A Reflection on God's Faithfulness...



Southern Psalms - location of the Calling All Women's Conference

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.  Amen."  Ephesians 3:20-21

This time last week, I was battling Satan.  I was scheduled to be one of the speaker's at a Women's Conference and Satan was telling me it was impossible.  He has ways of keeping us quiet and at first he was doing pretty good with me.  Telling me I was too quiet and shy to speak in front of people.  Which is partly true - I am more of a quiet person.  Even my own husband said he'd never heard me speak a solid 15-20 minutes!  Yet, the part he was leaving out was that while I couldn't- God could!  I knew it was something God wanted me to do.  At first, I tried to be like Moses and pray for an Aaron but that didn't work either!  God said I had to do it. 

So, the way I saw it, I could either believe Satan's lies and live defeated or I could step out on faith and trust God to use me as a willing vessel for Him. 

So, I had spent the last few weeks - months really- in a spiritual war with Satan.  I had been trying to guard my mind and come back at him with scriptures such as Philippians 4:6-8, 13; 2 Timothy 1:7; and James 4:6-8.  And there I was at the moment of truth, I was the next speaker and I literally felt nauseated.  My legs were shaking, I even wondered if I'd make it up to that podium without falling.  But I did!  And when I did, a peace
that passeth all understanding took over.  God was faithful once again!  There was no way to explain it, except it was a God thing!

I was able to share a little about the importance of being a wife and mom and what God has done for our family, including providing a way for me to be a stay at home mom.  Also, what He has revealed to me during this time on living out my priorities and being more intentional with my time.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to be able to be a part of this Women's Conference.  No doubt, throughout the process, it was me that grew the most.  First of all, in just reflecting and seeing how real He had been over the past seven years.  I could now look back and see that even in my times of uncertainty how He was working all things out for the good of me and my family.   Secondly, as God continued to stretch me and make me step outside my comfort zone, He drew me closer to Him and revealed once again that when I need Him the most - He's always there and will never fail me. 

The conference was on Saturday, then on Sunday we wrapped up another year of Classical Conversations with our end of the year celebration.  Once more, I just sat back and reflected on God's goodness.  So many questions I had when we began this homeschooling journey- to be honest, so many questions I still have- but as I looked over the last two years, I could once again see God's presence woven throughout! 

First of all, I can see His presence in our Classical Conversations group.  I was probably one of the biggest skeptics of all as I went to my first CC info meeting.  I, who had been working with preschoolers for several years, thought it was absolutely ludicrous to try and teach my preschooler a song that lasted almost 20 minutes and covered the entire history of the world-and that was just scratching the surface of their memory work!  However, they sucked me in with their motto "To Know God and to Make Him Known" and the idea of community as I wanted my children to still be involved with other kids.  As I looked around Sunday and saw the community God had given us to help raise our children, I was so thankful for the wonderful families that truly lived out His will for their lives.  

Not only were we teaching our children facts, but  more importantly, we were teaching them what a community truly should look like. On a weekly basis my children were seeing families, that truly valued children and others over material things-which to be quiet honest is so rare in today's society. 

We look so very different within each family:  some with foster children, some with adopted children, some with children from other countries, some with many children, some with one, some seriously struggling with health issues within their families, some with financial issues, and I could go on and on. 

Yet, here we all were encouraging each other, lending a helping hand and trying to teach our children more than anything else - to know God and to make Him known! 

Because really, is there any other reason we should be educating our children? And you know what else - I love that timeline song!  

Secondly, God's presence has been evident through our time at home together "schooling".  In case you didn't know school comes from the Greek word "schole" which means "leisure".   The Greeks considered it a pleasure to be done working and to sit around and read and discuss ideas.  That's how some of the greatest philosophers  and ideas came.  Looking back, it's been in those moments we've slowed down that we've learned the most about each other, the world around us and most importantly, God.  While the future still holds many uncertainties, I'm so thankful for these years at home to give my children a God centered worldview and a strong foundation to build upon. 

I know this has probably been one of my most scattered post ever written; however, after last weekend, it's where my mind has been this week:  Rejoicing over God's goodness and faithfulness throughout our journey so far! 

In closing, I encourage you to not let Satan fill your mind and life with his lies.  Don't live defeated.  Instead, guard your mind and life by knowing and trusting in God's word.  Speaking at the women's conference and homeschooling are only two instances where I've stepped out on faith and witnessed His faithfulness.  Had I of believed Satan's lies or just went with what today's society said I would've missed these two HUGE blessings!   It doesn't always make sense to us, but that's because we only see a few of the pieces of the puzzle at a time.  God has a plan for your life that is "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" - step out on faith and live it!  Then you too will be reflecting on His faithfulness...



 

A Peace that Passeth All Understanding

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I can't begin to imagine what the families in Connecticut are going through.

 

I know what I went through yesterday which doesn't even begin to compare. I felt a little more threatened as our family went to the polar express last night. It crossed my mind more than once that someone could verily easily pull out a gun there in the midst of hundreds of people and shoot many of us.

 

I also felt a lot more thankful for my two girls. As soon as I heard it on the radio I walked back into the room where they were and tears filled my eyes.

 

As I got up this morning and continued to hear and read about this sad situation I realized two things:

 

1. We can't control those around us or even what they do to our children.  We also can't constantly live in fear of what others around us may do.
 
2. We can control our actions. We can help prepare our children and give them a sense of hope even in the midst of the darkest situation.

 

We aren't promised tomorrow. What happened yesterday could happen at any school, mall, sporting or Christmas event right around us.

 

As these shots were fired I imagine the children (and teachers) were terrified.  However, I also imagine some of them had a deeper peace as they just went to sleep in the arms of Jesus. Those that had a Mom, Dad, gradmother, grandad or someone else that had taken them to church. Those that had a loved one share the good news about the Christ child born many years ago. Those that had accepted the greatest gift ever given-Jesus.

 

While we all are still celebrating Christmas in a broken world they are experiencing complete peace, joy, hope and love.

 

No-we can't protect our children from everything and everyone. Some things are just out of our hands. But let me tell you what we can do-we can help lead them to the one who can.

 

They ultimately have to make that decision on their own but how much easier will it be for them to see Christ if we are living a life where He can be seen?   How much easier will it be for them to face even the most difficult situations knowing Christ is on their side?

 

So I ask: If your child was in that position would he/she have peace and a greater hope? Have you done everything possible to ensure they do?

 

If not it's the perfect time to start and share the story of Christmas and how it all began. Instead of rushing around searching for a perfect toy, lead them to a gift that will last an eternity.  And I encourage you not just through this Christmas season or through this time of mourning for those in Connecticut but make it a lifetime commitment. Christ came to this world to die for us the least we can do is live for Him.

 

And in living for Him we can help pass onto our kids a peace that passeth all understanding.

 

 

 

 

 

God First Challenge: Day 10 - Meditate on Scripture

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Day 10 Challenge:  Meditate on Scripture

Day 10 Scripture: Joshua 1:8  “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:  for then thou shalt make the way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:2

“Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”  1 Timothy 4:15

Now you’ve dug a little deeper and read what God has to say about the issue – now dwell on it awhile! That’s one reason I love the SOAP method.  I like just taking a couple verses at a time and really letting them sink in-not just my head but my heart -letting God use His word to speak to me.  That’s just another one of the benefits of getting in God’s word first thing in the morning you have all day to meditate on it.

When talking about prayer earlier I mentioned taking some time to listen not just letting it all be about you talking.  It’s the same way with studying God’s word.  Don’t just read, read, and read some more but stop and listen to what God’s telling you through his Word.  If we're talking about God's Word being nourishment for our souls then let it be a delicious dessert and savour every last bite!

Our church presents each high school graduate with a new Bible.  When I received my Bible our pastor at the time told me that all I needed to study God’s word was a KJV Bible, a Webster’s dictionary and most importantly the Holy Spirit.  I can look back now and see just how right he was! 

Not sure what a verse means?  Ask the author-He’s there with you. 

Not sure how it applies to your life? Continue to seek His will and way through his word and prayer. 

I challenge you today to spend some time truly meditating and allow God’s word to come to life!

God First: Day 3 Challenge - Pick a Verse for Morning Motivaiton

Day 3 Challenge:  Pick a Verse for Morning Motivation

Day 3 Scripture:  Psalm 63



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If you are a Christian chances are you have a favorite verse or life verse as some call it.  (FYI:  Mine is Matthew 6:33.)  The challenge for today is to pick a verse that will motivate you in the mornings.  I did this a couple weeks into my morning readings; my verse is Psalm 63:1:

“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:  my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;” 

Go ahead and read this whole chapter it’s a good one! 

Have you ever been really thirsty? I mean REALLY thirsty? The kind of thirsty where only water can quench that thirst.  Spiritually speaking have you ever been really down and out?  Really needed uplifted and encouraged?  Really needed hope when it seemed like all hope was gone?  Sure we’ve all been there.  And I can tell you you’re not going to find that hope, encouragement and peace out in the world.  Nope, no water out there.  That living water is going to have to come from within you.  (John 4:14)

Reading Psalm 63:1 reminds me that I need God to fill me up with what I’ll need for the day.  Now I challenge you to pray and ask God to give you a verse to guide you through this challenge.  He’ll show you one.  Maybe it’s this one, maybe it’s another verse that has a special meaning to you.  Maybe it’s a verse you never really let sink in until you started searching His word.  That’s how it was for me.  I’m sure I’d read Psalm 63 before but it has become a lot more meaningful for me over the past year.

Now that you’ve had a refreshing drink of water- bring on the day!!

God First: Day 2 Challenge-Pray!

My personal prayer spot

Day 2 Challenge:  Pray

Day 2 Scripture:  1 Thessalonians 5:17  “Pray without ceasing”;




James 5:16 "Confess your faults one ot another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

When I first started brainstorming and drafting these challenges I actually had “Pray” as a Day 6 Challenge.  Then when I got to writing Day 6 the Lord quickly showed me prayer needed to be moved up! I hope you prayed before you even started this challenge.  I feel quiet sure you prayed for strength before you drug yourself out of bed yesterday morning.  And I hope you will continue to pray everyday BEFORE you get into God’s word. 

The Bible is SO much more than just a book to be read.  It’s the only book meant to be read with the author present when you read it.  So before opening my Bible each morning I ask God to join me and show me what I need to get me through the day.  I ask Him just to fill me up spiritually for whatever I’m going to face because even though I don’t know what it may be – He does.

There’s SO much I could say about praying.  So many different directions I started in when I started writing this post but for the purpose of this challenge and starting off your day I decided on two things I wanted to share that I've learned about prayer. 

First of all, prayer is a conversation with God – It’s not my to-do list for God.  It’s a conversation between me and Him.  To have a conversation with someone involves both speaking AND listening.  So many times I wonder why God hasn’t answered my prayers then I realize that I haven’t been listening for His answers.

Secondly, it’s SO important to have your own prayer spot close by.  Mine is an oak tree in our back yard. Before our house was built, we lived in Louisiana. When I came home from Louisiana I'd usually take time to walk or ride the 4-wheeler over to where I wanted to build our home and pray under this tree that if it be God's will we'd come home and build a house here. The prayer was answered (praise God!) and we built the house and I started looking for a prayer spot. I really wanted a rock further from home but couldn't seemed to find one. One day I was walking with my ipod listening to a Beth Moore study and she asked "Where is YOUR prayer spot?". This was a difficult time right after I'd quit my job and I felt God drawing me back to my oak tree. I knelt down and prayed turning it all over to him. When I opened my eyes I saw an acorn and I realized that if God could take that acorn and make that HUGE oak tree he could take what little faith I had and accomplish great things. I picked up that acorn and it's still in my kitchen window as a reminder of how great my God is!  

I decided then that was my prayer spot and it was a good thing it was right at my back door!    

Anyone else have a special prayer place?

God First Challenge! (September 2-16)

I want to extend a special invitation to all of you to join me beginning Sunday, September 16 for the "God First Challenge"!

And here it is my first vlog…(by the way if you read my post yesterday I decided late last night to change the name from 15/15 Challenge to God First Challenge):

I know what you're thinking (because I thought it too):

“I barely have enough time to get out the door in the mornings...”

“I'm SO not a morning person even God doesn't want to spend the morning with me...”

 

I ask you just to give it a try and COMMIT for 15 days and see if it isn’t life changing for you!

 

Speaking from experience, this challenge has helped me to:

• Feel better prepared for my day
• Feel more peaceful
• Become closer to God
• Have a clearer understanding of God's purpose for my life
• Enjoy waking up
• Find more purpose in the everyday things
• Have a better understanding of His Word and how it applies to my life
• And SO much more...

 

This challenge will begin Sunday, September 2 and go to Sunday, September 16.  I will have DAILY (yes, I said daily -eek!) blog posts to encourage you along.  Each day will have a challenge and scripture. I will post the blog the night before so you can read the upcoming challenge and then during those 15 minutes in the morning be totally focused on God and his will for your day! 

 

You may choose to read and meditate only on the scripture I post or you may have your own study you want to do-either way is fine just be in His word!  So are you up for it?  Ready for God to challenge and change you? 

Leave me a comment and let me know if you’re going to be joining us.  It’s only 15 days but it’s my prayer that by the end of these 15 days just as you get up and crave that cup of coffee first thing in the morning, you’ll also long to get in God’s Word and have a drink of living water!

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Why I Plan to Eat Mor Chikin!

Before I start getting e-mails and comments that “God loves everyone” and “it’s not our place to judge” let me make a few clear statements.  God does love everyone and only God has the right to judge anyone – I’ll agree with that much.  However, if you are supporting gays/homosexuality and/or living that lifestyle yourself, then I’m not judging you.  You have made that statement and there’s no room left for “careful consideration in forming an opinion” which is what judging means.  So I’m not judging you but I am disagreeing with you and your lifestyle.  And yes God (and I) loves you even in your sinful state just as I am loved in mine. 

However, God’s love is only part of the story.  While society may say that it’s a freedom of choice God says otherwise.  He did NOT create anyone to love the same sex in that way.  Each and every time the Bible mentions marriage it is between a husband and a wife.   

It was meant to be that way when God first formed man: 

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Gen. 2:24). 

It was meant to be that way under grace:

Jesus said, “But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female.  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife.  And they twain shall be one flesh; so they are no more twain, but one flesh.”  (Mark 10:6-8) 

It was meant to be that way in the new church.  Paul speaks of how unrighteous, unnatural, and wicked (Paul’s divinely inspired words not mine) homosexuality is:

“And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them order to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,”  (Rom. 1:27-29)

So before sending an e-mail or posting a comment I simply ask that you listen not to what society says or even I say but search God’s Word and His will for your life for He will never lead you astray.

I could quote several more scriptures on the sanctity of marriage but that’s not the purpose of this blog post.  My blog is all about priorities and keeping life simple the way God created it to be and this morning I had one of those “wake up and smell what’s really going on” moments. I was having my morning devotion when my husband came out to tell me that he had just seen on the news where Gay Rights groups were boycotting Chic-Fil-A and some of the larger cities were trying to keep them from opening up new restaurants because of the stand they’d taken against homosexuality.  (Note to self: Remember to ask Curt to NOT disrupt my morning peaceful time with statements that disturb me such as this!) 

So my actual purpose in writing this blog is to ask you (and myself) as Christians to consider the businesses that we are supporting and giving our money. 

There’s a vote coming up soon in our neighboring county for them to become wet.  The majority of the county is Christians.  I heard a preacher last week say that the only way it would pass is if Christians gave in and did not stand for what the Bible said. 

Maybe I’m completely naïve but I still feel that the majority of American are Christians.  However, we’re passive Christians and if we continue to sit and let others take a stand against what we believe in and do nothing then we certainly will not be the majority for much longer.  NOW is the time to take a stand.

That may mean some changes in our lifestyles.  That may mean going a little further to another restaurant, gas station, retail store, etc.  That may mean giving up some of the foods or products we love.  That may mean paying a little more out of our pocket.  However, I personally feel it’s sacrifices we can’t afford NOT to make. 

I’m proud of the stand Chic-Fil-A, Kirk Cameron and others are making.  Not just against this issue but against others too.  It’s not just a lifestyle I want for myself but for my children and grandchildren also.  The only way they’re going to have the choice to stand is if I make the choice to stand now. 

So inclusion, I say “Eat Mor Chikin”!  Mike Huckabee has declared August 1st Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day but I say eat there as much as you can! 

Where will you be eating or should I say – Who will you be supporting this weekend and in the weeks to come?

The Cry of A Newborn Baby

The "newborns" at church yesterday

“Jesus  answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  John 3:3

Yesterday was one of those perfect days you’d want to relive over and over again!  First of all we were able to take our newborn to church for the first time and what a blessing that was.  It was a wonderful service!  During the service, as we sang the second or third song I couldn’t keep the tears from flowing:

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.
 

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

As I’d sat earlier in the week and wrote down the current and world events in her baby book, I admit it was a little depressing –to think not only the shape of our world right now but what it may be like in years to come if it continues on the same path.  However, as it said in the song because he lives there is hope!  By the end of the service, we were able to witness first hand some of that hope as a first grader we’d been praying for for some time made her way to the altar and accepted Christ as her Savior!

I thought about when “Sunshine” was born how the doctor took her and I was waiting to hear that first cry to let me know she was alright.  How sweet it was when this newborn came from the altar and we heard her say “I was saved.”   Nothing like hearing a newborn cry and knowing everything is alright! 

Then my older daughter asked what was going on as everyone was rejoicing.  I told her she had been saved.  She asked “Why?”  I said so now she can go to Heaven.  Her response was “She’s going right now?” J  I’m thankful for what she is witnessing and for our church that’s going to be raising her.  Yes, there is still hope!

A "Monumental" Message!!

"Footprints in history are not made sitting down.  I cannot wait to show you this movie.  This is the most important journey of my life.  America is worth fighting for and so are our families.  But I cannot do this alone. I need you to join me in reclaiming America's true national treasure."
                                             Kirk Cameron




Last night I was able to go see the movie "Monumental".  It was a one night live presentation to kick-off what I hope to be an awakening across our country!  I know it certainly was for me!  I was amazed at how little I really knew and had been taught about the Pilgrims and how our nation has twisted and just flat out destroyed the truths in which our founding fathers believed would create a strong nation.  They even laid out the plan for liberty for us.  Yet we are SO far from what they envisioned and spent their lives establishing.  Here are just a few things that I didn't know prior to the movie:


1.  The Pilgrims started the seperatist movement because the Bible was translated into the English language and they begin to read it, study it and understand it for themselves.  They soon realized that the true "church" was not based on a rich monarchy but quite the opposite it should consist of humble servants.  However, to break away from the church also meant treason at that time.  Thus they searched for a new land.

2.  The Pilgrims weren't just some weak, ignorant men that landed without knowledge of how to plant corn.  They endured MUCH suffering and many set backs along the way.  Yet their faith in God stayed strong and they knew they had a greater cause and for this they did not give up!  They sacrificed SO much so that their children and the next generations could be able to worship the true God in Spirit and in Truth.

3.  We've been told that our founding fathers wanted seperation of church and state.  That God has no place in our government.  That God in schools is NOT something they would have wanted.  Yet, (brace yourselves for this one) the first Bible ever printed in English in America was printed in 1782 by Congress for the purpose of "an addition of Holy Scriptures for the use of our schools".     It didn't end there.  They not only wanted Bibles in schools but in homes.  The signers of our Consitution funded a family Bible in 1798 so that the Word of God could be distributed to individual households.  Why did they want families and children to be studying and learning the Bible?  Because they knew that if they wanted their new country to be successful then it must start within the individual.  There must be moral values instilled in the citizens.  When that desire to please God is present THEN you will have a successful country.  Here's a short clip from Monumental and Wingclips on this:

4.  Out of the founding fathers that signed the Declaration of Independence not only were they Christians but over half of them (29 of 56) held seminary degrees.

5.  The National Monument to the Forefathers lays out what our forefathers believed would work to establish a successful government.  I'd never even heard of this monument until this movie.  It holds SO many strong truths and you can see as we have strayed from these truths and the "formula" they believed our nation has started falling apart.  

I don't want to spoil the whole movie so I'll stop there.  I knew as Americans and as a country we were far off track but I had no idea how far off track we'd become until watching these truths.  Somewhere along the way we've been deceived and I feel as Christians we've failed to find the facts and to stand up for what our rights are.  Not only for what our forefathers and founding fathers wrote and established in their agreements and declarations but what they sacrified their lives for. 

I am inspired and thankful for the stand Kirk Cameron has made.  Not only in doing this movie but on the stand he has taken on other issues in the media.  I loved what he said at the end of the movie as he talked about how everyone places the blame on someone else whether it be Washington, Hollywood, the Church, or elsewhere. Yet he said

"The answer doesn't begin at the White House, it begins at my house.” ~ Kirk Cameron. 

I think that's exactly what are forefathers realized that in order to have a successful government it must start with successful individuals and in order to have a successful individual you must have a Godly influence and strong morals. 

So as an individual I plan on holding myself to an even higher moral standard.  To truly study God's word for myself and do my best to follow it in my life.  I plan on being more aware of what's happening and studying some of these truths I've just been shown even further.  I want to pass along what I'm learning to others that may not realize it and most importantly to my children who probably won't be taught these truths in school.  There's still hope out there for America but it must begin within us and within our families.

Is there more you want to do?  See the movie?  I don't believe this is all we've heard on this movie.  Kirk Cameron plans on releasing this as a DVD, creating devotionals, homeschool curriculums, etc.   Here's a few more links for additional information:

Monumental Movie Website
Clips from the movie
Demand the Movie in Your Area
Monumental Facebook Page
Pilgrim Monuments


And I leave you with one final quote from John Adams our 2nd President and Signer of the Declaration of Independence:

"Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God ... What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be."

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_{--Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, Vol. III, p. 9.}

Comprehending God's Love

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole fmaily in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."  Ephesians 3:14-19

As we continue in Ephesians, I am more amazed with every verse at Paul’s love and concern for the church.  I love what he is praying here.  He’s asking God to let his fellow brothers and sisters truly comprehend God’s love.   A love that has no limits – it is unconditional, boundless, powerful, pure, sacrificial, and inseparable-just to describe it in a few words.  A love that Francis Chan describes as “crazy” and I’m quite sure that if we truly loved like Jesus in today’s world that’s exactly what we’d be called-crazy!  I wonder how many of us truly “get” it or even try to understand it?  I’ve wondered if I truly understand it. 

I think Paul did, as much as this mortal body can anyway. Here he was imprisoned yet saying “Don’t worry about me.  Don’t become discouraged because of what’s happened to me.”  Instead of praying for himself or drowning in self pity he was praying for the “inner man” of his fellow brothers and sisters.    It’s too much for this selfish outer man to understand.  In verse 19 Paul says “it passeth knowledge.”  It doesn’t make sense to this outer flesh.  That’s where the Holy Spirit comes in. 

So why would Paul even be praying for them to comprehend God’s love?  I think he wanted his brothers and sisters in Christ to understand God’s love so that they could show His love.   If we’re a Christian, that pure, unconditional love is in us because God is in us.  We’re filled with it but do we allow it work in us and to show forth in our lives?  Loving each other isn’t simply a request from God it’s a commandment. 

“This I my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”  John 15:12 (emphasis added).

  That’s some serious love and when we begin to even slightly comprehend that love then we can understand the love we should show to one another.   Still not convinced he literally means love like Jesus? 

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”  1 John 3:16

Love involves sacrifice.  Love involves action.  One of my personal favorite verses on love is:

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”  1 John 3:18.  

  In some ways I think God slowly reveals it to us – as much as we can handle at one time.   For example, has someone ever tried to teach you something just by telling you and you think you get it.  However, once you really start practicing and doing it on your own then you start to fully comprehend it.  I’ve always learned more by doing than hearing.  I think that’s how God’s love is.  We can read our Bibles all day and even memorize it; however, the more we experience and exercise his love and trust in Him then the more he fills us with a greater understanding of His love.

It’s not always easy to love others, just to be honest, some try to make it difficult.  But have you ever stopped to think that’s the ones that may just need God’s love the most?  How about those times you neglected to put God first until something came up then you hit your knees?  Did God say “Sorry you’ve not put me first even after I’ve told you time and time again-even after I’ve already helped you out of this same circumstance?”  No, he didn’t.  Instead, God was still there right where you left him and once you were back in his grace you felt even more loved and closer to Him.   Maybe that’s why Paul understood God’s love better than others.  God’s love had reached him when he was about as low as someone could get.   When you don’t feel others are being “fair” to you or treating you like you want to be treated then that’s when God’s love can shine the brightest.  Do you we get that?

What if you loved like Jesus in your relationships?  What if …

Ø  We loved our spouses like Christ loved us? 

Ø  We loved our brothers and sisters in Christ like He loves us? 

Ø  We loved our children like God loves us?

Ø  We didn’t wear our feelings on our sleeves or “puff up” when things didn’t go our way but instead expected and willingly gave more than we received from our relationships. 

Ø  We didn’t judge or criticize but prayed more for the “inner being”.  

Ø  Instead of giving up on each other, we gave more of ourselves.   

What if we really started to comprehend God’s love and to do what the Bible says-show it!! 

 Novel idea huh?

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A Bolder Witness

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.  Be not though therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner:  but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." 1 Tim. 1:7-9

As I've been studying the beginning of Ephesians 3 this week this scripture, also written by Paul, has been on my heart.  Paul was called by God to deliver an unpopular, politically incorrect message.  A message that as he said had once been a mystery but had been revealed to him through the Spirit.  (Eph. 3:4-5)  The message was "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel." Ephesians 3:6

The Jews certainly did not want to hear this!  They had referred to the Gentiles as "dogs" and certainly didn't see them as their "fellowheirs".  Even though it wasn't easy for them to hear, did that keep Paul from spreading God's truth?  No-not even when he was thrown into prison for it!  Instead he continued  proclaiming the message from prison!  Why? 

"Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.  Therefore, I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." 2 Timothy 2:9-10

How I long to be a bolder witness as Paul was!  There are SO many things accepted by today's society that are wrong!  Why?  Because my Bible and the Spirit tells me so!  But do I stand up and speak the truth or do I just shy away from it to avoid "hurting someone's feelings" or for fear of what they'll think about me?  It's my prayer that next time I'm faced with this I'll be a little more like Paul!  Instead of fear, I'll have the spirit of power, love and sound mind and not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord!

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