02-19-13 Sin - Temptation

James 1:2-8 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."

We're going to make camp in by the pure, refreshing body of living water called James for a few days.

Now that we know what sin is - anything we're about to do or not going to do that stirs that 'double check' in our spirit - let's move on to temptation.

So, we walk over to the Lake of James and look down. What do we see? A reflection of ourselves. Jesus walks up beside us and out of His reflection we hear the words, "Consider it pure joy (insert your name here), whenever you face trials of many kinds..." SAY WHAT??? "Well, you know this time of trial and testing of your faith is developing perseverance and tenacity and and strength in you to make it to keep climbing this mountain that is in your way." Well, the heck the perseverance and all that other stuff You said. How in the world can I 'consider it pure joy' (insert rolling of eyes). "You don't see what I see in You - I see an overcomer and mountain-climber. You don't see what on the other side of the mountain." Yeah, probably more mountains... "Remember when I took you by the hand and pulled you up from the water that was up to your neck. You were about to drown and I saved you." Well, yeah. "Remember when I faced that gigantic brick wall in your way and wondered how you could scale it." Uh-huh. "What did I do?" You were behind me making sure I wouldn't fall (insert kicking the dirt). "Have I ever lied to you?" No, Lord, you have never lied to me. "Then think about this: You can have My joy inside of you as you're going through this trial or testing, because I am here with you and because I won't let you fall and since I've never lied to you - you can believe that this will make you mature and complete in Me and Me in you so that you will not lack anything."

As He bends down and stirs the water with His finger, He says, "Y'know, if you lack the wisdom to know which way to go - which path to take that will lead you up the mountain in the shortest amount of time, all you have to do is ask and then believe that you're going to get it. So, you may not have happy feelings inside about what you're running into on this mountain, but you can still have joy, because you're not alone and because you are getting stronger."

A bit paraphrased, but we can have joy in the journey - which reminds me of a song....

Joy in the Journey - Michael Card

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD_pd2M4IDk

02-18-13 Sin - The Real Deal

Psalm 36:1-4 "I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good. Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong."

We can only imagine what it would be like if Eve wasn't deceived into biting the apple and Adam followed suit. The verse above says that there is no fear of God in the sinful - they (we) do not hold God in holy reverence and awe of Who He is. Instead, they (we) flatter themselves too much (aka. Pride) and that blinds them (us) so that they (we) cannot even see that they (we) are sinning, let alone hate their (our) sin.

   
40 days from today, we honor the death of Jesus. That sounds so wrong on so many different angles, unless you're a Christian and you know the rest of the story. Jesus honored His Father. He did what His Father told Him to do and said what His Father wanted Him to say. In Jesus, there was NO sin. He held His Father in reverence and knew His place as Son to the Father.

If I sit here and think about how many times I've puffed myself up in pride of my accomplishments or even sometimes even 'glorifying' myself of my past deeds - like I was one bad dude (or dudette).... if I thought about that for long, I'd me face down in humility before my God and my Father. Our accomplishments - our possessions - even the giftings that He has graciously given us mean little to God unless they are given over to Him.

   
But, really, what IS sin? There's kind of a simple answer in the Christian's BIG BOOK. James 4:17 'If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." For me to pick up a drink, it is sin - but for my husband it's not. Some can go witness in certain places and some cannot. The Lord deals with each of us separately in different areas. But it all boils down to this one verse. If I know that the Lord is telling me to do something, and I don't do it - I'll have to repent for it later. On the flip side, if He tells me NOT to do something and I do it anyway, I'll still have to repent. In each of these instances, there also could be consequences that we may have to deal with.

Psalms 5:4-6 "For You [are] not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man."

Proverbs 8:13 "To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."

God doesn't hate the sinner - He hates the sin. Sin separated us from Him. Sin made us an abomination to God. Sin marked us for death. Sin - whatever it is - may feel good for the moment, but it grabs ahold of us and pulls us farther and farther down until we are no longer in control... But for the Grace of God...

Today, let's really let James 4:17 sink into our hearts.... let's allow the fear of the Lord to do it's work in us.

This song is a reality check song... there are many, many people out there that truly identify with it. I did. I used to play it over and over. Many people think there is no way out. Here their hearts and your own....

Falling Into The Black - Skillet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO3yXqhTs0I

02-16-13 All Out Of Love

Zephaniah 3:17 "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

The International Standard Version (so many versions, so little time) - "The Lord your God among you is powerful - He will save and He will take joyful delight in you. In His love He will renew you with His love; He will celebrate with singing because of you."

In the 80's I had quite the eclectic mix of music... from heavy metal to slow ballads. Air Supply was the slow ballad type - but ranked right up there with Iron Maiden.

I think in our teenage years at least some of us have had times where we felt no love (or love was so warped that we were afraid to open up to it). Or maybe even now, you feel empty of love - far and removed from God. Well, as we found out yesterday - He didn't go anywhere. He follows us - He's with us always. So, why don't we feel His Presence like we used to?

When we're 'all out of love' - our lives feel out of kilter... we feel lost, alone, wondering why what we used to feel is no longer there... or wondering if love was even there at all.

Sometimes, maybe it's just as simple as not be 'baptized in the Holy Spirit" - accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord is one thing... receiving His power and love is another. The Holy Spirit usually is given through the laying on of hands of one who has been filled with the Spirit. Not going to get into some theological debate. I'll just leave you with a couple verses... Deuteronomy 34:9 'Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses." Yeah, THAT one surprised me.. (it was in the OLD Testament even). Acts 8:15-17 " When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."

Sometimes it's because the Lord is developing our faith and trust in Him. He desire that we trust He is near even though we can't feel Him. This is hard and Jesus knew that when He said to Thomas in John 20:29 "Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” We learn and grow in Him more and more when we have moved into believing His Word that says He is with us for now and always.

We want God to carry us Home - to His Presence - to feel the Lord reach down and take out hand when we don't have the strength to raise it and tell us that He is there and His love will carry us through. I Corinthians 13... without love we're nothing.... we can't go on. What is there to go on for?

Jesus believes in us. He died for us because He knew we would accept Him and His love that was poured out on the Cross. Father thinks about us ALL the time. He hurts when we can't feel His love. He created us as not just as intellectual beings, but emotional beings... in HIS IMAGE. He knows we need love.

Sometimes, it's because of our sin and/or rebellious OLD nature that may rise up from time to time that causes a break between us and His love, that does NOT mean it's not still there. The Lord disciplines those He loves... Proverbs 3:12. But He ALWAYS does it in Love... to draw us back to Himself.

We say that we were wrong.... but what motivates that? It's when we KNOW deep, deep inside that we were wrong and move into a place of repentance that restores our love relationship with our Father and with Jesus.

Maybe it's time to explore why we aren't feeling His love... next week we will focus on one aspect.

When you watch the video think of you and the Lord.... He love you and will never let you go....

 

All Out of Love - Air Supply

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7doNyZA2gvY&playnext=1&list=PL7D1A4942BE1E6BF7&feature=results_video

 

02-15-13 Because You Loved Me

Psalm 121 "I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

Psalm 139:1-12;17-18 "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.... How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you."

The Psalms are FULL of the Love of God.. well, actually, the whole Bible is full of the Love of God, but there's something about the Psalms that we can identify with. Many of these were written by David - in grief, in sorrow, but also in joy and happiness. He knew the TRUTH and no matter what He went through He knew God Loved Him.

A friend and I shared a vision a while back with a church body... I was trying to explain to a group how complicated we can make things sometimes. Then I 'saw' a person standing in the eye of a hurricane or whirlwind and watching everything swirl above and around them, but then they looked up and they could see the clear, blue sky. It took the focus off of the swirling mess. My friend saw that the longer that person looked up, peace was descending and the swirling mess seemed to get lower an lower until it was waist high. What seemed an impossible situation became manageable simply by looking up - changing our focus. .

The Psalms, especially, are filled with hope and the Love of God. Take Psalm 121, for instance... when we lift our spiritual eyes to the Lord - He is our help. He holds us up. He watches over us at every second of every day... keeping us from harm, protecting us. Or Psalm 139 - He knows us COMPLETELY, all our faults and failings, as well as our victories and triumphs - yet, still wants to hang out with us. He knows everything we do and everything we say (even before we say it) - the good, the bad, the ugly - but He still hems us in and lays His hand upon us to protect us. We can try to run from Him, and really I don't think there are many people who have not at some time or other - but we even Usain Bolt (the fastest Olympic runner ever) can not outrun God. He's there - wherever we go. He makes the darkness that we try to hide in as light. Yeah, He'll let us try to hide in the dark, but we will always have this place in us that knows His Light is there. He thinks about us all the time.... individually. He thinks about you ALL the time. He thinks about me ALL the time. He thinks about His Love for us that is all encompassing and all-knowing and covers us in every way. He thinks about all the ways that He can get that Love to 'sink in' to our hearts.

1 Corinthians 12:13 says, "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. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Love is everything we need - we desire. It's the driving force in our lives. God is Love - so God and His Love is everything we need - we desire. God and His love can enable us to say, in Him I live and move and have my being.(Acts 17:28).

Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion ---- OK.... OK... so I jumped to the 90's on this one ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_r8pDziQKE

Praise You In This Storm - Casting Crowns (I sang this at my biological dad's house around Christmas and it was powerful)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCpP0mFD9F0

02-14-13 What About Love

Matthew 10:28-31 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Nahum 1:7 - Yes, This IS a book in the Bible :) The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him..."

What ABOUT Love? What is there about love that 'makes the world go around'? What is there about love that draws us closer to is, like some insatiable desire?

What IS Love?

If I go way, way back in the past to 1938, the Funk & Wagnall's Dictionary has a lot to say about love. I will spare you the long version. If you would look it up though you would see words like; deep,profoundly tender, passionate, ineffable (like indescribable) feeling of affection, devotion, fondness and passion.

The above song title above goes on to say 'Don't you want someone to care about you?" "Don't let it slip away." "You might need it someday." I'm pretty sure that some of you are thinking, 'Well, yeah, that would be nice... for a change Well, good news - There IS someone who cares about you deeply, tenderly, ineffably (incapable of being expressed in words), solicitude (attentive care and protectiveness)

His Name is God - our Father. Now, before you shut me off, I know some of us did not have a good relationship with our earthly dads or didn't have a relationship at all or he hurt you really deeply. Maybe your heart has grown a little crusty... mine did. Actually 'crusty' is an understatement... it was downright protected by a fortress with a moat and big old crocodiles waiting to pounce on anyone who came near.

I'm adopted and I used to talk about my 'real' parents (I've since called them my biological parents), but after many years of learning to trust Jesus - I had some friends tell me that I really had to do something about this 'Father thing'. So, eventually, I decided to give Him a chance. I learned about Him, got to know Him and realized one day that He is REAL Father. Don't get be wrong, I still had/have hurts from my parents that have been healed and some that in process of being healed - but it doesn't change the TRUTH that GOD is our REAL Father, if we've accepted Jesus to come into our hearts (mind, will and emotions).

This Father is different than most. He is a good Father - wanting only to give us - His children - GOOD gifts. Matthew 7:9-11 says,“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

He loves you... and His greatest gift to us was a part of Himself sent to earth in in the form of Jesus - His only Son because they were one... yet separate (oh, never mind). But HE SENT HIS SON AS THE ULTIMATE LOVE GIFT KNOWING HE WOULD DIE A GRUESOME DEATH ALL TO BRING US BACK TO HIMSELF.... So He could be our Father and we could be His children who didn't have to be afraid to come into His Presence anymore.

In light of this, go back up to the words I saw in that dictionary. Really, sit for a minute to three and let those words sink into your heart as the Father's gifts to you this Valentine's Day.

What About Love by Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQPi9ej_Hg0

How Deep The Father's Love Towards Us - sung by Skillet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx97uc4Yz38

02-13-13 Love Is A Battlefield

1 John 4:7-12 ^"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

Matthew 10:16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

OK, so our God-shaped insides no longer need to be void.... they can and are being filled with His love - some even now are overflowing with His love. Loving others is still a struggle sometimes (OK, most of the time). Granted, some people are easier to love than others, but we can't be partial in this. We really can't pick and choose who we are going to love.... Jesus didn't. He loved the worst of the worst. He even loved those who were killing him as He was bleeding and dying. Well, 'come on, He was God." No, at this point, He was a man.... the Father had turned His face away from Him because of all the sin He was carrying. Talk about heavy burdens, we can't even fathom what it means to literally have the weight of the world on our shoulders... although we feel like that sometimes.

I'm not minimizing our struggles, our pain - but sometimes, love is downright hard! Those who hurt me come to the top of my list... well, they used to, until I went through that battlefield that raged inside of me for vengeance or justice and left it in God's hands. I do get angry, but I try to keep very short accounts with God (so I don't have a list a mile long to repent of at the end of the day)!

There is a battle waged against all of us who call ourselves Christian (Christ-like). Our flesh cries out in anger or maybe our hearts just question why certain things happen they way they do. Some of those questions, God in His grace and mercy answers through that still small voice inside, through His Word, through songs and even through nature. Sometimes, He doesn't answer those questions and we eventually have to just let go of the questions and trust that God is God and He knows exactly what, when, how and why He does what He does. God didn't say life was going to be easy. He's teaching us to be more like Him... to be more like Jesus.

Jesus knew love was a battlefield.... one that would take His life - it didn't keep it for long, but it was long enough for Him to hurt for those He loved. What about intercession? Love is a battlefield in prayer for the people we care about. For people we don't even know who live in different countries... for our neighbors... for our families. We go to war not only for our friends, but for our enemies - because maybe, just maybe, they may turn to see the Light of Jesus shining upon them.

"If we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us." He smiles upon us when we get off the sidelines and extend a helping hand to those who have fallen on the battlefield - sometimes helping them walk to 'triage' - sometimes carrying them when they cannot walk (this may take one, two or more people) - sometimes just holding their hand when the Lord is about to take them Home. He smiles because He is make complete in us during those times. God IS Love. Since He is Love, He is made complete in us. When we empty ourselves of ourselves, what He's already put inside of us comes flooding in. See, Jesus gave us everything at the Cross. How empty can we become, to allow Him to reveal what we already have.

I have a song in my head, most of us know it... 'More Love, More Power, More of You in My Life'. When we sing that, maybe we should be singing 'Reveal Your Love, Reveal Your Power, Bring Forth The Life You've Placed In Me.' We don't need more of Him, we need less of ourselves. So we can be equipped for the battle - To put on our armor fight (if the Lord did it in Isaiah 59:16-17 then we can also Ephesians 6). When the enemy advances, to have discernment when to fall back and 'take a breather'. To watch each other's back, not just our own.

We are sent out into the battle as sheep among wolves. I wonder what a sheep looks like with armor? Oh, never mind.... I learned from a friend, we don't have to work harder (or fight harder), we have to work (for fight) smarter. The enemy is sly and smart, BUT we have the mind of Christ and we can know what Jesus knows... He said in I Corinthians 2:15-16 "The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ." NIV. I like a translation I just found called The Voice Bible which says the same thing, but a different way, “Does anyone know the mind of the Lord well enough to become His advisor?” But we do possess the mind of the Anointed One. We have the mind of Christ. We can fight alongside of Him in this war of souls because we possess His mind. Maybe we just need to exercise it more.

So, yes, Pat Benatar, you were basically right in your song, Love IS a Battlefield.... But we have the Victory in Christ when we receive the Love of God that strengthens us to draw our swords, sling our bows and fight.

 

02-12-13 I Want To Know What Love Is

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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 perseveres. Love never fails."

OK, so I'm on a mid-80's song kick... isn't it strange how some songs just seem to stick :) Actually this song was produced by Foreigner with a gospel choir in the background. It was actually on a gospel music chart for a while (I do my research). It was also my favorite song (right up there with Dust in the Wind - to satisfy my melancholy states).

Anyway, the song spoke volumes to me. Like me, I'm sure a lot of you at some point or another - or maybe even now - want to know what love is. That's is how God made us - with a desire for love... true love... lasting love. People say, 'Love isn't a feeling'. I say, 'Bull..' OK, just 'Bull'. It almost makes me angry. Sure, love is action, but it's so much more.

We can feel sadness. We can feel lonely. We can feel like nobody cares. We can feel anguish. WE CAN FEEL LOVE.... at least God's kind of love. That 'agape' (unconditional, no strings attached, 'just because') kind of love.

Inside of our soul - it's been said there's 'a God-shaped void' - it's just my opinion, but I think that 'God-shaped void' is in the shape of the Jesus on the Cross. OK, so I WAS going to write 'in the shape of a heart'... because that represents love to us. Jesus on the Cross... now, that REALLY represents Love. Look at Jesus - He was patient with His disciples always questioning - wondering what His stories meant. Mark 4:1-13 states a parable of sowing seed. Jesus admonishes them and but then goes to to explain. He was patient. He was kind to all those he healed - especially in Mark 5:25-34. He didn't envy others - He had everything in His Father. He didn't boast of Himself or puff Himself up (even when He was being beaten and questioned before His death in Matthew 27). Instead He showed us what true humility really is.

He didn't seek His own way - even in Gethsemane. He wasn't easily angered when some mule and wooden cart cut him off on the road... OK, there was one time when He saw people using the temple of God for something unholy - Matthew 21. Side Note: Moneychangers were those who exchanged foreign money for the half shekel that was to be brought to the temple.... but they were charging over and above to do this, thus were 'thieves'. He keeps no record of sins we have committed (Psalm 103:12) - throws them as far as the east is from the west. We need Him on our Olympic disc throwing team! He doesn't like evil, but He rejoices when people 'get it' - when the light comes on and we understand the truth.

Now, in the paragraph above, isn't there several references to feelings - Love can be a feeling. It can be our experience, if we let Jesus into that void. Some of us may not have even started to let Him in there - ask Him to - Romans 5 says,"His Love does not disappoint." Some of us have let Him in but it's just a trickle here and there. Why not open the 'door' a little and trust that He is good - John 10:11 - He's the Good Shepherd. Some of us are a quarter or a third or half or three quarters full - there's still room for more of His Love. His Love will keep coming until it overflows and we just HAVE to give it away... and THEN when we've given some away He just gives us more to overflowing again!

THAT'S where I want to be overflowing with the Love of God towards myself (yep, heard that right) - that Love needs to flow into us our lives first - we need to love ourselves first - THEN we can love those around us with the same love that we've been given (Matthew 22:39).

Today, let's begin or continue to allow the Lord to fill us up with His Love and all that Love means.... then we will know what love is.

I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner (Live)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUG9Gh2vLLI

True Love - David Ruis (Live)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLO8OkgX424

02-11-13 What's Love Got To Do With It

Psalm 32:10 "Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him."

What DOES love have to do with it? Relationships especially? EVERYTHING!

Without love what we would it be like? If there was no love in the world only 'the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life' (1 John 2:16).

What is lust? I like the definition I found at the American Heritage Dictionary. It said "An overwhelming desire or craving" or another definition says it better, "a passionate or overmastering desire or craving." Lust makes us no better than my dog that's laying at my feet on the floor (sorry Casper, I still love you).

Lust gives us what? That anxious, overwhelming craving in our flesh for something that is NOT what God intends for us to have. Lust is that feeling you get physically - like a ravenous wolf you've just before you make a choice whether or not to do something that is contrary to God's word.

Notice I put the word 'anxious' in there. It's anxiety... a fear that attaches to lust and grabs ahold of you and will not let go unless you tell it to go. It's a fear that we will not get some need met. At THAT point is where we need to STOP and ask, "what IS my need at this moment?"

Is it someone to care for me? Is it protection? Is it intimacy with another person? Is it healing from something that I just want to run away from... just for a little bit? Is it comfort? What is IT?

Whatever IT is, Jesus has it. Jesus has it all wrapped up in His LOVE. His LOVE for us. Finding THAT is like finding a buried treasure chest that you know has all sort of precious, sparkling items in it.

But, we can't seem to figure out how it opens. Ahhhh, there it IS!! It's THE KEY!!! The key forms a word and the word is TRUST. At this our hearts drop. Jesus says 'yeah, I know what has happened in the past when you've trusted - but you've trusted in the wrong things. Give me a try... give me a chance - just one chance and I'll show you how faithful and trustworthy I am'.

Trust is saying no to lust and your body and mind is saying. Trust is saying, "Lord, help my unbelief, but I'm going to trust You to give me what I need right now... at this moment." THAT is putting the key in the lock and though struggling between hope and unbelief - hope wins out and you turn the key. The lid pops open and right there in front of you is everything that you've ever desired (that the lust had covered up). There it is.... unfailing love!

The Lord takes it out and like a huge, red, thick fleece blanket and wraps it around you... and all you ever needed you feel starting to seep into every tiny crack and crevice of your heart. It may take a while to completely permeate you... maybe even a lifetime. But today would be a good start.... Go ahead put let Him put it on you...

"The Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him."

May the unfailing love of Jesus surround you today as you trust in Him.

Take a listen to the song below....

Love is Everything - Jesus Culture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyQ7NftugRw

02-09-13 BFG 6

John 15:9-17 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other."

Can you fathom this: As much as Father loved Jesus, Jesus loves us. I don't think we can ever really understand the magnitude of His love for us.

How His heart breaks when we are hearts are broken in so many pieces we can even begin to imagine how to put them back together again.

How His heart hurts when we in pain - whether physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually (those times when we feel so distant from Him).

How His heart longs to give us mercy when we have sinned... if only we would take that one small step towards Him again; how He longs to extend forgiveness and banish the shame from our hearts.

How His heart sorrows and grieves when we have lost someone we love (whether through death or otherwise).... or when we have suffered others losses ('let go' from a job, a spouse leaves, a childhood lost).

How His heart desires to extend His grace - His favor - His ability to overcome - when He sees us struggling through life on our own strength.

How His heart opens wides to comfort us when we are afraid to fill us with courage and boldness.

I could go on and on, but maybe you can think of some other ways He shows His love for us.

Jesus says that we are to remain in His love. We can jump out of it - we don't have to stay, but why would we want to leave once we found it?

He says if we keep his command, we'll remain in His love. What commands? Well, looks to me as if it's listed twice in these several verses.... LOVE EACH OTHER.

THEN he goes on to say that we are HIS FRIENDS if we do what He commanded. This love He is talking about is unconditional love. No strings attached.

I've heard it said for years (and I've even said it myself), "I love so and so, but I don't have to like them." I said that about certain significant people in my life that did horrendous harm to me. Justifying it because 'well, the Bible says I have to love them - it doesn't say I have to like them."

I know the Lord is about to do some correcting when I have that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach... and this is one of those times.

We can like a lot of things. We can like cars or motorcycles or books or certain foods or a certain game, tv show, etc. It's like saying, 'Yeah, it's... well... okay.' It could be the same with people. I like this person - so I might hang out with them. Or I don't like this person, so I'm going to steer clear of them if I have the chance.

What if Jesus did the same thing? What if He said "I like you, but I don't have to love you." Well, for one He'd be going against His own command. But more importantly, He wouldn't have died for us and we would all still be lost sinners. Can we even imagine what life would be like without God there to turn to in times of trouble or to thank in times of joy. No, died for us because He LOVED us unconditionally -- no conditions. He died for us because Father hates sin - He hates what it does to us - He hates how it separates us from Him and from each other.

Jesus says that everything He learned from the Father He makes known to us.... and a little later that whatever we ask for in His Name, Father will give us. I don't think it's a coincidence that He says this in the midst of these verses. If we ask, He will give us the a love for others that we did not ever think possible... it's HIS love that flows through us. So we can say, 'I love you' to the one we previously JUST liked.... barely. Since He loves us with such an unconditional love, and He says that everything He has done we can do and even greater things (go left a chapter and down to verse 12), then we can do this because He is the one who gives us love in the first place! He is our source.

We can hate the sin in a person (by the way, we've all sinned, as far as I know), but let's love the sinner with the love that Jesus gave us. So, if He freely gives us His love in our hearts to love others, then we CAN love others. He's proved it's possible AND He says we're His friends if we like, I mean LOVE one another. Let's be best friends with our Lord, our Savior, our God.

02-08-13 BFG 5

Matthew 25:34-45 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

I was going to just talk about the first part of this portion of scripture that came to my mind today. Then the I was 'gently corrected'.... so you have the full meal deal in front of you. I make jest, but this is not an easy topic to read or to write about, because it really involves the heart. So be prepared...

We all know John 3:16 - I want to focus on 'For God so loved the world...' Now I'm pretty sure He didn't mean the oceans, the continents, the ozone or lack of it... ok, moving right along... What I'm saying is that He love people. Father meant the WHOLE world. His love is there for ANYONE - it is freely given - no strings attached.

'You mean, he loves the person who cut me off on the way home from work?' Yep. 'How about the person who broke into my home and stole all my copper piping?' Yep. 'Ok, how about murderers and rapists?' I'm afraid so. 'Alright, surely He can't love those who hunt Christians down to kill them - like those Muslim extremists - you can't mean them, right?' Well, what was Paul doing before he 'saw the Light'. God turned him around and look what happened... everything about him did a 180. His name even changed!

A couple days ago, I said that being a friend means putting action to your words. Sometimes very practical action. Visiting people in jail or giving away food or clothing to someone in need. We may be tempted to sometimes ignore even those we considered friends when they're put away in prison for years or when their hardship lasts longer than what our patience does or when they move away and aren't in our 'field of view' any longer. Those are the times they really need friends.

Or sometimes, we may be tempted to think, it's not that bad or that someone else is probably handling it. Maybe it's someone who hasn't been to church for a weeks - maybe their known to be alcoholic or just a drifter... 'they're not really committed'.... or just maybe they're sick or they're going through some very deep painful issues... do we let them know we noticed they weren't there.

'Oh, come on, Jesus going THAT far.' Isn't He? In James 1 He says that 'religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this - to look after orphans and widows in their distress... how do we know someone is hurting if we don't ask.

What DID Jesus do? He hung around thieves and sinnes... He forgave prostitutes and healed their souls. He spent His life on sinners like us.... like 'them'. When we do it for 'them', in essence, we are doing it for Jesus as if He was standing right in front of us.

Jesus / Father God calls us friend when we do what He did.

I was just 'reminded' by a Keith Green song. Warning: This may produce tears.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik-XOVZcwow