Category: I John

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Something Went Wrong

Not the words you want to read first thing in the morning.

“Something went wrong, try again later”.

I was trying to access the app on my phone so I could see our boarding passes. We’re headed home today and I had selected our boarding position early so I wouldn’t have to check in yesterday. It would have interrupted the fun day that our granddaughter had planned for us.

So, this morning I tried to open the app to check our boarding passes and was greeted with this message several times. Yikes! But at last, I had success. Now we are set for our return flight with no problems.

I’m so glad that God the Father doesn’t use an app – He’s definitely bigger and greater than that.

“…and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 KJV

The mighty God – THE mighty God – the MIGHTY God – the mighty GOD – THE MIGHTY GOD – no matter where you put the emphasis, it means that HE is greater than I am.

From the beginning, God’s plan was to be involved in the daily lives of those He created. He wanted fellowship. He walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. He spoke with Noah, with Abraham, Samuel, David, Solomon, Ruth, Esther, Daniel, Mary, Joseph and many others. He came personally to dwell with mankind and reveal His nature – His heart – His plan.

The MIGHTY God made an old couple able to bear a child; shut the mouth of hungry lions, brought victory after victory in battle, fed the Israelites with bread from heaven, raised the dead, healed the sick, open the eyes of the blind, walked on water and defeated Satan. His resurrection from death was the ultimate victory.

The Mighty GOD came to live among us, to experience what we experience and to give us the victory. There was no need to “try again later”, His mission was successful, and His victory was unthwarted.

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”I John 4:4

“We have a great high priest who has gone to live with God in heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us continue to express our faith in him. 15 Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned. 16 With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:14-16

There is NO situation or circumstance in our lives that “the mighty God” can’t handle. No need to try again later. When we give our lives over to Him, we will experience His presence, His peace, His help in our times of trouble.

Unwrap the gift of The Mighty God and experience His strength!

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The Price is Paid

On a number of occasions, I have told you that the best way to read/study the Bible isn’t by reading many chapters or for multiple hours but it’s to read for application. If we read only a couple of verses and they speak to our heart and we think on them throughout the whole day, it’s better than marking chapters off a list and having the words make no impact.

Yesterday I was taken back as I read one verse, one obscure verse in Psalms.

“Remember the people you bought so long ago. You saved us, and we belong to you.” Psalm 74:2 CEV

It was this one verse that reminded me of my Father’s love. Remember You, heavenly Father, bought us – saved us and we belong to You!

The word bought is translated in other places as the word “redeemed”.

“You know that in the past the way you were living was useless. It was a way of life you learned from those who lived before you. But you were saved from that way of living. You were bought, but not with things that ruin like gold or silver. 19 You were bought with the precious blood of Christ’s death. He was a pure and perfect sacrificial Lamb.” I Peter 1:18-19 ERV

Years ago, our favorite pastime was attending farm and ranch auctions. We were addicted to finding treasures that others overlooked. We went so often that we became friends with some of the different auctioneers and from time to time they would ask us to help out. Dave would spot bids in the crowd and I would clerk.

We were working at one auction where someone had consigned some artwork. I was busy recording the bids so, I hadn’t really looked up to see what the pictures looked like until there was a lull in the bidding. It was then I saw this angelic face.

I was captured by the innocence I saw in his eyes, the chubby cheeks and the cherub like smile. I knew I needed to buy it and give it a place of honor in our home.

When I read that verse yesterday morning – You bought us, You saved us, You made us your own”. I remember that day at the auction – I bought, saved and made my own that sweet little angel.

How much greater, how much deeper is the Father’s love for us? We have been redeemed, we have been purchased by the blood of Jesus and by that blood our debt has been marked “Paid in Full”.

This painting, which now hangs in our daughter’s home, has been a daily reminder for me. Just seeing it stirs my heart, it’s such a sweet face that needed rescuing but more than that it reminds me that I was in need of rescuing and Christ stepped up and paid the price.

“ He paid for our sins with His own blood. He did not pay for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.” I John 2:2 NLV

I will be grateful for all eternity that God bought me, saved me and made me His own. I’ve been redeemed, you have too. The price for our salvation has been marked “Paid in Full”.

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Grateful for God’s Love

I hope you are looking forward to these morning blogs as we continue to focus on “God is Good”!

This morning I have a couple more verses I want us to learn from but before that let me tell you a story about our kids when they were little.

We didn’t want them growing up to be critical or judgmental. We tried to teach them that every person had value and purpose. After all, God is the giver of all life. We might not like what someone does but that doesn’t give us reason to become bitter, resentful or critical.

We told them they needed to look for something good or nice to say about everyone, even if all they could find to say was “they have clean fingernails”. And then we would laugh. Yes, that’s an obscure quality but at least it was something positive and it got them looking for the good in people.

“God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. 10 Real love isn’t our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other. 12  No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is truly in our hearts.” I John 4:9-12 CEV

Each person we meet or deal with on a daily basis was created and loved by God. In God’s sight, they are no less lovable than you or I. As the verses above say real love, true love, isn’t our love for God but His love for us.

God’s love for us is unconditional. Even in our sin He loved us and made provision for our salvation. His desire is to have all people, everywhere reconciled to Himself. We may all be surprised when we get to heaven and see someone that we didn’t expect to see but no one will be there because of our efforts. We will all enter heaven because we accept the sacrifice of Jesus and receive the love and grace that He gives.

“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.

9 But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger. 10 Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by the life of his Son.” Romans 5:6-10 CEV

God’s love, His unconditional, never-ending love has brought us to a place of peace. I am grateful that He loves me!

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All, Inclusive

This morning a phrase kept going through my head, it’s something I heard a preacher say long ago. That phrase is “when we come to Christ, we are complete, nothing missing, nothing broken”.

I don’t think there’s a person alive who at one time or another hasn’t felt alone, left out. When we were kids, someone was always the last to be chosen for the team, the last to be asked to participate, or the one who was never invited.

Christ came to change all that. He came to see that we are all included in the Father’s invitation of love.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some consider slowness. Rather, He is being patient toward you—not wanting anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9 TLV

Peter knew firsthand about the Father’s all-inclusive love. He had denied Christ three times on the night of His trial, but the Lord showed him forgiveness and restoration. Peter experienced the Lord’s loving kindness.

“ But God is rich in mercy, and he loved us very much. 5 We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against him. But he gave us new life together with Christ. (You have been saved by God’s grace.) 6 Yes, it is because we are a part of Christ Jesus that God raised us from death and seated us together with him in the heavenly places. 7 God did this so that his kindness to us who belong to Christ Jesus would clearly show for all time to come the amazing richness of his grace.” Ephesians 2:4-7 ERV

The love of God isn’t conditional, it extends for all time to show His amazing grace. God’s provision of grace, receiving something we don’t deserve, is for all who believe.

“God makes people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. He does this for all who believe in Christ. Everyone is the same. 23 All have sinned and are not good enough to share God’s divine greatness. 24 They are made right with God by his grace. This is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ.” Romans 3:22-24 ERV

We all are made right with God by his grace. It’s a free gift.

“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 18 God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.” II Corinthians 5:17-18 CEV

All who come to Christ are given new life, no one is left to sit on the sidelines waiting to be chosen. The Father has made a way for all of us to have new life.

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

God’s plan for relationship with mankind isn’t based on our merit. His love is for all!

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Never Gonna Let Me Down

This morning started with me writing notes of encouragement to a couple of friends who are going through some health crises. I received emails from them both yesterday and I could read the discouragement in their words.

You may be facing reports that are less than you had hoped for too. This morning I want to encourage you with a few of my favorite Scriptures. I know I’ve shared them before but we never read a verse just once and apply it to our lives and never need to read the verse again.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing, and hearing the Word of God.

These verses have really helped me and I hope that there are one or two that provide what you need!

HE WILL NEVER LEAVE ME OR LET ME DOWN!

“Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; 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 13:5 AMP

WHEN CHRIST RULES, PEACE REIGNS

“And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].” Colossians 3:15 AMP

HE CARES FOR ME

“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” I Peter 5:7 AMP

I HAVE AN OVERFLOWING LIFE

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 AMP

MOSES AND I HAVE THE SAME GOD, THE GREAT I AM!

24 Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I Am]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.” John 16:24 AMP

MY FATHER’S WORD GIVES ME CONFIDENCE

“ And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” I John 5:14-15 NLT

GOD CANNOT LIE

“God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” Numbers 23:19 NLT

As I was re-reading these verses this morning, my heart was greatly encouraged. God is ALWAYS faithful to His word. He will never let us down, we will never be abandoned!

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Never Underestimate the Impossible

This morning’s title comes from a song sung by Joe Nichols, a country singer. These were the words I heard running through my mind this morning.

“I’ve learned to never underestimate, The impossible”

Seems this is the message the Lord has wanted me to bring the last week. A message of hope, of safety, provision, protection, salvation, a message of doing the impossible.

“Nothing is impossible for God!” Luke 1:37 CEV

Let God be true and every man a liar, that’s what the Bible tells us! God cannot lie.

Abraham believed God rather than looking at his own body or the body of his wife and they had a child when he was one hundred. Mary believed God and she conceived a son when she was a virgin. The disciples believed God and they cast our demons, healed the sick and raised the dead. The lame man believed God and took up his bed and walked.

I believe God and He has healed me many times, brought peace in the midst of physical and emotional storms, prosperity out of poverty, and life eternal. I believe the word when it says, “with God, all things are possible”. I believe the word when it says, “by his stripes we are healed”. And I believe the word of God when it says, “nothing is impossible to him who believes”.

When we pray the word of God, we are praying God’s will because His word is His will. We can be confident when we pray the Word of God over a situation.

“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” I John 5:14-15 NLT

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. 5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!” Psalm 103:1-5 NLT

“ The robber comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came so they might have life, a great full life.” John 10:10 NLV

Let God be true and every man a liar. Always let God’s word have the final say in your circumstances.

“God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” Numbers 23:19 NLT

Never underestimate the impossible for with God all things are possible!

AMEN!

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Answering the Why

Sometimes it may feel like you’re a flower amongst the weeds. So much around us is negative, pessimistic and ugly.

Then comes the “why”?

Why am I placed among these people? Neighbors who are unfriendly, co-workers who are antagonistic and family who are unloving.

Why?

Jesus may have asked that very question, but He also knew the answer. His Father loved the world…He was sent to bring knowledge of that love and forgiveness to us all.

Now here’s another “why”.

Why do I love the Lord? Why am I willing to stand for Him when others think my ways and ideas are old fashioned, out of date, archaic and foolish? Why do I believe in a God I can’t see and why am I willing to base my life on His word?

Why?

How do I answer these questions to others and how do I answer them in my heart?

In a nutshell – I love the Lord because He loved me first! In all my life my heavenly Father has never had a bad thought about me; He has never belittled me, never lied to me and He has never abandoned me and He never will!

Has He approved of everything I’ve done? NO

Has He corrected and instructed me? ABSOLUTELY

He has loved me unconditionally and without embarrassment.

My greatest form of worship is to love Him and then to love others as He has loved me.

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his only Son into the world to give us life through him. 10 True love is God’s love for us, not our love for God. He sent his Son as the way to take away our sins.

11 That is how much God loved us, dear friends! So we also must love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us. If we love each other, God’s love has reached its goal—it is made perfect in us.

13 We know that we live in God and God lives in us. We know this because he gave us his Spirit. 14 We have seen that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world, and this is what we tell people now. 15 Anyone who says, “I believe that Jesus is the Son of God,” is a person who lives in God, and God lives in that person. 16 So we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love.

God is love. Everyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in them. 17 If God’s love is made perfect in us, we can be without fear on the day when God judges the world. We will be without fear, because in this world we are like Jesus. 18 Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love takes away fear…19 We love because God first loved us.” I John 4:8-19 ERV

Like that flower among the weeds, we are here to bring the beauty of God’s love to the world.

I pray that you have an intimate knowledge of how much God loves you – it’s life changing!

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Under the Weather

There are two phrases I have heard used quite frequently that are little disconcerting to me. In fact, in my prayer time this morning I used one as I was talking to the Father. I told Him I was feeling under the weather – I didn’t sleep well, I am achy in all my joints and there’s the tummy upset and indigestion.

I felt a prompting to ask you all to pray for me so that my body would be strengthened and I would have the energy I need for today.

I went to look for a picture to use with the blog today and was drawn to the one I took last night. Then it struck me how appropriate this image is.

It had been lightly raining most of the afternoon. The clouds were heavy and the wind currents had positioned them right over our campground. The sky was dark because the clouds were thick and blocked the sun’s light.

The Son is never gone, only briefly out of sight.

The other phrase that annoys me is “under the circumstances”. Have you ever asked someone how they’re doing and the answer comes back “pretty good under the circumstances”? I always want to ask “why are you under your circumstances”.

God’s word promises us that we have been made overcomers. That is a position of victory, a place that is over our circumstances.

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” I John 5:4 ESV

Paul tells us this in Romans 8: “In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. 38 I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, 39 and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:37-39 CEV

We are overcomers and we are victorious in Christ.

If we are under anything let’s be under the shadow of the Almighty and under His wings of protection.

“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.” 3 The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases. 4 He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure.” Psalm 91:1-4 CEV

Never let the circumstances or the weather put you under.

The Father has set us as overcomers, living under His protection, in a place of security.


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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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Walk of Victory

A new day! A fresh start – opportunities, potential, promise all lay ahead of you today. How will you spend the time that God has given you today?

If there are obstacles in your way do what Moses did:

“And the LORD said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.” Exodus 8:20 NKJV

Speak to Pharaoh and tell him the Great I AM – has freed you from his power and set you in a place of victory.

Joshua told us we would have good success if we meditated on God’s word day and night.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 NKJV

And King David told us to rise early and seek God.

“Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.9 Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; In You I take shelter.10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” Psalm 143:8-10 NKJV

This morning in my prayer time the Lord reminded me of the times I have gotten up and told Him, “Father, I just feel like I want to fall into a heap”. But then He also reminded me of why I got up and kept going.

“Children, you belong to God, and you have defeated these enemies. God’s Spirit is in you and is more powerful than the one who is in the world.” I John 4:4 CEV

Don’t despise getting up early. It’s God’s time of preparation, getting you ready for the day and a walk of victory!

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