Saved by grace to serve

June 18, 2024

Ephesians 2: 8-10 says, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

One of the great truths of the Bible is we are saved by grace thought faith in Christ. This means we become Christians through God’s unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part. 

Out of love for God and out gratitude for this free gift from God, we should seek to help and serve others with kindness, love, and gentleness, and not just not live as we please.

While no action or work we do can help us obtain salvation, God’s intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service. We are not saved merely for our own benefit, but to serve Christ and build up the church.

God wants to save us. That is why Christ came and died on the cross for us. God wants us to accept this and go one and serve Him all the days of our lives.

God wants us to do the works He planned long ago as a result of our love for Him and salvation. We truly are saved by grace to serve.

My passions?

June 12, 2024

What are you passionate about?

This is an easy one to answer. The things I am passionate about are always not far from the surface and easy to see. I have many passions, but one stands above it all.

My faith in Jesus is my number one passion. Since I came to Jesus in July of 1989, my life has never been the same. He changed everything for the better. My heart is to walk with Him all the days of my life.

Walking closely with the Lord drives everything else I do in my life. He is the reason I get up early to pray and read my Bible. He is why I want to be the best husband and father I can be. He is why I am a Chaplain. He is why I have my PASSION websites to reach out with His love.

If it was not for Jesus I do not know where I would be. Jesus has given my life meaning, purpose, strength, hope and a future. He loved me and died on the cross for me. My response is to give my life back to Him each day and to take up my cross as it says in Matthew 16:24.

What am I passionate about? Jesus!

My favourite part of church

June 8, 2024

Recently I was asked what my favourite part of the church service is. It was part of a larger discussion about church.

I had to say I enjoy all parts of the church service – the singing, the sermon, the prayers and the fellowship. But my favourite has always been communion or the Lord’s Supper.

There is something about stopping and taking the bread that represents Christ’s body and the cup that represents His blood. It helps to remind me on what Jesus did for us in dying on the cross for us.

When I cannot go to church because of illness or some other reason it is what I miss the most. It is what I look forward to most when I can return.

So what is the high point of the church service for me? It would be communion or the Lord’s Supper.

Most of my time?

June 7, 2024

Who do you spend the most time with?

This is a tough one. Who do I spend most of my time with? It would be a close call.

I spend a lot of time with kids at school being a Chaplain. But when I am at home it is with my wonderful wife. We are pretty much inseparable when I am not working. We have been for 29 years.

So if I had to make a close call it would be my amazing wife. I am a blessed man.

Teach me Lord Jesus

June 4, 2024

I am reading a book at the moment that contained this prayer from St. Francis Xavier. I thought I would share it…

O my Lord Jesus! Teach me to be generous; teach me to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to toil and not to ask for rest, to labor, seeking no reward, save that of knowing that I do your will.

St. Francis Xavier (1507–1552)