I was preaching recently from the book of Galatians and was reminded of God’s desire to make children out of orphans. We enter this life as spiritual orphans and God longs to reconnect us to His own family through His Son, Jesus Christ. Galatians 3 makes clear that these family members are identified by faith in Christ and not their own performance or accomplishments. When I look around it is so easy to evaluate others based on their opinions, political leanings, morality, race, gender, successes and failures, or a host of other things. But those included in the family of God are there by nothing more than faith in the perfect faithfulness of Jesus Christ. These past few weeks I have had the pleasure of spending time with those from many different perspectives and backgrounds. It has been a joy to gather around our shared love for Jesus rather than see one another as a threat because our experiences, opinions or perspectives differ. So here are a few places we have enjoyed the fellowship that centers in Christ.

We have had some great ministry opportunities this past couple weeks. We were in the state of Washington where I spoke for the men’s ministry of Cross Sound Church at a Saturday morning breakfast and then did a house concert on Sunday evening hosted by my friends Jim and Lisa Bernardin. We had a chance to enjoy some great conversations about life and the transformation the Holy Spirit brings. We were then in Olympia, Washington at New Bridge Community Church where I led a “Be Still” day retreat for 50 of their volunteer and staff leaders. The sharing during the debrief was amazing. The next morning I preached at their two morning services out of Galatians 3:15-25. We had a great time reconnecting with Doug and Lisa Drainville who were my High School interns when I did youth ministry at the Crystal Cathedral. Doug is the executive pastor at the church and an amazing minister. Between our time on Bainbridge Island and Olympia we connected with several others from past ministry times (Paul & Susie Ulrickson, Connie Liles and Mark & Patti Julagay). All these places were filled with people having a diversity of life experiences who all expressed a deep love for Christ. Tomorrow Francie and I leave for southern California where I will do a concert and teach at the Abbot David School for Spiritual Directors. God has been gracious to provide these opportunities and the relationships that correspond.

I find great joy in the opportunity to be a part of God’s family. By faith I am no longer a spiritual orphan, but a beloved child of a gracious and merciful Father. May you experience the joy of this family established through the gift of God’s grace and received by faith. Here is a song to enjoy as you reflect on God’s gracious invitation to join His great family.