Category: God’s Love

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Each Day Has Promise

I know some are waking up this morning filled with a sense of regret. Don’t let past failures, current obstacles or the devil’s lies rob you of this day’s promises.

“God’s way is perfect. The Lord’s promise always proves to be true. He protects those who trust in him.” Psalm 18:30 ERV

Embrace God’s promise for today. Let His word be your focus and sense of strength. Don’t let 3% of difficulties overwhelm the 97% of God’s goodness. In fact, the 97% of difficulty is never greater than just 3% of what God’s faithfulness can do.

“Lord, listen to me and understand what I am trying to say. 2 My God and King, listen to my prayer. 3 Every morning, Lord, I lay my gifts before you and look to you for help. And every morning you hear my prayers.

4 God, you don’t want evil people near you. They cannot stay in your presence. 5 Fools come near you. You hate those who do evil. 6 You destroy those who tell lies. Lord, you hate those who make secret plans to hurt others.

7 But by your great mercy, I can enter your house. I can worship in your holy Temple with fear and respect for you. 8 Lord, show me your right way of living, and make it easy for me to follow. People are looking for my weaknesses, so show me how you want me to live.

9 My enemies never tell the truth. They only want to destroy people. Their words come from mouths that are like open graves. They use their lying tongues to deceive others. 10 Punish them, God! Let them be caught in their own traps. They have turned against you, so punish them for their many crimes.

11 But let those who trust in you be happy forever. Protect and strengthen those who love your name. 12 Lord, when you bless good people, you surround them with your love, like a large shield that protects them.” Psalm 5 ERV

We are surrounded by His love!

The Father’s love protects and gives us strength!

This is our promise for today, it’s as real as the rainbow in the sky. Never doubt the Father’s love!

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Separated

The last several days we have experienced a real disconnect from cell and internet service. I know you recognize this as a common problem because I mention it when I am delayed with postings, sometimes by days and others by just hours.

But for some reason this time was particularly disheartening. I felt isolated, you see it was my birthday a couple of days ago and I was receiving notifications that I had messages and comments waiting but I had no way of reading them. It made me sad.

I was telling the Father about this yesterday morning and as the sun was coming up I looked out the window and saw this little glimpse of heaven’s beauty shining in. This glow of sunrise let me know that the Father was there and although I was separated from all of you, I wasn’t from Him.

“So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” Romans 8:35-39 MSG

“I’m absolutely convinced that nothing…absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love”!

Nothing absolutely nothing.

The only thing that separated us at one time was our sin but the blood of Christ took care of that.

“God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he’s rich in love. He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins. As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.” Psalm 103:7-14 MSG

Our Father has separated us from our sins!

He made the way for us always to be connected to Him; we are always in right standing because of His grace.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, can or will separate us from the Father’s love!

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Deeper than the Holler

I often wonder what people do who don’t like being alone with just their own thoughts.

My morning quiet time is filled with thoughts that seem to run amuck but then I find that they all come together at one destination. Take this morning for instance. I woke up with the words of a Randy Travis song running through my head.

“My love is deeper than the holler.
Stronger than the river.
Higher than the pine trees growin’ tall upon the hill.
My love is purer than the snowflakes,
That fall in late December.
And honest as a Robin on a springtime window sill.
And longer than the song of a whippoorwill.”

As I thought on those lyrics my mind was drawn back to yesterday’s Bible reading.

“14-15 As long as I live, show me the same kindness the Lord does. And if I die, never stop showing this kindness to my family. Be faithful to us, even when the Lord destroys all your enemies from the earth.” 16 So Jonathan made this agreement with David and his family, and he asked the Lord to hold them responsible for keeping it.

17 Jonathan loved David as himself, and because of this love, he asked David to repeat this agreement for himself.” I Samuel 20:14-17 ERV

Jonathan and David had an unusual friendship. Jonathan’s father was King Saul, whom David would replace as king. Saul hated David and made many plots to kill him. Jonathan’s friendship with David made him more loyal to David than to his father. There was a deep love between the two of them, so great was that love that they were willing to die for one another and willing to commit to raising the other’s family if something happened to either one of them.

Their love was deeper than the holler.

Now add a third thought – yesterday had been a rainy afternoon. The kind where you could only sit inside and watch as it poured down. It was an afternoon for movies. The first, Gods and Generals, we have seen a number of times before.

It is a movie about the Civil War and the love General Lee and General Jackson had for their homeland of Virginia. They were willing to lead men, like-minded men, into battle to protect their families and their homes. The second movie, The Terminal, starring Tom Hanks was about a son’s commitment to see his father’s final wish fulfilled.

These men had a love that was stronger than the rivers.

“I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep…17 The Father loves me because I give my life. I give my life so that I can get it back again. 18 No one takes my life away from me. I give my own life freely. I have the right to give my life, and I have the right to get it back again. This is what the Father told me.” John 10:11,17-18 ERV

Final thought.

Men love with an earthly love. God loves with an unconditional, sacrifical, willing to give up life love!

Now for the final destination of those thoughts. The love a couple have for one another is deeper than the holler. The love of two friends is stronger than a river. The love of country is higher than the pine trees and the love of a son for his father is purer than the snow.

But the love that Christ has for us immeasurable, incomparable and inexhaustible.

“And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.” Ephesians 3:18-19 ERV

Now those thoughts are certainly worth more than a bank full of pennies!

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A Haze on the Meadow

This was the scene out my window this morning – there was a haze on the meadow.

You know I love taking pictures but I’m far from being a real photographer. I look at great photography as real art. The ability to capture the beauty that is seen with the natural eye through a lens is a true gift!

I take a lot of pictures and the thing I realized was how quickly I had been in taking some of them. Blurry – delete. Off center – crop. No one was ready – trash it.

The true photographer is patient; waiting for the right angle, the perfect light and then they bring it all into focus! A masterpiece.

A lot of people take life the same way – hurry up and click. Snap, snap, snap. Delete, trash it, do over. Or better yet they spent their lives taking selfies and never learn to include the beauty or the people around them.

With a Christ-centered focus, we can zoom in on what’s important. Bring even the tiniest of details up close and appreciate the intricate design – the design of health, friendship, innocence, honesty, joy, patience, love.

Reminds me of the story Jesus told of the Good Samaritan. The priest and the Levite were too busy taking selfies to be concerned with the hurting of the man who had been robbed but the Samaritan zoomed in, focused on the situation and saw the beauty of caring for someone other than himself.

“The next day, the Samaritan took out two silver coins and gave them to the man who worked at the inn. He said, ‘Take care of this hurt man. If you spend more money on him, I will pay it back to you when I come again.’

36 Then Jesus said, ‘Which one of these three men do you think was really a neighbor to the man who was hurt by the robbers?’

37 The teacher of the law answered, ‘The one who helped him.’

Jesus said, ‘Then you go and do the same.’” Luke 10:35-37 ERV

Lord, improve my focus today. Let me love my neighbor as you have loved me.

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Wrapped in Warmth

When I was praying this morning, I wrote these words: “Let me wear Your compassion like a cape and willingly wrap all who need the warmth of Your love”.

It’s a chilly morning, lots of moisture in the air from yesterday’s rain and although I’m wrapped in my fleece blanket, I was thinking about my warm cape that I usually wear in winter. There’s more than enough yardage to wrap around myself and my grandchildren. It’s perfect for snuggling.

That cape serves to keep me warm and it is an example of how the Father wraps us in the warmth of His compassion.

“The Lord is kind and merciful, patient and full of love. 9 The Lord is good to everyone.
 He shows his mercy to everything he made. 10 Lord, all you have made will give thanks to you. Your loyal followers will praise you. 11 They will tell how great your kingdom is. They will tell how great you are…The Lord can be trusted in all that he says.  He is loyal in all that he does. 14 The Lord lifts up people who have fallen.  He helps those who are in trouble. 15 All living things look to you for their food, and you give them their food at the right time. 16 You open your hands and give every living thing all that it needs. 17 Everything the Lord does is good. Everything he does shows how loyal he is. 18 The Lord is near to everyone who sincerely calls to him for help. 19 He listens to his followers and does what they want. He answers their prayers and saves them. 20 The Lord protects everyone who loves him, but he destroys all who do evil. 21 I will praise the Lord! Let everyone praise his holy name forever and ever!” Psalm 145:8-21 ERV

These verses are some of my “every day” read. “The Lord is kind and merciful, patient and full of love.”

Daily He reaches out to us. Daily He wraps us in His love. Daily He listens to our prayers. Daily He protects us. Daily I will praise Him!

Maybe you are feeling a bit of a chill this morning, maybe you are feeling cold and indifferent. The Lord can be trusted, He lifts us the fallen and everything He does is good.

Take a few minutes to tell Him your heart and let Him wrap you in the warmth of His love.

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Wonderfully Made

“Lord, you have tested me,
    so you know all about me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I get up.
    You know my thoughts from far away.
3 You know where I go and where I lie down.
    You know everything I do.
4 Lord, you know what I want to say,
    even before the words leave my mouth.
5 You are all around me—in front of me and behind me.
    I feel your hand on my shoulder.
6 I am amazed at what you know;
    it is too much for me to understand.
7 Your Spirit is everywhere I go.
    I cannot escape your presence.
8 If I go up to heaven, you will be there.
    If I go down to the place of death, you will be there.
9 If I go east where the sun rises
    or go to live in the west beyond the sea,
10 even there you will take my hand and lead me.
    Your strong right hand will protect me.

11 Suppose I wanted to hide from you and said,
    “Surely the darkness will hide me.
    The day will change to night and cover me.”
12 Even the darkness is not dark to you.
    The night is as bright as the day.
    Darkness and light are the same.
13 You formed the way I think and feel.
    You put me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way.
    I know how amazing that was!

15 You could see my bones grow as my body took shape,
    hidden in my mother’s womb.
16 You could see my body grow each passing day.
    You listed all my parts, and not one of them was missing.
17 Your thoughts are beyond my understanding.
    They cannot be measured!
18 If I could count them, they would be more than all the grains of sand.
    But when I finished, I would have just begun.” Psalm 139:1-18 ERV

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The Father’s Love

My heavenly Father is beyond description! His works are marvelous and His love is never ending!!

When I was younger, I loved to sing and spent countless hours practicing and memorizing song lyrics. My heart and my head were filled with this melody by John W. Peterson.

My Father is omnipotent
And that you can’t deny
A God of might and miracles
‘Tis written in the sky.

It took a miracle
To put the stars in place
It took a miracle
To hang the moon in space
But when He saved my soul
Cleansed and made me whole
It took a miracle
Of love and grace!

I see my Father’s presence all around me. It’s in the song of the birds, in the beauty of a sunset or a sunrise; it’s in the refreshing of the rain and the colors of the blooms. His love is wrapped in every smile and hug and His mercy is shown through every act of forgiveness.

I marvel that He cut the canyons and prepared the landscapes for my enjoyment. He knew I would love the panoramic vistas He set before me. He gave me the desert, the mountains and the oceans for my playground.

How I love that He chose me, He adopted me and gave me the priviledge to call him Papa Father.

“14 The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them. 15 The Spirit that we received is not a spirit that makes us slaves again and causes us to fear. The Spirit that we have makes us God’s chosen children. And with that Spirit we cry out, “ Abba, Father.” 16 And the Spirit himself speaks to our spirits and makes us sure that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:14-17 ERV

Thank you Papa for your amazing love. Thank you for adopting me. Thank you. Happy Father’s Day.

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A Perfect Heart

Years ago we learned a song in church that still rings in my heart.

“Bless the Lord Who reigns with beauty
Bless the Lord Who reigns with wisdom and with power
Bless the Lord Who reigns my life with so much love
He can make a perfect heart“

No matter how hard we try, we can’t make our heart perfect. It’s beyond our ability but in Christ, we have been made a new creature and with that we are given God’s DNA (divine nature ability).

Our life in Christ gives us His righteousness as an exchange for our sin.

“But Christ offered only one sacrifice for sins, and that sacrifice is good for all time. Then he sat down at the right side of God. 13 And now Christ waits there for his enemies to be put under his power. 14 With one sacrifice Christ made his people perfect forever.” Hebrews 10:12-14

A perfect heart. A heart filled with love!

“My children, let us not love with words or in talk only. Let us love by what we do and in truth. 19 This is how we know we are Christians. It will give our heart comfort for sure when we stand before Him.” I John 3:18-19 NLV

Loving in deed and not words only. The old adage “actions speak louder than words” rings true.

“God so loved the world that He gave”…He gave what meant the most to Him, Jesus! Jesus gave what was most valuable to Him, his life.

“17 The Father loves me, because I give up my life, so I may receive it back again. 18 No one takes my life from me. I give it up willingly! I have the power to give it up and the power to receive it back again, just as my Father commanded me to do.” John 10:17-18 CEV

A perfect heart.

” Now I tell you to love each other, as I have loved you. 13 The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them. 14 And you are my friends, if you obey me.” John 15:12-14 CEV

Father, my desire is to be like Jesus. I want a heart that is open to serving others in the same way that Jesus did. Let my life reflect you in all I do. I desire a perfect heart. Amen.

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Orphaned? Not Alone!

In a few days I will commemorate the first anniversary of my mother’s death. I know many of you have already experienced this and understand the feelings of being an adult orphan. I’m hurting but I have also found amazing comfort.

It’s unusual not to have anyone to call mom or dad. I guess that’s one of the reasons my relationship with my heavenly Father is so precious.

“Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Prepare the way for the one who rides on the clouds. His name is Yah. Worship before him with joy.5 God, who lives in his holy palace, is a father to orphans, and he takes care of widows. 6 God provides homes for those who are lonely. He frees people from prison and makes them happy.” Psalm 68:4-6 ERV

He is a father to orphans – there is nothing that Scripture doesn’t cover. There is absolutely nothing that pertains to us that our Father doesn’t care about.

My morning quiet times gives me the opportunity to cuddle in and feel His loving arms around me. It’s my time to tell Him my hurts and my joys. It’s my time for Him to remind me I’m never alone and He causes my fears to dissipate.

“The Lord is as kind to his followers as a father is to his children. 14 He knows all about us.
He knows we are made from dust. 15 He knows our lives are short, that they are like grass.
He knows we are like a little wildflower that grows so quickly,16 but when the hot wind blows, it dies. Soon, you cannot even see where the flower was. 17 But the Lord has always loved his followers, and he will continue to love them forever and ever!” Psalm 103:13-17 ERV

He has always loved me and He will continue to love me forever! He loves you in exactly the same way. All of His kids are recipients of His unconditional love. The comfort we receive from Him is to be shared.

“Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort. 4 He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share this same comfort with others in trouble.” II Corinthians 1:3-4 CEV

He molds our hearts; He shapes them to be like His. He wants the world to know of His amazing love and we get to be His ambassadors.

“God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others. 19 What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace.” II Corinthians 5:18-19 CEV

Remember when we were kids and mom, or dad did something really special just for us? We couldn’t wait to tell our friends – we bragged on how amazing they were. That’s the feeling I get from the verses above.

Our heavenly Father has been so amazing to take us in and make us His own, I just have to brag about it.

We may have been orphaned; but with God’s love we will never be alone!

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I’m So Excited!

How’s that song go? “I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it. I’m about to lose control and I think I like it”.

Yes, that’s how I’m feeling this morning. The new refrigerator has been installed and is working properly and today we head to the mountain! I just wish all of you could go with us.

Did you wake up excited this morning? Do you have special plans for the weekend? Are you going to spend time with those you love? Maybe it’s a special anniversary or birthday you’ll be celebrating, or possibly a good report from your doctor. Whatever the event, large or small, it’s always better when we remember to thank the Father for his blessings.

“Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same.” James 1:17 ERV

The Lord wants us to be excited about life. Why else would He fill it with wonder?

Sunrises and sunsets could be a dull gray. Waterfalls could be unimpressive trickles. The “Grand Canyon” could be just a subtle ditch. A child’s giggle could be monotoned. Without the blessings of the Lord our lives would be mundane and far from the abundant life He promised.

“God, your goodness reaches far above the skies. You have done wonderful things. God, there is no one like you.” Psalm 71:19 ERV

Be excited about what God has done, is doing now and will do with our future! He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Let me encourage you to embrace each day with joy. Wrap your arms around the morning and say, “Father, I don’t know all the details of the day, but I know that You have designed it for my good”.

“But you are his chosen people, the King’s priests. You are a holy nation, people who belong to God. He chose you to tell about the wonderful things he has done. He brought you out of the darkness of sin into his wonderful light.” I Peter 2:10 ERV

If we truly believe God’s promise of abundant life, we will search for those blessings like a kid at Christmas. Oral Roberts was known for his saying, “Something good is going to happen to you today”.

“‘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. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.'” Jeremiah 29:11-13 ERV

Search for the Lord. He has planned a good future for us. Now, that’s something to be excited about!

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