God Reflections: Psalm 139

God Reflections: Psalm 139 by ric gustafson

God made only you. Only you has a certain face, voice, abilities, smile and walk. How does that make you feel?. Nobody is like you. God planned it that way. God designed us to be unique, distinct and significant. There will never be a human being like you ever again. 

You are you. There is only you. You are important to God. Always.

Why?. Because God loves you more than anything else.

research help: ' Encouragement for life' by Charles R Swindoll

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

The Luisitania miracle page 3

 The Luisitania miracle page 3 by ric gustafson

A work in progress

I walked up to the young russet haired officer. " Hello officer".

" Hello Miss". He grinned. " Let me check my paperwork for your cabin number".

" Thank you Officer".

" Here you are". He pointed at the pages. " Your cabin is on the Upper Deck".

I smiled. " I believe I know how to walk to that deck".

The young officer scratched his chin. " You do?".

" I have traveled on this ship's sister ship".

The officer's voice hesitated. " The Mauretania".

" Yes". I smiled. " I believe this ship's layout is about the same".

I walked down the Grand Staircase one level down to the Upper Deck. Eventually, I found my inside room.

research help: ' A Crown of Stars' by Shana Abe

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: I Peter 2

 God Reflections: I Peter 2 by ric gustafson

Some people want to be wealthy, powerful and famous. And for some people, possessions can be very valuable. Some have possessions that are priceless. To God, possessions are worthless. To God, we are priceless possessions. According to I Peter 2, we are God's own possession. 

For us, Jesus paid a high price. We were bought with a price. That price was Jesus's own blood. And now we belong to Jesus. We should smile. We are Jesus's. We were bought with a price.

research help: ' encouragement for life' by Charles R Swindoll

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: Job 38

God Reflections: Job 38 by ric gustafson

According to Genesis 1, in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The first name God revealed himself to be is God. The other name is ' Elohim'. God is our mighty Creator God. God took nothing and made something. God made everything. Our Creator has a triune nature. 

Not only was God the Father creating everything so was God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. 

The earth was created to bring glory to our Creator our Elohim.

research help: ' Reflections on the names of God' by Ava Pennington

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Hope: hope in the storm

 Hope: hope in the storm by ric gustafson

Matthew 8 and Luke 8 talk about a storm in the life of Jesus's disciples. Have you ever faced a storm in your life?. For the disciples, a quiet boat ride became a brush with death. Jesus was very tired. Jesus had just healed many people. Jesus had just spoke near the shore of the Sea of Galilee. There was so many people crowding around Jesus, he had to climb inside a boat. By the time Jesus finished, it was evening. 

Jesus was exhausted. Needing rest, the boat set sail for the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. 

Jesus was tired. The disciples were tired. In the Sea of Galilee, a storm can appear in minutes. According to Mark 4, a great storm appeared. The boat started filling. There was fatigue, confusion and darkness. The perfect storm. Not only was there a storm, Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat.

Just like this sudden storm, storms can come in our life as well. The disciples woke up Jesus. Then Jesus did what he will do in our life. Jesus said ' Peace be still'. The wind ceased. There was calm. Jesus promises to do the same for the storms in our life. Jesus will take care of the storm. He will give us calm and peace. That is his promise to us. Praise Jesus.

research help: ' Hope' by Dr David Jeremiah

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Apostle's Creed: Eternal Life

 Apostle's Creed: Eternal Life by ric gustafson

When we talk about the Apostle's Creed, we talk about the church the body of Christ. The church is not a building. The body of Christ is a group of people called out. It is a community of faith. The body of Christ gives support, love and encouragement. The church is one not several. The Christian church is based on one foundation being Jesus Christ. The church is holy. 

The body of Christ is the communion of saints. The communion of saints is a fellowship of faith spanning the ages of time. Communion means fellowship. The church is there to support its members. Fellowship is sharing joys and sorrows. We are holy because of the One who has called them. We are holy because of our calling. 

We are also a community of sinners. Because of the cross, Jesus forgave and took our sins. For a personal relationship to be restored, there must be forgiveness. 

The Apostle's Creed ends with Eternal Life. With hope, we know we will spend eternity with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Eternal Life means we will live with God outside the confines of space and time.

We look forward to that day when we can go home our true home.

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit loves us more than anything else.

The End

research help: ' I Believe' by Alister McGrath

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Apostle's Creed: God the Holy Spirit

 Apostle's Creed: God the Holy Spirit by ric gustafson

The Apostle's Creed explains that Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Acts 1 says Jesus ascended forty days after his resurrection. Because of his resurrection, Jesus was liberated from the bonds of death. Jesus is now close to the presence, power and majesty of his heavenly Father. Jesus ascended and now his disciples have work to do. Jesus commissions them to carry on his work on this earth. Matthew 28 says therefore go and make disciples of all nations. Jesus's disciples preached, healed and they proclaimed the good news. 

Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead. And now the Apostle's Creed talks about the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings life. Because of the Holy Spirit, we are alive not dead. The Holy Spirit brings power. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. The Holy Spirit is a pledge of our salvation. The Holy Spirit is our comforter. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit are one.

research help: ' I Believe' by Alister McGrath

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric