God does not need us, but He does want us.   Yesterday I wrote about the affect our sin has on God - it doesn't. Then today I read a devotional from Encouraging Words for Women .  Encouraging Words for Women     By Darlene Sala / Barbour Publishing The author notes that while God does not need us for anything or need anything from us, He wants a relationship with us. (See page 190-192, For His Own Sake) She discovered this when she read Isaiah 43:25:  “I, even I, am he who blots out    your transgressions, for my own sake ,    and remembers your sins no more."  What other reason would there be for God to blot out our transgressions if not for His own sake? Since He is God, Creator and Sustainer of the universes, "for His own sake" has to mean because He wanted to. He sent Jesus to die for our sins because He wanted to....Wanted to what? Forgive us? Wash us clean?  Why would our state of cleanliness or filth m...

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we were all Christians....everyone in the whole world?  At first the thought was calming and peaceful.... soothing. Then I thought of the fighting that goes on in church families, in Bible Study groups, in church organizations. I hate to say it but as wonderful as it would be if everyone were Christian, it would not eliminate harsh treatment, disrespectful attitudes, back-stabbing, and rumor-spreading.  There would be more forgiveness. There would be more love, service, assistance, caring. But we Christians still carry too much pride....pride that causes us to want things our own way at whatever the cost (because we don't take time to evaluate the true cost). But I still like the idea. Yes, other faiths would protest this notion as being hurtful and prideful, that it is arrogant to say ours is the only way to truly love and honor God and accept His offer of eternity in heaven. But we, Christians, aren't the ones who said it. Jesus did. So i...

Courtesy of Deanna Etienne.  Used by permission. Relationships should make us better than we would be on our own. I have analyzed this statement through the eyes of many relationships, those of couples, friends, co-workers, etc. I believe it stands up to scrutiny. When we start to date, when we start a job, when we meet new people or join a new group, we should expect to be changed by it. We each change over time. Some of those changes are a direct result of our relationships. They call it peer pressure.  We often relegate that concept to teens or preteens but we all change to meet the expectations of those around us. Many times we are completely unaware of the changes we're making. If I am with people who use a lot of profanity, I am likely to use it more often than before. If I am with people who carry cell phones with them all the time, I am apt to carry a cell phone too. If I am with people who praise God openly, I am likely to praise God also. Peer pres...