Author: Kristi Wilson

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Grateful for Grandeur

I have lived in Arizona most of my life; I was born and raised here. I grew up in the desert and we took family vacations in the mountains. I lived in the small town, at that time, of Yuma. We didn’t even have a McDonald’s or a Burger King, shocking. I worked and went to college in metro Phoenix before I was married.

Dave and I moved back to Phoenix within the first year of our marriage. We started a business here. We closed a business during the gasoline shortage of 1974. We found jobs and started our family here. All three of our children were born here. We moved away for twenty-five years and returned when we retired in 2014. We’re home!

In the last year, I have realized how little of the State I have actually discovered. I learned that Arizona is the sixth largest state in land mass. I was surprised by that and I am in awe of the diversity of terrain. We have arid desert, farm land, larger metropolitan cities, ski resorts, pasturelands and wastelands. One of the things that I enjoy the most is the tremendous rock formations; there are huge, jagged rocky crags and also the smooth, round boulders that look like misplaced loaves of bread. We plan to spend a great deal of time traveling the backroads of Arizona and learning more about my home.

Do I sound like a travel log? I don’t mean too but I truly love the grandeur that God has placed before me, here in my home state. Yesterday Dave and I took a localized road trip and drove to a couple of lakes on the far east side of the Valley of the Sun. We went to Saguaro Lake and Canyon Lake; we stopped at the little settlement of Tortilla Flats and we went to the campground at the base of the Superstition Mountains.

I had never been there! It is absolutely beautiful! We are making plans to return – I can hear the Father speak to my heart there.

“The heavens are telling of the greatness of God and the great open spaces above show the work of His hands. 2 Day to day they speak. And night to night they show much learning. 3 There is no speaking and no words where their voice is not heard. 4 Their sound has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun. 5 It is as a man soon to be married coming out of his room and as a strong man who is happy to run his race. 6 Its rising is from one end of the heavens, and it makes its way to the other end. Nothing is hidden from its heat.” Psalm 19:1-6 NLV

When I see the beauty of creation my heart is filled with gratitude for the physical glory that the Lord has placed all around us. No matter where we go, creation speaks of God’s love. The snow capped peaks of the mountains, the rolling waves of the ocean, the rich green of the farmlands and the glow of a desert sunset are a reflection of God’s creativity and imagination. He was thinking of us when He designed all of this.

“Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy. 4 For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. 5 He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth. 6 The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. 7 He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. 8 Let the whole world fear the Lord,  and let everyone stand in awe of him. 9 For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command…We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice,  for we trust in his holy name. 22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,  for our hope is in you alone.” Psalm 33:3-9, 20-22 NLT

I hope you will take time to read all of Psalm 33 today. The timelessness of nature is an example of the eternal power of God’s word, it was created by His word. Creation is a testimony to us of God’s faithfulness. He has left his fingerprint in creation and He uses it to draw us in to relationship with Him.

Oh yes, I am grateful for the grandeur of God’s panoramic display!

“It is wonderful to be grateful and to sing your praises,  Lord Most High! 2 It is wonderful each morning to tell about your love and at night to announce  how faithful you are.” Psalm 92:1-2 CEV

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Three Dog Morning

For the last several days we have been at our daughter’s, dog sitting. They went to Japan to visit our grandson and his wife. What a wonderful opportunity for them and we were glad to help.

When I got up this morning, I started the coffee and you guessed it, I let the dogs out. The past few mornings the dogs have come in and scattered to their various places. Not today! If I were to take a picture, you would find me in the large chair with one pup laying across my legs while the other two are sleeping on the floor on either side of my chair.

It’s a three dog morning. The pups are content to be close – no fear, just gentle sleep. This was the object lesson before me while I was reading my Bible.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;  therefore, I will hope in him!” 25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.” Lamentations 3:22-25 NLT

The Lord is good. The Lord is faithful. The Lord’s love never ends. The Lord’s mercies are fresh every morning.

Those are verses of comfort and peace. God’s word is soothing and it makes my heart rest just like these pups that surround me. This morning is free from anxiousness or fear. There is rest and peace in the air.

My prayers turned to those who woke this morning in turmoil and anxiety. I prayed that they would know rest and safety. Remember a week or so back when I wrote about the kindness of God? Since then I have been very mindful of finding the words kind, kindness and safety in my daily Bible reading. It’s there on almost every page!

One of my favorite Scriptures, a must read at least 4 or 5 times a month, is Psalm 91. When I was learning to trust, really trust, the Lord I read it daily. On difficult days I would read it several times throughout the day. Here are just a few verses from that chapter.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. 3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. 4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection…7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you…9 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home…14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. 16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” Psalm 91 NLT

A place of rest – a place of safety; staying close to the Father brings me to that place!

As the pups sleep on, my heart is quiet and I am content knowing that my Father watches over me and gives me new mercy for the day ahead.

It’s a three dog morning!

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Counting Is Good Exercise

No, I’m not talking about counting calories or carbs; not sit-ups or miles walked but what I am choosing to count is blessings.

One of the things I put on my grateful list was no daylight saving time. Here in Arizona we don’t fall back or spring forward. Our clocks stay the same; we’re consistent. That is a blessing. I was grateful that yesterday I was able to spend time with our youngest daughter; she, her youngest daughter (only 3 weeks old) and I went to the craft faire at her church. Then, last evening I was able to sit and enjoy time with Dave. That’s one of my favorite things.

Those are a few of the things I counted. There are some things that are innumerable and I am so grateful for them.

“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! 18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” Psalm 139:16-18 NLT

Do you see that? Every day was laid out before a single day passed. WOW! God’s thoughts about us are innumerable. They are more than the grains of sand on the seashore. If we could count all particles of sand on every beach throughout the world and add to it all the sand in the deserts, God’s loving thoughts toward us would be greater.

All His thoughts of us are good because He has refused to remember our sins and our iniquities.

“This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” 18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.” Hebrews 10:16-18 NLT

So, when you start your list of things you’re grateful for today – start there. Start by putting the Father’s love at the top of the list. He thinks the best of us. That’s what love does!

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” I Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT

The word Gospel can be defined as Good News, more accurately is means the nearly too good to be true news. The Father’s good thoughts toward us are nearly too good to be true but that’s how He is.

Let’s begin to build up our gratitude muscle. Counting God’s thoughts about us is good exercise!

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Strongly Dependent

You may think the title to this blog is a typo but it’s not. Some would think I meant to say strongly independent but they would be wrong. How can one be strong and dependent, it appears to be an oxymoron.

Many times, circumstances and situations cause us to draw back. “I’m never going to be hurt like that again. I won’t allow anyone to be close enough to betray me and/or steal my ideas, etc.”. So the conclusion is to be independent, a loner, strong enough to stand on my own.

However, that is the attitude and determination that get us into trouble. It separates us from good counsel, loving support and God’s direction.

“The Lord is a mighty tower where his people can run for safety” Proverbs 18:10 CEV

David seemed to be alone; he was independent of the army of Israel, when he went out to face Goliath but in reality he was drawing strength from his dependence on the Lord.

“David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!” I Samuel 17:45-46 NLT

Daniel exhibited the same strength when King Darius sentenced him to the lion’s den. The king had been tricked into signing a law that would condemn Daniel to death for praying. Daniel chose to honor the Lord and stand by his faith and devotion to the God. His dependence on the Lord brought his deliverance from death.

“So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.” 17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night. 19 Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. 20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Daniel answered, “Long live the king! 22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” Daniel 6:16-22 NLT

There were many times during His ministry that Jesus seemed alone, independent of His disciples and certainly independent from the religious leaders of His day. However, He was totally dependent on the Father. He would leave the crowd, independent of their opinion, to spend time in prayer, displaying His dependence on the Father.

“I cannot do anything on my own. The Father sent me, and he is the one who told me how to judge. I judge with fairness, because I obey him, and I don’t just try to please myself.” John 5:30 CEV

And finally, the Apostle Paul is an example of strength through dependence. He wrote over one-third of the New Testament. He was shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned, stoned, persecuted in nearly every town he visited. He appeared to be completely independent, his own man. But he said this about himself:

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” II Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT

I hope you find these verses encouraging. Maybe you have been trying to handle “it” all on your own. You’ve worked so hard to be independent, free from anyone being able to dictate to you. The Lord promises us strength when we become dependent on Him.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;  do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

When we trust the Lord we will become strongly dependent and there we will find victory!

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Gratitude Month

Welcome to November!

I don’t know about you but I am ready to start a month of gratitude. Thirty days before us in this month of Thanksgiving. I challenge you to find something/some things to be grateful for each day and to write them down.

Maybe your coming to the end of a long week and not sure you have all that much to be thankful for? Then make King David’s words yours.

“Then David praised the Lord in front of all the people who were gathered together. David said, “Lord, the God of Israel, our Father, may you be praised forever and ever!
11 Greatness, power, glory, victory, and honor belong to you, because everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you! The kingdom belongs to you, Lord! You are the head, the Ruler over everything. 12 Riches and honor come from you. You rule everything. You have the power and strength in your hand! And in your hand is the power to make anyone great and powerful! 13 Now, our God, we thank you, and we praise your glorious name! 14 All these things didn’t come from me and my people. All these things come from you. We are only giving back to you things that came from you.” I Chronicles 29:10-15 ERV

Look for things to be grateful for today. Let’s be honest, you may be grateful that you held your tongue and didn’t say the first thing that came to your mind. Possibly, you were up in time to see a beautiful sunrise or it could be the practical stuff (payday, lighter traffic on the freeway, a good doctor’s report), safe travel and clear roads. But, write it down because there will be days that you don’t think there’s much to be thankful for and on those days you can be thankful that you have a list of blessings to go back and re-read.

Make a gratitude list!

Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father and we give Him thanks for all that He has done in loving us!

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Given Not Earned!

There’s an old song that we sang when I was a girl, Calvary Covers It All.

I was thinking about that song this morning. How thankful I am for Calvary!!

Thankful that the blood of Jesus, the sacrificial lamb, blotted out my sin!

In the Old Testament the priest would offer a lamb once a year for the forgiveness of sin. The priest would lay his hands on the head of the lamb, signifying a transfer of the sins of the people to the perfect lamb of sacrifice. When this transfer was complete the Israelites could experience freedom and cleansing for another year. The blood of the lamb “covered” their sins but never completely blotted it out. Each year they would have to come again, offering another sacrifice, to receive their forgiveness.

“The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn’t the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices that are offered year after year. 2 If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. 3-4 But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next.” Hebrews 10:1-4 CEV

But Jesus Christ, as our lamb of sacrifice, only had to be offered once for the forgiveness of sin! We, who have accepted that sacrifice don’t just have our sins covered but we can rest knowing those sins are completely blotted out.

“You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God’s people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins. 14 God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. 15 There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.” Colossians 2:13-15 CEV

This is significant. If something is just covered, we can lift the covering and find what was being hidden. However, if it’s blotted out or wiped clean, there is nothing to be found.

Remember when we were in school and the teacher erased the blackboard. Sometimes you could still see the shadow of the writing on the board but when she wiped it clean with that chamois eraser, all the words were gone – completely gone. That’s a crude illustration because the blood of Jesus is so much greater than a chamois eraser but I think you get the point.

“The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God’s right side, 13 and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. 14 By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God. 15 The Holy Spirit also speaks of this by telling us that the Lord said, 16 “When the time comes, I will make an agreement with them. I will write my laws on their minds and hearts. 17 Then I will forget about their sins and no longer remember their evil deeds. 18 When sins are forgiven, there is no more need to offer sacrifices.” Hebrews 10:11-18 CEV

Forgiven! Forgiveness is not something that is earned. There is nothing we could do to earn the forgiveness that God has FREELY GIVEN. By the very nature of the word it is given. We can’t rationalize or justify or make enough excuses for our actions to “earn” forgiveness. It is an act of pure love that leads to restoration. Restored in perfect relationship with the Father.

We have been wiped clean by the blood of Jesus. The next time the devil, or some well meaning person, tries to remind us of the things we’ve done wrong, we should stand up and remind them that the precious blood of Jesus has wiped us clean. And because we are forgiven we should be willing to give that same forgiveness to those around us.

It’s given not earned!

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A Winner!

Going to talk about exercise for a bit this morning. When we first realize that we “need” to exercise it’s never pleasant. Accepting that we are out of shape and not as healthy as you should be is the first step. When we were kids it was called recess and it was fun but now that we are adults if just seems like work.

The first few days we have a real commitment or at least that’s what we tell ourselves. But then comes day 7 or 8; and it becomes harder to stay committed to the goal. Our muscles hurt, we’re not seeing any results yet, we start making excuses and when we do that we are on your way to failure. I know, I’ve failed many times.

Never once do I ever remember moaning and groaning about going out to recess. There were a number of times that I had to sit on the sidewalk, next to the teacher and miss recess. It was horrible, I wanted to be out playing (ssh, exercising).

Now think back to our childhood days exercise wasn’t a bad word, it was called fun. To be outside with our buddies playing ball, running through the yard playing tag or football. Going hiking to our favorite fishing spot or walking the mile to the swimming pool in the afternoon heat (my personal favorite). It was fun and we were in shape.

Of course you know this is going to have a spiritual correlation.

When we face trials and temptations it is an opportunity to exercise our faith. James tells us to count it joy because we will be developed and end up lacking nothing.

“My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. 3 You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. 4 But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.” James 1:2-4 CEV

Facing trials is like building muscle. At first, we see little victories but then to continue to develop a muscle we must increase the weigh, the repetition or both. In walking with the Lord, we’re never left to do this on our own.. We have a great coach who is with us every step. Under His direction and inspiration we come out the winner.

“13 You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations.” I Corinthians 10:13 CEV

Jesus knows what this is all about because He went through every temptation we experience while he was here on earth. Who better to coach us than someone whose been there, done that and emerged as the Champion of Champions!

“We have a great high priest who has gone to live with God in heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us continue to express our faith in him. 15 Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned. 16 With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:14-16 ERV

Thank you Lord for coaching me through life and providing all the help I need to develop and finish a winner!

Time for recess!

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The Great Pumpkin

Many of you have taken your children and perhaps, your grandchildren to the pumpkin patch. It’s so much fun!

I remember one particular time that we went on a school field trip to the farm; each child got to find, and take home, their own pumpkin. There was apple cider, donuts, pies to be purchased, a corn maze and a hay ride. Everyone had a wonderful time. The air was crisp, Fall was in the air. It was a refreshing day.

At our house, pumpkins are for baking not for carving. Years ago, we attend a Harvest Party at our church in California. One of the men from the church, who worked in the agriculture field, acquired a large pumpkin for the photo area. It was a 75 pound pumpkin and when the night was over there was a quandary as to what would become of the pumpkin.

It came home with us. I spent the next several days washing, scooping out seeds, baking pumpkin shell and flesh, then pureeing it for pumpkin pies and pumpkin breads. Oh the house smelled wonderful. There were pumpkin pies on every counter in the kitchen and as they cooled they went in to the freezer. Twenty-eight, ten-inch, homemade pumpkin pies with crust from scratch – it was truly a labor of love! My kids still talk about those pies to this day.

A few years back I found this analogy of Christians and pumpkins on the internet. I’m not sure who wrote it originally but it certainly rang true with my heart.

“A lady recently being baptized was asked by a co-worker what it was like to be a Christian. She replied, “It’s like being a pumpkin:  God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off… Then he cuts the top off and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.”

This is the Father’s promise to us; He takes what we were and makes us into something new.

“The Son shows the glory of God. He is a perfect copy of God’s nature, and he holds everything together by his powerful command. The Son made people clean from their sins. Then he sat down at the right side of God, the Great One in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3 ERV

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:16-17 NLT

“For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” II Corinthians 4:6-7 NLT

Chosen – Cleansed – Filled with life and light. Like a great pumpkin, God has blessed us with a delicious new life!

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Prayer Warrior

This morning I found myself on the front lines of battle for friends of mine. I was dressed for the offensive, taking back ground that circumstances and the devil have stolen from them.

I knew it was going to be that kind of morning because each time I woke up during the night the lyrics of the song, Prayer Warrior, were going through my mind and settling in my heart.

We may see her in the grocery with her children
Or in the city nine to five each working day
She’s a mother or a teacher or a woman all alone
But she’s someone else entirely when she prays

She’s a prayer warrior down on her knees
Wrestling with power and principalities
Standing in the gap for others
For her sisters and her brothers
Reaching heaven with her heart – prayer warrior

We don’t see her lonely nights of intercession
Or that tear she shed with every whispered name
We may not see the simple things hidden in her heart
But the eyes of God are watching her with care

Bridge: And we’ll never wholly know the debt we owe her
For we’ll never know the evil we’ve been spared
Many nights she’s crushed through Satan’s strongholds
Reaching heaven with her prayers

Yes, prayer warriors! When someone tells me they are praying for me, it strengthens me. I honestly believe there is nothing more powerful that we can do than pray. When we pray, we take our need into God’s throne room and He provides the help we need.

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16 NLT

Prayer is getting God involved; using the power He has given us in His word and we have His promise that His word does what it is sent to do.

““The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” Isaiah 55:10-11 NLT

We have specific instruction from the Apostle Paul on what we need to do when we are facing battle whether it be spiritual, physical, financial, emotional or relational.

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Ephesians 6:1-18 NLT

Our command is to pray all the time, on every occasion and for all believers everywhere. I hope you never say, “well, all we can do is pray”. That makes it sound like prayer is a last resort – we’ve done everything else so we might as well pray. No, prayer is an offensive attack on the enemy.

Put on your armor. Join me and become a prayer warrior!

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Love Sweet Love

Just two days ago I shared with you the prayer that Jesus prayed for us. He wanted us to know that the Father loves us as much as the Father loves Him – that concept is beyond mental comprehension and can only be received by faith.

Then yesterday I shared with you what Jesus has done to redeem us, to purchase us – He paid a price that no one else could.

So what do we do with this wonderful outpouring of love from the Father and from Jesus. We can never repay what’s been given, however, there is something we can do to express our gratitude for so great a love.

What the world needs now is love sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of. What the world needs now is love sweet love, no, not just for some but for everyone. We must follow the example that Jesus set for us and love others.

“We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying.” Hebrrews 12:2-3 ERV

Since we must never stop looking at Jesus let’s go back into that room where Jesus and his disciples were celebrating Passover. Jesus has washed feet, Judas is gone to betray Him and this is what happens next.

“Jesus said, “My children, I will be with you only a short time more. You will look for me, but I tell you now what I told the Jewish leaders: Where I am going you cannot come. 34 “I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other just as I loved you. 35 All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.” John 13:33-35 ERV

Love one another…how is this love examplified – by washing the feet of others (taking care of their base needs), by being patient with those that betray us, and by loving those with good intentions but little follow through.

We are often critical of Judas and his betrayal because it was intentional – he used his connection with Jesus for monetary gain. However, Peter’s betrayal was just as damning but instead of being prompted by greed, he was motivated by fear. That night Jesus wasn’t surrounded by just one man who would betray Him but by a room filled with men who would run off and leave him alone.

“Simon Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow now. But you will follow later.” 37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I am ready to die for you!” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you really give your life for me? The truth is, before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” John 13:36-38 ERV

We mustn’t let the end of the chapter stop us from continuing with the events of that night. We must go into chapter 14 to see the instruction that Jesus continued to give. How can we live free from fear and love with the unconditional love that Jesus did? It’s by realizing that God, the Father, has a much bigger and better plan for us than just life on this earth.

“Jesus said, “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back. Then I will take you with me, so that you can be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-3 ERV

Here’s Jesus answer to fear. Don’t worry, trust the Father and trust me. I’m going away but I’ll be back for you so don’t worry!

Let’s come back to our song – what the world needs now is love. They need to see us loving them, loving other christians, living without fear in a pretty unsettling time and doing all of it because we trust the Father and know that He is in control!

How do we express our gratitude for the wonderful love we have received from our heavenly Father? We share it with those around us, the deserving and the undeserving.

What the world needs NOW is love, the sweet love of Jesus!

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