Category: God’s Love

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The Father’s Love

When our children were small, we were farming, night and day.  We had very little free time, so they spent a lot of time in the fields with us. One day we were walking across the hay fields and I saw our son following behind his dad. He was imitating Dave’s every step. He would stop and look at the fields each time Dave stopped. He took the same giant leap to cross the irrigation ditch that his dad did. That is a moment I will never forget.  

God wants us to be the same way with Him. He wants us to imitate Him.  He is our loving heavenly Father!

“Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.” Ephesians 5:1-2 MSG

 Life, in general, is constantly evolving. We are growing from infancy to the grave. We develop in our relationships and maturity. We have numerous jobs from youth to retirement.

 In God’s eyes we are in a multifaceted role as well. Our first position being that of unbeliever but after accepting Jesus as Savior, we take on the life of believers in Christ.

 As a follower of Christ, we have many callings. The Bible says we are sons, joint heirs, the righteousness of God, conquerors, overcomers, the body of Christ, and the temple of the Holy Spirit. These are only a few of our many facets. Through this teaching we will see from God’s Word the requirements and instructions that go with each one.

Let’s open our hearts to learn from the Lord as we go through the pages of this book.

“Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask you to open my spirit so that I may receive instructions from Your Word. Let me use what the Holy Spirit reveals to make my life conform to You in a greater way than it has up to this time. I desire to be an imitator of you as Jesus was. Amen.”

Our first relationship (facet) to develop is that as “sons”.

“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, who was born from a woman and lived under the law. 5 God did this so that he could buy the freedom of those who were under the law. God’s purpose was to make us his children.

6 Since you are now God’s children, he has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts. The Spirit cries out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are not slaves like before. You are God’s children, and you will receive everything he promised his children.”  Galatians 4:4-7 ERV

We are children who have a very loving Father. This is a special family relationship. Originally, we were born with a sin nature and Jesus said that the devil was acting as our father and we lived in a kingdom of darkness.

 “You don’t understand the things I say, because you cannot accept my teaching. 44 Your father is the devil. You belong to him. You want to do what he wants. He was a murderer from the beginning. He was always against the truth. There is no truth in him. He is like the lies he tells. Yes, the devil is a liar. He is the father of lies.” John 8:43-44 ERV

Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth was to give us a new heritage. We no longer have to belong to an evil father. The relationship with God that mankind had was lost in the Garden of Eden through Adam’s disobedience, was restored when Jesus came. God’s plan was to give us a new Father and a new family relationship.

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Count Your Blessings

Welcome 2021! A new day. A new year.

None of us know what the year will bring but we can all know the One who has designed each day. I encourage you to start each morning by writing down a couple blessings from the day before.

Start a blessing journal and count your blessings.

“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 139:17-18 NLT

Take a minute and read those verses again.

The quantity of God’s thoughts about us are so vast that they cannot be numbered! We are always in His thoughts and on His heart. I know I shared those verses with you a few days ago but since that time I have been so mindful of those words, “I can’t even count them”.

If our heavenly Father had a blessing journal our names would be recorded there. Maybe it would say something like this “Betty thanked me for the sunrise”, “Lon marvelled at My sunset”. “I love those kids of mine, they mean all the world to me”. I just know He must think these thoughts and so many more. More than we can count.

If He’s always thinking about us shouldn’t we be focused on Him as well? Maybe the first entry in our 2021 Blessing Journal should be God has precious thoughts about me, so many thoughts that they can’t be numbered. After that add one or two other things that bless you.

When we write things down it has a way of establishing them in our memory. It’s also helpful, on those days that have been particularly hard , to go back and reread them. This is a way to encourage ourselves. These are daily reminders of God’s love and provision.

The last week while we’ve been camping I have taken hundreds of pictures. Once I get home I will upload them to my computer and when I edit them I will relive the moment I took them. The beauty, the solitude, the peace and the gratitude.

That’s how it is with the word pictures we paint. They allow us to relive the moment.

I pray that your 2021 will be your most amazing year yet. Wake each day knowing that God Almighty loves you and has a wonderful day planned for you specifically. You are always in His thoughts.

As you count your blessings it will be a Happy New Year!

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Kept in a Bottle

Here we are, the day before Christmas. So much has transpired this year and it may be that you feel like sitting down and having a good cry. It’s ok.

“You have kept record of my days of wandering. You have stored my tears in your bottle
 and counted each of them. 9 When I pray, Lord God, my enemies will retreat, because I know for certain that you are with me.” Psalm 56:8-9 CEV

Our Father has saved each tear we have cried. He knows our heart ache and has been there to give us strength, comfort and victory.

Yesterday we arrived at our campsite and it is so peaceful here. I’ve placed a few Christmas decorations on the shelves and little tables to make it festive and still keep it functionable. One daughter and son-in-law are here too and their trailer looks like a Christmas village. So cute.

After we were set up we walked to their site and a wave of sadness washed over me. I began to cry and that’s when the verse above came to mind. Each tear that I wiped from my cheeks were being kept by my Father. He was with me and I could feel His embrace.

Kept in a bottle. He cares!

He cares about you and for you.

“Hannah was brokenhearted and was crying as she prayed,…”But I do feel miserable and terribly upset. I’ve been praying all this time, telling the Lord about my problems.” 17 Eli replied, “You may go home now and stop worrying. I’m sure the God of Israel will answer your prayer.” I Samuel 1:9-17 CEV

This is the account of a wife who couldn’t have children. She was heart broken and she poured out her sorrow to the Lord in prayer. Eli, the priest, saw her and was going to reprimand her because he thought she was drunk but when he heard her story he spoke words of comfort; hope for her soul that God would answer her prayer.

When we come to the Father with our heart’s deepest needs He gives us comfort and peace.

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. 7 Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.” Philippians 4:6-7 CEV

He counts and bottles our tears. He takes our worry and replaces it with peace and our hearts are filled with gratitude for His loving kindness.

May I encourage you today. Give your disappointments and heartaches to the Lord and let Him replace them with joy and peace.

“May you have loving-favor and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:2 NLV

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The Heart of the Matter

Many years ago my writings often came in the form of poetry. Some of those poems were published in a monthly newsletter but most of them were tucked away in a manilla folder in the filing cabinet drawer.

About ten years back I came across that folder and for the first time in a very long while I shared this poem on Christmas. I’d like to share it with you this morning.

Christmas Warms the Heart

Long ago and far away, a child was brought
to earth.

For many years, men had sought, the coming of
His birth.

On quiet hills in pastures green, the flocks
they did sleep.

When shepherds woke from peaceful rest,
heavens glory they did see.

When I hear this story, and remember all
that’s told,

I’d like to have been a shepherd and lived
those years ago.

The angels in their chorus, proclaiming
Peace on Earth

Brings excitement to my soul and my heart is
stirred.

To see the heavens shining bright, a glory
uncompared,

Then walk the road to Bethlehem and find the
Christ child fair.

To kneel before His presence and know that
He was King

What more could I expect from life, His
praises I will sing.

Today I see the tinsel, the glitter and the
toys

The stores are filled with shoppers,
laughing girls and boys,

While streets are lined with trees and
Santas’ ringing bells,

Ovens fill with cookies – oh,those wonderful
smells.

Now it is time to stop from all the things I
do,

To remember Christmas, and it’s meaning that
is true.

It is God’s Son, brought to earth to give
eternal life,

His glory to shine within my heart, not in
the sky of night.

In each of us, Christ wants to live, in
power and in love

Let us proclaim, to men the same, as angels
from above.

Peace on earth can only come, when before
the Son we bow.

We must kneel and honor Him, our lives to
Him we vow.

This year a special gift we give, not like
the kings of old

For it’s not gold or frankincense but a
heart that He can mold.

Many a gift we have received and have given
with joyful heart

But Jesus now this gift we bring, from You
we’ll never part.

O Lord, this is our honest prayer, our gift
we’ll not forget

But that it is a lasting one to which we
will commit.

My heart is warmed by Your love and the gift
You gave to me,

It is in Christ and Christ alone, I find
what Christmas means.

 

Let’s take this time to recommit our heart’s devotion to our loving heavenly Father, the one who gives us life. 

“He said, ‘Teacher, which command in the law is the most important?’ 37 Jesus answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and most important command.'” Matthew 22:36-38 ERV

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Bah Humbug

Christmas can be hard.

Some are going through heartache, adjusting to separation, being isolated from friends and family. Some have experienced the death of the one they love the most. The traditions of years past have lost their meaning or are too hurtful to face alone.

They don’t want to put up the tree and the lights. They don’t want to sing carols and they certainly don’t want to build a snowman.

They do, however, need someone to be close. They need someone else to be strong for them. They need someone to lean on and a shoulder to cry on. This is the real message of Christmas.

Here are the words Jesus spoke about Himself when he began preaching in the Temple, this is the reason He came.

“Someone handed Him the book of the early preacher Isaiah. He opened it and found the place where it was written, 18 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on Me. He has put His hand on Me to preach the Good News to poor people. He has sent Me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent Me to tell those who are being held that they can go free. He has sent Me to make the blind to see and to free those who are held because of trouble. 19 He sent Me to tell of the time when men can receive favor with the Lord.'” Luke 4:17-19 NLV

The message of the angels that first Christmas was “I bring Good News of Great Joy.”

Jesus is our good news – He’s the healer of the broken hearted, He comforts us in our time of sorrow, He gives us joy unspeakable, peace that passes our understanding and He rebuilds what was left wasted and destroyed.

Look around today. I’m sure there will be folks we can laugh and celebrate with but let’s also look for those who may need us. They need us to help them through a rough time.

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT

Be on the look out for those who need our help, our strength and be a wonderful example of God’s love!

Let’s help replace Bah Humbug with Good Tidings of Great Joy!

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Lost in Transit

The beginning of the month we ordered some small steps for Dave’s truck. He’s been patiently waiting. We ordered them in plenty of time for him to install them before we leave on our next camping trip.

They’re still not here!

I’ve been tracking them this whole time but there has been no movement since December 4. I’m so glad it wasn’t a present for one of the grandkids, we can manage without the steps but they would make things better.

They are lost in transit. The delivery date has long since past.

There have been times in life that I feel I have been lost in transit. Times I wish I would have waited on the Lord’s direction a little bit longer. Times I wish I wouldn’t have taken a certain job or moved to a particular place.

Lost in transit. But then I remembered the story of Joseph, who had the coat of many colors.

His life was a series of events which could have labeled him lost in transit. As a young man the Lord gave him a dream that his brothers and father would bow down to him. He would be in a place of authority but the transition was a rough one.

First his brothers sold him as a slave; then he was wrongfully accused of sexual molestation and sent to prison. Once in prison he helped another prisoner and was promised that the pharaoh would learn of his assistance but that promise was forgotten until years later.

Finally Joseph made it to the Pharoah’s palace and promoted. It had been thirteen years. Joseph was lost to his father and his brothers for thirteen years. But in all that time Joseph never became bitter. He didn’t let resentment toward anyone sideline him from doing what was right.

There was a severe famine and his brothers came to Joseph to buy food for their families. They bowed before Joseph, just like he saw in his dream. The amazing thing is Joseph’s reaction.

“Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come near to me.’ So they came near. He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 But do not be troubled or angry with yourselves because you sold me here. For God sent me before you to save your life. 6 For the land has been without food these two years. And there are five more years without plowing or gathering. 7 God sent me before you to make sure that your people will keep living on the earth. Now many of you will be saved. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and ruler of all his house, and of all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go to my father. Say to him, ‘Your son Joseph says to you, “God has made me ruler of all Egypt. Come to me, and do not wait. 10 You will live in the land of Goshen, you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and cattle, and all you have. And you will be near me. 11 There I will take care of you, so that you and your family will not be in need. For there are still five years coming without food. By then you would have nothing.'” Genesis 45:4-11 NLV

There’s an important lesson to be learned here. Joseph may have been abandoned by his family but never by His God. The world didn’t know where Joseph was but God always did and was with him every step of the way.

We may feel that our life and our dreams have been lost, lost in transit but let’s not despair. God knows where we are and He is here with us. Once we recognize God’s presence we can go from desperation to joy.

“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” Psalm 16:11 NLT

When we are in God’s presence we are never lost in transit; we’re just in a process of transition.

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Committed to the Cause

My children enjoy running; this is something I have never said about myself. Yesterday our son-in-law ran his first full marathon. Amazing!

What’s even more admirable is he ran a race that had been cancelled. It takes months to train for a marathon. Little conditioning runs, followed by rest days build to longer days of training until training runs exceed the twenty-mile length. He had trained for this and he was committed to the cause.

Our youngest daughter just had her first half-marathon cancelled but she is also still training and will run her race regardless.

Commitment.

“You know that many runners enter a race, and only one of them wins the prize. So run to win! 25 Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last forever. ” I Corinthians 9:24-25 CEV

Because their races have been cancelled the only prize they won or will win is the prize of achievement, of knowing they worked hard and didn’t give up. They have competed against their own physical pain and exhaustion and won.

What an example! An example for daily life.

When Jesus came to earth he came with one purpose; He came to restore the relationship between God, the Father, and mankind. He came on a mission of love. I’m sure He must have felt like giving up and quitting multiple times but He kept the goal forefront in His heart.

He was asked once what was the most important law to live by and His answer was quick and simple. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself.

He told the disciples that they were to keep one commandment when He was gone; love one another and then the world would know that they were His disciples. What kept Jesus on track the whole time He was here was His goal to love the world and to give His life for them, and for us.

Never did He do an unloving thing. Even when He chased the merchants out of the Temple it was done in love; love for the Father, love for the people who were being cheated.

“Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person. 8 But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.” Romans 5:7-8 ERV

His final act of love on this earth occurred on the cross. He gave his life for us and His final words, like the words of a runner, were “it is finished”. He had crossed love’s finish line and been true to His purpose.

“I mean that while we were God’s enemies, he made friends with us through his Son’s death. And the fact that we are now God’s friends makes it even more certain that he will save us through his Son’s life. 11 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 5:10-11 ERV

Because of His love, because He finished the course, we receive the prize. We are the victors. We win love’s greatest gift, eternal life!

We’ve been given the same instruction that the disciples received. Love one another! Let’s be committed to the cause – let’s run our race with the love of God in our hearts.

We win because love never quits!

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Love Was Born

Most of my days are very ordinary, just like yours. Take yesterday for instance, it started with picking up our grocery order that I had placed the day before. Had to run in to Home Depot and grab a couple things Dave needed to complete his home project.

Back to the house where I put the groceries away, started laundry, and reconciled the bank statement before I headed out again to an appointment at the bank and a couple of other errands before heading home. All this was done following the proper safety guidelines and handing out candy canes at each stop.

I had been listening to a Christmas CD as I went from place to place. When I left the last location and started the car toward home a song came through the sound system speakers, “Love Was Born on Christmas Day” *. My heart had been touched by the apprehension of the people I had met at my different stops and this song brought me to tears.

All those folks were wearing their masks, but obviously bothered by the close proximity of their surroundings. There was no Christmas music playing through the intercom systems, no smiles to be seen, no real Christmas joy. Their faces would brighten as I said Merry Christmas, thanked them for their assistance and handed them a candy cane but for the most part the Christmas spirit was missing.

** “This is the story, the power and the glory
Three wise men knelt to pray
A guiding star had led the way
And there he lay born on Christmas day

Joy did he bring, the king
Let every song rejoice
And every heart did sing, hear it ring
The sound of heaven’s voice
The angels proclaimed his holy name
King of kings”

**partial lyrics of Born on Christmas Day

This is the story – the power and the glory, Christ was born on Christmas day. As the words of this chorus repeated my eyes filled with tears. The world, my small world, was missing the joy and the love that He came to bring. I felt God’s heart ache. I wanted to give them all a hug and tell them things would get better. I wanted them to know that they could give all their fears and disappointments to the Lord. Jesus came so we could have a relationship with the Father.

“But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him. His Son obeyed the Law, 5 so he could set us free from the Law, and we could become God’s children. 6 Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. And his Spirit tells us that God is our Father.” Galatians 4:4-6 CEV

If each of us touches one person with the love of Jesus this Christmas season it will be life-changing. I pray that we give the most wonderful gift of all, God’s love, to those around us.

* (The underlined song title is an active link to the song on YouTube. I know you will enjoy it.)

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Did You Hear That?

That was my question this morning. Reaching for my coffee, suddenly the quiet of my office was disturbed with a strange noise. For a moment I sat and waited, would it happen again? Nothing…

The Lord and I were talking, some of you call it praying, when there it was again. Since it’s pitch black outside I got up to investigate. It was coming from the back patio. Thankfully, Dave wired the patio with a multitude of lights. I flipped the switch and the enter backyard lit up.

Nothing…but there is a breeze and a power cord that had been on the bar stool must have slipped because now it is on the concrete slab. Mystery solved. Prayer time continued.

In my heart I began singing the Christmas song “Do You Hear What I Hear?”. Said the night wind to the little lamb, Do you hear what I hear? But it’s the final verse of the song that really resonates with me.

Said the king to the people everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people, everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
The Child, the Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light,
He will bring us goodness and light.

The message of the song is about the Child who brings light. Our world has many dark and threatening places; some are imagined and some are very real. However, wherever light shines darkness is dispelled.

When I was a child living in northern New Mexico I saw lumanarias for the first time. They lined the path leading to a mission. We were attending the Christmas Eve service there with our neighbors. All other outside lights had been extinguished, just the lumanarias lit our way.

Once inside the mission we sang carols and the priest told the story of Christ’s birth. There was a candlelabra at the front, it gave the only light to the interior. As he finished the story we began to sing one more carol, “Silent Night, Holy Night”.

Someone began to extinguish the candles at the front and someone else took one of the candles and went to the people who had received smaller candles. Each person used their candle to light the one next to them. When the carol was finished, what had been a dark and instinctive mission interior was glowing with light.

“Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 ‘Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. 30 I have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared for all people. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!'” Luke 2:28-32 NLT

Simeon, the priest, took the baby Jesus into his arms and declared that this child would reveal God to the nations. Jesus came to be THE light of the world. He shines brightly with God’s love and forgiveness, lighting the way that leads to the Father. No more darkness in our lives. He will light our way.

He will bring us goodness and light!

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Where’s Jesus?

This year I scaled back on my Christmas decorating but this little nativity is front and center. It has such meaning to me. I’ve shared this story before but it’s worth repeating.

In our area we have beautiful, brightly colored pottery which is made in Mexico and it is known as talavera.

For years I have purchased pieces to use in my decorating; cups, bowls, plates, canisters, etc. Each piece brings an atmosphere of gaiety and joy to the room. Several years ago, I was shopping in Tubac, an artisan community near us, when I saw the talavera nativity sets. I knew I had to have one. 

Most of my decorating at Christmas is done with nativity sets and angels. I studied each figure in the set; their smiling faces, their clothing, the shape of the stall and then I realized there was no baby Jesus! Where did He go? What happened to Him? 

The shop that we were in had many different size nativity sets and they were all missing the Christ child. And then I saw the handwritten sign…If you buy a nativity, ask for Jesus. 

Ask for Jesus!

Wasn’t that the Father’s intent from the beginning? He wanted us to recognize that our lives were not complete without Jesus. 

Ask for Jesus?

When I asked the shop owner why there were no baby Jesus figures he told me this. We never have any problem with theft in this shop except for the baby Jesus. We keep Him in the back until a nativity is sold and then bring Him out and add Him with the rest of the pieces. 

Who would steal the baby Jesus?

That is completely counter to the reason He came. When Jesus was born the angels filled the heavens with the announcement. The shepherds were told to go find Him. The wise men saw and followed His star. Everyone was welcome to come see Jesus!

Jesus came to forgive the sins of all men, even the ones who would steal the baby Jesus.  Jesus wasn’t born in a palace where only a few of the elite would be allowed to enter. He wasn’t born in a monastery where only the religious and the holy would be. No, He was born in a barn; anyone – man, woman, child, elite or poor, educated or unlearned was welcomed at the manger. 

“‘Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.’ 13 Then a huge army of angels from heaven joined the first angel, and they were all praising God, saying,

14 ‘Praise God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace to the people who please him.’

15 The angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this great event the Lord has told us about.’

16 So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box.” Luke 2:11-16 ERV 

I want to encourage you to put Jesus on display. Don’t hid Him, let the world see that He lives in you. Love the way He did; reach out to everyone the Father brings your way. The sign on our lives should be Jesus is free to all who ask.

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