God's Leading - by Ben Barnes

Over spring break, I took my little family on a short vacation to Tennessee.  We rented a cabin in the mountains and spent a few days just relaxing and seeing the sites in a town we were unfamiliar with.  We had a great time and we were able to unwind and unplug (something I often forget to do). 

We followed my phone's GPS all the way to our destination, which took us on some questionable roads, deep into forests, and to the edges of some cliffs I'd rather not drive by again.  I trusted the GPS to get us to the cabin.  I did question it, however.  I questioned it hard. 

Sometimes in life, we follow God's leading in our lives and things don't exactly happen as we plan.  The roads get narrow.  Our surroundings get uncomfortable.  And we question God.  We question His leading.  But when God leads us, He goes with us.  And Scripture is clear that we can do all things through the strength of Christ. 

So when God's leading you into territory you're unfamiliar/uncomfortable with, take heart.  And remember Proverbs 3 when it says, "In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your path."

Made Alive with Christ - by Susan Jensen

¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

If you’ve ever read through Ephesians, you’ve seen this verse. I’ve seen it many times throughout my life; I’ve probably even heard several sermons that referenced it (some even here at Redeemer UMC). One day a few weeks ago I came across this verse in a daily devotion in the NRSV (Newly Revised Standard Version) and the wording literally stopped me in my tracks.

¹⁰ For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

What a enlightening perspective. I’ve read that verse often before with the concept that God has prepared things for us to do if we would only pay attention and be willing to do them. But this time the interpretation of the words “to be our way of life” spoke straight to my heart in a refreshing way. Of course that is God’s wish for us… that His will would become our way of life. Not just a task we choose to cooperate with on occasion, but an everyday, every step “way of life”.

Where can you find this verse for yourself? It’s right where it should be in Ephesians Chapter 2 under the heading “Made Alive with Christ”. It is through responding to God’s will, and the example of Jesus that our ordinary, run-of-the-mill lives can be made alive with purpose.

All-Powerful Father - by Debby Kloosterman

Many people know that I co-facilitate a women’s group at the Clinton County Jail.  The focus of the group is domestic and sexual violence but our topics include many sessions on making better life choices.  As a part of our group we seek to define violence and how pervasive it is in our western culture.  Our media exposure and even our sports reporting is filled with battle language.  It is not enough to merely “win” a game; we need to “annihilate” our competitor.  We need to “beat ’em, whip ‘em or kick their butt”!

The language of the Bible is equally telling.  It speaks of God’s character in superlatives; that is God’s character as being the finest quality or of the highest degree. He is an extravagant God, indulgent in creating good things for those who are His children.  He doesn’t just sit back and throw us an occasional bone of His love.  He lavishes us with His love!  When I think of the word “lavish”, the word picture that I get is of an active volcano with molten lava pouring out covering everything in its path.

As you continue to read through your Bible, I challenge you to note further examples of our amazing, all-powerful Father and His “extreme” qualities.

1 John 3:1 New International Version (NIV)

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Spring Is Here - by Ron Bekkering

Here at Redeemer United Methodist Church in DeWitt; we’ve celebrated our risen Savior!

Not only that; the Boys of Summer have been filling baseball fields north of Florida and Arizona! Yeah Opening Day tomorrow!!! Go Tigers!!!

The grass is starting to change color! The buds on the trees are coming out! We see peeks of annuals starting to creep out of their winter slumber.

We see floods of people getting ready for that great adventure we call Spring Break. As a matter of fact many of you could be reading this from your vacation location.

The risen Savior is in a more stunning place and has provided us with a beautiful promise.

The baseball fields look so crisp and clean when we come through the tunnel.

Pretty soon, we’ll be hearing the roaring of the lawnmowers keeping the grass in our lawns trimmed and in top notch shape.

The smells of the first flowers of spring always make me smile, and sneeze.

Lastly, many of you will be leaving DeWitt and heading on trips around the nation and world to see the beauty that waits in warmer destinations.

This left me pondering the beauty we each experience. From Jesus we see, the beauty of a perfect Savior laying it all on the line so we could live forever with Him. From the baseball players, we get spectacular plays and graceful swings that spray the ball around the yard and over the fence. The beauty of the grass and flowers and the changing of seasons we experience here in Michigan are just more ways God shares His beauty with us!

Embrace it! As you look outside at the sun, feel the warmth, and see the growth…swing for the fence and thank God for all that He gives!!!

God Rocks and We Roll,

Ron