"You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy." 1 Peter 1:8 NLT
Is it hard for you to imagine loving something or someone even though you have never experienced them? Being a mom, there has been two times that I have loved someone without even seeing them--yup, our two sons. I loved those little people that was growing inside of me more than I could ever imagine.
So, I can find it pretty easy to imagine loving something and not seeing it, but trusting it? That's a little different. Trusting something and seeing it is hard enough. But to have to trust and not seeing--well, that's a little crazy--it's called faith.
Here is a question. When you look out at the beauty of the forest, or the enormousness of the ocean, the depth of blue sky against the white caps of snow covered mountains, the cry of a newborn, the wrinkled eyes of a wise old person, the sound of your spouse praying with your children--how can you say that you have not seen Him? He is everywhere and in everything.
Jesus is in the good, the bad and the ugly. He's in the good to make it joyful--He's in the bad to make the bad better and He's in the ugly to make it beautiful.
Jesus has loved you even before you were conceived. He knew your potential, He knew your weaknesses. He loved you and had faith in you. How about giving back the same?
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Knowing
"Philip said, 'Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.'
Jesus replied, 'I have been with you all this time, Philip, yet you still don't know who I am? Anyone who has seen me, has seen the Father. So why are you asking me to show Him to you? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?'" John 14:8-10 NLT
Do you sense the frustration in Jesus' voice and words? Here He has had this friendship with Philip and still Philip seems to be clueless to who Jesus really is. This friend has been with Jesus, apparently a pretty long time--if you read His words, "I have been with you all this time...", and he still has the nerve to ask Jesus to show proof of who He says He is?
It may seem incredulous to you and me, that Philip would have the opportunity to hang out with Jesus, be a close friend, experience first-hand the miracles, the essence of Him, and yet not really know or be able to comprehend who He really was--but is it?
How many times to we make Jesus reveal to us who He is? How many times does our words and actions contradict our words when we say we have faith?
Jesus is what Jesus says He is. Faith is knowing that and not having to have pictures, affidavits or eye witnesses. It is as simple as that--just knowing and accepting.
Jesus replied, 'I have been with you all this time, Philip, yet you still don't know who I am? Anyone who has seen me, has seen the Father. So why are you asking me to show Him to you? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?'" John 14:8-10 NLT
Do you sense the frustration in Jesus' voice and words? Here He has had this friendship with Philip and still Philip seems to be clueless to who Jesus really is. This friend has been with Jesus, apparently a pretty long time--if you read His words, "I have been with you all this time...", and he still has the nerve to ask Jesus to show proof of who He says He is?
It may seem incredulous to you and me, that Philip would have the opportunity to hang out with Jesus, be a close friend, experience first-hand the miracles, the essence of Him, and yet not really know or be able to comprehend who He really was--but is it?
How many times to we make Jesus reveal to us who He is? How many times does our words and actions contradict our words when we say we have faith?
Jesus is what Jesus says He is. Faith is knowing that and not having to have pictures, affidavits or eye witnesses. It is as simple as that--just knowing and accepting.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Welcome Home!
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love Him" 1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV
Is it hard for you to imagine what Heaven is like? Can you picture how it must be when you arrive? I do. At times, to be totally honest, my human side does worry. Nobody really knows what Heaven's going to be like. I worry that I may not make it there. Do you?
I think that the reason that I have a hard time conceiving God's graciousness is this--because at times I tend to put the shallowness and conditional love emotions that we humans use on each other, as the way the Father looks at us. And it's not even an issue.
Our Father loves us sooo unconditionally and completely, with a depth that we can't even begin to understand. And that is somewhat hard for our minds to accept. What? My God knows my every thought, my every sin, my every shortcoming and He has prepared a place for me? Yes! Why would He do that? Because while He does know all of our dark and shadowy places inside of us, He also knows the strides we have made to be what He wants us to be. He knows our hearts and our spirits and our desire to try to serve and be what He has prepared us to be.
Unlike the world, when it is our time to go to the place He has prepared for us--Heaven--He won't be judging us from the outside but from the heart. He will take you aside, and welcome you with a great big bear hug. You know, like a friend that you haven't seen in a long while, but as soon as you see each other, it's like a day hasn't gone by. You fall into each other's arms and the feeling is so familiar, so comforting, so natural--and why? Because you're home...yes, you're home!
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love Him" 1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV
Is it hard for you to imagine what Heaven is like? Can you picture how it must be when you arrive? I do. At times, to be totally honest, my human side does worry. Nobody really knows what Heaven's going to be like. I worry that I may not make it there. Do you?
I think that the reason that I have a hard time conceiving God's graciousness is this--because at times I tend to put the shallowness and conditional love emotions that we humans use on each other, as the way the Father looks at us. And it's not even an issue.
Our Father loves us sooo unconditionally and completely, with a depth that we can't even begin to understand. And that is somewhat hard for our minds to accept. What? My God knows my every thought, my every sin, my every shortcoming and He has prepared a place for me? Yes! Why would He do that? Because while He does know all of our dark and shadowy places inside of us, He also knows the strides we have made to be what He wants us to be. He knows our hearts and our spirits and our desire to try to serve and be what He has prepared us to be.
Unlike the world, when it is our time to go to the place He has prepared for us--Heaven--He won't be judging us from the outside but from the heart. He will take you aside, and welcome you with a great big bear hug. You know, like a friend that you haven't seen in a long while, but as soon as you see each other, it's like a day hasn't gone by. You fall into each other's arms and the feeling is so familiar, so comforting, so natural--and why? Because you're home...yes, you're home!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
God-Colors
"You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." Matthew 5:15 (The Message)
Ever notice the beauty of a rainbow after a storm? Ever really looked at the vibrant colors of fall, winter, spring and summer? Been on the sidelines of a large crowd and seen all the glorious color of people?
Get the impression that God loves color? That He isn't just a monotone kind of guy? Colors and light and openness are some of His favorite things.
This is what He is asking of us. To be the light in your world that will shine, reflect and bring out the God-colors to the world--to the lonely, lost, unhappy, confused--the list could go on. To share your life--the good, bad, ugly & continuing growing--parts. Why? So that others can see that our God is a generous and forgiving God and loves and wants an open relationship with all of us--not just the perfect. That to Him, as we strive to be His child, we are the most beautiful God-color there is!
Ever notice the beauty of a rainbow after a storm? Ever really looked at the vibrant colors of fall, winter, spring and summer? Been on the sidelines of a large crowd and seen all the glorious color of people?
Get the impression that God loves color? That He isn't just a monotone kind of guy? Colors and light and openness are some of His favorite things.
This is what He is asking of us. To be the light in your world that will shine, reflect and bring out the God-colors to the world--to the lonely, lost, unhappy, confused--the list could go on. To share your life--the good, bad, ugly & continuing growing--parts. Why? So that others can see that our God is a generous and forgiving God and loves and wants an open relationship with all of us--not just the perfect. That to Him, as we strive to be His child, we are the most beautiful God-color there is!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Inner Workout
"I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:19 (The Message)
I have a niece who is 12. My sister, her mom, found out that she had about 8 different myspace personalities. And with each of these personalities, she was a different person. In one, she was a lot older, in another, she was in a different part of the country--the list went on. It's a dangerous game to play, but she doesn't realize this. She just wants to be accepted and loved by her peers.
I know a young woman in church. She just wants to be loved and cherished. But all her life, she has been the victim. She has been victimized and now, to this day, she has--in a sense--victimized herself by herself because she puts off all these protective measures so that people can't get close.
A heart has to go out to these people. I've been there--have you? These are only two out how many in this world that just want to feel loved, cherished, accepted, for who they are. Have you noticed that the more the world takes Jesus and faith out of it's society, the more insecure that people feel?
"I asked him to strengthen you by His Spirit--not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength." What we need to do is exactly this--pray for the Lord to strengthen us inward out. Inner strength goes so much farther than just mere outer, physical strength. Isn't it beautiful the way that The Message puts it?
Please know that those times when you wish that you were someone else. When you feel that you are a total failure and it's no wonder that no one loves you. You're wrong. Someone loves you just as you are. You are just what He wants. You are His child. Turn to that glorious inner strength and plant your two feet firmly on that knowledge.
Don't get me wrong. We are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. And we need to strive to turn from our old sinful ways, humbly ask for forgiveness and serve Him to the best of our ability. The difference is that at times, we look at ourselves with eyes that loath ourselves because we see only the sin. But God, who designed you just the perfect you, sees only that--your perfection.
Take time to strengthen that glorious inner strength. We take time to work out and strengthen our bodies--isn't this more important? How? Once again, the answer is prayer and being in the Word--the Bible. The power of prayer and of the Word is no clique. It is real.
I have a niece who is 12. My sister, her mom, found out that she had about 8 different myspace personalities. And with each of these personalities, she was a different person. In one, she was a lot older, in another, she was in a different part of the country--the list went on. It's a dangerous game to play, but she doesn't realize this. She just wants to be accepted and loved by her peers.
I know a young woman in church. She just wants to be loved and cherished. But all her life, she has been the victim. She has been victimized and now, to this day, she has--in a sense--victimized herself by herself because she puts off all these protective measures so that people can't get close.
A heart has to go out to these people. I've been there--have you? These are only two out how many in this world that just want to feel loved, cherished, accepted, for who they are. Have you noticed that the more the world takes Jesus and faith out of it's society, the more insecure that people feel?
"I asked him to strengthen you by His Spirit--not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength." What we need to do is exactly this--pray for the Lord to strengthen us inward out. Inner strength goes so much farther than just mere outer, physical strength. Isn't it beautiful the way that The Message puts it?
Please know that those times when you wish that you were someone else. When you feel that you are a total failure and it's no wonder that no one loves you. You're wrong. Someone loves you just as you are. You are just what He wants. You are His child. Turn to that glorious inner strength and plant your two feet firmly on that knowledge.
Don't get me wrong. We are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. And we need to strive to turn from our old sinful ways, humbly ask for forgiveness and serve Him to the best of our ability. The difference is that at times, we look at ourselves with eyes that loath ourselves because we see only the sin. But God, who designed you just the perfect you, sees only that--your perfection.
Take time to strengthen that glorious inner strength. We take time to work out and strengthen our bodies--isn't this more important? How? Once again, the answer is prayer and being in the Word--the Bible. The power of prayer and of the Word is no clique. It is real.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Accepted
"If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.
Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own."
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (The Message)
Paul is the writer of this book. I love the opening line--"If I acted crazy, I did it for God"--have you ever experienced a giddiness in your walk with the Lord? Like there are times when you are experiencing Him and all of a sudden, you feel this uncontrollable laughter inside of you, bursting to get out? Well, you may feel like you're acting a little silly. If someone was near you, watching you, they may think that you're being a little crazy. You can be crazy in the spirit and be OK. Do you know what it is called? It's called having the joy of the Lord spilling out all over you and anyone near you. Isn't that glorious?!
Then on the other hand, if you have someone in your life (and this could include yourself), that is on the verge of making the wrong decision, going down the wrong path, you can, and maybe should, get real serious, real fast. It's a matter of life and death. It's not a laughing matter. There's a life to save and there's no time for fun and games.
Having Christ in your life and living a Christful life, can and at times, will--give you both extremes. Full of, what they use to call, schoolgirl giddiness to the opposite extreme, seriousness that is nobody's business.
Jesus died for EVERYONE. Not just for the highly educated. Not for the beautiful people. Not for the wealthy. Not for anyone who has anything or who is anybody. Jesus died for us ALL. It doesn't matter to Him if you have been perfect since the day you were conceived or as bad as the day is long. Jesus sees us all the same.
I love how Paul puts it--"One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat." Do you noticed that? Have you noticed that when a catastrophe happens--on the norm--it doesn't matter who you are, where on the social ladder you happen to be, what ethnic background you have--the drama is happening to all of us and we tend to try to help each other out? At that moment, we are all equal. We are all on the same playing field, sharing the same rules.
To Jesus, we are all His very special children. To Him, you, yes you, are His and His only. When you are praying to Him, the other millions of people that He has created, fade into the background and for that very special time that you and Him are talking and sharing, that intimate time that is just between you and Him--is just that. Intimate-just between you and Him.
Please, don't get me wrong. He loves us all the same, yet at the same time, He can love us individually in a special way that is an unique relationship that only you and Him have. That is one reason your prayer life is SO very important. You need to have a healthy prayer life with Him to have a healthy Christ-center relationship with Him. Do you understand that?
Still think that you don't matter? That a prayful (communicating) life with your Father isn't important? Think again. I think you know better!
Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own."
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (The Message)
Paul is the writer of this book. I love the opening line--"If I acted crazy, I did it for God"--have you ever experienced a giddiness in your walk with the Lord? Like there are times when you are experiencing Him and all of a sudden, you feel this uncontrollable laughter inside of you, bursting to get out? Well, you may feel like you're acting a little silly. If someone was near you, watching you, they may think that you're being a little crazy. You can be crazy in the spirit and be OK. Do you know what it is called? It's called having the joy of the Lord spilling out all over you and anyone near you. Isn't that glorious?!
Then on the other hand, if you have someone in your life (and this could include yourself), that is on the verge of making the wrong decision, going down the wrong path, you can, and maybe should, get real serious, real fast. It's a matter of life and death. It's not a laughing matter. There's a life to save and there's no time for fun and games.
Having Christ in your life and living a Christful life, can and at times, will--give you both extremes. Full of, what they use to call, schoolgirl giddiness to the opposite extreme, seriousness that is nobody's business.
Jesus died for EVERYONE. Not just for the highly educated. Not for the beautiful people. Not for the wealthy. Not for anyone who has anything or who is anybody. Jesus died for us ALL. It doesn't matter to Him if you have been perfect since the day you were conceived or as bad as the day is long. Jesus sees us all the same.
I love how Paul puts it--"One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat." Do you noticed that? Have you noticed that when a catastrophe happens--on the norm--it doesn't matter who you are, where on the social ladder you happen to be, what ethnic background you have--the drama is happening to all of us and we tend to try to help each other out? At that moment, we are all equal. We are all on the same playing field, sharing the same rules.
To Jesus, we are all His very special children. To Him, you, yes you, are His and His only. When you are praying to Him, the other millions of people that He has created, fade into the background and for that very special time that you and Him are talking and sharing, that intimate time that is just between you and Him--is just that. Intimate-just between you and Him.
Please, don't get me wrong. He loves us all the same, yet at the same time, He can love us individually in a special way that is an unique relationship that only you and Him have. That is one reason your prayer life is SO very important. You need to have a healthy prayer life with Him to have a healthy Christ-center relationship with Him. Do you understand that?
Still think that you don't matter? That a prayful (communicating) life with your Father isn't important? Think again. I think you know better!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Tea Time!
"And yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
We are the clay, and you are the potter.
We all are formed by your hand."
Isaiah 64:8 NLT
There was a couple who took a trip to England to shop in a beautiful antique store to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially teacups.
Spotting an exceptional cup, they asked, "May we see that? We've never seen a cup quite so beautiful."
As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke, "You don't understand. I have not always been a teacup. There was a time when I was just a lump of red clay. My master took me and rolled me, pounded and patted me, over and over and I yelled out, "Don't do that. I don't like it! Leave me alone!" But He only smiled and gently said, "Not yet."
Then WHAM! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was made to suit Himself and then He put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door. "Help! Get me out of here!" I could see Him through the opening and I could read His lips as He shook His head from side to side, "Not yet."
When I thought I couldn't bear it another minute, the door opened. He carefully took me out and put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. Oh, that felt so good! "Ah, this is much better," I thought.
But after I cooled, He picked me up and He brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. "Oh, please, stop it, stop!" I cried. He only shook His head and said, "Not yet."
Then suddenly, He puts me back into the oven. Only it was not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I just knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. I was convinced I would never make it. I was ready to give up. Just then, the door opened and He took me out and again, placed me on the shelf, where I waited and waited, wondering, "What's He going to do to me next?"
An hour later, He handed me a mirror and said, "Look at yourself." And I did. I said, "That's not me. That couldn't be me. It's beautiful! I'm beautiful!"
Quietly He spoke, "I want you to remember. I know it hurt to be rolled and pounded and patted. But had I just left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I know hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened. You would not have had any color in your life. If I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't have survived for long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. Now you are what I had in mind when I first began with you."
I know this is a long story, but it has such a great moral. The moral is this--God knows what He's doing for each of us. He is the--your--potter, and you are His clay. He will mold you and make you and expose you to just enough pressures, of just the right kinds, so that you may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good--pleasing and perfect.
So, when life seems hard, and you are being pounded and patted and pushed, almost beyond endurance, when your world seems to be spinning out of control, when you feel like you are in a fiery furnace of trials, when life seems to 'stink', try this--make yourself a cup of tea in your favorite cup, sit down, think on this story and then, have a little talk with your Potter.
We are the clay, and you are the potter.
We all are formed by your hand."
Isaiah 64:8 NLT
There was a couple who took a trip to England to shop in a beautiful antique store to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially teacups.
Spotting an exceptional cup, they asked, "May we see that? We've never seen a cup quite so beautiful."
As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke, "You don't understand. I have not always been a teacup. There was a time when I was just a lump of red clay. My master took me and rolled me, pounded and patted me, over and over and I yelled out, "Don't do that. I don't like it! Leave me alone!" But He only smiled and gently said, "Not yet."
Then WHAM! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was made to suit Himself and then He put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door. "Help! Get me out of here!" I could see Him through the opening and I could read His lips as He shook His head from side to side, "Not yet."
When I thought I couldn't bear it another minute, the door opened. He carefully took me out and put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. Oh, that felt so good! "Ah, this is much better," I thought.
But after I cooled, He picked me up and He brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. "Oh, please, stop it, stop!" I cried. He only shook His head and said, "Not yet."
Then suddenly, He puts me back into the oven. Only it was not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I just knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. I was convinced I would never make it. I was ready to give up. Just then, the door opened and He took me out and again, placed me on the shelf, where I waited and waited, wondering, "What's He going to do to me next?"
An hour later, He handed me a mirror and said, "Look at yourself." And I did. I said, "That's not me. That couldn't be me. It's beautiful! I'm beautiful!"
Quietly He spoke, "I want you to remember. I know it hurt to be rolled and pounded and patted. But had I just left you alone, you'd have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I know hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened. You would not have had any color in your life. If I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't have survived for long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. Now you are what I had in mind when I first began with you."
I know this is a long story, but it has such a great moral. The moral is this--God knows what He's doing for each of us. He is the--your--potter, and you are His clay. He will mold you and make you and expose you to just enough pressures, of just the right kinds, so that you may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good--pleasing and perfect.
So, when life seems hard, and you are being pounded and patted and pushed, almost beyond endurance, when your world seems to be spinning out of control, when you feel like you are in a fiery furnace of trials, when life seems to 'stink', try this--make yourself a cup of tea in your favorite cup, sit down, think on this story and then, have a little talk with your Potter.
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