A Daily Dose of Love

Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

We begin by monitoring the words that come out of our mouths. We make a commitment to avoid any words that are not good for building up and giving grace to the hearer. We call on the help of the Holy Spirit to help us in our new found commitment to show love every day.

Acknowledging that we can only experience one thought and one emotion at a time, we chose to experience love and kindness and avoid bitterness, wrath and anger. We avoid malicious gossip and slander at all cost. We actively seek opportunities to show love.

Let each of us practice saying at least one thing that builds up another person every day of our lives. If we renew that pledge each morning and do not rest until we fulfill it there will be such a reduction in hostility, judgment, and plain meanness among us.

Can you imagine the love that will flow in the world from this simple change in our approach to each day? Can you imagine how it will transform your life if you make a commitment to first seek to uplift someone.

1 John 4:20-21 ESV
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

How will your brother witness this love mandated by Jesus Himself? We easily say that someone should just know that we love them, but this is a weak excuse for neglecting our duty to show love. We can show love in the smallest kindnesses. We can take the time to share a contagious smile with a loved one. We can look for opportunities to provide a small assistance to a stranger. We can make the act of showing love an active part of who we are.

We can examine ourselves on a daily basis. Are we irritable with our loved ones and kinder to strangers? Do we feel that those who love us have an obligation to contend with our moods? Can we start our commitment to build up at least one other person before we leave the confines of our home?

1 Corinthians 13 New International Version (NIV)
 1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 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 do not have love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,but do not have love, I gain nothing.
 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 1
2 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Keep this beautiful scripture tucked safely in your heart as you start your day and see how easy it will be to get into the habit of a daily dose of love.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

A Gift Refused

John 14:16-17
King James Version (KJV)
 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

I read a very sad article which stated that the Holy Spirit was only for the early church to keep them strong as they struggled in those difficult times without the guidance of the bible. I think this belief is held by many modern Christians who view the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost as something only believed by those of the Pentecostal or Fundamentalist Churches.

As I look at some of the purposes of the Holy Spirit as stated in scripture I know that I would never return this wonderful gift unopened and unappreciated.

But why would we need the Holy Spirit in these modern times?
1 Corinthians 6:11

New International Version (NIV)
11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Will we convict ourselves when we stray outside the will of God? Will we deny ourselves the power of the Holy Spirit to intercede on our behalf and justify us in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?

John 14:26
King James Version (KJV)
 26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Are we willing to give up a Holy Teacher who is willing to assist us when we pray for discernment in the Word and in our daily lives?

Romans 8:24-27
New International Version (NIV)
24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Are we so willing to give up an Advocate with a direct line to the Father? How wonderful it is to know that in times of trouble we can call on the Holy Spirit to pray with us and for us when we are so stressed that we don't have the words!

Acts 2:16-17 ESV
But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

Before you give back this freely given gift of the Father, take the time to learn of Him; take the time to invite Him into your heart.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Joy in Another Nevada Sunrise

Psalm 113
King James Version (KJV)
 1Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
 2Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.
 3From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised.
 4The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
 5Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
 6Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
 7He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
 8That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
 9He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

I look in wonder at another Nevada sunrise and am grateful for the joy I feel at the presence of the Lord in His every day gifts.

I am so happy to lift praises to Almighty God. I can just imagine the exquisite joy of heaven when I experience the earthly joy received in giving praise.

Sharing praise with other believers magnifies the experience. It's true that we get these opportunities in church fellowship but chances also come in shared car trips and other informal and sometimes chance meetings.

I give thanks to God for the ability to enjoy His rich gifts on earth. I give thanks to God for opportunities for fellowship and worship. I give thanks to God for all He is in my life today and for the promise of eternal life.

I give thanks.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

The Glories of God

Psalm 19:1-5
King James Version (KJV)
 1The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
 2Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
 3There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
 4Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
 5Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

I am privileged to live where I can enjoy the majesty of a sunset into the water but right now I am sitting in a desert community providing care for a friend. I was busy missing my closeness to the ocean when my eyes were opened to the splendor of a mountain sunrise!

My God is everywhere! Evidence of His majesty is available if we just open our eyes and accept the many gifts He provides.

How Great Thou Art
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

My heart swells with joy and appreciation for the unlimited gifts He so freely gives. I thank You, God, for Florida sunsets, for Nevada sunrises and for all of the other gifts you have opened my eyes to see.
I pray that your heart is open to the Glories of God.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

At Peace in the Spirit

John 13:1 New International Version (NIV)
 1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

We say “Jesus loves me this I know, 'cause the bible tells me so” and there is so much in the bible to support our absolute assurance that this is true.

Just as He took the time to reassure his friends on that night before He went to the cross, He made sure that we knew that we would never be alone. He left us His peace. He left us a Comforter.

John 14:27 New International Version (NIV)
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

We do not need to be afraid because we have the assurance of our Lord that he will never leave us without the comfort and protection of His Spirit.

What a wonder it is to live as a child of the Living God. How magnificent it is to be in the Spirit and to have the Spirit dwell within you.

John 14:15-17 King James Version (KJV)
 15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

How plain He has made his love for us. How clearly he has told us to rest in the comfort and assurance of His unwavering love.

Thank You Lord for Your ever present love.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life.

Clearing Out the Clutter

Luke 16:13 ESV
No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

I once attended a meeting of a group called “Addicted to Christ”. As I got to know the group members I found that, although most had a history of addiction to some substance or of being in an enabling role, there were members who in no way fit the profile.

I asked how they came to be in the group and received this explanation. Anything that is important enough to you that you would let it come between you and your relationship with our Savior has to be an addiction. If not, how would you explain it?

Many times we look in a very narrow way at the person whose life is consumed in the pursuit of financial gain and go, ah ha, I don't do that. I don't place money above my love of God.

This narrow view allows us to avoid looking at the things we do allow to clutter our lives so much that there is no time for worship, no time for praise and only brief moments set aside for thanksgiving.

Exodus 20:4-6 (NIV)
 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Many glibly say “He is the head of my life” and give God less than ten percent of anything they hold dear.

Is it time for spring cleaning. Is it time to assess the things that occupy our thoughts, our time and our resources. Is it time to look at the clutter in our lives and decide what matters not at all and remove it to the recycle bin?

This spring is a good opportunity to evaluate and assure that nothing comes between us and our relationship with God.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Living Within His Protective Arms

Deuteronomy 10:17-19
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.

How easy it is to live within the protective love our God, our Father. How often in scripture does He invite us into the protection of His love. And He asks so little in return.

Deuteronomy 6:5-6
New King James Version (NKJV)
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

We are invited into the loving arms of a Father of boundless capacity to love and protect. There is no where we can go and no situation we can encounter that puts us outside of His sphere of influence.

We need not make this walk with God too complicated to follow. We need only to hold on to His hand and follow his commandments. And the most rewarding thing is the knowledge that He will help us when we submit to His will.
Matthew 22:36-40
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
36"Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?"
    37Jesus answered:
   Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. 38This is the first and most important commandment. 39The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, "Love others as much as you love yourself." 40All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments.
Old Testament or New Testament... The command remains the same. The price of admission into the loving protection of God is reachable by even the lowest of us, His children

Welcome, and come on board!

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

A Matter of Time

Matthew 6:33
English Standard Version (ESV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Why is it that in this modern society so few of us have time for the best things in life? How interesting it is that the things that matter most are often the things tended to last?

Is there time in your busy life to pray, to offer thanks and praise to a loving God who is there always?

Is there time to appreciate and enjoy family who are with us for such a short time in the scheme of things?

How do we spend the precious time that we are allotted here on earth?

We no longer have to hunt, kill and prepare our meat. A simple trip to the supermarket and we can select the exact cut of meat we want in exactly the size we choose. We even have the means at home to store food in freezers and refrigerators and thus decrease our needs for even this basic trip.

Few of us grow our food, and even those of us who do, do so as a hobby more than as a necessity.

Travel and communications are at incredible speeds. We can see and talk instantly to people all over the world and reach any destination on earth in a matter of days, not months.

So where did our time go?

How important to our eternal life are the things on which we place the most value?

Acts 17:11
English Standard Version (ESV)
11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Each morning when we wake up we have been given another opportunity to prioritize our lives. We have another opportunity to spend our time on the things that matter most. We have another opportunity to be more noble in our relationship with God and with our loved ones.

But we also continue to have free will. It's a matter of time and how we chose to spend it.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!