Category: God’s Love

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Never Far Away

This morning I was reading in Acts. The chapter I was in, told of Paul traveling to Athens and Corinth and teaching the Greeks.

It reminded me of our time in Greece. There were small chapels everywhere. Sometimes they were only half a mile apart. When we would walk the streets there would be a chapel in the center of the city square, one at the harbor only a few hundred yards away, one on the top of a small hill and then there were prayer chapels sandwiched in between the shops.

Always, there was a reminder of the presence of God. That IS my favorite memory from the Greek islands.

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

7 Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land. 8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NLT

So much to be grateful for! “Don’t be afraid – He will neither fail you nor abandon you”!

Have you ever felt abandoned? Lost and afraid? It’s a sinking feeling; almost a hopelessness. Our heavenly Father never wants us to experience that kind of desperation.

“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do…I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.” Psalm 139:1-10 NLT

There is no place we will ever go or ever be that our loving, heavenly Father doesn’t go with us.

Jonah was in the belly of a fish; the three Hebrew children were in a fiery furnace, Paul was lost in the sea, the thief was hanging on the cross, the woman was in an adulterous affair and David was facing a giant. All the time, God was there.

We used to sing a song that went something like this: “The place where I worship is the wide, open spaces built by the hand of the Lord. The trees of the forest are like pipes of an organ and the breeze plays an amen chord…”

Like our friends in Greece, we need to take time to worship God no matter where we are.

In a hospital room, a court room, an empty home, a crowded office or a bustling interstate, God is there.

Anywhere we go can become a place of worship if we open our hearts and praise the One who has promised to never leave us alone or abandon us!

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No Expiration

Maintaining a grateful and thankful heart is proof that the Holy Spirit is working in us. Knowing that God has blessed us with our talents and natural abilities, our strengths, our health, our relationships and our finances keeps gratitude fresh.

Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father and as we thank Him for these things we are kept from self-centeredness and the idea that we have things because we are so darn special.

The Apostle Paul warns us of the attitudes that will surface as we come to the “last days” – it certainly sounds like it could come from any newspaper or police blotter across the nation.

“Remember this: There are some terrible times coming in the last days. 2 People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud and boast about themselves. They will abuse others with insults. They will not obey their parents. They will be ungrateful and against all that is pleasing to God. 3 They will have no love for others and will refuse to forgive anyone. They will talk about others to hurt them and will have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.” II Timothy 3:1-3 ERV

Has gratitude expired? Has thankfulness become like a jug of milk that has sat in the refrigerator for too long?

There are expiration dates on warranties, coupons, credit cards, canned goods. However, there are some things that never expire. There is no expiration date on God’s mercy!

Whew!

I know that I don’t mess up as much as I once did but still there are screw ups, failures, and downright disobedience. It is so comforting to know that His mercy endures forever.

“The Lord is our God, and he has given us light! Start the celebration! March with palm branches all the way to the altar. 28 The Lord is my God! I will praise him and tell him how thankful I am. 29 Tell the Lord how thankful you are, because he is kind and always merciful.” Psalm 118:27-29 CEV

In this chapter we find the phrase “because he is kind and always merciful” five times or as it says in the King James version “his mercy endureth forever”.

No expiration dates. Mercy is the act of forgiving or restoring when we’ve done nothing to deserve it. God has every right to judge us harshly for the things we’ve done, and He doesn’t! Now that’s a lot to be thankful for.

I hope you will read the rest of this chapter in its’ entirety. It’s a wonderful chapter of praise but before I close this morning I will add these few verses from the beginning of the chapter.

“Let every true worshiper of the Lord shout, ‘God is always merciful!’ 5 When I was really hurting, I prayed to the Lord. He answered my prayer, and took my worries away. 6 The Lord is on my side, and I am not afraid of what others can do to me. 7 With the Lord on my side, I will defeat all of my hateful enemies. 8 It is better to trust the Lord for protection than to trust anyone else, 9 including strong leaders.” Psalms 118:4-9 CEV

God is always merciful. Don’t let your gratitude expired.

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Grateful for Unconditional Love

Unconditional love and loving-kindness walk hand in hand.

We saw over the last week that the loving-kindness of God is His love in action. His protection, provision, peace and forgiveness. Forgiveness is certainly paramount in my life and thoughts.

For years, I felt I had to earn God’s love. I needed to be reading my Bible every day, praying according to some set standard, going to church by man’s standard, doing as many good works as possible and giving, not only finances but my time, according to a standard.

I couldn’t! I didn’t measure up to the standard of a good Christian.

“My dear children, I am writing this to you so you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, there is One Who will go between him and the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the One Who is right with God. 2 He paid for our sins with His own blood. He did not pay for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.” I John 2:1-2 NLV

My sins – past, present and future – were paid for by Christ. We were on His heart before He went to the cross and willingly gave His life. We were forefront in His thoughts. He died for us. He wanted us to have an unbroken relationship with His Father.

“I do not pray for these followers only. I pray for those who will put their trust in Me through the teaching they have heard. 21 May they all be as one, Father, as You are in Me and I am in You. May they belong to Us. Then the world will believe that You sent Me. 22 I gave them the honor You gave Me that they may be one as We are One. 23 I am in them and You are in Me so they may be one and be made perfect. Then the world may know that You sent Me and that You love them as You love Me.” John 17:20-23 NLV

This was just part of the prayer Jesus prayed on the night He was arrested and taken to trial. His thoughts weren’t on the persecution He was about to face, He was thinking of us!

“The Lord says, ‘I love you people with a love that continues forever. That is why I have continued showing you kindness.'” Jeremiah 31:3 ERV

Forever!

“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Romans 3:22-24 NLT

I want to spend my time walking and talking with Him each day. My Father loves me. All those things I said I felt I had to do to earn and deserve God’s love, I now do because of my love and gratitude for His unconditional love!

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Consider the Cost

What does counting the cost have to do with Thanksgiving?

Many of us are counting the cost these days. The cost of fuel at the gas station, the price of groceries keeps going higher and now we are looking forward to Christmas and the presents we would like to buy for family and friends.

If you’re on a budget all of this brings up the thoughts of cost cutting. But once again, how does this tie into having a thankful heart?

I was reminded of not counting the cost the other day when I came home and heard a song on Pandora.

“Here I am to worship,

Here I am to bow down,

Here I am to say that you’re my God,

You’re altogether lovely,

Altogether worthy,

Altogether wonderful to me.

I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.

I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.

And I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.

No I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.” By Chris Tomlin

“I’ll never know how much it cost”…stop and think about that!

How much did it cost Jesus to bear our sin? It cost Him relationship with His Father. It cost Him His home in heaven, His reputation. He was hated by men and hated by the realm of Satan and his demons and they spent time trying to destroy Him. He was misunderstood by His friends and family. It cost Him His physical life, which He laid down willingly, but only for three days and then He rose again!

Aren’t we glad that Jesus didn’t look for cost saving measures when it came to our salvation. No second-rate sacrifice, only the most costly would do. To Jesus, we were worth it!

“He was hated and rejected; his life was filled with sorrow and terrible suffering. No one wanted to look at him. We despised him and said, ‘He is a nobody!’ 4 He suffered and endured great pain for us, but we thought his suffering was punishment from God. 5 He was wounded and crushed because of our sins; by taking our punishment, he made us completely well…

8 He was condemned to death without a fair trial. Who could have imagined what would happen to him? His life was taken away because of the sinful things my people had done. 9 He wasn’t dishonest or violent, but he was buried in a tomb of cruel and rich people. 10 The LORD decided his servant would suffer as a sacrifice to take away the sin and guilt of others. Now the servant will live to see his own descendants. He did everything the LORD had planned. 11 By suffering, the servant will learn the true meaning of obeying the LORD.

Although he is innocent, he will take the punishment for the sins of others, so that many of them will no longer be guilty. 12 The LORD will reward him with honor and power for sacrificing his life. Others thought he was a sinner, but he suffered for our sins and asked God to forgive us.” Isaiah 53:3-12 CEV

This is loving kindness. This is how valuable Jesus thinks we are. Thank you Jesus for going through all of this just for me!

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Love to be Kind

Do you have a friend who loves to be kind? They are there to help before you ask. The type of person who looks for opportunities to be encourage and support, one who gives with all their heart?

That’s loving-kindness. That’s what we have been talking about for the last two days. That’s our heavenly Father.

“Then the trees of the woods will sing for joy before the Lord. For He is coming to judge the earth. 34 O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His loving-kindness lasts forever. 35 Then say, ‘Set us free, O God Who saves us. Gather and save us from among the nations, to give thanks to Your holy name, and have joy in Your praise.” I Chronicles 16:33-35 NLV

His loving-kindness lasts forever! As of yet, we have not reached forever so the loving-kindness of our God continues to reach out to us.

When we walk, mindful of the Lord in all we do, we are an example of His loving-kindness. Our families will see it, our co-workers and neighbors will take notice. We become receptacles of His love.

The loving-kindness of the Lord flows into our lives through a conduit of His grace and we in turn become a cup that runs over with His goodness.

“You honor me by anointing my head with oil.  My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love (loving-kindness) will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:5b-6 NLT

I would like to share one final excerpt from the Love in the Long Term.

“Hesed is a bone-weary father who drives through the night to bail his drug-addict son out of jail. Hesed is a mom who spends day after thankless day spoon-feeding and wiping up after her disabled child. Hesed is an unsung pastor’s wife whose long-suffering, tearful prayers keep her exhausted husband from falling apart at the seams. Hesed is love that can be counted on, decade after decade. It’s not about the thrill of romance, but the security of faithfulness.”

Loving-kindness is the act of loving to be kind. Kindness is always at the forefront resulting in loving actions. Time and again the Bible tells us that Jesus was moved with compassion. He saw with His heart and then acted in a way that made a difference. Loving-kindness.

“Loving-favor and loving–kindness and peace are ours as we live in truth and love. These come from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the Son of the Father.” I John 2:3 NLV

Be grateful today that our Father loves to be kind!

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Loving-Kindness

Today starts our month of heart preparation. Preparation for gratitude.

There is a Hebrew word used throughout the Old Testament, the word is Hesed, Chesed or Chesedh. Most often it is translated loving-kindness or mercy but it’s much deeper than we imagine.

“I will show you and teach you in the way you should go. I will tell you what to do with My eye upon you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the donkey which have no understanding. They must be made to work by using bits and leather ropes or they will not come to you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the sinful. But loving-kindness will be all around the man who trusts in the Lord. 11 Be glad in the Lord and be full of joy, you who are right with God! Sing for joy all you who are pure in heart!” Psalm 32:8-10 NLV

Hesed is a deep and abiding love – the unconditional love of God. It is His covenant, His unbreakable promise to us as His children. It is a blood bond, a blood covenant. Not something we are familiar with in Western culture but something that was very prevalent in the African and European histories. The closest we come to it here in the America’s is the “blood brothers” of Native American tribes.

A stronger, more affluent, tribe would cut the skin, mingle their blood with a weaker and more defenseless tribe. The stronger vowing to protect and defend the weaker; the weaker promising to provide food or water for the more powerful. Each one vowing to give all they had to provide for the other. That is hesed.

That is loving-kindness.

Here in Arizona the Apache and Pima tribes had just such a covenant. The Apache were fierce warriors, and the Pima were excellent farmers. They entered a blood covenant, an hesed, where the Apache would protect the Pimas, who were not warriors at all and in turn the Pima would grow enough corn and other crops to feed their Apache blood brothers.

“ But it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the promise He made to your fathers. So the Lord brought you out by a strong hand. He set you free from the land where you were servants, and from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know then that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God. He keeps His promise and shows His loving-kindness to those who love Him and keep His Laws, even to a thousand family groups in the future.” Deuteronomy 7:8-9 NLV

With grateful hearts, we thank the Father for His loving-kindness that extends to a thousand generations and beyond. By His power, He delivered the Israelites from Egypt and by His promise of love, hesed, He keeps that promise of loving-kindness to us, thousands of generations later.

“Let us go with complete trust to the throne of God. We will receive His loving-kindness and have His loving-favor to help us whenever we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 NLV

For the next couple of days we will look at more Scriptures that speak of the loving-kindness of God.

I can’t think of a better way to prepare our hearts for a day of thanksgiving than by focusing on the One who shows us unconditional love and favor! Afterall, He’s written us a love letter.

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Love Letters

Today is rarely, if ever, associated with love. However, I refuse to give away even one day and not focus on the love of God.

Through the years my confidence in God’s word has grown. What was once a hope in the truth of the Scriptures has become a steadfast faith in the infallibility and eternal truth that is only found in God’s word.

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:35 NLV

God’s word will never fail; love never fails. God’s word is the written expression of His love. He has chosen to share His heart with us in the pages of His word.

Have you ever received a love letter?

I bet you read it more than once. It’s possible that you read it so many times that you nearly had it memorized before the next one came. I don’t think love letters have quite the impact they did years ago. Letter writing was the communication of the day. Not very fast but treasured.

God loves us so much that He took the time to write the most amazing love letter! Reading it over and over again we find new things that we didn’t see the first time and reading it long enough we are impacted by His great love.

“1 I will confess and praise You [O God] with my whole heart; before the gods will I sing praises to You. 2 I will worship toward Your holy temple and praise Your name for Your loving-kindness and for Your truth and faithfulness; for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and You have magnified Your word above all Your name!
3 In the day when I called, You answered me; and You strengthened me with strength (might and inflexibility to temptation) in my inner self. 4 All the kings of the land shall give You credit and praise You, O Lord, for they have heard of the promises of Your mouth [which were fulfilled]…6 For though the Lord is high, yet has He respect to the lowly [bringing them into fellowship with Him]; but the proud and haughty He knows and recognizes [only] at a distance. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. 8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever—forsake not the works of Your own hands.” Psalm 138 AMP

The name of the Lord is to be lifted higher than any other name. The name of God the Father and His Son Jesus are to be honored – that’s why it’s considered “profane” when their names are used in cursing and damning. God is not the damn-er but the blesser.

In verse 2 of this chapter, it also says that God has magnified His Word more than His name. That’s the value that God puts on His Word. In Psalm 107 we read that He sent His word and healed them.

In verse 8, God promises to perfect that “which concerns me”. As a loving father reaches out to help His child, my heavenly Father reaches out to “treat me with kindness”, as one translation says.

Put down the texting, FB and other means of electronic communication today and read the love letter that was written to you! It will warm your heart and change your life.

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Lost & Alone

This morning my thoughts went back to the sheep we learned from a few days ago.

The nighttime temperatures have dropped in the desert. This morning, although I had the window open all night, I needed to close it. When I first got up it was 52* and now it’s down to 47*. Not freezing but chilly. Then I heard the coyotes; they are on the prowl, seeking an unsuspecting prey.

That little sheep that was lagging behind can be easily separated from the flock and the Shepherd. It becomes vulnerable to the elements, the darkness and to predators.

“Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you. 8 Control yourselves and be careful! The devil is your enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion (or a coyote) looking for someone to attack and eat. 9 Refuse to follow the devil. Stand strong in your faith. You know that your brothers and sisters all over the world are having the same sufferings that you have.” I Peter 5:7-9 ERV

Worry will sidetrack us, it causes us to lag behind and become separated. It leaves us searching, trying to be self-sufficient and we lose sight of the Shepherd. Then like a coyote or a wolf the devil, our enemy, comes in for the kill.

He’s a faith killer.

Remember what he said to Eve in the garden, “The snake spoke to the woman and said, “Woman, did God really tell you that you must not eat from any tree in the garden?” Genesis 3:1 ERV

He asks questions like did God really promise to never abandon you, did He really tell you not to worry, does His word really say He will protect and provide for you. He is the great deceiver, and he will bring doubt wherever he can.

Enter the good Shepherd.

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” Luke 15:4-7 NLT

Jesus is in the seeking and saving business. He leaves the 99 safely in the sheep fold and goes searching for the lost.

For those who feel lost and alone, cry out – the Shepherd is there, He will save you!

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Opposing Functions

I love spending time with our grandkids. Last night we took Sam, our eight-year-old grandson for his belated birthday dinner.

We had been in Greece on his actual birthday and had Face Timed with him before he went to school that morning, but this was our night out. We went to Wendy’s. His choice.

We were talking with him about the things he likes and what he’s doing in school. He’s in third grade now and he’s learning division. I was impressed. We talked about addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, when he said this, “Those are opposing functions”.

I don’t think I even knew what a function was when I was in 3rd grade but yes, you’re right. They are opposing functions.

That phrase stuck with me the rest of the evening. I knew the Lord was trying to get through to me so, I stayed up after Dave went to bed and listened.

I realized there are several opposing functions in Scripture. We’ve looked at one the last two days, patience and impatience. However, it goes deeper than that.

“Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God.” II Corinthians 5:21 ERV

Now, that’s a mammoth opposing function. Christ took our sin, although He had never done anything contrary to God’s will and gave us His right standing with God, although we had never done anything worthy of righteousness.

“ He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” Romans 4:21-24 NLT

For a long time, I couldn’t see myself as righteous. That’s a religious word meaning in right standing. Every time I looked at my past, I saw all the ways I didn’t measure up and looking to the future, I had no hope that would change.

It was all about me! And I wasn’t good enough.

I had known verse 8 of Romans 5 from the time I was a little girl, but I remember the first time in my adult life when it rang true in my heart. I was sitting at my kitchen table, in a little rented house in Glendale, AZ. Dave was at work, Kim was at all-day kindergarten and Koy was napping in his room.

I had my Bible open and was praying for God to give me something to live by.

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5:6-11 NLT

I cried then and I have tears in my eyes now.

Christ took my sin and made me a friend of God – now that’s an opposing function!

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Making an Impact

Yesterday morning shortly after I finished writing this blog our grandkids started waking up. It was time to set aside the computer and instead of posting I watched the sunrise, all the while snuggling in the blanket and getting hugs and kisses…this blog needed to wait.

How will I be remembered? As I went to bed last night that was the question running through my mind.

Three little grandkids tucked in beds. They are 8, 6, and 4; Dave and I are not. We have 2 older grandchildren, 30 and 26. They will remember more about us than the younger ones. I thought about my grandparents. They lived in Iowa, and we lived in Arizona. I only remember them visiting a few times and we only made a couple of trips there.

My one grandmother came to Arizona for a few years after my grandfather died. She remarried and sadly, the only “grandpa” I really knew passed a few years later. Grama moved back to Iowa shortly after that but while she was there, I would walk to her house from my elementary school and have lunch with her.

She was a godly woman, short and always joyful. She was a prayer warrior. Each morning she would pray for her children, her grandchildren, great grandchildren, stepchildren and their children. She prayed for missionaries and friends, her siblings and their children. She did this for decades. She died and went to heaven at the age of 93.

“ I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” I Timothy 1:5 NLT

Will my grandchildren remember my faith and my love for the Lord? That’s the legacy I want to leave for them.

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 NLT

They will remember the baby chick pancakes and the big box of craft stuff. They will remember the donuts we bring ea.ch time we come and the special one-on-one time we share around their birthdays. The hunting for rocks, rides in the Razor and swimming together

“In the future your children will ask you, ‘What is the meaning of these laws, decrees, and regulations that the Lord our God has commanded us to obey?’

21 “Then you must tell them,…‘22 The Lord did miraculous signs and wonders before our eyes,…24 And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear him so he can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as he has done to this day. 25 For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us.’” Deuteronomy 6:20-25 NLT

When our grandchildren ask, “why do you love and serve the Lord, why do you read your Bible and pray”, my answer will be “The Lord did miraculous signs and wonders before our eyes”, He has always been faithful to us, and He will be faithful to you!

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