Exodus 20: 6
But I lavish my love on those who love Me and obey My commands, even for a thousand generations.
I John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! ...
The Cambridge Dictionary defines "lavish" as, "spending, giving or using more than is necessary or reasonable; more than enough."
God "lavishes" His love on those who love Him, even calling them His own children. And He doesn't limit it at all, but is willing to "lavish" His love on even a thousand generations of people, if only they would all acknowledge Him and accept what He has done.
God is love. Love is the very Nature of God. Everything God does comes from His love; His love of the Father for His Son, and the Son for the Father, and the Spirit, too. Our God is a community of Love!
That's why He wants us to love Him back. When we do, then we will want to do what He wants for us, and obey His commands. And we will also love one another the way God loves us. This is what will show that we are His disciples, our love for one another.
"To live above with those we love,
Oh won't that be glory!
But to live below with those we know,
Now, that's a different story!"
God loves us unconditionally, His agape love; and that's how we are to love one another, continually giving the benefit of the doubt and forgiving one another; even as we also have received forgiveness from God.
This is impossible in our fleshly nature--we tend to hold grudges, and not even like some people who aggravate us or offend us. But love isn't liking, it's respecting and wanting the very best for the other, regardless of the cost to us. This we can only do in the power of God's Holy Spirit living in us.
O my Father, thank You so much for Your great love for me! Thank You so much for sending Your own dear Son to be my Lamb of God, my sacrifice for my sins, that not only covers but takes away my sins. Now I can receive Your love, Father, and love You back. And I can also love other people, too, as You love them.
So often I have heard the stories of how Your children have loved even their enemies, who have seen Your love in them, and been drawn to You, also, to receive that New Life that You give to all Your children, Father, when they are born-again into spiritual, eternal life.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, August 7, 2017
Sunday, August 6, 2017
Our Adult Children
Proverbs 23: 15-16
O my son, if your heart is wise, my own heart also will be glad; and my inmost being will rejoice, when your lips speak what is right.
Don't we rejoice when our children do what is right! But doesn't our heart break when they make foolish choices! Our hearts seem to be bound up in the lives of our children.
We cannot make our adult children do what's right, nor can we keep them from living lifestyles that bring harm to them. Sometimes we may be able to suggest to them a wiser road, but they will always make their own decisions.
Ultimately, what we can do is pray for them. Understand that God loves them even more than we do, and He is not willing that any should perish. They can push us away, but they can't push God away if He decides to draw them. And we don't want to get into God's way in dealing with them. Sometimes it's best to just stay out of their way, and faithfully lift them up to the Throne of Glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
O my son, if your heart is wise, my own heart also will be glad; and my inmost being will rejoice, when your lips speak what is right.
Don't we rejoice when our children do what is right! But doesn't our heart break when they make foolish choices! Our hearts seem to be bound up in the lives of our children.
We cannot make our adult children do what's right, nor can we keep them from living lifestyles that bring harm to them. Sometimes we may be able to suggest to them a wiser road, but they will always make their own decisions.
Ultimately, what we can do is pray for them. Understand that God loves them even more than we do, and He is not willing that any should perish. They can push us away, but they can't push God away if He decides to draw them. And we don't want to get into God's way in dealing with them. Sometimes it's best to just stay out of their way, and faithfully lift them up to the Throne of Glory.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, August 5, 2017
All The Ends Of The Earth
Psalm 22: 27-28
All the ends of the Earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the Nations will worship before Thee. For the Kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the Nations.
God will receive worship from every part of this whole Earth; from those in every Nation and every family and every language! No one will be overlooked or missed of all God has determined are His.
There are still so many who have not yet even heard the Name of Jesus; pray that God would send His workers into these fields to gather in His harvest of souls, which are even now ripe to harvest, ready to hear.
Please, Father, I am here, send even me! Thank You that You have provided this writing, to go into all the World before me. Lead this to all who are eager to hear of You, guide me in saying what You want them to hear.
And then let me go also, into all this beautiful World filled with a myriad of colorful cultures, precious peoples, and delicious foods. Father, You love a diverse mixture, and You have spread Mankind all over this beautiful Earth to develop many and varied cultures and families.
Please send many workers into this wide World, to share Your precious Seed, the Gospel, so that all may hear and know that Jesus is our King and Lord over all of us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
All the ends of the Earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the Nations will worship before Thee. For the Kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the Nations.
God will receive worship from every part of this whole Earth; from those in every Nation and every family and every language! No one will be overlooked or missed of all God has determined are His.
There are still so many who have not yet even heard the Name of Jesus; pray that God would send His workers into these fields to gather in His harvest of souls, which are even now ripe to harvest, ready to hear.
Please, Father, I am here, send even me! Thank You that You have provided this writing, to go into all the World before me. Lead this to all who are eager to hear of You, guide me in saying what You want them to hear.
And then let me go also, into all this beautiful World filled with a myriad of colorful cultures, precious peoples, and delicious foods. Father, You love a diverse mixture, and You have spread Mankind all over this beautiful Earth to develop many and varied cultures and families.
Please send many workers into this wide World, to share Your precious Seed, the Gospel, so that all may hear and know that Jesus is our King and Lord over all of us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, August 4, 2017
Immediately
Mark 1
... Immediately ...
Mark says this 9 times in this one chapter: verses 10, 12, 18, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, and 42.
Jesus never put off anything for even a moment. He always did what He needed to do immediately, and He accomplished everything He needed to in only 3 1/2 years.
Many of us struggle with the procrastination that is acceptable in our society today, even knowing that it displeases our Father in Heaven.
Show me, Father, what You would have me do today, immediately, and not put off anything I can get done today. Please strengthen me in this weakness, and continue to work on me and in me to make me more like Jesus. Teach me Your ways, Father, as Your Son demonstrated by doing everything "immediately."
Keep me from wasting any more of the limited time You have granted me. I know my days are all numbered, so help me accomplish what You have planned for me before Time began. Restore the "years the locust has eaten," and help me to serve You wholeheartedly.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
... Immediately ...
Mark says this 9 times in this one chapter: verses 10, 12, 18, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, and 42.
Jesus never put off anything for even a moment. He always did what He needed to do immediately, and He accomplished everything He needed to in only 3 1/2 years.
Many of us struggle with the procrastination that is acceptable in our society today, even knowing that it displeases our Father in Heaven.
Show me, Father, what You would have me do today, immediately, and not put off anything I can get done today. Please strengthen me in this weakness, and continue to work on me and in me to make me more like Jesus. Teach me Your ways, Father, as Your Son demonstrated by doing everything "immediately."
Keep me from wasting any more of the limited time You have granted me. I know my days are all numbered, so help me accomplish what You have planned for me before Time began. Restore the "years the locust has eaten," and help me to serve You wholeheartedly.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Supplies Or Spirit
Psalm 20: 7
Some boast in chariots, and some in horses; but we will boast in the Name of the Lord, our God.
David was a very highly skilled military genius. Today, instead of chariots and horses, he would say tanks, bombers and submarines, or even atomic or biological weapons. The message he is giving us here is that no matter what our worldly provisions are, they are all worthless without the wisdom and power of our Lord God behind us (and before us, and above and below, and all around us).
Like David, I realize that in myself I have nothing that is strong, or righteous, or commendable. I can never win any battle in my own strength. I must turn to my Lord every time, for every battle. I cannot depend on how He delivered me the last time, even though the situation seems similar; He may have a different plan for this new battle. I must seek His face every time.
O my Father, please teach me Your abilities and capabilities, train me and equip me to be an acceptable servant to You, my Lord. Help me to know what You would have me do in all the areas of my life: relationships, possessions, actions, words; my own attitudes toward all these things.
Thank You for being with me, for upholding me, placing my feet on Your Rock which is Jesus.
Continue to work in me and on me, Father, and hold my hand tightly, not letting me wander or stray to the right or to the left, but walking straight.
Let this day and the things You accomplish this day bring You all the honor, credit and glory forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Some boast in chariots, and some in horses; but we will boast in the Name of the Lord, our God.
David was a very highly skilled military genius. Today, instead of chariots and horses, he would say tanks, bombers and submarines, or even atomic or biological weapons. The message he is giving us here is that no matter what our worldly provisions are, they are all worthless without the wisdom and power of our Lord God behind us (and before us, and above and below, and all around us).
Like David, I realize that in myself I have nothing that is strong, or righteous, or commendable. I can never win any battle in my own strength. I must turn to my Lord every time, for every battle. I cannot depend on how He delivered me the last time, even though the situation seems similar; He may have a different plan for this new battle. I must seek His face every time.
O my Father, please teach me Your abilities and capabilities, train me and equip me to be an acceptable servant to You, my Lord. Help me to know what You would have me do in all the areas of my life: relationships, possessions, actions, words; my own attitudes toward all these things.
Thank You for being with me, for upholding me, placing my feet on Your Rock which is Jesus.
Continue to work in me and on me, Father, and hold my hand tightly, not letting me wander or stray to the right or to the left, but walking straight.
Let this day and the things You accomplish this day bring You all the honor, credit and glory forever.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Man's Steps
Proverbs 20: 24
Man's steps are ordained by the Lord, how then can a man understand his own way?
We all think we are thinking all our own thoughts and making all of our own decisions. But our freedom of will only extends to the boundaries our Creator has placed on us. Everything we can choose or decide is still within the "fenced yard" He has placed us in. So everything we can do is still within the Plans God has determined for each of us.
And, even so, have you ever done or said anything that you hadn't planned? That was God, Who has "ordained your steps." Aren't you glad that God did that for you? He probably saved you from a lot of trouble.
I remember one time on my way to my daughter's, I realized I was thinking very critically of her as I drove, so I prayed that my Father would put His words on my lips. While we were visiting, I "heard" myself telling her something very encouraging, just the opposite of what I had been thinking on the way! That was God! Thank You, Father! He surprised me that time!
Has He ever surprised you? He will always make sure that His Plans will succeed, and He uses the choices we make to move things along. Even when we choose to do or say something not positive, or even sinful, God can still use even those for His purposes. As a matter of fact, the "worse" the situation can be, the "best" God can bring out of it! Consider the worst thing that Mankind has ever done, executing the Lord God as a common criminal! Yet God used Jesus' death to pay our eternal debt, now He can forgive us and let us into His Heaven!
But don't ever do what you know is wrong because God can bring good from it. You will still bear the temporal consequences, and also damage your witness for Christ. You will never know the benefits God would bring out of your sinful action, if He chooses to do so at all.
This is a consolation only for the mistakes we make, not knowing the right yet. But we do need to learn to make better choices, by learning His ways, which are so far above our ways that we can never attain to them without His help and enabling.
Dear Father, please teach us more and more of Your ways and Your thinking processes. Draw us ever closer to Your side, to walk with you and commune with You every day. Continue to mold us and make us into the very image of Your Son, our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Man's steps are ordained by the Lord, how then can a man understand his own way?
We all think we are thinking all our own thoughts and making all of our own decisions. But our freedom of will only extends to the boundaries our Creator has placed on us. Everything we can choose or decide is still within the "fenced yard" He has placed us in. So everything we can do is still within the Plans God has determined for each of us.
And, even so, have you ever done or said anything that you hadn't planned? That was God, Who has "ordained your steps." Aren't you glad that God did that for you? He probably saved you from a lot of trouble.
I remember one time on my way to my daughter's, I realized I was thinking very critically of her as I drove, so I prayed that my Father would put His words on my lips. While we were visiting, I "heard" myself telling her something very encouraging, just the opposite of what I had been thinking on the way! That was God! Thank You, Father! He surprised me that time!
Has He ever surprised you? He will always make sure that His Plans will succeed, and He uses the choices we make to move things along. Even when we choose to do or say something not positive, or even sinful, God can still use even those for His purposes. As a matter of fact, the "worse" the situation can be, the "best" God can bring out of it! Consider the worst thing that Mankind has ever done, executing the Lord God as a common criminal! Yet God used Jesus' death to pay our eternal debt, now He can forgive us and let us into His Heaven!
But don't ever do what you know is wrong because God can bring good from it. You will still bear the temporal consequences, and also damage your witness for Christ. You will never know the benefits God would bring out of your sinful action, if He chooses to do so at all.
This is a consolation only for the mistakes we make, not knowing the right yet. But we do need to learn to make better choices, by learning His ways, which are so far above our ways that we can never attain to them without His help and enabling.
Dear Father, please teach us more and more of Your ways and Your thinking processes. Draw us ever closer to Your side, to walk with you and commune with You every day. Continue to mold us and make us into the very image of Your Son, our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
The King's Heart
Proverbs 21: 1
The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord, He turns it wherever He wishes.
We need to pray for all our elected and appointed government officials, so that God would lead them to make the right and best decisions for our Nation and our people.
Many Nations have ungodly leaders, or those who don't understand what would be best, so they need us to pray that God would lead them, as He said He would.
Please, O Father, lead our leaders to seek You for Your ways so they will bless us their populace with the good that You desire for Your people. Father, if they don't know you yet, please draw them to Yourself, and if they do know You, then draw them ever closer to Your side. Father, may all our leaders have Your wisdom, compassion and thought processes to align with Your purposes for each of us and all of us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord, He turns it wherever He wishes.
We need to pray for all our elected and appointed government officials, so that God would lead them to make the right and best decisions for our Nation and our people.
Many Nations have ungodly leaders, or those who don't understand what would be best, so they need us to pray that God would lead them, as He said He would.
Please, O Father, lead our leaders to seek You for Your ways so they will bless us their populace with the good that You desire for Your people. Father, if they don't know you yet, please draw them to Yourself, and if they do know You, then draw them ever closer to Your side. Father, may all our leaders have Your wisdom, compassion and thought processes to align with Your purposes for each of us and all of us.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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