Power of Love

In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:37-39)

Notice it doesn't say we overwhelmingly conquer by doing good works, or by our faith. We overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loves us! His love is constant, powerful, deeper than the deepest ocean, higher than the heavens.. By abiding in His love, we not only conquer, we "overwhelming conquer". If we were playing a baseball game, the score would be 99 to 0! Having God on our team assures us of victory in life. That doesn't mean we'll never have problems, but it does mean He will always love us.

And as long as we abide in His love, we're winners from His perspective. To give an analogy, think about your children. You don't always love everything they do but- you can't help but love them. And the cool thing is- nothing can separate us from God's love. Whether we live or die, there's no angel, no evil, nothing that's happening now and nothing that's ever going to happen, nothing can ever separate us from His love!

Covered

When our life gets blurry,
something I've discovered-
There's no need to worry,
for Jesus has us covered.

Whatever trial we face
He's right there beside us..
We're covered in His grace,
as He leads and guides us.

Christ's blood upon the altar

will cleanse our every stain..

For when we fail and falter
we're covered still the same.

Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account. (Psalm 32:1-2)

God's Eyes

You've heard that "God sees everything". The Bible agrees - "The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From His dwelling place He looks out On all the inhabitants of the earth. He who fashions the hearts of them all. He who understands all their works." (Psalm 33:13-15)

But it goes on to say "Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His unfailing love." (Psalm 33:18) Now, that's a little different. For those who fear (or revere Him), God not only sees them, He looks at them in a different way. I like to describe the difference like this..

When my daughter was in elementary school, she attended an after-school program. After school was officially over, until I could leave work and pick her up, she was in the program for a couple of hours. There were games and activities, basically a fun time for the children. When I would arrive to pick her up, there were kids everywhere, all over the place. I would look and look and eventually would see my daughter in the midst of the crowd. From that moment on, the other kids were simply in the background. Sure I could see the other children, but my main focus was my little girl. I would call out her name and she would come running screaming with arms open wide "Daddy!". That's the difference between how God views everyone in the world, and how He see His children.

One morning on the way to work, I was sitting at a stop light and started thinking about God looking down on the people of Earth, rushing about, trying to get to their jobs on time. All of a sudden I felt that still small voice I've heard so often. It felt as though God were saying "hey there's my boy". Here I was, at a traffic light, with so many other cars all around me. I can imagine very few of those people were even thinking about God at that particular point in time. But here I was meditating on God's presence. Well, I just couldn't help but think God was pleased. Not that I'm perfect by any means, but that day I did catch a glimpse of His pleasure.

One of the saddest stories in the Bible is found in Genesis 6, where God looked out on the people of Earth and saw that everyone only thought of evil continually. It goes on to say God was grieved. BUT it also goes on to say, there was one person who was different. It says "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord". No matter how bad things get, how evil the world becomes, I want to be like Noah and find that grace. I want God's eyes to be on me, as I hope in His unfailing love.

His eye is upon me
for as from my youth
He has pursued me
in Spirit and truth

He has pursued me
and when I would hide
His arms would be to me
opened so wide

Opened wide are
His eyes toward me
He has pursued me
and now I'm free

Not where we are?

There's someone I know who, when talking about certain Christians in other churches, will often say "they're just not where we are"! Have to admit, every time I hear them say that, it grieves me. I know they're totally unaware of my feelings on that, and since I love them a great deal, I don't confront them in front of others.

First of all, what do they mean by that? The assertion is, we're more spiritual than "those people". We know more about the Bible, more about the Holy Spirit, more about His gifts, etc.. You may say, well maybe they don't mean it that way. Oh no, trust me- that's exactly what they're trying to say.

Second, how does it sound? It sounds prideful, doesn't it? Have you ever felt like you were better than another? Just being honest, I'm sure that I have. I'm ashamed of that now and hope I'm never like that again. Especially since, one of those seven sins that God hates the most is pride.

Recently something happened that caused me to reflect on this a great deal. I'm on the organizational board of a  Christian group, which will remain nameless. In our monthly meeting, someone suggested that to make sure our group doesn't allow any rogue members to infiltrate our ranks. Someone at the national level wanted require all members to sign a "statement of faith". Personally I agreed with everything the statement said. BUT I had a big issue with the intent of the requirement. One section of the statement said that "we believe in the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed". Well, have to admit, I agree with them too. But to make a rule that says "unless you agree with our creeds, you can't participate in our functions"? Think about that. That's like saying, unless you believe in the creeds, you're "not where we are"! I spent most of my adult life in churches that don't recite the creeds. Do I think those churches are "not where I am"? Not as spiritual? Nooooo! They're just as spiritual and just as loved by God. Thankfully the other members of the board voted down that (shall I say) stupid requirement. I hope we open our doors to any Christian denomination.

I for one, do not intend to be like the Pharisee in the following parable Jesus told..

And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)


(Blind Men of Indostan)

Precious in His Sight

A new poem of mine, my morning offering..

Though we're so frail and feeble,
often full of worldly woes.
God takes pleasure in His people,
with a love that only grows..

Since His love's a burning flame,
since we're precious in His sight,
should we not desire the same,
making God our soul's delight?

Knowing God

I've been reading Knowing God by J. I. Packer. This passage really spoke to me..

"What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we set ourselves in life? To know God. What is the eternal life that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God....What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight, and contentment, than anything else? Knowledge of God....Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord."
(J. I. Packer, Knowing God, chap 3)

That passage reminded me of a favorite verse of mine..

"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (Gospel of John, chap 17:3)

Lord, I don't want to know about You, I want to know You! I want to make that my sole desire in this life. Enough of chasing my own desires, my own pleasures, my own self-esteem. What garbage that all seems in light of knowing you! I only want to know you more and more and more!

God is for me

For the past year and a half, we have been headed toward foreclosure on the home we've lived in for over 13 years. It's been one thing after another trying to deal with the mortgage companies. Months of waiting, legal hoops to jump through, having to attend a mediation hearing. Then mortgage company made a in-our-opinion ridiculous refinance offer. End result, we have to short sale our home quickly to avoid going to foreclosure. This past week the realtors came to put a "For Sale" sign in our yard..

Some days are okay- we get through it by trying to live the verse "take no thought for tomorrow, for each day has enough trouble of it's own". Then other days, like the day they brought the "For Sale" sign, it's rough. Reality sets in. As a man, I could look at that sign as see "LOSER" or "FAILURE" written all over it. But I know better. God never condemns us. He's always a loving God, even when we don't love ourselves.

The night after the realtor came to put the sign out, I had one of these rare times. I just opened my Bible and there in front of me was the exact message I needed! "From my distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in a large place. The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?" (Psalm 118:5-6)

It was like God was telling me- I'm for you! I'm on your side! I'm cheering you on. I could just imagine Jesus standing on the sidelines of my life wearing a jacket with my name on it, shouting words of encouragement.. As those verses say, there's no need to fear. What can man do to me? Another thing I noticed about verse 6.. It says He will set me in a "large place". I'm not sure if that's literal, that we'll move into a large place, or if it means He's calling us to a place of liberty. Either interpretation is fine.

I'm just glad God is on my side!