A love story....

A love story.....

When I awoke early this morning,  I was contemplating how many love  stories and love analogies there are in the Bible....they start at the beginning in Genesis and trail through all the way to the end in Revelations...in fact they are in every book...because that is who God is...a Redeemer, a lover of his people, compassionate, Saviour....He loves us with an infinite, indescribable, desperate love...seeking the lost...crying at their death, weeping at their sight...comforting at their afflictions, protecting, leading through the wilderness, saving on a boat, sending messengers, forgiving, creating a heavenly home,   leaving heaven to die on a horrible cross...just because He loves us...there is just no greater love....

And then I opened this devotional which says it again....a love story...

Thank YOU for Your love shown in so many ways to each of us...in our different paths of life...You are there in the depths and the heights...thank YOU....

Psalm 139:8-10 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me,your right hand will hold me fast. 

A Love Story   A daily devotion for February 28th   From your friends at RayStedman.org     Read: Isaiah 53:10-12       ...because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12)       When I first came to Peninsula Bible Church as a pastor, we had an unusual opportunity to have in our home a Japanese man who had become a Christian evangelist. His name was Captain Mitsuo Fuchida, the commander of the squadron that bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He told us in his broken English of that event and how he felt at the time he gave the command to drop the bombs. After the war he became a hero in Japan, yet he felt his life was empty. Then he heard the amazing story of one of the American fliers, Jacob DeShazer, one of Doolittle's bombers, who had been captured and put in prison in Japan. At first he was a very intractable prisoner, but someone gave him a New Testament and, reading it, his whole life was changed. Fuchida heard about that change in the life of DeShazer, and Fuchida himself began to read the New Testament. When he came to the story of the crucifixion, he told us that he was so moved by the prayer that broke from the lips of Jesus as he hung upon the cross with his torturers and tormentors gathered about him, Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing(Luke 23:34), that his own heart broke. He could not understand how anyone could pray for his enemies and ask for them to be forgiven. In that moment he opened his heart to Christ, and ultimately became a Christian evangelist. For some years he traveled throughout this country, speaking especially to young people about the grace that could come into a life through One who was numbered with the transgressors . . . and made intercession for them. This is a love story. What kind of love is this that awakens within us a response of deep and abiding gratitude, a willingness to admit that we need help? Our only adequate response is found in the words of a hymn, Oh, love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in Thee. I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths its flow May richer fuller be. I am overwhelmed by your great love, O Lord, that will never let me go and is changing me into your likeness.       Life Application   The realization that the perfect and sinless Jesus became sin for us should break our hearts and radically change our lives. Does His sacrificial love redefine love as both noun and verb, both essence and expression? Are we learning to love for Jesus' sake and by the power of His Presence?   Related Message   For more on this portion of Scripture read the message: Man of Sorrows or listen to the audio by clicking:   Listen to Ray     Previous Devotions for February Next       Want to Subscribe?   Subscribe / Unsubscribe to this Daily Devotion by Email   Copyright © 2016 Ray Stedman Ministries — This daily devotion is from the book Immeasurably More: a year of devotions from the writings of Ray Stedman, compiled by Mark Mitchell. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice and a hyperlink to RayStedman.org if the copy is posted on the Internet.

 

Ephesians 3:14-21...A prayer for the Ephesians ...

Ephesians 3:14-21, a prayer for the Ephesians...

Ephesians 3:14-21, the Message.....My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth.

 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. 

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! 

He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!

Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!

Glory down all the generations!

Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes! 

Paul wrote this prayer to the Ephesians in the middle of the book of the Ephesians...it was like he couldn't help but write a prayer right there in the middle of his letter... He was so excited to tell them so much, he stopped and prayed that they would take it all in and then wrote some more...

He was so taken up with the magnificence of all that God is, who Jesus is, who the Holy Spirit is...and he couldn't contain himself..and he wanted those people to experience the wholeness of the message, the life, the love as well...

I was drawn to his words, his enthusiasm, his love, his concern, his fervency this morning as I read it both in the Message and the NIV versions...just thinking that Christ prayed for me as well...with even more love, more fervency, more power....wanting to draw us each into that realm where we live in that strength, that power, that gloriousness, that immeasurably more...

Thank YOU...for Your prayers, for the prayer of those who have gone before,....help me to pray fervently for those around me and those coming behind...desiring You in my life and theirs as well...gloriously praising You...

Ephesians 3:14-21, NIV, For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—

that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 

Hosea....think on these things...

Hosea...

Just starting a new Bible study on Hosea next week...

Looked up his name meaning, "salvation" or "Jehovah is help" from "All the Men of the Bible"

Hosea was also called the "first prophet of Grace"..which God so pours on us by His love and salvation...in times when we may less than deserving...Hosea shows abundant grace toward his wayward wife, Gomer...such a picture of our Salvation and grace given...

What does Salvation mean?

-access to God

-adoption into the family of God

-forgiveness of sin 

-heavenly citizenship

-inheritance from God 

- peace with God

-righteousness in the sight of God

-becoming a new creation

-deliverance from God's righteous condemnation 

-inner personal renewal

-deliverance from the power of sin and evil

-new birth

-the presence of the Holy Spirit

From "Dictionary of Bible Themes"

I thought that was interesting as we just had a lesson on salvation in Ephesians ...

Ephesians 6:17a Take the helmet of salvation...

A guarding of our minds from the enemy...which Hosea has to do to be obedient to all that God asks of him...

Psalm 37:39-40 The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. 

Psalm 118:14 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. 

Hosea, God, salvation, grace, plans...all wrap into the day and my thoughts...they all have a place and fit together...in some order...as He sees fit ...the Jeremiah verses fit Hosea's life just as much as they fit into mine...a hope and future...in times of turmoil...causing us all to seek God with all of hearts...

Thank YOU for the jumble of pieces, words, meanings, verses, to meditate on through out the day...causing me to "think on these things"...and most of all, YOU...your great love...

Verse of the Day---For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

Be on guard...

Be On guard...

"Jesus Calls", starts with this admonition this am....how fitting....

But, be in guard against self pity.....which is kind of where  I am...trying a new drug for infection...not a good fit...so will return to doc this am for an old reliable one....oh well ....after night of tossing and turning, itching, skin crawls, frozen ( which is definitely not me)....reaction almost worse than original problem...

But, "BE ON GUARD"...God is speaking...... I have the choice to listen or not, to do or not...

Thank YOU...for speaking to my heart, mind, soul...

Psalm 89:15-18 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long;they celebrate your righteousness. For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn. Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel. 

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Our beautiful world...

Our beautiful world....

http://www.coolestone.com/media/14128/Our-beautiful-world!/#.VssMRIg76K1

This morning's short video is titled "our beautiful world"...

I was thinking this last night . It was a cold, crisp, crystal clear day with scattered clouds after a rain and icy sleet...with more to come ....tulips peaking through the ground, lilacs budding, new snow on the mountains,  birds of many varieties taking turns at the bird feeder and ground seeds, tiny white crocus in reluctant bloom ....miniature daffodils exiting their winter shelters ready to welcome the spring-like weather at any moment..everything ready to "spring" to life after a cold winter...which may continue for days and weeks yet...

On top of that, I met a new family who moved here from Los Angeles this past fall.  This was their first winter and she was cuddled up in her down coat, shivering...."this wasn't what i expected", she said..."I am still getting acclimated"...not sure she quite saw the readiness of God's creation for spring or the beauty of the snow packed mountains rising toward the blue sky ....God will have to show her...

Thank YOU for seasons...the newness of spring, the warmth and growth of summer, the richness of fall and the rest and replenishment of the winter...to You be the Glory...

Psalm 104:1-3, 5-6, 10, 13-19, 24-25, 31, 34 Praise the Lord, my soul.Lord my God, you are very great;you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

 The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment;he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.

He makes the clouds his chariotand rides on the wings of the wind. He set the earth on its foundations;it can never be moved. 

You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment;the waters stood above the mountains. 

He makes springs pour water into the ravines;it flows between the mountains. 

He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.

 He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate—bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens human hearts,oil to make their faces shine,and bread that sustains their hearts. 

The trees of the Lord are well watered,the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. There the birds make their nests;the stork has its home in the junipers. 

The high mountains belong to the wild goats;the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.

 He made the moon to mark the seasons,and the sun knows when to go down. 

How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all;the earth is full of your creatures. 

There is the sea, vast and spacious,teeming with creatures beyond number—living things both large and small. 

May the glory of the Lord endure forever;may the Lord rejoice in his works— May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord. 

Jeremiah 5:24b Let us fear the Lord our God,who gives autumn and spring rains in season,who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’ 

Comforting words....

Comforting words....

I have read theses words many times..they are a comfort for me personally..but today I was reading them for someone else... I was seeing how they were meant to comfort others...duh...of course, it just hit me another way that God was speaking...

When my mother was dying, my husband dying and then my father,  they were wonderfully made, hemmed in by God himself. He knew their thoughts, He made them, He laid His hand  on them,

Their frail frames were not hidden from Him, their days were ordained before time as well..they were precious in His sight...He knew each of them intimately...from the inside out...just as He knows me...even though it was so hard to see them fade away...God was there with them, and me...holding on as well as taking them home...where there is no more pain, tears, sorrow...

 

thank YOU that you care so much for us...

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-17 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 

Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 

Your eyes saw my unformed body;all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! 

Pure....

Pure....

As I was thinking of each of my grandchildren early this morning, the words, "purity and pure" kept dancing around in my mind...they are all making decisions and will continue to do so that effect their whole lives ahead of them... What they read, think, watch and even wear gives a message of what is in their hearts and minds...they are each so untarnished and bright with their lives so far...they reflect the light of Jesus wherever they go...

Oh, they  or I are not without our faults as anyone in the world is, as their parents, friends, grandparents will easily admit and admit to. We each are born with a sin nature no matter how cute we are at birth and I, most...But, that new creation in Christ, we can each have when we ask, purifies us, transforms us, giving a brightness that shines....I see it those around me, in my grandchildren's heart and eyes...that purity from Christ alone...

I pray that they will continue to follow Christ, finding their purity, their brightness in Him...that their thoughts be pure, their "inner sanctuary" be lined with the pure gold of God's word, reflecting Him brightly into a dark world..that they desire a pure heart...and seek wisdom from a Holy and living/loving God...

Thank YOU so much for the privilege for praying for these dear children, watching them grow and mature....keep them close to You in their minds, heart and souls...

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 

1 Kings 6:20-22 The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty wide and twenty high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar. Solomon covered the inside of the temple with pure gold, and he extended gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, which was overlaid with gold. So he overlaid the whole interior with gold. He also overlaid with gold the altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary. 

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

1 Timothy 1:5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 

James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 

An inheritance ....

The inheritance....

I was asked recently what I would do if I inherited a significant amount of money..how that would change my life....what a question!!!!

In my parent's generation, generation skipping estate planning was the accepted way to hand down an inheritance, whether small or great... So that is how they wrote their trust with me as their executor. It felt kind of deflating in one way, not even inheriting anything from my parents, but in another way, they wanted to help their grandchildren and great grandchildren with their educations...in a material sense...

But, I inherited a great deal from them, an example of a solid marriage, a

Christian upbringing, love, a sense of a comforting family....the list goes on, both good and some not so good things that have no material value, but are extremely important to life in general...an eternal inheritance...

Proverbs 13:22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. 

We see people winning the mega bucks or other jackpots with money beyond our comprehensions...it changes their lifestyles or not, depending on how they view money...some are totally broke in a few years with lives ruined by the excess and others are still solid who have made plans to spend wisely...we have great choices in our culture...that can go for $5 or $50 million...a temporal inheritance...

..but as Christians we have an inheritance that is ours...God Himself....an inheritance that has  the greatest of value, of which we, in our finite minds, only comprehend in part...we are blessed beyond any measure by His giving ...

Thank YOU for Your great inheritance ....sealed with the Holy Spirit, guaranteed, kept for us....eternal...help me the use it wisely....passing it on to future generations....that Hope only You give ...

Numbers 18:20 The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites. 

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. 

Acts 20:32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 

Ephesians 1:13-14, 18-19 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. 

When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 

who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. 

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 

That power is the same as the mighty strength ....

1 Peter 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you...

"From a valley of death to a valley of life"....

From a valley of death to a valley of life....

This caught my attention this am...be sure and watch the video...

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/02/15/death-valley-may-be-about-to-enjoy-rare-wildflower-super-bloom.html?intcmp=hplnws

We have been through Death Valley several times,  visiting Scotty's Castle, staying at Furnace Creek ( when it was soooo hot), seeing cacti bloom across the horizon, walking through the borate exhibit, driving the lonely two lane road across the desert in the heat...all beautiful in its own way...but deadly for the unprepared...

I enjoyed the way the ranger described that there are millions of seeds waiting to flourish, waiting for the right combination of water, weather to make the flowers spring to life instead of the dryness and heat..to be a "super" bloom of  flowers showing their glory and radiance for all to see...

We humans wait for our " super" bloom as well...just the right amount of watering,tending  in our lives for a harvest of righteousness...there are those who sow, water and some reap in the lives of others...drawing  lives to come to the kingdom...God is the ultimate Savior, but he may use people to water, tend the Word in others' lives...making a "super" bloom of dry seeds in the dry and thirsty lands of our lives ....He may use a film, a tract, a Bible, a radio broadcast to water the souls of many, bringing them to a saving knowledge of Christ..in  desert land...to "bloom" for Christ...

Thank YOU that nature points back to You...gives You the Glory...in it intricacies, and beauty...

James 3:18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. 

Job 37:13 He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love. 

Psalm 65:9-13 You care for the land and water it;you enrich it abundantly.

The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain,for so you have ordained it. 

You drench its furrows and level its ridges;you soften it with showers and bless its crops. 

You crown the year with your bounty,and your carts overflow with abundance. 

The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain;they shout for joy and sing. 

Psalm 107:35 He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; 

Galatians 6:8b.... whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 

Seashells in Panama....

Seashells in Panama....

Today I was walking along the beach in Panama...picking up seashells as I went along...some were stuck in the sand, others wet sitting on top, while others were being washed by the tiny rivulets running  toward the sea...many colors, sizes and shapes...showing the weathering of time and water...

It reminded me of people I know...different colors, personalities, backgrounds, ages, shapes and sizes...each being weathered as well with time, circumstances, to make up the kingdom...

Some are dealing  aging parents, cancer, loss or gain of people around them, wayward children, health issues...weathered...but the structure of God's word and strength is there, smoothing them out, watering, washing them, ....giving them personality all their own...maybe different than they thought life would be, but beautiful in their polishing...

I don't  know what draws me to one shell or another, but i reach  down, choosing one among the millions available ...choosing it from the others..it maybe the color or shape, the weatheredness, ....it just calls...I put it in my bag to take home to remember the beach where is came from...to join others from different parts of the world....

God is allowing weatheredness in me as well..he holds my hand, he has chosen me from among the millions for whatever reason, He loves me...he sends truth to my heart, examines me, cleanses me, tucks me away sometime to be displayed ...holds me close...when I feel sandblasted, washed, with the cares of the world...I feel humbled that He has chosen me...

Thank YOU...for choosing me, for helping me through the weathering of time....loving me...

Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. 

Ephesians 1:4, 11 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. 

In love In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 

Remembered kindness....

Remembered kindness .....

Reading my Facebook page this morning, I found I was "tagged"...so wondered why and what that was...(am new at this, forgive me)...

But, it turned out okay...it was for an "anniversary" casserole I made for a family on moving day NINE years ago...a remembered kindness...

One of the fruit of the Spirit is kindness....

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

Job 6:14 “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. 

Job 10:12 You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit. 

Isaiah 63:7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us—yes, the many good thingshe has done for Israel,according to his compassion and many kindnesses. 

Colossians 3:12-14 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 

I am not writing this to toot my own horn....but it reminded me to remember the kindnesses shown to me by others, through thick and thin days ...flowers, bags of groceries on my table, a hug, a note, prayers around the world,  of encouragement, people who showed up to help me move, grass cutting, a rainbow on "hopeless days"....millions of kindnesses through the years...showing me God's love through Himself and through His people....thanked YOU....to You be the glory...and Praise and Honor....

http://www.coolestone.com/media/12161/Angels-Of-The-Morning/#.VrdFOYg8KK1