Category: Relationship

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PBJ Spells Love

The littlest grandkids and their parents arrived yesterday. It’s so nice to have them close, only a 2 1/2 hour drive from our house to theirs. Hugs for everyone. Merry Christmases said. Bags brought in. It didn’t take long for their laughter to fill our home!

The giggles and squeals that came from Sam when he discovered that there were new toys in the toybox since his last visit and the big smile and giggles that emanated from Kristine were infectious. 

Love!

I imagine the joy experienced at the manger was all this and so much more. Mary had just given birth to her first child, the shepherds had just seen the angels and heard God’s message, Joseph had been the birthing coach and delivery team…Oh the joy!

A small bundle of love.

“God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. 17 God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them!” John 3:16-17 CEV

Because of God’s great love He sent His Son to save the world. Do we really think there is anything that our loving, heavenly Father would deny us when He was willing to give His own Son? 

“So what should we say about this? If God is for us, no one can stand against us. And God is with us. 32 He even let his own Son suffer for us. God gave his Son for all of us. So now with Jesus, God will surely give us all things. 33 Who can accuse the people God has chosen? No one! God is the one who makes them right. 34 Who can say that God’s people are guilty? No one! Christ Jesus died for us, but that is not all. He was also raised from death. And now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us.” Romans 8:31-34 CEV

Because God is for us, we can be as carefree and joy filled as our grandchildren were yesterday. We are enveloped in God’s love. Our grandkids never gave it a second thought, they knew they were at a place where they were loved. All was right in their world. God loves us so much more than this – all should be right in our world as well. 

What’s all this have to do with a PBJ? Plenty. Last night I saw a true example of  fatherly love. Sam woke shortly after midnight, he was “starved”. Since he and his sister were sharing the same room, she woke up too. When I came out to see what was going on, there they were – Dad, Sam and Kristine sitting at the kitchen table. Dad had left his warm bed, come to the kitchen and found something for Sam to eat. That’s what loving dads do, they provide for their kids. 

God, our loving Father, provides for us!

“My God will use his glorious riches to give you everything you need. He will do this through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 ERV

Love Came Down At Christmas. written 1885

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, Love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.

God is the kind of father who gets up in the middle of the night to provide for us! He never leaves us to flounder on our own. Love isn’t spelled PBJ, it’s really spelled G-O-D!

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Making Room

When you bring out your Christmas decorations where do you put your everyday stuff? Am I the only one who has to figure that out or do the rest of you have the same issue?

This is our fifth Christmas in this home and I’m still working on putting everything in a proper place so that we can get around the tree without knocking off the ornaments. Then there’s finding a place for the dining room table centerpiece and the things that had been on the coffee table. Everything has to go somewhere so we can enjoy the Christmas decorations. 

This morning the grandkids will  come for the weekend. The toybox will need to come out of the closet and we’ll make room for the race track, the puzzles and the blocks. I wouldn’t change one little thing, not for a moment, but there is some preparation involved. 

As important as it is to prepare our homes it’s more important that we prepare our hearts. Things get cluttered and hurried. New things are added and they seem to crowd out the old. It can be stressful to say the least. Everything seems to be jostled and rearranged. 

“Make Room. Prepare the space.”

There is an event recorded in Luke that I find really speaks to my heart. 

“The Lord and his disciples were traveling along and came to a village. When they got there, a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat down in front of the Lord and was listening to what he said. 40 Martha was worried about all that had to be done. Finally, she went to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!”

41 The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things, 42 but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 CEV

I was such a Martha. Always scurrying about making sure everything was ready; the house was clean, the food prepared, bedrooms ready, porch swept, etc. So much to do and if it wasn’t all done I was stressed and couldn’t enjoy the company. 

I learned from this story that it is more important to prepare my heart than it is  my home. No one is really coming to see if the floors are clean and the house has been dusted. They are coming for a visit, a time of loving conversation, so I need to prepare my heart to welcome them in the same way I would welcome Christ. 

For Mary, everything that was going on in the kitchen paled behind her focus on the Lord, the guest of honor, and what He was saying. She had prepared her heart to receive from Him. Jesus said that she had chosen the best part. 

I want to receive the best that God has for me and I want to give His best to those around me. The Lord doesn’t want me stressed out and panicked. He wants me rested and trusting in Him. I’m learning to do that much more easily than I used to. 

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you. And you will eat with me.” Revelation 3:20 ERV

When we hear Jesus calling our name, knocking at our hearts door, and asking for our time let’s make room immediately. Forget our agenda, drop everything and make time. That’s the response of a heart that has prepared room for the Lord. 

Joy to the world
Joy to the world
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature singJoy to the world
Joy to the world
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joyJoy to the world, now we sing
Let the earth receive her king
Joy to the world, now we sing
Let the angel voices ring
Joy to the world, now we sing
Let men their songs employ
Joy to the world, now we sing
Repeat the sounding joyOh oh
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The light of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His loveJoy to the world, now we sing
Let the earth receive her king
Joy to the world, now we sing
Let the angel voices ring

I pray that every heart prepares room for the One who came to bring joy to the world. 

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With Is Better

For the last several days we have been with our son, Koy, and his girlfriend, Kym, in California. We knew that we wouldn’t be together at Christmas so he flew us out a couple weeks early.

We’ve had a great time of  being with each other. Phone calls and video chats are good but actually being with the ones we love is the best. 

God enjoyed being with Adam and Eve each day in the garden; they would walk and talk – it was a special relationship. But when Adam sinned  that fellowship was broken. However, God had a plan for restoring what had been lost. It was important to Him to be with us.

“Joseph was a good man[a and did not want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone. So he decided to quietly call off the wedding.

20 While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. 21 Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

22 So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, 23 “A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.” Matthew 1:19-23 CEV

God wanted a way to be with us so He sent His Son.  One of the things that means the most to us as parents is knowing that our kids want to be with us. God is no different. 

“When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world.[a 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 5:17-19 CEV

It’s a whole new world when we have life with Christ. We aren’t alone. God is with us – in the car going to work; in the kitchen baking cookies; helping our kids with their homework; Christmas shopping; sitting beside the bed of a sick friend; sitting alone looking at the checkbook and the bills that need to be paid.

God with us – His purpose in coming was to be “with us”. In fact, Hebrews 13:5 tells us that He will NEVER leave us or abandon us.

We are also told that He promises to provide all our needs, heals all our diseases and forgives all our sins. Psalm 103 

I didn’t always realize that God wanted this type of relationship with me  but I can say that when I realized  “God is with us” it has certainly changed the outcome of my life for the better – the best.

When we focus on all “we” have to do and how it’s all up to us, we become self absorbed. We make a very small package. When we realize, truly realize, that God’s purpose is to “Be with us”, when we unwrap the present of His presence in our daily lives, our world changes dramatically.

” What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? 32 God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else?” Romans 8:31-32 CEV

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11

The Christmas carol today is one that was written in the 12th century. 

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

I know the Old English is a bit hard to understand but the basic message is one of God’s desire to be with mankind, who He created, and  bring them deliverance in each situation.  Just remember, He’s a loving Father who wants nothing more than to be involved in His children’s lives.

God wants to spend time with us; with is better!

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Tired & Cranky

You understand what I am saying here, tired and cranky? We all have those times when we just want to throw a fit and get away with it. Right?

Monday morning I received a text from our youngest daughter telling me that our little granddaughter had just cut 3 new teeth. My first response was “that explains her mood on Thanksgiving, she was hurting”.

We excuse some crankiness when children are little and don’t  know how to tell us what’s going on. But we should be giving them instruction that selfish actions aren’t right. The problem comes when we are teenagers or adults and we have these same outbreaks of self-centered frustration.

“Remember this: There are some terrible times coming in the last days. 2 People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud and boast about themselves. They will abuse others with insults. They will not obey their parents. They will be ungrateful and against all that is pleasing to God. 3 They will have no love for others and will refuse to forgive anyone. They will talk about others to hurt them and will have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 People will turn against their friends. They will do foolish things without thinking and will be so proud of themselves. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. 5 They will go on pretending to be devoted to God, but they will refuse to  let that “devotion” change the way they live. Stay away from these people!” II Timothy 3:1-5 ERV

These verses are a description of many of the attitudes and actions that are going on in society today. There’s an entitlement mentality that says I deserve it; I should have more and better things, not because I have worked hard or sacrificed but because I’m entitled to better.

I really wanted to be cranky yesterday. I did. I was tired, hadn’t slept much the night before and I “felt” that I deserved to be treated with more consideration. I wanted to be entitled. I was being selfish. I was thinking about me and what my needs were and what I wanted.

It only took a few minutes for the Lord to step in and correct me.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, keep looking for the good things of heaven. This is where Christ is seated on the right side of God. 2 Keep your minds thinking about things in heaven. Do not think about things on the earth. 3 You are dead to the things of this world. Your new life is now hidden in God through Christ.” Colossians 3:1-3 NLV

and

“ Whoever wants to be first must serve the rest of you like a slave. 28 Do as I did: The Son of Man did not come for people to serve him. He came to serve others and to give his life to save many people.” Matthew 20:27-28 ERV

Pity parties have a very small guest list; me, myself and I. When we look at Jesus and how he lived, keeping our minds focused on how things are done in heaven, we will see that we have been given a higher assignment. We are to be an example of self-control and self-sacrifice.

“ God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. 24 And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. 25 God’s Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit. ” Galatians 5:22-25 CEV

Probably no one else has to deal with keeping their feelings, emotions and thoughts in line but just in case you are like me I thought I would share this with you today.

Let’s live like the Apostle Paul said here in verse 25. Let’s follow the Spirit. Life will certainly be better.

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It Is Finished

What a great Thanksgiving weekend!  A wonderful dinner and delicious left overs. Time with family and friends. Overflowing with gratitude.

The words it is finished may make you think of an empty pie plate or the last bite of the dressing. It may also remind you that the long weekend is over and  today you are back to work and life’s normal routine.

Sitting here this morning those three words have totally engulfed me. I am reflecting on what Jesus has done and continues to do in our daily lives.

“It is finished.”

What do those words mean to you? It could mean the end of a bad relationship. Possibly, it’s  the completion of a special project, something you’ve been working on for a long time, it’s done and you can be proud of the result.  You may be moving to a new place or a new job and your life is filled with uncertainty. Whatever those words mean to you,  Jesus has chosen to be with you in each situation.

If it’s the end of a bad relationship, Jesus knows what it was like to be heart-broken. He was filled with great sorrow as He looked at Jerusalem and saw how they had walked away from the Lord. One of the reasons He came was to heal the broken-hearted and  bring us into right relationship, a relationship with the Father.

“Someone handed Him the book of the early preacher Isaiah. He opened it and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me. He has put His hand on Me to preach the Good News to poor people. He has sent Me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent Me to tell those who are being held that they can go free. He has sent Me to make the blind to see and to free those who are held because of trouble. 19 He sent Me to tell of the time when men can receive favor with the Lord.”  Luke 4:17-19 NLV

Jesus worked on His earthly project for 33 years. It had been in the planning stage in heaven thousands of years before that. The project of restoring mankind to his original place, a place of right relationship was finished. He had paid the price, redemption was complete. God, the Father, was very pleased with what Jesus had done.

The work on earth was finished. The power of sin was destroyed. It was time to celebrate in heaven.  Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us and then He will come again and take us there. Once we get there, to heaven, a wonderful banquet will be prepared for us to enjoy. Talk about thanksgiving, we will have a wonderful time with family and friends.

“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

Now, if it’s time for you to make a move, to transition, to another location or another office, He is there. We have God’s promise that He will never leave us or abandon us. King David said even if I go to hell, He is there.

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139:7-10 NKJV

Whatever you are saying it is finished to, know that it is time to look ahead with a hopeful heart. God will direct our steps and lead you to a good place.

“The Lord is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need.
2 He gives me green pastures to lie in. He leads me by calm pools of water.
3 He restores my strength. He leads me on right paths to show that he is good.” Psalm 23:1-3 ERV

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A Servant’s Heart

You know who those people are…the ones with a servant’s heart. They are the ones who serve and help without being asked. They enjoy helping and do it with a smile on their face.

At Thanksgiving Dinner, they were the ones who were doing the dishes in someone else’s kitchen; setting the table; helping take the food from the kitchen to the table and then getting up quietly to fill a gravy boat or get more dressing. They were the ones taking out the trash.

Jesus instructed his disciples on the way they should be acting in their relationship with others.

“Jesus and his disciples went to his home in Capernaum. After they were inside the house, Jesus asked them, “What were you arguing about along the way?” 34 They had been arguing about which one of them was the greatest, and so they did not answer.

35 After Jesus sat down and told the twelve disciples to gather around him, he said, “If you want the place of honor, you must become a slave (servant) and serve others!”

36 Then Jesus had a child stand near him. He put his arm around the child and said, 37 “When you welcome even a child because of me, you welcome me. And when you welcome me, you welcome the one who sent me.” Mark 9:33-37 CEV

Jesus always set a fine example of servitude. His was a life of ministry. He never claimed glory for himself. He only wanted to bring glory to the Father. One of his final acts was one of servitude. He washed the feet of the disciples.

Have you ever met someone with dirty feet? Maybe not filthy dirty, maybe just be a bit dusty? Would you volunteer to wash their feet for them?

In John 13 Jesus was having the Passover meal with His disciples and midway through the evening He got up from the table, took a towel, wrapped it around His waist, got a basin of water and went from disciple to disciple and washed their feet.

This is something the servant of the house should have done. It was customary to wash all the guests feet. But since Jesus and the disciples were in a home that wasn’t theirs, it was apparent there was no “servant” to perform the task. Jesus took it upon Himself to do it.

Peter protested. But Jesus told him that it was essential. The thing that amazes me about this is not the interchange between Jesus and Peter but that Jesus washed Judas Iscariot’s feet willingly. He knew that Judas was going to betray Him and Jesus lovingly served him like all the rest.

” But when he came to Simon Peter, that disciple asked, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You don’t really know what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “You will never wash my feet!” Peter replied. “If I don’t wash you,” Jesus told him, “you don’t really belong to me.”

9 Peter said, “Lord, don’t wash just my feet. Wash my hands and my head.” 10 Jesus answered, “People who have bathed and are clean all over need to wash just their feet. And you, my disciples, are clean, except for one of you.” 11 Jesus knew who would betray him. That is why he said, “except for one of you.”

12 After Jesus had washed his disciples’ feet and had put his outer garment back on, he sat down again. Then he said: Do you understand what I have done? 13 You call me your teacher and Lord, and you should, because that is who I am. 14 And if your Lord and teacher has washed your feet, you should do the same for each other. 15 I have set the example, and you should do for each other exactly what I have done for you. 16 I tell you for certain that servants are not greater than their master, and messengers are not greater than the one who sent them. 17 You know these things, and God will bless you, if you do them.” John 13:6-17 CEV

Jesus made Himself servant of all. He didn’t discriminate. He knew who truly loved Him and who would betray Him but He treated them all the same. It was and is unconditional love.

There may be some in our circle who have betrayed us and others who have remained close and loyal. Jesus tells us to treat them all with unconditional love.

Is there someone today who needs you to show them that kind of love?

Let’s always be willing to wash some feet!

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Thankful for Choice

As you begin to think about tomorrow’s feast is your mouth already watering?

Which to choose? Turkey, ham, yams, mashed potatoes, pumpkin or pecan pie, I know, you want a little bit of everything don’t you?

The freedom to choose or as some phrase it, free will, is something that we can all be grateful for. Imagine how boring life would be if there was no variety. What if every vehicle was a Ford and each dress was blue? All houses were Cape Cod style and the only college degree to attain was one in Physics. All flowers were red and all dogs were beagles.

No choice, no choice at all.

If that isn’t an appealing idea then you should be thanking God right about now. He is the one that established free will. In the Garden of Eden He created a large variety of fruit bearing trees and God told Adam he could pick from any tree he wanted but one.

“The Lord God put the man in the Garden of Eden to work the soil and take care of the garden. 16 The Lord God gave him this command: “You may eat from any tree in the garden. 17 But you must not eat from the tree that gives knowledge about good and evil. If you eat fruit from that tree, on that day you will certainly die!” Genesis 2:15-17 ERV

Now some may think that God was unfair to restrict Adam from the tree that would give him knowledge of good and evil. Far from it. God’s desire was that Adam would only know good; God didn’t want him knowing about evil. God also knew that choice would separate them because God can’t have relationship with evil; man’s relationship with God would die, it would be spiritual death.

We do a similar thing with our children. We tell them “play with all these toys but don’t touch the stove, it’s hot and you’ll get burned”. So many good and wonderful things to do and play with, just choose the good.

Adam made a choice and God didn’t usurp his will. God’s desire is that we love Him and obey His word by our free will. He wants a relationship with us not a robotic obedience.  So, God gave another instruction on choice.

“ I call heaven and earth to speak against you today. I have put in front of you life and death, the good and the curse. So choose life so you and your children after you may live. 20 Love the Lord your God and obey His voice. Hold on to Him. For He is your life, and by Him your days will be long. You will be allowed to live in the land the Lord promised to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLV

Freedom to choose life or death, blessing or curse and then God seemed to say, in case you’re not sure which one to choose, let me give you a hint – choose life.

God has also made a choice. He has chosen us to be His sons and daughters. He doesn’t want  anyone to miss out on His goodness. His love extends to everyone.

“Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. 5 God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children. 6 God was very kind to us because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God.

7-8 Christ sacrificed his life’s blood to set us free, which means that our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because God was so kind to us. God has great wisdom and understanding, 9 and by what Christ has done, God has shown us his own mysterious ways.” Ephesians 1:4-9 CEV

“My dear children, I write this letter to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone sins, we have Jesus Christ to help us. He always did what was right, so he is able to defend us before God the Father. 2 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 2:1-2 ERV

God has made His choice; He has chosen us. Now we have the freedom to choose. He wants to be our choice but He won’t force His will on us.

“He gave the right and the power to become children of God to those who received Him. He gave this to those who put their trust in His name. ” John 1:12 NLV

I wholeheartedly recommend choosing God and the wonderful life that He has planned for us.

I’m so thankful for the gift of choice. My choice is to receive God’s gift of life!

 

 

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Thankful for an Open Door

This morning I was reading in Hebrews, one of my favorite books, and I reread those verses that I share with you so often.

“ 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

Come bravely, or boldly, before the throne!

In days of old, the only way a subject was allowed to come before the throne of the king was by invitation or summons. Even their own families were taught not to enter without first being granted access.

As I read these verses, I was impacted again with the absolute freedom that we have been given to come to the Father’s throne without fear. Confidently we come, knowing that we will find help and be treated with kindness.  Amazing!

I did a search to find an image of a palace with an open door to use as today’s illustration. Do you know how hard that is to find? The picture I used isn’t a palace, it’s a cathedral. Even today, palaces just don’t have open doors. They are secure areas, special clearance is needed and very few actually receive an audience with the king or ruler.

We have open access to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

And again, it’s not just access to Him; we have favor with Him, He holds us in His heart and is always willing to provide us with help.

“When you pray, don’t talk on and on as people do who don’t know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. 8 Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask.

9 You should pray like this:  Our Father in heaven, help us to honor your name…” Matthew 6:7-9 CEV

These are the words that Jesus spoke when he was teaching his disciples to pray. He wanted them to understand that when they talked to God, prayed, they weren’t talking to someone they didn’t now. They were talking to their Father, a loving, tender-hearted, kind and compassionate Father; their Father who knew what they need before they came and had already planned to help.

My heart is overflowing with gratitude and love because of my Father’s kindness and grace. This morning I sat here in my chair, coffee in hand and I began to tell Him how much I love Him. I started listing all the reasons I have for loving Him and then I stopped abruptly. I wasn’t through with my list of His wonderful blessings…I was completely overwhelmed by His unconditional love.

Sometimes I see myself, as a little child, running through the throne room doors, straight up to the Father’s throne. When I get there I throw my arms around his neck, give Him a big kiss, tell Him how much I love Him, climb down from His lap and go on about my day. I know He likes that!

Jesus showed us that side of the Father when he took time to interact with the little children.

“ Then the people brought their little children to Jesus so that he could lay his hands on them to bless them and pray for them. When the followers saw this, they told the people to stop bringing their children to him. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these children.” 15 After Jesus blessed the children, he left there.” Matthew 19:13-15 CEV

This is an example for us. The Father wants us to come as little children. Children filled with innocence, confidence and total abandon, trusting completely in Him. I’m here to give testimony,  the Father’s throne room door is always open to His kids.

Come on in! He’s waiting just for us with open arms!

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Thankful for Parents

Yesterday I began to think about today’s blog and where I should direct our thoughts on gratitude. I thought of parents.

We all fall into at least one of these categories. We have parents or we are a parent. Elementary but true. This picture was taken last November as some of our family joined with my Mom to celebrate an early Thanksgiving.

So grateful for Mom and her impact in my life. As she says, “I wasn’t a perfect parent but I tried”. That she did. She loved my dad, us kids, her grandkids and greats and she has loved the Lord for almost all of her life. At 95, she has been an influence in the life of many young men and women, some now in there 70’s. She was a school teacher, a Sunday school teacher, a young women’s leader, small group hostess and a welcoming friend.

“Her children say good things about her. Her husband brags about her and says, 29 “There are many good women, but you are the best.” Proverbs 31:28-29 ERV

Very thankful for the wonderful Mom I was given.

I’m also thankful  for my children, who made me a parent. They, and their families, are the joy of my life. Life would be empty without them. Like my mother, I was not/am not a perfect parent, but my love for each one of them is unconditional. They could never say or do anything to make me love them more and they could never say or do anything to make me love them less.

“See, children are a gift from the Lord. The children born to us are our special reward. 4 The children of a young man are like arrows in the hand of a soldier. 5 Happy is the man who has many of them. They will not be put to shame when they speak in the gate with those who hate them.” Psalm 127:3-5 NLV

“Grandchildren are the pride and joy of old age, and children take great pride in their parents.” Proverbs 17:6 ERV

So thankful for those who call me Besta. Bestamor is the Norwegian word for Grandmother. There are six who call me Besta and that is one of the sweetest words to my ears.

You know I’m going to end this with our heavenly Father, don’t you? It’s from Him we learn to be the loving parents we are. He is our example, it’s His life we try to imitate. Some haven’t been blessed with a good human role model but we have all been blessed with the love of our Father in heaven.

“Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].” Ephesians 5:1 AMPC

He will never turn us away when we come to Him. He will never leave us to flounder on our own. His arms are open wide, welcoming us to come. He has tattooed us in the palms of His hands.

“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. 9 Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? 10 Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? 11 As bad (earthly) as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.” Matthew 7:7-11 CEV

“Can a woman forget her nursing child? Can she have no pity on the son to whom she gave birth? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. 16 See, I have marked your names on My hands. Your walls are always before Me.” Isaiah 49:15-16 NLV

Oh yes, I am thankful for parents; the ones I had, the one I am and for the One who has always been!

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Wipe It Clean

If you’re my age or close to it, you will remember wiping the chalkboard clean when you were in school.

It was one thing to use the eraser to remove the Math problems or the sentences written for Grammar instruction but the real fun came at the end of the day when we got to use the teacher’s chamois to wipe the boards completely clean.

When I was a girl we sang this song in church, Calvary Covers It All. I was thinking about that song this morning. How thankful I am for Calvary!! Thankful that the blood of Jesus covers my sin!

In the Old Testament the priest would offer a lamb once a year for the forgiveness of sin. The priest would lay his hands on the head of the lamb, signifying a transfer of the sins of the people to the perfect lamb of sacrifice. And when this transfer was complete the Israelites could experience freedom and cleansing for another year. The blood of the lamb “covered” their sins but never completely blotted it out. Each year they would have to come again, offering another sacrifice, to receive their forgiveness.

“The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn’t the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices that are offered year after year. 2 If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. 3-4 But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next.” Hebrews 10:1-4 CEV

Jesus Christ is our lamb of sacrifice  and only had to be offered once for the forgiveness of sin! We, who have accepted that sacrifice don’t just have our sins covered but can rest knowing those sins are completely blotted out.

“You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God’s people. But God let Christ make you alive, when he forgave all our sins. 14 God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. 15 There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.” Colossians 2:13-15 CEV

Now this is significant. If something is just covered, we could lift the covering and find what was being hidden. However, if it’s blotted out or wiped clean. There is nothing to be found.

I know it’s  crude to use the illustration of cleaning the chalkboard but it gives us a visual that we can all identity with.  The blood of Jesus is so much greater than a chamois eraser but I think you get the point.

“The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God’s right side, 13 and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. 14 By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God. Hebrews 10:11-14 CEV

We have been wiped clean by the blood of Jesus. There is no longer any evidence there to show our sin and failings. Jesus set us free forever. Let’s not  allow our mind or well-meaning people  to hold us captive to our past.

Jesus blood has wiped out and removed all trace of our sin. Hallelujah!

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