Chosen, Adopted, and a Cause

This weekend there are several MS150 riders who have chosen to ride from Houston to Austin for me.  It is the first time to participate for a few people while others have ridden for years.  Some are long time friends, others I have recently met, and some ride for me because a relative or friend told them about me.  It is humbling to know that these people have “adopted” me and are willing to train, raise funds, ride, and endure soreness and exhaustion in hopes of finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.

This week our family celebrated the anniversaries of two adoptions.  Friday we remembered and were grateful that a judge in Taiwan chose to make legal, on her  adoption decree day, what we had already experienced in our hearts; Mary was now the daughter of Abby and Scott and would be a part of our family.  We enjoyed sharing and celebrating Mary’s “Family Forever Day” with her.

Our grandson David’s father died before he was born.  After Chad and Lori married, Chad chose to adopt David as his own son.  Because Dave was a fine man, David continues to carry his father’s name, but is legally adopted by Chad.  Wednesday was the anniversary of Dave’s home going to Heaven.   This week we also remembered and gave thanks that two years ago, on the same date, David made his decision to become a follower of Christ, and be adopted into God’s family.  As he explains, he now has three daddies:  Daddy Dave in Heaven, Daddy, and God.

Easter reminded me, once again, that God also gives each one of us the opportunity to be adopted into His family, for now and eternity.  He longs to be our Father, giving us the privilege of being joint heirs with Jesus.  Jesus paid the price for our adoption in full.  

Whether it’s willingly riding 150 miles for a cause, adopting, or being adopted, love requires choices, action, and sacrifice.  

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry “Abba, Father.”

Romans 8:15

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Galatians 4:4-7

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Ephesians 1:4-6

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Peter 2:9

Amazing Love

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Jesus died on Friday.

Death died on Sunday.

Randall O’Brien

GOD CAN BRING

PEACE TO YOUR PAST

PURPOSE TO YOUR PRESENT

AND HOPE TO YOUR FUTURE.

Candid Christian

The greatest thing ever found on Easter

wasn’t a basket or some eggs.

It was an empty tomb!

He is risen!

Easter is not about the bunny.  It’s about the LAMB.

Christ didn’t stay dead

and he won’t stay gone.

When Jesus Cried Out “It is Finished”…

         righteousness was perfected,

         divine justice was satisfied,

         blood was shed,

         redemption was paid,

         sins were forgiven,

         reconciliation was achieved,

         death was conquered and

         salvation was secured.

                    Child_of_God

Living he loved me.

Dying he saved me.

Rising he redeemed me.

“I hate the term, ‘Good Friday’”

“Why?”

“My Lord was hanged on a tree that day.”

“If you were going to be hanged on that day, and he volunteered to take your place, how would you feel?”

“Good.”

“Have a nice day.”

B.C. Comic ~ Johnny Hart

 

Earth’s saddest day and happiest day …

were just three days apart.

 “Jesus forgave a thief dangling on a cross, knowing full well the thief had converted out of plain fear.  That thief would never study the Bible, never attend synagogue or church, and never make amends to those he had wronged.  He simply said, ‘Jesus remember me,’ and Jesus promised, ‘Today you will be with me in Paradise.’  It was another shocking reminder that grace does not depend on what we have done for God but rather what God has done for us.”

~ Philip Yancey

For great is your love, higher than the heavens;

     your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Psalm 108:4

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

1 John 3:1

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 John 5:13

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

1 Peter 2:24

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:4-10

With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD;

     In the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.

Psalm 109:30

With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD;

     in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.

Hebrews 13:8

Unplugged, Sacrifices, and Extra Effort

The Texas Tech men’s basketball team finished #2 in the nation in the NCAA tournament!  It was the first Tech team to make it past the Sweet 16, to the Elite 8, Final 4 and then to play for the National Championship.  And the games came with a price.  The players unplugged from even good things, sacrificed, and exerted extra effort to pursue their goals.

Texas Tech Coach Chris Beard is not a big cell phone fan when it comes to giving 100% attention and focus to basketball.  The phones are banned at team meetings and meals.  At a two-day retreat, the phones were collected so the players could spend time getting to know each other in ways more than just basketball.  They sang karaoke, asked specific questions to learn more about each other, and began the process of becoming family, more than just teammates.

By February 9, the Tech team had lost 3 straight road games.  Senior captain, Norense Odiase suggested that his teammates bag up their phones before bed so they could “Get locked in with no distractions.”  Some protested more than others, but the extra rest and win established a routine.  Now the coaches collect the cell phones the night before games so the players can rest and focus on the game.  Tariq Owens’ stated, “Just to be able to get away from it, live in the moment, feels great.  I know this for a fact, not a lot of teams would be happy about it.  This is the kind of culture we have.  We’re locked into more important things than cell phones.”  Even though he has been given grief for the cell phone ban idea, Odiase reminds all of us, “Your phone will always be there, your friends will always be there, notifications, all that stuff, will always be there in the morning.  Just get some rest.”

Coach Chris Beard also has some mantras to remind his players of the importance of staying focused and prepared for the game.

4:1

It’s 4 parts mental to one part physical.

The secret is in the dirt

It’s the extra training, exercising in the weight room, working out with the team or alone in an empty gym that makes a difference.

Burn the boats

Stay committed and don’t give up.

Don’t lose your chip

This was a saying that was brought to the forefront several times during the season.  Senior Matt Mooney explained, “We have a lot of guys who aren’t five-star guys, a coaching staff and Coach Beard who came from a mid-major and started out coaching random teams, and working his way up.  A lot of our guys are the same way.  We just try to embrace that, you know, we weren’t the highest recruited guys but that doesn’t mean we can’t compete with the best in the country.”  Even though the Tech team was predicted to finish in seventh place in the Big 12, the mantra reminded the players to not lose the mentality that helped them win and make it to the Finals.

When the Texas Tech basketball players and coaches arrived back in Lubbock from the Championship Finals, Red Raider fans packed United Supermarkets Arena for a welcome home celebration.  After the rally, as cameramen were loading up their equipmnent and the fans, coaches, and players were leaving the arena, freshman guard Kyler Edwards was spotted retrieving two basketballs from the locker room and heading back to the court to shoot baskets.  Next year there is still one additional net that the Tech players want to be able to cut down.

And may we, too, be willing to unplug, sacrifice, and exert the extra effort to accomplish and finish the goals and race set out for each of us.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Hebrews 10:36

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:3-4

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2ebrews 12: