He Stays the Same

Hebrews 13:8 
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

The times they are a-changin.’ --Bob Dylan

When my girls were young and they stayed home from school due to illness, if they felt like it, we sometimes played games like Old Maid, Candyland, or Go Fish. We would deal the cards or set up the board and play until they were ready to rest.

The other day, my granddaughter called. She’d gotten sick. Fortunately, she was already off school and didn’t miss a day. We chatted for a bit, then she asked me to hang up because she wanted to video chat on Messenger. She’s nine and was using her mom’s phone with permission. When I answered the call, her pretty face popped up, and I could see she didn’t feel well. We talked for a minute, then she told me we could play a game on the phone. I had no idea. She clicked something and brought up Go Fish and we played two rounds.

The older I get, it seems like life changes at lightning speed. Perhaps because I can look back and see the history I’ve lived, yet one thing has never changed.

Jesus remains the same no matter how many years pass. He continues to share His love. There are days I think He should walk away from me because I’m a lowly human, instead He stays with me through the valleys and the peaks. He opens His arms and welcomes me in. He sees value in me and never leaves me.

He loves you, too. His arms are open to everyone. He loves like no other. He’ll be there through the best and the worst.

I love this song by Matthew West, The God Who Stays. I hope you’ll take a listen.

I'm Glad One Thing Never Changes

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

White dust drifted to the floor, from the blackboard.

Remember at the end of the school day wanting to be the student who erased the whole board, then went outside to slam the erasers together to clean them. Of course I just wanted to go outside, yet there was something about wiping the board clean that brought satisfaction at the end of the day.

Classrooms today have changed. Instead of a blackboard, my daughter, Sara's first grade class has a whiteboard she uses to either write on with special markers or use as a place to hang important classroom learning tools. There's also a smartboard, a large screen hooked to her computer, where she shares lessons, directions, and educational videos.

Classrooms have changed. Students are learning more now than ever. They also learn the basics, in new and innovative ways. Sara has been teaching for more than a decade and has had to continue to learn new and interesting ways to teach.

Change can be good, and most things in life evolve in some way. Look at our kitchens and compare them to our grandparents or great grandparents' kitchens. Yet one thing never changes because He is already as good as it gets. Jesus stays the same. He's always loving, and forgiving as He seeks our hearts. He's the rock I stand on, the One I depend on, the One I pray to. Jesus never waivers from being the Son of God, my perfect hope.

When I'm in the middle of uncertain circumstances and I'm not sure what to do, I turn to the One who stays the same, the One who loves me no matter what. I'm thankful Jesus is the same every day, and with confidence I can move forward and trust Him.

Count on Jesus in your season of change.

Beauty in Today 1/4/16

A friend posted this verse on Facebook today. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8 

My first thought-Thank goodness! 

The rapid changes of every day life can be exhausting. Of course some change is for the good, but even that is tough to keep up with. Thank goodness Jesus never changes. That's a beautiful thing.