Tag: GreaterLove

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Abiding Love

I’ve been sitting here for the better part of three hours thinking about the abiding love of God. I am at a loss for words so I will let God’s word speak.

“ I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. 18 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 3:17-19 ERV

I read once that God’s love is like the ocean, you can see where it begins but never where it ends. There is no end to the love of God!

“But then I think about this, and I have hope: 22 We are still alive because the Lord’s faithful love never ends. 23 Every morning he shows it in new ways! You are so very true and loyal!” Lamentations 3:21-23 ERV

“ I have loved you, just as my Father has loved me. So remain faithful to my love for you.” John 15:9 CEV

The word remain in other translations is abide. Abide means to live or stay in the place of God’s love. We abide in God’s love by staying in His word. It’s through the word of God that we learn the depth of His love.

See what happens when we live or stay in God.

“Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful.
2 Then you will say to the Lord, ‘You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you.'” Psalm 91:1-2 CEV

Occasionally we lose our way. Occasionally we wander off, but God always remains faithful in His love for us.

“I am your servant, but I have wandered away like a lost sheep. Please come after me, because I have not forgotten your teachings.” Psalm 119:176 CEV

Hundreds of years after King David wrote those words Jesus said this:

“ If any of you has 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won’t you leave the 99 in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? 5 And when you find it, you will be so glad that you will put it on your shoulder 6 and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, “Let’s celebrate! I’ve found my lost sheep.” Luke 15:4-6 CEV

That my friends is the depth of God’s abiding love!

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In Debt to Love

Dave and I have worked for many years to get out of debt and to stay out of debt. Thank God for the blessing of being debt free. There is one debt however that we will never be able to wipe off the books; it will always be on the balance sheet.

“ Let love be your only debt! If you love others, you have done all that the Law demands. ” Romans 13:8 CEV

Each and every one of us are in debt to love.

Love is hard. It requires work and it isn’t for the faint of heart. The good news is that we haven’t been left on our own to pay this debt. We have been given help for each day.

“ God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.” Galatians 5:22-23 CEV

There’s an urgency to be loving. The world is becoming more and more selfish; self-centered ambition drives so much of what is being done. Several years back there was a campaign to encourage people to do random acts of kindness.

What happened to that? Did you know that Jesus taught the same thing?

“The man replied, ‘The Scriptures say, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.’ They also say, ‘Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.’ …

But the man wanted to show that he knew what he was talking about. So he asked Jesus, ‘Who are my neighbors?’

30 Jesus replied: As a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, robbers attacked him and grabbed everything he had. They beat him up and ran off, leaving him half dead.

31 A priest happened to be going down the same road. But when he saw the man, he walked by on the other side. 32 Later a temple helper came to the same place. But when he saw the man who had been beaten up, he also went by on the other side.

33  A man from Samaria then came traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he felt sorry for him 34 and went over to him. He treated his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put him on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next morning he gave the innkeeper two silver coins and said, ‘Please take care of the man. If you spend more than this on him, I will pay you when I return.’

36 Then Jesus asked, ‘Which one of these three people was a real neighbor to the man who was beaten up by robbers?'” Luke 10:25-27 CEV

Each one of us have been the man who was beaten and left on the roadside and if it weren’t for God’s unconditional love, we would be dead.

“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

The debt of love is great. Christ freely gave to us, let’s be good Samaritan’s and freely give to those in need!

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Religion or Relationship

I love when we get together with friends and our conversation focuses on our relationship with the Lord!

For so many years I lived by religious rules. Church attendance was required. There was Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night and the reoccurring youth get togethers. Sad to say most of it was a religious act and didn’t build my relationship with the Lord. It didn’t matter that through the week I felt lonely, out of the inner circle and abandon. There was an ache in my heart a deeper connection with the Lord and I wasn’t finding it.

“Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won’t turn any of them away.” John 6:37 CEV

Last night we visited with friends and shared from the heart about our walk with the Lord. We have been in churches and religious surroundings where we were treated like outcasts. But you know what? We were in good company because Jesus faced the same treatment from the religious rulers of His day.

“God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the kingdom of heaven.11  God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. 12  Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.” Matthew 5:10-12 CEV

Jesus faced down the religion of His day. The religious leaders said he was unfit because He ate with sinners and the lower class of society. Jesus’ response was: “I came to seek and to save those who are lost”. Religion and their opinions didn’t stop Him.

It shouldn’t stop us either.

We have pharisees living among us and at times, if we aren’t careful, we could act just like them. We judge because of someone’s appearance and/or lifestyle. But that’s not God’s way. God looks at the heart and to Him sin is sin, no big sins or little sins – just sin.

“They kept on asking Jesus about the woman. Finally, he stood up and said, ‘If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her! 8′  Once again he bent over and began writing on the ground.” John 8:7-8 CEV

 “If you obey every law except one, you are still guilty of breaking them all. ” James 2:10 CEV

Religion judges. Relationship forgives and restores.

“Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. 7 No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.” Romans 5:6-8 CEV

Let’s cultivate relationship with our loving and forgiving heavenly Father and stay away from religious judgements.

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Amazing Love!

I really can’t remember how many years I have been rising early and spending time with the Father.

I do remember what the days were like when I was trying to do it all on my own. I remember the frustration, the anxiousness and the feelings of inadequacy. I still have days of frustration and some days of worry but now, in the quiet morning hours the Father ministers to my heart and my soul, erasing those moments of inadequacy – He is always there to remind me that I am not alone, I don’t have to struggle under my own lack of understanding and strength. I can depend totally on Him to be all I need.

His unconditional love amazes me!

This morning’s thoughts about abandonment. Not ours but Jesus’.

“At noon the whole country became dark. The darkness continued for three hours. 46 About three o’clock Jesus cried out loudly, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” This means “My God, my God, why have you left me alone?” Matthew 27:45-46 ERV

Jesus spent his entire earthly stay communicating with the Father, doing the Father’s will and bringing glory to His Father. Now in the darkness Jesus knew that He had been forsaken and left alone! Jesus’ heart broke.

God the Father had to turn His attention away from Jesus, his beloved Son, to us so that Jesus could bear the penalty for our sin on the cross. At that time the Father put us and our relationship ahead of His love for Jesus. We became His primary focus.

“But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.” Romans 5:8 ERV

“Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God.” II Corinthians 5:20 ERV

The experience of that separation from the Father was almost unbearable to Jesus. The times of communion with the Father were interrupted. He was on the cross, alone. This is why my quiet time brings me such comfort and strength. Never once have I been abandoned by the Father. His love is the light in my darkness.

It doesn’t matter if “quiet time” comes first thing in the morning, midday or later at night. The important thing is to make time. Remember what it cost for you to have this wonderful privilege of coming into the Father’s presence. Don’t take it for granted.

How amazing is His love. Because of it this relationship is available to all, to whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!

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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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The Best Gift

When you look back at all your Christmases which one do you remember? Is it a childhood experience or maybe one as a newlywed or empty nester? When you gather with family and friends do you still talk about it as being the “best”?

How many years do you think Mary and Joseph recalled that special trip to Bethlehem? It wasn’t even called Christmas then. It started out as a trip to pay taxes and be registered in a census. But everything changed when Jesus was born.

“Everyone was surprised when they heard what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary continued to think about these things, trying to understand them.” Luke 2:18-19 CEV

The events of that trip gave Mary much to think about. And then following Jewish custom, Mary & Joseph took Jesus on His first outing to the temple. They were greeted by Simeon and Anna. These two old people had been waiting all their lives to see this baby! Now they could die rejoicing that they had seen the Messiah.

“Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what Simeon said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, ‘Many Jews will fall and many will rise because of this boy. He will be a sign from God…38 Anna was there when Joseph and Mary came to the Temple. She praised God and talked about Jesus to all those who were waiting for God to free Jerusalem.” Luke 2:33-38 CEV

I’m sure Mary & Joseph were still recounting the events of Bethlehem when the wisemen arrived. All along the way folks probably asked where they were going, and they told the story of how they had seen the star and now they had to find the child. Their words were so persuasive and commanding that Herod was filled with fear and jealousy.

“They asked people, ‘Where is the child who has been born to be the king of the Jews? We saw the star that shows he was born. We saw it rise in the sky in the east and have come to worship him.’” Matthew 2:2-3 CEV

They came to see this wonderful gift, this child who was born to be king.

We have been given a wonderful gift. This gift, relationship with the Father, should be one we talk about year after year, it’s the best gift ever.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son”

Merry Christmas Father!! Merry Christmas Jesus!! Merry Christmas Holy Spirit!! Thank you.

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Great Things

Sunday afternoons are travel days at our house. Dave and I watch several travelogs and plan the destination for some of our next adventures. Beautiful places, remote places, interesting out-of-the-way places.

Yesterday we saw a place we never knew existed in Idaho, Craters of the Moon National Park. The whole area was created by a lava flow. It has amazing caves and interesting lava fields to hike and explore.

It is a testament to our great God!

“Let all that I am praise the Lord. O Lord my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty. 2 You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens; 3 you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds. You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind. 4 The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants. 5 You placed the world on its foundation so it would never be moved.” Psalm 104:1-5 NLT

Please take time to read Psalm 104 in its entirety. It details God’s greatness in creating this earth of ours.

He has done great things!

“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! 3 He will not let you stumble;
  the one who watches over you will not slumber. 4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. 5 The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.” Psalm 121: 2-5 NLT

The vastness, the variety, the exquisite beauty of creation tell the story of our all-powerful Father. But they also proclaim loudly His protection and provision for those He loves. Never does He fall asleep; He is constantly watching over us!

Our Father does great things!

Yesterday morning one of the worship songs we sang reminded us “He has done great things”.

“Come let us worship our King
Come let us bow at His feet
He has done great things
See what our Savior has done
See how His love overcomes
He has done great things
He has done great things

Oh hero of Heaven, You conquered the grave
You free every captive and break every chain
Oh God, You have done great things
We dance in Your freedom, awake and alive
Oh Jesus, our Savior, Your name lifted high
Oh God, You have done great things

You’ve been faithful through every storm
You’ll be faithful forevermore
You have done great things
And I know You will do it again
For Your promise is “Yes and amen”
You will do great things
God, You do great things”

Great Things lyrics by Phil Wickham

Creation declares the greatness of God’s power. Jesus declares the greatness of His love.

Experience the great things of our Father!

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My Best Friend

Yesterday while I was out working in my yard I was letting my thoughts run. They took me to memories of friends, new and old. I was reminded of confidences we have shared, places we have gone, encouragement and counsel given and tears that have been shed, joyful and those of heart ache. Happy memories. I miss those times but the memories sustain me until I see each of them again.

But there was a time when I felt friendless and alone. In my lowest time when I felt that no cared, Jesus was there for me and He proved Himself to be the quintessential friend. He filled my heart with His love and my loneliness evaporated!

It was during that time I began to see all the individuals throughout the Bible who had a relationship with the Lord. None of them were perfect but the Lord was faithful to them even in their failures. It was the Lord who initiated the relationships.

The Lord came to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David…I think you get the point. He never abandon them and I saw how He has never abandon me. King Solomon wrote “A friend loves at ALL (my emphasis) times” – those words remind me of God’s faithfulness.

Jesus said this: “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:13-14 NLT

That’s exactly what He did – He gave His life for you and me. There is no greater expression of love!

I have one other verse I’d like to share with you. Fifty years ago this verse filled my heart with hope and confidence. All these years later I can honestly say that I have never felt friendless again.

“…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]” Hebrews 13:5b

I hope those words “I will not” impact you the way they did me. God does not lie and He does not change His character. Those words were written nearly 2000 years ago but they are still true today. God’s faithfulness to those He loves will remain forever.

When I was a young girl I remember singing a song about the relationship we can have with Jesus. However, it wasn’t until some time later that the meaning of the words rang true in my own life. “No One Ever Cared for Me” was written in 1932 by an evangelist, Charles Weigel. The words here are only the first verse and chorus, there are two additional verses which I didn’t include here:

I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus,
Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true;
I would tell you how He changed my life completely,
He did something that no other friend could do.

No one ever cared for me like Jesus,
There’s no other friend so kind as He;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me,
O how much He cared for me.

My greatest joy is to tell you about my best friend, Jesus. There’s no one like Him. I hope you know Him as your friend too.

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