First love
I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1 – 3
David was going through some rough times when he wrote this song to God. He was very discouraged. Friends failed him. Family betrayed him. He felt alone and discouraged. He sat down and penned this song.
The beginning of this song is the key to the whole of life. I love you, O Lord. Remember this day the first love of your life: God.
Thought for the day.
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The Groom wears Black
Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, “Why is the bride wearing white?” Her mother said, “Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life!”
The little girl thought about this for a minute, then asked, “Why is the groom wearing black?”
In the book of Revelation, Jesus wears white. I have done several weddings where the groom wore black. Sadly, his marriage reflected the color of the suit. Jesus wears white. It reflects His character, His purity, His innocence. Could the church today wear white if He was to return? Do we truly deserve to wear white, Beloved? Makes on think, are we living like the bride of Christ?
I hope that everyone has a great day.
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Secret Agent Man
Beloved, a boy was walking down the street with his dog. A man stopped him and asked him what kind of dog? The boy answered, “He is a police doge.” The man scratched his head. “He does not look like a police dog. In fact he looks like a mutt.” The boy smiled, “He is in the Secret Service.”
Do you hide your faith or is it out there for all to see? Think about it.
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Answered Prayer
Sometime back, I asked God to for a deeper relationship with him. He answered. He brought a person into my life. This person has stretched my patience, my prayer life, my resources, and so much more. Yet in the midst of this God has taught me about something that I had buried. You know what I am talking about. We bury things about ourselves because we do not want it hurt again. Mine was my heart. I buried it, even had a ceremony.
This individual came along with God’s help brought my heart out. I look at people differently now, like I use to years ago, with compassion. My prayers are fuller, richer, and my time with God is a two way conversation. There are difficult times. There are great times. I would not give it up for anything in the world.
But it did not stop there. It grew. There is so much we can learn if we let God teach us HIS way and not our own. That is one lesson I learned last night. Sometimes my way is not HIS way. HIS way is often outside the box of my ideas and thoughts. If I am silent long enough, HE will tell me or show me. His love will grow me and her as well.
There are no issues, just a walk with Christ that was helped by a lady who listened to God. Right Beloved?
Think about it.
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Pain that Heals
David wrote in a very difficult time in his life these words:
Fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
Psalm 34:9
Talking about pain is not easy. Often times, we hide it, mask it. or cover it up. David wrote those words during a period of great pain and agony. He had brought God’s anger upon him. He had disobeyed God. God is a loving God, but his is also a vengeful God. All HE ask of us is us. To follow HIM and HIS commandments. We have free will. He created it within us. Yet with free will comes consequences for every decision made; good or bad.
But God made a promise of restoration. That promise is seen on the cross and in an empty tomb. It is a promise that we hold on to when we fear HIM and follow HIM. It is a promise of peace, healing, hope, and most of all life. Yet David stated it all starts and ends with fearing GOD. Then, HE provides. Right Beloved?
Think about it.
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Scared Stiff
Peter’s last view of Jesus was after he denied him the third time. Then he ran. Peter could not stand the guilt and failure. From this point this is all my opinion. For three days, Peter beat himself up for his failure to stand up for Jesus. Jesus was right. No matter how it played out in his mind, Peter knew that Jesus was right. He had failed. Failed big time. He could not ask forgiveness now.
Sunday morning. The women came running back to the group. “He’s alive,” they shouted. Quickly they told of the angel. He told the disciples to go to Galilee and Jesus would meet them there. Peter runs to the tomb. He cannot be alive. After all the beatings, the crucifixion, there was no way he was alive. He was speechless when he found an empty tomb. What does this mean? Is He really alive?
So off to Galilee. His wife with him. I wonder how that conversation went. Was she supporting or did it go like this: “I told you to keep quiet. But you could not could you.?”
Then fishing. Jesus arrives. Peter jumps out of the boat. The conversation between Jesus and Peter is not recorded. However, Peter was forgiven and re-instated.
The empty tomb for Peter and us a second chance. Right Beloved. Have a great day
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Resurrection Sunday
Love can be difficult at times, Beloved. We all understand that, but don’t discuss it. When Jesus was crucified, love was difficult. He bore the pain of the lashings, the nails in the hands, the mocking all for the love of HIS FATHER. HE loved HIS FATHER so much HE followed the plan that GOD put before him. Out of that love, came love for mankind. A love that bore our sins, despite ourselves. No matter how the cross is presented, love will hurt at times.
Yet the empty tomb concludes love. Love no matter how difficult, trying, or hurtful it can be, will always conquer. Always. Many people do not understand the empty tomb and its ramifications because they lack a firm understanding of love. Love is a choice to place the other person before oneself. That is demonstrated at the cross and the tomb. The act (the cross), the reward (empty tomb).
Still there is more. The empty tomb is an opportunity of a second chance. A second chance for us to come before a living God. A second chance when we fail, sin, make mistakes, or fall. It is the reminder that the God that is over all is alive. He willing to give you and I a second chance.
Resurrection Sunday is just not about an empty tomb, but a second (third, forth, fifth, etc.) chance to live. Think about it.
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Afraid of God???
Fear God, but do not fear man. That is the message of the Bible. We need to think about what God thinks of us far more than what man thinks of us. Many of our fears exist because we are more afraid of what people think of us than what God thinks of us.
But to fear God is the opposite of the message of the Bible! No it is not. Jesus stated,” And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:28- 31)
Who is the person who can destroy both soul and body in hell? That would be God. No that is not true you say. If you do not believe in God, God will send that person to hell. If you are a follower of Jesus and fear God, you have nothing to fear, not even Satan. Take Job. Job was God’s man. Satan had to ask permission from God to touch Job. The same is true with followers of Jesus, Beloved. Satan has to ask permission to touch us. Why? We fear God, which leads us to think about God’s ways above our own, to want to please HIM and not ourselves. So God protects us. God provides.
There will be times that we are tempted, tested. It is then we ask God, what are you trying to teach me? Why are you allowing Satan to try me on this aspect of this life YOU gave me? Think about it.
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I WANT!!!
The favorite words of the American populace are the following: “I want….,” “I have to have…,” or “It has to be my way…” While in school, people are taught that everything must be their way. They deserve it.
Even in the church, it is this way. “God, I want….” “I have to worship this way….” “You must read from this version of the Bible…” :”God wants me happy, so I have to have this…..” Question, who gave anyone authority to dictate how another person worships or how God must behave?
What would happen if we said these words, “God, I give you me.” Or “God, what do you want me to do?” or “It does not matter the music, the version of the Bible, or the order of service, it is only about Jesus.” Or to other people, “How may I help you?”
So many people within the church try to tell God, instead of worshiping HIM correctly. That is simply presenting ourselves to HIM (Romans 12: 1). So simple. So easy. So baffling to oh so many.
I notice in the churches today, that I often do not see Jesus. Jesus was just so simple, so loving, so strong, so diligent, that HE is so complexing to oh so many. What would happen if we just said, “Jesus, I am yours. Do with me as YOU please?” and to our brothers and sisters, “How may I help you?”
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UGH It’s Monday again!!!!
Welcome to a new week of adventure, mind blowing events, decisions and of course the unexpected. At the end of this week you will say to yourself, what happened? It all begins on Monday, right?
The first day of the week is really Sunday. Sunday comes before Monday, I checked. Which makes what I say interesting. SINCE Sunday is the first day of the week, it is the day Jesus rose from the dead, brought life from death, gave hope to the hopeless, conquered all fear, should not our week begin with HIM?
For those who begin their week with Jesus, life takes on meaning. For these people, these followers of Jesus, are energized by spending time with HIM not only on Sunday, but every day. Sunday is when they gather with other followers and worship, encourage, confess, build, laugh, and love together. They begin their week with the living LORD and HIS family. What a way to begin the week.
Just a thought. Hope everyone has a great week. Stay close to God. Love like the Father. In all things give thanks Beloved. Granddaughter smile.
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