgive us Father when even a day goes by when we are not reminded of this truest of truths. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Rebirth?

09.13.21– Rebirth –1 Peter 1:1-9)

My friend, may I ask you a question? Does real change, the kind that affects us within as well as without, an easy thing to achieve alone?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

Did you ever wish that there was something about yourself cosmetically that you could change? Judging from the number of people who underwent cosmetic surgery last year, over 4.5 million, there are many who do. It seems that we live in a culture that is captivated with the whole idea of makeover. Through all the mania there seems to be one common denominator among these life-changing prescriptions; we're motivated to do them to serve ourselves. It's, in a very real sense, a demonstration of our individuality and the eternal search for something better, more befitting the "real person" locked within. But, real change, the kind that affects us within as well as without, may not be so easy to achieve alone.

Here's a story: "Danny was born with no ears. Thankfully, he had loving parents and a strong family to sustain him. In high school, his doctor told him of a procedure that made it possible to transplant ears. That meant Danny could get new ears if someone compatible donated theirs. But Danny soon found that donor ears were extremely scarce. Eventually, he graduated from high school and was accepted at a major university thousands of miles away. One day he got a phone call from his father. 'Go to the hospital tomorrow, Danny. A donor's been found.' The very next day he checked into the university hospital where doctors performed the surgery. A few hours later, he had new ears. For the first time in his life, he wasn’t ashamed of how he looked. A few weeks later, he received a phone call from his father. 'Son, your mother is very ill,' his father said. 'She may not live through the night.' When Danny arrived, his father gave him the sad news that his mother had died. Together they went to the funeral home, where Danny was able to see his mother for the last time. He leaned over to kiss her cheek. Brushing her hair back from her face, he noticed that she had no ears. (Guy Doud, Sermoncentral.com)

It was a mother's incredible love that provided Danny with new ears. And it was a Father's incredible love that provided us with new our new life. God demonstrates his own love for us in this: "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Change that makes a difference changes us on the inside as well as the outside. New ears gave Danny not only a new look but also a new life. But, it took a loving sacrifice on the part of his mother to give him that life. When Jesus died on the cross His death became the surgery that removed the ugly sin that had scared our lives. It was a total makeover, we no longer looked like the sinners we had once been. That re-creation came with a very steep price–His disfigurement for our makeover, His death for our new life. He did it willingly for our sakes that we might be able to look into the mirror every day and say, "I like this Christian look. I think I'll keep it!"

We pray. Heavenly Father, change that makes a difference Lord, changes us on the inside as well as the outside. Thank You Father. Because of Your indwelling Spirit, Lord, we have a new look and also a new life. But, it took a loving sacrifice on the part of Your Son to give him that life. When Jesus died on the cross His death became the surgery that removed the ugly sin that had scared our lives. It has been a total makeover, as we no longer look like the sinners we had once been. Christ was disfigured in body for our makeover, His death for our new life. Forgive us Father when even a day goes by when we are not reminded of this truest of truths. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.