Category: Relationship

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Seek and Save

I have a friend who enjoys metal detecting. He has been doing it for years. It’s not really a spectator event. For the most part, it is a solo adventure.

I remember once he showed us how he cleans the items he has found. They are washed clean, then dried and sorted. He really doesn’t throw any of his treasures out. He has found innumerable pennies, nails, and cartridge casings but he has also unearthed coins, diamond rings and other valuable pieces.

His office houses numerous display boxes filled with buried treasure and he can recall the location and time of year when most of them came into his possession.

Seek and Save.

There is One treasure hunter I know who remembers exact times and dates of all He has acquired.

“Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today you and your family have been saved, because you are a true son of Abraham. 10 The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost.” Luke 19:9-10 CEV

Each one of us was lost, missing out on the relationship that God the Father desired for us.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am not good enough to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to the workmen he owned, ‘Hurry! Get the best coat and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. 23 Bring the calf that is fat and kill it. Let us eat and be glad. 24 For my son was dead and now he is alive again. He was lost and now he is found. Let us eat and have a good time.’” Luke 15:21-24 NLV

Seek and Save.

Jesus came to earth to provide the way of salvation. The blood He shed on the cross cleansed us from our sin and brought us into right relationship. A relationship of joy and peace; a place of restoration.

“For if a man belongs to Christ, he is a new person. The old life is gone. New life has begun. 18 All this comes from God. He is the One Who brought us to Himself when we hated Him. He did this through Christ. Then He gave us the work of bringing others to Him. 19 God was in Christ. He was working through Christ to bring the whole world back to Himself. God no longer held men’s sins against them. And He gave us the work of telling and showing men this…21 Christ never sinned but God put our sin on Him. Then we are made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.” II Corinthians 5:17-21 NLV

The Father loved us even when we hated Him and had no regard for His love. Christ brought us to the Father, giving us new life and making us right with Him.

“But God showed His love to us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 NLV

I’m so glad He came to seek and to save. I was lost but now am found!

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One Man’s Trash

…is another man’s treasure

That phrase came up last night as we were watching television and it got me to thinking. Thinking about our little farmhouse home in Idaho. My kitchen was small and I wanted a way to decorate with some of my favorite things so Dave brought in two old barn doors and nailed them to the walls.

I got a couple of old single trees, mounted them to the doors and hung my cast iron skillets off the cast iron hooks on each end. But I didn’t stop there. I put at least a dozen more nails in each door and hung some of my favorite antique kitchen utensils from those nails – a shifter, colander, big mixing spoons, spatulas, enamelware cups and bowls. I loved it!

Two of my uncles were passing through town and stopped for dinner and an overnight rest. While we were sitting at the table, they looked around at my decor and one of them said to the other, “Kristi has stuff hanging on her walls that we used to hang in the barn”. That’s correct.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

All of my treasures had been purchased at ranch and farm auctions for pennies on the dollar. What someone thought was old and useless, I thought was quaint and worth putting on display.

I really think that’s how God sees us. The world says we aren’t worth much but He’s sees us as a treasure.

I want to go back, one more time, to yesterday’s Scripture:

“Do not be afraid. For I have bought you and made you free. I have called you by name. You are Mine!” Isaiah 43:1 NLV

One version of this verse says “I have redeemed you”. The Lord saw value in us when others saw nothing of the kind. He rescued us, redeemed us and brought blessing to our lives.

“Christ bought us with His blood and made us free from the Law. In that way, the Law could not punish us. Christ did this by carrying the load and by being punished instead of us. It is written, “Anyone who hangs on a cross is hated and punished.” 14 Because of the price Christ Jesus paid, the good things that came to Abraham might come to the people who are not Jews. And by putting our trust in Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit He has promised.” Galatians 3:13-14 NLV

One man’s treasure!

We are God’s treasure. We are His children. He loves us.

“And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Malachi 3:17 AMPC

Don’t let anyone call you trash. God has called you His treasure!

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To Err Is Human…

…to forgive divine!

That is a saying I heard many times growing up and I’m not really sure where it came from. I just know those are the words that were forefront in my heart this morning.

Have you ever made comments or had thoughts like this; “I just don’t think God could ever love me, forgive me, use me, want me, etc, like He does someone else”? “If people knew who I was or the things I have in my past they wouldn’t love me or want to be my friend”.

Ever had those thoughts? I have and guess what, so did the Apostle Paul.

“But our Lord gave me a full measure of his grace. And with that grace came the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 Here is a true statement that should be accepted without question: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of them. 16 But I was given mercy so that in me Christ Jesus could show that he has patience without limit. Christ showed his patience with me, the worst of all sinners. He wanted me to be an example for those who would believe in him and have eternal life.” I Timothy 1:14-16 ERV

Paul felt that he was the worst sinner to have ever lived, he arrested and had Christians murdered. But God forgave him, changed his life and used him to reach the world with the Gospel.

Jesus was all about forgiving. He forgave Zacheaus, the woman in adultery, the thief on the cross, the soldiers and religious leaders that were crucifying Him. He forgave Paul. He has forgiven us too!

I shared these verses with you the other morning. They are some of my favorites on the presence and protection of the Lord. Take a hard look at the first part of verse one.

“…Do not be afraid. For I have bought you and made you free. I have called you by name. You are Mine! 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they will not flow over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The fire will not destroy you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Who saves you… 4 You are of great worth in My eyes. You are honored and I love you… 5 Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bring your children from the east, and I will gather you from the west.” Isaiah 41:1-5 NLV

God isn’t holding our past against us! Our past is that – past!

In Hebrews, we are told that God won’t remember our sins and trespasses. He puts them as far as the East is from the West.

If you are being held captive by your past brreak free by accepting the Father’s forgiveness!

He has ransomed you. He has redeemed you, He is walking through life’s hardships with you and protecting you. You are precious to Him!

God isn’t mad at you. He hasn’t rejected or disqualified you. He loves you!

Thank you Father for your amazing love. Thank you that my past is past and thank you that I have been redeemed and that I am Yours!

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Red Carpet Treatment

How many of you have seen those celebratory events where the red carpet is rolled out in honor of a special occasion?

It seems every sport, association, organization and political group has their own red carpet event honoring the best of the best.

Just last weekend there was another awards show on television and every news outlet and society page has carried a story about who attended, what they were wearing, how they performed and who the big winner was.

It’s like a fairy tale. A dream come true. Being recognized by the world for your accomplishments. Most of us will never walk a red carpet and have an adoring public calling our name.

However, those of us who know Christ have a much greater celebration awaiting us!

Remember yesterday’s verses? We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus. Our Father has given us an amazingly, incomprehensible inheritance. We will do more than walk a red carpet for just a few hours. We will walk on streets of gold for all eternity!

“The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. 19 The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.” Revelation 21:18-21 NLT

The Apostle John gives us the above description of heaven. It sounds beautiful, absolutely heavenly. But that’s just part of it. There won’t be a golden award to place on a mantel. What we receive is so much greater. We will receive a new body – no pain, no sickness, no tears, no heartache or death. Our minds will be new – no senility, no tormenting thoughts, no emotional distress, no deficiencies; peaceful, strong minds.

“I heard a loud voice coming from heaven. It said, “See! God’s home is with men. He will live with them. They will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will be their God.  4 God will take away all their tears. There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All the old things have passed away.” 5 Then the One sitting on the throne said, “See! I am making all things new. Write, for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:3-5 NLV

And we will be in the presence of God Almighty. We will see Jesus face to face and we will hear Him say “I am making all thngs new”.

I can truthfully say that I do not crave any earthly red carpet treatment. My desire is to live in glory with the King of Kings and walk the streets of gold!

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The Doors Are Open

I was born and raised in Yuma, Arizona. It’s in the very southwestern part of the state and it’s hot!

When friends and relatives came for a visit they never came in summer. But when visitors came we often made a trip to the Yuma Territorial Prison, it was something they all wanted to see. It had housed some of the most notorious lawbreakers of the early West and was mentioned in so many of the westerns made in Hollywood.

I remember being intrigued by the rock walls, the small cells and the large iron doors. The only light in those cells came through slats of iron. It had to have been bitter cold at night and furnance hot by day. It was often described as the “hell hole”.

It’s this image, the Yuma Territorial Prison, that I see when I read these words:

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.  Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”  16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” Romans 8:14-17 NLT

When I read those words “fearful slaves” I see those prison bars. Fear is an emotion that imprisons us – taking all our freedom and zest for life. Fear is debilitating and can cause someone to act irrationally.

But when the chains of fear are broken and the prison doors are opened freedom comes. It’s like stepping out of darkness and into the fresh light of day. The head turns upward, fresh breath is drawn into the lungs, a smile appears – freedom has come!

In Christ we go from a life of bondage to a life of sonship. We had nothing while we were imprisoned and now we are heirs, sons and daughters, of Almighty God!

We all have been in bondage to one degree or another but there’s good news – Jesus has broken the chains and we have been set free!

Look up – the doors are open!

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Too Many To Count

When our youngest daughter was in first grade I had a job where I had to be clocked in my 5:30 a.m. That, of course, was way to early for her to be up getting ready for school so Dave would get her off to school each morning.

I would have her clothes laid out and her lunch made but he had to make sure she had breakfast and her hair brushed before he took her to school. Breakfast was no problem but the hair brushing was something entirely different. She had long blonde hair, almost to the middle of her back and she liked to wear it in a pony tail or a single braid.

The hair brushing routine is something they still laugh about to this day. Dave’s big hands were clumsy as he tried to pulled up all that hair and smooth it into a pont tail with no lumps or bumps. They finally fell upon a plan that worked for them both. Our daughter would lay down on the dining room table bench, hair hanging over the edge. He brushed it, gathered it together and got the pony tail holder in place.

Success!

A labor of love! A time a father and daughter will never forget. Something special for just the two of them.

Did you know that our heavenly Father wants times like that with us? Special times – initimate times – times that only the two of us can share. He knows the very number of hairs on our head; He saw us as we were being formed in our mother’s womb and considered us perfect. He has been there every day of our lives and has been as intimately involved as we have allowed Him to be.

“But now the Lord Who made you, O Jacob, and He Who made you, O Israel, says, “Do not be afraid. For I have bought you and made you free. I have called you by name. You are Mine! 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they will not flow over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The fire will not destroy you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Who saves you. I have given Egypt as pay for your life, and have traded Cush and Seba for you. Isaiah 43:1-3 NLV

“but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed. Even before I was born, you had written in your book  everything I would do. 17 Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding, much more than I could ever imagine. 18 I try to count your thoughts, but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach. And when I awake, I will find you nearby.” Psalm 139:16-18 CEV

A friend and I were talking at breakfast yesterday morning about the goodness of God. Our Father is always working on our behalf, even when we don’t see it. His plan is for our good and our benefit. We can trust Him!

We don’t need to be looking at others and wishing we had what they have because we have our Father’s promise. He will never leave us or forsake us. Our help comes from the Lord so we should be “fear free”; our God is greater than any man.

When we ask the question “where is God now, does He know what I’m going through?”, the answer rings clear.

“I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!” Psalm 139:7 NLT

What is your situation today? Are your eyes filled with tears? Is your heart breaking? Do you feel lost and alone? Your Father knows the number of hairs on your head and He is with you in every situation. He has good thoughts of you – so many that they are to numerable to count!

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The Doors Are Locked

Have you ever had a period of time when you were afraid, really afraid? Then you know how the disciples felt just days and weeks after the resurrection of Christ.

Life for the followers of the Lord was still pensive. They huddled together behind locked doors, they probably traveled through the city streets accompanied by two or three others. They knew the Romans were still spreading rumors that THEY stole Jesus body to make it look like He rose from the dead.

If pursued by the soldiers they could be killed on the spot. The mob that had rioted and cried “Crucify Him, Crucify Him” was only now beginning to disperse in Jerusalem but who were they among so many? Living daily with all this apprehension, life was not normal and who knew when or if it ever would be again.

This was the life of the disciples and this was their mindset.

“The day was Sunday, and that same evening the followers were together. They had the doors locked because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them. He said, “Peace be with you!” 20 As soon as he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the followers saw the Lord, they were very happy. 21 Then Jesus said again, “Peace be with you. It was the Father who sent me, and I am now sending you in the same way.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:19-22 ERV

But not all the disciples were there. Thomas was missing. A week later Jesus appeared to them again. They were still behind locked doors and Jesus greeting was the same – peace!

“A week later the followers were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand here in my side. Stop doubting and believe.”28 Thomas said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”29 Jesus said to him, “You believe because you see me. Great blessings belong to the people who believe without seeing me!” John 20:26-29 ERV

The Bible doesn’t give us insight to what Jesus was doing between these visits with the disciples. For three years, they had been in daily contact with Jesus. They ate with Him, heard him teach and saw the miracles that He did. But where was He now? We don’t know.

What we do know is that every time he appeared to them after His resurrection He encouraged them, spoke words of peace and showered them with unconditional love. Jesus wasn’t stopped by the locked doors; He made himself known to them.

What is it that has you behind locked doors? What has your focus? Do you feel alone and abandoned? What has robbed your peace?

Thomas needed to see physical evidence before he was willing to believe that Jesus was still there, still in control, still in a place of power. Jesus’ words to Thomas are also Jesus’ words to us, “You believe because you see me. Great blessings belong to the people who believe without seeing me!” We’re the ones who are in the place of believing without physically seeing.

Two weeks after Easter 2021, the words of Jesus are still true. Be not afraid. Peace be with you! Jesus is always here even when the doors are locked.

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A Legend to Remember

Having lived in the Arizona desert most of my life I am ignorant to customs and legends in other parts of the country.

Many years ago a friend, returning from visiting family in the South, brought me a dogwood blossom. Attached to it was a little card with the “Legend of the Dogwood Tree” by an unknown author.

In Jesus’ time, the dogwood grew
To a stately size and a lovely hue.
‘Twas strong and firm, its branches interwoven.
For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen.
Seeing the distress at this use of their wood
Christ made a promise which still holds good:
“Never again shall the dogwood grow
Large enough to be used so.
Slender and twisted, it shall be
With blossoms like the cross for all to see.
As blood stains the petals marked in brown,
The blossom’s center wears a thorny crown.
All who see it will remember Me
Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree.
Cherished and protected, this tree shall be
A reminder to all of My agony.”

As with most legends there is both truth and myth in the story. I cannot attest to the validity of the dogwood being used to form the cross that our Savior died on but I love the heart of the person who, looking at this blossom, thought of Jesus just from seeing its petals.

All of nature tells us of the greatness of our God. The waves that rush to the shore, a honey bee collecting pollen from a flower, the sun, moon and stars, the landscape covered with a blanket of snow and the blossom of the dogwood tree.

“When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— 4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? 5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority— 7 the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, 8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,  and everything that swims the ocean currents. 9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!” Psalm 8:3-9 NLT

Our Father has filled with earth with signs of His majesty.

We all have our story to tell, just like the dogwood tree. Let’s give testimony of how Christ has impacted our lives. May it be a story that honors Him!

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A Fruitful Vine

Yesterday, we talked about being fruitful and today we will follow up with Jesus’ teaching on the vine and the branches.

“I am the true Vine. My Father is the One Who cares for the Vine. 2 He takes away any branch in Me that does not give fruit. Any branch that gives fruit, He cuts it back so it will give more fruit. 3 You are made clean by the words I have spoken to you. 4 Get your life from Me and I will live in you. No branch can give fruit by itself. It has to get life from the vine. You are able to give fruit only when you have life from Me. 5 I am the Vine and you are the branches. Get your life from Me. Then I will live in you and you will give much fruit. You can do nothing without Me. 6 “If anyone does not get his life from Me, he is cut off like a branch and dries up. Such branches are gathered and thrown into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you get your life from Me and My Words live in you, ask whatever you want. It will be done for you. 8 “When you give much fruit, My Father is honored. This shows you are My followers.” John 15:1-8 NLV

Jesus said He was the vine and the Father is the vinedresser – the Father is the fruit inspector, not us, and we are the branches; it’s the branches that hold the fruit. The life source of the fruit is the vine – the sap (life source – His word is life) flows through the vine and out to the branches and the branches produce the fruit -love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22).

Healthy branches bear fruit. Branches have to be pruned to stay healthy. We had an apple tree in our backyard and it had a large trunk and many branches. Sometimes, I would have to prune the tips off the branch because they were dead. The branch was still attached to the trunk and life was flowing through it but it had a flaw that needed to be removed so that it could produce healthier fruit.

Pruning is beneficial for the branch. Jesus said that the disciples were the branches and that they had been cleaned by the Word He had spoken. God’s Word prunes us. It is given to correct us so that we will be equipped for every good work (producing fruit). When we produce fruit we honor the Father.

Fruit bearing trees don’t produce the first couple of years. During that time they are well watered, protected from disease and drought, fertilized to help them grow strong.

Don’t become discouraged if you don’t see an abundance of fruit immediately. The Vinedresser is protecting us and making sure we have all we need to grow healthy and strong and to produce good fruit. We can depend upon the vinedresser, the Father, to make sure we are nourished and well taken care of even if that means that there are areas on our branch that need to be pruned.

God is faithful. If we stay connected to Him, He will see that we are a fruitful vine!

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Making Priorities

The start of a new week.

What’s on your schedule? Do you have a calendar on the wall with a To-Do list or maybe it’s all in your smart phone or on your I-pad? You may be old fashioned like me and just have a list on a sheet of paper on the desk. Whatever it is, does it give you a sense of accomplishment to check things off when they are done?

This morning I was reading about the Apostle Paul. He had a checklist.

“I don’t know what will happen to me in Jerusalem, but I must obey God’s Spirit and go there. 23 In every city I visit, I am told by the Holy Spirit that I will be put in jail and will be in trouble in Jerusalem. 24 But I don’t care what happens to me, as long as I finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do. And that work is to tell the good news about God’s great kindness.” Acts 20:22-24 CEV

Paul had been out preaching all over Asia. He told everyone, everywhere he went about Jesus. That was all he had on his list.

One thing!

One very important thing. I’m sure he had other things he could have done. After all, as he would go into new towns he needed to find a place to stay, acquire provisions, and locate new Christians but the one thing at the top of his list was his relationship with God, the Father, through Jesus Christ. He had been commissioned to tell the non-Jewish world about God’s great love and the good news of Jesus.

“I do not say that I have received this or have already become perfect. But I keep going on to make that life my own as Christ Jesus made me His own. 13 No, Christian brothers, I do not have that life yet. But I do one thing. I forget everything that is behind me and look forward to that which is ahead of me. 14 My eyes are on the crown. I want to win the race and get the crown of God’s call from heaven through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 NLV

I have a list of things I want to accomplish today. But I will leave room at the top so that I can be ready to tell others about the Father’s goodness, mercy, kindness and grace.

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