The Creator

Take a walk through the Meadow and look around.

A calf knows where to find milk, grass reaches for light, birds build nests they were never taught to build, seasons turn, seeds split open, and life rises out of the dirt.

Creation is not the Creator — but it bears His fingerprints.

“The heavens tell the glory of God.
And the skies announce what his hands have made.”
—Psalm 19:1

You’ll hear the animals speak of the Creator often. The Creator is not some nameless force. He has a name, he has made Himself known, and He wants us to know Him.

His name is Jehovah — the LORD, the God of Heaven. He made the Meadow and everything living within it. He made us humans, too.

“So God created human beings in his image.
In the image of God he created them.
He created them male and female.”
—Genesis 1:27

God looked upon all He had made and called it very good.

Then sin entered — and everything broke.

The animals do not carry the human burden of guilt and rebellion. Humans do. Every one of us has chosen our own way instead of God’s ways.

“All people have sinned and are not good enough for God’s glory.”
—Romans 3:23

Sin separates us from God because He is holy and we are not. We cannot repair that separation by making ourselves a little better, behaving more religiously, or doing enough good things.

“The payment for sin is death.
But God gives us the free gift of life forever in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
—Romans 6:23

Maybe you’ve known His name all your life. Maybe no one has ever told you about Jesus. Maybe people who claimed to represent Him hurt you badly enough that you stopped wanting anything to do with Him. 

I want you to know, you are welcome here.  Not because I say you're welcome, but because HE says you are.

"God wants all people to be saved."
~1 Timothy 2:4a

You can never be "too bad" or "too far gone" for the redemption found in Jesus Christ.  No prerequisites. No cleaned-up life required. There is no person outside His invitation.

I want you to know:

• He made you.

• You are not accidental, forgotten, or unseen.

• He loves you. Really. His love is not reserved for people who have their lives together.

• Sin has separated every one of us from God. None of us can find our own way back.

• Jesus made the way home. His death, burial, and resurrection are enough — even for you, even for me.

The Gospel reveals the way home.

The Gospel is not a set of instructions for climbing your way up to God. It is the good news that Jesus came all the way down to rescue us.

Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, willingly took the punishment our sin deserved. He died. He was buried. And on the third day, He rose from the grave.

Death did not defeat Him.

Sin did not defeat Him.

No life — no matter how "bad" — is beyond His power to redeem.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”
—Ephesians 2:8

You do not have to clean yourself up before coming to Jesus. You do not have to make yourself worthy first.  We are saved by His grace — not by earning it. In fact, we cannot earn it.

But His grace does call for a response.

When we hear the good news about Jesus Christ and we believe that He is the Son of God — born of a virgin, fully human yet sinless, crucified for our sins, buried, and raised from the dead on the third day, we are called to repent, turning away from sin and toward God. We are called to confess Jesus Christ as Lord. And, if we truly believe, we are called to be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.

When the people who heard the Gospel asked what they should do, Peter answered plainly:

“Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Then God will forgive your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
—Acts 2:38

Baptism is not something we do to earn salvation. There is nothing we can do to "earn" salvation. Baptism is not proof that we have finally become good enough. Baptism is the obedient surrender of faith — the place where Scripture says we are buried with Christ and raised with Him to begin a new life.

“When we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and shared his death.
Christ was raised from death by the wonderful power of the Father.
So we can also live a new life.”
—Romans 6:4

Prayer may be where your seeking begins. You can speak to God honestly about your sin, your questions, your fear, and your desire to know Him.  Talk to him like a friend.

But Scripture does not tell us to stop with a prayer.

If you believe Jesus is the Son of God and you are ready to turn toward Him, be baptized into Christ, washing away your sins. Do not wait until you feel worthy as that day may never come. Do not wait until you have repaired everything that is broken.

Come to Him in trusting, obedient faith.  He will help you.

And if you are not ready — if you still have questions, doubts, anger, or wounds — you are still welcome here.  

I encourage you to start with the Gospel of John. Look closely at Jesus for yourself. Ask God to show you what is true.

Come and see.

Step Into The Meadow
New stories, quiet reflections,and a little news from the herd.