Tag: no greater love

Posted on

Facts Lead To Wisdom

Life is a progression of accumulated information. Hopefully, this brings us to a place of wisdom.

Take, for example, the fact that the stove is hot. We were taught by our parents not touch the hot stove. For most of us just the statement of fact was not enough. We had to test the fact by experience. At one point we did touch it and felt the warmth, sometimes getting a small blister as a result of the experience.

From that experience we gained knowledge. Knowledge is the process of putting the facts into practice. Knowledge becomes wisdom when we take the fact of the stove being hot, the experience of touching it and use that knowledge to cook something without burning it and then teach others to cook on that stove as well.

We can apply these steps to everything in life; walking, riding a bike, driving a car, using the internet and dealing with people. We go through the process – facts, experience, knowledge and wisdom.

The same applies to our walk with Christ. When we first become a follower of Christ it is generally based on one fact. God loves me and wants to have a relationship with me. Just the facts.

As we learn more about our heavenly Father and His love we begin to experience the faithfulness, mercy, forgiveness and grace that are an outward expression of His love. Our experiences with God’s love give us the knowledge that He will never leave us or abandon us and that His love will never fail.

“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 3:18-19 ERV

The final step in this process is wisdom regarding God’s love. Wisdom is knowing although we can do anything and God will still love us that we want to do only those things that please Him because He does love us unconditionally. Wisdom also has us sharing our experience with others so they can have a greater knowledge and understanding of God’s love.

“There is no fear in love. Perfect love puts fear out of our hearts. People have fear when they are afraid of being punished. The man who is afraid does not have perfect love. 19 We love Him because He loved us first.” I John 4:18-19 NLV

Our knowledge of God’s love takes the fear of being rejected and punished for our wrong doings out of our thinking. We experience forgiveness and restoration because of God’s great and amazing love. We love Him because He loves us first – that’s wisdom.

The lyrics of an old song go something like this: “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 by Fredrick Lehman, 1917)

There will never be enough time, words or talent to pen the greatness of the unconditional love of God.

Each one of us may be at a different place. Some are gathering facts, others are beginning to have daily experience with God’s love and still others have gained years of knowledge and are some are wisely sharing the knowledge they have gained. Whichever one you are, it all starts with one fact.

GOD LOVES YOU!

Posted on

Better Than Wendy’s

This may seem a strange title for a blog on Father’s Day but read on. When we first moved to Rio Rico six years ago we were visiting different restaurants in the area. We found one little place that we loved. There’s nothing like the taste of homemade Mexican food.

Just as we arrived a family came in and sat at the next table. As they sat there waiting for the waitress to bring their drinks I noticed the little girl had brought in a sack from Wendy’s. As her parents ordered and enjoyed their chips and salsa, the little girl reached into the sack and took out her Frosty, fries and burger. I thought, how cute!

Here’s the life lesson the Lord taught me that day:

“16 Jesus said to him, “A man gave a big dinner. He invited many people. 17 When it was time to eat, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come. The food is ready.’ 18 But all the guests said they could not come. Each one made an excuse…’21 “So the servant returned and told his master what happened. The master was angry. He said, ‘Hurry! Go into the streets and alleys of the town. Bring me the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’
22 “Later, the servant said to him, ‘Master, I did what you told me to do, but we still have places for more people.’ 23 The master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and country roads. Tell the people there to come. I want my house to be full!” Luke 14:16-23 ERV

Our Father has prepared a wonderful dinner for us. All of our favorite things are on the menu. He wants to lavish on us the things He has prepared for us. There’s no need to bring our own sack lunch to His banquet.

He wants us to realize that He has promised to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He wants us to know that He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places; He wants us to accept that He has made us priests and kings, we are a royal priesthood. We are beloved sons and daughters and He knows our desires better than we do.

So many times we come to the Father’s table with our own provision – Abraham and Sarah had God’s promise for a son but they made their own provision and Ishmael was born. Not a good thing…

We have allowed the tradition of religion to tell us that we can’t or shouldn’t expect God to bless us or to provide for us. We have so many excuses on why we can’t come to the banquet. We aren’t worthy, God could never love me or “God helps those who help themselves” and the focus gets placed on us and not on Him. We begin thinking like the prodigal son who said “the servants in my father’s house are eating well, I’ll just go be a servant”.

Our Father doesn’t want servants, He wants sons!

He wants us to experience the joy of our salvation – the great and precious promises that He has provided for us in Jesus!

Was this life lesson was just for me? Maybe you’ve never come to the Father’s table with provisions of your own making but if you have, let me encourage you to drop your sack lunch in the receptacle at the door and come eat freely at the table the Father has prepared for you.

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger and good sandals on his feet. 23 And bring our best calf and kill it so that we can celebrate with plenty to eat. 24 My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!’ So they began to have a party.” Luke 15:22-24 ERV

Spend time at the Father’s table. He loves it when His kids come home!

Posted on

A Father’s Love

I’m a bit nostalgic today; fifteen years ago my Dad went to heaven. I miss him dearly but I don’t wish him back. I am so glad to know that he lived a life of loving Jesus and someday I have the promise that I will see him again.

Are you like me? Do you remember crawling up on your dad’s lap and talking to him about “stuff”? Did you have a hunting or fishing day? Or maybe you worked side by side in the corrals or in the pens? Maybe it was a special trip to the store or a weekly game? What is one of your favorite memories with your dad?

As a boy, our son would follow Dave through the alfalfa fields trying to match his steps stride for stride, he wore his hat like his dad and the same kind of boots. Then when he got older Dave would take him to his surf competitions. Father and Son. Now they spend time deep sea fishing, looking for boats and going to the Indy 500.

Our girls still call Dave daddy. When they write him notes or call on the phone it’s always “Daddy”. He would read to our youngest daughter when I was at work and comb her hair in the mornings if I had to go in early. Our oldest daughter had him chaperone her sweet 16 party and they went ice skating. They also had times they went horseback riding together. Now that they’re grown, their daddy is the first one they ask when they have DIY projects that they want done.

Times with Dad are special! They make an indelible impact on our lives. Even when we don’t have our earthly dads with us any more, we most certainly have our Heavenly Father here and He desires to have us spend time with Him.

“Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. 2 Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 CEV

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

So make a commitment to spend time with the Father this year. He loves spending time with you!

“Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:15-16 CEV

Posted on

Love Sweet Love

Just two days ago I shared with you the prayer that Jesus prayed for us. He wanted us to know that the Father loves us as much as the Father loves Him – that concept is beyond mental comprehension and can only be received by faith.

Then yesterday I shared with you what Jesus has done to redeem us, to purchase us – He paid a price that no one else could.

So what do we do with this wonderful outpouring of love from the Father and from Jesus. We can never repay what’s been given, however, there is something we can do to express our gratitude for so great a love.

What the world needs now is love sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of. What the world needs now is love sweet love, no, not just for some but for everyone. We must follow the example that Jesus set for us and love others.

“We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying.” Hebrrews 12:2-3 ERV

Since we must never stop looking at Jesus let’s go back into that room where Jesus and his disciples were celebrating Passover. Jesus has washed feet, Judas is gone to betray Him and this is what happens next.

“Jesus said, “My children, I will be with you only a short time more. You will look for me, but I tell you now what I told the Jewish leaders: Where I am going you cannot come. 34 “I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other just as I loved you. 35 All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.” John 13:33-35 ERV

Love one another…how is this love examplified – by washing the feet of others (taking care of their base needs), by being patient with those that betray us, and by loving those with good intentions but little follow through.

We are often critical of Judas and his betrayal because it was intentional – he used his connection with Jesus for monetary gain. However, Peter’s betrayal was just as damning but instead of being prompted by greed, he was motivated by fear. That night Jesus wasn’t surrounded by just one man who would betray Him but by a room filled with men who would run off and leave him alone.

“Simon Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow now. But you will follow later.” 37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I am ready to die for you!” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you really give your life for me? The truth is, before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” John 13:36-38 ERV

We mustn’t let the end of the chapter stop us from continuing with the events of that night. We must go into chapter 14 to see the instruction that Jesus continued to give. How can we live free from fear and love with the unconditional love that Jesus did? It’s by realizing that God, the Father, has a much bigger and better plan for us than just life on this earth.

“Jesus said, “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back. Then I will take you with me, so that you can be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-3 ERV

Here’s Jesus answer to fear. Don’t worry, trust the Father and trust me. I’m going away but I’ll be back for you so don’t worry!

Let’s come back to our song – what the world needs now is love. They need to see us loving them, loving other christians, living without fear in a pretty unsettling time and doing all of it because we trust the Father and know that He is in control!

How do we express our gratitude for the wonderful love we have received from our heavenly Father? We share it with those around us, the deserving and the undeserving.

What the world needs NOW is love, the sweet love of Jesus!

Posted on

Time to Get Ready

This morning I was reading in the book of Revelation about the heavenly city and how it was prepared like a bride for her bridegroom. It reminded me that six years ago we were preparing for our youngest daughter’s wedding.

“Then I saw New Jerusalem, that holy city, coming down from God in heaven. It was like a bride dressed in her wedding gown and ready to meet her husband.

3 I heard a loud voice shout from the throne: God’s home is now with his people. He will live with them, and they will be his own. Yes, God will make his home among his people. 4 He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever.

5 Then the one sitting on the throne said: I am making everything new. Write down what I have said. My words are true and can be trusted.” Revelation 21:2-5 CEV

There is so much planning and preparation for that one day, that one very special day!

We as Christians should be preparing too; preparing for a lifetime of eternity in the presence of our loving Bridegroom, Jesus. Our new life in Christ is eternal life and eternal life starts when we accept Him as our Savior. It doesn’t start when we die but it is a life of living in the power and character of Almighty God. We are to be living this out each day with the same excitement and anticipation of a bride waiting for her groom.

“Jesus has the power of God. And his power has given us everything we need to live a life devoted to God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus chose us by his glory and goodness, 4 through which he also gave us the very great and rich gifts that he promised us. With these gifts you can share in being like God. And so you will escape the ruin that comes to people in the world because of the evil things they want.
5 Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; 6 to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; 7 to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, and to this kindness add love. 8 If all these things are in you and growing, you will never fail to be useful to God. You will produce the kind of fruit that should come from your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” II Peter 1:3-7

God has provided us with everything we need to be a bride without spot or wrinkle – great and precious promises. As I see it, He has bought us the dress, prepared the venue and hired the caterers. The cake is being decorated and the flowers arranged. It’s time to give Him glory and praise for all He has done.

“ You also know we did everything for you that parents would do for their own children. 12 We begged, encouraged, and urged each of you to live in a way that would honor God. He is the one who chose you to share in his own kingdom and glory.
13 We always thank God that you believed the message we preached. It came from him, and it isn’t something made up by humans. You accepted it as God’s message, and now he is working in you.” I Thessalonians 2:11-13

Time to get ready; our bridegroom is coming!

Posted on

So Much Love

It’s almost Valentine’s Day and so many are thinking of love. I’m still mulling over the significance of Jesus becoming our sacrifice; He willingly laid down His life to save ours! Now that’s true love.

Amazing.

I don’t think anyone would argue with the following statement: God, the Father, loves Jesus Christ, His Son. Nope, no argument at all. But what about this one? Think hard before you answer. God, the Father, loves me as much as He loves Jesus!

Does that one take you back? Does it cause you some hesitation? If so, you haven’t really understood how much God loves you. Jesus was praying in the Garden before He was taken to be crucified and this was part of His prayer.

“’I pray not only for these followers but also for those who will believe in me because of their teaching. 21 Father, I pray that all who believe in me can be one. You are in me and I am in you. I pray that they can also be one in us. Then the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me. I gave them this glory so that they can be one, just as you and I are one. 23 I will be in them, and you will be in me. So they will be completely one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you loved them just as you loved me.” John 17:20-23 ERV

…that you loved them just as you loved me. Think about that – recall all the different ways that God showed His love to Jesus and then see yourself being loved by God in the same way. Jesus was praying this prayer not just for the disciples that he was leaving on the earth at that time but for all who would believe in Him because of their teaching. I’m one of those who believed in Jesus as my Saviour because of their teaching and if you have accepted Christ as your Saviour then you have believed too and this verse is written to you.

Paul says in Romans that when we believe, we become the children of God, heirs and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. (Romans 8). As parents, we’ve all had our kids accuse us of having a favorite, preferring one child over the other; but as parents, we all know that’s not true. We don’t love one child more than the other. We love each child as the unique individual that they are.

“For the Holy Spirit speaks to us and tells our spirit that we are children of God. 17 If we are children of God, we will receive everything He has promised us. We will share with Christ all the things God has given to Him. But we must share His suffering if we are to share His shining-greatness.” Romans 8:16-18 NLV

We saw how Jesus suffered in the Garden when he prayed. If there was any other way possible for God’s plan of salvation to be fulfilled Jesus asked Him to do it. But if not, Jesus put His own will and desire aside to do the Father’s will. We will have times of suffering as we lay aside our desires to do what God desires for us to do. There is some real struggling in making selfless decisions.

For a time Jesus was referred to as God’s only Son but after His death on the cross and God’s plan of redemption was complete He is called the first born of many brethren. We are now one of God’s chosen, dearly loved children.

There is no greater love than this!

Posted on

Always On My Mind

It’s nice to let people know you are thinking of them. Just a note that says “thinking of you” will brighten anyone’s day. Today, I was asked to send this note along to you.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12 NKJV

God, our Father, is thinking about you. He is planning good things to fill your day.

“O Lord my God, many are the great works You have done, and Your thoughts toward us. No one can compare with You! If I were to speak and tell of them, there would be too many to number.” Psalm 40:5 NLV

I woke up this morning singing a song that we sang Sunday in the worship service. (I wasn’t able to attend a regular service but did participate in worship through a service that was streamed live.)

Chorus: Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope…

Songwriters: Phil Wickham, Brian Mark Johnson Living Hope lyrics © ESSENTIAL MUSIC PUBLISHING, BETHEL MUSIC PUBLISHING

As those words kept going over and over in my mind I got more and more excited. God, Almighty God, has provided a way for me to be freed from sins penalty. Everything that had enslaved me in the past or would try to capture me in the future has had it’s power broken because of Jesus, my living hope!

Those promises aren’t for me because I’m special. No, they are for all of us. Everything that God provided and Jesus has accomplished is for anyone who will receive His provision. He’s been thinking about us for all eternity and He has made great plans for us.

“God has said that all men have broken His Law. But He will show loving-kindness on all of them. 33 God’s riches are so great! The things He knows and His wisdom are so deep! No one can understand His thoughts. No one can understand His ways.” Romans 11:32-33 NLV

When I get up each morning and open my Bible I read it like a letter. I read about the things that are important to God; things that He wants me to know. Things He has done and things He’s going to do. The Bible is my “thinking of you” letter each day. It says “I want to share My life with you, I want you to know that I love you and want to be a part of what you’re doing today. My thoughts are filled with ways to bless you in ways that you really don’t understand”.

I have a friend that I share emails with each morning. She tells me all about her day; where she went, who she saw, the trivial and the monumental. I love reading those emails because I love her. It makes me feel apart of her day although we live hundreds of miles apart. If we can have this kind of relationship on the human level think of how much greater it is with God.

“The Lord answered, “Could a mother forget a child who nurses at her breast?
Could she fail to love an infant who came from her own body? Even if a mother could forget, I will never forget you. 16 A picture of your city is drawn on my hand. You are always in my thoughts!” Isaiah 49:15-16 CEV

I hope this gives you as much comfort as it gives me knowing that God is thinking about us today. His thoughts toward us are innumerable. We are always on His mind!


Posted on

The Eternal Love of God

Have you ever had a hard time believing that you are loved? I have!

If that’s where you are today or where you have been I want to share some verses on God’s love with you. I know I have shared some of these before but we can never have too much love. Agree?

“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 8:38-39 ERV

Do you see that – NOTHING! Nothing now or in the future can separate us from the God’s love. Absolutely nothing.

“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

You might think that the things in your past or even in your present make you unlovable but God sees more than our actions and our failures and He sees someone He loves. He has loved us at our worst and He loves us just the same at our best. His love is unconditional!

“Love does not give up. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not put itself up as being important. Love has no pride. 5 Love does not do the wrong thing. Love never thinks of itself. Love does not get angry. Love does not remember the suffering that comes from being hurt by someone. 6 Love is not happy with sin. Love is happy with the truth. 7 Love takes everything that comes without giving up. Love believes all things. Love hopes for all things. Love keeps on in all things.

8 Love never comes to an end.” I Corinthians 13:4-8 NLV

Love was and still is God’s plan. It’s who He is. Love isn’t a emotion that comes and goes. Love isn’t goose bumps and tingles. Love is God!

“The person who tells of Him in front of men and says that Jesus is the Son of God, God is living in that one and that one is living by the help of God. 16 We have come to know and believe the love God has for us. God is love. If you live in love, you live by the help of God and God lives in you.” I John 4:15-16 NLV

God desires to always be here for us, providing us with comfort and encouragement, He gives us hope. He isn’t out to condemn us!

“Our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father loves us. Through His loving-favor He gives us comfort and hope that lasts forever. 17 May He give your hearts comfort and strength to say and do every good thing.” II Thessalonians 2:16-17 NLV

When we accept His wonderful gift, Jesus Christ, as our Savior we receive a new life free of condemnation. We’ve talked about this in days past God chooses to forget our sins and put them as far as the east is from the west. We are forgiven.

“So now anyone who is in Christ Jesus is not judged guilty. 2 That is because in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit that brings life made you free. It made you free from the law that brings sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 ERV

It is impossible to pen the words that can adequately express the love that God has for us. It is written in every book of the Bible – in fact, the Bible is God’s love letter to us. So I will end with a prayer that Apostle Paul recorded – it was his prayer us and it is my prayer for you.

“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.

20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. “ Ephesians 3:17-20 ERV

God loves you and so do I!

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress