Go Deeper
The verb “be”
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There are days that bring back memories of people that have an enormous impact on our lives. My dad would be celebrating his 88th birthday on the 27th of this month. He and my mom were wonderful parents who shared the love of Jesus with me and my siblings. It was a blessing to grow up with godly parents.
My dad was an English teacher. He loved grammar and was an excellent writer. When I had him as a teacher, we once had to memorize the parts of the irregular verb, to be. Everyone in my eighth grade class had to stand up and state the present, past and future tenses of this verb -- am, is, are, was, were, have been, am being, and will be -- as well as the subject/verb agreement. This was a disaster for some of my classmates!
Like with my dad’s eighth grade assignment, when we read Philippians 3:13-14, we think of the past, present and future...of our lives.
"Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus."
We must not be overwhelmed by the past, even though it has a way of overtaking us and drawing us into the despair of what should have been done or said. Our focus must purposefully be placed in Christ, who is our present and future. He has made us new! He alone is the source of our “being." Jesus loves us in spite of our past, takes our hand and leads us daily, and gives us hope for our future. This is what comes when we know Jesus intimately.
My dad will be celebrating a heavenly birthday. He finished the race and reached the goal promised in Christ Jesus. It is possible to live this life with heaven in sight. Along the way, you can impact others’ lives, just as Dad impacted so many lives by living his for Christ.
Here are some “I am” statements that can help remind you of pursuing the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus:
I am seeking God’s will and direction for my life.
I am spending time with Him daily reading His Word and praying.
I am worshipping with fellow believers.
I am serving Jesus in my daily life.
I am a new creation.
I have the fullness of the Godhead living in me.
I am walking by faith.
The verb “be”
—
There are days that bring back memories of people that have an enormous impact on our lives. My dad would be celebrating his 88th birthday on the 27th of this month. He and my mom were wonderful parents who shared the love of Jesus with me and my siblings. It was a blessing to grow up with godly parents.
My dad was an English teacher. He loved grammar and was an excellent writer. When I had him as a teacher, we once had to memorize the parts of the irregular verb, to be. Everyone in my eighth grade class had to stand up and state the present, past and future tenses of this verb -- am, is, are, was, were, have been, am being, and will be -- as well as the subject/verb agreement. This was a disaster for some of my classmates!
Like with my dad’s eighth grade assignment, when we read Philippians 3:13-14, we think of the past, present and future...of our lives.
"Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus."
We must not be overwhelmed by the past, even though it has a way of overtaking us and drawing us into the despair of what should have been done or said. Our focus must purposefully be placed in Christ, who is our present and future. He has made us new! He alone is the source of our “being." Jesus loves us in spite of our past, takes our hand and leads us daily, and gives us hope for our future. This is what comes when we know Jesus intimately.
My dad will be celebrating a heavenly birthday. He finished the race and reached the goal promised in Christ Jesus. It is possible to live this life with heaven in sight. Along the way, you can impact others’ lives, just as Dad impacted so many lives by living his for Christ.
Here are some “I am” statements that can help remind you of pursuing the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus:
I am seeking God’s will and direction for my life.
I am spending time with Him daily reading His Word and praying.
I am worshipping with fellow believers.
I am serving Jesus in my daily life.
I am a new creation.
I have the fullness of the Godhead living in me.
I am walking by faith.
Author: Barbara Barnhart, Preschool Coordinator
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