CHANGES!

Big Changes! In the past 12 months or so, I’ve had some big changes. Over two months ago, I published my first book, ‘A Journey To Grace’. I’ve also been BLOGGING for about a year. Just in the past month, as part of a restoration process, I’ve been reinstated by my denomination (and I began preaching over a year ago, too). To top that all off, God has provided my wife and I, a new home, and we will soon move into it. Wow! What a change a year makes!

Does God change? Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” The Hebrew writers seems to say, no. It is theologically proper to say God is immutable. That is a big theological word that means ‘unchanging’. And no, I don’t believe God (or Jesus) ever changes. The uniqueness, loving-kindness, and gracious/merciful aspects of God is what is our anchor. If God was a weather vane, twisting with every whim, how sad our assurance would be. No, on “the solid rock I’ll stand, all other is sinking sand” is not just an old hymn, but a reality for the Christian.

Do we change? Most certainly. I’m not who I was. I’m not that preacher who stood in a pulpit in June of 1983. For one, I don’t have that great hair anymore, ugh. No, in my intellect, spiritual maturity, and family dynamics, I am totally different. I’m not the man I was 8 or 9 years ago either. I had lost my way for a while. I was confused, hurt, and as low as I had ever been. No, I’m not that man either. Today, I’m a man who has realized, I don’t have it all figured out. I seek to square my thoughts, beliefs, and convictions and it seems I am tossed about, not sure on what side I will land.

Changed, that I have. I love my wife, more today, than maybe even the day I saw her walk into that church, in white, my heart beating out of my chest. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen (and still is). No, I can say I love her more now, and it is because of the grace and mercy she has shown me. Her love, demonstrated in very tangible, fire-tested ways, was manifested to me in ways I could never have imagined on that warm October evening in 1988. Today, I love her more than I have ever before.

My kids are adults, well at least in legal age definition. I’m not the father of toddlers, first-time kindergarteners, and/or bike novices. No, I’m the father of a soon to be pharmacist (a Doctor of Pharmacy to be exact-no proud poppa here detected) and a son embarking on his foray into adulthood. No, I’m a different father; one of advice, less money, more time and yearning for them to be babies again. No, they’ve changed too. They are not those little cry boxes, needing a diaper changed, a bottle warmed, a rocking chair induced nap time, babies. No, they, as well as I, have changed.

What has not changed is my Lord. He guides, directs, and blesses still today. His grace is as rich, precious, and potent as it ever was, or ever will be. His Word is still relevant, admonishing, and enlightening to this soul in need of it. God’s mercy is everlasting. Psalm 100:5 (KJV) “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” This Psalm of praise sums it up nicely. He is still as good as He ever was, His mercy still holds, and His truth is still…well the truth.

In your life there will be lots of changes. Jobs come and go. People enter your life, leave, and may even come back. You will change residences, maybe a few. You will grow old, wiser, and weaker. In our spiritual lives, changes will occur. I’m stronger now (and I’m still pretty weak) than I’ve been in many years. You may be very sure of a doctrine, position, or stance, that one day, may not seem as important. But one thing remains constant, our Lord. He is unchanging and unmovable. This also means His love and grace are never ending and never stronger or weaker, than at any time, EVER! Life is changing, but our Lord is not.

#changes #mercy #love #grace