You’re on a need-to-know basis.
God is Life

Very soon in life one discovers that making choices is not a Teddy Bears’ Picnic. As the song goes, “Watch them, catch them, unawares ...” “...gad about ... play and shout ...they never have any cares.” The song never tells you about the traps, but they’re always there. We have all stepped in one from time to time.

Teddy Bears don’t always see that the glass isn’t full and that the cookies are in the dirt, and they don’t see the trap at all, but God wants us to side step those traps and head straight for His table. He invites us to pull up a chair and enjoy what is always good.

So if it is “...six o’clock” for you and you are one of those “... tired little Teddy Bears,” then it is time to come out of the woods, and receive Jesus who came to die for all us bears. By confessing one’s sins, turning from them, and asking Jesus to be Savior and Lord, we will have His ever present help in life and for all eternity. As He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

God knows what we’re made of, and He wants us to choose wisely so we don’t get our stuffing torn out. Choose Life! Choose Jesus!!!

All us Teddys need-to-know this.

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God is Love

Good Friday is all about this love, and the empty tomb confirms it.

As scripture teaches us, God demonstrated His love for us while we were still sinners when Christ died for us all. Without that, we would be dead in our sins forever.

The moment I came to realize that, those wonders took hold of me. When I ponder His great love, my mind is stretched beyond its limit.

The words in the hymn, “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” come close to describing what I feel. I relate to, “mine eyes at times can see, The very dying form of One, Who suffered there for me.”

The quick gesture drawing above is more than just a simple scribble or vague image of the Crucifixion. It is a moment in time. This moment is when Christ paid the price, but it could also speak of the moment I first believed.

What the drawing doesn’t depict is the dying thief next to Jesus when he discovers who Jesus is and how much Jesus loves him. At this moment the criminal’s heart must have been smitten.

We all, in a way, are like the thief on the cross when we have our moment of knowing Jesus.

Have you had your moment?

If you haven’t, you’re on a need-to-know basis that your moment can happen when you confess your sins, repent, and trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord.

Isn’t it good to know what we need-to-know, and who we need-to-know, in order to fully receive the Love of God?

If you have had this “moment,” please share it with others. They’re on a need-to-know basis too.

The wonders of
His glorious love
and my unworthiness.

You’re on a need-to-know basis.
God is Encouraging

Is there something slowing you down from running life’s race to its fullest? We often drag around the burdensome beast of sin. We may even carry guilt on our back, like a thought that God couldn’t forgive that little monkey of a transgression. How about those nasty rats that tell us that God doesn’t want us to win? They all may even seem cute and harmless, but they are animals; on the inside they are full of no good fluff.

God doesn’t want us to run like that. The Bible is full of God’s promises that encourage us in the race of life. He wants us to run free! Beginning with the freedom that comes from trusting in Jesus as one’s Lord and Savior, relying on God at every curve, confessing any sin critter we pick up along the way, dropping that baggage, and living the life God calls us to live in Christ Jesus.

Isn’t it good to know how we can run the race and finish strong. God can knock the stuffing out of any sin!

You’re on a need-to-know basis.
God is Glorygood

Here’s a newly coined word, “Glorygood.” This is a two word combination of some characteristics of God. God orchestrates things for His glory and the good of those who love Him and are called.

In a nutshell you can hear God’s call in John 3:16 of the Bible, offering salvation to everyone who trusts in His Son, Jesus. This is obviously for our good, but it doesn’t eliminate the bees (trials) in life that come our way.

How do the bees (trials) do us any good? They can drive us back to God for refuge and healing when we go astray, we taste the nectar of God’s sufficiency in times of suffering, and thus, we can comfort others being stung because we understand their pain, and finally our trust in the Lord, who is Glorygood, is strongly honeycombed in our lives. This is all good “bees”iness.

What one needs-to-know is that the bees (trails) of life will come at everyone, but if we trust in Jesus, H e will provide the way through the trials. So now you know why we can say, “God is Glorygood!” You can “bee” sure it.

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God is Unrelenting, like a boy after his lost puppy.

Unrelenting is the passion God has for us. He continues to love us, search for us, find us and then, all of heaven gives a big, “OH YEAH!!!!” when we are found.

Just like a puppy, we don’t think we’re lost. We are just exploring all the sights and smells on this good earth. Aren’t we made for that? Yes, but not without our invisible fence. This fence is really the Holy Spirit of God which is activated when we trust in Jesus as our Savior and Lord. It comes free of charge and without an installation fee or that suspicious little notice of “Some Assembly Required.”

When we come to Jesus, confess and turn from our sins, we can go and explore anywhere we want, because He is faithful, by His Spirit, to always be with us. He will guide us and protect us from ever being lost again, and it is not with a shock collar. It comes through loving God, searching His Word (the Bible), finding the Truth (Jesus), and rejoicing in Him forever.

Unlike a boy who might lose his dog, God will not allow you to be lost to this world’s bad sights and smells. Isn’t it good to know what we need-to-know about being a good puppy. Isn’t it time for your walk... with the Lord?

You’re on a need-to-know basis.
God is Eternal and snow is not.

Mr. Snowman’s not going to last no matter how much you tell him to stand up straight, avoid the sun, encourage him, or advise old Frosty to stay cool. You know he’s going to melt sometime. We are like Mr. Snowman in the fact that we won’t be around forever either. Hopefully this won’t happen in 2013, but it will happen someday. However, we do have the ability to determine how that change will take place, which in turn effects how we will live for today or in the upcoming new year.

Apostle Paul, as he neared his final days, said he had “fought the good fight” meaning he lived a disciplined life in spite of all he encountered,  “finished the race” enduring to the end following the course set by the Lord, and “kept the faith” by meeting life’s troubles in God’s truth. This was because Paul received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord which compelled him to live for God’s glory and His promised “Crown of Righteousness” when he would finally meet the Lord face to face.

Jesus offers the same life to all of us who receive Him as Savior and Lord, followed by a "Crown" and not just a frozen temporary existence ending as a stovepipe hat floating in a puddle. Isn’t it good to know what we need-to-know and need-to-do to have a truly Happy New Year?

You’re on a need-to-know basis.
God is Here

This was foretold many years before His birth as recorded in the Book of Isaiah 7:14 NIV, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel, (meaning, “God is with us”).

On the very night of His birth an angel proclaimed to shepherds, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (for the complete story -Luke 2:10-20) ...“When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”

So, I too am spreading the word, and one other thing... He is still with us, and in us, when we receive Him in our hearts as the Messiah, the Lord. I just thought you needed-to-know that if you didn’t already. Please, go out tell this amazing story to others, because they need-to-know, in order for them to also have a Merry Christmas.