"Lord, your faithful love reaches to heaven, Your faithfulness to the clouds." Psalm 36:5.
Faith is truly believing, without a doubt, that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. He came to live on this earth and be an example for us. Then Christ died on the cross to save us from our sinful selves. After 3 days Jesus rose from the grave to give each and everyone of us eternal life if we choose to believe and have faith. And in this faith we must totally trust that wherever God leads us we must follow without fear because He is with us always and will protect and provide for us at all times.
"Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9.
At this season in my life God is doing a major work, honestly, another major work really. He is calling me to live out my Faith in a very visible way. He has also laid it on my heart to come up with material for some Women's Conferences that I will be doing in the Fall called "Leaving a Legacy - How to Love and Live like Christ." With work and all of this going on at the same time I'm going to have to take a Summer Siesta from my blogging. Sure I will blog here and there, but not daily or even weekly for that. I just need to Focus in on what God has called me to do at this time, I need to take some time to just sit and meditate at the feet of Jesus to hear what He has to say. I need to take some time to devote to the material for the Women's Conferences.
So as the Summer marches on I ask for you to pray with me and keep the faith because God is faithful to us and He will be with us wherever we go.
And at the end of the summer I can't wait to share with you what God is doing and if you have a group that is interested in the material He has laid on my heart to write and speak let me know, I would love to set up some more events.
Christ's Love to All and See you Soon!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Promise in His Power
"O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you?" Psalm 77:13
God created the Heavens and the Earth and Everything in them. You can see the works of his hands and his great majesty just by walking outside. So, then why do we fear......because there are all types of giants all around us, and these giants come at us from all angles and at all ages.
Two of my children have horrible night time fears, and recently they have been really struggling with them. The oldest fears someone will come into our home and kidnap or kill him, and the younger one thinks we are going to leave her in the night. These fears of my children keep us up in to the wee hours. We try to console and comfort them with the safety we have, but it doesn't see stop their fear from coming. Just two night ago the oldest came into our room bawling because he had a bad thought about someone coming into our house. This fear began to take over his every breath. Frustrated, not with him but with the circumstance, I got out of bed, brought in his Bible, and said, "Tell Satan to leave you alone because Jesus is your Lord and Savior and there's only enough room for him inside of you." I then handed him the Bible, told him he had nothing to fear because God is with him, He will protest him, and we prayed.
All throughout the Bible there are stories of people who had fears of all types, giants of all sizes, and they prayed for God's protection over them. One such instance was in the first church. Peter and John, the apostles, had just been released from the Council who had threatened them to never speak or teach about Jesus again. The apostles went back to the new believers to tell them of the Council's threat and reveal to them the new giant ahead. So not to let this giant turn into a fear and threaten the spread of the gospel, immediately they prayed. "Then all the believers were united as they lifted their voices in prayer: "O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them -" Acts 4:24. The first thing they noted in their prayer was God's Majesty and Might.
God not only created the heavens and the earth, but he also created the giants within it. And if God created the giants He can also destroy them. Just like when my kids build up a mighty fortress with their legos they can tear it down flat. Don't let your fears get the best of you because God is bigger and better than your fear. Trust in Him who created the Heavens and Earth because nothing is too difficult for Our Great God. "Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You." Jeremiah 32:17
And in the end...my son went to sleep and the new believers gained courage from the Holy Spirit, "And they preached God's message with boldness." Acts 4:31b.
God created the Heavens and the Earth and Everything in them. You can see the works of his hands and his great majesty just by walking outside. So, then why do we fear......because there are all types of giants all around us, and these giants come at us from all angles and at all ages.
Two of my children have horrible night time fears, and recently they have been really struggling with them. The oldest fears someone will come into our home and kidnap or kill him, and the younger one thinks we are going to leave her in the night. These fears of my children keep us up in to the wee hours. We try to console and comfort them with the safety we have, but it doesn't see stop their fear from coming. Just two night ago the oldest came into our room bawling because he had a bad thought about someone coming into our house. This fear began to take over his every breath. Frustrated, not with him but with the circumstance, I got out of bed, brought in his Bible, and said, "Tell Satan to leave you alone because Jesus is your Lord and Savior and there's only enough room for him inside of you." I then handed him the Bible, told him he had nothing to fear because God is with him, He will protest him, and we prayed.
All throughout the Bible there are stories of people who had fears of all types, giants of all sizes, and they prayed for God's protection over them. One such instance was in the first church. Peter and John, the apostles, had just been released from the Council who had threatened them to never speak or teach about Jesus again. The apostles went back to the new believers to tell them of the Council's threat and reveal to them the new giant ahead. So not to let this giant turn into a fear and threaten the spread of the gospel, immediately they prayed. "Then all the believers were united as they lifted their voices in prayer: "O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them -" Acts 4:24. The first thing they noted in their prayer was God's Majesty and Might.
God not only created the heavens and the earth, but he also created the giants within it. And if God created the giants He can also destroy them. Just like when my kids build up a mighty fortress with their legos they can tear it down flat. Don't let your fears get the best of you because God is bigger and better than your fear. Trust in Him who created the Heavens and Earth because nothing is too difficult for Our Great God. "Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You." Jeremiah 32:17
And in the end...my son went to sleep and the new believers gained courage from the Holy Spirit, "And they preached God's message with boldness." Acts 4:31b.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The Open Door of Opportunity
"For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His." 2 Chronicles 16:9a
Peter and John, 2 of the apostles of Jesus, were going to the temple to take part in the prayer service when they came upon a lame beggar at the Temple gate. This man had been lame from birth and knew no different lifestyle. He was unable to work, play, really do anything, but beg daily at the temple. When he saw Peter and John, as usual, in beggar fashion, he asked for money. "But Peter said, I don't have any money for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!" Acts 3:6. This lame man, this beggar, was immediately healed and began walking, jumping, and praising God as he went into the temple. All the people worshiping had known him for years and were amazed at what they were seeing. They wanted to see the men who had performed this miraculous feat. This Jewish congregation wanted to catch a glimpse of the men who healed the lame. Peter, however, saw this as the perfect time to preach the gospel and save the lost.
"Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd." Acts 3:12a.
Daily there are opportunities surrounding us to lead others to Christ or plant a seed of salvation for God to nurture because the majority of the world is lost. These opportunities don't have to be in a big crowd, but can just be one on one with someone like the lame beggar at the gate.
Just yesterday I was riding with some of my friends from work and we pulled up to a traffic light where a limping beggar was holding a sign and asking for money. There was no question in the drivers mind, as soon as she pulled up to him she rolled down her window and grabbed her purse. She pulled out a McDonald's gift card and handed it to him. Once the door of opportunity was open she began to talk to him and ask him about himself. The homeless man said he had a stroke 8 weeks ago, but was doing much better, and she said "I'm going to pray for you." She was being a witness for Christ in the first opportunity she saw without any question or hesitation.
Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, there is probably someone around who needs to hear the gospel and learn of the hope they can find through the salvation they can have in Christ. Look for the next opportunity and don't let the door close. Remember, God is calling us to reach the world!
"But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8.
Peter and John, 2 of the apostles of Jesus, were going to the temple to take part in the prayer service when they came upon a lame beggar at the Temple gate. This man had been lame from birth and knew no different lifestyle. He was unable to work, play, really do anything, but beg daily at the temple. When he saw Peter and John, as usual, in beggar fashion, he asked for money. "But Peter said, I don't have any money for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!" Acts 3:6. This lame man, this beggar, was immediately healed and began walking, jumping, and praising God as he went into the temple. All the people worshiping had known him for years and were amazed at what they were seeing. They wanted to see the men who had performed this miraculous feat. This Jewish congregation wanted to catch a glimpse of the men who healed the lame. Peter, however, saw this as the perfect time to preach the gospel and save the lost.
"Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd." Acts 3:12a.
Daily there are opportunities surrounding us to lead others to Christ or plant a seed of salvation for God to nurture because the majority of the world is lost. These opportunities don't have to be in a big crowd, but can just be one on one with someone like the lame beggar at the gate.
Just yesterday I was riding with some of my friends from work and we pulled up to a traffic light where a limping beggar was holding a sign and asking for money. There was no question in the drivers mind, as soon as she pulled up to him she rolled down her window and grabbed her purse. She pulled out a McDonald's gift card and handed it to him. Once the door of opportunity was open she began to talk to him and ask him about himself. The homeless man said he had a stroke 8 weeks ago, but was doing much better, and she said "I'm going to pray for you." She was being a witness for Christ in the first opportunity she saw without any question or hesitation.
Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, there is probably someone around who needs to hear the gospel and learn of the hope they can find through the salvation they can have in Christ. Look for the next opportunity and don't let the door close. Remember, God is calling us to reach the world!
"But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Time Together
"Glory and honor to God forever and ever. He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen." 1 Timothy 1:17.
3000 people were saved at Pentecost. They went from not knowing Christ to fully believing, being baptized, and filled with the Holy Spirit. But do you know what they did next? They began to fellowship and worship together.
"And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had." Acts 3:44. These new believers came from all different walks of life, beliefs, and nationalities to one family together, helping one another, encouraging each other, growing in a loving relationship, and worshiping as a congregation - the first church began. "They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the LORD's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity - all while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the LORD added to their group those who were being saved." Acts 2:46-47. The new church met constantly, shared everything, worshiped together daily, met in each others homes consistently, shared meals with each other often, all while praising their great God and enjoying the unselfishness of all the people. And with all of this unselfish love and worship, God filled their church, constantly adding to the body of believers.
Is this the church today? We share if we are asked, but not always. We meet together at the church a few times a week, but not daily. We go to each others homes for small groups every once in a while, but not on a consistent basis. We share meals with each other at births, deaths, and special holidays or occasions, but not regularly and definitely not unannounced.
So what changed?
Instead of being Selfless believers we became a selfish church. If it doesn't benefit us we don't take part. We have gotten consumed with our time, our comfort, our life, and our ways that we have forgotten about the new life as a family of believers that Christ gave to us.
If we truly are following after Christ we must love like he loved, share like he shared, prayed as he prayed, worship as he worshiped, and fellowship as he fellowshipped. He taught the disciples how to live which is love while getting the "I" involved. They went from being disciples to becoming apostles by leading others by the example they were given. We as Christians must also lead by this same example. Our churches might not be open daily, but we can still meet constantly in our homes. We can still join together for worship, praise, and fellowship. We can still share everything including meals. We can still show unconditional love to one another, our brothers and sisters in Christ.
What's stopping you?
3000 people were saved at Pentecost. They went from not knowing Christ to fully believing, being baptized, and filled with the Holy Spirit. But do you know what they did next? They began to fellowship and worship together.
"And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had." Acts 3:44. These new believers came from all different walks of life, beliefs, and nationalities to one family together, helping one another, encouraging each other, growing in a loving relationship, and worshiping as a congregation - the first church began. "They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the LORD's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity - all while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the LORD added to their group those who were being saved." Acts 2:46-47. The new church met constantly, shared everything, worshiped together daily, met in each others homes consistently, shared meals with each other often, all while praising their great God and enjoying the unselfishness of all the people. And with all of this unselfish love and worship, God filled their church, constantly adding to the body of believers.
Is this the church today? We share if we are asked, but not always. We meet together at the church a few times a week, but not daily. We go to each others homes for small groups every once in a while, but not on a consistent basis. We share meals with each other at births, deaths, and special holidays or occasions, but not regularly and definitely not unannounced.
So what changed?
Instead of being Selfless believers we became a selfish church. If it doesn't benefit us we don't take part. We have gotten consumed with our time, our comfort, our life, and our ways that we have forgotten about the new life as a family of believers that Christ gave to us.
If we truly are following after Christ we must love like he loved, share like he shared, prayed as he prayed, worship as he worshiped, and fellowship as he fellowshipped. He taught the disciples how to live which is love while getting the "I" involved. They went from being disciples to becoming apostles by leading others by the example they were given. We as Christians must also lead by this same example. Our churches might not be open daily, but we can still meet constantly in our homes. We can still join together for worship, praise, and fellowship. We can still share everything including meals. We can still show unconditional love to one another, our brothers and sisters in Christ.
What's stopping you?
Thursday, June 21, 2012
My plans or His steps?
"We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." Proverbs 16:9.
We use calendars to plan out our day, plan out our month, plan out our year, and even plan out our life, but if it isn't the Lord's plan those plans are going to change. Have you ever looked back over your life and seen how much your plans have changed? How the direction you thought you were on might have done a 90 or 180 degree turn. When did you realize or have you realized that God was and is leading your steps?
Jesus had appeared to the disciples twice in the locked and confined room before he breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit. They finally felt His presence on them and got up the nerve to walk outside and see what the world had become. And in the fashion of most men or a lot of men who have been cooped up and left hungry they wanted to stretch their legs and get something to eat. Now they didn't have McDonald's to just go through a drive-thru, these men decided to go fishing. "Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing." "We'll come, too," they all said." (Sounds like a bunch of men to me, maybe even some women.) "So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night." John 21:3.
Okay, did I forget to mention, these weren't any men just going fishing, these were men that before Christ had come for them, they owned a fishing business. They were probably overly frustrated and even hungrier. They were probably thinking, What has happened to our ability to find fish? This sea has always been full. But morning broke and they looked toward the shore and saw someone standing on the beach. "He called out, "Friends, have you caught any fish?" "No," they replied. Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get plenty of fish!" John 21:5-6a. Peter was probably thinking, Who is this man trying to tell me how to fish?! I know how to fish and there is nothing biting today. However, they had just been filled with the Holy Spirit and He must have encouraged them to take that step. "So they did, and they couldn't draw in the net because there were so many fish in it." John 21:6b. Then John looked back to the shore and immediately realized that the man on the shore was his Lord Jesus.
You see, the disciples had made plans to go fishing and nothing was caught, but when they followed the steps the Lord called out to them they were blessed with abundance. We can try to do things our way all day long, but until we follow the plans the LORD has laid out for us nothing will seem to go right.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. Take your next step in the direction the LORD has called you and prepare to be blessed.
We use calendars to plan out our day, plan out our month, plan out our year, and even plan out our life, but if it isn't the Lord's plan those plans are going to change. Have you ever looked back over your life and seen how much your plans have changed? How the direction you thought you were on might have done a 90 or 180 degree turn. When did you realize or have you realized that God was and is leading your steps?
Jesus had appeared to the disciples twice in the locked and confined room before he breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit. They finally felt His presence on them and got up the nerve to walk outside and see what the world had become. And in the fashion of most men or a lot of men who have been cooped up and left hungry they wanted to stretch their legs and get something to eat. Now they didn't have McDonald's to just go through a drive-thru, these men decided to go fishing. "Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing." "We'll come, too," they all said." (Sounds like a bunch of men to me, maybe even some women.) "So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night." John 21:3.
Okay, did I forget to mention, these weren't any men just going fishing, these were men that before Christ had come for them, they owned a fishing business. They were probably overly frustrated and even hungrier. They were probably thinking, What has happened to our ability to find fish? This sea has always been full. But morning broke and they looked toward the shore and saw someone standing on the beach. "He called out, "Friends, have you caught any fish?" "No," they replied. Then he said, "Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get plenty of fish!" John 21:5-6a. Peter was probably thinking, Who is this man trying to tell me how to fish?! I know how to fish and there is nothing biting today. However, they had just been filled with the Holy Spirit and He must have encouraged them to take that step. "So they did, and they couldn't draw in the net because there were so many fish in it." John 21:6b. Then John looked back to the shore and immediately realized that the man on the shore was his Lord Jesus.
You see, the disciples had made plans to go fishing and nothing was caught, but when they followed the steps the Lord called out to them they were blessed with abundance. We can try to do things our way all day long, but until we follow the plans the LORD has laid out for us nothing will seem to go right.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. Take your next step in the direction the LORD has called you and prepare to be blessed.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
City on a Mountain
"You are the light of the world - like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." Matthew 5:14-16
As I was praying this morning I went into a silent prayer where I just sit at the feet of Jesus allowing Him to speak to me. In this time, he revealed first to me an ocean with peaceful waves washing upward toward a mountain. As he guided me up the mountain there at the top was the 3 crosses, I'm guessing representing His death between the 2 criminals, the light between the darkness. There at the cross were people congregating and others coming up to the group already at the scene. These people seemed to be conversing and fellowshiping, discussing what had happened and telling the others. They looked as though they were praising their great God and Lord Jesus. Then it was revealed to me that the people that were already there were Jesus' disciples. They had already been in the presence of Christ and had gained wisdom from Him. He had given them the Holy Spirit and they had become the light of the mountain that was bringing others near, to learn and glean as well.
Those who are followers of Christ are disciples, they must be the light of this world like a city on a mountain for all to see, so that when others come to them to see the light they will see the Glory of our heavenly Father and praise His Great Name. We must let our good deeds shine out from us not in boastfulness, but in humbleness as the Spirit works from our inside out. We must do the work that God has called us to, reflecting the image of Jesus who already left the blueprint of what we should be like. For God was the Developer of the city, Jesus was the Foundation, the Holy Spirit is the Project manager, and we must be the Light.
As Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after the resurrection, they were hidden in a locked room. Essentially, they were hiding the light Jesus had left them with under the basket, but "He spoke to them again and said, "Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you." John 20:21. He said, go let your light shine out, stop hiding it behind these closed doors.
We as Jesus' followers, as disciples, are the light of the world (a very dark world); we can't hide it behind the doors of the church we must be the city on the mountain, and Jesus has told us to let our light shine out for the world to see. We must go and do as He has already done!
As I was praying this morning I went into a silent prayer where I just sit at the feet of Jesus allowing Him to speak to me. In this time, he revealed first to me an ocean with peaceful waves washing upward toward a mountain. As he guided me up the mountain there at the top was the 3 crosses, I'm guessing representing His death between the 2 criminals, the light between the darkness. There at the cross were people congregating and others coming up to the group already at the scene. These people seemed to be conversing and fellowshiping, discussing what had happened and telling the others. They looked as though they were praising their great God and Lord Jesus. Then it was revealed to me that the people that were already there were Jesus' disciples. They had already been in the presence of Christ and had gained wisdom from Him. He had given them the Holy Spirit and they had become the light of the mountain that was bringing others near, to learn and glean as well.
Those who are followers of Christ are disciples, they must be the light of this world like a city on a mountain for all to see, so that when others come to them to see the light they will see the Glory of our heavenly Father and praise His Great Name. We must let our good deeds shine out from us not in boastfulness, but in humbleness as the Spirit works from our inside out. We must do the work that God has called us to, reflecting the image of Jesus who already left the blueprint of what we should be like. For God was the Developer of the city, Jesus was the Foundation, the Holy Spirit is the Project manager, and we must be the Light.
As Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after the resurrection, they were hidden in a locked room. Essentially, they were hiding the light Jesus had left them with under the basket, but "He spoke to them again and said, "Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you." John 20:21. He said, go let your light shine out, stop hiding it behind these closed doors.
We as Jesus' followers, as disciples, are the light of the world (a very dark world); we can't hide it behind the doors of the church we must be the city on the mountain, and Jesus has told us to let our light shine out for the world to see. We must go and do as He has already done!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Eyewitness News
I can see it now...the headlines would have flashed up on all the News stations, pop-up alerts would have come up on my iPhone, and the front page of the New York Times would have covered the story: "Prophesy Fulfilled: Man Pierced for our Sins". Why would this have been so big, why would we have believed? Because this was eyewitness news, and when there is a witness at the scene of a crime we do believe.
Jesus had died on the cross naturally, nothing had to be done to his body to quicken the process. Jesus freely gave up His Spirit when the time was right. However, it was the Passover and the Jewish leaders didn't want any body hanging on the cross during this special Sabbath making the Roman soldiers kill and remove whoever was left.
"So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn't break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account; it is presented so that you also can believe." John 19: 32-35.
Why was the breaking of bones or the non-breaking of bones and the piercing of the side so important that it had to be witnessed first hand? So you can believe Jesus was the prophesied Messiah! But why should or would you believe in Jesus as the Messiah because of this? Because this was fulfillment of the Scriptures and the prophesy that you had already heard for years and years as a child. "These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, "Not one of his bones will be broken," and "They will look on him whom they pierced." John 19:36-37. As an Israelite you would have been told these stories over and over again. They were written all through your history books. "They must not leave any of the lamb until the next morning, and they must not break any of its bones. They must follow all the normal regulations concerning the Passover." Numbers 9:12. "Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died." Zechariah 12:10.
Jesus was the final lamb sacrificed for the Passover. None of his bones were broken and ultimately He cleaned them and us from the sins of the past, present, and future. God poured out His Spirit of grace on the family of David because Jesus was of the lineage of David, but He was also the Son of God, the only Son of God, and He was pierced for them to receive this grace. This news hit the stands quick and made every headline. When Jesus rose again people began to believe in droves. They would have all known the stories told to them as a child and the questions left unanswered. Because now these unanswered questions and open-ended stories were answered and completed. In Jesus death we now have life. Don't you believe?!
Jesus had died on the cross naturally, nothing had to be done to his body to quicken the process. Jesus freely gave up His Spirit when the time was right. However, it was the Passover and the Jewish leaders didn't want any body hanging on the cross during this special Sabbath making the Roman soldiers kill and remove whoever was left.
"So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn't break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account; it is presented so that you also can believe." John 19: 32-35.
Why was the breaking of bones or the non-breaking of bones and the piercing of the side so important that it had to be witnessed first hand? So you can believe Jesus was the prophesied Messiah! But why should or would you believe in Jesus as the Messiah because of this? Because this was fulfillment of the Scriptures and the prophesy that you had already heard for years and years as a child. "These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, "Not one of his bones will be broken," and "They will look on him whom they pierced." John 19:36-37. As an Israelite you would have been told these stories over and over again. They were written all through your history books. "They must not leave any of the lamb until the next morning, and they must not break any of its bones. They must follow all the normal regulations concerning the Passover." Numbers 9:12. "Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died." Zechariah 12:10.
Jesus was the final lamb sacrificed for the Passover. None of his bones were broken and ultimately He cleaned them and us from the sins of the past, present, and future. God poured out His Spirit of grace on the family of David because Jesus was of the lineage of David, but He was also the Son of God, the only Son of God, and He was pierced for them to receive this grace. This news hit the stands quick and made every headline. When Jesus rose again people began to believe in droves. They would have all known the stories told to them as a child and the questions left unanswered. Because now these unanswered questions and open-ended stories were answered and completed. In Jesus death we now have life. Don't you believe?!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Glory in your Weakness
When do you feel your weakest? What is a part of you or your make-up that you think will never be able to help you and only hold you back? Did you ever think that your weakest link may be your greatest asset?
Jesus said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9b. At this point in time, Paul has been talking about a thorn in his flesh, that keeps holding him up, and frustrating what he is trying to do, but all of a sudden he realizes that this weakness can actually be used to glorify God because Christ is working through the weakness.
The power of Christ will work through your weakness too, and it will show even greater strength than the best asset you were born with. His glory and grace will shine out for the world to see through these weaknesses because when the power comes from us the world will think it is of us, but when the power comes from our weakness the world will see it is of Christ working through us.
As a student my worst subject was English and writing, I was definitely a right-brained individual. Give me any math problem or science question and I could complete it with very little effort, but give me a writing assignment and I would cry until it was complete and turned in. I had a very hard time putting my thoughts to paper and then trying to make my thoughts line up to even sound coherent. So, as you can see, when I began to write I never once thought it would be good for anything, and I honestly never thought anyone would get anything from it. To this day, I still battle with this weakness. Daily I still battle with not being good enough to write and if I'm confessing, I actually write everyday even if I don't post it because I don't believe what I write is worth anything to anyone. However, this weakness of mine is a place that Christ can show his great power and the Holy Spirit encourages me with this Truth.
In this I want to also encourage you to allow Christ to work through your weakness, so that His glory may be seen the world round. You never know what He will do in the midst of your weakness. "So now I am glad to boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me." 2 Corinthians 12:9c.
Let Christ make your weakest link your greatest asset. "For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10b.
Jesus said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9b. At this point in time, Paul has been talking about a thorn in his flesh, that keeps holding him up, and frustrating what he is trying to do, but all of a sudden he realizes that this weakness can actually be used to glorify God because Christ is working through the weakness.
The power of Christ will work through your weakness too, and it will show even greater strength than the best asset you were born with. His glory and grace will shine out for the world to see through these weaknesses because when the power comes from us the world will think it is of us, but when the power comes from our weakness the world will see it is of Christ working through us.
As a student my worst subject was English and writing, I was definitely a right-brained individual. Give me any math problem or science question and I could complete it with very little effort, but give me a writing assignment and I would cry until it was complete and turned in. I had a very hard time putting my thoughts to paper and then trying to make my thoughts line up to even sound coherent. So, as you can see, when I began to write I never once thought it would be good for anything, and I honestly never thought anyone would get anything from it. To this day, I still battle with this weakness. Daily I still battle with not being good enough to write and if I'm confessing, I actually write everyday even if I don't post it because I don't believe what I write is worth anything to anyone. However, this weakness of mine is a place that Christ can show his great power and the Holy Spirit encourages me with this Truth.
In this I want to also encourage you to allow Christ to work through your weakness, so that His glory may be seen the world round. You never know what He will do in the midst of your weakness. "So now I am glad to boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me." 2 Corinthians 12:9c.
Let Christ make your weakest link your greatest asset. "For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10b.
Monday, June 11, 2012
I Try!
Do you love Jesus? No, Really! Do you love Jesus? He said, "If you love me, obey my commandments." John 14:15. Now I will say it again, do you love Jesus?
This is hard isn't it? I love Jesus, but I will be the first to admit I don't fully obey all of his commandments all the time. But I do try. I try to obey his commandments. I try to love my neighbors as myself. I try to forgive every sin done against me. I try to keep the words coming from my mouth always holy. I TRY! But I need to do more than just try.
I need to always love as Christ first loved me. "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other." John 13:34. For all of his commandments and all of his ways fall under this one command. When we are loving as He has loved then and only then are we proving our love for Him.
Its like a continuous cycle. God loved the world so much that He gave us His only Son. (John 3:16) Jesus died on the cross for our sins out of His love for us and His obedience to His Father. We must now die to ourselves and show that same unselfish love to the world to show our love for Jesus. Then in that love God will love us and Jesus will love us, and He will once again show himself to us. And then the cycle continues.
So, do you love Jesus? Then obey His commands! "Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them." John 15:21.
This is hard isn't it? I love Jesus, but I will be the first to admit I don't fully obey all of his commandments all the time. But I do try. I try to obey his commandments. I try to love my neighbors as myself. I try to forgive every sin done against me. I try to keep the words coming from my mouth always holy. I TRY! But I need to do more than just try.
I need to always love as Christ first loved me. "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other." John 13:34. For all of his commandments and all of his ways fall under this one command. When we are loving as He has loved then and only then are we proving our love for Him.
Its like a continuous cycle. God loved the world so much that He gave us His only Son. (John 3:16) Jesus died on the cross for our sins out of His love for us and His obedience to His Father. We must now die to ourselves and show that same unselfish love to the world to show our love for Jesus. Then in that love God will love us and Jesus will love us, and He will once again show himself to us. And then the cycle continues.
So, do you love Jesus? Then obey His commands! "Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them." John 15:21.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Go to the Work!
"All those who want to be my disciples must come and follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And if they follow me, the Father will honor them." John 12:26.
Right now, right this very second, God is doing Something. He is actually working on something that He wants you to come alongside Him and do with Him. He isn't wanting us to come up with something new, God wants us to follow Him and join His Work. God has promised He will always be with us, but if we want God to Honor what we are doing, we must start doing what He wants. We must join Him and not expect Him to join us. When we stop trying to fit Him into the work we are doing, getting off of our egotistical horse, and actually follow after Him, we will see God at work. "The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help live in joy." Psalm 69:32. And when we follow God we will see Him at work and be filled with His joy, a true gladness, that will inspire us and grow us into the disciples He has called us to be. So look around, where is God already working? Join Him and reap the blessings of His Joy and closeness as His disciple.
Right now, right this very second, God is doing Something. He is actually working on something that He wants you to come alongside Him and do with Him. He isn't wanting us to come up with something new, God wants us to follow Him and join His Work. God has promised He will always be with us, but if we want God to Honor what we are doing, we must start doing what He wants. We must join Him and not expect Him to join us. When we stop trying to fit Him into the work we are doing, getting off of our egotistical horse, and actually follow after Him, we will see God at work. "The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help live in joy." Psalm 69:32. And when we follow God we will see Him at work and be filled with His joy, a true gladness, that will inspire us and grow us into the disciples He has called us to be. So look around, where is God already working? Join Him and reap the blessings of His Joy and closeness as His disciple.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Looking like a Fool!
What would you think if I said I don't mind looking like a fool? - We are told not to be fools right? Well what about if I said I don't mind looking like a fool when I am praising God?
Okay, okay, yes, we are told not to be foolish. "A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother." Proverbs 10:1. But I didn't say BE foolish, I said LOOK foolish, and really the only one you will be looking foolish to is the one who is judgmental, not confident enough in their own faith, or the one who doesn't trust in the Lord at all.
God wants us to praise Him with all of our might, with all of our soul, and with all of our heart, and if that means looking like a fool to others, then DO IT! "Praise God, all you people of Israel; praise the LORD, the source of Israel's life." Psalms 68:26. We are to praise Him because He gave us life, not just breath, but eternal life. Isn't life alone enough to praise Him to the point of awkwardness or foolishness?
Now, I've been to my fair share of college and NFL football games where I witnessed people acting like fools for their team and a lot of the time I took part in it. There was screaming, yelling, going half naked, painted from head to toe in team colors, wearing cheese on your head...come on, isn't that foolish? I've also been to way too many crazy concerts and watched as women decide it would be okay to throw their panties and bras up on the stage or men and some women make mosh pits where they beat their bodies up against one another just to celebrate their favorite group or team. So, if we are willing to look foolish for this, shouldn't we be willing to look foolish for God?
This is not a new question. This has been debated over time. Even in the old Testament, David, newly annointed King of Israel, was rocking and rolling, conquering kingdoms, marrying wives, bringing back the taken Ark of the Covenant. He didn't do all these things quietly, with his hands by his side, his head hanging low...NO....David began dancing and singing, acting crazy, praising the LORD. When as soon as He walked into the Palace his wife Milcah sees him and gets furiously embarrassed over his actions. But, "David retorted to Milcah, 'I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the LORD. So I am willing to act like a fool in order to show my joy in the LORD." 2 Samuel 6:21. David said he had all the reason to act like a fool, he was appointed by God above others and he needed to praise Him, and the good news is, so were we. "He made us his kingdom and his priests who serve before God his Father. Give to him everlasting glory! He rules forever and ever! Amen!" Revelations 1:6.
Okay, okay, yes, we are told not to be foolish. "A wise child brings joy to a father; a foolish child brings grief to a mother." Proverbs 10:1. But I didn't say BE foolish, I said LOOK foolish, and really the only one you will be looking foolish to is the one who is judgmental, not confident enough in their own faith, or the one who doesn't trust in the Lord at all.
God wants us to praise Him with all of our might, with all of our soul, and with all of our heart, and if that means looking like a fool to others, then DO IT! "Praise God, all you people of Israel; praise the LORD, the source of Israel's life." Psalms 68:26. We are to praise Him because He gave us life, not just breath, but eternal life. Isn't life alone enough to praise Him to the point of awkwardness or foolishness?
Now, I've been to my fair share of college and NFL football games where I witnessed people acting like fools for their team and a lot of the time I took part in it. There was screaming, yelling, going half naked, painted from head to toe in team colors, wearing cheese on your head...come on, isn't that foolish? I've also been to way too many crazy concerts and watched as women decide it would be okay to throw their panties and bras up on the stage or men and some women make mosh pits where they beat their bodies up against one another just to celebrate their favorite group or team. So, if we are willing to look foolish for this, shouldn't we be willing to look foolish for God?
This is not a new question. This has been debated over time. Even in the old Testament, David, newly annointed King of Israel, was rocking and rolling, conquering kingdoms, marrying wives, bringing back the taken Ark of the Covenant. He didn't do all these things quietly, with his hands by his side, his head hanging low...NO....David began dancing and singing, acting crazy, praising the LORD. When as soon as He walked into the Palace his wife Milcah sees him and gets furiously embarrassed over his actions. But, "David retorted to Milcah, 'I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the LORD. So I am willing to act like a fool in order to show my joy in the LORD." 2 Samuel 6:21. David said he had all the reason to act like a fool, he was appointed by God above others and he needed to praise Him, and the good news is, so were we. "He made us his kingdom and his priests who serve before God his Father. Give to him everlasting glory! He rules forever and ever! Amen!" Revelations 1:6.
David did it; God appointed us; Feel free to look like a Fool for the Glory and Praise of the God of the All Creation!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Power in the Weakness
"Teacher,' his disciples asked him, 'why was this man born blind? Was it a result of his sins or his parents?" John 9:2.
Did you realize that people still question someone's misfortune being a cause from their sin? And I'm not talking the consequences of a sin, I'm talking a miscarriage, cancer, being born blind, being born deaf, being born without a limb. These are all flaws, but not of our sins. Usually it is legalists that try and tell us we have this flaw because of some past sin either on our own right or our families sin, but sometimes we do this even to ourselves. Have you ever wondered why you are the way you are, why you of all people have a flaw that hinders you from doing something you enjoy, or what have you done that has caused you or someone dear to you to suffer an illness or a misfortune? Well Jesus tells us things of this sort have nothing to do with sin. "It was not because of his sin or his parents' sins,' Jesus answered. 'He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him." John 9:3.
When I had my miscarriage my first few weeks of thought kept going back to everything I could have done differently. I even thought, maybe God is punishing me for all of my past sins, not allowing me to have another child, but in the mist of all this I realized God wasn't blaming me or punishing me, he was carrying me. "Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior! For each day He carries us in his arms." Psalm 68:19. And He was carrying me so that He could prepare me to stand on my feet stronger than before, ready for the task He had set ahead of me. "All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end." John 9:4.
We can't allow these hindrances to become excuses for the work God has planned out for us from before we were born. We must use our hindrances to glorify Him, and He will bless us in a way that will make our deficiency seem like a new blessing. God gives us things that we may see as blemishes, problems, and hindrances to be used to show His power and majesty. He created each of us special, with a preplanned agenda, and if we allow our flaws to hold us back we can't glorify Him in the way He wanted to use us.
My miscarriage ended up becoming a way for me to grow closer to Him, so that He could speak to my heart, heal my inner feelings, and create a testimony to Glorify Him.
Your flaws and my flaws are not a sin of the past, but a blessing for the future. Look to Him to see how He wants to use you and work with the end in sight! Because in the end He made the Blind Man See, He gave me Twin Girls, and He will make all of us perfect in our weaknesses.
"9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Did you realize that people still question someone's misfortune being a cause from their sin? And I'm not talking the consequences of a sin, I'm talking a miscarriage, cancer, being born blind, being born deaf, being born without a limb. These are all flaws, but not of our sins. Usually it is legalists that try and tell us we have this flaw because of some past sin either on our own right or our families sin, but sometimes we do this even to ourselves. Have you ever wondered why you are the way you are, why you of all people have a flaw that hinders you from doing something you enjoy, or what have you done that has caused you or someone dear to you to suffer an illness or a misfortune? Well Jesus tells us things of this sort have nothing to do with sin. "It was not because of his sin or his parents' sins,' Jesus answered. 'He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him." John 9:3.
When I had my miscarriage my first few weeks of thought kept going back to everything I could have done differently. I even thought, maybe God is punishing me for all of my past sins, not allowing me to have another child, but in the mist of all this I realized God wasn't blaming me or punishing me, he was carrying me. "Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior! For each day He carries us in his arms." Psalm 68:19. And He was carrying me so that He could prepare me to stand on my feet stronger than before, ready for the task He had set ahead of me. "All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end." John 9:4.
We can't allow these hindrances to become excuses for the work God has planned out for us from before we were born. We must use our hindrances to glorify Him, and He will bless us in a way that will make our deficiency seem like a new blessing. God gives us things that we may see as blemishes, problems, and hindrances to be used to show His power and majesty. He created each of us special, with a preplanned agenda, and if we allow our flaws to hold us back we can't glorify Him in the way He wanted to use us.
My miscarriage ended up becoming a way for me to grow closer to Him, so that He could speak to my heart, heal my inner feelings, and create a testimony to Glorify Him.
Your flaws and my flaws are not a sin of the past, but a blessing for the future. Look to Him to see how He wants to use you and work with the end in sight! Because in the end He made the Blind Man See, He gave me Twin Girls, and He will make all of us perfect in our weaknesses.
"9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Faithful Disciple
Have you ever thought, "Am I truly being a disciple of Jesus?" Or have you ever wondered what your life should look like if you were being a faithful disciple? Jesus firms up all these questions in your heart when he was talking about the true children of God.
"Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32.
We are truly, fully disciples of Jesus when we obey His Word. "Disciple" defined is a student or follower; an adherent to the teachings of a particular teacher or school of thought.-Women of Faith NIV Study Bible. Just like being a good student to any teacher we must listen, understand, and obey our teacher. In the Case of Jesus we must follow after Him, and once we do this, once we become a disciple of His, we will know the truth "Jesus" and the truth will set us free. Like the Jesus followers in his day, you may be thinking, but I'm not a slave. Well Jesus says, anyone who sins is a slave to sin, but when we are His disciples, fully following after Him, we are transformed into His likeness, and no longer sinning and no longer a slave. Now, if we are being disobedient to God, sinning, then we are a slave, and Jesus also says, "A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever." John 8:35.
So, when we are being Jesus disciple we will know the truth, the truth will end our enslavement to sin, the chains will be broken that hold us to this world, and we will be the Children of God. The life of a faithful disciple will be in the family of Christ, the House of God, and the Kingdom of Heaven.
Our sins or disobedience to God only forge a gap, sometimes a trench, other times a ravine, and every once in a while a canyon between us and God. But when we begin to follow after Jesus or turn back to His Word he will build a bridge strong enough and long enough to reach any distance filling us with His truth and adopting us into His family. The more of the truth we believe, the more we follow, the more we will look like Jesus, and the more we will resemble our brother, Christ.
"Then he said to the crowd, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23.
Don't lose your life to sin, but gain new life, eternal life, by following Christ and being His Disciple!
"Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32.
We are truly, fully disciples of Jesus when we obey His Word. "Disciple" defined is a student or follower; an adherent to the teachings of a particular teacher or school of thought.-Women of Faith NIV Study Bible. Just like being a good student to any teacher we must listen, understand, and obey our teacher. In the Case of Jesus we must follow after Him, and once we do this, once we become a disciple of His, we will know the truth "Jesus" and the truth will set us free. Like the Jesus followers in his day, you may be thinking, but I'm not a slave. Well Jesus says, anyone who sins is a slave to sin, but when we are His disciples, fully following after Him, we are transformed into His likeness, and no longer sinning and no longer a slave. Now, if we are being disobedient to God, sinning, then we are a slave, and Jesus also says, "A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever." John 8:35.
So, when we are being Jesus disciple we will know the truth, the truth will end our enslavement to sin, the chains will be broken that hold us to this world, and we will be the Children of God. The life of a faithful disciple will be in the family of Christ, the House of God, and the Kingdom of Heaven.
Our sins or disobedience to God only forge a gap, sometimes a trench, other times a ravine, and every once in a while a canyon between us and God. But when we begin to follow after Jesus or turn back to His Word he will build a bridge strong enough and long enough to reach any distance filling us with His truth and adopting us into His family. The more of the truth we believe, the more we follow, the more we will look like Jesus, and the more we will resemble our brother, Christ.
"Then he said to the crowd, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23.
Don't lose your life to sin, but gain new life, eternal life, by following Christ and being His Disciple!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Wisdom in the Silence
Don't you just abhor being taunted? I know I do, and there are some people in my life who just feel it is their life duty to pick and pick and pick at me. These people are wanting to see how long it will take me to crack my calmness and plain out rouse me.
These people knew me before my walk with Christ and knew at one point in my life I could be a real hothead. They want to be able to prove I'm still the same person I once was. Ultimately, they are trying to prove that God didn't do a major work in me (Philippians 1:6) and transform me into a new person (Romans 12:2). But God did! He is molding me into Christ's likeness, and no matter how much I am taunted, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I may mess up every once in a while, I might have a slip of the tongue on the harsh side, but I know God is working this all out. "The godly think before speaking; the wicked sport evil words." Proverbs 15:28.
Jesus is our example, and we should follow Him. When the Pharisees were trying to capture Him and use His own words against Him, Jesus was staying calm. The Pharisees were taunting Jesus, yet Jesus was ignoring them. "They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger." John 8:6. When Jesus was ready to speak he would only speak from Wisdom and calmness, not rashness on the side of rage. He knew that Silence was Golden, He didn't have to go to the AMC. "They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, 'All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones! Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust." John 8:7-8. Jesus wasn't about to let them change His attitude of holiness to anger. He wasn't going to let their taunts drag Him to the ground. He was acting out of silence to be able to give Wisdom, knowing that His calmness would eventually break their pestering instead of them breaking His joy. "When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman." John 8:9.
When we are following Jesus fully, we should be transformed into His likeness. And if we are transformed into His likeness we should be more like "Him". So, the next time someone is trying to break the peace and joy that God has built within you, follow Jesus' example and remain silent. For in the silence Wisdom is grown!
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20.
These people knew me before my walk with Christ and knew at one point in my life I could be a real hothead. They want to be able to prove I'm still the same person I once was. Ultimately, they are trying to prove that God didn't do a major work in me (Philippians 1:6) and transform me into a new person (Romans 12:2). But God did! He is molding me into Christ's likeness, and no matter how much I am taunted, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I may mess up every once in a while, I might have a slip of the tongue on the harsh side, but I know God is working this all out. "The godly think before speaking; the wicked sport evil words." Proverbs 15:28.
Jesus is our example, and we should follow Him. When the Pharisees were trying to capture Him and use His own words against Him, Jesus was staying calm. The Pharisees were taunting Jesus, yet Jesus was ignoring them. "They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger." John 8:6. When Jesus was ready to speak he would only speak from Wisdom and calmness, not rashness on the side of rage. He knew that Silence was Golden, He didn't have to go to the AMC. "They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, 'All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones! Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust." John 8:7-8. Jesus wasn't about to let them change His attitude of holiness to anger. He wasn't going to let their taunts drag Him to the ground. He was acting out of silence to be able to give Wisdom, knowing that His calmness would eventually break their pestering instead of them breaking His joy. "When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman." John 8:9.
When we are following Jesus fully, we should be transformed into His likeness. And if we are transformed into His likeness we should be more like "Him". So, the next time someone is trying to break the peace and joy that God has built within you, follow Jesus' example and remain silent. For in the silence Wisdom is grown!
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20.
Friday, May 25, 2012
I LOVE BREAD!
Confession time: I am a Carbaholic! Yes, I said it, I don't mind not eating meat because I love me some carbs. And my favorite carb is some good ole' fashioned Bread! I like all bread...any bread....But I do have some favorites as well. I love a loaf or 2 from Carraba's, some sourdough from Panera, a Bagel straight from NYC, and I could just go with 3 loaves of the wonderful hot sourdough bread from Mitchel's Seafood Market...mmm yummy! Even though I love all these breads, my favorite, the love of my life, is the Bread of Life...Jesus!
"Yes, I am the bread of life!" John 6:48. I can eat and eat and eat of Him and never get enough. I don't need to wash Him down with a glass of ice tea or add any butter, cream cheese, or salt (if you know me well enough you know what I mean). Jesus, the Bread of Life, is the best carb I could need or ever want. He is just enough, Perfect in Every Way (as Mary Poppins would say). He is flavored just right and always multiplying, never ending. I never need to beg for more bread because He is forever providing. I don't have to purchase Him because He gives of Himself freely. His bread won't give me love handles, a pooch in the front, or a lump in the rear. The only thing He adds to my life is eternal life. "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live." John 6:51.
I have many friends and family that stay away from the dreaded carb, they like to stick to the Atkins diet with meat only, but in the eternal world meat alone is human effort. You have to raise the meat and kill the meat, but only the Spirit can give life. "It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life." John 6:63. So, if your diet of human effort is leaving you starving, why don't you take a break, and try the Bread?
"Yes, I am the bread of life!" John 6:48. I can eat and eat and eat of Him and never get enough. I don't need to wash Him down with a glass of ice tea or add any butter, cream cheese, or salt (if you know me well enough you know what I mean). Jesus, the Bread of Life, is the best carb I could need or ever want. He is just enough, Perfect in Every Way (as Mary Poppins would say). He is flavored just right and always multiplying, never ending. I never need to beg for more bread because He is forever providing. I don't have to purchase Him because He gives of Himself freely. His bread won't give me love handles, a pooch in the front, or a lump in the rear. The only thing He adds to my life is eternal life. "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live." John 6:51.
I have many friends and family that stay away from the dreaded carb, they like to stick to the Atkins diet with meat only, but in the eternal world meat alone is human effort. You have to raise the meat and kill the meat, but only the Spirit can give life. "It is the Spirit who gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life." John 6:63. So, if your diet of human effort is leaving you starving, why don't you take a break, and try the Bread?
Bring on the Rain
"From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky all that God had made. They can clearly see His invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God." Romans 1:20
How can anyone say that they have never seen evidence of God? Look Around! He has shown us His creation. Look at each other! He has shown us His likeness.
We as people can so easily justify athletes, actors, and billionaires as gods; And we can make cars, boats, and money as gods as well. But we have such a hard time seeing the One True God in the world around us.
Paul and Barnabas were traveling around preaching the Good News across the land when they ended up in Lystra. They came upon a crippled man who had been unable to walk for years. They noticed his abundant faith and immediately Paul said to him, "Stand up" and he did. The people of Lystra, however, witnessed this amazing miracle and began to comment how Paul and Barnabas must be gods (Zeus and Hermes to be exact.) These 2 men of God became very distraught and saddened by these comments. So, in their dismay, they tore their clothes and ran into the crowd preaching on seeing the Real Living God. "In earlier days he permitted all nations to go their own ways, but he never left himself without a witness. There were always his reminders, such as sending rain and good crops and giving you food and joyful hearts." Act 14:17-18. In our verbage they were saying, "Can't you see Him? We aren't gods, God is God, and He has left us with so many reminders."
Even the first Christians had a hard time realizing who God was, but Paul said, See the rain? God reveals himself throughout all of creation. Just recently we have been in a major drought. A drought, so bad that the grass isn't even growing for the cows. I can't walk outside without having dust accumulate on my legs, my allergies going crazy, and my poor plants needing an extra dose of water without them withering. But when it rains, and every once in a while it does, my heart dances and my soul sings because all of my outdoor issues subside. God is revealing himself to me and to anyone else that is looking through these rain showers. How would I not be able to see Him fixing the problem at hand, a problem that is a problem to us, but that is just part of his creation to Him.
"You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The rivers of God will not run dry; they provide a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The wilderness becomes a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy." Psalm 65:9-13. And the earth is probably singing, "Bring on the rain!"
I can see God all through the rain. He calms us with its rhythm, He provides for us with its growing power, and He refreshes us with its cleansing showers. If you are having a hard time seeing God or explaining His Majesty or feeling His Presence....Pray that He will Bring on the Rain!
How can anyone say that they have never seen evidence of God? Look Around! He has shown us His creation. Look at each other! He has shown us His likeness.
We as people can so easily justify athletes, actors, and billionaires as gods; And we can make cars, boats, and money as gods as well. But we have such a hard time seeing the One True God in the world around us.
Paul and Barnabas were traveling around preaching the Good News across the land when they ended up in Lystra. They came upon a crippled man who had been unable to walk for years. They noticed his abundant faith and immediately Paul said to him, "Stand up" and he did. The people of Lystra, however, witnessed this amazing miracle and began to comment how Paul and Barnabas must be gods (Zeus and Hermes to be exact.) These 2 men of God became very distraught and saddened by these comments. So, in their dismay, they tore their clothes and ran into the crowd preaching on seeing the Real Living God. "In earlier days he permitted all nations to go their own ways, but he never left himself without a witness. There were always his reminders, such as sending rain and good crops and giving you food and joyful hearts." Act 14:17-18. In our verbage they were saying, "Can't you see Him? We aren't gods, God is God, and He has left us with so many reminders."
Even the first Christians had a hard time realizing who God was, but Paul said, See the rain? God reveals himself throughout all of creation. Just recently we have been in a major drought. A drought, so bad that the grass isn't even growing for the cows. I can't walk outside without having dust accumulate on my legs, my allergies going crazy, and my poor plants needing an extra dose of water without them withering. But when it rains, and every once in a while it does, my heart dances and my soul sings because all of my outdoor issues subside. God is revealing himself to me and to anyone else that is looking through these rain showers. How would I not be able to see Him fixing the problem at hand, a problem that is a problem to us, but that is just part of his creation to Him.
"You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The rivers of God will not run dry; they provide a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The wilderness becomes a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy." Psalm 65:9-13. And the earth is probably singing, "Bring on the rain!"
I can see God all through the rain. He calms us with its rhythm, He provides for us with its growing power, and He refreshes us with its cleansing showers. If you are having a hard time seeing God or explaining His Majesty or feeling His Presence....Pray that He will Bring on the Rain!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Conquering the Giants
NINE FEET TALL! Now that's a giant of a man. When I think of big men, I think of men around my husband's size, 6'5, and I think about those little girls and boys at church that get afraid as he comes around. One little girl, that now loves Mr. Brett, used to cry every time he came near, and would hide behind her mom's legs, always peaking through to make sure Brett wouldn't get to close. And I can never forget what Hunter's best little buddy used to say when he was 4, "I bet Mr. Brett is taller than the mountains."(He's definitely from Florida.) But even though this can be very scary and /or humorous for little kids, Giants are in fact all around us.
As a small boy, King David faced his own giant. He had been out in the field tending to the sheep when his dad asked him take food to his brothers and the commanders of the army that were at battle. Being a curious youth, he walked right up to the battle as the Israelites were facing the Philistines because he was eager to get to the front lines and see the action. When all of a sudden, David sees Golaith, a giant, 9 feet tall. Goliath came out to the front and began to taunt the Israelites and mocked their ability to fight. At this point your average youth would tuck his tail between his legs and run back the way he came, but instead David decided to question his people. "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" 1 Samuel 17:26b. He was no coward, he had a courage that was definitely from God. David didn't care what the giant looked like, you don't mock his God. You don't come up to the people of God and threaten them! David trusted God fully.
Like any giant, he saw this puny little runt of a boy and laughed. He made fun of Israel even more for sending out a child, but David didn't care, he stood strong on his foundation of Faith. "David shouted in reply, 'You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty - the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." 1 Samuel 17:45. David didn't coward away or ask for more armies; he ran right at the giant with God at his side. "As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him." 1 Samuel 17:48. And David with the courage, strength, and power of God, defeated Golaith. "So David triumphed over the Philistine giant with only a stone and a sling." 1 Samuel 17:50a.
In life we are going to come across many giants. Giants of all different sizes and matters. These giants could be cancer, work, finances, drugs, family, alcohol, friendships, spouses, lack of faith, unplanned pregnancies, miscarriages, abuse, and the list could go on and on...And when the giant begins to approach us we may want to back down, but we need to take on the courage of David. We need to remember we have the shield of God's protection and the sword of God's word. We must trust in what we cannot see, even if all we have is a stone and a sling. God is mightier, taller, stronger, and fiercer than any giant that could come our way. "You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength." Psalm 65:6. Our Faith will bring Him to our side. He wins every battle He is up against, and He beats down every giant in the way. Remember, we are never fighting alone. "Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you." Deuteronomy 3:22. The giant is going to try and tear you down by putting a fear in your head and a distrust in your heart, but if you stand strong on the Word of God, the foundation He has laid before you, nothing is impossible. "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37.
As a small boy, King David faced his own giant. He had been out in the field tending to the sheep when his dad asked him take food to his brothers and the commanders of the army that were at battle. Being a curious youth, he walked right up to the battle as the Israelites were facing the Philistines because he was eager to get to the front lines and see the action. When all of a sudden, David sees Golaith, a giant, 9 feet tall. Goliath came out to the front and began to taunt the Israelites and mocked their ability to fight. At this point your average youth would tuck his tail between his legs and run back the way he came, but instead David decided to question his people. "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" 1 Samuel 17:26b. He was no coward, he had a courage that was definitely from God. David didn't care what the giant looked like, you don't mock his God. You don't come up to the people of God and threaten them! David trusted God fully.
Like any giant, he saw this puny little runt of a boy and laughed. He made fun of Israel even more for sending out a child, but David didn't care, he stood strong on his foundation of Faith. "David shouted in reply, 'You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord Almighty - the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." 1 Samuel 17:45. David didn't coward away or ask for more armies; he ran right at the giant with God at his side. "As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him." 1 Samuel 17:48. And David with the courage, strength, and power of God, defeated Golaith. "So David triumphed over the Philistine giant with only a stone and a sling." 1 Samuel 17:50a.
In life we are going to come across many giants. Giants of all different sizes and matters. These giants could be cancer, work, finances, drugs, family, alcohol, friendships, spouses, lack of faith, unplanned pregnancies, miscarriages, abuse, and the list could go on and on...And when the giant begins to approach us we may want to back down, but we need to take on the courage of David. We need to remember we have the shield of God's protection and the sword of God's word. We must trust in what we cannot see, even if all we have is a stone and a sling. God is mightier, taller, stronger, and fiercer than any giant that could come our way. "You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength." Psalm 65:6. Our Faith will bring Him to our side. He wins every battle He is up against, and He beats down every giant in the way. Remember, we are never fighting alone. "Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you." Deuteronomy 3:22. The giant is going to try and tear you down by putting a fear in your head and a distrust in your heart, but if you stand strong on the Word of God, the foundation He has laid before you, nothing is impossible. "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Down and Dirty
Have you ever walked into a model home and just thought, "Wow! I wish my house looked like this." I've done it, and I bet most of you have too. Those homes are perfectly done. Tidy and decorated just right. Nothing is out of place. Then, if you are like me, you will walk into your house, and say, "Whoa! What happened here? It looks like a tornado wreaked havic at the Hitchcock Home." Plates line the table where breakfast was once served as a family, little hairs cover the woodfloors from your dog coming to greet you at the door, and nice little piles of clothes and toys lay scattered across the room where your kids have laid them since the activity they were doing last. Thinking on it, it sure would be nice to walk into that nice model home, but the model home is missing something even more special...the existence of life.
"An empty stable stays clean, but no income comes from an empty stable." Proverbs 14:4.
Just as the empty home may stay clean, so can an empty life; anything empty is essentially clean, but emptiness lacks meaning, memories, and thought. We shouldn't let our lives become empty just because we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ. He emptied us of our sins so we could be filled with His Spirit. And when we are filled with His Spirit our life will be filled with life, a busy home, and work for the Lord.
When we try to exclude everything of the world we may be found clean, but we aren't doing what Jesus asked us to do. Jesus didn't come for the healthy and clean, but for the sick and dirty. He came so that they could be made clean. We need to go into the world with this attitude, not letting the world corrupt us, but working to heal the world. Jesus already gave us the great commission and told us that the harvest was plentiful, but we need to be ready to get a little dirty along the way.
We must be willing to open up our model homes, the ones Jesus washed clean, and use this for His Kingdom Work. We need to make memories and save lives, knowing that nothing is perfect. We need to allow our stables to be filled with animals realizing that God is working among them and has already planned how He will be using them in the process of harvesting more crops. God is at work around us, cleaning up the mess already made, and we need to join Him fully understanding that when He is done everything will be made clean again.
At one point in Jesus' journey He came along a crowd of righteous, clean, religious people who were planning on stoning an adulterous, dirty woman to death. Jesus was willing to get down in the dirt to save her life...."They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stone!" Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust." John 8:7-8. We have all been dirty with sin at some point in our life, BUT Jesus did an amazing thing and cleansed us of our sins. So, we must be willing to deal with the dirt of another soul, so Jesus can clean them too!
Next time you are feeling to clean, almost like that model home, don't waste the clean space, and invite others in.
"An empty stable stays clean, but no income comes from an empty stable." Proverbs 14:4.
Just as the empty home may stay clean, so can an empty life; anything empty is essentially clean, but emptiness lacks meaning, memories, and thought. We shouldn't let our lives become empty just because we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ. He emptied us of our sins so we could be filled with His Spirit. And when we are filled with His Spirit our life will be filled with life, a busy home, and work for the Lord.
When we try to exclude everything of the world we may be found clean, but we aren't doing what Jesus asked us to do. Jesus didn't come for the healthy and clean, but for the sick and dirty. He came so that they could be made clean. We need to go into the world with this attitude, not letting the world corrupt us, but working to heal the world. Jesus already gave us the great commission and told us that the harvest was plentiful, but we need to be ready to get a little dirty along the way.
We must be willing to open up our model homes, the ones Jesus washed clean, and use this for His Kingdom Work. We need to make memories and save lives, knowing that nothing is perfect. We need to allow our stables to be filled with animals realizing that God is working among them and has already planned how He will be using them in the process of harvesting more crops. God is at work around us, cleaning up the mess already made, and we need to join Him fully understanding that when He is done everything will be made clean again.
At one point in Jesus' journey He came along a crowd of righteous, clean, religious people who were planning on stoning an adulterous, dirty woman to death. Jesus was willing to get down in the dirt to save her life...."They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, "All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stone!" Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust." John 8:7-8. We have all been dirty with sin at some point in our life, BUT Jesus did an amazing thing and cleansed us of our sins. So, we must be willing to deal with the dirt of another soul, so Jesus can clean them too!
Next time you are feeling to clean, almost like that model home, don't waste the clean space, and invite others in.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Un-Abandoned
I deal with abandoned children everyday. They are abandoned by their parents, but they aren't alone. Everyone, at some point in time experiences some type of dissapointment, and you can choose 2 different routes in this crisis. One, is to believe that God is with you and will help you, and the other is to believe God has abandoned you and you have nothing left.
Right now, this very moment, I can't even count on my 2 hands and 2 feet the amount of crisis that is wreaking havic on my friends, family, and even in my own life. I am so thankful that I have a promise from God and I know without a doubt that He is with me and will never leave me. But in this time I have found that many of these dear people believe God has abandoned them. That when they sinned or that when a crisis occured that God left the arena. Did you know that this isn't a new phenomena? The Israelites thought this same thing.
The Israelites had been in the promised land for a while and started doing what was easy. They began following other Gods and trusting in themselves. Amidst their new found freedom the Philistines overtook them and stole their Ark of the Covenant. The people fell into depression and totally out of hope. Then out of no where (well actually God had placed a plague upon the Philistines) the Ark of the Covenant came riding back into Israel on a cart pulled by cows (the Philistines were trying to get the plague to leave them). But even with the Ark back no blessings were bestowing the Israelites. "During that time, all Israel mourned because it seemed that the LORD had abandoned them." 1 Samuel 7:2b. So Samuel, the Judge of Israel at the time went to the people to discuss this matter. "Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, 'If you are really serious about wanting to return to the LORD, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Determine to obey only the LORD; then he will rescue you from the Philistines." 1 Samuel 7:3. Samuel saw through the fog, he looked out of the box, and realized the reason God seemed so far was because the people had ventured off from Him. They had so many issues going on around them that they were trusting other gods, not the One True God.
Putting our trust in other things can be the simple thing to do when we are in a crisis, but when we look up we can be so deep that we can no longer see God and feel He has abandoned us. That trust that we put in things, friends, money, family, chance....really only can manifest power and strength if it is found in God alone. He is the only Rock and foundation that will be there and never leave. God has made a beautiful promise to us when we are going through rough times. "When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." Isaiah 43:2. And that is a promise I trust in and have lived through. I have walked in deep waters and God always kept my hair dry. A dear friend of mine has literally been stuck under the rapids of a river and in life, and God pulled her free and lifted her out. Another friend has walked through fires in her marriage and God had his hand over her blocking the flames and she came out unburned with a beautiful tan. The one thing we have in common is that in all this we knew God was with us. He was our comfort and the only one we could trust. We knew he never abandoned us.
He has made this same promise to you. If you are feeling that God has abandoned you and you are thinking about just walking away. The farther you walk from God the harder things will get. If you don't think you are hearing from Him, maybe you are just out of His Will, not doing what He has asked. Try and return to Him, I promise He has never left you and He really isn't that far. In Isaiah 43:5a, God says, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." Trust Him, you aren't Abandoned!
Right now, this very moment, I can't even count on my 2 hands and 2 feet the amount of crisis that is wreaking havic on my friends, family, and even in my own life. I am so thankful that I have a promise from God and I know without a doubt that He is with me and will never leave me. But in this time I have found that many of these dear people believe God has abandoned them. That when they sinned or that when a crisis occured that God left the arena. Did you know that this isn't a new phenomena? The Israelites thought this same thing.
The Israelites had been in the promised land for a while and started doing what was easy. They began following other Gods and trusting in themselves. Amidst their new found freedom the Philistines overtook them and stole their Ark of the Covenant. The people fell into depression and totally out of hope. Then out of no where (well actually God had placed a plague upon the Philistines) the Ark of the Covenant came riding back into Israel on a cart pulled by cows (the Philistines were trying to get the plague to leave them). But even with the Ark back no blessings were bestowing the Israelites. "During that time, all Israel mourned because it seemed that the LORD had abandoned them." 1 Samuel 7:2b. So Samuel, the Judge of Israel at the time went to the people to discuss this matter. "Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, 'If you are really serious about wanting to return to the LORD, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Determine to obey only the LORD; then he will rescue you from the Philistines." 1 Samuel 7:3. Samuel saw through the fog, he looked out of the box, and realized the reason God seemed so far was because the people had ventured off from Him. They had so many issues going on around them that they were trusting other gods, not the One True God.
Putting our trust in other things can be the simple thing to do when we are in a crisis, but when we look up we can be so deep that we can no longer see God and feel He has abandoned us. That trust that we put in things, friends, money, family, chance....really only can manifest power and strength if it is found in God alone. He is the only Rock and foundation that will be there and never leave. God has made a beautiful promise to us when we are going through rough times. "When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you." Isaiah 43:2. And that is a promise I trust in and have lived through. I have walked in deep waters and God always kept my hair dry. A dear friend of mine has literally been stuck under the rapids of a river and in life, and God pulled her free and lifted her out. Another friend has walked through fires in her marriage and God had his hand over her blocking the flames and she came out unburned with a beautiful tan. The one thing we have in common is that in all this we knew God was with us. He was our comfort and the only one we could trust. We knew he never abandoned us.
He has made this same promise to you. If you are feeling that God has abandoned you and you are thinking about just walking away. The farther you walk from God the harder things will get. If you don't think you are hearing from Him, maybe you are just out of His Will, not doing what He has asked. Try and return to Him, I promise He has never left you and He really isn't that far. In Isaiah 43:5a, God says, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." Trust Him, you aren't Abandoned!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Father's Love
Alright now say it with me: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16. This one verse has be said and resaid over the past couple of years, and so many people now have heard it. But let's not let that weaken it's worth and leverage. Can you even picture what this meant and means? Can you even imagine how much God loves us?
He is contantly giving us our every need, helping us when we can't even bear to lift our head off the pillow.He loves us through the muck and the mire, through the rain and the fire. God loves us so much that He sent His ONE and ONLY Son to this earth for us. And, "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." John 3:17. Where other religions believe God sent someone to this earth to rid the world of people that don't follow their religion, God actually sent His Son to gather those that were lost. Before Christ we were all dieing in our sins, being buried to never rise again. God, however, had compassion on us and gave us just what we needed, a Savior!
God has loved all of us from creation. And if everyone could grasp that love they would surely believe in Him. This belief isn't a superficial belief, but a belief that encompasses full trust and confidence in Him. Knowing He will take care of our every need and allowing Him to lead our life.
Please ponder on these questions for a minute: If you have a great relationship with your earthly father don't you trust he will help you whenever you need Him? Don't you count His counsel as wise? Wouldn't you follow his advice to please him and show your love to him? This is the type of love we should have for God. Now think about the relationship and the love you have for your child or a special child in your life. Doesn't your heart yearn to give them the world? Don't you try and raise them up in the way they should go? Don't you love them so much that you would do whatever possible? This is the same type of love that God has for us.
He put His Son through torture to adopt us into His family. Isn't it time we start trusting Him fully, loving the way He loves us, and obeying His counsel? I no longer imagine the love He has for me....I know the love He has for me. And I have come Together with Him to Work with Him out of Love for Him.
He is contantly giving us our every need, helping us when we can't even bear to lift our head off the pillow.He loves us through the muck and the mire, through the rain and the fire. God loves us so much that He sent His ONE and ONLY Son to this earth for us. And, "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it." John 3:17. Where other religions believe God sent someone to this earth to rid the world of people that don't follow their religion, God actually sent His Son to gather those that were lost. Before Christ we were all dieing in our sins, being buried to never rise again. God, however, had compassion on us and gave us just what we needed, a Savior!
God has loved all of us from creation. And if everyone could grasp that love they would surely believe in Him. This belief isn't a superficial belief, but a belief that encompasses full trust and confidence in Him. Knowing He will take care of our every need and allowing Him to lead our life.
Please ponder on these questions for a minute: If you have a great relationship with your earthly father don't you trust he will help you whenever you need Him? Don't you count His counsel as wise? Wouldn't you follow his advice to please him and show your love to him? This is the type of love we should have for God. Now think about the relationship and the love you have for your child or a special child in your life. Doesn't your heart yearn to give them the world? Don't you try and raise them up in the way they should go? Don't you love them so much that you would do whatever possible? This is the same type of love that God has for us.
He put His Son through torture to adopt us into His family. Isn't it time we start trusting Him fully, loving the way He loves us, and obeying His counsel? I no longer imagine the love He has for me....I know the love He has for me. And I have come Together with Him to Work with Him out of Love for Him.
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