Category: God’s Love

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Heaven Came Down

Last night we were with friends, driving home from a birthday dinner for Dave. I love celebrating him and I am so blessed to have him as my husband, the love of my life. But I digress.

What I wanted to tell you about was the sunset that filled with sky. I didn’t get a picture of the sun dropping behind the hills and giving them a golden halo, so you’ll have to take my word, it was beautiful. However, when we were home and on the patio, I did capture this picture of what remained.

It reminded me of this verse:

“Let the name of the Lord be praised now and forever. 3 From dawn until sunset the name of the Lord deserves to be praised.” Psalm 113:2-3 CEV

This morning I woke with a song. The words came rolling in the moment I opened my eyes. As the coffee was brewing, I sang!

“Oh, what a wonderful, wonderful day,
Day I will never forget,
After I wondered in darkness away,
Jesus my Savior I met.
Oh, what a tender compassionate Friend,
He met the need of my heart,
Shadows dispelling, with joy I am telling,
He made all the darkness depart.
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the savior made me whole,
My sins were washed away,
And my night was turned to day,
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul.”

Heaven came down!

Came down for you and me. Came down to wash away our sins; came down to bring us new life; came down to give us hope, joy and grace.

“ Adam was the first man. He was made from the dust of the earth. Christ was the second man. He came down from heaven. 48 All men of the earth are made like Adam. But those who belong to Christ will have a body like the body of Christ Who came from heaven.” I Corinthians 15:47-48 NLV

Heaven’s purpose was for Christ to come and give us a new life! Our purpose is to praise and honor Him.

“Whoever gives a thank offering shows me honor. And whoever decides to live right will see my power to save.” Psalm 50:23 ERV

It’s that time of morning when the birds are starting to sing their songs of praise. The sun isn’t even up yet but it’s time to praise. Let’s join them…

From the rising of the sun, I will praise the Lord for heaven came down and His glory fills my soul!

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It’s Paid For!

I want to tell you a story about a young man who loved to golf. His game was improving, and he wanted to venture out on the course on his own.

His father told him to stop by the pro shop and get anything he wanted. He should rent a cart, and it was up to him if he played 9 or 18 holes. He was filled with excitement!

Off he went on his day of independent adventure.

He was really having one of his best days; par on most every hole but even a birdie. Great!

As he was walking up to the final tee reality hit him. He had to settle up at the pro shop for his purchases, he had greens fees to pay. The reality of the cost robbed the joy and excitement he had felt up to this point. He made it through that final hole, all-the-while thinking about the settlement that was coming due.

He headed to the club house and would face whatever ridicule, and judgement came with not being able to pay for the charges. When he was presented with the tab, he saw written on the slip “PAID”. And then he saw his dad standing across the room and he knew why it had been paid in full.

Of course, you know this is a fictional story, but it is a parallel to our life as followers of Christ.

“But as for me, I know that the One Who bought me and made me free from sin lives, and that He will stand upon the earth in the end.” Job 19:25 NLV

“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 2:2 NLV

“God bought you with a great price. So honor God with your body. You belong to Him.” I Corinthians 6:20 NLV

We can’t earn our salvation. Our relationship with the Lord is a gift He offers us freely. However, we should always be grateful because it was His sacrifice that paid for the gift!

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So You Believe

Here we are just a week past Resurrection Day. Have you stopped to think what the apostle and the other followers of Jesus did during that week?

Jesus appeared to them in the evening of the day of His resurrection. They were behind locks doors. They were all there except for Thomas. When the others told Thomas they had seen the Lord he was more than skeptical; he doubted the entire story.

“So they told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But Thomas said, ‘First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won’t believe unless I do this!’

26 A week later the disciples were together again. This time, Thomas was with them. Jesus came in while the doors were still locked and stood in the middle of the group. He greeted his disciples 27 and said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and look at my hands! Put your hand into my side. Stop doubting and have faith!’

28 Thomas replied, ‘You are my Lord and my God!’

29 Jesus said, ‘Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!’” John 20:25-29 CEV

Just a week later, that’s where we are in today’s timeline. I want the world to know that although I haven’t seen Jesus in the flesh – I believe!

John went on to write these words as he closed out this chapter.

“Jesus worked many other miracles for his disciples, and not all of them are written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. If you have faith in him, you will have true life.” John 20:30-31 CEV

I have faith in Jesus and He has given me true life. Eternal life.

The saving grace of Jesus wasn’t limited to just those disciples. It is a grace that extends through the ages.

“He is forever able to save the people he leads to God, because he always lives to speak to God for them.” Hebrews 7:25 CEV

All of these things were written so we believe!

A few years back Phil Wickham penned the words to this song, I Believe.

I believe there is one salvation
One doorway that leads to life
One redemption, one confession
I believe in the name of Jesus Christ, hey

I believe in the crucifixion
By His blood, I have been set free
I believe in the resurrection
Hallelujah, His life is death’s defeat

All praise to God the Father
All praise to Christ the Son
All praise to the Holy Spirit
Our God has overcome
The King who was and is and evermore will be
In Jesus mighty name, I believe

I believe, I believe…”

I hope those are the words of your heart. I believe, I believe!

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Be Still

It’s rare when I get up and don’t have a short message to share but that’s what has happened this morning.

I promised that I would never share out of my own heart; I will only share what the Lord has placed in it.

The only words I heard this morning were these.

“Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”

11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude” Psalm 46:10-11 NLT

Most mornings my blog can be read in 3-5 minutes. So, I’m asking you this morning to take the rest of that time to “Be Still”.

Let God speak to your heart and confirm to you that He is God! The Lord of heaven’s armies is here with us!

God bless your day!

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Broken Bread

Very shortly Dave and I will be leaving for “Sonrise” Service. It’s going to be a beautiful crisp morning as we join with friends to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

But that first morning wasn’t a time of celebration for the apostles and Jesus’ followers. It was a time of mourning, a time to say a proper good-bye, a time of preparing His body for a proper burial.

How startling and frightening it was for Mary and the other women to arrive at the tomb and find it empty!

They ran back to the place where they were all gathered and told Peter, John and the others that Jesus was gone and the angels said He was alive. Peter and John ran to the tomb and found it empty. They went back to the others and reported that it was as the women had said. (John 20, Matthew 28)

It was in the garden where Mary saw Jesus and knew the Lord was alive, He spoke to her. He called her by name.

Next to see Jesus were two disciples walking on the road. (Luke 24) They were talking about everything that had happened in Jerusalem – the trial, the beating, and the crucifixion. Jesus joined them on the road and asked what they were talking about. They thought He was the only one in Jerusalem who didn’t know what had happened. When they got to their destination, they invited Jesus to eat with them, still they didn’t recognize Him but when Jesus took the bread and blessed it, they knew! Instantly, Jesus was gone from their midst.

“Joining them at the supper table, Jesus took some bread and gave thanks. Then he broke some off and gave it to them. 31 Just then the men were allowed to recognize him. But when they saw who he was, he disappeared. 32 They said to each other, ‘When he talked to us on the road, it felt like a fire burning in us. How exciting it was when he explained to us the true meaning of the Scriptures!’”Luke 24:20-32 ERV

The two ran back, seven miles to Jerusalem, to tell the others what had happened. They were behind locked doors because they feared the soldiers would come for them. It was the evening of that same day and Jesus appeared in their midst.

The breaking of the bread and blessing it was something they had probably seen Jesus do many times. It was familiar to them and they recognized this gesture.

“While the two men were saying these things to the other followers, Jesus himself came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’

37 This surprised the followers. They were afraid. They thought they were seeing a ghost. 38 But Jesus said, ‘Why are you troubled? Why do you doubt what you see? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It’s really me. Touch me. You can see that I have a living body; a ghost does not have a body like this.’” Luke 24:36-39 ERV

Maybe some of you are troubled today, wondering if God has forgotten you. He hasn’t! God takes the ordinary things in life and makes them extraordinary. He gladly reveals Himself and His power to us in personal ways.

Welcome Him to your table and break bread with the risen Savior!

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It’s A Good Friday

This morning’s thought is going to be a bit different.

I know there are some of you who read my postings and you wouldn’t call yourself a religious person or even a Christian. I want to talk to you for a minute.

Years ago, I was leading a weight loss group, and it was attended by people from many different walks, some were church people and some weren’t. At the end of each class I would close in prayer. This one particular night I had a woman say to me in front of everyone, “I’ve never heard anyone pray like you do; you talk to God just like he’s your friend.” I smiled and said, “He is.”

This is Easter weekend and amidst the baskets and bunnies, the lilies and the eggs you will find an empty cross and an empty tomb. This is the place where my friend died. He wasn’t religious either. He came to replace religious tradition with personal relationship.

John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, saw Jesus walking up the road and he made this comment to those around him “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

Jesus came all those years ago to be our sacrifice, a lamb, pure and spotless as was required by Jewish tradition for a sin offering. He came to take away our sins and not just the sins of those who have already believed on Him and received Him as Savior but the sins of the WHOLE world.

“Jesus is the way our sins are taken away. And he is the way all people can have their sins taken away too.” I John 2:2 ERV

God knows more about our sin than we do. We have probably forgotten a lot of the ones that happened a long time ago, but God made sure that they were all covered by one sacrifice.

“ 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. 17 God sent his Son into the world. He did not send him to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17 ERV

Believe on Him? Believe that He is the perfect payment for sin. Jesus doesn’t want us condemned. He wants us to live free of guilt, worry, desperation and fear. He wants us to know we are forgiven.

If you haven’t received God’s free gift, the forgiveness of your sins, and His promise to make you an adopted child in the family of God then I encourage you to do that today.

It doesn’t require a lot of fanfare or bells and whistles, just simply a believing heart, accepting God’s gift of mercy and grace. God loves you unconditionally – He knows all about you, He’s always there for you and He’s reaching out to you now.

Come to Him and say, “Father God, you gave your only Son to die for my sins so that I can have a life and relationship with you. I believe that Jesus died for me and I accept His sacrifice as payment for my sin. I receive Your precious gift of eternal life and I thank you for it. In Jesus Name.”

If you prayed that prayer I encourage you to tell someone about this wonderful gift you have received and I encourage you to get to know Your Father.

He desires to be your Savior and your best friend!

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Time to Reflect

This morning my thoughts naturally go to what God has to say about marriage. Dave & I are celebrating our 52nd anniversary today! Wow, where did the time go?

I did a teaching on marriage once. Marriage is a growing relationship, and this verse took on new meaning.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

You see the Lord showed me if there were things I wanted to see in my husband then I should be sowing them into his life; tenderness, kindness, respect, consideration, allowance for shortcomings. You get the picture – when we give those things, it’s like planting seed and we reap what you sow.

In our time, “love, honor and obey” weren’t really popular words to have in your wedding vows but they were in ours.

“Always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 Be willing to serve each other out of respect for Christ.

22 Wives, be willing to serve your husbands the same as the Lord. 23 A husband is the head of his wife, just as Christ is the head of the church. Christ is the Savior of the church, which is his body. 24 The church serves under Christ, so it is the same with you wives. You should be willing to serve your husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives the same as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. 26 He died to make the church holy. He used the telling of the Good News to make the church clean by washing it with water. 27 Christ died so that he could give the church to himself like a bride in all her beauty. He died so that the church could be holy and without fault, with no evil or sin or any other thing wrong in it.

28 And husbands should love their wives like that. They should love their wives as they love their own bodies. The man who loves his wife loves himself, 29 because no one ever hates his own body, but feeds and takes care of it. And that is what Christ does for the church 30 because we are parts of his body.” Ephesians 5:20-30 ERV

In those times when we don’t live out the verses above, we repent when we fail.

“This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” Ephesians 5:32-33 ERV

A godly marriage is an example of how Christ loves us and gave Himself for us. He protects, provides and nurtures us. He longs for us to meet our full potential and be secure in His love.

Thank you to my husband for being an example of Christ’s love to me and for continuing to grow with me in our marriage and our love.

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Filled with Peace

I was sitting here this morning telling heavenly Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit how much I love them and I was flooded with peace!

I felt like such a little girl being lifted up in my father’s arms and brought to rest on his big broad lap. I was so overtaken by His greatness and compared to my minute abilities. Again, I was overwhelmed with peace by the presence of Almighty God, my Lord and Savior and the Spirit of the Lord.

Many times I am overwhelmed with the thoughts of God’s amazing love and peace.

Things in our daily lives can be chaotic and unsettling but when we focus in on who God is and how much He loves us, it’s like being wrapped in a warm blanket in a comfy chair.

Comfort! Peace! Security!

“I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 ERV

Our Father wants us to be at peace, to trust Him, to know that He will handle whatever we bring to Him.

“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.

8 Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise. 9 You know the teachings I gave you, and you know what you heard me say and saw me do. So follow my example. And God, who gives peace, will be with you.” Philippians 4:6-9 CEV

Here’s to a peace-full day!

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There’s A Lot I Don’t Know

If you have been reading these morning posts for very long you know that I sometimes have a different outlook from those around me. I was sitting here this morning and I realized that I don’t know who the teams are in the final four. I don’t know the winners of last year’s World Series or the Super Bowl.

I don’t understand the rules of soccer or ice hockey. I’m not up on the latest fashions or trends on Wall Street. I don’t know how to make exotic dishes or how to create a stain glass project. I know nothing about golf.

My goodness there is a lot I don’t know!

However, I do know the Creator of the universe. I know the One who sees the sparrows fall and He knows how many hairs I have on my head. I know the One who gave strength to Samson, gave intellect to Adam so he could name all the plants and animals, I know the architect who gave Noah the plans for the ark.

I know the One who gave Solomon his wisdom and the One who took Elijah home to heaven in a chariot. I know the One who cleansed lepers, raised the dead, healed the sick, provided food for the multitudes and the One who turned water into wine.

I don’t need to book an appointment or achieve to a certain status to talk with the One who is CEO of the universe. I call Him daddy and I can run boldly to Him and He never refuses to see me.

I know the Good Shepherd and He knows me by name. He causes me to lie down in green pastures and He leads me through the valley of the shadow of death.

I know the One who loved me enough to leave heaven, take on the form of man, lived a sinless life, died a sacrificial death and then rose triumphantly just for me. He made me new!

And I know that I as much as I know Him now, I want to know Him more.

“I want to belong to him. In Christ I am right with God, but my being right does not come from following the law. It comes from God through faith. God uses my faith in Christ to make me right with him. 10 All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death. I want to share in his sufferings and be like him even in his death.” Philippians 3:9-10 ERV

I know I can introduce you to Him if you don’t already know Him. His arms are open wide to all who would come to Him!

” Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won’t turn any of them away. 38 I didn’t come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me, 39 and he wants to make certain that none of the ones he has given me will be lost. Instead, he wants me to raise them to life on the last day.” John 6:37-39 CEV

Some may think that I’m not very well informed, but I can tell you with certainty that I KNOW the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and that is more than enough!

“…nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” II Timothy 1:12 KJV

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Our Substitute

Yesterday I took our thoughts from Jesus’ teaching in John 10. He refers to Himself as the shepherd and that He came to give us abundant life in contrast to the thief who is working to steal, kill and destroy.

Jesus goes on further in that chapter to say this, ” “I am the shepherd who cares for the sheep. I know my sheep just as the Father knows me. And my sheep know me just as I know the Father. I give my life for these sheep.” John 10:14-15 ERV

Jesus willingly laid down His life for us!

Yes, He loved us that much. He willingly gave up His life to give us life. When he was dragged before Pilate, He kept quiet and offered no testimony in His defense. If He had, the power of His word would have acquitted Him. What a powerful love!! He became our substitute.

Substitute: Putting a person or thing in the place of another.

“The fact is, it was our suffering he took on himself; he bore our pain. But we thought that God was punishing him, that God was beating him for something he did. 5 But he was being punished for what we did. He was crushed because of our guilt. He took the punishment we deserved, and this brought us peace. We were healed because of his pain. 6 We had all wandered away like sheep. We had gone our own way. And yet the LORD put all our guilt on him.

7 He was treated badly, but he never protested. He said nothing, like a lamb being led away to be killed. He was like a sheep that makes no sound as its wool is being cut off. He never opened his mouth to defend himself. 8 He was taken away by force and judged unfairly. The people of his time did not even notice that he was killed. [b] But he was put to death [c] for the sins of his [d] people. 9 He had done no wrong to anyone. He had never even told a lie. But he was buried among the wicked. His tomb was with the rich.

10 But the LORD was pleased with this humble servant who suffered such pain. [e] Even after giving himself as an offering for sin, he will see his descendants and enjoy a long life. He will succeed in doing what the LORD wanted. 11 After his suffering he will see the light, [f] and he will be satisfied with what he experienced.

The Lord says, ‘My servant, who always does what is right, will make his people right with me; he will take away their sins. 12 For this reason, I will treat him as one of my great people. I will give him the rewards of one who wins in battle, and he will share them with his powerful ones. I will do this because he gave his life for the people. He was considered a criminal, but the truth is, he carried away the sins of many. Now he will stand before me and speak for those who have sinned.” Isaiah 53: 4-12 ERV

The Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, died for you! He gave His sinless pure life as a substitute for your sinful life. He took your place! If you haven’t received Him as your Savior, do so today. There’ll be no one else who has or will love you like Jesus.

If you have accepted your wonderful gift of salvation, then praise Him today for all He has done.

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