Dec 28: Ride the Rollercoaster!

Ride the Rollercoaster!

We got to talking about rollercoasters at our family Christmas dinner and there are those that love 'em and those that hate 'em. 

I love them. I'm not such an aficionado that I've gone out of my way to ride new ones or made it my mission to ride every coaster in the world. But, I understand why some don't like them at all. One that sticks out as my favorite was the Texas Giant at 6 Flags. It was built to be an old school, wood frame coaster with the clackity clack climbing every hill. The Texas Giant was originally opened in 1990 as the world’s tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster, featuring a 137-foot first drop with speeds reaching up to 62 miles per hour. 

2025 was a rollercoaster of a year, so to speak. There were a few times where I wish the ride had been over. As 2025 smooths out and pulls into the "station," I'm grateful I didn't toss my cookies too many times and am now feeling the best I have in 2025. 

Time and God's good and perfect plan will tell what 2026 holds for us all. He desires that all be saved; that none perish but gives us choice.   

Psalm 103 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Let us not live in fear or anxiousness in 2026, but live in Christ's perfect love, which casts out fear 1 Jn 4:18
Phil 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the PEACE OF GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned[e] and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the GOD OF PEACE will be with you.

Ride hands in the air and screaming at the top of your lungs with me in 2026.

In His grace, mercy and love, may the God of Peace be with us all today,

Gary

Dec 9: Thankful and Grateful.

 Another month of "cancer free" It's an interesting head and heart space to be in because it's not like a surgery. It doesn't have that finality of healing. 

My CAR-T was Sep 9th, but there's no spot on the timeline that the doc will say, "Free and clear for the rest of your days." If you read my previous blogs, you know my thoughts on statistics. So... doing my best to live in the moment and goodness of today - where God's mercies are new every day. Thankful and grateful.

I am thankful that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us for the ultimate healing of my sin and "broken" body by Jesus's death on the cross. 

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Had supper with a Muslim couple who claimed we worship the same god. We don't. The God of Christians is triune - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, the Trinity. The second distinctive is Christianity is salvation by faith alone, through grace alone in Christ alone. Works are an outpouring of that faith, not the basis of our salvation. So, why do I bring that up? In this season, the significance of Baby Jesus is John 1 above. Jesus laid aside His divine rights for His time on earth and became God Incarnate, according to the will of God the Father. 

Blessings, grace and mercy be yours this Christmas season,

Gary