Entries for February 2014

WHERE ARE YOU?

"But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?" Genesis 3:9

When I was a child, my mother set limits on where I went to play and how long I stayed. Occasionally, an odd thing would happen. When I was out of limits, beyond my boundaries, I would hear my mother's voice call me,"Jean, Jean! It is time you came home!"

I'd run home as fast as I could, to avoid the consequences. More than once, as I rushed in breathless, my mother would be surprised to see me. I'd ask, "Didn't you call me?" She would smile and say, "No, but it was time I did."

When we feel troubled about what we are doing or sense we are in the wrong place, it is probably God disturbing us with his probing question: "Where are you."

It is not that he doesn't know where you are, but do you know?..(to read more click on article title)


CISTERNS OR SIEVES?

"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters. and hewn themselves cisterns -- broken cisterns that can hold no water." Jeremiah 2:13

God defines two evils, a compound sin, his people committed. One was their break-away from him, abandonment of the source of life, their desertion of a life-source, the fountain of fresh flowing water. The second was their effort to solve the problem on their own, their hard labor of finding water on their own, and how inferior their solution was after all their hard work. Their do-it-yourself- water storage was useless. Their self-dug cisterns leaked, would hold no water. Their cisterns were sieves.

The desertion of a successful provision to develop an unsuccessful project; to discard something that works, to create something that doesn't work, seems stupid. It is stupid, it is the insanity of sin. No wonder God complains. Sin, is really foolish and heart-breaking. Desertion of God causes hard times. We forsake God, reject what he provides, do it our way, the hard way, and find it never works. (to read more click on article title)



GOD IS LOVE

"He who does not love does not know God. for God is love." 1 John 4:8

This is true, God is love. Since it is true, then it is impossible to understand the true nature of love without first understanding the nature of God himself.

Until we know God, through his Son, we have not seen love. Every act, in life and in death, Jesus demonstrated the true being of God. God is love.

Through his Son, his love poured out to every kind of person; the successful, the ruined, the good, the bad, the well, the sick. All who sought God were given love.

Our knowledge of the true meaning of love depends upon our knowledge of God in Jesus Christ. We do not discover God from our experience of love, we discover love from our experience of God...(to read more click on article title)



STAY IN LOVE

“And we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him.” I John 4:16

When the Holy Spirit introduced me to God's Son, I embraced him as my Savior, heart and soul. Jesus is the Lover of my soul. I love him because he first loved me. His grace enables me to live steadily and deeply in an intimate relationship. His love gives me life, His life within.

I want others to know and believe the love God has for them. God sent his Son not only to me, but as Savior of all mankind. If the people I know are going see God is love, their hope is that they will see Him in me....(to read more click on article title)



HEAVENLY PERSPECTIVE

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1: 3

Our Father in heaven has given every believer throne rights with his Son. He sees the cross and the blood Jesus shed for us. He knows Jesus overcame death and rose the Victor. Jesus fought the battle on earth so we could share his victory in heaven.

Believers are those who direct their faith heavenward. They take their place with Jesus, the Victor, and enter into his seat of power. At his throne they share with Christ a high level of intercession from a heavenly perspective.

Words on a church bulletin board caught the attention of those passing by: “Some people are so heavenly minded they are of no earthly good!”...(to read more click on article title) ..



THE PRICE OF A SECRET

“He who conceals his sins does not prosper; but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Proverbs 29:13

King Solomon, known for his wisdom, was inspired to write as a father to his son. ''If you're up-front and take responsibility for wrong things you do, you will find success.'

God the Father wants you, his child, to achieve success with a clear conscience. If you want that to happen, you must be open and honest with God. Those with secret sins are likely to live in fear of being found out.

When you feel something from your past must remain concealed in order to gain approval, remember God honors honesty. He rewards those who take responsibility for their wrongs. He is merciful...(to read more click on article title)