He loves me... He loves me not (2/4)

God’s love sets us free.

Psalm 56:3 in the Amplified Bible - - “What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You”. 

God does not want us to live afraid.  What casts out fear?  God’s LOVE.  Once the truth that God loves you gets rooted in your heart, you can continue on without fear.  You will have courage to face anything.  And when you do become afraid you can do what this verse says, put your trust in God. Why? Because God is all-knowing, ever-present and all-powerful.  If He is on your side, who can be against you?

1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection].

One of the great hindrances to accepting God’s love is having suffered from rejection. I spent my younger days trying to earn affection by being perfect – which I couldn’t be of course; always in the back of my mind was “maybe if I’m good enough they will love me”.  I was set free from this when I discovered and understood that God truly loves ME, just the way I am, just for me – when I understood that there was nothing I could do to earn His love. 

If you have grown up being hurt, rejected or betrayed, which produces fear, then your mind needs to be renewed on this one point before you try to “do” anything for God (which is another subject in itself). Rejection is a weapon that the enemy wields against us to keep us bound and hopeless. Satan does not want us to discover the boundless love of God in Christ, because when we do, we will joyfully give ourselves to Him and fearlessly go anywhere, do anything He leads us to do.

So let’s continually be ‘growing into love’s complete perfection’. Let’s water that love with the Word, and through talking to God throughout each day.

He loves me… He loves me not… ???

God is LOVE and He LOVES US !

He loves me... He loves me not...

(Part 1 of 4)

Do you remember ever having done that – taking the daisy and pulling off the petals one by one “he loves me, he loves me not…” hoping that you ended up with a ‘he loves me’ petal at the end?

What I’m going to relate here is something that we know, but how deeply we understand it will affect everything about our walk with God.  It is not complicated.  It is simple but at the same time so profound that it can change your entire life forever.  That’s quite a statement don’t you think? - and this is the message - GOD LOVES YOU!!  The Father loves you.  The Son loves you.  The Holy Spirit loves you.

I know that we know that God loves us, but do we really get it ???  We need to really get it !

So we are going to say this out loud, yeah, it’s okay, go ahead say it out loud: 

        The Father loves me.

        Jesus, the son, loves me.

        The Holy Spirit loves me.

I know that for some people it is a very difficult thing to actually say this out loud, because they can’t imagine it’s true because of what they think they've done, or not done and any number of other issues.  We get sidetracked into all kinds of difficulty if this truth (which is already planted in our spirits, in our innermost being) does not get filtered up through the rest of us until it transforms and renews our soul, which is our mind, will and emotions. Let’s say it again: 

        God loves me.

        The Father loves me.

        The Son loves me.

        The Holy Spirit loves me.

        I am loved.

        Nothing can change God’s love for me.

Why is this so important?  Because if you don’t really believe that God loves you, all the time, no matter what, you won’t be able to completely trust Him, you won’t be able to have an intimate relationship with Him and you won’t be able to believe that He will really look after you in everything.

        We must always come back to the basic truth that we cannot earn God’s love.  He loves us just because He does.  Period.

Eph. 3:17-19 - “that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

With God we ALWAYS get a “He loves me petal” at the end!

Stop everything…

It may be bright and early in the morning, half-way through your day or in the evening, but whenever it is just stop everything. Stop.

Just quiet the racing thoughts. Breathe.

Father – I just have to stop a second and say that I’m so glad that I can call you Father, a Father who loves me, protects me, corrects me, guides me, shelters and provides for me. Thank you Father!  Lord here we are another day that you have made, may we say that we are glad and that we will rejoice in this day. Draw each one of us closer to you, closer to your word, closer to the truth. Open our understanding to grasp all that you would have us to know. Your word tells us that we have the mind of Christ – let it rise up in us Lord, overtake our own way so that we will be strong in You, able to have a word ready to anyone who asks the reason for the hope we have.

We lay at your feet today, all that concerns us, all of our different situations and circumstances, our loved ones and the needs that they have…. (pause to name those that come to mind)…. thanking you Lord that you hear us, that You are at work answering our prayers according to Your purposes and in Your wisdom – I wouldn’t want it any other way Lord than according to what You know is best.

When I think of you Lord, I smile. I smile because you are so AWESOME and WONDERFUL and AMAZING !!!! You are my peace, my joy and my everlasting hope. Thank you that I can stop at any time in my busy day and breathe and look to You - You are always there, never too busy for me.

(Another long weekend for me so I'll be back next Tuesday)

Who Created Who ?

Do we call on the Holy Spirit to change and transform us
so that we will become conformed to the image of Christ?

Or

Do we try to fit God into the image of who we want Him to be for us?

We can do that so easily can’t we, especially in our ‘I want it now’, microwave, instant and express generation. When it comes to God, his word and his will, let’s slow down. There is so much confusion in our world. God is sure, stable and unchanging. He says what he means and means what he says. We can trust his word. He does know what is best for us. He does have a plan and a purpose for our lives. Let’s fit into His plans instead of trying to fit Him into ours.

He is the potter, we are the clay. (Isaiah 64:8)

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)

Come Holy Spirit and create in me a pure heart

A heart that can see beyond the natural realm

Into Your face

To behold your Glory

Transform me by Your Spirit and Your Word

Into what You created me

To be

Which way are you running ?

Good morning everyone. Yes, we are all still here, the end of the world or the rapture did not happen on May 21^st as was erroneously predicted by a man who was sincere, but was sincerely wrong. Let us not be lulled to sleep however, because Jesus is coming back. We do not know the day or the hour but we need to be mindful of the days in which we live. We need to be watchful and to keep running the race to win. Run to God. Run to His Word the Bible. Run away from sins and habits that take you away from God and His Word. Run away from those who preach ‘another gospel’. Do you see how easy it was for people to be duped into believing what this man said? Do you also see how important it is for each of us to be grounded in the scriptures? Yes let’s keep running the race of faith and not give up. Run the race of faith as if your very life depended on it – because it does ! Let's all make sure we are running in the right direction.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (Message Bible) 

^1-3…all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honour, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he ploughed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

1 Corinthians 9 (New King James Version)

²⁴ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

Don’t ask for what you deserve

Lie:  I deserve better

Truth:  I deserve hell. God doesn’t owe me anything. I owe Him everything.

Whoa!!! That was a rough beginning wasn’t it, especially for a Friday – saying we deserve hell. Stick with me here – don’t touch that dial, click on the clicker, hit the home button on your iPhone, hit the back button, or touch the remote. It’ll be okay, I promise.

Think about it now, do we really deserve hell? Well…yes we do. But I thought I was a fairly good person; I try to do right, sure I make mistakes like everyone else but I haven’t murdered anybody or anything like that. I’m not any worse than most people I know, in fact, I think I’m okay.

Here’s the thing, you don’t get into heaven by how good you are or how many good things you do. On your last day you’re not going to take two bags with you, one full of the good things you did and the other with the bad things and hope the good weighs more than the bad. It doesn’t work that way. Nope we all deserve hell – but hold on – there’s good news.

First, why do we all deserve hell? No sin enters God’s presence. We “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. (Romans 3:23) Therefore, because of our sin, even a little teenie tiny one, we deserve hell. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

The last part of that verse is good news, isn’t it? Yes there was a great exchange made at the cross and through the resurrection of Jesus. He took my sin on himself; He paid the debt that I could not pay. He took my death penalty, what I deserved, and gave His own sinless life in my place. In exchange I have new life now and will spend eternity with Him. I acknowledged my sinful state before Him and asked Him to forgive me. I turned my life over to Him. I received what He offered. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) There is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ. (Check out Acts 4:10-12)

I realize I am probably preaching to the converted, but I think we need to remember what our salvation is all about, what it took for us to be free. We need to reflect on the cost once in awhile. It should never get old.  We should never take it for granted.

So back to the beginning, don’t ask for what you deserve – we know what that is! Instead receive the life that God offers. Don’t live dissatisfied thinking you deserve more – find your satisfaction in the One who loves and cherishes you the most.

See you all next Tuesday. Monday is a holiday so I will be relaxing with my family and will not be posting that day.

When you don't know what to pray...

Pray the Word.

Do you ever find yourself searching for what to say when you come to the Lord in prayer? I have found that the best thing to do is to pray the Word. I love Psalm 23. Here is one of my prayers based on this Psalm. Please pray it with me today and add your own words to mine.

1. The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

You are the One who leads and guides me on the path of life - in Your path. Guide my steps Oh Lord. You provide for me according to Your riches in glory, therefore I have everything I need today.

2. He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

3. He restores my soul;

    He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

    He leads me beside the still waters.

Ahhh God, when the stress of life overwhelms me there is a place in You that I can find rest, calm in the storm, safety, You are a strong tower and a refuge. You truly do lead me by quiet waters where my soul can be refreshed and restored. Because of Your Great NAME you lead me on the right path. My prayer Lord is that I bring honour to Your Name in all I do and say. Lead me in Your truth O Lord.

4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

     I will fear no evil;

     For You are with me;

     Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

When life is chaotic, when circumstances would want to overshadow and steal my peace and joy in You, You reassure me that You will never leave nor forsake me, You ARE with me, You send Your angels to surround me. I will not be afraid. I can do all things that are required of me today through your enabling power. I am comforted in knowing that You love, care for and watch over me.

5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

     You anoint my head with oil;

     My cup runs over.

Thank you Lord that I am assured victory, that I am more than a conqueror; that my enemies will see and know that the Lord of lords and King of kings is my portion. Let the oil of your presence flow over me and in me today. I am full of thankfulness Lord.

6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

   All the days of my life;

   And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Lord You are good and Your goodness and mercy will accompany me today and every day of my life, and into eternity with You. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty! My God, my Saviour, all praise and honour to You today.

Amen.