Category: God’s Love

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Super Hero Christians

Have you noticed that there are more super heroes than there used to be? When I was a kid we had Superman, Batman, Mighty Mouse and Underdog.

Oh yes the Marvel Comics had their super heroes but it wasn’t something I knew much about. I never aspired to be a super hero. If I read comics it was Archie, Blondie, Porky Pig, or Bugs Bunny.

Did you know there were those who considered themselves “super” men in Jesus day too? They called themselves Pharisees, Sadducees and Rulers of the Temple.

These were the folks who went around correcting every one for the tiniest of infractions of the Law. They followed Jesus, constantly trying to catch Him doing something wrong, so that they could condemn Him and disperse His followers. This is what Jesus said about their super pious and religious ways.

“You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you’re in for trouble! You give God a tenth of the spices from your garden, such as mint, dill, and cumin. Yet you neglect the more important matters of the Law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the important things you should have done, though you should not have left the others undone either.” Matthew 23:23 CEV

They criticized Jesus for eating dinner with common people (sinners) and for healing the crippled and the blind. His kindness to a prostitute and a tax collector was despised and ridiculed. His followers were common place; men who owned fishing businesses. The only one of any real stature in society was Luke the physician.

Sad to say, there are still many who think they should be awarded some superior status and  even have letters sewn to their chest and don a cape. There letters might be SSC, Super Spiritual Christian. However, they would meet with the same message from Christ that the rich man, Simon, was given when he invited Jesus to dinner.

Simon invited Him with ulterior motives. He and his associates were always trying to trip Jesus up. A woman of questionable reputation came into the house and she poured expensive perfume on Jesus. The dinner guests began to whisper demeaning words.

“Jesus said to the Pharisee, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

“Teacher, what is it?” Simon replied.

41 Jesus told him, “Two people were in debt to a moneylender. One of them owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. 42 Since neither of them could pay him back, the moneylender said that they didn’t have to pay him anything. Which one of them will like him more?”

43 Simon answered, “I suppose it would be the one who had owed more and didn’t have to pay it back.”

“You are right,” Jesus said.

44 He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Have you noticed this woman? When I came into your home, you didn’t give me any water so I could wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You didn’t even pour olive oil on my head, but she has poured expensive perfume on my feet. 47 So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love.”

48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:40-48 CEV

We are called to be like Christ not like the Pharisees. Our hearts should be filled with compassion, understanding, love and grace. People don’t need to be condemned for what they’ve done wrong. We all know, full well, when and where we have failed. We have been forgiven much!

Ours is a mission of forgiveness. We are called to walk in love; to treat one another kindly; to encourage and build up; to strengthen and support. We must live “graceful” lives; lives full of grace showing others that we understand it is only by God’s Grace that we have been forgiven.

“God raised us up from death when He raised up Christ Jesus. He has given us a place with Christ in the heavens. 7 He did this to show us through all the time to come the great riches of His loving-favor. He has shown us His kindness (grace)  through Christ Jesus.

8 For by His loving-favor (grace) you have been saved from the punishment of sin through faith. It is not by anything you have done. It is a gift of God. 9 It is not given to you because you worked for it. If you could work for it, you would be proud. 10 We are His work. He has made us to belong to Christ Jesus so we can work for Him. He planned that we should do this.” Ephesians 2:6-10 NLV

If we are to wear any banner on our chest instead of it declaring us to be super heroes I think it would be best that we make it “GG” for God’s Grace!

We will encounter folks each day who have met a religious super saint and have been condemned. Let’s bee a grace giver; let them be changed by God’s love.

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His Love Never Fails

Were you able to enjoy a harvest meal of love, patience and joy yesterday? I hope you found a bounty of good things in your garden and we able to feast well.

I have to be honest and tell you that I had a few struggles in the peace and patience categories. Life threw me a few curve balls and I missed with my swing.

No, I’m not going to get into a baseball analogy but I think you know what I mean. I thought things were going along well, I was being loving the way the Lord wanted me to when something unexpected happened and I reacted from my emotions and not from my spirit. I had to be patient and regain my peace. It took a while…a long while.

Then this morning I read these words:

“I am surrounded by trouble, but you protect me against my angry enemies. With your own powerful arm you keep me safe. 8 You, Lord, will always treat me with kindness. Your love never fails. You have made us what we are. Don’t give up on us now!” Psalm 138:7-8 CEV

I needed that reminder. His love never fails and He always treats me with kindness.  One translation of this verse says “He perfects that which concerns me”. Thank you Lord.

Our Father knows when we are concerned about things and He goes to work perfecting them. Maybe not the way we would but His ways are perfect and He treats us with kindness.

(I just took a deep breath and exhaled.) Can you feel the comfort in those words – you ALWAYS treat me with kindness! (Another deep breath). Peace, sweet peace, from the Father.

But my reading didn’t stop there. I continued on to Psalm 139. It was amazing how the Lord kept talking to me.

“You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. 2 You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts.

3 You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. 4 Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say, 5 and with your powerful arm  you protect me from every side. 6 I can’t understand all of this!  Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.

7 Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight? 8 If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there. If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there. 9 Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean. 10 Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me. 11 Or suppose I said, “I’ll hide in the dark  until night comes to cover me over.” 12 But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you.

13 You are the one who put me together inside my mother’s body, 14 and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt.

15 Nothing about me is hidden from you! I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below, 16 but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed.
Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do.

17 Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding, much more than I could ever imagine. 18 I try to count your thoughts, but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach. And when I awake, I will find you nearby.” Psalm 139:1-18 CEV

“Everything you do is marvelous!”  Everything…everything God does is marvelous! He was there yesterday when I became impatient and lost my peace. He was there, speaking to my heart. He was there with His powerful arm to protect and guide. 

He was there!

And He’ll be here today too!!  His love never fails! Amen.

 

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Watching Them Grow

Yesterday we were at our grandson’s wedding but of course you knew that.

What a beautiful day!

I know it’s cliché, but they grow up so fast. Sitting there on the patio of the wedding venue Dave and I were recalling the times that he had come to visit, fishing trips, Christmases, making jam in the kitchen – the things that make memories for us as grandparents.

Of course we want to see them grow, mature and have many more exciting moments and make lasting memories.

Isn’t that just like our heavenly Father? His desire is to see us grow up and experience the life that He has designed for us. He wants us to dream big and achieve those dreams.

“Let’s pray that our young sons will grow like strong plants and that our daughters will be as lovely as columns in the corner of a palace. 13 May our barns be filled with all kinds of crops. May our fields be covered with sheep by the thousands, 14  and every cow have calves.

Don’t let our city be captured or any of us be taken away, and don’t let cries of sorrow be heard in our streets. 15 Our Lord and our God, you give these blessings to all who worship you.” Psalm 144: 12-15 CEV

The Lord gives blessings to all of us who worship Him. I know I’ve said it before but God is more desirous of our success than we are. He has given us all the resources we need to grow in Him.

“Let the wonderful kindness and the understanding that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you to keep on growing. Praise Jesus now and forever! Amen.” II Peter 3:18 CEV

Do you see what these verses say? It’s by the kindness and understanding that we receive from the Lord that we grow. Yes, it’s possible to learn from trial and error but God’s plan is that we mature and develop by the good things He provides.

“Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head 16 of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love.” Ephesians 4:15-16 CEV

It’s by love that we grow perfectly and become stronger.

I can just hear our heavenly Father say, “I remember when you were little and you came to me wanting to share all of your life’s experiences with me. I’m so glad that you’ve grown up and still want to do that.”

At every stage of life God’s word has a message for us.

“I write to you, dear children, because your sins are forgiven through Christ.
13 I write to you, fathers, because you know the one who existed from the beginning. I write to you, young people, because you have defeated the Evil One.
14 I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers,
 because you know the one who existed from the beginning. I write to you, young people, because you are strong. The word of God lives in you, and you have defeated the Evil One.” I John 2:12-14 ERV

Thank you Father for all you have done and are still doing to see that I grow up and become like You.

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I Now Pronounce You

Today is a special day for our family. Our oldest grandson is getting married!

Very shortly, Dave and I will be driving to the Seattle area to be a part of this wonderful celebration.

Thinking about what this day will mean to him and his bride I can’t help but reflect on my own wedding and also on the marriage of his parents.

Dave and I are blessed with a rich heritage of marriage. Our parents and grandparents all celebrated at least 50 years of marriage and those marriages ended only because of the death of a spouse. They showed us what it meant to love one another completely, at times sacrificing their own desires and ambitions to put their mate first.

Dave and I had the opportunity to counsel a young couple prior to their marriage. Unbeknown to me, they asked Dave what was his secret to a long and happy marriage. He said it was for both people to willingly give 150%. Then when I came in they asked me the same thing. I said that’s simple, you each have to be willing to give 150%.

They laughed but it’s true. For marriage to be successful it can’t be selfish.

My reflection on marriage this morning not only  has me focusing on the examples of my parents and grandparents but also on the example of Christ.

The Apostle Paul gives a wonderful teaching on marriage in Ephesians 5. He tells us that wives should submit to their husbands as they would to the Lord. Submission is not distasteful. It means to place ourselves under the authority of our husbands and in turn it gives us a covering of protection and well being.

He also tells husbands to love their wives as they love themselves. There’s nothing selfish about that. It is a complete act of giving on the husband’s part. They are to provide for and cherish (treat as valuable) their wives.

And then he wraps it all up with this:

“The Scriptures say, “That is why a man will leave his father and mother and join his wife, and the two people will become one.” 32 That secret truth is very important—I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 But each one of you must love his wife as he loves himself. And a wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:31-33 ERV

A loving marriage serves as an example of how Christ loves us. He is the husband who loves us and willing gave all He had for our protection and provision. His love made the ultimate sacrifice and He gave His life for our salvation.  He held back nothing when it came to proving His love for us.

“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 ERV

These verses written by the Apostle Paul have great meaning to me. I have learned to personalize them in two different ways. First, I replace the word love with the word God because God is love. And then I read them again and substitute my name for the word love.

Each day I am becoming increasingly more aware of how much God truly loves me. That’s life changing!

I want to be more like Him today and when I read this passage with my name inserted it reminds me of how I should be acting towards others. I want to be an imitator of God’s love.

I hope that these words, “I now pronounce you husband and wife” have greater meaning for you today. Whether we are male or female Christ considers us His wife. He has taken responsibility for us; to love us, to nurture and to cherish us.

I will be eternally grateful that He has chosen me to be His bride!

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Set Free

As a young girl I grew up in Yuma, Az, home of the famous Yuma Territorial Prison.

It was a horrible place. One where they sent the worst offenders. I remember going to those ruins as a child. It was a tourist attraction, somewhere we took all our visiting relatives.

When I was in High School we continued to go up to Prison Hill to tour the buildings and the grounds. You see our High School mascot was a “criminal”. We were known as the Yuma Crims because when the High School was started they used the abandoned prison as its classrooms.

But as an adult I took time to think about the horrendous conditions those prisoners and guards must have endured. The heat, the darkness of the cells, the venomous desert creatures, the lack of ventilation. The heat!

Drawing from that history, I have tried to think of what it must have been like to be imprisoned during Bible days. The conditions really couldn’t have been any better and in fact, may have been much worse.

Now think of those who were innocent and imprisoned. How hopeless they must have felt. Needing someone to believe their innocence and fight for their release. How could those conditions be anything but devastating? 

Paul & Silas had been beaten and imprisoned on many occasions for speaking about the good news of Christ’s saving power, the gospel.  In Acts 16 they are once again imprisoned. Once again they were praising God for being counted worthy to be treated with contempt for the Gospel’s sake.

And as they praised God, the place was shaken – the prison doors came open, their chains fell off and they were freed, they and all the other prisoners around them. The jailer was distraught and ready to take his life when Paul called to him out of the night and told him they were all there. No one had escaped.

Then Paul & Silas shared the Gospel with the jailer and he and his entire household were saved! Paul & Silas were always ready to talk of the love of Jesus and they were greatly persecuted for it.  But they also  saw great evidence of God’s power working on their behalf.

They could sing at midnight in a jail cell after being beaten because they knew nothing in their lives, bad or good, could even begin to compare to the love God had shown them through His wonderful gift of salvation. They didn’t flee from the prison cell when their chains fell off because they were already free – free from sin, free from man’s opinions, free to live a life in the power of the Holy Spirit.

“After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and the jailer was told to guard them carefully. 24 The jailer did as he was told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy blocks of wood.

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened. 26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners.

27 When the jailer woke up and saw that the doors were open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped. He pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! No one has escaped.”

29 The jailer asked for a torch and went into the jail. He was shaking all over as he knelt down in front of Paul and Silas. 30 After he had led them out of the jail, he asked, “What must I do to be saved?”31 They replied, “Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! This is also true for everyone who lives in your home.”

32 Then Paul and Silas told him and everyone else in his house about the Lord. 33 While it was still night, the jailer took them to a place where he could wash their cuts and bruises. Then he and everyone in his home were baptized. 34 They were very glad that they had put their faith in God. After this, the jailer took Paul and Silas to his home and gave them something to eat.” Acts 16:23-34 CEV

Father, show me how to sing at midnight. Let me praise You in my toughest moments. Remind me that in all things You have the power to open the prison door. I am free because You purchased my freedom.

“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free for sure.” John 8:36 NLV

 

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Promises Kept

Our life in Christ is a life of promise and blessing! The first promise we receive is forgiveness of sin and a new life in Him. That is when eternal life begins.

“After Jesus had finished speaking to his disciples, he looked up toward heaven and prayed:    Father, the time has come for you to bring glory to your Son, in order that he may bring glory to you. 2 And you gave him power over all people, so that he would give eternal life to everyone you give him. 3 Eternal life is to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent. ” John 17:1-3 CEV

Eternal life is knowing (having a personal relationship with) God the Father and Jesus His Son. Eternal life begins now, not when we die.

The Apostle Peter wanted to make sure we knew how to live this life eternal so he gave us this instruction:

“From Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ. To everyone who shares with us in the privilege of believing that our God and Savior Jesus Christ will do what is just and fair.
2 I pray that God will be kind to you and will let you live in perfect peace! May you keep learning more and more about God and our Lord Jesus. 3 We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness.

4 God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.   5 Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, 6 self-control, patience, devotion to God, 7 concern for others, and love. 8 If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful.” II Peter 1:1-8 CEV

God the Father has given us marvelous, great and precious promises so that we can live a life that pleases Him and reflects His glory here on earth. Can you imagine the joy that the Father gets when His kids take Him at His word?

Can’t you just see Him at the Saturday football game or the rodeo or the school play? He’s nudging the angels next to Him and saying, “Ya, that’s my kid! I taught Him everything he knows about life and godliness. I gave him my promises, I gave him my word. He’s a chip off the old block.”

Why is it so hard for us to imagine God the Father having a conversation like that?

Yes, He IS Almighty God but He is also Abba Father and nothing gives Him more pleasure than to see His kids imitating Him.

That’s what Jesus did.

“This made them even more determined to kill him. They thought it was bad enough that he was breaking the law about the Sabbath day. And now he was saying that God is his Father, making himself equal with God!

19 But Jesus answered, “I assure you that the Son can do nothing alone. He does only what he sees his Father doing. The Son does the same things that the Father does. 20 The Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does. This man was healed. But the Father will show the Son greater things than this to do. Then you will all be amazed.” John 5:18-20 ERV

The Jews knew Jesus was saying that God was His Father and so He, Jesus, was the perfect representation of the Father on earth. This angered them greatly, it still does. When we talk about our Heavenly Father and His amazing love, grace, mercy and peace and that He has given us His authority to be ambassadors on earth, it will anger the religious people of our day –

“Who do you think you are?”

It’s time we let the world see that true believers aren’t preaching messages to condemn but to restore. God’s amazing love draws sinners to repentance. Jesus made no apology for identifying sin in a person’s life but His message was one of hope, one of freedom, one of new life!

I am an ambassador for Christ – old things have passed away, all things have become new and I have been given the message of reconciliation to let the world know that God isn’t mad at them. He has made a way, through Jesus Christ, for all to be accepted and made right (righteous) with Him! 

“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.

19 What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace. 20 We were sent to speak for Christ, and God is begging you to listen to our message. We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God. 21 Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so that Christ could make us acceptable to God.” II Corinthians 5:18-21 CEV

There is not one promise that God has made that He has failed to keep! He committed Himself to us through His word so that He could show the world His great love!

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Enjoy a Good Meal

I love the way the Father gives me examples of Christian life. This morning He showed me something about my routine that reflects on Him.

“Then Jesus said, “I am the bread that gives life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who believes in me will ever be thirsty.” John 6:35 ERV

My morning starts with letting  Glory out, starting the coffee, feeding her and then coming to the couch where the she joins me as soon as she has eaten.

Each morning she knows that I will feed her and she is waiting for me. But it’s what happens after she eats that means so much. Glory jumps on the couch and lays her head in my lap. She comes to be loved on. After a few minutes she moves away a bit but stays  close.

So the Father showed me that this is what He wants our daily routine to be like. Coming to Him to get nourishment, eating from His word but staying close so that He can love on us.

He doesn’t want our Bible reading to be “drudgery”. We should be excited to come, eat and then stay to be loved on. God’s word is a wonderful love letter but it’s also a banquet, a meal that will strengthen us and provide all we need for each day.

“All you people who are thirsty, come! Here is water for you to drink. Don’t worry if you have no money. Come, eat and drink until you are full! You don’t need money. The milk and wine are free. 2 Why waste your money on something that is not real food? Why should you work for something that does not really satisfy you? Listen closely to me and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the food that satisfies your soul. 3 Listen closely to what I say.
 Listen to me so that you will live. I will make an agreement with you that will last forever. It will be an agreement you can trust, like the one I made with David—a promise to love him and be loyal to him forever.” Isaiah 55:1-3 ERV

But don’t eat and run. Stay. Visit. Develop a loving relationship. Make it a routine! Be ready to spend time, loving time, with the Father.

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A Love Letter for All Time

I quite often refer to God’s Word as His love letter to us. A love letter for all time!

I have saved a box of love letters from Dave. When we were dating he lived in California and I was here in Arizona. Every few years I take them out and read them. They remind me of how this wonderful life begin.

This morning I was reading back through some devotional thoughts I shared on Facebook about 5 years ago. We were back in Iowa and little did I know that the day after writing this I would be in the hospital fighting my most painful battle. It was important for me to read this and see where my heart was that day.

and so it goes…

Each day I am thankful that God has allowed me to share His word with you. I don’t know where I would be without the Father’s love or His wonderful love letter, His Word! In fact, I don’t even want to think about what my life would be without Him.

God’s Word has brought  forgiveness of sins, health to my body, peace to my soul, healing for my children, enrichment to my marriage, wisdom when my human intellect was lacking, protection in physical and emotional storms and safety in the face of danger. God’s promises have let me know that He would always supply and He always has. But I do have to tell you, it hasn’t always been this way. I lived a defeated life for a long time until I saw in God’s word that He had made provision for more than eternal life and that He wanted me to live victoriously while I was here on earth.

All of God’s promises are the same. His Word is for everyone but we don’t all see the same results. Why? We must appropriate what God has given us; simply put we must believe it regardless of how we feel or what circumstances tell us we should believe.

There have been days that I wake up and don’t feel very saved; my salvation isn’t founded on my feelings, it’s based on God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice. There are days that I wake up and may not feel healed but I am because it’s based on God’s promise and Jesus’ sacrifice.

The circumstances told Jesus and his disciples there wasn’t enough lunch to feed 5000 men with five loaves and two fish but the blessing of God flowed and there was more than enough.

The circumstances said to the apostles all hope was gone and they should hide after the crucifixion but the power of God was released through His Word and resurrection came! The medical world said nothing could be done for the woman with the issue of blood but just one touch brought healing to her body. Yes, the word of God changes our circumstances when we believe; it’s called faith! Not faith in ourselves, but faith in God’s unchanging, unfailing love.

Let the words of David’s Psalm be real in your life today.

“You can go to God Most High to hide. You can go to God All-Powerful for protection. 2 I say to the LORD, “You are my place of safety, my fortress, My God, I trust in you.” 3 God will save you from hidden dangers and from deadly diseases.
4 You can go to him for protection. He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies. You can trust him to surround and protect you like a shield. 5 You will have nothing to fear at night and no need to be afraid of enemy arrows during the day. 6 You will have no fear of diseases that come in the dark or terrible suffering that comes at noon.
7 A thousand people may fall dead at your side or ten thousand right beside you, but nothing bad will happen to you! 8 All you will have to do is watch, and you will see that the wicked are punished. 9 You trust in the LORD for protection. You have made God Most High your place of safety. 10 So nothing bad will happen to you. No diseases will come near your home.
11 He will command his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 Their hands will catch you so that you will not hit your foot on a rock. 13 You will have power to trample on lions and poisonous snakes. 14 The Lord says, “If someone trusts me, I will save them. I will protect my followers who call to me for help.
15 When my followers call to me, I will answer them. I will be with them when they are in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. 16 I will give my followers a long life and show them my power to save.” Psalm 91 ERV

These are the words that I had going through my heart laying in the back of the ambulance. These are the words I focused on in the emergency room and these are the words that gave me strength and brought me home safely.

These words were my love letter from the Father and I placed my confidence in Him.

What are circumstances telling you? Are they demanding you give up and quit? Do they say you’ll never recover?

Read your circumstances the words of love that you have on your end table or in your computer. Read them God’s promises – they never fail.

The Bible truly is a love letter for all time!

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How Much is ALL

Not all of our time in West Glacier was spent working. We did take one day and travel through Glacier National Park. We went on Going to the Sun Road, saw St. Maries Lake and Many Glacier. We stopped at Many Glacier for lunch. The view from the deck of the Lodge was amazing. It was impossible to take in all the beauty.

I kept thinking God made ALL of this. He made if for our enjoyment. All of His creation tells of His glory.

ALL – is an absolute – not some, not part – not by special selection but ALL. The Bible has much to say about all. God loves ALL of us.

“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 3:22-24ERV

The righteousness of God, right standing with God, is for ALL and to ALL who will believe because there is no one who has his own righteousness. We have ALL sinned. Our salvation is not predicated on how good we are, our social standing, our financial statement, our academic degrees, political party or our natural citizenship. It is ONLY based on what Jesus did to bring salvation to ALL. Our part is to receive the gift.

More ALL verses to contemplate today.
” Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:8-10

All God’s fullness of power and deity are in Christ and when we are in Christ we are complete in Him. He invests His fullness in to our lives as well. That’s just too good to be true you might say. Read this:

” and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love. 18 I pray that you and all of God’s people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep.[19 I want you to know all about Christ’s love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.” Ephesians 3:17-19 CEV

When we understand the love of God by experience, His true unconditional love, we will be filled with ALL God’s fulness! Amazing!! Amazing grace in giving us freely this gift. The Gospel message really is the nearly too good to be true news!! The Apostle Paul prayed that we would know this fullness of God’s love.

He also gave us a few other absolute “ALL” verses.
” I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.” Philippians 4:13

” I pray that God will take care of all your needs with the wonderful blessings that come from Christ Jesus! ” Philippians 4:19

If you haven’t accepted God’s free gift of grace that brings salvation, all you have to do is accept it with a sincere heart because it’s available to ALL.

” The Lord is not slow about keeping His promise as some people think. He is waiting for you. The Lord does not want any person to be punished forever. He wants all people to be sorry for their sins and turn from them.” II Peter 3:9

Be ALL God created you to be!

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Beyond Imagination

We have been at Glacier Park the last few days. We are enjoying time with friends.

It’s a working vacation and we have been able to enjoy some of the beauty of creation. Imagine God’s joy in creating such a beautiful place!

I want to talk to you for a few minutes about using our imagination. If you’ve ever been to Glacier you must admit that it is simply gorgeous.

What if the things that God imagined and created were only in black and white or drab gray or green. No Grand Canyon, no Glacier Park, no beautiful red cardinals or blue jays. Gone would be the brightly colored flowers and trees that blossom. The sunrise and set of each day would be nothing to enjoy.

Oh but they aren’t. Thank God for his amazing imagination!

The Lord wants us to be creative and use our imaginations as well. In fact, He has told us that His promises and blessings to us go beyond what we can image, beyond anything that we could ask or think.

Are  you living in that kind of blessing? Sometimes – sometimes I am just so overwhelmed by what God has done – it’s beyond my imagination.

Is your life filled with things that are beyond your ability; beyond your ability to even think or imagine? Would you like it to be? There’s a key element that must be present for this type of blessing to overflow into your circumstances.

What you ask? Simple. The power of God!

“With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. 21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 ERV

Why would He do this you may ask? So that He can receive the glory for the good that He pours out on your life!

God the Father has always wanted to have His goodness and love known in the earth because as the Apostle Paul wrote it is the goodness of God that draws men to relationship with Him (repentance).

When Jesus walked this earth and healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed the lepers, spoke with love and compassion to those who were hurting, people were drawn to Him. For the first time in their lives they saw unconditional love!

That unconditional love changed people. The tax collector gave back money to everyone he had cheated; the demon possessed were restored to their right minds; the prostitute left her way of life and followed Jesus. The disciples gave up their livelihood to follow this man. The thief on the cross defended him with his dying breath!

What was the dynamic force that changed and has changed million of lives through the ages? Love! God’s amazing love.

Each one of these people I mentioned above saw their lives changed by the power of God working through them, doing exceedingly above all they could ask or think. They had a grasp of God’s love.

Now look at the verses just prior to the 2 I have already used above.

“So I bow in prayer before the Father. 15 Every family in heaven and on earth gets its true name from him. 16 I ask the Father with his great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through his Spirit. 17 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 3:14-20 ERV

In knowing God, being in right relationship with Him, He strengthens us in faith and love. The love of God is so great that it’s impossible to understand with the human mind. The only way to truly understand it is to experience it!

When we begin to experience that love, His compassion, His UNCONDITIONAL love and see that He accepts us as we are; knowing that we can’t earn it or deserve it, we begin to grow in understanding of its depth, its height, its width and its length. God’s love knows no bounds!

And once we begin to know, truly know, the love of God we will experience the power of God working in us and through us for His glory!

Take some time today to meditate on God’s love for you and you will see the circumstances of your life begin to change!

His power will work in you!!

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