Tag: AbundantLife

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More Than Enough

When I was a little girl, I was intrigued by one of the Thanksgiving decorations I saw. It was a cornucopia or otherwise named, horn of plenty.

I learned that big word and liked using it. For a seven-year-old, a five-syllable word was a big deal.

Wikipedia describes it like this: “In classical antiquity, the cornucopia, from Latin cornu (horn) and copia (abundance), also called the horn of plenty, was a symbol of abundance and nourishment, commonly a large horn-shaped container overflowing with produce, flowers, or nuts.”

A symbol of abundance and nourishment.

I believe you know what I’m going to say next. Reminds me of the promises and blessings that are in God’s word.

“The Lord will love you and bless you by giving you many children and plenty of food, wine, and olive oil. Your herds of cattle will have many calves, and your flocks of sheep will have many lambs.” Deuteronomy 7:13 CEV

Moses was preparing the Israelites for their new life in the promised land. God wasn’t taking them to an impoverished home, on the contrary, He was leading them to a land that was “flowing with milk and honey”.

The Lord made them some very specific promises and they still hold true today.

“You will have many children. You will harvest large crops, and your herds of cattle and flocks of sheep and goats will produce many young. 5 You will have plenty of bread to eat. 6 The Lord will make you successful in your daily work.” Deuteronomy 28:4-6 CEV

When I look at the cornucopia now, I see overflowing abundance. Most of the items are fruit. The very thing that Christ says will be produced in our lives when we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

“But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things.” Galatians 5:22-23 ERV

My thoughts take me to the mountainside where Jesus multiplied the fish and the bread of a little boy’s lunch.

“Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave thanks to God. Then he passed the bread to the people, and he did the same with the fish, until everyone had plenty to eat.” John 6:11 CEV

But more than that, I remember another mountainside message.

“Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” 32 Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all of these. 33 But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.” Matthew 6:31-33 CEV

When we put God’s word and His will first place we will have a virtual spiritual cornucopia. In Christ we have more than enough.

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The Shepherd King

We saw yesterday how God used a young shepherd to defeat the Philistine army. One young man who trusted God and did not doubt God’s promises to defend and save His people.

Israel had a king. A man they had chosen to lead them; one who stood head and shoulders above all others. He was a man who was a born leader and an able fighting man but he didn’t have a heart for God.

David did.

“Israel’s leaders met with David at Hebron and said, ‘We are your relatives. 2 Even when Saul was king, you led our nation in battle. And the Lord promised that someday you would rule Israel and take care of us like a shepherd.’

3 During the meeting, David made an agreement with the leaders and asked the Lord to be their witness. Then the leaders poured olive oil on David’s head to show that he was now the king of Israel.” II Samuel 5:1-3 CEV

Saul had been killed in battle, along with his son Jonathan. The nation came to David for leadership. God had set David apart as a young man because his heart was pure and now the nation had chosen him as their leader.

Their words, “take care of us like a shepherd”, were his direction from the Lord. David knew how to defend the sheep he had cared for as a youth. While looking after his father’s sheep David had protected them against a lion and a bear. His songs brought them peace and comfort. He knew how to bind their wounds and lead them to good pasture. He would do the same for the nation of Israel.

He would lead them as a living example of the true King. Through David’s leading, the nations of the world would be led to the cross.

” Later, God removed Saul and let David rule in his place. God said about him, ‘David the son of Jesse is the kind of person who pleases me most! He does everything I want him to do.’ 23 God promised that someone from David’s family would come to save the people of Israel, and this one is Jesus.” Acts 13:22-23 CEV

How does a shepherd king rule? I’m so glad you asked that.

“You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need.
2 You let me rest in fields of green grass. You lead me to streams
of peaceful water,
3     and you refresh my life. You are true to your name,
and you lead me along the right paths.
4 I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe. 5 You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest,
and you fill my cup until it overflows.
6 Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life,
and I will live forever in your house, Lord.” Psalm 23

David had a gentle hand with his sheep and an iron fist with their enemies.

“When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice. 5 The sheep will not follow strangers. They don’t recognize a stranger’s voice, and they run away…10 A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully. 11  I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep.” John 10:4,5,10 & 11 CEV

When we follow the shepherd He will lead us to the cross.

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Sack Lunch vs Banquet

Several years ago Dave and I had an interesting experience at a local Mexican restaurant.

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

But now the life lesson.

“Jesus said to him, ‘A man gave a big dinner. He invited many people. 17 When it was time to eat, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come. The food is ready.’ 18 But all the guests said they could not come. Each one made an excuse…’

21 “So the servant returned and told his master what happened. The master was angry. He said, ‘Hurry! Go into the streets and alleys of the town. Bring me the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’

22 “Later, the servant said to him, ‘Master, I did what you told me to do, but we still have places for more people.’ 23 The master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and country roads. Tell the people there to come. I want my house to be full!” Luke 14:16-23 ERV

The Father wants to lavish on us the things He has prepared for us.

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

We have allowed the tradition of religion to tell us that we can’t or shouldn’t expect God to bless us or to provide – excuses – we aren’t worthy or “God helps those who help themselves” and the focus gets placed on us and not on Him. We begin thinking like the prodigal son who said “the servants in my father’s house are eating well, I’ll just go be a servant”. But our Father doesn’t want servants, He wants sons!

He wants us to experience the joy of our salvation – the great and precious promises that He has provided for us through the death of His son!

“Praise the Lord, O my soul. And all that is within me, praise His holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul. And forget none of His acts of kindness. 3 He forgives all my sins. He heals all my diseases. 4 He saves my life from the grave. He crowns me with loving-kindness and pity. 5 He fills my years with good things and I am made young again like the eagle… 8 The Lord is full of loving-pity and kindness. He is slow to anger and has much loving-kindness.” Psalm 103:1-8 NLV

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

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Overwhelmed

Have you ever taken the time to sit quietly and think on God’s goodness? When I do this I am overwhelmed!

We need to contemplate, as the song says, “the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God”!

“I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10 NLT

I heard the testimony of a young evangelist 40 years ago. He had been invited to speak at a gathering during the Jesus movement of the 1970’s. Speaker after speaker stood and gave testimony to God’s saving grace. They told of drugs, homelessness, imprisonment, alcoholism, severely depression. Then it was his turn. The moderator said to him, “Tell us how you got here.” He said I quietly answered, “On the bus.” Everyone laughed.

He then went on to tell the crowd how being raised in a Christian home he had never strayed, but God had kept him, giving him strength to overcome the temptations that so many others had experienced. He said the miracle of being kept from a life of sin was just as great as being delivered out of that lifestyle.

I hear people talk of how God protected and delivered them in dangerous and life-threatening situations. I am so thankful for the miraculous deliverance of my friends and family, but I am just as grateful that Dave and I have driven hundreds of thousands of miles without a “close call” or an accident. That too is miraculous!

The children of Israel saw the miraculous power of God deliver them from Egypt, part the Red Sea, provide food from heaven, and then bring them to the Promised Land that was flowing with milk and honey.

“‘I gave you land you had not worked on, and I gave you towns you did not build—the towns where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them. 14 ‘So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly.'” Joshua 24:13-14a NLT

Never downplay what seems ordinary when compared to the miraculous. The person who has had a miraculous healing from a life-threatening disease prays for a life of ordinary good health.

The Bible uses the illustration of sheep and the Good Shepherd on several occasions. One story is of a shepherd who went out to find one lost sheep. That sheep needed rescuing; it needed a miracle. However, there were 99 sheep who weren’t lost but had been living under the shepherd’s overwhelming, never-ending, precious loving care.

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

“ The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack…Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.” Psalm 23:1, 6 AMPC

We all need to take time to be overwhelmed by the ordinary, everyday, protection and provision of God’s love. It’s miraculous!

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Make The Most of It

The last few days we have been doing quite a bit of “camper assistance”. Things get forgotten at home, repairs need to be made, and we are always willing to lend a helping hand.

When our kids were younger, we did quite a bit of camping. It was relaxing, fun and inexpensive. We tent camped. It was a nice tent and as comfortable as a tent could be but still it was a tent.

I had my camping boxes that went on every trip. Each box had all the necessities prepacked. The only thing we really needed to think about was filling the ice chest with the refrigerated food and drinks. We could be ready to go in less than an hour’s time.

We had some fun times; oh, we had the soggy ones too. First time out in the new tent we had forgotten to seal the seams, we had as much rain in the tent as out. Then the adventures of wild animals, canoe trips, floating the river and the one time we brought everything but the tent. I know…but it happened.

No matter how much fun we had and how beautiful the camp site was it always nice to come home. A comfortable bed, dry clothes, and a warm shower. Awwww.

Did you know tent camping is in the Bible? The Apostle Paul wrote about it.

“We know that our body—the tent we live in here on earth—will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a home for us to live in. It will not be the kind of home people build here. It will be a home in heaven that will continue forever. 2 But now we are tired of this body. We want God to give us our heavenly home. 3 It will clothe us and we will not be naked. 4 While we live in this tent, we have burdens and so we complain. I don’t mean that we want to remove this tent, but we want to be clothed with our heavenly home. Then this body that dies will be covered with life. 5 This is what God himself made us for. And he has given us the Spirit as the first payment to guarantee the life to come.

6 So we always have confidence. We know that while we live in this body, we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by what we believe will happen, not by what we can see. 8 So I say that we have confidence. And we really want to be away from this body and be at home with the Lord. 9 Our only goal is to always please the Lord, whether we are living here in this body or there with him.” II Corinthians 5:1-9 ERV

Life on this earth is like camping in a tent. It’s an adventure but not as comfortable as Home.

Going home is something to look forward too with great anticipation. But while we’re in this tent we need to enjoy our surroundings, not complain and make the most of it. Afterall, we have God’s promise of an abundant life.

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Come If You’re Thirsty

Yesterday afternoon Dave and I enjoyed some time on the back patio of our RV.

Novel concept this patio. We have a toy hauler and so the back of it acts like a ramp when lowered for ease of loading and unloading motorcycles, dirt bikes and side by sides. When not in use as a ramp, it can be raised to a level position and used as a back patio. So now, you know where we were sitting.

There is an underground spring that surfaces just a few feet from our back patio. As we were sitting there the birds began to come for their afternoon libation. First, the red-breasted robins, then the mountain finches, next came the big black crow and finally the iridescent blue Stellar Jay. All sharing the life-giving water.

These must have been some of the same birds that awakened me yesterday morning with their songs. The Lord has taught me so many lessons through the years by watching these feathered missionaries.

I’m going to use yesterday’s verses again this morning.

“ I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth much more than birds?” Matthew 6:25-26 CEV

Birds are the ultimate example of faith. They wake up each morning with a song – they know there will be enough worms, seeds, bugs to feed on throughout the day. They sense the danger of a storm and take refuge in the shelter the Lord provides. When they are thirsty, they find pools of refreshing. They live in complete dependence on what the Father provides.

“Jesus said to his disciples: I tell you not to worry about your life! Don’t worry about having something to eat or wear. 23 Life is more than food or clothing. 24 Look at the crows! They don’t plant or harvest, and they don’t have storehouses or barns. But God takes care of them. You are much more important than any birds. 25 Can worry make you live longer? 26 If you don’t have power over small things, why worry about everything else?” Luke 12:22-25 CEV

What has you worried today? Remember the words of Jesus, “you are much more important than any birds”. To us He says:

“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

Are you thirsty? Come. Are you hungry? Come. Have no money? No worries, His supply is free to those He loves. His word is better than any food and more sustaining than the purest water.

Come and find all you need in His promise of love and loyalty!

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I’m So Excited!

How’s that song go? “I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it. I’m about to lose control and I think I like it”.

Yes, that’s how I’m feeling this morning. The new refrigerator has been installed and is working properly and today we head to the mountain! I just wish all of you could go with us.

Did you wake up excited this morning? Do you have special plans for the weekend? Are you going to spend time with those you love? Maybe it’s a special anniversary or birthday you’ll be celebrating, or possibly a good report from your doctor. Whatever the event, large or small, it’s always better when we remember to thank the Father for his blessings.

“Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same.” James 1:17 ERV

The Lord wants us to be excited about life. Why else would He fill it with wonder?

Sunrises and sunsets could be a dull gray. Waterfalls could be unimpressive trickles. The “Grand Canyon” could be just a subtle ditch. A child’s giggle could be monotoned. Without the blessings of the Lord our lives would be mundane and far from the abundant life He promised.

“God, your goodness reaches far above the skies. You have done wonderful things. God, there is no one like you.” Psalm 71:19 ERV

Be excited about what God has done, is doing now and will do with our future! He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Let me encourage you to embrace each day with joy. Wrap your arms around the morning and say, “Father, I don’t know all the details of the day, but I know that You have designed it for my good”.

“But you are his chosen people, the King’s priests. You are a holy nation, people who belong to God. He chose you to tell about the wonderful things he has done. He brought you out of the darkness of sin into his wonderful light.” I Peter 2:10 ERV

If we truly believe God’s promise of abundant life, we will search for those blessings like a kid at Christmas. Oral Roberts was known for his saying, “Something good is going to happen to you today”.

“‘I say this because I know the plans that I have for you’. This message is from the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.'” Jeremiah 29:11-13 ERV

Search for the Lord. He has planned a good future for us. Now, that’s something to be excited about!

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Think Big!

Have you ever heard of “grasshoppers syndrome”? Grasshopper Syndrome was first diagnosed in Numbers 13.

Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt . God said He would give them the Promised Land. All they had to do was go in and possess it. Moses chose twelve men to spy out the land and bring back a report. Ten men came back with Grasshopper Syndrome and two men, Joshua and Caleb, came back only seeing the good that God had revealed to them.

“Caleb told the people near Moses to be quiet. Then Caleb said, “We should go up and take that land for ourselves. We can easily take that land.” Numbers 13:30 ERV

“We saw the giant Nephilim people there! (The descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim.) We felt like little grasshoppers. Yes, we were like grasshoppers to them!” Numbers 13:33 ERV

The problem wasn’t the giants. It’s that they saw themselves as grasshoppers, small and insignificant. Joshua and Caleb chose to focus on God and not themselves. However, the majority were affected by grasshopper thinking and didn’t move forward.

Years later there was another outbreak of grasshopper syndrome. Recently, we discussed the army of Israel’s fear of Goliath. Only David saw past the fear and focused on the greatness of God.

“Today the Lord will let me defeat you. I will kill you. I will cut off your head and feed your body to the birds and wild animals. And we will do the same thing to all the other Philistines too. Then all the world will know there is a God in Israel. 47 All the people gathered here will know that the Lord doesn’t need swords or spears to save people. The battle belongs to the Lord, and he will help us defeat all of you.”” I Samuel 17:45-47 ERV

What giants are you facing today – unemployment, illness, personal relationships, financial hardship, high gas prices, inflation? Don’t fall prey to grasshopper syndrome.

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

“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” John 10:10 CEV

Take God’s word and destroy Grasshopper Syndrome. Let God’s word have final authority in your life. You are and will be victorious in this life.

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Completely Filled

and running over. That’s how my heart feels this morning!

Last weekend we had our oldest daughter and son-in-love here along with our oldest granddaughter. This weekend we have had our youngest daughter, our other son-in-love and three youngest grandchildren with us. Our son has called and sent a number of texts because it’s not possible for him to be with us.

Yes, completely filled and running over!

It’s important to me that our children and grandchildren always know they are welcome in our home, no matter where it is. This morning I was thinking of all the wonderful things that have happened in the years we have lived in this home. The birth of three grandchildren, one great granddaughter, the love and laughter of friends, along with some tears of sadness because of those we have lost. So many memories!

My heart is completely filled! Anything more is overflow!

Isn’t it amazing how the Father desires to fill our lives in the same way? He wants to enjoy the many benefits that He has designed for us – He wants our lives completely filled with His love, joy, strength, peace, hope. He yearns for us to live fulfilled and content in His presence.

“Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.” Colossians 3:16 CEV

He came to bring us fullness.

“ A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” John 10:10 CEV

“ You will show me the way of life. Being with You is to be full of joy. In Your right hand there is happiness forever.” Psalm 16:11 NLV

“Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!  For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude
20 Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.” Psalm 68:19-20 NLT

Completely filled and overflowing with the expressions and outpouring of God’s love!

“You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows. 6 Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in your house, Lord.” Psalm 23:5-6 CEV

I pray that each day we recognize the ways the Father pours out His love!

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Living to the Full

Last night Dave and I watched the most current episode of a series we got hooked on. It has 23 seasons…yes, 23 seasons. It’s a British CSI type show.

One statement in this episode stood out among the rest. “I have spent enough time among the dead, it’s time I focus on the living”. This was spoken by one of the lead characters.

When I went to bed my head was filled with verses on life and death. I knew what I was supposed to share with you this morning. The Bible has so much to say about life:

“If anyone wants to keep his life safe, he will lose it. If anyone gives up his life because of Me, he will save it. 26 For what does a man have if he gets all the world and loses his own soul? What can a man give to buy back his soul?” Matthew 16:25-26 NLV

Jesus said the Father loves us so much that He, Jesus, was sent to bring us everlasting life. Life here on earth is temporal but life with the Father is eternal. Jesus wasn’t just concerned about our eternal life. Everyone who placed their trust in Him as their Savoir saw a dramatic change in their lives here.

“A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.” John 10:10 CEV

Full and good!

Listen to the words of Moses. He is addressing the children of those who were deliverred from Egypt, they were on the verge of entering the promised land.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLT

We have a God-given choice between life and death and just in case there is any doubt to which one is correct Moses says choose life. “This is the key to your life…love and obey the Lord and you will live long”. Sounds like the right choice to me.

When Mary and the women went to the tomb of Jesus on the resurrection morning. The tomb was empty, then the angels asked a question: “…they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus, 4 and they did not know what to think. Suddenly two men in shining white clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were afraid and bowed to the ground. But the men said, “Why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive? 6 Jesus isn’t here! He has been raised from death. Remember that while he was still in Galilee, he told you” Luke 24:3-6 CEV

Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life”. I choose Jesus, I choose life!

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