Yes, I am one of “those”. I am a believer who has a relationship with Jesus. I am one of those who believes that God’s Word is Truth and that the Truth is the person of Jesus Christ who was at the beginning of creation with God, from God and remains God. I believe that God planned, from the beginning of time, a way, The Way, for us to love Him back, be able to enter the throne room in prayer and continue to have and develop an intimate, healthy, personal relationship with Him, because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sin. I believe God sent prophets to tell Who would come. Some believed. Some did not. Mankind is given a choice by a loving God.
I believe that the Law was given to guide and protect us in our imperfect world marred by sin by the first man and woman. Devoted to God, and called of God, many imperfect men and woman tried to live out the commandments of God. Then man progressively distorted the Law by adding on man made rules and traditions that were increasingly impossible to obey, unless you were “one of them” who judged you by your position and rank. Man turned God’s Word into a religion. But God wanted a relationship.
I believe that Jesus, who was with God and was God, left His safe, perfect throne of heaven, to enter our filthy, sinful world through the womb of a virgin, chosen specifically for God’s work of redeeming us. I believe Jesus grew from boy to man, living as man/God with mankind’s life experiences. He grew in stature with wisdom, power, unconditional love, mercy and grace beyond anyone else. The difference? He never sinned.
He “moved into the neighborhood” of all hearts, provoked minds with a new way to look at the Law and troubled men’s souls with hard core Truth. Though He had a perfect right to judge, He did not. Instead, Jesus said things like… “I forgive you…go and sin no more.” “I want to come to your house today!” “Rise up! Walk!” “Open your eyes and see!” Yes, He taught Love, showed Love to everyone and was Love. He came to seek and to save lost people, to bring them back to relationships with God!…and then He served them! He even served those who betrayed Him…even his friend, Judas, by washing his feet! How countercultural! How missional! How ridiculous to the law-makers and law-judgers of the day! So they tried to kill Him. But He rose again! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! And He’s coming back!
Yes, I’m “one of those” who believe that Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. I am not childish, but I do have a childlike faith. Some mock me who are my friends, my brother and sometimes other family members, but I still believe. My relationship with God is more important to me than what you might think about me. So go ahead, roll your eyes back into your head until you see your brain, but as for me, I will still believe. You eye-rollers say my faith is a just a crutch to survive life. I say my RELATIONSHIP with the King of kings IS LIFE! And I pray for you who do not believe.
The Psalmist nails it again today…
“The proud hold me in utter contempt, but I do not turn away from your law. I meditate on your age-old laws; O LORD, they comfort me. I am furious with the wicked, those who reject your law. Your principles have been the music of my life throughout the years of my pilgrimage. I reflect at night on who your are, O LORD, and I obey your law because of this. This is my happy way of life: obeying your commandments.”
Psalm 119:51-54, NLT
Am I perfect? Absolutely not…but because of our intimate relationship…I am forgiven.
Yesterday I taught Kindergarten kids. We were talking about taking care of earth where we live and breathe. One little, angelic baby girl spoke up, boldly, I might say, with “AND we take care of God’s world because HE created it for us to enjoy. Its our job to keep it clean and nice!” My overwhelming joy was marred a bit by also watching a little boy next to her, close his eyes and cover his ears, while shaking his head while she was talking, in indignation of her words. Wow, it begins…the rolling of the eyes for being “one of those”…even in Kindergarten. Sad.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I am struck with awe of You and what you teach us through your word and through the positive and negative actions of others. And we pray all the harder for those who do not believe. How it must break Your heart even more, for You have done all to save us from ourselves, except taken away our choice. I choose to love you back, Lord.
Thank you for our relationship, pure and sweet, full of unconditional love for your imperfect servant. How can I say thanks? By living it. In Jesus Name, Amen
The day after Easter, Resurrection Day, may we…
“Remember what you said to me, your servant—I hang on to these words for dear life! These words hold me up in bad times; yes, your promises rejuvenate me.”
Psalm 119:48-49, Msg
Oh, how I love Jesus
Oh, how I love Jesus
Oh, how I love Jesus
Because he first loved me.
Thank You, Lord
In Jesus Name we pray and hang on to every word, Amen!
LIFE!
Was it a morning like this
When the Son still hid from Jerusalem?
And Mary rose from her bed
To tend the Lord she thought was dead
Was it a morning like this
When Mary walked down from Jerusalem?
And two angels stood at the tomb
Bearers of news she would hear soon
Did the grass sing?
Did the earth rejoice to feel You again?
Chorus:
Over and over like a trumpet underground
Did the earth seem to pound “He is risen!”
Over and over in a never-ending round
“He is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!”
Was it a morning like this
When Peter and John ran from Jerusalem?
And as they raced toward the tomb
Beneath their feet was there a tune?
Did the grass sing?
Did the earth rejoice to feel You again?
Repeat Chorus Twice
Was it a morning like this
When my Lord looked out on Jerusalem?
He is risen!
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
I arose just before sunrise singing this song and imagining what the women were thinking and feeling. And I praised God for knowing the whole story! My emotions of gratitude overwhelm me at times. I am that woman who must tell His Story “like a never-ending round”, HE IS RISEN!
“Oh, I’ll guard with my life what you’ve revealed to me, guard it now, guard it ever; And I’ll stride freely through wide open spaces as I look for your truth and your wisdom;
Then I’ll tell the world what I find, speak out boldly in public, unembarrassed. I cherish your commandments–oh, how I love them!–relishing every fragment of your counsel.”
Psalm 119:44-47, Msg
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You.
In Jesus Name, Amen
(Author of song: Sandi Patty)
“Let your love, Yahweh, shape my life with salvation, exactly as you promised…” Psalm 119:41, Msg
HE HAS!
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his on and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.” John 3:16 Msg
“…Then I’ll be able to stand up to mockery because I trusted Your Word.” Psalm 119:42 Msg
HE DID!
“So Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. The soldiers, having braided a crown from thorns, set it on his head, threw a purple robe over him, and approached him with, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ Then they greeted him with slaps in the face.” John 19:1, Msg
“Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for my only hope is in your laws.” Psalm 119:43, Msg
HE WILL!
As I read and meditate each morning, I sometimes entertain the thought of, “Oh, if only the Psalmist knew what was going to happen next! He would be more encouraging in his words and his crying out to God. But after today, perhaps he did know, with God’s heart working through him, as he wrote to foretell the coming of our Lord and Savior. Well, of course!
Jesus, God’s Son, came to seek and to save lost people. He came to serve, not to be served, teaching us the “full extent of his love”, by washing dirty disciples’ feet. He was mocked, tortured in the most cruel way by the invention of the Romans in charge at the time. But the Word was NOT snatched from us. He died. He rose. And He is alive today! AND He’s coming back for His own. Hallelujah!
“My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. I and the Father are one heart and mind.” John 10, Msg
YES!
“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” John 1, Msg
Dear Heavenly Father,
On Christ the solid rock we stand, knowing that our salvation is true and eternal and cannot be snatched from us. Thank you! We praise You and are grateful for Your Word…You, becoming flesh and blood and moving into the neighborhoods. We love you back with all our hearts, minds and souls.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Our LORD and Savior, Amen!
April 18, 2014 Good Friday
Dear Heavenly Father,
Hallowed be Your Name! Blessed are You, dear Lord! Thank you for loving us so much that you stepped down from heaven to earth to save us. Thank you for becoming human enough to feel the beatings, the humiliation, the conflict, the torment and then the nails on the cross.
You had the power to stop it, to clinch Your fists, and shout, “NO”! But instead, You opened Your Hands for us, just as You had always opened your arms to little children who came to You…and You took the nails. You were lifted up, on splintering boards, for your final agony, for me, for my husband, our family, for our friends and our enemies. For all, once and for all.
“Thank you” seems so shallow and not great enough to tell you how more than enough You are to me. So, I will live to be what pleases You so I may do what reflects Your Glory, knowing my horrible debt of sin is paid in full, with an intense desire to show You my heart of deep gratitude. I won’t be perfect and I will mess up from time to time but my life is Your’s to do what You want.
May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, in all the details from small to large, in our lives here on earth as it is in heaven. Give us THIS day a mind to remember all You have done for us. Yes, Lord, Yes!
And forgive us our sin as we quickly forgive the sin of others to us…and to You. Lead us not into temptations to judge, to doubt, to lose faith, to criticize, to be unloving, or impatient. Instead, lead us to “higher ground” thinking and behaving, with You living in us and us in You. Abide with us. May Your Holy Spirit guide us in all we do today and give us power to do what is right…even when no one cares or when no one is looking at us.
You have all power! You are God and we are not. We rely on You. All our trust is in You. So, please put Your power in us to do all that pleases You, makes You smile, brings You praise and helps others look to You, too, for their salvation. We praise You forevermore.
Bless all who reflect on Your salvation by way of the Cross today and then remember that in three days you rose again, defeated death, defeating the prince of darkness and that You are preparing a place for us…where You are…to live forever with You! Hallelujah! Blessed be Your Name!
How can I say thanks? With my life. Help us, Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen
“LORD, give to me your unfailing love, the salvation that you promised me.” Psalm 119:41, NLT
