Welcome to the family!
Tuesday, March 28, 2000

VERSE:
   You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
    -- Galatians 3:26-27, New International Version
       <http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?Galatians+3:26-27>

THOUGHT:
   Yesterday, at 2:47pm Central European time, weighting in at 7lbs 9ozs, Tyler Christian was born to Jeff and Alissa Banks(That makes me Uncle Dave).  Tyler will be known as the son of Jeff and Alissa for the rest of his life.  He will be brought up and nurtured by his parents and extended family.  He is their son, they are his parents, all this through conception and birth.  What an image, mom and dad with child.  I doubt words can truly capture the event.
    Hear the Good News, just as Tyler was born to Jeff and Alissa, you are born to Jesus, not by your conception and birth, but by your faith and being baptized into the Christian faith.  You will always be God's child, and God, your Father.  In the same way that Jesus prayed, "Father, ...," that very accessibility is yours. Realize this reality, claim and make it your own.    

PRAYER:
   Father, thank you for making me your child. Thank you for claiming me, for Your accessibility and most of all for the grace you have given to me.  Lead and teach me Your ways, so that in my growing, I might emulate Your call upon my life.  Most of all, thank you, dear Father, for Jesus, in whose name I pray.  Amen.