"To come into existence; to come to be; to undergo change or development." That's what Merriam-Webster has to say about our word for 2006 ... BECOME. What do you say about it? More importantly, what does God have to say about it?

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to BECOME a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to BECOME a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22 - emphasis mine)

In the grand scheme of things, the work God did for you and me at the cross of Jesus Christ presents us to Him complete and finished. In the ant's eye view of things (that's our life; time as we know it), we are a work in progress.

You don't have to be around NewHeart long to realize that we are a group of people with a common love (Jesus) Who we understand to have accepted us the way we are (anyone want to say THANK GOD?) but Who loves us so much that He doesn't want to leave us there!

Because we are accepted, we can accept others too, right where they're at, without grandiose expectation that they will conform to our shape, size, supposed mold or form. Rather, it's our hope that we are ALL truly BECOMING more and more of the kind of people that God wants us to be, as clearly explained in the above passage of Scripture.

God DOES love you ... and He really DOES have a wonderful plan for your life ... BUT!!! But what? But He loved you enough (and still does) to offer you the choice of whether or not you would respond to His love by giving your heart and life to Him.

He loves you enough that even once you given your heart to Him, He will never force you into a deeper and more passionate relationship with Him. Clearly, He longs for it. It's His desire for you (and for Him - He has desires to, you know!).

Get this now ... Jesus LONGS for you to be with Him, and to grow deeper in His love, and to BECOME all He has in mind and heart for you to BECOME. Do you know that the fullness of this truth can never be forced upon you? This is the true beauty of the love of God!

It's my hope that not only will you find this to be true for you, but that you might find opportunity to share this truth with others in your life as well. God wants to use you and me both to present a clear picture of Who He really is to the people He's placed in our lives. There's a GREAT opportunity to do so right around the corner ...

IT'S ALMOST EASTER!! A perfect time to invite someone to church with you! This year, I want to implore you to begin praying NOW as we ramp up for this special season of time.

Stay tuned, pray NOW, and begin inviting right away for Easter weekend!