We consider the United States Constitution to be the foundational document of our democracy. The fact that it exists is a great example of unity, teamwork and agreement on a key belief at that time in history—willingness to sacrifice and fight for freedom. Thirteen separate states sent 39 delegates to create this historic document in September 1787 and upon completion, the voters in those different states ratified our constitution in 1789. That this was accomplished is an amazing feat.

All people found common ground as they worked together through countless debates, discussions and compromises. In the end, the result was something from which all citizens benefited—including the many generations that followed. Writing to the Philippians, the apostle Paul wanted to stress the importance of spiritual unity and working together for the cause of Christ.

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. (Philippians 2: 1-3)

As I think of the many ways we serve together here at CABC, we too experience that chance to come together for a greater purpose—thanking God for what He has done for each of us and honoring Him by allowing His will to be done through us. He has brought our many varied gifts together and through much prayer and the direction of the Holy Spirit, He will combine those gifts in ways that will benefit His kingdom. As we combine and share together the different passions, viewpoints, talents and perspectives our Body possesses, we can allow ourselves to be used for the purposes our Lord has ordained as most vital.

The writers, participants and creators of the United States Constitution experienced a time of coming together for a cause greater than themselves. In our time on this earth and at CABC during these days, we have the opportunity to share the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with those who need to know of his gift of everlasting life.

We recognize, at this Easter season, the incredible gift Jesus has given mankind through his love, sacrifice, suffering and resurrection. May we show our gratitude and honor Him by coming together, esteeming others better than ourselves, and laboring together for His kingdom work.

Dear Lord, help me to celebrate the gift of eternity with you by allowing you to direct my path. I thank you for my brothers and sisters here at CABC and I pray you will use us in ministry together—joyful ministry that will impact our local community and in the places where you will lead us. Amen.

I love this analogy!

You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere.

Why did you spill the coffee?

“Because someone bumped into me!!!”

Wrong answer.

You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup.

Had there been tea in the cup, you would have spilled tea.

Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out.

Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen), whatever is inside you will come out. It’s easy to fake it, until you get rattled.

So we have to ask ourselves… “what’s in my cup?”

When life gets tough, what spills over?

Joy, gratefulness, peace and humility?

Anger, bitterness, harsh words and reactions?

Life provides the cup, YOU choose how to fill it.

Today let’s work towards filling our cups with gratitude, forgiveness, joy, words of affirmation and kindness, gentleness and love for others.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

Then Peter’s heart, burning inside him, with the ‘sifting’ coinciding, ran to see what he could not yet understand. ‘Til Jesus broke bread with thanksgiving, they could not tell he was living. There the joy of every Gospel song began.

I will sing.

‘Twas later on, that very day, nearly seven miles away, two would share within the company of the Lord. He restored to them their vision. They saw who had been risen. And more glory came, remembering His Word.

Did not their hearts burn there inside them, when the Master walked beside them, whose Holy Face they could not recognize? Until He broke bread with thanksgiving, they could not see He was living. There the joy in that He opened up their eyes.

I will sing.

So now we also have today, where by grace we have been saved, through our faith unto the glory of the Lord. “Peace, be with you!” our commission. To tell all that He is risen. And more glory comes, remembering His Word.

Do not our hearts burn here inside us, while the Master walks beside us—as we wait to see His promises fulfilled? Until we break bread with thanksgiving, in the Kingdom of His living—where the life of every trusting heart is willed?

I will sing!

I thoroughly enjoy quotes. I have a special notebook dedicated to my favorites that I have heard or read through teachers and professors, friends and family, books and movies, songs and poems, scriptures and pastors, etc. & etc. There are two that have continued to come back to my mind over the years. Both are related to the same idea and yet are from two completely separate people, places and times.

The first is from a professor I had in college, Dr. Mary Ann Meiners. She would routinely start each class with a short devotional. One day she said, “When God takes our breath back, we will be accountable as to how we have lived with it.” (And yes this is an exact quote because I loved it instantly and of course wrote it down in my notes and later transferred to my quote journal.)

The second comes from Jeffrey Dahmer. “If a person doesn’t think that there is a God to be accountable to, then what’s the point of trying to modify your behavior to keep it within acceptable ranges…I have since come to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is truly God, and I believe that I, as well as everyone else, will be accountable to Him.” He stated this in a news interview, after having come to faith while in prison.

Both, in my mind, reflect this simple verse in scripture:

So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12)

Genesis 2:7 states that God “breathed into [man’s] nostrils the breath of life, and [he] became a living
being.” Yet one day, when we ”all stand before God’s judgment seat” (Romans 14:10), we will have to give that breath back to him. And we will have to be prepared to give an account and accept responsibility for what we’ve done with that breath.

I won’t start a theological debate as to where Jeffrey Dahmer—having committed some of the worst crimes in history, yet finally proclaiming his faith and acceptance of Jesus as his Lord and Savior—is currently spending eternity. But I often think about this question: If a person like Jeffrey Dahmer can acknowledge and fully expect to be held accountable for the actions he committed in his life, am I ready to give an
account of what I’ve done?

Are you?

Heavenly Father, you breathed your own breath into us and gave us life.
Now please, dear Lord, help us not to waste it.