God Got It Right

Easter Sunday is coming.  Thousands of sermons will be spoken, ten thousands of songs will be sung, throngs will attend church or mass and untold millions of Easter eggs will be hidden and rediscovered. 

Through it all, remember that God got it right.

The tomb was empty.  

John 20

Hope remains.  

I Peter 1:3

Our faith rests in a God who got it right. 

I Peter 1:21

His love has always been there.  He then put his plan into play.  He needed a go-between, a fall guy. 

The fall guy wasn't guilty, but He did his part anyway.  He walked the full course, He played His part, and He became the sacrifice, because that is what His father asked of Him. 

He trusted God to get it right.

On Sunday we celebrate the God of mercy and grace.

On Sunday we celebrate the Christ of the empty tomb.

          Hope is restored.

     Reconciliation has come.

Eternity is secured for those who believe.

God got it right!

P Michael Biggs

www.up-words.net

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

A Thanksgiving Thanks

I love Thanksgiving.  I love it for the opportunity it affords to be an on-purpose thanks-giver, and I love it for the moments when we gather with family.  The food is pretty amazing too.

So in the spirit of gratitude, may we all remember to pause occasionally and remember those who serve us, and give them a word of thanks and appreciation.

-To the postal workers and special delivery men and women

-To our medical professionals

-To retail sales clerks

-To grocery clerks who are harried, hassled and hurried

-To ministers and staff who serve faithfully each week

-To our children who keep us young at heart

-To spouses, mothers, grandmothers and daughters who work endless hours preparing all the delicious food we enjoy

And to God on high, who sees us, loves us, likes us, and watches out for us. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving causes me to lift up my eyes and reflect on the life I've been given.  I have much joy, much love, and much abundance.  Sometimes, my points of gratitude get lost in the drama of life, and I lose sight of the important things and people who matter the most. 

Join me in reflecting on those who deserve words of gratitude and thankfulness. 

-I chose to honor God for amazing grace, abundant mercy and furious love.  I am thankful.

-I chose to romance my wife, and remember the fun and funny experiences we've shared this year.  What an abundant measure of love we share.  I am thankful.

-I chose to remember my step-children, their spouses and eight grand-kids and the joy they each add to my life.  I am thankful.

-I chose to reflect on my siblings-each one unique, yet the connection we share is a staple in my life.  I am thankful.

-I chose to remember friends with whom I connect on a regular basis, and others I see less frequently.  I take a small piece of you with me-your voice, your personality, and the memories we've created during our together days.  I am thankful.

When I offer the blessing on Thanksgiving Day you will be on my mind, in my heart and included in all that I honor on that great day.

Happy Thanksgiving 2012!

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

Never Out of Mercy

  

I doubt many of us use the term “Mercy” on a daily basis.  It’s just not a popular word and perhaps is a bit misunderstood.

So, what is mercy and why should I care?

The synonyms for mercy are these: 

Compassion           Pity

Clemency               Forgiveness

Kindness                Sympathy

Understanding       Leniency

Benevolence

Strong words

                     Action words 

Someone on the giving end of mercy is reaching, stretching, offering some pretty amazing “stuff” to the receiver.

I could use a whole bucket of those attributes from time to time.  Could you?

There is a verse from the Bible, in an ancient book called Daniel that talks about mercy.  Daniel is talking to God and says this:

“We do not make requests of you

because we are righteous,

but because of your great mercy.”

(Daniel 9:18)

He knows a bit about God to be able to say something this profound, for he gives God the compliment of “your great mercy.”

We all need some of that great mercy from time to time.

We are reminded of another example of the mercies of God found in the Biblical book of Lamentations.  It says this …

“…because of the Lord’s mercy

and loving-kindness

we are not consumed,

because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning.

Great and abundant

is your stability and faithfulness.”

(Lamentations 3:22-23)

In other words, God cannot run out of mercy.  He never gets tired of helping you. 

Every morning …

EVERY MORNING, when you awaken, God has a fresh batch of mercy waiting just for you. 

Amazing!

And the invitation comes like this …

“… Come boldly

to the throne of grace (God) that we may

obtain mercy and find grace to help

in our time of need.

(Hebrews 4:16.)

That is Amazing Grace and Amazing Mercy all wrapped into one package.

P Michael Biggs

Offering Hope

Encouragement Inspiration

One Word at a Time

I Saw Thanksgiving Today

It’s the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  Carolyn and I made a trip to this great Whole Foods Store in the Roosevelt district of Seattle. 

There were throngs, gobs and myriads of people in there already at 9:45 A.M. 

Amazing. 

Yet, in the traffic jam of grocery carts and shoppers, I saw, rather sensed Thanksgiving.  People were hurrying and scurrying to find just the right ingredients for some yet-to-be-baked dish, all with the thought of giving to family, loved ones, friends, in the spirit of thankfulness. 

I saw it in the smiles rather than the curses of hundreds of shoppers jammed into narrow aisles and being forced to allow others to take their time and stand a bit too long in front of that item they themselves were searching for. 

I narrowly avoided three cart crashes, and each time was greeted with a smile, a “sorry” and a “Have a great Thanksgiving.”

Not one – not one discouraging word was uttered. 

Not one – not one frown crept across the faces of any of the shoppers today. 

Instead I saw smiles, grins as big as the sun, Thanksgiving greetings, happy kids, kind and gentle parents. 

That, my friend is Thanksgiving. 

I am thankful –

     Thankful for peace

          Thankful for love from above

               Thankful for love here on earth

          Thankful for good things that have come our way

                  this year in abundance

     Thankful for guidance through the trials this year

Happy Thanksgiving!

Michael and Carolyn Biggs

I AM THANKFUL

I am thankful for the unconditional love of my wife.
I am thankful for my step children.
I am thankful for eight grandchildren.
I am thankful for my brothers and sisters and extended family.
I am thankful for the health I enjoy.
I am thankful for the employment which my hands find to fill my days.
I am thankful for agencies that care for the needy.
I am thankful for volunteers who give unselfishly in volunteering their time to these agencies.
I am thankful for generous benefactors who give so that agencies can do their work.
I am thankful for an abundance of friends around this country.
I am thankful for food and clothing.
I am thankful for wisdom to make healthy choices.
I am thankful for eyes to see the beauty of our land.
I am thankful for ears to hear the words “I love you.”
I am thankful for a tongue to speak the words “I love you.”
I am thankful for the gift of music that sooths my soul.
I am thankful for the Love of God, The Supreme being in my life.
I am thankful for a church fellowship from which I gain strength and support.
I am thankful for a roof over my head.
I am thankful for daily needs that are being met.
I am thankful for mentors who have contributed to my life.
I am thankful for books that have taken me places I could not have otherwise visited.
I am thankful for computers, email and cell phones that keep us in touch instantly.
I am thankful for a government that still believes in individual rights of a human being.
I am thankful for the protection of our military on a national and international level.
I am thankful for local and state law enforcement agencies. You put it on the line daily for us.
I am thankful for teachers who have taught me skills.
I am thankful for the human touch that is soothing, comforting and reassuring.
I am thankful for sunshine and rain, snow and wind, mountains and valleys.
I am thankful for fishes and animals in a vast variety that staggers the imagination.
I am thankful for medical technology and those skillful in these arts.
I am thankful for medical professionals and researchers.
I am thankful for those in the service industries who give quality with a smile.
I am thankful for professional sales people who perform their jobs with style and grace.
I am thankful for public transportation professionals who safely transport us daily.
I am thankful for newscasters who intelligently and clearly give us good information.
I am thankful for honest statesmen and women who serve with dignity and a conscious.
I am thankful for more blessings than I can recall.
I am thankful for a chance to say, “Thank you. I give thanks, I appreciate, I adore, I esteem, I recognize, I honor, I love.”

Happy Thanksgiving One and All!