Weekly e-News October 20, 2017

Hey, everyone!

And “Good morning!”,  brother and sister of Jesus!

“What!? Don’t you mean ‘brother and sister IN Christ’? What does ‘brother OF Jesus’ mean?!”

I’m not totally sure what it means but I know that Jesus Himself calls us that! And He’s “not ashamed” to do it!

It says right over there in Hebrews, chapter two, verse twelve that He isn’t “ashamed to call us brothers!” and sisters! And that chapter quotes a couple of Scriptures to prove it! 

And He calls you loads of other things that you might hesitate to call yourself! He calls you…

His very own sheep (John 10.27)…
His bride (John 3.29)…
His kids (John 13.33)…
His friends (John 15.15)…
His treasure (Matthew 13.44)…

Wow! He thinks WAAAAAAAAY more of me than I think of myself!!

He watches you during the day…and while you sleep…and His heart is bursting with love over what He sees! Even when you’re pretty bummed or down about yourself, He sees you in a whole other way! He sees what others don’t! Including you! 

Once, when someone very special was having a yucky day of doubt and discouragement…in fact, maybe his worst day up to then… Jesus said about him, “behind his back”, if you will…

“He’s more than a prophet! In fact, there’s never been anyone greater!” (Luke 7.28)

On your worst day, He says, “There’s nobody like that one!”

Wow! 

It’s amazing to ponder that He thinks more of me than I think of me! And He says things about me that I wouldn’t dream of saying about myself!

I was asked to write an official letter of recommendation for the parole hearing of one of my students at the prison. He’s a young man who has only known a life of hurt and hate, gangs and crime…until Jesus came in! Now his love is uncontainable and his joy is “inexpressable and full of glory!”

So I wrote it out. The inmates collect these and put them in a folder for their hearing. So I gave it to him. And I know he went to his cell and read these words…

“…Nick is a man of positive attitude, cheerful disposition and genuine faith. Nick is very serious about his own spiritual growth and development and all can see how sincere he is about seeking the will of God for his future. I truly believe God is working in Nick’s life. He is a good and eager student and is learning all the time. I know that his desire is to follow the path God has for him. He is becoming the man God wants him to be and the man his studies have shown him that he can be…”

And I bet he’s never had anyone say stuff like that before.

At the prison, he’s known as 37591.

But Jesus calls Nick,  “My brother, My son, and My friend!”

I read one time a reference letter a woman wrote for her friend’s daughter, named Liberty for an application to Pepperdine University. I kept it because…well…you’ll see! Check this…

“We met Liberty when she was born on leap-year day of the bicentennial year, 1976. She was born on a special day of a special year, and she is a spectacularly special addition to the universe…

As a child she was the most adorable, charming, bright-eyed beam of starlight that ever hit the earth…

If you are blessed to have Liberty on your campus, the light level will suddenly increase. Other students who are going through darker times will be helped by Liberty…
Liberty is creative, innovative, well-organized, hardworking, goal-oriented, socially adept, outgoing, sensitive, and aware. She’s the kind of person who will achieve her goals in life, the more challenging, the better….
She stands out as a flamingo among pelicans, a gazelle among porcupines, a human among amoebas…
I hope this commendation isn’t too glowing. That’s what happens when you’re around Liberty. You get a little stardust in your eyes. We love her very much. You will too.”

Wow! Wouldn’t it be amazing to have someone who thinks stuff like that about you?

In Heaven, you do!

CCC Admin