Loving God

"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denaraii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said. Luke 7:40-43

I am very aware of God's faithfulness. Even when the pressure is on and I forget God's goodness, he never forgets to be good to me. Even if I am like Peter, and I deny Christ. He never denies me. When I am unfaithful, he remains faithful. God is giving me a choice between self righteousness and loving much. I have been praying for years that I could love God more. He is giving me an opportunity for that. I can lay down my self righteousness and acknowledge that I need a Savior. I can be aware of my sinful nature and how Jesus' love for me never wavers. When Jesus died, the wall between God and man was torn down. The distance between God and I doesn't have to remain. He is waiting for me to quit striving and to turn to him. God understands my motives. He knows the wounds that are underneath this self righteousness. He is patient with me. I choose to be forgiven much. In the process I will love much. Hallelujah!

Throw Off Everything That Hinders

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2

God is asking us to fix our eyes on Jesus. When we spend time in prayer with God, it's not to fulfill a duty. It's not only to be helped, comforted, equipped, and taught. It's to spend time in relationship. He is not just a partner in the business of life. He wants to be best friends.
God is asking us to follow him. He knows who we are and what we were individually made for. God has such a great plan for us. He wants all of man's agenda gone from our lives so we can be free to be in his perfect will. He is our source. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. Hudson Taylor describes it in this way. "I could look right up into my Father's face with a satisfied heart, ready by his grace to do the next thing as He might teach me and feeling very sure of his loving care." (Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor)

Mercy

For, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6

God wants to pour out mercy on us. Sometimes we are so disappointed in our weakness and the inadequacy of others. We want life to be different than it is. Sometimes we find it hard to hope in a God that doesn't do things in ways that make sense to us. Today, God is pouring out mercy. It is flowing down to heal and comfort us. It is a soothing cushion between us and the disappointments of life. It is filling in imperfections. Let it wash over you. Let it wash over those around you. Let it saturate every aspect of your life and set you free to trust God and be at peace.
I am reminded of Michael W. Smith's song, Healing Rain. If at all possible, listen to this song and receive God's healing rain of mercy.

Lean Into God's Goodness

Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Isaiah 55:1-2

this morning, God has been teaching me so many wonderful things that I had trouble choosing which one to share with you. I narrowed it down to the truth that is giving me the most peace today. Tomorrow my daughter gets married. This brings lots of interesting challenges, both emotionally and physically. God began my day with a big dose of declaring that I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Then God moved on to an awareness of his goodness and mercy that are with me. Every time something negative wants to well up within me, I lean into God. If I am afraid, I lean into his love. If I am sad, I lean into his joy, and so on. I guess I am, leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning safe and secure from all alarms. (Elisha A. Hoffman) anyway, God has been infusing me with his goodness and the darkness flees. Hallelujah! It is going to be a great weekend.
Here is that song that I referred to the other day. It is by Twila Paris

God Surrounds You With Favor

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation....I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down toward your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord in your righteousness....let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name rejoice in you. For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. Psalm 5

I am so thankful for my morning prayer time. I love laying my requests before God and waiting in expectation. God really does want to hear our requests. Everything on your heart is important to him. Then we depend on God to lead us according to his righteousness, not ours. We need to let go of our agenda. He has favor for us. He has a plan that is so much better than ours. We bring him an outline and he fills in the details in amazing ways. O.K. sometimes he rewrites parts of it. My most recent example is trying to find a home for my daughter and new husband. The wedding is Saturday and this is Thursday. They had a price range and a few details that they asked for, including being able to bring her cats. Today, we sign papers and pick up a key for a home that far exceeds what they even asked for. God is good!

Hallelujah, I Am Free!

Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city, the uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again. Shake off the dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion. Isaiah 52

All morning God has been singing to me,"Love has been following you." As I prayed, he started making it clear that he has pursued me always. I do my best to seek his face and follow him. This is good, but he really wants to impress upon me his faithfulness. He is asking me to choose him as my one true God. He wants to be the influence in my life. I am to shake the dust of man's responsibility to take care of me and affirm me, especially my parents. I am to free myself from the chains that have oppressed me my whole life. I wanted to be approved of by the world and I wanted to be a perfect parent to my children. God wants to be my Father. He wants to be the Father to my children. He is offering a freedom that we have never known. My parents and everyone else can be free from being perfect. My children can be free from a hovering mother. I can be free to receive God's love and approval. I don't want others to be my god and I don't want to play god in anyone else's life. I say, "Yes, I release everyone. Yes, I choose God as my God." Hallelujah I am free!

Where He Leads Me

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. John 20:26

Years ago, God gave me a vision of following him. I was on a highway that was filled with people going the same direction. The highway was their path. Then Jesus appeared to me and asked me to follow him. He led me off the highway. There was no path to follow. He was the way. I kept my eyes on him and went wherever he went. Sometimes I got fox-tails in my socks. Sometimes I was hot and thirsty. One time we came across dangerous animals. He picked me up and carried me, sheltering me from danger.
Today, I am very aware of following Jesus. I have such a sense of hope and peace. I don't know where he will lead, but all will be well when I am with him. I don't know what he will ask me to do, but he will equip me. I am excited about the journey. I have been through much refining and am more aware than ever that the journey isn't what it is all about. It is about being with Jesus and doing what the Father is doing.
This song by Twila Paris is one of my favorites. It speaks of this journey with Jesus.

I Am Not A Corgi Dog

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5;6-7

I am finding myself oppressed this morning because there are so many disappointments in life. God isn't doing things the way I want in the lives of my family members. I find myself like a Corgi dog. Corgis herd everyone around them and can't rest unless all is well. I come from a long line of Corgis and so I also have others that can't rest until they think I and my family are doing everything right. Well this is not a fairy tale. There will never be perfection in our little world here on earth. Praise God for heaven! So, I can continue to herd and fret and be herded and fretted over or........I can escape. Yes! God wants to take care of me and all those in my life that I am concerned about. I can't get rid of the problems and fix everyone, including myself. It's too big. Thanks be to God! I choose to cast my anxiety on him. He will care for us. We were never meant to take care of ourselves. God has a plan for us that is bigger than we understand. He promised that goodness and mercy are following us all the days of our lives. He promised to give his angels charge over us to guard me in all of our ways. He is our Shepherd, our Father, our Savior. He will make everything work together for good in our lives. I choose to be free from this oppression. I choose joy right now. I choose hope right now. My God is faithful. I will hope in him.

You Are A Work Of Art

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God created in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10 NIV Bible

This morning, I watched a young squirrel climb a tree and became aware of what a perfect squirrel it is. It already had it's squirrel characteristics and it is good at being a squirrel. It would make a lousy bird or even tree.
God made each one of us uniquely and perfectly. We have heard this all of our lives. The truth that I am beginning to grasp is that we are perfectly made to be us. Of course we don't have the skills of the guy next to us. We were never meant to. This doesn't make us inferior. We have been led to believe that we are to be like God and capable of everything. Then we feel ashamed because we obviously can't do all that we and others expect of us. It is very much like the ugly duckling story.
I was told that I am to embrace me, all of me. The problem was that I believed a lie that said that I was a duck and a very bad one at that, but I needed to love myself anyway. I am not a duck at all. I am a unique beautiful me. I am perfectly made. I am a work of art made by the best artist in the world.
Go forth this day and ask God to show who you really are. Then have fun being you. You are wonderful.

Love Never Fails

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserveres.
Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8a
(God is Love)

The Lord Has Compassion On You

As a father has compassion on his
children,
so the Lord has compassion on
those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103:13-14

I am very aware of God's compassion this day. I am thankful that my hope is in him. Some days my emotions have gone wacko and I feel like I can't accomplish anything. Then I go back to my source. I sit on my Father's lap and know his compassion. I know that I am gifted because God gives good gifts to his children. On the other hand, I am very thankful that I have God to take care of me. I can know the latest teachings and still be lacking in knowledge. I can know all about nutrition, but still not be able to get well. I can be like the lady in Proverbs 31 and be so capable that everyone is wowed by me, but I am still human and there is a limit to what I can do. I can be the best parent in the world and still have kids that are running from God. My point is that, no matter how amazing we are by man's or even God's standards, we are still just dust. We still need the Father's compassion. We are still weak. God isn't asking us to know or be everything. He is asking us to let him know us and be everything for us. If we need the latest knowledge, our Father will give it to us. Whatever you need, depend on him to supply. Go back to your source. Know his compassion for you. You are his beloved. He delights in you.

Rejoice In The Lord

The Lord reigns, let the earth be
glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.
Clouds and thick darkness
surround him;
righteousness and justice are the
foundations of his throne.
Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every
side.
His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax
before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his
righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
all who worship images are put to
shame,
those who boast in idols-
worship him, all you gods!
Zion hears and rejoices
and the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments,
O Lord.
For you, O Lord, are the Most High
over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all
gods.
Let those who love the Lord hate
evil,
for he guards the lives of his
faithful ones
and delivers them from the hand
of the wicked.
Light is shed upon the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, you who are
righteous,
and praise his holy name.
Psalm 97 NIV Bible

Surrender And Be Free

I am so thankful that I am not in charge of my own life. God is my Father, my Shepherd , my Healer. He is changing me from glory to glory. I know I talked about how important it is for us to be free to be who we are. This is very important, but the only way we can have true freedom is through surrender to God. We need him to take care of us. We were never meant to be independent. Life is so complicated and sometimes this overwhelms me. Then I remember that God is Lord and that I can rest in him. He is at work behind the scenes, both in me and around me. I don't want to be lord of my life. I don't want other people's attitude or actions to be my lord. I don't want circumstances to be my lord. I want to hope in the One True Lord. God has given us a free will. We can try it on our own and we can be ruled by others and our circumstances. No matter how legalistically you try to be good, it ain't gonna happen. You can't fix those around you. You can't create a perfect life for yourself here on earth. Even if you worked at this 24 hours a day you would never succeed. I have good news. God doesn't expect this of you. I call you this day to surrender and be free. Surrender to his love and approval of you. Let him take care of you. He is your Strong Tower. He is your Place Of Safety. He is your Goodness and Mercy. I am convinced that we can't have right order in our lives by frantically trying to fix ourselves and everyone and everything around us. We can only have right order by surrendering and letting God be God in our lives. So I repeat,surrender and be free.

My Savior Leads Me

Life has become very complicated. My flesh wants to get busy and come up with solutions to all of my problems. Yet, I feel God urging me to seek his face and trust that he will lead. I want to run down every path that might be a solution, even if it means sacrificing myself and my call. Again, I hear God urging me to be still and know that he is God. Jesus Christ said that he is the way. He is the answer to all of our prayers. He is the solution to all of our problems. He promised to guide us continuously. Remember Jesus in the wilderness. The devil tempted him with "solutions." They were not from God. I left my prayer time this morning with no specific answers to my questions and no specific solutions to my problems. On the other hand, I left with a confidence that my Savior leads me. I would encourage you to not get so desperate for a solution to what is facing you that you take the first available possibility. Don't even focus on finding a solution. Focus on God. He made you who you are on purpose. Do not give up your identity to do what others think you should do. Listen to the discernment that God has given you. God values you. He wants to partner with you, not steal your identity and make you an empty shell filled with God. You matter to God. The you that is you will always be. His call for you will honor who you are and bring glory to God. I beg of you. Trust that your Savior is leading you. He is faithful. You can depend on him. He has put a call on your heart. He will show you the way. Trust in him. Be still and know that he is God.

God's Powerful Word

For my thoughts are not your
thoughts,-
neither are your ways my ways,
declares the Lord.
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your
ways
and my thoughts than your
thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the
sower and bread for the
eater,
so my word that goes out from
my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which
I sent it.
Isaiah 55:8-11 NIV Bible

Rise Up Child Of God

David said to the Philistine,"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I will strike you down and cut off your head." 1 Samuel 17:45-46a NIV

Last night, each time I woke up, I could hear God singing to me about how wonderful his name is. At one point, I even prayed for awhile in God's name. Then this morning, Pete ended up reading this scripture to me. I knew God was trying to make a point. David didn't come in his own authority. He didn't come with man's armor or even powerful weapons. He came as a boy with power from the One True God. God wants us to become aware of what a treasure we have in his name. It is not an intellectual word study. It is a knowledge of the God we serve and who we are as his children. This is crucial. Begin today. Learn and grow. God wants you to know your inheritance. He has many gifts for you. He wants to see your enemies struck down and their heads removed. Goliath has been mocking you too long. Rise up Child Of God and know your authority

God Will Be There For You

"The Lord is my light and my
salvation-
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my
life-
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack
me,
they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident."
Psalm 27:1-3 NIV Bible

When a servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.
"Don't be afraid." the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."
And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servants eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-17 NIV Bible

This is God's word of encouragement to you today. "If God is for us, who can be against us." Romans 8:31 If it seems that your trials are increasing, don't be afraid. God's grace is increasing even more. He is your shield and defender. He is your very present help in times of trouble. He is your refuge and fortress. Rejoice. The greater your need, the greater God will be there for you.

Joyful Expectancy

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us; to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! A-men!" Ephesians 3:20 NIV Bible

Last night I had a dream that something truly wonderful had happened in my life, and I was so happy about it that I couldn't stay quiet. I woke up and felt like God wants me to live a life of joyful expectancy. It isn't just the modern way of thinking happy thoughts. That belief system is that you become your own god by imagining what you want in life and then expecting it to happen. This is the real thing. Thankfully I don't have to be a god. I have the one true God. He has asked me to expect good from his hand because he gives good gifts to his children. He promised that goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. He promised to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me a future and a hope.

Has God done anything new and exciting in your life? If he hasn't recently, he soon will. I know that as we expect good from God, we will actually begin to see more good. I know that my negativity has blinded me to seeing the goodness of God. He is opening my eyes and showing me the blessings that he is pouring out on me. I pray that he will do the same for you. Can you imagine the body of Christ looking to God with joyful expectancy. Wow!"

We Want To See Jesus

"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2 NIV Bible

Remember the song that says,"Open my eyes Lord, I want to see Jesus." This has been my prayer this morning. I want to see him as he is. I want to be like him. I love it when God gives us a new revelation and then everything looks different. God is saying and doing many things in our lives that we just can't hear or see. We are reacting and heading down wrong paths because we can't see Jesus. Even when Jesus came to earth, people couldn't see that he was the Messiah. He was right in front of their eyes and they couldn't see him. I am asking for Jesus to reveal himself to us. I want to see him. I know that we will truly see him when we get to heaven, but I want to see him as much as a human is capable of right now on earth. One thing that does comfort me in the meantime, is that we walk by faith and not by sight. The Lord is guiding us continuously because he is faithful. I still want a greater revelation of Jesus. My misunderstanding is causing much pain.
"Hold us close this day, O God. Comfort us in our limited understanding of you. Reveal yourself to us and let us see you for who you really are. Be our center, be our vision, be our hope, and be our best friend. We need you. A-men"

You Have Filled My Heart

"You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new
wine abound>"
Psalm 4:7 NIV Bible

As I sat to pray this morning, I was very tired. I just got home from work and have had a sleep shortage. My body wants to sleep rather than pray. On the other hand, I am sensing God's faithfulness. He came to hang out with me because I chose to at least attempt prayer. I am so grateful that he comes and touches me and ministers to me. My experience has shown that he even does this if I fall asleep during my prayer time. I have always loved the above verse. His joy is there no matter what our circumstances are. It is a gift from a loving Father. I love how constant his joy is. I can be going through a great trial and even be grieving, but in the background there is a constant joy and peace.

Rejoice, O Chosen One

"He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor." 1 Samuel 2:8 NIV Bible

Back in the 1970's we sang a song that went something like this,"He lifts the weak out of dust and places them among princes." This line is based on the KJV Bible. God brought this to mind this morning. His point seemed to be that he has compassion on the weak. He isn't disgusted with them. He doesn't put them on the back burner and tell them to stay there until they are good enough. Here is another scripture.

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to my God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:1-3 NIV Bible

Our hope is in the Lord. We will always have weaknesses. We will never measure up to the world's standards. I read in Proverbs 8 that he delights in human kind. That is all of us, not just the strong and capable that look impressive to everyone. This morning we read of how God chose David as king. He was the least likely of all the son's of Jesse. God is asking us to embrace our whole self. He delights in us. He wants us to delight in ourselves. He is proud to call us his children. He knows that we are dust. He doesn't have a problem with this.

Let God's love and approval saturate all of you this morning. Let him reach down into the rejected parts of your being and lift them out of the dust of self hate. He has chosen you as his own. Rejoice, O Chosen One, Beloved of God.

The Church Needs You

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20 NIV Bible

I know that God is present everywhere, when two or three gather in his name, he is present in a different way. He dwells in each Christian, and as we assemble his light shines brighter. I have seen this again and again. I will be praying in a chapel, and when someone else enters to pray, I sense God's presence more powerfully. I was really aware of this on Sunday when I was at church.
This is one reason why God asks us to, "not give up meeting together...but let us encourage one another..." (Hebrews 10:25)This is another truth that is a mystery, but it is truth none the less. Today, God is really wanting to make the point that he is faithful to his children. He has promised that he is present when we gather in his name. We need this. God asks us to let our light shine. As we gather with his other children the light gets brighter and brighter. The darkness has to back off. Then we can hear God more clearly and be ministered to by him in a greater way. We are not an island. God created the body of Christ. We need each other. It is hard to find a church that seems just right. Regardless, God is just right and he is present. We must gather with fellow believers because God asked us to. When there, keep your eyes on God and worship him.Do it for God. Know that whether you feel anything or not, that God is faithful to you and to his children that gather in his name. God dwells in you. The church needs you and you need the church.