Coming from the home-life I did, i didn't learn what love really is. As an adult, it took me years to believe that another human being truly loved me and didn't just want to use me or just felt sorry for me.
I knew Jesus loved me enough to die for me, but I really thought he was the only one. this caused a life time of failed relationships. Quite frankly, i became what i feared, someone who wasn't suspicious, acerbic and not often loveable.
One day while reading my Bible and talking with Jesus, I realized that I needed to learn to love others first. I began to pray that God would teach me to love as Jesus loved us. Every day I prayed for a Revolution of Love and Kindness in me that revolved around Jesus.
Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? with the Holy spirit in my heart, and Jesus showing me how to love others, I could see my reactions to people and situations changing. and I realized i was greatly loved by others in my life. by my long time freind Lyn who shared her family , Mother, grandmother, children and husband with me as though I was truly her sister. to her mother Barbara who has for years introduced me as her chosen child. To Tanner and Trevor who hug me and tell me they love me when i visit. and especially 12 yr old Tanner who posts on my facebook. " I love you shortstack" . ( Tanner is at least 3 inches taller than I am and he loves that :) )
Once I started looking for the love in my life and began loving other people instead of looking for the slights, I found that I was loved all along. I have been blessed with so many freinds. To Trey who calls me every month just to check on me and Deborah and Nicki who enjoy my company .. the list goes on and on.
The Bible teaches us we are to love in actions and truth, not just by word.
1 John 3:16 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
when i was looking for people to dislike me, i wasn't loving in action or in truth, but i sure was good at throwing that L word around
1 Corinthians 13:7, 8a It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
Are you protecting, and persevering with your love? is your love hopeful for the other person unfailing?
Psalm 40:10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.
and true love shares, it shares the love and the good news of God. are you sharing?
Dear Lord, thank you so much for showing me your great love and for the love you have given me in my life. Please help there to be a revolution of Love and Kindness in me revolving around Jesus.
The more i love others, the more love I will have in my own life. In Jesus name I pray
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Magic Gumball Machine
The teen came home from school, passed by his father on his way to the refrigerator. " Hi son, how was school?" the son doesn't bother to acknowledge his father as he gets his favorite cola out of the fridge and reaches for a package of cookies out of the cupboard. Slamming into his room, the boy sees a note from his dad on the pillow, he tosses it into a drawer to read later. In the drawer is a stack of unread love notes from his father. This behavior goes on for days, weeks, months. The son acts as though he is ashamed to be a child of his loving father. He spends no time with him, never speaks to him, all the while his father waits patiently for his son to notice him or the roof over his head, the clothes on his back, the education, the food everything the father has provided out of love for the boy.
One day the boy comes into the living room. "Hey Dad, by the way, I want to borrow the car this weekend. Just gas it up for me and put the keys on the kitchen table".
If this were you and your son treated you this way, what would you do? Would you just hand over the car keys? After all, this is your child and he asked for them. He is a good kid, goes to school, doesn't hurt other people, all he does is ignore his dad, shouldn't he get anything and everything he asks for? why or why not?
This is how many of us treat our Heavenly Father. We don't talk to Him unless we want something, we don't read His love letter to us, we just can't be bothered to spend time with Him, but we sure do expect Him to answer our requests how we want them when we want them don't we?
Sometimes we act as though we think God is a Magic Gumball Machine. We expect if we put a penny in the machine, a miraculous answer to our prayer should come back in return. Gods Word tells us there are requirements for successful prayer.
We are to come to God with a humble heart
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land
We are to Believe He will answer
Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
We are to Obey Him
1 John 3:22
And we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please him.
We ask what is in His will
1 John 5:14
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
Think about these verses the next time you go to God to ask for something. Would you answer if you were God? Are you in obedience with a humble heart? If He isn't answering, maybe the answer is no or maybe it is not His will.
Our Father in heaven,
Holy is your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever. Amen.
One day the boy comes into the living room. "Hey Dad, by the way, I want to borrow the car this weekend. Just gas it up for me and put the keys on the kitchen table".
If this were you and your son treated you this way, what would you do? Would you just hand over the car keys? After all, this is your child and he asked for them. He is a good kid, goes to school, doesn't hurt other people, all he does is ignore his dad, shouldn't he get anything and everything he asks for? why or why not?
This is how many of us treat our Heavenly Father. We don't talk to Him unless we want something, we don't read His love letter to us, we just can't be bothered to spend time with Him, but we sure do expect Him to answer our requests how we want them when we want them don't we?
Sometimes we act as though we think God is a Magic Gumball Machine. We expect if we put a penny in the machine, a miraculous answer to our prayer should come back in return. Gods Word tells us there are requirements for successful prayer.
We are to come to God with a humble heart
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land
We are to Believe He will answer
Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
We are to Obey Him
1 John 3:22
And we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please him.
We ask what is in His will
1 John 5:14
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
Think about these verses the next time you go to God to ask for something. Would you answer if you were God? Are you in obedience with a humble heart? If He isn't answering, maybe the answer is no or maybe it is not His will.
Our Father in heaven,
Holy is your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever. Amen.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Jesus Love Me This I know
Are you feeling alone, or do you feel no one cares? Have you spent time with your friend Jesus lately?
John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Your friend Jesus wants to spend time with you. He delights in you. Have you talked with him today? Or read His love letter to you, the Bible?
Romans 8:38,39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The only thing that can make us feel alone, or separated from God, is us. If your child or best friend never called you, never talked to you or never wanted to spend time with you, you would feel a rift in the relationship wouldn't you? What greater love than this? Jesus died for us. How about spending time with Him every day, He loves you so.
Dear Jesus, I am so sorry I don't spend more time with you. I miss you when I allow my life to get too busy and don't take the time to be with you. Thank you for loving me anyway. Thank you for being my friend
John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Your friend Jesus wants to spend time with you. He delights in you. Have you talked with him today? Or read His love letter to you, the Bible?
Romans 8:38,39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The only thing that can make us feel alone, or separated from God, is us. If your child or best friend never called you, never talked to you or never wanted to spend time with you, you would feel a rift in the relationship wouldn't you? What greater love than this? Jesus died for us. How about spending time with Him every day, He loves you so.
Dear Jesus, I am so sorry I don't spend more time with you. I miss you when I allow my life to get too busy and don't take the time to be with you. Thank you for loving me anyway. Thank you for being my friend
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Working for the Lord
Colossians 3:23,24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
We have all had a job we didn't really like haven't we? Even a job we really love isn't always fun. It is so easy to complain and whine about your boss, your job, the commute, the hours, etc. but if we wake up every morning and think of our job as working for our Lord, we would go to work with a glad heart wouldn't we?
Do you think we would do a better job if we thought how we were working for Jesus?
I think if we start each day with prayer and Gods Word, it might be easier to remember, but even if you wait to read your bible til the end of the day.. ;ets remember we are going out to do Gods work today and every day.
Dear Lord, please help me to remember I am working for you today and that I am doing it for your glory, not for men. Help my life to reflect you in the workplace even when the job is difficult or not enjoyable and give me the wisdom i will need to do it well.. Thank you for the job you have given me. In Jesus name I pray... Amen
We have all had a job we didn't really like haven't we? Even a job we really love isn't always fun. It is so easy to complain and whine about your boss, your job, the commute, the hours, etc. but if we wake up every morning and think of our job as working for our Lord, we would go to work with a glad heart wouldn't we?
Do you think we would do a better job if we thought how we were working for Jesus?
I think if we start each day with prayer and Gods Word, it might be easier to remember, but even if you wait to read your bible til the end of the day.. ;ets remember we are going out to do Gods work today and every day.
Dear Lord, please help me to remember I am working for you today and that I am doing it for your glory, not for men. Help my life to reflect you in the workplace even when the job is difficult or not enjoyable and give me the wisdom i will need to do it well.. Thank you for the job you have given me. In Jesus name I pray... Amen
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Trusting Jesus
John 4:43-53 we read that a Royal Official had heard of Jesus and came to Him to ask Jesus to come with him to heal his dying son. Jesus replied48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
The man asked again " Sir, come down before my child dies" I sense a hint of desperation in that fathers plea, don't you? he really wanted Jesus to come with him now and touch his son. 50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” Jesus was asking the man to trust in Him. Jesus didn't need to physically go and look at or touch the son. Jesus just wanted the man to believe.
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”
53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.
How many times do we ask for a sign, and yet when we get one we still do not believe? We keep asking and we keep searching, but we don't always just trust do we?
What is it that is keeping you from trusting Jesus? Sin? Trusting in yourself? If we just let go and let God.. He will bless you in ways unimaginable. Jesus keeps His promises.
When I start to fret and stress, I imagine that I am putting that concern or worry in a box and I shut the lid and lock it. Then I mentally hand it over to Jesus to handle for me with a prayer of forgiveness for taking the box from Him. Sometimes I give that box to him several times a day.. and He always accepts it back and handles the problem way better than I ever could when I allow Him to.
Dear Lord, please help me as I face each days trials, to put my trust in you. Help me to take my hand off the tiller and let you pilot the ship that is my life. I claim your promise to supply all my need and I know that your grace is sufficient for me. thank you Lord for answered prayer and for all you do for me that i do not even notice. Forgive me for not trusting in you as I should. In Jesus name.. Amen
The man asked again " Sir, come down before my child dies" I sense a hint of desperation in that fathers plea, don't you? he really wanted Jesus to come with him now and touch his son. 50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” Jesus was asking the man to trust in Him. Jesus didn't need to physically go and look at or touch the son. Jesus just wanted the man to believe.
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”
53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.
How many times do we ask for a sign, and yet when we get one we still do not believe? We keep asking and we keep searching, but we don't always just trust do we?
What is it that is keeping you from trusting Jesus? Sin? Trusting in yourself? If we just let go and let God.. He will bless you in ways unimaginable. Jesus keeps His promises.
When I start to fret and stress, I imagine that I am putting that concern or worry in a box and I shut the lid and lock it. Then I mentally hand it over to Jesus to handle for me with a prayer of forgiveness for taking the box from Him. Sometimes I give that box to him several times a day.. and He always accepts it back and handles the problem way better than I ever could when I allow Him to.
Dear Lord, please help me as I face each days trials, to put my trust in you. Help me to take my hand off the tiller and let you pilot the ship that is my life. I claim your promise to supply all my need and I know that your grace is sufficient for me. thank you Lord for answered prayer and for all you do for me that i do not even notice. Forgive me for not trusting in you as I should. In Jesus name.. Amen
Monday, May 2, 2011
Last night we learned that Osama bin Laden was killed. With the help of our allies in Pakistan, an American soldier was able to shoot Osama in the head. There is such joy and jubilation in America
Proverbs 24:17, 18
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away.
While I am a proud American and proud of our military, I am sad that this man, this son, father, husband and brother will now never have the chance to turn to Jesus.
Did Osama deserve to die? without a doubt. But can we have some compassion for his lost soul? for his family?
Matthew 5:44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
If we had been praying for Osama bin Laden, might he had come to Salvation? Or might we perhaps be just a little less jubilent over his dying without Jesus ? I wonder what would have happened if every man, woman and child in the USA had been praying for Osama bin Laden. would it have made a difference? I think it would have, but now we will never know.
Dear God, please help us to know the right response when our enemy falls. Help us not to rejoice but remind us to pray for our enemies. In Jesus name. amen
Proverbs 24:17, 18
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away.
While I am a proud American and proud of our military, I am sad that this man, this son, father, husband and brother will now never have the chance to turn to Jesus.
Did Osama deserve to die? without a doubt. But can we have some compassion for his lost soul? for his family?
Matthew 5:44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
If we had been praying for Osama bin Laden, might he had come to Salvation? Or might we perhaps be just a little less jubilent over his dying without Jesus ? I wonder what would have happened if every man, woman and child in the USA had been praying for Osama bin Laden. would it have made a difference? I think it would have, but now we will never know.
Dear God, please help us to know the right response when our enemy falls. Help us not to rejoice but remind us to pray for our enemies. In Jesus name. amen
Sunday, May 1, 2011
See you in chruch
How was church today? you did attend didn't you?
Some people say they don't like "Organized Religion" hmm.. you prefer disorganized religion? God is not the author of confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33 Organized religion is not really the pint. It is about discovering God. Worshiping Him and being in obedience to Him. What would disorganized religion be like anyway? "Hey anything goes? If it feels good do it". I don't think God would approve, do you?
or how about the old stand by " I can watch church on TV. ok, I do that when i have the Flu. There are some really great church services on TV. I especially enjoy John Hagee Ministries. If you are attending tv ( or internet) church how are you in fellowship with other Christians though? 1John 1:7a Keeping ourselves in love and harmony with other believers keeps us humble before God.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries" Hebrews 10:23-27
Pretty powerful and straightforward hm? To be in obedience to God, we are not to forsake or avoid meeting together.
" I don't have to be in a building, I can worship God in Nature" . True.. if you know of a church that is meeting in the woods, in a home, in a empty storefront, there is absolutely nothing at all wrong with attending services with that church.. it isn't the building, it is the worshiping together. Is this what you are doing? meeting other Christians for worship? That is fabulous.
Church is a great place to meet other Christians, to find a place of service to God and to worship and learn more about our saviour.
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven" Matt. 18:19
See you in Church :)
Some people say they don't like "Organized Religion" hmm.. you prefer disorganized religion? God is not the author of confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33 Organized religion is not really the pint. It is about discovering God. Worshiping Him and being in obedience to Him. What would disorganized religion be like anyway? "Hey anything goes? If it feels good do it". I don't think God would approve, do you?
or how about the old stand by " I can watch church on TV. ok, I do that when i have the Flu. There are some really great church services on TV. I especially enjoy John Hagee Ministries. If you are attending tv ( or internet) church how are you in fellowship with other Christians though? 1John 1:7a Keeping ourselves in love and harmony with other believers keeps us humble before God.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries" Hebrews 10:23-27
Pretty powerful and straightforward hm? To be in obedience to God, we are not to forsake or avoid meeting together.
" I don't have to be in a building, I can worship God in Nature" . True.. if you know of a church that is meeting in the woods, in a home, in a empty storefront, there is absolutely nothing at all wrong with attending services with that church.. it isn't the building, it is the worshiping together. Is this what you are doing? meeting other Christians for worship? That is fabulous.
Church is a great place to meet other Christians, to find a place of service to God and to worship and learn more about our saviour.
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven" Matt. 18:19
See you in Church :)
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