Love

Love listens more than it talks.
Love gives more than it takes.
Love prays and then acts on those prayers.
Love finds all the different ways it can to express itself. No act is too small.
Love accepts acts of love--graciously, humbly, with a heart of deep gratitude....
Love doesn't need recognition--let alone to be praised.
Love forgives the inevitable moments of hurt.
Love does not play favorites.
Love is kind, patient, and steadfast.
Love is earthquake proof.
Love is spontaneous.
Love serves--the farther behind the scenes the better.

The Disease

The world's moral failings are the symptoms of the disease--not the disease. The disease is that they refuse to love the Lord with all their heart, soul. mind, and strength. And they refuse to love their neighbors as themselves. They have carved several idols for themselves. The first idol is the idea that this universe in which we live is the product of billions of years of time and chance. Nothing plus nothing produced everything. That is a strong delusion. The secon...d idol comes in various forms--all expressed in coverting. (The first and tenth commandments are the same just expressed in different ways.) They covet things. They covet the freedom that enslaves them--the Devil's chains are invisible to them. They also have a third idol--they worship themselves. Humanity. Guess they haven't paid much attention to history--including yesterday's history. This morning's even. Not much love for our neighbors in our history books--and today's news. We must be sure to avoid those idols creeping into our lives. And we must look beyond the symptoms--and lead them to the living God. Responding by being judgmental, getting angry, showing disgust, and exhibiting spiritual pride will not tear down those idols. Only love can do that. Bringing them to Jesus. Living a life that is idol free confirms the truth that He is God--He is the One worth living for. He is the only One who can tear down those idols. If the immorality we see doesn't drive us to our knees in intercessory prayer for the lost, we have a very poor conception of the purpose and power of the cross. He is able. Revival is one person on his or her knees living a life of kindness and obedience. Be the one.

Assignment

Your Assignment for Today:


Embrace thankfully your many weaknesses
Take up your cross
Offer Him the sacrifices of a broken heart and a broken, contrite spirit...
Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God
Pray for those who have injured you.
Do good for those who have injured you
Love your enemies
Be a gentle peacemaker
Confess your sins
Give mercy--accept mercy
Be impoverished in spirit
Weep with those who weep
Stop for the one who has fallen among thieves--care for him and invest in his healing.

What will be the result? A heart overflowing with joy and gladness.

Pursuit

Don't pursue your "dream;" pursue His will. And one day it will dawn on you that you are living your dream. And it will daily be more amazingly beautiful than you could have ever imagined.

Your Shepherd

His Promise--every morning:

 I will be your Shepherd today. I willingly laid down my life to redeem you--to purchase you for My flock. You need not fear the wolf or the roaring lion today. You will not want for anything that you need. My heavenly storehouse is inexhaustible and available to you for the asking in My name.
I will make you an abundant feast of My life-giving green pastures of my promises.
I will lead you to the rest-giving waters of life--quench your thirst w...ith the Fountain of Living Waters abiding in your heart.
I will take your burdens, your weary, broken soul and restore it into My likeness--into My image.
I will guide you into all truth along the narrow path of righteousness. My Word the light to keep you in My will as you face the darkness. Step-by-step.

 I will use your life to bring glory to My name.

When you travel through the dark valleys, even the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will walk beside you--abide with you on the journey. I know the way. I have been there before. My presence will slay your fears. The enemy--death itself--is dead. I slew him. He is powerless to give you even the slightest sting. Such truth--resting in My inescapable presence--will be your comfort.


I will vindicate you in the presence of your enemies--My blessings so abundant--overflowing--they will not be able to deny My presence and My power at work in your anointed calling.


My goodness and lovingkindness--My loyal love for you--will saturate your past, even its failures--pursue you into your present, and escort you to the heavenly home that we will share forever. Home in our Father's house.


"My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand."


"The Lord is my Shepherd. I do not want."

This Very Moment

This very moment you are in His hands.
This very moment your are being lavished with His love.
This very moment His wisdom in at work in your life--and the lives of those you love.
This very moment you are "the apple of His eye."
This very moment you are His beloved child....
This very moment He is supplying you with sufficient grace.
This very moment He is waiting with open arms to receive your cares.
This very moment He is using the daily details of your life to paint a majestice masterpiece dedicated to your walk with Him.
This very moment you are His and He is yours--your Father, your Redeemer, your strength, your peace, your Lord and Master, your ever-present Help in time of trouble, your Rock in the storms of life, your Refuge, your Treasure.

Reflections from March 2018

All effective apologetics lead to Jesus.
__________


I ran across a quote I love:


"To compose music one need only to remember a song no one has ever heard before."  (Schulman)


I think that is true of all creations.
__________


Wait on your knees.  Effective prayer rests in perseverance.  Keep "seeking."  Keep "knocking."
__________


The darkness is light to Him; the light that man pursues is deepest darkness.
__________


"I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait on the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait on the Lord."


The good is coming.