Category: God’s Love

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Enjoy the Sonshine

One of the things I enjoy the most about living in Arizona is the amount of sunshine we get to enjoy. The sunrises and sunsets are absolutely gorgeous but it’s the warmth of the “all-day” sunshine that really touches my soul.

I am so grateful that the Lord has brought me to this place. This is my home but more importantly, it is a daily reminder of the goodness and blessings of God.

Oh, how I love the Lord…I never want to take His love for me for granted!

“But I will sing about your strength. I will rejoice in your love every morning. You have been my place of safety, the place I can run to when troubles come. 17 I will sing praises to you, my source of strength. You, God, are my place of safety. You are the God who loves me!” Psalm 59:16-17 ERV

“For I know that nothing can keep us from the love of God. Death cannot! Life cannot! Angels cannot! Leaders cannot! Any other power cannot! Hard things now or in the future cannot! 39 The world above or the world below cannot! Any other living thing cannot keep us away from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NLV

As much as the sunshine warms my soul, it is the Sonshine that gives me a victorious life each day. This morning my heart once again breaks out with one of the old hymns I learned as a child. “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”/

” O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.”

I pray that you let everything in life dim this morning so that you may see Jesus shining bright.

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Greener Pastures

Did you have a busy weekend? Was it hard to find time to rest? Were there too many distractions or unsettling circumstances that caused you to fret?

Some days are like that. Some days it feels as if we carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. Those are the times that God reminds us to follow Him and His leading. He knows what we need better than we do.

This morning this blog is for you!

“The Lord is my Shepherd. I will have everything I need. 2 He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters. 3 He makes me strong again. He leads me in the way of living right with Himself which brings honor to His name. 

4 Yes, even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of anything, because You are with me. You have a walking stick with which to guide and one with which to help. These comfort me. 5 You are making a table of food ready for me in front of those who hate me. You have poured oil on my head. I have everything I need. 6 For sure, You will give me goodness and loving-kindness all the days of my life. Then I will live with You in Your house forever.” Psalm 23 NLV

We have everything we need when we are close to Him. Rest. Quiet. Strength. Right Living. Worry Free. Comfort. Peace. Goodness. Loving-Kindness.

Somehow, Psalm 23 seemed to be the perfect reading for the 23rd day of February.

Only seven weeks into the new year and already so many are loaded down by fear and worry, uneasiness and care. God never intended for our lives to be in such turmoil. Regardless of the circumstances we have His promise of peace and rest.

Look up. See the Shepherd. Let Him lead you to green pastures and still waters. Lay down and rest. Let Him give you the comfort that only He can provide!

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Always Thinking About Us

When you woke this morning, God was thinking about you!

As you go through your day, His thoughts are always on you. His desire is for your best. He loves you so deeply and is thinking of ways to show you His best.

King David said that God’s thoughts to us were so many that they couldn’t be counted. Jeremiah, the prophet, said that God’s thoughts toward us were for our success.

As you go through your day, if you stop and think, God will be thinking of you. I hope you will take time to thank Him that you’re always on His mind and in His heart!

“Great blessings belong to those who trust in the LORD, for those who do not turn to demons and false gods for help. LORD my God, you have done many amazing things! You have made great plans for us—too many to list. I could talk on and on about them, because there are too many to count.” Psalm 40: 4 &5 ERV

“‘ I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.’ This message is from the LORD. ‘I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.'” Jeremiah 29:11 ERV

“The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” Psalm 145:17-18 CEV

Even when our thoughts are not on Him, He is thinking of us!

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True Love Lasts

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you! I thank you for spending a small portion of your day with me.

This morning it’s only appropriate that I bring you a message of love straight from the Father’s heart. But really, I believe that’s what I do every morning.

These are the words that the Apostle John wrote in the first chapter of his book which chronicled the life of Jesus. John is often referred to as the disciple that Jesus loved. John was one of Jesus’ closest friends, he was one of the people on earth who knew Jesus the best.

“The Word became a man and lived among us. We saw his divine greatness—the greatness that belongs to the only Son of the Father. The Word was full of grace and truth. 15 John told people about him. He said loudly, ‘This is the one I was talking about when I said, “The one who is coming after me is greater than I am, because he was living before I was even born.”‘

16 Yes, the Word was full of grace and truth, and from him we all received one blessing after another. 17 That is, the law was given to us through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The only Son is the one who has shown us what God is like. He is himself God and is very close to the Father,” John 1:14-18 ERV

The reason Jesus came to earth and lived as a man was to show us all what God was like. Jesus embodied the loving kindness, the grace and mercy of the Father. Jesus lived a life of compassion and healing. He comforted those who were hurting and outcast in society.

“ Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ERV

Because of God’s great love He gave what was most important to Him, He gave us His Son so that we could experience this wonderful love of God.

“The Lord came to us from far away, saying, “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. So I have helped you come to Me with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:2-4 NLV

God doesn’t just have love, He is love! His total being is the embodiment of love and He sent His Son to share that love with us.

“ We were weak and could not help ourselves. Then Christ came at the right time and gave His life for all sinners. 7 No one is willing to die for another person, but for a good man someone might be willing to die. 8 But God showed His love to us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8 NLV

God’s love is true. God’s love is eternal and God’s love has been given freely to all of us. True love lasts forever!

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My Choice

What I’m about to say may shock you. I am pro-choice.

Don’t stop reading. Let me explain.

“My body and mind may fail, but you are my strength and my choice forever.” Psalm 73:26 CEV

“You, Lord, are all I want! You are my choice, and you keep me safe.” Psalm 16:5 CEV

“ Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual blessings that Christ has brought us from heaven! 4 Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. 5 God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children. 6 God treated us with undeserved grace because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God.7-8  Christ sacrificed his life’s blood to set us free, which means our sins are now forgiven.” Ephesians 1:3-7 CEV

I woke up this morning thinking how thankful I am that God chose me – He chooses us! And then I heard my heart say, “Father, I make You my choice”. Yes, I am very definitely pro-choice. God doesn’t demand that we love Him, He give us the choice.

You all know I love getting up early in the morning and starting my day in the quiet. It didn’t use to be like that.

I didn’t always enjoy being alone with just my thoughts. My heart would become anxious; I would want to turn on the tv or the radio – anything to block out the silence, anything not to focus on the unrest or the distress that I felt churning in my spirit.

Maybe you’re like that. No wanting to get up and be “alone” with yourself and with the Father. Wanting to get up and get going right away to keep yourself from pausing in the quiet of the morning…

King David wrote in the Psalms to “be still and KNOW that I AM God”. Know = to be intimately acquainted with, a deep personal knowledge or understanding.

“God is our mighty fortress, always ready to help in times of trouble. 2 And so, we won’t be afraid! Let the earth tremble and the mountains tumble into the deepest sea..10 Our God says, “Calm down, and learn that I am God! All nations on earth will honor me.” 11 The Lord All-Powerful is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46:1,2,10,11 CEV

This verse says to calm down where the KJV says be still. Take time to let what you just heard sink in.

God has made the choice to be our strength, our peace, our help, our defender, our protection and our Savior. We need to make the choice to “calm down” and “be still” so we can learn that He is God and He has chosen to be kind to us.

It’s our choice.

It was reading, learning and applying God’s word that brought me peace.

” 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 4:16 ERV

When I come to His throne, in the quiet of the morning, I find grace, mercy, kindness and help. I find Jesus! I can’t imagine starting a day without this time.

The choice is ours! My choice is to choose God!

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Real Friendship

Friendship – true friendship, is a gift from God.

Folks that will be with you in good times and bad. We see how when disaster strikes that a community will rally around someone – helping to provide food, clothing, shelter and money. Even strangers react in time of need.

Friends just want to hang with you when they could be doing other things. Friends want to hear your voice even though you might not have anything interesting to say. Those are the friends that will be there for you when things are good or bad – true friends. The ones who will tell you the truth even when it hurts your feelings – that’s friendship.

Around here we can communicate that sense of friendship with just a couple of words. Fire? Happy? Sometimes it’s just Dave and I around the fire, talking about our plans and dreams. Other times we have all the chairs filled or maybe it’s just one or two who dropped by. It’s always special to accept the invitation to share someone else’s fire.

An invitation to share our fire or join a happy hour is a time of laughter and conversation – a time of friendship.

The Bible tells us that we have a friend that sticks closer than a brother. That friend is God. Yes, God has friends.

Abraham was called the friend of God. Abraham believed God and knew God wouldn’t lie to him so he could do what God asked of him knowing it would always turn out right. Isn’t that what friends do? Believe that they won’t be lied to and help out when asked regardless of how much it may inconvenience them personally. Why? Because this is my friend and they would do the same for me it I asked.

“This shows the full meaning of the Scriptures that say, “Abraham believed God, and because of this faith he was accepted as one who is right with God.” Abraham was called “God’s friend.”” James 2: 23 ERV

“And not only will we be saved, but we also rejoice right now in what God has done for us through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is because of Jesus that we are now God’s friends.” Romans 5:11 ERV

Friendships need to be cultivated. They come from spending time together. God desires that with us.

Isn’t it time you said to Him – Fire? Happy? I guarantee He’ll join you and He’ll be glad you asked.

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Sharing Love

What are your plans for today? Working, recreating, relaxing? Whatever it is, wherever you are take time to praise the name of the Lord!

If you see a beautiful sunrise, taste those bacon and eggs, hear a small child giggle, see an older person smile, have a dog wiggle all over because he’s glad to see you – praise the name of the Lord for these are small but irreplaceable gifts from Him.

If you comfort someone dear to you, shed uncontrollable tears, speak a kind word to someone who is hurting or help someone who is down on their luck – praise the name of the Lord that He has chosen you to touch their life.

““Then the godly people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food? When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you with no place to stay and welcome you into our home? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’

40 “Then the king will answer, ‘The truth is, anything you did for any of my people here, you also did for me.’” Matthew 25:37-40 ERV

“May the LORD’S name be praised now and forever. 3 May the LORD’S name be praised from where the sun rises to where it goes down. 4 The LORD is higher than all nations. His glory rises to the skies.” Psalm 113:2-4

With each bit of kindness, each word of praise, each whispered prayer of thanksgiving your day will be brighter and you will be doing what you were created to do – praising the name of the Lord. Have a blessed and praise filled day.

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Don’t Quit Too Soon

I had been reading my Bible this morning and quit to have my prayer time. I closed my Bible and laid it on the shelf beside me. That’s when these words came ringing through the silence in my heart.

“You quit too soon”. Too soon? Yes, too soon.

I had been reading about Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem; I read about the heads of the clans of Israel. I read Solomon’s words in Proverbs and David’s words in Psalms.

“ Words from good people are like pure silver, but thoughts from the wicked are worthless. 21 Good people say things that help others, but the wicked die from a lack of understanding.” Proverbs 10:20-21 ERV

“Our Lord, everything you do is kind and thoughtful, 18 and you are near to everyone whose prayers are sincere. 19 You satisfy the desires of all your worshipers, and you come to save them when they ask for help.” Psalm 145:17-18 CEV

These words were establishing themselves in my heart. I was beginning to praise God for what I read – how could I have quit too soon? It was then I remembered that my reading yesterday took me up to the last chapter of Luke.

I had read about the mock trial, the persecution and crucifixion of Jesus. The last I had read was of His burial. So, I picked up my Bible and opened to chapter 24 of Luke. The words jumped off the page…

Jesus Is Alive

24 “Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared. 2 When they found the stone rolled away from the entrance, 3 they went in. But they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus, 4 and they did not know what to think.

Suddenly two men in shining white clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were afraid and bowed to the ground. But the men said, “Why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive? 6  Jesus isn’t here! He has been raised from death. ” Luke 24:1-6 CEV

Now, don’t get religious on me. Listen to what I have to say. Of course, we all know that Jesus is alive.

JESUS IS ALIVE!

Too many times, we read the Bible like a history book, a good story or helpful instruction. But it is the living word of God!

John wrote in the first chapter of his writings that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”. Jesus is the Word; He is alive and He is living with us through the pages of the book that we hold in our hands.

Heed the words of the angels – don’t go looking for the living where the dead are. When we need strength, go to the One who conquered death. When we need peace, go to the One who calmed the storm. When we need hope, go to the One who promises to satisfy our desires. When we need wisdom, go to the One whose words are like pure silver.

Don’t quit too soon!

“ For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.[a] 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 NLT

Jesus is alive and because He is, we have His life residing in us!

Don’t quit too soon, let the reality of the living Christ live, really live, in you!

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Dyed Red

Today’s blog is a Valentine’s message.

One of my favorite chapters on the love of God is Colossians 2. The Apostle Paul writes about what Jesus did on the cross for us and how his death set us free from our sin and made us acceptable to God. I want to focus in on one phrase that has always had particular meaning to me.

“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” Colossians 2:14

The Old King James English phrase “Blotting out the handwriting of the ordinances against us” drew my attention.

Writing a document in Jesus’ day required extreme patience. No erasers or delete buttons – every word had to be carefully written. If there was a mistake, the document had to be thrown away. Some corrections would be acceptable, but the paper would have to be so saturated with ink that the word or the mistake was completely blotted out so that it was no longer legible.

This is the picture that Paul is painting for us here. There was a document with a long list of sins we have committed, God’s laws we have broken, and Jesus “Blotted” out the list. He took and nailed it to His cross. His blood cancelled the evidence of our sin. It was dyed red. Amen!!

Jesus completely defeated His enemy; the one accuses us of the things we have done. Jesus rendered him powerless for all the spiritual world to see. We are now free to live for Christ, through God’s amazing love!

“You were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self. But God gave you new life together with Christ. He forgave all our sins. 14 Because we broke God’s laws, we owed a debt—a debt that listed all the rules we failed to follow. But God forgave us of that debt. He took it away and nailed it to the cross. 15 He defeated the rulers and powers of the spiritual world. With the cross he won the victory over them and led them away, as defeated and powerless prisoners for the whole world to see.” Colossians 2:13-15 ERV

God promises that He will not remember our sins and the wrong that we have done.

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10: 16-17

How can He do that?

Simple – God the Father chooses to hit the delete button; crash the hard drive; He blots them out. Why? Because He is our LOVING heavenly father.

“His love for his followers is as high above us as heaven is above the earth. 12 And he has taken our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. 13 The LORD is as kind to his followers as a father is to his children.” Psalm 103:11-13

The page from our life’s book that has all our sins written on it has been dyed red. The handwriting is no longer visible. Thank you, Jesus, for Your shed blood!

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Peace, Sweet Peace

So this morning I thought I would give you a visual example of love and peace. I took this several years ago at my Mom’s in Arizona. This one picture speaks volumes to me about God’s love.

I use it as a screen saver from time to time.

The birds who come to my wash each day are a continual reminder of God’s provision and His love.

The Holy Spirit is compared to a dove as He settled on Jesus, filling Him with heaven’s power.

“ Then John said, “I saw the Holy Spirit come down on Jesus as a dove from heaven. The Holy Spirit stayed on Him. 33 I did not know Him then. But God sent me to baptize with water. God said to me, ‘The Holy Spirit will come down and stay on Him. He is the One Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen. I am now saying that Jesus is the Son of God.” John 1:32-34 NLV

That’s power.

Jesus said this about birds.

“26 Look at the birds in the sky. They do not plant seeds. They do not gather grain. They do not put grain into a building to keep. Yet your Father in heaven feeds them! Are you not more important than the birds?… 31 Do not worry. Do not keep saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘What will we wear?’” Matthew 6:26-33 NLV

Do not worry! That’s love. God has told us to bring Him every care, every concern, every need. By coming to Him we find help! He is our source of supply – because He loves us!

“ And my God will give you everything you need because of His great riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 NLV

Take this lesson from my little soft cooing friend – don’t toil, don’t worry, rest in God’s peace!

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