Tag: LoveNeverFails

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Too Great to Measure

Do you know what the image is that I used this morning? Of course you do, it’s a measuring wheel.

It seems we have a measuring tape or several around our house that are in constant use. I have a small one in the kitchen that measures up to 10′, an even smaller one in my purse that measures 3′. Dave has several in his tool box – 25′, 50′ and 100′. On more than one occasion I have been asked “do you know if Dave has a 100′ tape”.

Astronomists can measure the distance to the planets, elephants and whales can be measured. Geologists can tell us the height of the tallest mountains and the depth of the deepest canyons.

But who can measure the love of God? No one can fully measure or understand the height, the depth, the width and the breath of God’s love.

“ I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers. 19 I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:18-19 CEB

Nor can we count or calculate the loving thoughts that God has for us.

“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18  If I could count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.” Psalm 137:17-18 AMP

The magnitude of the miracles that Jesus did while on the earth were impossible to record.

“This is the disciple who testifies concerning these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 25 Jesus did many other things as well. If all of them were recorded, I imagine the world itself wouldn’t have enough room for the scrolls that would be written.” John 21:24-25 CEB

But the one thing for certain, we know that everything Jesus did was good!

“You know about Jesus from Nazareth. God made him the Messiah by giving him the Holy Spirit and power. Jesus went everywhere doing good for people. He healed those who were ruled by the devil, showing that God was with him. 39 “We saw all that Jesus did in Judea and in Jerusalem.” Acts 10:38-39 ERV

I just don’t understand how we can get so sidetracked that we focus on our problems and not on the goodness of God.

There was an old hymn that rolls around in my heart and it reminds me of just how loving God is. It was written in 1917 – World War I was being fought and the Spanish flu was running unchecked and still he wrote this song.

“The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

Refrain:
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.”

The love of God is unconditional, unending and is too great to be measured! Amen!!

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Nothing – Absolutely Nothing

Do you have “one special someone” in your life?

The one who knows your deepest secrets, your biggest fears, your worst failures and loves you still? That one who has been behind you for every success, cheering you on, encouraging you, applauding you, being there at the trophy ceremony to celebrate your victories?

That someone who will never leave and who will always support through thick or thin, good times or bad, that One is none other than our loving heavenly Father.

He loved you before you were born. He loved you when no one else knew your name. He loved you when you failed and disappointed Him and He loved you when you reached the pinnacle of success!

He can do no other. He IS love! He had His Son die for us. That’s who He is and what He does. It’s absolutely amazing to be in relationship with Him!!!!

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

“So what should we say about this? If God is for us, no one can stand against us. And God is with us.” Romans 8:31 CEV

God isn’t waiting for us to fail so He can humiliate us or punish us for what we do wrong. He’s always with us – loving us, encouraging us to try, helping us to grow.

If you’ve ever battled with being “good enough” like I have and then come to a realization that there’s nothing that I can do to make God love me less and there is nothing I can do to make God love me more than you know what a wonderful joy (doesn’t even describe) it is to wake up each morning and say, “Father I love you. Jesus, I love you. Holy Spirit, I love you. And then to hear them say back, “We love you too!”

“Who can say that God’s people are guilty? No one! Christ Jesus died for us, but that is not all. He was also raised from death. And now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us. 35 Can anything separate us from Christ’s love? Can trouble or problems or persecution separate us from his love? If we have no food or clothes or face danger or even death, will that separate us from his love? 36 As the Scriptures say, ‘For you we are in danger of death all the time. People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed.’

37 But in all these troubles we have complete victory through God, who has shown his love for us. 38-39 Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not death, life, angels, or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from the love God has shown us in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:34-39 CEV

Now that’s a good way to start an ABSOLUTELY wonderful day!!!

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My Heart is Full

Those were the only words I had in mind when I sat down to write this morning. My heart is full of gratitude, joy, peace and contentment. I have all I need and all I desire because of the love of God.

Opening my Bible I began to read:

“ God the Father decided to choose you as his people, and his Spirit has made you holy. You have obeyed Jesus Christ and are sprinkled with his blood. I pray that God will be kind to you and will keep on giving you peace! 3 Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, he has given us new life and a hope that lives on. 4  God has something stored up for you in heaven, where it will never decay or be ruined or disappear.

5 You have faith in God, whose power will protect you until the last day. Then he will save you, just as he has always planned to do. 6 On that day you will be glad, even if you have to go through many hard trials for a while. 7  Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns.

8 You have never seen Jesus, and you don’t see him now. But still you love him and have faith in him, and no words can tell how glad and happy 9 you are to be saved. This is why you have faith…” I Peter 1:2-9 CEV

Faith, tried in the fire of adversity, disappointment, betrayal or physical struggle, is refined. James says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” James 1:2-3 ESV

The “testing” referred to here is a comparison to the refiner’s fire for purifying gold. The process destroys what is useless and invaluable and at the same time increases the value and quality of the gold.

The same is true in our lives. Trials test us. In the process selfishness, bitterness, anger, envy, and greed are removed and pure faith and love remain.

“ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. 5 Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. 6 Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth. 7 Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits. 8 Love will never end.” I Corinthians 13:4-8 ERV

It is Christ who is the example of this kind of love. He paid our ransom, not with silver and gold, but with His life. He never gives up on us and His love will never end.

“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God…” I Peter 1:18-19 NLT

Because of Him, my heart is full!

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A Kiss from God

Today I want to talk to you a bit about little kindnesses. In the Bible we see time and again where the Scriptures say, “He was moved with compassion” or “His loving kindness”.

Little kindnesses are like a kiss from the Father.

Loving-kindness – you know, like when the waitress brings you the wrong meal and you don’t go off on her, but you are kind in your words and sincere in your appreciation for her hard work.

You know what loving-kindness is.

It’s when you show patience at the grocery store with the cashier when she has just been cussed out by the client before you. Or when your child hasn’t cleaned up the yard or taken out the trash like you told them to do and you find out that they were wounded by a friend or embarrassed by a teacher and they were just too distracted to get it done.

All of these are practical examples of loving kindness.

Yesterday, I had two people tell me how much what I had done for them meant to them. Truthfully, I really didn’t feel I had done anything special – nothing big, not grand but I had just come along side when they were feeling overwhelmed and helped out. No biggee…but it was to them.

Jesus calls it giving cups of cold water!

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me also welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who welcomes a prophet, just because that person is a prophet, will be given the same reward as a prophet. Anyone who welcomes a good person, just because that person is good, will be given the same reward as a good person. 42 And anyone who gives one of my most humble followers a cup of cool water, just because that person is my follower, will surely be rewarded.” Matthew 10:40-42 CEV

Now I know some will look at these verses and focus on the reward but I really think what Jesus is trying to get us to see is that nothing, no matter how small, goes unnoticed to the Father when we are reaching out in love. Extending loving-kindness to those around us is an example of the Christ that lives in us.

Over ten years ago I spent a week in the hospital and when I came home I wasn’t able to do much for a several weeks. Some sweet ladies brought me cups of cool water.

One neighbor came over each morning to take our dog for a walk and then she took my ironing to her home and did it for me. Another neighbor cooked extra dinner each night for Dave to enjoy when he got off work. She kept the refrigerator filled with the things I had been told to eat on a special diet. And she did my laundry. These acts of love were priceless!

All these years later I remember how their kindnesses were a reminder of God’s love and provision for me. Kisses of His unfailing love.

“The king will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.” Matthew 25:40 CEV

We can change the world, one life at a time. “Father make me more aware of those that need a cup of cold water today.”

Let me give them kisses of kindness. I want the world to see my Father through me!

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Mercy Rewrites the Story

Time this morning for another old song.

Mercy rewrote my life. Mercy rewrote my life. I should have fallen, my soul cast down but mercy rewrote my life.

Each year as we get closer to celebrating the resurrection of our Savior, and our Lord, my heart is drawn to focus on His mercy and sacrifice on our behalf.

Mercy: (I want this word to become engrained in your heart)

from Merriam Webster dictionary

1 a : compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power; also : lenient or compassionate treatment

2 a : a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion

3 : compassionate treatment of those in distress

Compassion shown to an offender. The focal point of the Tabernacle was the mercy seat. The focal point of God’s relationship to man is mercy!

Can you imagine being tasked with the responsibility for crafting the items used in the Tabernacle?

“Bezalel built a chest of acacia wood forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high. 2 He covered it inside and out with pure gold and put a gold edging around the top…6 The entire lid of the chest, which was also covered with pure gold, was the place of mercy.” Exodus 37:1-6 CEV

This chest was the ark of the covenant – this ark was a sign of God’s presence and here in God’s presence was the place to find mercy!

Why do we so often run from God when we sin? The Father’s heart is that we run to Him, run to Him for mercy and for help, run to Him for forgiveness and restoration.

The high priest could only enter the Holy of Holies and offer the blood sacrifice once a year to the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat. But no more!

Jesus became our high priest, and He offered His own shed blood for the forgiveness of sins and we have been forever cleansed! Hallelujah!

“11 Christ came as the high priest of the good things that are now here. He also went into a much better tent that wasn’t made by humans and that doesn’t belong to this world. 12 Then Christ went once for all into the most holy place and freed us from sin forever. He did this by offering his own blood instead of the blood of goats and bulls.” Hebrews 9:11-12 CEV

I heard mercy described like this once.

We are taken to court with a long list of charges (sin) against us. The prosecutor (satan) stands before the judge (the Father) and declares that we are guilty. The defense attorney (Jesus) stands before the judge and says “My client throws himself on the mercy of the court, Your Honor.”

The judge then says” I will grant your plea for mercy however someone has to pay the penalty”. Then the defense attorney, Jesus, steps forward and says “I will pay the penalty Your Honor. Let my client go and take Me in His place. (grace)”

Mercy: not receiving the penalty we deserve

Grace: receiving release or forgiveness that we don’t deserve

Thank you Father for your mercy and your grace! Your mercy rewrote my life’s story!

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Always Thinking About Us

When you woke this morning, God was thinking about you!

As you go through your day, His thoughts are always on you. His desire is for your best. He loves you so deeply and is thinking of ways to show you His best.

King David said that God’s thoughts to us were so many that they couldn’t be counted. Jeremiah, the prophet, said that God’s thoughts toward us were for our success.

As you go through your day, if you stop and think, God will be thinking of you. I hope you will take time to thank Him that you’re always on His mind and in His heart!

“Great blessings belong to those who trust in the LORD, for those who do not turn to demons and false gods for help. LORD my God, you have done many amazing things! You have made great plans for us—too many to list. I could talk on and on about them, because there are too many to count.” Psalm 40: 4 &5 ERV

“‘ I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.’ This message is from the LORD. ‘I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.'” Jeremiah 29:11 ERV

“The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” Psalm 145:17-18 CEV

Even when our thoughts are not on Him, He is thinking of us!

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True Love Lasts

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you! I thank you for spending a small portion of your day with me.

This morning it’s only appropriate that I bring you a message of love straight from the Father’s heart. But really, I believe that’s what I do every morning.

These are the words that the Apostle John wrote in the first chapter of his book which chronicled the life of Jesus. John is often referred to as the disciple that Jesus loved. John was one of Jesus’ closest friends, he was one of the people on earth who knew Jesus the best.

“The Word became a man and lived among us. We saw his divine greatness—the greatness that belongs to the only Son of the Father. The Word was full of grace and truth. 15 John told people about him. He said loudly, ‘This is the one I was talking about when I said, “The one who is coming after me is greater than I am, because he was living before I was even born.”‘

16 Yes, the Word was full of grace and truth, and from him we all received one blessing after another. 17 That is, the law was given to us through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The only Son is the one who has shown us what God is like. He is himself God and is very close to the Father,” John 1:14-18 ERV

The reason Jesus came to earth and lived as a man was to show us all what God was like. Jesus embodied the loving kindness, the grace and mercy of the Father. Jesus lived a life of compassion and healing. He comforted those who were hurting and outcast in society.

“ 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.” John 3:16 ERV

Because of God’s great love He gave what was most important to Him, He gave us His Son so that we could experience this wonderful love of God.

“The Lord came to us from far away, saying, “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. So I have helped you come to Me with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:2-4 NLV

God doesn’t just have love, He is love! His total being is the embodiment of love and He sent His Son to share that love with us.

“ We were weak and could not help ourselves. Then Christ came at the right time and gave His life for all sinners. 7 No one is willing to die for another person, but for a good man someone might be willing to die. 8 But God showed His love to us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8 NLV

God’s love is true. God’s love is eternal and God’s love has been given freely to all of us. True love lasts forever!

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Sharing Love

What are your plans for today? Working, recreating, relaxing? Whatever it is, wherever you are take time to praise the name of the Lord!

If you see a beautiful sunrise, taste those bacon and eggs, hear a small child giggle, see an older person smile, have a dog wiggle all over because he’s glad to see you – praise the name of the Lord for these are small but irreplaceable gifts from Him.

If you comfort someone dear to you, shed uncontrollable tears, speak a kind word to someone who is hurting or help someone who is down on their luck – praise the name of the Lord that He has chosen you to touch their life.

““Then the godly people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food? When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you with no place to stay and welcome you into our home? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’

40 “Then the king will answer, ‘The truth is, anything you did for any of my people here, you also did for me.’” Matthew 25:37-40 ERV

“May the LORD’S name be praised now and forever. 3 May the LORD’S name be praised from where the sun rises to where it goes down. 4 The LORD is higher than all nations. His glory rises to the skies.” Psalm 113:2-4

With each bit of kindness, each word of praise, each whispered prayer of thanksgiving your day will be brighter and you will be doing what you were created to do – praising the name of the Lord. Have a blessed and praise filled day.

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Taking Good Advice

Do you know that God is a very loving Father and that He desires the best for us?

His word is filled with good advice. Just like we try to impart good advice to our children, God has written a book of daily life advice for us to follow, to live by.

Why? Because He wants nothing but the best of us.

I want to share just a couple of things that jumped off the pages of the Bible this morning.

“My child, if you listen and obey my teachings, you will live a long time. 11 I have shown you the way that makes sense; I have guided you along the right path. 12 Your road won’t be blocked, and you won’t stumble when you run. 13 Hold firmly to my teaching and never let go. It will mean life for you. 14 Don’t follow the bad example of cruel and evil people…My child, listen carefully to everything I say. 21 Don’t forget a single word, but think about it all.
22 Knowing these teachings will mean true life and good health for you. 23 Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life.” Proverbs 4:10-23 CEV

Those are the words of Solomon who was endowed with an abundance of wisdom. Next, we have the words of the Apostle Paul to his disciple Titus.

“God has shown us undeserved grace by coming to save all people. 12 He taught us to give up our wicked ways and our worldly desires and to live decent and honest lives in this world. 13 We are filled with hope, as we wait for the glorious return of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 14  He gave himself to rescue us from everything evil and to make our hearts pure. He wanted us to be his own people and to be eager to do right. 15 Teach these things, as you use your full authority to encourage and correct people. Make sure you earn everyone’s respect.  Remind your people to obey the rulers and authorities and not to be rebellious. (Chapter 3) They must always be ready to do something helpful 2 and not say cruel things or argue. They shouldbe gentle and kind to everyone. 3 We used to be stupid, disobedient, and foolish, as well as slaves of all sorts of desires and pleasures. We were evil and jealous. Everyone hated us, and we hated everyone.

4 God our Savior showed us how good and kind he is. 5 He saved us because of his mercy,
and not because of any good things we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning. 6 God sent Jesus Christ our Savior to give us his Spirit. 7 Jesus treated us much better than we deserve. He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life. 8 This message is certainly true. These teachings are useful and helpful for everyone. I want you to insist that the people follow them, so that all who have faith in God will be sure to do good deeds.” Titus 2:11 – 3:8 CEV

As parents we have all given advice to our children, advice that we feel is good. God’s advice to us as His children is much better, more reliable and always true. We do well when we follow His teachings!

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Removed from Memory

Have you ever been caught up in a chore of some kind and just had thoughts come flooding into your mind?

Maybe you’re doing the laundry or driving to work or out walking, mowing the grass or just daydreaming and something that has brought you pain or guilt comes rolling in like the coastal fog or a wave to the seashore?

I have – and if I’m not careful, I start to mull it over, re-hash it and find that the hurt, worry or pain are still there.

That’s when I realize I haven’t completely turned it over to the Lord.

“Love does not remember wrongs done against it. 6 Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth. 7 Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits.” I Corinthians 13:5-7 ERV

Love doesn’t remember a wrong!!!!

Now that’s a hard one to swallow. But thank God He doesn’t. You notice I said He doesn’t because God is love and it’s His character to “Not Remember”. He isn’t holding our sins against us – quite the opposite! When we accept His forgiveness, He remembers our sin NO MORE.

Aren’t you glad that you can come to Him knowing He won’t condemn you for the things in your past? All things are new.

“And I will forgive the wrongs they have done, and I will not remember their sins.'” Hebrews 12:8 ERV

God wipes the slate clean.

Most of us remember the chalkboards that were in our school classrooms. The teacher would put up math problems, penmanship drills, and spelling words for us to copy down. Then she would grab an eraser and wipe the work away.

All that would remain was the chalk dust and a faint impression of what had previously been there. But when she picked up the big eraser with the chamois side to it, the board was completely clean. No evidence of what had once been remained.

That is just a crude example of God’s forgiveness.

“ I, I am the one who wipes away all your sins. I do this to please myself. I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:25 ERV

” You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God’s people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins. 14  God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14 CEV

If your plagued by guilt or past failures, bring them to the cross and let the blood of Jesus wipe the slate clean.

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