The disciple Jesus loved

Could it be me?
http://youtu.be/VU_rTX23V7Q - Who am I - Casting Crowns

Who am I that Jesus would love me?  On my own, I'm nothing.  But the love of Jesus can change even me.  How do I know?
His love changed the coldest heart (Paul), it even lifted the broken woman who was burdened with past sin.  And He took a hothead like John and make his name synonymous with Love. 

Mark 3:16-17  ESV
He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);  James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);

Sons of Thunder
What does that mean?  Commentaries explain that this expression given to James and John reflected a loud, rowdy, quick to fight attitude.  It appears that our apostle John was a "hot head", always ready to overpower anyone who would speak against what he believed. Jesus would show John and James a better way to deal with disagreements.  John was willing to learn.  He sat at Jesus' feet and listened.

Jesus called John
When Jesus chose John and his brother James, they weren't homeless, living on the streets, no where to go men.  Apparently, Zebedee, their father, had a thriving fishing business.  But when Jesus called, John and James both left the security of their family fishing business.  They left their family and followed Jesus.  These two men  - these two "hotheads" - followed without question.  God had called them and they answered.
And they followed Jesus.

Matthew 4:18-22 ESV
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.


It wasn't long before John and James let their "human side" take control.  Jesus and his disciples were traveling to Jerusalem.  They could have taken the long route going around Samaria instead of through it.  Almost every Jew would travel out of the way in order to avoid going through Samaria because they  considered Samaritans to be the scum of the earth. But Jesus sends messengers ahead, right into Samaria, to find lodging for the night.  This was unheard of!  When the Samaritans wouldn't accommodate them, John and James were ready to blast them off the face of the earth!  A bit of an over reaction I'd say.  Jesus rebuked them.  He had a better way.  John trusted Jesus and learned to follow Jesus' directions rather than following his own understanding.Luke 9:51-55 ESV
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them.
"Shut your mouth or I'll shut it for you!" 
John was not tolerate of others who weren't in his little group.  He tried to stop people from doing a good thing because he didn't recognize them as true Christ followers.  But Jesus told him to leave them alone. Jesus taught John to stand against the real Enemy, not against those who do good. 

Could there be a lesson here for me?  If someone is not speaking against Jesus, maybe I shouldn't spend quite so much time trying to "shut him/her up".  John would learn a different way of dealing with others through Jesus' example and teachings.  

Mark 9:38-40 ESV
John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.  For the one who is not against us is for us."

"Me first!"
Matthew 20:20-22 ESV
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able."

There's two ways to consider this passage.  As a mother myself, I can understand this mom wanting to secure the best possible position for her sons.  On the other hand, as we read Mark's gospel, we see that Mark
shares the same story but he puts all the blame on James and John, leaving out their mother's part in the request.  Either way, obviously, James and John were focused on themselves, on what Jesus could offer them.  They saw status and power, and they wanted to take the places of honor - right next to the Source of all that power.  But Jesus quickly explains that place of honor and power will come to whomever God decides.  To share in the power requires sharing in the suffering, too.  Would John be willing to suffer?

Mark 10:35-41
³⁵ And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." ³⁶And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" ³⁷And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." ³⁸Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" ³⁹And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, ⁴⁰but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." ⁴¹And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John.
After reading about John, I wonder why Jesus would choose such a man to be one of His closest friends.  I'm afraid my first impression of John would have caused me to discount his value for the Kingdom.  He was  selfish, hotheaded, intolerant, quick to intimate, and not afraid to use violence to make others see his point.  Yet this same young man would grow into a man who understood that true power comes from love. 

Several passages in the bible refer to John as the apostle whom Jesus loved.  But Jesus loved them all.  Right?
Notice who is describing John as the one Jesus loved:

John 13:23
One of Jesus' disciples, the one Jesus loved, was sitting next to Jesus at the table.

John 19:26
When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, "Woman, he is your son."

John 20:2
She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!"


John 21:7
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and swam ashore.



John 21:20
Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them--the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, "Lord, who among us will betray you?"


It was John himself! John repeatedly described himself as "the one Jesus loved".  I don't think that came from a pompous attitude of his heart.  I think John understood better than most of us how much  he was loved by Jesus.  I don't think John thought that Jesus loved him more than than he loved the others.  He just knew that he was loved.  He knew the incredible blessing of being loved by God.
 
Read John's words and see how this man's heart was changed by Jesus' love.  John wants us to understand the amazing power of love - the love we receive and the love we give away. 

1 John 4
Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.
This is the way to find out if they have the Spirit of God: If a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ became a human being, that person has the Spirit of God. 
If a prophet does not acknowledge Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist. You have heard that he is going to come into the world, and he is already here.

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won your fight with these false prophets, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
These people belong to this world, so they speak from the world's viewpoint, and the world listens to them.
But we belong to God; that is why those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God--for God is love.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.
This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.
No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us.  And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.
Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
All who proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we are like Christ here in this world.
Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us.
We love each other as a result of his loving us first.
If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we have not seen?
And God himself has commanded that we must love not only him but our Christian brothers and sisters, too.


No More Son of Thunder - John is the Apostle of LOVE
John learned from Jesus what it meant to love others and what it meant to be loved unconditionally by His Savior.  John understood that Jesus knew him - with all his faults and shortcomings, yet Jesus still loved him.  John knew the difference the love of Jesus had made in his life.  He was a changed man.  John was no longer a "son of thunder", he became "the Apostle whom Jesus loved".  Not only is John known for being the apostle Jesus loved, John is now the Apostle of Love.  His books talk about love more than any other book in the New Testament.  The Gospel according to John, 1,2,3 John and the book of Revelation were written by a man who knew he was greatly loved.  His response to that love was to love Jesus with all his heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love others as himself. 

Luke 10:27
And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

When I started to write this devotional, I wanted to make the point that God can use any of us - even a hotheaded, violent, intimidating man like John.  Jesus called John because God had a plan for him.  That plan included transforming his brutishness to make people conform to his thinking, into a man who will be forever known for his love.  That's what love can do for me, too.  It can change my heart and conform me into the likeness of Christ. 
Maybe John called himself "the disciple Jesus loved" as a reminder.  He didn't want to ever forget how much Jesus loved him.  I don't want to ever forget how much Jesus loves me, either. 
 
Holy Father, thank You for loving me.  Thank You for changing my heart with Your love.  Thank You, Jesus, for loving me, proving your love through Your death on the cross.  Thank You for loving me even when I'm not so lovable.  I may not be a hothead like John was, but, like him,  I, too,  can be self-centered and quick to judge others when they don't live up to my expectations. Help me to remember that "I am the disciple Jesus loves".  Help me to share that amazing love with everyone I meet.  Thank You for believing in John.  What a wonderful man he must have been!  I'm so thankful that You used John to write Your inspired words about the importance of love.  Thank You Lord for showing me that You can change anyone with Your great love.
Forgive me when I fail to love others, when I fail to remember how much I'm loved by You.  Today, please help me love like You love, without conditions or reserve.  In the blessed name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
 
http://youtu.be/EdSM3RQhlu8 - Unfailing Love - Chris Tomlin
 
 
 
 
 

I am blessed!  Thank You, God.


Four of my blessings!

http://youtu.be/USWD2MQRfTU - Thank You, God

As I began to watch the video above, I almost turned it off because the lyrics were
just "I'm so blessed, I am so grateful for all I have" - over and over again.  But as I
continued to sit quietly listening, I thought about just how blessed I am.  Images of
my family ran through my mind, and I thought "I am so blessed".  I thought about
how safe and warm I felt in my very own bed last night, and I thought "I am so blessed."
As the sweet music continued, tears came to my eyes as I thanked God for all His
blessings.  I am so blessed. 

I hope you won't give up and turn the song off too fast.  Take the four minutes to
experience the gratitude and love that comes into your heart as you remember just
how blessed you are.  It's a great way to begin the day.

Psalm 108 ESV
My heart is steadfast, O God!

I will sing and make melody with all my being!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!


I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.


For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

I love Thanksgiving.  It's a special time to remember how blessed we all are.  It's wonderful to have one day when everyone is remembering and thanking God for His goodness throughout the year. He is so faithful to provide for us and protect us. I want the spirit of Thanksgiving to be part of my every day life. I should be thanking Him for the many, many blessings He just pours down on me and my family, not just on Thanksgiving, but every waking moment.  I want to be more mindful of His goodness.  I want to show my gratitude every day, not just once a year.

Psalm 30:11-12

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.


Psalm 34:1
I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.


Psalm 50: 14-15
Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."


Psalm 69:30
I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.


Psalm 95:2
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.


Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.


Psalm 147:7
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.



2 Corinthians 9:11
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Ephesians 5:3-4
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.


Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.


Colossians 2:6-7
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.


Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
And be thankful.


Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.


1 Timothy 2:1
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—


1Timothy 4:4-5
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.


Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."

Being thankful is a critical part of the Christian walk. My thankfulness honors God, to be sure.  But something else happens at the same time. When I acknowledge how blessed I am, God gives me a peace that I can't explain.  In the midst of terrible struggles and suffering, if I stop to thank God for all my blessings instead of dwelling on my struggle, the anxiousness and stress seem to melt away.  I find the Peace that surpasses all understanding.  I really feel that peace.  I don't know why I'm surprised at how well counting my blessings works to lift the burden of my heart.  After all, didn't God tell me that would happen?  God spoke this truth through Paul in his letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 4:6-8 ESV
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Majestic GOD, Your power and majesty are beyond the reach of my

imagination. I am in awe of You and Your supremacy over everything.
I praise You because “Your love reaches to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the skies. Great is Your faithfulness’.

Thank You for loving me, Father. Because of Your unmatchable love,
I know I can conquer anything You, in Your infinite wisdom, goodness
and love, may allow in my life. I can do all things through Christ, who
continually gives me strength. Thank You, Jesus, for sending Your
Spirit to provide everything I need to face this day.
May You be glorified in my life today and always. Amen.

http://youtu.be/ND7OX5eFQmM - You're My God - Jaci Velasquez


Thank You, God!



Thanking God everyday...
Learning not to sweat the small stuff.

http://youtu.be/omkD5fFdzFQ - Thank You, God


Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.


Happy thoughts make my day better. I feel more confident, more capable, more satisfied when I think on things that are honorable, right, pure, lovely and of good repute. Things that are excellent and worthy of praise - these are the things God tells us to dwell on. That's where we will find peace, even when everything in our lives is going crazy and feels out of control.

I stumbled onto this song by Francesca Battistelli and it made me smile. I can relate to every line. I can get stressed out over the smallest things. There's a lesson in the song. I hope I can remember it today.
I'm Blessed!


http://youtu.be/pqqdA8LHN7I -  This is the Stuff - Francesca Battistelli

I lost my keys in the great unknown
and call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone
This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

45 in a 35
Sirens and fines while I'm running behind
Whoa
This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess I forget how big I'm
is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use
So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world
Oh Oh Oh

And I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use

Oh Oh Oh Oh

This is the stuff You use.

Boy, can I relate to this song...
I can let myself get bogged down in the little things that drive me crazy. The more I focus on those things, the larger they become in my mind. But God has given me a great tool to handle those kinds of thoughts. He says "take each thought captive to the obedience of Christ". I don't have to let my whole day be ruined because traffic on Highway 80 comes to a dead stop making Tyler 40 min. late to school! = )

2 Corinthians 10:4-5
for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

When things like that happen, I can "capture the thought". Instead of pounding on the steering wheel and getting angry about something I cannot change, I can use that time to count my blessings. I can use that time to pray. I can redeem that bad traffic situation if I make the decision to just "capture the thought".

When I have a negative thought, I can ask myself, "is this a thought that honors God?" If it's not God honoring, then I better not dwell on it.

I love Facebook. It's a wonderful way to stay connected to family and friends. I can "check in" each day and see how everyone is doing, and see what's going on in their lives. I've gotten reconnected with friends from school and stayed connected with friends and family who have moved away. What a blessing Facebook can be!

But just like God can take the worst things and use them for good, the Enemy can take a good thing and use it for evil.

I tend to be a "Pollyanna" - the dictionary defines that as "A person regarded as being foolishly or blindly optimistic. " I confess! I do try to see the glass as "half full" as opposed to "half empty". So it bothers me to see Facebook postings that seem to dwell on the negative. = ( I can watch a negative post become like a snowball rolling down hill. It gathers more and more size and speed as it rolls down, down, down... Everyone has something to add to the negativity. I don't like that. My "Pollyanna" heart yearns for someone to break up that snowball so that it doesn't do any damage to people who might be in it's path. Sometimes, a brave soul steps up and tries to defuse the negative. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to see that one little positive comment in the middle of all the negative. It's like a beam of light shining in the darkness of the moment, melting that snowball.

There's a saying "what you feed grows and what you starve dies". If I "feed" the negative thoughts in my head, before long they are not so little. I can get myself all worked up over the smallest thing.

But if I choose to think on my blessings, those good thoughts flood my mind and give me a much better attitude, and my day becomes much more pleasant and productive. Not only is my day better, my attitude can spill over into the lives of those around me.

Lots of my Facebook Friends use their "status" to share Scriptures and encouraging thoughts. I love that! Those postings bless my day. The negative postings... not so much of a blessing. = (

So today, I choose to be positive. I choose to dwell on God's blessings and not on my "lost keys".

There are much worse things happening in this world than my burning the casserole I had planned for dinner!

I'm blessed beyond measure! The little bumps along the way, well, I'll use them as reminders of all the times I have safe, smooth journeys with any bumps.

And what if the bumps God allows in my life are blessings in disguise? How many times have my "lost keys" kept me from being in the middle of an accident? That 5 extra minutes of searching for my keys may have saved me a terrible wreck.

http://youtu.be/4mmgV6mPvb0 - Blessings - Laura Story


Holy Father, I'm so blessed to be Your child. You are so faithful. You are my Provider and Protector. You rescue me from my human weaknesses every day. Dear Father, thank You for loving me even when I have my little "pitty parties" and spend way too much time thinking about stuff that doesn't really matter. You give me everything I need, yet sometimes I complain that it's not enough. Please forgive me, LORD.


I forget how blessed I am just to be able to have a clean drink of water when I'm thirsty, or food on the table at every single meal. Thank You, God, for providing water and food for me.


Lord, when I see someone with a flat or stalled car on the side of the road, help me to remember the blessing of having a car that is reliable.


And when I wake up my son for school each day, remind me of the enormous blessing of having a healthy child.


Lord, I'm thankful for my job.


I'm thankful for a husband who still loves me after 25 years of marriage.


I'm thankful for my family and my friends.


Most of all, I'm thankful that You love me so much that You sent Your only Son to save me.


So today, Lord, if my computer crashes, if I misplace my keys, if my car runs out of gas, or some other annoying little thing happens, help me to remember all my blessings instead of dwelling on the little negatives. I don't want to be a complainer, Lord. I don't want to be a snowball of negativity. Instead, I want to be full of gratitude and thanksgiving for all my blessings!


Lord, please help me not to let annoying stuff take all my attention away from my many blessings. When I'm tempted to give in to the negativity, show me Your truth. I'm loved by the Creator of the Universe. That blessing by itself cancels out all the bad stuff.


In the Blessed Name of Jesus I pray. This day is for Your Glory! Amen.


S. I had this devotional almost completed but before I could proofread and send it out, I had to stop and take Tyler to school. About 10 minutes into our 35 minute trip, traffic came to a complete stop! It took almost an hour longer to get school than it normally takes.

Hmmm.... maybe that was a test for me. Thankfully, I had just been focusing on not sweating the small stuff, and I used the time to thank God for having a sense of humor. = )

I am greatly loved by God.

http://youtu.be/W2ZQDidDDss - You are Loved by Josh Groban

Psalm 94:18
I cried out, “I am slipping!” but Your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.

Do you ever wonder if God really loves you? 

I don't think it's uncommon for the Enemy to use that lie to make us feel
alone and hopeless.  But we don't have to listen to the lies.  Instead, we can find strength and courage to face each day by listening to God's Truth.

I found just many passages in the Bible that speak of God's love and faithfulness.  These scriptures remind me of one thing:  I am loved!

My list here is just a tiny fraction of the verses that God included in His inspired Word, and they are promises we can hold on to when times are tough, and we wonder if He cares.

Holy God, thank You for Your love and faithfulness. Thank You for always hearing when I call out to You. Thank You for sending Your Son to earth, to become man, so that He could fully understand my trials and temptations. Thank You for being my Savior. Thank You for covering me with Your righteous, for without that, I could never stand before You.  Thank You for choosing me to be Your child.  Thank You for faithfully drawing me to Yourself, even when I was so far away.


Your faithful love endures forever. Thank You, Lord Jesus! Thank You, Father! Thank You, Holy Spirit! I praise Your Holy Name!

Ephesians 3:19-21
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.


Exodus 20:6
But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love Me and obey My commands.


Exodus 34:6
The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,“Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.


Psalm 5:12
For You bless the godly, O Lord;You surround them with Your shield of love.

Psalm 31:7
I will be glad and rejoice in Your unfailing love, for You have seen my troubles, and You care about the anguish of my soul.


Psalm 33:18
But the Lord watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love.


Psalm 34:17
The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.


Psalm 36:7
How precious is Your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of Your wings.


Psalm 56:8
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle.You have recorded each one in Your book.


Psalm 59:17
O my Strength, to You I sing praises, for You, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.


Psalm 86:5
O Lord, You are so good, so ready to forgive,so full of unfailing love for all who ask for Your help.


Psalm 94:18
I cried out, “I am slipping!” but Your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.


Psalm 138:8
The Lord will work out His plans for my life—for Your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.


Psalm 145:19
He grants the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cries for help and rescues them.

Isaiah 25:8
He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears.


Isaiah 49:15-16
“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?
Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!
See, I have written your name on the palms of My hands."


John 16:27
for the Father Himself loves you dearly because you love Me and believe that I came from God.

1 John 5:15
And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we
ask for.

Romans 8:34-38
34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.


35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.


38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

Jeremiah 31:3
The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness..."

I love the imagery this next passage brings to mind.  It's that of a loving Father reaching down to help his child learn to walk, gently holding him by the arms with tenderness.  Does this Father seem indifferent in anyway to the needs of his child?  NO!  Notice the last sentence:  "I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them."  That is how a parent, a loving father, cares for his child.  Because I am His child, I know He loves me with this tender, caring love.

Hosea 11:3-4
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize it was I who healed them.
I led them with cords of human kindness, ith ties of love.
To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek,
and I bent down to feed them.
 
In the past, I had trouble identifying with any old testament passage that referred to God's love for His Chosen people.  I could see clearly how much He loved the Israelites; after all, He had forgiven them so many times, and even when they turned their backs on Him, He was always ready to welcome them back with open arms.  But how does the verse in Hosea which describes how God gently reached down to Ephraim relate to His love for me?  Why does this verse make me feel loved?  I'm not a Jew, right?
 
But then I read the following passage in Galatians.  Paul answers my concern.  Just because I'm not a descendant of Abraham doesn't mean I'm not chosen to be in God's family.  Because of what Jesus did, I, too, am chosen to be in God's child.  God's chosen people are not just those who were born into a Jewish family.  God's chosen people are those who believe in His Son, who is the true SEED of Abraham.
 
Galatians 3:16-26 ESV
16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.


19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.


23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

God’s Children through Faith!  Good news for me!!!
Just like the Israelites were called to be God's people, I have been called, too.  How do I know?  Because God has put a desire in my heart to know Jesus, to belong to Him, and unless He called me, I wouldn't feel that desire, that yearning.

When anyone longs to know Jesus, that person can be know without a doubt that God is calling him/her to Himself.

John 6:44
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day."

 What does all this mean to me?  Every verse in the old testament that refers to God's everlasting love and faithfulness towards His children, I can claim, because I am His child, called by His love, saved by His Son,
sanctified by His Spirit. 

I am are greatly loved by GOD.

http://youtu.be/vjj2kZ1qoqw - The Love of God - Mercy Me

The Power of Words

Proverbs 17:28

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.


http://youtu.be/RkEcr3QI4c8 - Let My Words Be Few - Philips Craig and Dean


You are God in heaven  and here am I on earth
So I'll let my words be few
Jesus, I am so in love with You

And I'll stand in awe of You, Jesus
Yes, I'll stand in awe of You
And I'll let my words be few
Jesus, I am so in love with You

The simplest of all love songs I want to bring to You
So I'll let my words be few
Jesus, I am so in love with You

Words are powerful. They can be a weapon for destruction or an instrument for peace. Words can give life or bring death. The words that come out of our mouths speak to what is in our hearts.

Matthew 12:34 tniv
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."  When I hear someone constantly complaining, speaking negatively, speaking before they think, using destructive words to bully or control others, I know a little bit about their heart.

Guarding our tongues is the hardest thing to do, but we have a promise that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Philippians 4:13  If God tells us to do something, He'll give us everything we need to do it.

Yelling back when someone yells at us, angrily defending ourselves when we've been unjustly criticized or accused, returning evil for evil - those responses only escalate a situation taking it from bad to worse. Nobody really wins.

God has explained how to use our words for good, "A soft answers turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger" Proverbs 15:1. He tells us to think before we speak - "The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil" Proverbs 15:28

Why did God give so many passages warning us about our words?

I'm not great at holding my tongue but I've gotten much better. The most amazing thing happens when I do. When I am being verbally attacked, and I refuse to retaliate with my own angry words, the situation calms down. Why? God told us. A gentle answer will defuse most of those encounters. So why don't I remember that in the heat of an argument?

I can disagree respectfully. Colossians 4:6 - "Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone." Speak the truth in love.

Ephesians 4:14b-15 - We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.


I loved these quotes:

You have not converted a man because you have silenced him

- John Morley

Silence is one of the hardest arguments to refute.

Josh Billings

"He who establishes his argument by noise and command

shows that his reason is weak."

- Michel de Montaigne

Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.


Proverbs 12:15
Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.


Proverbs 12:16
A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.


Proverbs 12:18
Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.


Proverbs 12:23
The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast their foolishness.



Prayer

Lord, I pray Your Holy Spirit would guard my mouth so that I will speak only words that edify and bring life. Help me to not be a grumbler, complainer, a gossiper, a user of foul language, or one who destroys with her words, but help me be disciplined enough to keep my conversation godly. Your Word says if I desire a long life, I must keep my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking deceit (Psalm 34:12-13). Show me how to do that. Fill me with Your love so that out of the overflow of my heart will pour words that build up and do not tear down.


May Your Spirit of love reign in the words I speak so that I don't miscommunicate or wound another. Help me to show others respect and to speak words that encourage. Help me to be able to resolve differences I may have with others with graciousness and without strife. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)


~~~ from The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian ~~~


1 Peter 3:9-12
Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.  For the Scriptures say,


“If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days,
 keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.
Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
and his ears are open to their prayers.


Proverbs 10:11
The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

James 3:3-12
For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.  In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.


But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.


People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish,  but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.  Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.  And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!  Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?  Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

Proverbs 10:13
Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding, but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.


Proverbs 10:20
The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.

Proverbs 10:21
The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.


Proverbs 10:32
The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.


Proverbs 11:9
With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.


Proverbs 12:6
The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives.


Proverbs 12:14
Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards.

Proverbs 12:18
Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.


Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.


Proverbs 15:4
Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.


Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.


Proverbs 16:21
The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.

Proverbs 16:23
From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive.


Proverbs 16:24
Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

Proverbs 16:27
Scoundrels create trouble; their words are a destructive blaze.


Proverbs 17:27
A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.


Proverbs 18:4
Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.


Proverbs 18:21
The tongue can bring death or life;
those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

These are just a few of the passages I found that warn us about our words.  Do you get the feeling that how we talk matters to God?  Our words are powerful; Proverbs 18:21 - "the tongue can bring death or life".  We can lift people up or strike them down.  How we use our words is very important.

What if today, we spoke blessings instead of curses? What if we used gentle words to speak love into an angry confrontation? What if we looked past the anger to the hurt or frustration that fuels the anger?

Today, will I speak Life or death?   I choose to speak life.

http://youtu.be/7SIegm0Eou4 - I Speak Life - Donald Lawrence

 

Here I am to worship... 

http://youtu.be/ugj62GaB_30 - Isaiah 6 - Todd Agnew


http://youtu.be/g5hN_m55uoM - Here I am to Worship

Light of the world,
You stepped down into darkness.
Opened my eyes, let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with you
And here I am to worship,
here I am to bow down,
here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely,
altogether worthy,
altogether wonderful to me.
King of all days,
oh, so highly exalted.
Glorious in heaven above.
Humbly you came
to the earth you created
All for love's sake became poor.

And here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely.
altogether worthy,
altogether wonderful to me.

I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
And I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
No, I'll never know how much it cost

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me



Disclaimer: I truly understand that there are emergencies where one would have to get up and leave a service. I’ve had to myself. I also have the greatest respect for all parents who brings their children to service, even though they know it’s going to be a challenge to get them to sit still for an hour. So my observations are not for those situations. And by the way, I'm chief sinner on this one. I can't cast any stones. I want to do better and I'm committed to being more intentional in worship. He is Worthy!

Isaiah 6:1-5
It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of His robe filled the Temple. Attending Him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 They were calling out to each other,


“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!


The whole earth is filled with His glory!”


4Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.


5Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

God is not Holy.

God is not Holy, Holy.

GOD is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY.


What does that mean? I’m no Hebrew or Greek scholar but I’ve been taught by some pretty intelligent students of the bible and they tell me that in the Hebrew language, there is no word(s) to express the superlative. In English, we have “holy”, “more holy” and “most holy”. But in Hebrew, in order to express the superlative, the word “holy” is repeated three times. That’s why when we read about God being Holy, Holy, Holy. It means God is the most holy. As an "uneducated layman" I think it may also refer to the holiness of the Trinity; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

As I read the above passage from Isaiah, it concerns me that I don’t always recognize God’s Holiness. I don’t show Him the respect that Isaiah showed. I don’t bow down before Him every time I come into His Presence, I am not always humbled by how unworthy I would be to come before Him without my Savior’s blood covering me. Why? He is so worthy of all my praise and worship, yet I hardly acknowledge His Presence.

I do have times when I just fall on my face in absolute awe of my God! In those special times. I realize how incredibly awesome He is. I want that moment to last forever. But it doesn’t take long before I get caught up in “me” and my wants and needs, and I forget that everything I am, everything I have, everything! comes from Almighty God, my Heavenly Father.

Don’t you love watching those videos of all the stars and planets in space, the sun and moon, and the earth as seen from way out there in heavenly places? When I watch those videos, I become very aware of my insignificance, my smallness. I am humbled. At the same time, I become very aware of the greatest of Creator God who hung the stars in the sky and calls each one by name. The One who created every galaxy, every planet and He paid very special attention to a tiny little blue planet He called earth, designing it just right so that it would accommodate His very special creation and possession, man, whom HE created in His likeness. How awesome is that?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7F-B2DLvAQ&feature=youtu.be - God of Wonders

Now, knowing all that about my GOD, how in the world do I not reverence Him every waking moment? How can I use His Holy Name carelessly?

His very Name is Holy. The scribes considered His Name so holy that anytime they wrote it, they would change quills, rather than using the same quill that had been using to write all the other words. As they wrote the Holy Scriptures, whenever they came to the Name of God, Jehovah or Yahweh, the got up and washed their hands, they changed quills, and only then would they dare to write that most holy Name.

But we sling that Holy Name around so carelessly, without any regard or respect for our God. Unfortunately, it’s just another slang word for many of us. That’s just not right.

In an attempt to be more “people friendly”, many churches seem to have lost a sense of the reverence and fear that we see in the Bible. We come together to worship our Sovereign LORD. And HE has told us that whenever two or three come together in His Name, there He will be also. Will He be at your worship service today? Will you feel His Presence? Will you acknowledge His Presence?

If I’m truthful, I don’t like my own answers to those questions.

I wished that each one of us who sit in the “audience”, could take turns standing in the pulpit, before the gathered congregation, and see for just one service, what the preacher or pastor sees when he’s standing and looking out. Would every person have focused attention and minds plugged in anxious to hear God’s Word proclaimed? I’m afraid that doesn’t happen very often.

I think we’d see distractions on every side. People getting up and down, going in and out of the service, personal conversations going on, sometimes not even in a whisper, people sleeping… and oh, don’t forget people like me looking around watching for all those distractions so that I can sit in judgment. = ( That is not respectful to the minister, but worse than that, it’s not respectful to the Eternal, Self-Sufficient One, our Holy, Holy, Holy God.

//youtu.be/rGgX_oqdib4 - Revelation Song -

I love going to church. I love seeing people that I haven’t see all week and getting hugs. I love watching the babies there with their parents. It takes some time, but eventually those little babies grow up and learn how to sit quietly, singing and praying with their family. What a beautiful thing when families can worship together! I know God loves to see those babies and children feeling right at home in His House. I don’t mind one bit hearing them cooing or evening crying. They’re babies. That’s what babies do. = )

But I’m not a baby. I’m an adult who claims to love God with all my heart. Yet when I come together with my church family to “worship”, too many times I don’t even think about the fact that God is there, in our midst, waiting to be worshiped and praised! Am I the only one who struggles with this?

I’m confessing my sin, Lord, please forgive me!

What would it take for our churches to come together with single minded devotion, giving all our attention to our Savior? What if we were so in awe of His glorious Presence that we couldn’t help but fall to our knees, to lift up our hands in praise, to fall on our faces in humility before our Holy Holy Holy God?

Unfortunately, many of us would find that uncomfortable. And yes, even our sincere demonstration of worshiping would become a “distraction” for others. I’m reminded of when David returned from defeating the Philistines. He was bringing back the Ark of the Covenant and he was so excited and joyful.

 “And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly tunic. So David and all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with much shouting and blowing of the trumpets.” 2 Samuel 6:14-15


David was praising and worshiping God with all his heart, mind and body. But his wife, Michal, was disgusted by his actions. Verse 20 says “When David returned home to bless his family, Michal came out to meet him and said in disgust, ‘How glorious the king of Israel looked today! He exposed himself to the servant girls like any indecent person might do!’ David retorted to Michal, ‘I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord. So I am willing to act like a fool in order to show my joy in the Lord. Yes, I am willing to look even more foolish than this, but I will be held in honor by the girls of whom you have spoken.‘ So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her life.”

David displayed a joy that was almost uncontainable. He loved God and worshiped Him with everything he had. Michal felt his outward display was not appropriate of the King. But David had no problem humbling himself and giving all credit and honor to His God.

Maybe, raising our hands in worship or getting down on our knees before our Holy God might be an appropriate way to show our thanksgiving and dependence on Him. At the very least, I don’t think we should judge a fellow believer who is moved to raise his hands in praise.

Holy Father, You are so worthy of all my adoration and praise. I want to lift You up this morning in pure unadulterated worship!  Help me to stay focused on Your Holiness, goodness and love.  Help me to visualize Jesus sitting in the place of honor on our pulpit. Help me, Father, to focus on praising and thanking Him for all He’s done for me. I am committing to give my full attention to the songs and the sermon, and not to watching everyone else around me. I know it won’t be easy to do. Old habits are hard to break. But Jesus deserves my respect and reverence. I want to see His glory at church today.  I love You, Holy God, with all my heart, mind and soul.  I want to worship You with all that's in me today.  Please forgive me for all the times I fail to remember You've done for me through Your blessed Son.  In His precious Name I pray. amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwzItqYmII&feature=youtu.be - I Can Only Imagine - MercyMe

http://youtu.be/9xPzTSpbYmk  - You Are God Alone - Phillips Craig and Dean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf9uP6b7qns&feature=youtu.be - Holy is the Lord God Almighty - Chris Tomlin

http://youtu.be/ONPlqLTRBI0 - - Beautiful One - Jeremy Camp