How will they know?

Jesus told us that the commandment that was second only to loving the Lord our God was to love one another. (paraphrased Matthew 22:37)

But how will they know that you love them . . .?

Tell them . . . You are the one that Jesus loves!
Tell them . . . The Lord made my day perfect when He put you on my heart.
Tell them . . . I offered you up in prayer today.
Tell them . . . Thinking about you today made me break out in a smile.
Tell them . . . I thank my God every time I think of you.
Tell them . . . I am so thankful that you are in my life.
Tell them . . . God smiled the day He made you.
Tell them . . . You are the sweet thoughts of my day.
Tell them . . . You are a treasure from the Lord.
Tell them . . . God, who is reading over your shoulder right now -
loves you too!
Tell them . . . The Lord has blessed me with you.
Tell them . . . You are the one that Jesus loves! (it bears repeating!)
Tell them . . . I hope that your life is as wonderful as it was in the mind
of God the day He created you.
(from: "Just Give Me Jesus" by Anne Graham Lotz)

Tell them - for surely the blessings that you give away will come back and surprise even you!

May our Lord, who considers YOU a treasure, find favor on your day!
Thank You, Jesus, for putting love in my heart for those You have chosen to bring into my life.
Amen and Amen
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I wonder?

I wonder, Lord . . . Is my life pleasing to you?
Do I reach out and touch those You want me to touch?
Am I listening for Your voice or do I seek the advice and teaching of others?

I wonder, Lord . . . When I'm at work or at the store or most importantly, when I'm at home with my family, do I remind those who see and hear me of You?
Do I serve others without any expectations of being repaid?

I wonder, Lord . . . Do I praise You enough? (please don't answer that!)
Are You the first One I greet in the morning and the last One who hears my voice before I drift off to sleep at night?
Does my heart overflow with thanksgiving for Your grace throughout my day?

I wonder, Lord . . . Will Your return be in my lifetime?
Would I be ready if You came at this very moment?

Oh come, Lord Jesus! Come now! There's no better time. The dishes need washing, the bills need to be paid, my family needs me BUT WHAT DOES THAT MATTER. I assure You that I value my life and those You have blessed me with, Lord, but none of it - NONE OF IT - is comparable to You, Lord Jesus, so come soon I pray.

With a song in my heart for You, Jesus, I give You all my treasures. Everything that is within me desires You and You alone.
My 'want' list is short . . . but sweet . . . I WANT JESUS.
Amen and Amen
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Wisdom verses Woes

Solomon, King of Israel, wrote my favorite book of the Bible . . . Ecclesiastes. By world standards most would think this powerful, wealthy man - whose life was stretched out on a silver platter - was a madman. Who of us would say that they wanted wisdom if God asked them "What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!" 1Kings 3:5

Where does your mind venture at the thought of answering that question? What would make your life 'perfect'? What desires of your heart are you willing to unleash?

According to Solomon - the wisest man to have ever lived - all of it . . . the wealth, the pleasures of life, the excessive efforts of hard work, even wisdom itself - was like chasing the wind.

Now, if you're wearing shoes that don't shine quite as brilliantly as Solomon's did then you're apt to rise up and ask for a shot at testing the wind theory yourself. But wait. Have you checked the papers lately? Have you listened to the news? There is a multitude of people out there that are chasing the wind. Somehow we've come up with the idea that life is all about us - few of us realize that we are the perverse generation that Jesus talked about in Matthew 17:17.

So are we not to have pleasures in this world? Are we all to live as paupers?

Jesus taught us that there isn't anything more important than to worship our God.
Jesus taught us that we are to serve rather than to be served.
Jesus taught us that we must repent - "to sin no more". John 8:11

Solomon knew it - Jesus taught it - we need to learn it . . .
it's NOT all about us.
It's about serving a loving God who fully expects us to be in awe of His Magnificence. He expects us to have a reverence for His Holiness. And if we were all as wise as Solomon, we certainly would understand that "The Lord will judge His own people. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31

Read for yourself from Genesis to Revelation - nowhere does He say "oh, that's ok - I was just kidding! Go ahead, do whatever it is that you want to do. We'll talk later." . . . NO!

Thank You, Jesus, for the loving truths you continue to teach us.
Forgive us for our unrepenting hearts.
Raise up in us the burning desire to set our sins down and to walk away from them.
Amen and Amen
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Fear not . . .

It is written in Matthew 17:20 ". . . if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." . . . but isn't it amazing that so often in life the biggest mountain we come up against is the word BUT.
But, Lord. . . . But, what if. . . . But, if only.

Years (and years) ago I struggled mightily with panic attacks. Plain and simple I was in the grip of fear. My children were young, I was a single mom. I felt that the weight of my world, and theirs, was on my shoulders. And why not . . . this world (I feared) presented dangers at every turn. How was I to keep my children safe from the mounting dangers of this world? What would happen to them if I couldn't pay the bills or live up to the vast responsibilities I had as their mom - and dad? The fears within me became seemingly endless and insurmountable.

I'm sure it comes as no surprise when I confess that during this fear stricken time of my life I had not yet asked Christ to dwell within me. But THANK GOD it is written in Romans 5:8 "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" - NOTHING is more amazing than that grace!!! His grace flowed freely for me even though I stubbornly and self-reliantly thought that I was in control. His grace flowed as I considered myself to be my children's all in all.

At that most challenging time in my life the grace He brought to me was to consider HIS mother - the Mother of all mothers - and how, if she couldn't keep her Son from the brutal treatment He was to endure - then why in the world did I think that I would be able to keep my children from facing the everyday trials and hardships in their life.

The world would call that a light bulb moment . . . I choose now to see that revelation as the Light of Christ. The absurdity of my thinking was obvious even to my unbelieving eyes so the weight of my mountain immediately moved off of my shoulders. The truth is that I had no more faith than the chip off of a mustard seed . . . but He took that speck and moved my mighty mountain.

He is teaching me about fear even now. He's using everything from the insignificant scare I had at the thought that there may be a bat in my house - to the fear for a friend who I thought was missing - to realizing the fear that a friend must have faced when receiving the news that her cancer is active again. Little fears, big fears . . . fear is fear and it robs us of peace - that very precious Fruit of HIS Spirit.

What then, you might ask, is the answer - the final answer - to every ongoing question and fear that we could ever face? It is written in Hebrews 4:16 "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for always providing an answer.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for always being that answer.
All praise to You, Lord Jesus, for the treasure that is YOUR WORD.
HALLELUJAH!!!
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My favorite recipe

Ingredients needed:
1 head
1 heart
The Word of God
Combine 1 head with 1 heart until they come into agreement
Add in a heaping helping of The Word of God
YIELD: An incredible bounty of the Fruit of the Spirit

When asked years ago, an incredibly wise woman gave me the answer to the age old question . . . 'How do you KNOW - beyond a shadow of a doubt - that you truly love someone?'. Although the question was asked in the context of a man and woman marrying, her advice has proven to be pure truth in countless applications throughout my lifetime.

Her answer . . . "If your head tells you that you love someone AND your heart tells you that you love that person then, and only then, can you be sure."
(Note to self . . . she was goooood!)

Case in point:
As a child I was taught WHO the man, Christ, was. During that time of my life I was also taught WHAT it was that Christ had done on my behalf. My head had the knowledge to understand and I willingly accepted the facts. My head told me that He was worthy to know . . . but my heart hadn't yet seen His light so no connection was made between the two.

Years (and years) passed - - - the little girl in me grew. The marriage that prompted the question in the first place had long since come and gone (obviously the advice was received but not applied). The children of this marriage grew to be strong and independent - just as all children are trained up to be - but with their wings giving them flight, the woman, who asked the question years prior, was left with an emptiness that was overwhelming.
I was at the end of myself.
It seemed to me that all purpose in my life was gone.

Enter the Savior who could now begin the remodeling project that would take the knowledge of the head and move it 18" down to the heart! For it is written in Jeremiah 29:13 . . . "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." What an indescribable blessing it is to be lead to a place where the greatest desire of your heart is to be filled by Him!

The connection, now complete, proves once again the accuracy of the wisdom shared so many years ago.

Jesus says to SEEK. That's our only part in the whole process - seek Him with all of our heart and after finding Him, He willingly draws you closer and closer to Himself.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the wisdom that culminates in the harvest of the Fruit of Your Spirit in my life. In Your powerful name, Jesus, I pray that ALL will come to the saving knowledge that is complete in and through YOU.
Amen and Amen
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Now it's personal . . .

It is written in Matthew 18:14 that Jesus said "In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost."

This verse leaves absolutely no doubt - absolutely no room for debate - absolutely no reason to question that what drives the heart of our God is His desire to know us, to be with us, to be our life and breath. But if you look closely at this verse of His Word, remarkably, it allows us to move every reference of 'you, us and we' to the most personal level of 'me, I, and my'.
Put yourself there . . .
He came so that I would not be lost.
He taught the lessons and provided an example so that I could receive the richness of my inheritance as the daughter of the King.
Even if I was the only one who had ever grieved our Holy God, He would have handed His most beloved Son over to the unspeakable actions of men who were nothing less than animals.
His unfathomable sacrifice wiped my slate from bitterness.
Every crack of the whip and every drop of blood that was shed WIPED AWAY the unforgiveness in my heart.
Gone is my pain of rejection, my loneliness, my bitterness and my baggage.

He made me blameless. He made me holy. He made me worthy in the eyes of God the Father to receive His forgiveness and His love.
I am worthy . . . I am worthy . . . I AM WORTHY.
He has made it personal . . . for He wants me.

I am the daughter of the King - pure, without fault, loved like none other. And the incredible truth is that His entire flock can claim the same inheritance.
It is written in John 8:32 that Jesus said " .... you will know the truth and the truth will set you free".
How glorious are His truths.
Freedom beyond understanding for each and every one of us.
PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for making a personal sacrifice for each of us.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your part in making me a family member of the Great God, Jehovah.
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Let's KISS

I thought that I knew all about KISSing - after all I do have 2 children - but, no, it took a lesson from the Lord to learn that there is an art to KISSing.

It's been a long time since I was KISSed by someone passionately - the kind of KISS that brings about pure joy - but recently the Lord laid a KISS on me that took me to my knees and I realized then that you have never truly experienced a life altering KISS until you've been KISSed by the Lord . . . for you see His KISS was saying "Keep It Simple Silly". He stopped me in my tracks. Then tenderly . . . but ever so clearly. . . I heard Him tell me "Be still and know that I am God".

Those words of wisdom are written in Psalms 46:10 but who knew that He meant them for me . . . for you see, I have been blessed with a servants heart. I have been blessed with a LOVE to do things for His people. Surely all of this serving was what the Lord wanted from this servant. What other possible way was I to know that He had a purpose for me? How else could I be sure that He would say to me "Well done, my good and faithful servant" (Mt 25-21)

Little did I realize that my busyness was putting me in jeopardy of hearing . . . '...I never knew you...' for not everyone who says to Him 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of the Father in heaven. (paraphrased Mt 7:21-23)
Jesus taught about building on a solid foundation - and that is to know Him - personally, and intimately. To hear Him when He expresses His love for you. To linger in the greatness of His presence. To smell the sweet fragrance of His promises. To speak with Him from the quiet reaches of your heart.

Be still and know that He is God - consider it a privilege to be KISSed by the God of the universe and ENJOY Him!!!

Lord, Jesus, thank you for the KISS of my life.
I love you, Lord and it is by Your passion, Jesus, that I am made complete.
Amen and Amen.
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An Incredible Journey . . .

The Lord has raised up in me the love to write - well, actually it's more than a love - at times it's a necessity. It is as though I'm going to burst if I don't get my thoughts down on paper. It seems that He won't allow contentment within me until I've written it down - journalized it in my book.

From time to time I go back to those things that I've written and I am so often overwhelmed when I see in black and white the journey that the Lord has allowed me to experience.
So many people spend thousands of dollars to travel the world and see things that seem far beyond their reach in everyday life. They think of these places and things as being priceless but when compared to the privileged journey I've been on with the Lord any earthly journey is shabby in comparison.
As a matter of fact in Philippians 3:7-9 it is written "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ."
Thank You Jesus! Hallelujah!!!
People travel to see rocks and waterfalls, enormous buildings and beautiful flowers. The journey I've been on with the Lord has allowed me to see 'The Rock' . . . I've gotten to know the One who created those breathtaking waterfalls and the beautiful flowers . . . I've experienced the Living Christ in my life and I can promise you that He is far to great to be contained in ANY building that you could travel to see.
The love that I've experienced - the grace that I've been given - the incredible friendships that He has blessed me with cannot be purchased . . . at any price . . . at any travel agency or any ticket booth.
And the best is yet to come for I'm merely on the first leg of this journey with my best Friend. Jesus came so that I could live out this journey. Jesus sacrificed Himself so that I could journey with Him to be with the Father. In John 15:9 it is written that Jesus said "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me." He loves ME ...... as the FATHER loves HIM. That's why this journey is so glorious!

Lord, Jesus, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the priceless journey that you have planned for me. Knowing that you're there every step of the way takes all fears of the unknown away from me. You, Jesus, give me courage to venture into the territory that I never knew existed. You are glorious and you enrich my life beyond anything this world could ever dangle in front of me as a substitute.
I LOVE YOU LORD.
All Glory and honor to you as I sing praises to your name, Jesus.
bo

A Co-ink-e-dink . . . I think NOT

God wants to give blessings through you . . . not to you!
. . . but somehow - just somehow - you're blessed too as you see a blessing come through you!
Oh, what an awesome God we serve!!!

Lesson # 1 - I must become less . . .

Day 2 of blogging - a total failure. As I attempted earlier to compose a posting for the day nothing was coming out right. Try as I might - everything I started was lifeless. Why would that be happening to me - I've been told for years (and especially lately) that my writing is 'a gift'. Why in the world was I struggling so much on only day 2 when I was so sure that God wanted me to step out of my comfort zone and use my 'gifting' in this way?
Well - - - it didn't take long before it became very obvious to me that I was attempting to 'create' something that wasn't coming from my heart - which is where any 'noteworthy' writing that I've ever done has come from - for it is there that the Holy Spirit resides!!
I confess and I'm ashamed to say that without any effort at all I was trying to make today's blog all about 'me'. I wanted to write something inspirational - I wanted to say just the right thing - present something that would be noteworthy - I I I I I but all that I did was allow the pride of my flesh to rise up and cloud my vision. Pride is an UGLY thing and I want to apologize to you the reader . . . but more importantly to my Lord. If this blogging is to fulfill it's purpose - if it is to help anyone - it will need to be His Show - all about Him. As it is written in John 3:30 . . . "He must become greater; I must become less."
I'm discouraged by the fact that my flesh was able to rise up so quickly - I'm discouraged that I never invited the Holy Spirit to join me today in my writing effort - I'm discouraged that I never stopped to pray and ask for the Lord's blessing on the message for I was so sure that it would serve to change the world (yeah, right).
But PRAISE GOD, I am forgiven - PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD! (and I just have to say also that it seems a bit obvious to me that He's going to use this blogging as a vehicle to drive me to His Word - how exciting!!!! Thank You Lord)
I WAS discouraged - but at the very same time I wasn't at all downtroddened for I remembered that it is written in1st John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." so I'm trading my sorrows for the joy of the Lord!!! Hallelujah!
Be sure to 'hang in there' with me . . . He's sure to take us far beyond where we can imagine!!
With a humble heart I give you all my thanks and praise Lord. You are the love of my life.
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I Need You Lord !

. . . I'll need You today in order to breathe.
. . . I'll need You to pump the blood throughout my body.
. . . I'll need You to give my muscles strength and to put my limbs into motion.
Let's see . . .
. . . I'll need my sight and Oh yes Lord- hearing, smelling, touching and tasting would be icing on the cake.
. . . I'll need discernment and common sense, a sound mind and a good sense of humor.
. . . I'll need Your protection from the evil one - for it is certain that he realizes my dependency on You.
. . . I'll need tears - for that is who You've made me to be.
. . . I'll need Your love in order to give love.
. . . I'll need Your forgiveness and Your prayers before the Father.
. . . I'll need molecules and atoms and all those things that I know nothing about.
. . . I'll need a blue sky and green grass and birds that sing and . . .
. . . I'll need Your compassion, mercy, and grace.
. . . I'll need friends that offer support.
. . . I'll need family who are at the very core of who I am.

All these things and more - I need.
But isn't it amazing Lord, truly AMAZING, that the only thing that YOU need . . . is ME!

I give myself to You freely Lord Jesus and give thanks that You meet my every need.
I LOVE YOU.
All Glory to Your perfect name, Jesus.
Amen and Amen
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Let's get started . . .

Well, Lord, I pray that You will use my hands through this blog to glorify Your name and encourage as many as will stop by and read the thoughts You put on my heart.
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