Bear Witness

that all may believe. John 1:7

Come on in and PAWS awhile

New Beginnings

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Gen 1:1

Another new year is upon us. Did you make new year’s resolutions? Each year I make a list a things I will work hard to improve on, and each year I find I am unable to complete the list and I add the same resolution to the list the following year. I say to myself “this will be done” followed later by “uh-oh, I didn’t get it done”. I once read that a procrastinator doesn’t start a job and a perfectionist doesn’t finish it. Does that make me a procrastinating perfectionist?

I am thankful that God is not a procrastinator and that He is perfect. He literally spoke the world into existenace. (see Genesis 1) and He completes what He starts (see Revelation 22:12-13).

I am thankful too that God is a God of second chances. No matter how many times I mess up, He is there to lift me up, brush off the dust and push me forward. Look at the story about the woman at the well, (John 4:1-42). Jesus, a jew, spoke to a samaritan woman; this was never done! He told her all she had done and she was amazed he knew so much about her. She realized he must be the messiah they had heard of and went to tell the others. Her life was changed by meeting him and the lives of many others also changed because she told them of him and took many to see him. Because of Christ she had a second chance at life eternal.

When I take in previously loved bears I clean them, brush them, dress and prepare them for their second life: to pass along into the hands of someone needing love and encouragement. You can apply this to your life as well by accepting Christ as your savior, clean and brush up your life and pass along that love to others by bearing witness of the sacrifical love, comfort and encouragement of Jesus Christ.

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January 2006

The Pawsome Magnificance of God

Psalms 19: 1 - 14 From “The Message”

 God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.  Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.  Their words aren't heard, their voices aren't recorded,  But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. God makes a huge dome for the sun - a superdome!  The morning sun's a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape.  That's how God's Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.

 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.  The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes.  God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.  God's Word is better than a diamond, better than a diamond set between emeralds. You'll like it better than strawberries in spring, better than red, ripe strawberries.  There's more: God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure.  Otherwise how will we find our way? Or know when we play the fool?  Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

BEARNABAS BEAR update: 20 Bearnabas Bears were sent to the City Union Mission in Kansas City to offer comfort to families in stress during the holiday season.