A Larry Clegg

I used to love playing Hide-and-Seek. And I was really good at hiding.   For one thing, I was a SMALL kid. For another, I have very loose joints, which makes me quite flexible, so I could hide in spaces so small you would think there’s no way I could hide in there. My favorite thing to do when the searcher would give up was to sneak out of my hiding place and move away from it so nobody would see where it was and I could use it later. Only then would I call out, “Here I am!” To give myself away.   I want to take a look at a few people in the Bible who said, “Here I am.”   Genesis 21 tells us the story of Abraham and his son Isaac. God had promised Abraham a son, and it wasn’t until Abraham was 100 years old that God delivered on that promise. Then God told Abraham to take his son – his ONLY son – up on a mountain and offer his son as a sacrifice offering to God. Abraham must have been devastated, but he followed what God was telling him to do. When they ...

John built his story of Jesus around seven "signs" and seven "I am" statements. The 7 Signs in the Gospel of John   John took a symbolic approach to Jesus' miracles. He used the term "signs" to emphasize that these acts point to something beyond the physical miracles themselves.  As John stated in 20:30–31, "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples... but these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God." These seven signs serve as invitations to choose between faith and opposition. Here is a quick run-through of the seven signs : 1. Water Turned to Wine (John 2:1–11) At a wedding in Cana, Jesus turns water into wine. This first sign reveals Jesus' power over creation. It introduces the themes of abundance and grace. It also sets the tone for John's Gospel: Jesus doesn't just meet needs; he exceeds them. Side note: This reminds me of the Plague of Blood in E...

It is far too easy to make the journey from "I have failed!" to "I am a failure". And the journey back is far too long and difficult! "I have failed" is an event. Single events can happen too easily, and they can be caused by a poor decision, a character flaw, or a momentary weakness. Other times, a failing is outside our own control. A "poor decision" would usually be the result of a lack of information. Sometimes we make these poor decisions because we didn't fully think through the situation. Sometimes it's because information wasn't available. Sometimes it's because we just got into a rush and acted based on what we knew at the moment, instead of waiting to have better information. I have lumped a few things under "character flaw", but this is basically a case where we acted consistent with our normal tendencies. I know someone who will often speak without thinking, and then blame it on, "I don't have a filt...

I feel despair and emptiness But I can't understand why. I know you are near.   I just want to hear your voice. I want to see you and to touch you.   I have been walking down this road For such a long time, But it seems like I am not getting Any closer to you.   Sing praises! 'I stand, I stand in awe of you. I stand, I stand in awe of you. Holy God, to you all praise is due. I stand in awe of you.'   I feel so tired of walking. My legs hurt. Am I limping? Will I ever get to the end of the road?   "STOP! BE STILL. Look back to where you have been. Don't you see that I was near you then? Can't you see where I have gently pushed you In the direction I wanted you to go? Would I suddenly leave you now?"   "And if I was with you then, Don't you KNOW I will stay with you? Do you really need to hear my voice And see my face and touch me To know that I am near? Look down. Footprints. O...

  Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem to register for government taxation, because he was a descendant of King David. Mary was pregnant. Angels had visited Mary and Joseph on separate occasions, and both had been told to name the baby Yeshua (the English version is Jesus). Yeshua, in Hebrew a shorter version of Yehoshua (Joshua), means “Yahweh saves”. While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to give birth. She wrapped the baby snugly in cloths and laid Him in a manger, a feeding trough. When their day began, they never expected to find their Savior in a feeding trough.   In the same area, shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks. Suddenly, countless angels appeared to them and told them that a Savior, who was Messiah (Christ) the Lord, had been born in Bethlehem. They were told to go and see the baby. They were told that they would find him wrapped snugly in cloths and lying in a manger. When their day began, they never expected to find their Lor...

Hope Psalm 33:22 - May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:18 - But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, Psalm 147:11 - the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. Salvation Psalm 6:4 - Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. Exodus 15:13 - "In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. Psalm 13:5 - But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  Psalm 31:16 - Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love. Psalm 44:26 - Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love. Psalm 85:7 - Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation. Psalm 119:41 - May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise; Psalm 130:7 - O Israel, pu...

 Have you ever looked at the picture of the watch in a Rolex ad? No? Here you go: It will always be set to 10:10:30. They do this intentionally. They say this draws your attention between the hands, focusing on the Rolex Crown logo. Further, if you send your Rolex watch in for service, when Rolex returns it, the watch will be set at 10:10:30. Again, putting the focus on the Crown logo. In one of the last conversations that I had with my dad about faith matters, he said, "I wish more of our people felt comfortable raising their hands in worship." He was referring specifically to the Baptists in churches in his area. Psalm 63:4 - "So I will praise You as long as I live; at Your name, I will lift up my hands." Psalm 134:2 - "Lift up your hands in the holy place, and praise the Lord!" Psalm 141:2 - "May my prayer be set before You as incense, the raising of my hands as the evening offering." Lamentations 3:41 - "Let us lift up our hearts and our...