Category: God’s Love

Posted on

Open House – Open Heart

Growing up our Mom always had an Open House at Christmas. We didn’t live around family so she would bake and then invite our friends to just drop in for a while and spend part of their Christmas with us. I have some wonderful memories of playing with childhood friends, the smell of baking cookies coming from the kitchen and the laughter that filled the air.

When I grew up and had a home of my own, I continued the Christmas Open House tradition because I love entertaining and filling our home with the love and laughter of friends. Someone told me once that my love language is baking. It makes me happy to package up the freshly baked cinnamon rolls and give them to friends and neighbors.

Christmas can be a lonely and depressing time for some. Missing a loved one, being far from home…so many reasons. Think of that first Christmas night when God’s Son came to earth; it was separation for both Father and Son.

Now here’s the good news!

“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us].” Isaiah 7:14 AMP.

Immanuel, God with us, even when we are by ourselves, we’re not alone! God with us, He has promised to never leave us or forsake us…God with us! When we open our heart, He makes it His home.

So this year if your home is filled with family and friends or quiet and only you, remember God came to join us. His presence will certainly fill both heart and home. Invite Him in.

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20 NLT

Posted on

Do You Believe?

What do you believe? Is your belief based on self-exploration, science, hearsay, and/or personal experience? Or is your belief based on faith?

Long before Edison and Franklin, electricity existed. Before Marconi, radio ways filled the air. Before Newton, there was gravity. There was something that each of these men saw which caused them to dream, to explore and to invent.

The same holds true in our relationship with God.

Religion tells us that we must work to earn God’s favor or his kindness and love but God’s word tells us something different. The Apostle Paul tells us that it’s the goodness of God that draws us to Him. We can see in ourselves and those around us that there is failure, selfishness, greed, misguided ambition, deceit – sin and that we fall short on our own. Through the pages of God’s word we see many examples of God’s unconditional love and our search leads us to Him.

“Jesus said, “Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!” 30 Jesus worked many other miracles for his disciples, and not all of them are written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. If you have faith in him, you will have true life.” John 20:29-31 ERV

The signs, the miracles, the daily works of Jesus are so extensive that they couldn’t all be written down. The purpose of His works were to bring us to a place where we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God and that we can have life through Him.

It’s not like believing in Santa or the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny. Our belief in a personal Savior is life changing; it is empowering; it is transforming!

“Our Lord and our God, you are like the sun and also like a shield. You treat us with kindness and with honor, never denying any good thing to those who live right. 12 Lord God All-Powerful, you bless everyone who trusts you.” Psalm 84:11-12 CEV

It’s ok to question – God’s big enough to handle it. If we’re honest enough to ask, He’s honest enough to answer. God is patiently waiting to show us His character; He won’t force us to believe in His love and goodness or even that He exists.

Just like those inventors who searched for the answers about electricity and radio waves we will find Him when we search for Him.

“Ask, and what you are asking for will be given to you. Look, and what you are looking for you will find. Knock, and the door you are knocking on will be opened to you. 8 Everyone who asks receives what he asks for. Everyone who looks finds what he is looking for. Everyone who knocks has the door opened to him. 9 What man among you would give his son a stone if he should ask for bread?…How much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?” Matthew 7:7-11 NLV

It’s not a matter of whether or not God can handle our questions, it’s can we deal honestly with His answers.

I ask again, what do you believe? Believe in God’s goodness; it will transform your life!

Posted on

Copy, Cut, Paste

Copy, Cut, Paste. It is a computer basic that has become second nature to most of us. One that my husband likes a lot. You know the concept was God’s idea.

“And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind…27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:25-27 KJV

God created us to be like Him – to be His representative, His counterpart on the earth. But when Adam sinned our nature was changed. God had to put a plan in place that would restore our relationship with Him.

Enter Jesus.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” II Corinthians 5:17-19 KJV

In Christ, we become new – a new creature – like the one that God created in the Garden. Jesus restored us to our place of being created in God’s likeness. He copies and pastes the origin blueprint into our hearts.

“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.)…8 I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. 9 You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about. 10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.” Ephesians 2:4-10 ERV

In Christ we have been made new. It’s not something we work to earn but something we receive freely by grace. Salvation and restoration to a loving relationship with the Father God has been His plan from the beginning.

Since Christmas will be here in a couple of weeks, I give you permission to open the best gift you will ever receive – the gift of salvation, of renewed life and relationship with the Father.

Open it now and share it with others!

Posted on

No Room in the Inn

I think it’s important that we realize the stories in the Bible aren’t fables or make-believe. They will have greater impact in our lives if we read them as if we were there. About ten years ago I started reading these verses in just that way.

“Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby, 6 and while they were there, 7 she gave birth to her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:5-7 CEV

What was it like to be the inn keeper who turned them away? They must have gone to several places before one kind proprietor volunteered to let them use his stable. Or what about Joseph? He had promised God that he would provide for Mary. He loved her deeply. He risked reputation and standing in the community when he continued his relationship with a pregnant Mary. How did he feel?

Mary had been on the road several days while traveling to Bethlehem, only to get there and find that all the rooms were taken. There was no 800-555-5555 for reservations and now there was no room. Weary from the road trip and with contractions starting, I’m sure she was grateful for the opportunity to lay down. I think she probably found comfort in the smell of fresh hay.

No room meant God would supply their needs and He did!

When we hear the words “no room” do we get resentful or do we lay back and rest in what God provides? No room at the company, no room for us at the college, no room in the social circle, no room on the team, no room in the heart of a loved one…no room.

“There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. 3 After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. ” John 14:2-3 CEV

One thing we will NEVER hear from the Father is “no room”; He has enough room for all who come!

Posted on

Listen for the Bugle

Isaiah, the prophet said this about Jesus.

“Like a young plant or a root that sprouts in dry ground, the servant grew up obeying the LORD. He wasn’t some handsome king. Nothing about the way he looked made him attractive to us. 3 He was hated and rejected; his life was filled with sorrow and terrible suffering. No one wanted to look at him. We despised him and said, “He is a nobody!” Isaiah 53:2-3 CEV

According to Isaiah Jesus was common looking, unattractive and nothing special as far as physical traits. He wasn’t Charles Atlas; he wouldn’t have been the captain of the football team or even voted most likely to succeed. His own family and disciples didn’t understand Him.

Remember how the disciples became upset with Jesus because the ship they were in was taking on water and about to sink?

“Jesus was in the back of the boat with his head on a pillow, and he was asleep. His disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re about to drown?” Mark 4:38 CEV

If their faith had really been in Jesus as the Son of God, they would have approached the problem differently. “Hey, let’s wake Jesus up because He’ll have the answer to our problem. This storm isn’t a surprise to Him. He’ll know what to do.”

Those who were closest to Jesus had to grow in their faith and accept Him for who He was, the Son of God, just like us. We cry out “Lord, don’t you care I’m about to go under; cancer is about to sink me, the waves of debt are flooding my boat, the storm of rebellious children or a typhoon with my mate is about to capsize me in this ocean? Don’t you care?”

Even when we come to Him in that kind of desperation and fear, He will speak to our storm and say “Peace, be still!” Then He takes time to teach us again – Come boldly to my throne and find help in your time of need. But then, He expects us to accept, by faith, that help is on the way!

In the old Westerns you could always hear the Cavalry bugle before you saw the soldiers. The invitation to come boldly is the sound of the bugle. It’s then our responsibility to “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day” (Exodus 14:13)

Let God be God in your life today. Don’t limit Him but what you see. Say like the young virgin Mary, “with God all things are possible”!

Posted on

A Father’s Heart

A couple of days ago I asked you to imagine what it might have been like for Jesus when they discussed the plan of restoring relationship with those of us on earth. He had to lay aside everything glorious and heavenly and become common. Now consider this.

Those of us parents who have had children join the military or enter other dangerous occupations know the heart ache, the apprehension and even the fear of having our children go off into the unknown, into hostile and harmful circumstances.

What if we were Father God? Our Son has been with us every moment from eternity past. We have created universes together, have intervened in the lives of our creation in a powerful way. Never a cross word spoken, never a rebellious thought or action – our Son is our dearest friend, He’s a part of all we do and have ever done.

He’s leaving now – headed to earth. “unto us a Son is given” Isaiah 9:6

He will be loved by some, treated with ambivalence by most and hated by others and they will plot to kill Him. Although we know all this, we still choose to let Him go and even more than that, we choose to let Him die so that He can provide restoration for all those who are incapable of providing it for themselves.

“When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! 18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. 19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people.” II Corinthians 5:17

And all of this was not because of our great value or importance but because of His great love.

“Christ died for us when we were unable to help ourselves. We were living against God, but at just the right time Christ died for us. 7 Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person.But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.9 We have been made right with God by the blood sacrifice of Christ. So through Christ we will surely be saved from God’s anger.” Romans 5:6-9

“Unto to us a Son is given”! Would you be willing to give your son? Aren’t you glad He did!!

Posted on

The Joy of Relationship

Pictures of little ones are starting to appear on social media. They are dressed in cute little outfits of red and green and their eyes are sparkling as they stare at big boxes wrapped with glittering ribbon.

There’s just something about kids and Christmas. If we’re honest Christmas brings out the kid in all of us and I’m sure that makes God, the Father, smile. He loves to see His kids having a good time just as much as we enjoy watching our children and grandchildren.

The little ones in our lives are an amazing example of our life with the Father. Each week there seems to be a new milestone. Something new to celebrate; a giggle, a smile, a word, a step.

We laugh, we do something cute, we cuddle in His lap, we learn to say His name – all these milestones He records. All these things mean we are spending time with Him.

He loves to spend time with us!

He wipes our tears when we need to be comforted and He rocks us to sleep when we’re tired. He is focused on us because He loves us!

Yes, it’s a special time for the Father and for us. Time to build relationship.

“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; no one can compare with You! If I should declare and speak of them, they are too many to be numbered.” Psalm 40:5

“We love Him because He loved us first.” I John 4:19 NLV

Think of all the things in your life that you consider wonderful. God was there, enjoying every moment with us. He is the very essence of love. He is WONDERFUL!

Posted on

Apple of My Eye

When I was a little girl, I mean little, about three years old, our neighbor across the road coined a phrase when he greeted me. He would say, “You’re my apple pandowdy, you make my eyes light up”. He said that every time he saw me and then he would laugh and give me a hug.

Jay was such a sweet man. He and his wife had two boys who were my brother’s age and older. They never had a little girl and so I guess he adopted me. Even when I was married and had kids of my own, Jay would burst into his little greeting when he saw me. (For the record, apple pandowdy is a dessert like an apple cobbler.) It was Jay’s way of telling me I was loved.

Just like Jay always told me I was loved, I enjoy telling and showing people they are loved. God loves us all unconditionally. Believe it or not that irritates some people. They mistake my confidence in God’s love as arrogance.

Over the years I have been asked multiple times, “what makes you think that God would do anything for you, who do you think you are”. The answer comes in complete humility, “I’m the apple of God’s eye and He loves me unconditionally”.

As a child, if you would have asked me what made me think that Flo & Gene Vorland were going to provide for me, feed me, clothe me, take care of me when I was sick, give me a warm place to sleep, get me something special for my birthday or take me someplace fun, like fishing; I’d say I know they will – they’re my parents and they love me! End of conversation – you couldn’t convince me differently. Neither can I be convinced any differently when it comes to God – He’s my loving heavenly Father! I’m the apple of His eye and so are you. That’s why He sent His wonderful gift of Jesus.

“The Lord sent me to the nations that took away your wealth. He sent me to bring you honor. And this is what the LORD All-Powerful said: “If anyone even touches you, it is as if they did it to the apple of my eye.'” Zechariah 2:8 CEV

This Thanksgiving Day things may not be perfect in your life but there is one thing that is, God’s love. It’s perfect love!

“Show me the wonders of your great love,  you who save by your right hand  those who take refuge in you from their foes. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;  hide me in the shadow of your wings 9 from the wicked who are out to destroy me,  from my mortal enemies who surround me.” Psalm 17:7-9 NIV

Be thankful! I can hear God say “you’re my apple pandowdy, you make my eyes light up”.

Posted on

Grateful for Memory Loss

One of the things I have heard my mother say several times over the last fifteen years, since my father’s death, is she has forgotten any harsh words that she and my dad exchanged during their almost 60 years of marriage. She said she thinks it’s God’s way of helping her through the loss of her love; only good memories remain. I think there’s something to that.

I believe it is also important that we experience “memory loss” for those who are living.

I am thankful today that the Father’s love has covered all my sins and in His grace He has chosen to remember them no more. When He comes to a family gathering and someone says “remember when so-n-so acted like an idiot and did such-n-such” the Father honestly says “No, I don’t remember that”. His love has covered it over.

“This is the new covenant I will make  with my people on that day, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”

17 Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” 18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.” Hebrews 10:16-18 NLT

As families gather, we need to be mindful of words. Others may think their stories are funny but they can be embarrassing or hurtful and should be left in the past, especially if those things were before Christ made a difference in someone’s life.

If we recall old memories let’s make them beneficial and good. Let’s encourage and build up. Let’s pray for memory loss of anything that is embarrassing or would cause strife.

“The words of good people are a source of life, but evil hides behind the words of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirs up trouble; love overlooks the wrongs that others do.” Proverbs 10:11-12 CEV

May our words be as sweet as the desserts we eat! Then others will enjoy feasting in our presence.

Posted on

Tradition with Purpose

This morning I spent quite a bit of time thinking about traditions; especially the ones we have around Thanksgiving and Christmas. These are holidays. Holiday means holy day.

So many modern traditions are or those created in the last hundred years have consciously or subconsciously set about to downplay the real reason and purpose we celebrate these days.

I know I have posted this before but it’s been a couple years and I wanted to make you aware of the history behind Thanksgiving. Yes, it was a celebration of life and survival by the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. A time for thanking God for His providence and protection. The days of feasting – the days of thanksgiving. But did you know it was Abraham Lincoln who officially proclaimed the last Thursday of November to be day of Thanksgiving?

Here is his official proclamation:

“The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and even soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and provoke their aggressions, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United Stated States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

Abraham Lincoln

By the President: William H. Seward. Secretary of State.”

Praise God for a president who pointed our nation to God Almighty and His wonderful provision. This day is truly a tradition with purpose.

“Praise the Lord, all you nations.  Praise him, all you people of the earth. 2 For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 117 NLT

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress