++ "Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." ~ Jim Ryun

++ "The Gospel has to be the norm." ~ Hans Kung

++ "What we see depends mainly on what we look for." ~ John Lubbock

++ "If you have been raised with Christ, seek things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." ~ Colossians 3:1

++ "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all." ~ Titus 2:11

++ "Keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." ~ Jude :21

It is interesting that Pentecost Sunday falls on Mother's Day this year. I find that the parallels intriguing between the two. Pentecost celebrates the descending of the Holy Spirit from heaven bringing new life, power, and blessing in Christ. Mother's bring life and offer children blessing, empowering them to fulfill their hopes and dreams along with teaching the way of living a Godly life. Mother's have that knack to help their children toward perfection. No matter what, we know that we are loved and cared for, both by our mothers and by the love of God she embodies. But into the mix of our daily living comes all manner of temptation -- temptation that seduces us from listening to God, or to our parents. We have this human tendency to get puffed up with pride and righteous indignation thinking we can do it all on our own. No help needed from anyone. Yet, we who have been raised with Christ, as the Apostle Paul writes to the Colossians, we know a more perfect way. We know the way of God's promises. One thing that I have discovered is that I can't do it by myself, I need the help of our Heavenly Father. When I am in the middle of some conflict, when temptation seems too hard to resist, I remember to call upon my Lord who promises never to abandon or forsake us. Isn't that a great promise? Especially in light of how often we renege on our promises to Him. More amazingly God responds to us in the past tense. "Your sins have been forgiven," we hear Jesus saying many times. The key to these promises is being obedient to God; walking in His paths of righteousness, following the light of Christ. To please our mothers, to please God, we must stand fast to where God has called us, which is simply to stand fast on His firm foundation. Standing fast on His foundation of faith we discover that we can love others as He has loved us. In obedience God takes away our fears replacing them with confidence and hope. But to keep God's confidence we need to be in worship where we hear God's Word proclaimed. The Pastor asked this question in worship this Sunday: "What has God done for you?" Let me give you the answer to that question: God gives each of His children all of His love. Each of us is given His special love. Now isn't that something worth passing on? Go and pass it on and God will be smiling. Oh -- and next week give your pastor a hug and say thanks for teaching us the ways that lead to eternal life.

Keep smiling.

Dr. Paul