How do you love someone ... not as you have a mind to ... but as Jesus loves them?
Recently, when I prayed for the Lord to allow 'Jesus Love' to rule my life, I immediately wondered if I was capable of such love. Am I alone in thinking that this degree of purity would be impossible for anyone other than Jesus? Such unconditional devotion. Such complete selflessness.
Then, and maybe even more to the point, I began to wonder if I would even be willing to allow myself the luxury of loving someone in such a way. Doing so would mean, of course, that I would have to lay down the 'baggage' that I've carried around for so very long. And let us not be blind to the risks that must now be considered. In order to love as Christ loves, you must be willing to risk many things ... the most frightening of which is vulnerability ... and equal in gravity is the ever hanting factor of trust. YIKES!
Considering what it would take for me to love that deeply, that honestly, that unconditionally, I must confess that I momentarily allowed a spirit of doubt to darken my doorstep. but it was then that I was lead to pour my heart out to the Lord ... reminding him (as if!) of the pain inflicted through selfishness, of injustices that often come without warning and of the loneliness that has a tendency to linger without invitation. All these things and more now lay buried in Pandora's Box and shamefully, my heartfelt desire is to utterly avoid them all.
It was then that the Lord invited me to take a walk with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. As He and I recalled the moments just before His arrest, we spoke of the events that lead Him and His friends to enter this Garden so very long ago. He pointed out to me the injustice of His sleeping friends ... of the depths of the loneliness that He endured ... the sorrow that burdened His soul ... and of course ... the heart wrenching pain that came as a result of the betrayer's kiss .............. and yet ............
As we came to a clearing, He showed me that in order to love unconditionally, even HE had a first pour His heart out to the Father in prayer. Not once ... not twice ... but three times that night He turned to His source of strength. In His humanness He felt the pain of ALL injustice - ALL disease - ALL sin but with the burden of overwhelming rejection upon Him, He realized emphatically that He was willing to risk it all for the opportunity to be God's instrument of unconditional love.
THANK YOU, JESUS!
As I sit in awe of His insight ... His courage ... and His willingness, my heart continues to yearn for the ability to love as He loves. As I return from our walk I realize, without question, that victory IS possible but only with the power of the Holy Spirit within me. One good slap of injustice and I'm instantly angered or offended ... scrambling once again for a reminder of the example He has set for me ... searching for the nearness of Jesus.
His Word tells us that just before He was taken up to be with the Father He declared that "anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these..." (John 14:12) My fervent prayer is to live as a victor ... not a victim ... so I look to the Father and ask that He continue to guide my every attempt to love as Jesus loves. I pray that you too will seek nothing more in your lives than the unconditional love that comes only in and through the Son, for I ask this in His name.
Amen and amen.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Morning Renewal
Yesterday, with its human challenges, is now but a memory. The morning is upon us and without the need of encouragement it brings with it the assurance of never ending hope.
A moment of stillness. A moment of simplicity. A moment of peace. Color bursts onto the scene ... the greens of spring. The yellows. The blues. The pinks. You linger in amazement at the glistening dew ... every drop placed in just the perfect order.
Suddenly you notice the shadows brought about by the warm rays of sunlight ... and the dancing of tender leaves as they ever so gently begin to move about in the breeze.
Morning renewal ... nourishing ... indescribable ... priceless!
Listen ... did you hear that? Did you hear the voice of God saying "Good morning, my child. Welcome to this new day. You are my beloved for whom I have made all of these things. Behold the beauty ... drink it in. Experience the richness of the gifts that I've created just for you. Be still and know that I am the God who loves you beyond your understanding."
Solutions to yesterday's calamities have yet to unfold but somehow, in the shadow of His wing, hope springs eternal. God, in all his splendor, appears in the beauty of an unfolding rose - in the artful sounds of a songbird - in the smile and laughter of a child. Jesus told us that each day would hold its own challenge and I'm convinced more than ever that that's why He created morning renewal.
As we reluctantly turn to begin our day, we feel the assurance that He will be near us until our day is done. We know without fail that we are free to return to him throughout our day and spend a restful moment with Him beside the still waters ... Thank You, Jesus!
Father, in thanksgiving, I ask that you richly bless each of your beloved children with morning renewal ... for I pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen and amen.
A moment of stillness. A moment of simplicity. A moment of peace. Color bursts onto the scene ... the greens of spring. The yellows. The blues. The pinks. You linger in amazement at the glistening dew ... every drop placed in just the perfect order.
Suddenly you notice the shadows brought about by the warm rays of sunlight ... and the dancing of tender leaves as they ever so gently begin to move about in the breeze.
Morning renewal ... nourishing ... indescribable ... priceless!
Listen ... did you hear that? Did you hear the voice of God saying "Good morning, my child. Welcome to this new day. You are my beloved for whom I have made all of these things. Behold the beauty ... drink it in. Experience the richness of the gifts that I've created just for you. Be still and know that I am the God who loves you beyond your understanding."
Solutions to yesterday's calamities have yet to unfold but somehow, in the shadow of His wing, hope springs eternal. God, in all his splendor, appears in the beauty of an unfolding rose - in the artful sounds of a songbird - in the smile and laughter of a child. Jesus told us that each day would hold its own challenge and I'm convinced more than ever that that's why He created morning renewal.
As we reluctantly turn to begin our day, we feel the assurance that He will be near us until our day is done. We know without fail that we are free to return to him throughout our day and spend a restful moment with Him beside the still waters ... Thank You, Jesus!
Father, in thanksgiving, I ask that you richly bless each of your beloved children with morning renewal ... for I pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen and amen.
Monday, May 30, 2011
A Better Plan
You pray ... believing that the Lord is not only able to bring your deepest desires to fruition but also that He's willing to see the fulfillment of your heartfelt prayers. At the end of it all, songs of thanksgiving go up to the Throne Room like incense that engulf Him. It is then that you begin to realize that, indeed, your will mirrored His. And yet, if the truth be told, you must come to a new understanding ... for the journey that brought about these mirrored wills was nothing like YOU had planned. Nevertheless, within you there is a peace in knowing that His ways are not always your ways but without question HIS ways ARE always perfect.
Let me give you a recent example of this revelation in my own life ... last week, as many of you know, we endured a day long threat of tornadoes in our area. As soon as the predictions were announced my husband and I began to pray against them - directing them as the Lord allows, to go off their predicted path. Confident that we had taken the appropriate stand, we went about our normal routine throughout the evening never giving them a second thought ... that was until ... the phone rang.
It was my daughter. She was on the other side of town and every indication was that the storm was bearing down on her ... and that it was headed to our part of town with no less determination! Rain, thunder, lightning, violent winds ... and my 'child' was alone and frightened like never before!
How could this be!?!? - I had prayed that the storm wouldn't engulf us ... that ALL of my family would go unscathed by such violence! Shouts of anger went up and with ever increasing conviction I declared a safety zone around me ... around my property ... around my family ... and around my family's family!
The moments that followed brought torential rains that pelted everything in its path - the night instantly turned into day as the lightning flashed all around us - thunder roared like an attacking lion - and the winds, oh, the tremendous force of the winds ... so much so that some may say that my prayers were never heard - much less answered!
But wait ... as the winds subsided and the thunder rolled on out of our vicinity, we quickly realized that we, indeed, did endure the storm BUT we came through it without a blemish!! Power lines were in tact ... storm windows held ... a towel (without clothes pins) remained on the clothes line ... no injuries ... no damage ... no need to panic for our God WAS in control! Yes! Our prayers WERE answered!
OH, THANK YOU GOD! THANK YOU LORD! THANK YOU JESUS! Songs of thanksgiving now pelted the air with no less ferver than the rain that had come down. Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!
WHAT! ... giving THANKS? Yes, for although MY plan was to totally avoid the entire storm ... the Lord used this time to show me just how much I needed to trust HIM ... how much I needed HIM! And in the end our wills were, indeed, mirrored! The Lord's plan was greater than mine ... for it brought about a much greater result than mine ever could have, leaving behind a richness in faith that I couldn't have foreseen!
As the evening turned into day I felt the the Lord was leading me to consider two words ... victor and victim ... and I was being asked which word I wanted to claim as my own. Which life did I want to live? As I took time to meditate on the reality of both, I soon ran headlong into the third word that the Lord laid on my heart ... and that was TRUST.
I am richer for this experience. I am no longer in the same place that I was before. I am one step closer to Him. Oh, Thank YOU, Lord!
My prayer, Father God, is that others may see the fruition of answered prayers, all the while being able to surrender to the beauty of Your plans. Being thankful seems trite as I come to an understanding of this event in my life but nonetheless I give You all praise and honor and glory as my heart swell with gratefulness. In and through Jesus, I give you my all.
Amen and amen.
Let me give you a recent example of this revelation in my own life ... last week, as many of you know, we endured a day long threat of tornadoes in our area. As soon as the predictions were announced my husband and I began to pray against them - directing them as the Lord allows, to go off their predicted path. Confident that we had taken the appropriate stand, we went about our normal routine throughout the evening never giving them a second thought ... that was until ... the phone rang.
It was my daughter. She was on the other side of town and every indication was that the storm was bearing down on her ... and that it was headed to our part of town with no less determination! Rain, thunder, lightning, violent winds ... and my 'child' was alone and frightened like never before!
How could this be!?!? - I had prayed that the storm wouldn't engulf us ... that ALL of my family would go unscathed by such violence! Shouts of anger went up and with ever increasing conviction I declared a safety zone around me ... around my property ... around my family ... and around my family's family!
The moments that followed brought torential rains that pelted everything in its path - the night instantly turned into day as the lightning flashed all around us - thunder roared like an attacking lion - and the winds, oh, the tremendous force of the winds ... so much so that some may say that my prayers were never heard - much less answered!
But wait ... as the winds subsided and the thunder rolled on out of our vicinity, we quickly realized that we, indeed, did endure the storm BUT we came through it without a blemish!! Power lines were in tact ... storm windows held ... a towel (without clothes pins) remained on the clothes line ... no injuries ... no damage ... no need to panic for our God WAS in control! Yes! Our prayers WERE answered!
OH, THANK YOU GOD! THANK YOU LORD! THANK YOU JESUS! Songs of thanksgiving now pelted the air with no less ferver than the rain that had come down. Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!
WHAT! ... giving THANKS? Yes, for although MY plan was to totally avoid the entire storm ... the Lord used this time to show me just how much I needed to trust HIM ... how much I needed HIM! And in the end our wills were, indeed, mirrored! The Lord's plan was greater than mine ... for it brought about a much greater result than mine ever could have, leaving behind a richness in faith that I couldn't have foreseen!
As the evening turned into day I felt the the Lord was leading me to consider two words ... victor and victim ... and I was being asked which word I wanted to claim as my own. Which life did I want to live? As I took time to meditate on the reality of both, I soon ran headlong into the third word that the Lord laid on my heart ... and that was TRUST.
I am richer for this experience. I am no longer in the same place that I was before. I am one step closer to Him. Oh, Thank YOU, Lord!
My prayer, Father God, is that others may see the fruition of answered prayers, all the while being able to surrender to the beauty of Your plans. Being thankful seems trite as I come to an understanding of this event in my life but nonetheless I give You all praise and honor and glory as my heart swell with gratefulness. In and through Jesus, I give you my all.
Amen and amen.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Driven to Conform ... Lead to Transform
Peace comes to a person for many reasons. None, it seems to me now, impact your life more than the peace that comes when God Himself revels to you what makes you ... you. My journey of peace all started one day, not so long ago, when I asked the Lord for inspiration. Blessed be, it was then that I began to see myself through His eyes. Oh, I'm not referring to my physical attributes or even what purposes have been assigned to my life ... no, I'm referring to the core of who I AM.
The details of what I discovered are pure in nature to me, and although I don't want to bore you, I do wish to bring you a taste of the revelation that I encountered so that by bearing my soul, you too may be blessed and encouraged to seek revelation of your own. Suffice as to say I'm learning the value of living within myself so that I am who He created ME to be.
As my journey began, the heart of a simplistic person emerged. Nice is sufficient ... less is better. On the sinister side, the heart of a people pleaser was revealed and sadly, I can see with clarity that rejection was my driving force. True to my tender side, my heart's desire has always been to make others feel comfortable, worthy and loved. In and of itself that's a wonderful thing but as I have learned, the full measure of accomplishment comes only if your motives are selfless! Spirits of fear drive selfish motives while a Spirit of Love leads us to selfless motives. The truth is that Satan himself DRIVES us to conform to this world ... but God, with all His compassion and gentleness, LEADS us to be transformed into His image!
I've recognized for years ... and years ... that I've conformed my thinking and actions around an 'all or nothing' mentality. It's been my 'identity badge', if you will, giving me reason to declare that "I'm not good at balancing anything in my life" (a grim warning here about guarding your words). And although I've been very aware throughout the years of my obstinate attitude, I, nevertheless, accepted the lie that drove me to live a life that was out of balance. Never before did it occur to me to question whether or not God chose this way of life for me. Never did I consider that God, the One who loved me enough to create me and die for me ... the very same One who wants to spend eternity with me, had something much different planned for my life.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that God's Word offers us guidance even where this challenge is concerned. In his loving kindness He tells us in Romans 12:2"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."
It's all there ... just waiting for us ... and I acknowledge freely that I've never been more excited than I am now to go on a journey of discovery! It's been a LONG haul but without reservation I can honestly say ... with the utmost of humility ... that 'I'm in' ... WHATEVER His plan ... I'm totally willing to do and be whatever it is that He has planned for me.
Father God, I pray that you will be flooded with seekers who look to You for inspiration ... who seek Your revelation ... and who willingly take Your hand as You lead them to a peace that surpasses all understanding. I pray most earnestly, Lord, that You will help them discover, but more importantly, that they, without reservation, become the person of Your heart's desire. I pray this all, Father, in Jesus' Name.
Amen and amen.
The details of what I discovered are pure in nature to me, and although I don't want to bore you, I do wish to bring you a taste of the revelation that I encountered so that by bearing my soul, you too may be blessed and encouraged to seek revelation of your own. Suffice as to say I'm learning the value of living within myself so that I am who He created ME to be.
As my journey began, the heart of a simplistic person emerged. Nice is sufficient ... less is better. On the sinister side, the heart of a people pleaser was revealed and sadly, I can see with clarity that rejection was my driving force. True to my tender side, my heart's desire has always been to make others feel comfortable, worthy and loved. In and of itself that's a wonderful thing but as I have learned, the full measure of accomplishment comes only if your motives are selfless! Spirits of fear drive selfish motives while a Spirit of Love leads us to selfless motives. The truth is that Satan himself DRIVES us to conform to this world ... but God, with all His compassion and gentleness, LEADS us to be transformed into His image!
I've recognized for years ... and years ... that I've conformed my thinking and actions around an 'all or nothing' mentality. It's been my 'identity badge', if you will, giving me reason to declare that "I'm not good at balancing anything in my life" (a grim warning here about guarding your words). And although I've been very aware throughout the years of my obstinate attitude, I, nevertheless, accepted the lie that drove me to live a life that was out of balance. Never before did it occur to me to question whether or not God chose this way of life for me. Never did I consider that God, the One who loved me enough to create me and die for me ... the very same One who wants to spend eternity with me, had something much different planned for my life.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that God's Word offers us guidance even where this challenge is concerned. In his loving kindness He tells us in Romans 12:2"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."
It's all there ... just waiting for us ... and I acknowledge freely that I've never been more excited than I am now to go on a journey of discovery! It's been a LONG haul but without reservation I can honestly say ... with the utmost of humility ... that 'I'm in' ... WHATEVER His plan ... I'm totally willing to do and be whatever it is that He has planned for me.
Father God, I pray that you will be flooded with seekers who look to You for inspiration ... who seek Your revelation ... and who willingly take Your hand as You lead them to a peace that surpasses all understanding. I pray most earnestly, Lord, that You will help them discover, but more importantly, that they, without reservation, become the person of Your heart's desire. I pray this all, Father, in Jesus' Name.
Amen and amen.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Thankful Today ... Fruitful Tomorrow
A friend of mine recently shared with me a challenge that rocked her world. In a nutshell she was asked to consider this ... What would you have available to you today if you were given only that which you gave thanks to the Lord for yesterday?
YIKES - I don't know about you but all of a sudden I'm beginning to feel my own world rock beneath me!
Quickly I rush into a mode of thanksgiving ... Thank You, Lord, for the air that I breathe - and the fact that I'm able to take that air into my lungs. Thank You for a sound mind, for my friends, my coworkers and the waitress at my favorite restaurant. And certainly, Lord, thank You for my family, my job and the absence of fear and violence in my life! Thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord, for the countless things that I openly cherish but even more so, those things that I've taken for granted. Truly I realize that I am NOTHING without You, I have nothing apart from you, and I have every reason to spend my entire day pouring out my thanks to You.
But is it all about what He can ... and does ... do FOR us? Or what things He gives TO us? No! It's about the Holy Spirit that lives within us and the abundance that flows through our lives because of Him. For as it is written in Galatians 5:22-23 "The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Each of these Fruits flow from us because of the Holy Spirit that lives within us. What more could I ever desire ... what could be greater in my life and more worthy of my eternal gratitude?
Joy is the kiss that seals each unselfish act. Kindness resonates from each of us as we go forth being patient, understanding and considerate. As you give in abundance, surely goodness, gentleness and self-control will be your blessing. An in the end, peace will about as faithfulness adorns our crown of love!
It is only by God's grace that His mercies are new every morning. He prepares us each day for the time in which we will stand before Him. And as we stand in the fullness of who our God truly is, may we see HIM as the God we worshiped throughout our lives and not a mirror that displays a reflection of ourselves as the worshipped god.
It was ... it is ... and it always will be ALL ABOUT HIM but oh, the blessings we have to be thankful for when, through His mercy and grace, He lavishes His Glory upon us.
Thank You, Father, for Your presence in my life through the Holy Spirit. May my heart overflow with thanksgiving each day as I live in wild anticipation of our days of eternity together, for I ask this now, in and through the Name that is above all names, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus my Christ.
Amen and amen.
YIKES - I don't know about you but all of a sudden I'm beginning to feel my own world rock beneath me!
Quickly I rush into a mode of thanksgiving ... Thank You, Lord, for the air that I breathe - and the fact that I'm able to take that air into my lungs. Thank You for a sound mind, for my friends, my coworkers and the waitress at my favorite restaurant. And certainly, Lord, thank You for my family, my job and the absence of fear and violence in my life! Thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord, for the countless things that I openly cherish but even more so, those things that I've taken for granted. Truly I realize that I am NOTHING without You, I have nothing apart from you, and I have every reason to spend my entire day pouring out my thanks to You.
But is it all about what He can ... and does ... do FOR us? Or what things He gives TO us? No! It's about the Holy Spirit that lives within us and the abundance that flows through our lives because of Him. For as it is written in Galatians 5:22-23 "The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Each of these Fruits flow from us because of the Holy Spirit that lives within us. What more could I ever desire ... what could be greater in my life and more worthy of my eternal gratitude?
Joy is the kiss that seals each unselfish act. Kindness resonates from each of us as we go forth being patient, understanding and considerate. As you give in abundance, surely goodness, gentleness and self-control will be your blessing. An in the end, peace will about as faithfulness adorns our crown of love!
It is only by God's grace that His mercies are new every morning. He prepares us each day for the time in which we will stand before Him. And as we stand in the fullness of who our God truly is, may we see HIM as the God we worshiped throughout our lives and not a mirror that displays a reflection of ourselves as the worshipped god.
It was ... it is ... and it always will be ALL ABOUT HIM but oh, the blessings we have to be thankful for when, through His mercy and grace, He lavishes His Glory upon us.
Thank You, Father, for Your presence in my life through the Holy Spirit. May my heart overflow with thanksgiving each day as I live in wild anticipation of our days of eternity together, for I ask this now, in and through the Name that is above all names, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus my Christ.
Amen and amen.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Let Not My Heart Be Judgmental
Recently I have been filled with the conviction to address the same issue in my life that has plagued all of mankind since the beginning of time ... being judgmental. As my eyes were opened to a particular event in which I stumbled ... and inflicted pain ... I quickly recalled Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge or you too will be judged." The concept of that truth is clearly understandable in my heart but in my humanness, and maybe even in yours, it seems that at any given moment it is much easier to talk the talk than it is to walk the walk.
In my world, the opportunity to judge others comes knocking without an open invitation. I don't set out to form opinions or to develop attitudes but, more often than I like to admit, that is exactly what happens.
As a child, my mother taught my sisters and I the importance of minding our own business. All she had to say was 'M' 'Y' 'O' 'B' and we knew, without question, that we were treading on ground that was to remain a mystery to us. Now, years later, I find that the lesson my mother firmly instilled in us was only the first step in being mindful of my "P's and Q's".
The truth is that we communicate with people every day and as we do, we run the 'risk' of getting involved in their lives. With human nature being what it is, it should come as no surprise that even a brief encounter can innocently set us up to wear a black robe ... with a gavel in hand! As soon as that happens you're just liable to hear a familiar voice in your spirit saying ... "Uh, excuse me, my child ... you are sitting my My seat."
YIKES!
It's then that you realize fully that it is best to love beyond yourself ... Love in a way that only He could equip you to do ... and Love with the kind of love that reflects who HE is ... not who you are.
So now I set out to touch someone's life without coming away with preconceived notions ... without dictating a 'sure fired cure' for what ails them ... and without running head long into a list of things that only serve to drive wedges and create hurtful barriers. Remarkably, thankfully, the ultimate Truth that we need is stated in Matthew 19:26 "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible." In and of ourselves, on occasion, we are likely to slip and fall, but by His grace we are free of condemnation and hopeful of forgiveness.
Father God, may this message concerning the challenges of being judgmental, bring each of us a clear revelation of where we stand in Your eyes. Forgive us Lord, for our willingness to succumb to the temptation of judging others. Allow our very souls to be moved beyond measure as we consider the pain we inflict, first on those we judge but more importantly, on Jesus Himself. We delcare YOU, and YOU alone, Father, as the only true and everlasting Judge, and in Jesus' name we give immeasurable thanks for Your Grace that sustains us in our greatest moments of weakness.
Amen and amen.
In my world, the opportunity to judge others comes knocking without an open invitation. I don't set out to form opinions or to develop attitudes but, more often than I like to admit, that is exactly what happens.
As a child, my mother taught my sisters and I the importance of minding our own business. All she had to say was 'M' 'Y' 'O' 'B' and we knew, without question, that we were treading on ground that was to remain a mystery to us. Now, years later, I find that the lesson my mother firmly instilled in us was only the first step in being mindful of my "P's and Q's".
The truth is that we communicate with people every day and as we do, we run the 'risk' of getting involved in their lives. With human nature being what it is, it should come as no surprise that even a brief encounter can innocently set us up to wear a black robe ... with a gavel in hand! As soon as that happens you're just liable to hear a familiar voice in your spirit saying ... "Uh, excuse me, my child ... you are sitting my My seat."
YIKES!
It's then that you realize fully that it is best to love beyond yourself ... Love in a way that only He could equip you to do ... and Love with the kind of love that reflects who HE is ... not who you are.
So now I set out to touch someone's life without coming away with preconceived notions ... without dictating a 'sure fired cure' for what ails them ... and without running head long into a list of things that only serve to drive wedges and create hurtful barriers. Remarkably, thankfully, the ultimate Truth that we need is stated in Matthew 19:26 "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible." In and of ourselves, on occasion, we are likely to slip and fall, but by His grace we are free of condemnation and hopeful of forgiveness.
Father God, may this message concerning the challenges of being judgmental, bring each of us a clear revelation of where we stand in Your eyes. Forgive us Lord, for our willingness to succumb to the temptation of judging others. Allow our very souls to be moved beyond measure as we consider the pain we inflict, first on those we judge but more importantly, on Jesus Himself. We delcare YOU, and YOU alone, Father, as the only true and everlasting Judge, and in Jesus' name we give immeasurable thanks for Your Grace that sustains us in our greatest moments of weakness.
Amen and amen.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Anticipating Easter
We're only days away from celebrating what most Christians consider the holiday of all holidays ... EASTER! Christmas (minus the commercialism, of course) is wonderful in and of itself, for it brought about the possibility of a love affair between God and man, but EASTER ... Oh, EASTER, undeniably is the pinnacle of that love affair! And the proof is in the Truth given to us in John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." From the excessive depths of cruelty, to the unfathomable heights of sacrifice and redemption ... the absolute love for us, spoken of in John 3:16, is fulfilled "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." HALLELUJAH!
As Easter draws near we see signs of the promises given to all people through the renewal of Spring. Every sense is excited by the rebirth that erupts from the stillness brought on by the long, cold days of winter. The anticipation of Spring sets our hearts to know ... if only minutely ... the true hope that Easter will bring us throughout all of eternity. We who lay ourselves down for the glory of Christ anticipate EASTER like it is the very air that we breathe. We look to it as the very hope that sustains us. HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!
The other day, as I sat waiting for a new hair-do to emerge at the hand of the beautician who only moments before became my newest best friend, I was asked if I was 'ready' for Easter. Realizing that our definition of being 'ready' may differ greatly, I paused only slightly before telling her that I was, indeed, ready for the greatest holiday of the year. I'm ready to consider yet another re-enactment of the unfathomable brutality that my Lord was willing to endure for ME, AND, I'm ready to receive the indescribable assurance that His resurrection affords to all of us who declare Him as Lord. HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLEULJAH!
Father God, I pray that each person reading this message knows You intimately. I pray that the anticipation of this blessed Easter will bring each of us to a new understanding of our need to surrender ourselves to You. I pray, most earnestly, for those who have not yet declared Your Son as thir Lord and Savior. Please, Father God, move them during this season of renewal to a place of Spiritual rebirth and everlasting life.
As always, Father, I leave these requests at Your feet, asking that You view them through the purity of Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen and amen.
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As Easter draws near we see signs of the promises given to all people through the renewal of Spring. Every sense is excited by the rebirth that erupts from the stillness brought on by the long, cold days of winter. The anticipation of Spring sets our hearts to know ... if only minutely ... the true hope that Easter will bring us throughout all of eternity. We who lay ourselves down for the glory of Christ anticipate EASTER like it is the very air that we breathe. We look to it as the very hope that sustains us. HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!
The other day, as I sat waiting for a new hair-do to emerge at the hand of the beautician who only moments before became my newest best friend, I was asked if I was 'ready' for Easter. Realizing that our definition of being 'ready' may differ greatly, I paused only slightly before telling her that I was, indeed, ready for the greatest holiday of the year. I'm ready to consider yet another re-enactment of the unfathomable brutality that my Lord was willing to endure for ME, AND, I'm ready to receive the indescribable assurance that His resurrection affords to all of us who declare Him as Lord. HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLEULJAH!
Father God, I pray that each person reading this message knows You intimately. I pray that the anticipation of this blessed Easter will bring each of us to a new understanding of our need to surrender ourselves to You. I pray, most earnestly, for those who have not yet declared Your Son as thir Lord and Savior. Please, Father God, move them during this season of renewal to a place of Spiritual rebirth and everlasting life.
As always, Father, I leave these requests at Your feet, asking that You view them through the purity of Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen and amen.
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