Someone was boasting about knowing all aspects of the Bible and there wasn’t anything new.  Going deeper the individual exclaimed, “I know the Bible so much it doesn’t matter if I read it daily, once a week at church is enough.” 

Well, no one is here is ever going to “judge” that comment, after all we are not to judge at any time.  However, I do have some thoughts concerning this kind of thinking overall.

Personally, I can’t get enough of God’s Word.  His Word is always fresh, exciting and new.

The LORD’s Word is an ever-growing fountain of knowledge, that will continuously download into one’s soul, heart and mind.  The very foundation of God’s purpose is in His Word, for His children to build upon, and is there for all of us to enjoy.

And although we may know Chapter and verse, it is never the same each time one reads it.

For example, when I read from the Bible, there is another aspect, or thought I walk away with.  It may be something that touches my soul in a way it didn’t before.  Or it may be a verse that I needed to “hear” due to circumstances that loom large.  Or…it may be a “new concept” that suddenly jumps out and makes me say, “Wow!”

Reading the Holy Bible is to “hear God’s voice” speaking succinctly and directly to me.  It’s feeling His Spirit guiding me, as I seek His wisdom and peace.

It is learning how to understand life, and all of the nuances it encompasses.  His Word is akin to God’s breath, that catapults me into realms of reality, that assures me that I’m protected and loved.

So maybe for the individual that “only reads God’s Word weekly,” That’s okay for you, but not for me.

I want to feel connected and grow deeper and expand my roots of spirituality to the LORD, Jesus Christ…and His Word.

After all—“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…” – John 1:1

“Father, thank You for the Word and Your voice and wisdom, may I be ever seeking Your face and Kingdom, today, tomorrow and always, in Jesus’s name, Amen.”

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven ^[is at hand.”

Matthew 4:17 NKJV

Repentance is a recognition of our sin, and a commitment about that sin, to turn from it, and applying our concerted efforts going forward, onto a fresh path, after having been remorseful, for going outside the parameters of God’s Word.

We are turning from the sin, and have a complete change of mind, and change of heart, resulting in a change of conduct and direction resulting in a new path, having been forgiven by Christ.

Faith and repentance go hand-in-in.

We must firmly and wholeheartedly believe that Christ forgives us, be truly contrite, filled with remorse over our sin, and firmly adhere to turning from it.

But being human, we may therefore “slide” back into ” familiar sins”-and once again, we are called to repent. Our conviction by the Holy Spirit, will entreat us into realizing the error of our ways.

When we confess to God, we are in agreement with His Word, and realize it’s wrong and against Him.  So, we confess, and He is faithful and just, and He will forgive. Is that it? Well, there is more to confession than acknowledging what we did.

We need to truly apply those feelings of remorse, which is truly grieving the Holy Spirit, then fully turn from it, and walk away from it. Working hard to getting whatever it is “out of your life” and going forward with a clean slate. Amen!

The sweetest joy comes through sincere repentance toward God, for the transgression of His law, and through faith in the LORD Jesus Christ, as the sinner’s Redeemer, and personal Advocate.

Let’s not forget a particularly crucial factor, concerning our repentance. It is Christ’s love that allows us to repent and brings forth the conviction to do so. Without that conviction and love, we would be in dire circumstances.

Keep in mind that God loves us, even when we sin. His unparalleled love for us is truly undeserved, but we are important to Him nonetheless, and He sincerely loves all of us, irrespective of our actions.

God’s love has a purpose, and He loves to claim sinners and change their lives, thereby culminating into a close and beautiful relationship with Him, by altering their behavior, or honing it, according to His purposes, and will in our lives. So, we can share in the eternal rewards when we are called home.

Christ died for us, and that love prompts us to follow His path, not our own. We become new creatures as we are called to love others. To love God fully and completely and love our neighbors.

God gives us the strength to turn away from sins, the opportunity to do so, and the perspective and wisdom to understand why we should.

God will never turn from His children, instead He wants us to “turn to Him” for all of our needs, through good times and bad. And most important, His hands of grace are easy and gentle, and quick to forgive.

“Father, thank You for sending the Comforter to convict us, and to bring us closer to you, and allowing us to see the error of our ways, when we sin, Your love, and forgiveness are truly a gift, may we always turn to You in all things, in Jesus name, Amen.”

And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him,

Which is the first commandment of all?

And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 

Mark 12:27 -30 KJV

When the scribe inquired about the “first” commandment, Jesus answered swiftly, and responded with authority and assurance.  To love the LORD fully and completely, is not just about “loving” Him per se, but rather, it’s also about “choice.”

It’s one thing to read His Word, and recite some passages here and there, but it’s quite another thing to “fully endorse” the LORD, in all things, and include Him in all of the equations in our lives.

In other words, overtly choosing Him every day, while adhering to His Doctrine, and applying those standards to what we do. How we act, and what we say is an integral part of our Christianity, and crucial to our growth in the Spirit.

If we half-heartedly do things because we feel “obligated” because of our faith, then that really isn’t what the LORD is referring to with His answer about the “first commandment.”

To love wholeheartedly and unabashedly, is to pronounce and proclaim this continuously, no matter the circumstances, 24/7.

When we love Him unconditionally, it is a prolific statement in our hearts, and in our deeds.  It is a reflection of “His countenance” when we apply that kind of love, and dedication in all aspects of our lives.

It’s not to say we won’t experience adversity or painful scenarios and circumstances, after all…no one is impervious to sorrow or discourse of some nature.  However, we will be able to overcome with a buoyancy, that we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to navigate quite so easily, if we didn’t have the LORD, and all that encompasses, every single day, in which we live here on earth.

The glorious rewards, we shall reap when we are called home, will far outweigh anything that we’ve been through in the past, now or tomorrow.  Eternal bliss is priceless, and to clarify it while embracing the love of GOD, and the love we have for Him, makes all things bearable and sustainable.

A favorite passage of mine that really pertains to all of us is 1 Corinthians 10:13, the message is abundantly clear.  “There isn’t anything that we are going through that someone else hasn’t gone through before, and the LORD never gives us more than we can handle, and most important, He will always provide a way out of it.”

To be a special part of a “royal family” of the LORD, we must love Him, because we “want to,” choosing consciously to be with Him, on all levels in spirituality, and formulating it constantly.  It’s a valuable part of living.

Quite frankly, it’s seemingly easy to “love Him.”   

We, on the other hand, are not that easy to love, and yet…He loves us more than we could ever possibly imagine, or comprehend, and for that alone…isn’t He worth loving with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength?

“LORD, we thank You for loving us, for providing us with all that we need on a daily basis, Your strength reinforces our paths, Your promises ignite our souls, and Your love sustains our hearts, may we, Your children, find favor in Your eyes today, tomorrow, and always, in Jesus name, Amen.”

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Eternal love, what do those words mean to you? 

John 3:163:16 comes to mind when I see or hear the words “Eternal love.” After all, that kind of love supersedes all else, it is a symphony led by the Maestro. That is to say, our Master, the One and only LORD.

We’re all part of His symphony, each with our own distinct sound, and overall contribution to His orchestra of life. Each of us are different in shape, and sound. Yet together, it becomes one unified harmonious crescendo, that culminates into one accord, signifyingto our love for Him.

God sent His Son, on a mission to heal, preach, teach— and most specially to love–– so that we would be saved.  Sacrificing His Son, so that we would be forgiven of our sins, in order to share in the rewards of “Eternal love.”

The significance of what God has done for us, transcends anything and everything.

His kind of love is unparalleled.

He is offering us a chance at Eternal love, when we accept Him as our LORD and Savior.

Powerful! Astounding! Amazing!

Parents, think about how much God loves us. Now, think about your children, and the capacity in which you love them. Of course, you love them unconditionally and wholeheartedly, correct?

Well…now think about how much more our Father, in heaven loves us. So much more, that He would send His only begotten Son to save us from the depths of sin.

WOW!   It never GETS OLD!

The realization and affirmation of God’s love and sacrifice for us!  It is renewed each day, as we go through our routines and duties. The knowledge of His love is a magnificent gift and should be reflected in all we do.

All I can say is, “Thank You LORD, Abba Father.”

Traditional love, in and of itself is spectacular, and comes in the form of many different relationships.  We love according to the aspect in which they represent. For instance, we love our parents differently than we love our children, likewise, as we do our spouses/significant others.  We love our beloved fur babies.  We love friends, extended family, pastors, neighbors and colleagues. The list goes on and on, but you get the general idea.

Although we love, and well we should.  The most important relationship of all is the one we form with the LORD Jesus Christ. It is from that relationship in which we grow and thrive.  It is from that relationship in which we LOVE. It is from that relationship we are loved, fully, completely, totally, and beyond all human comprehension.

God’s plans for our journey here on earth, is comprised of a foundation in which we subscribe to, while following His will, and purpose all the days of our lives.

No one person is better than the other. No one is holier than another.  He sees us all through the same untrammeled vision in which He alone can see.

We are His, and He is ours.

Family, and a great love formed by a cohesive thread, of the body of Christ.

Eternal love?

Oh yes! 

Thank You LORD!

“Thank You for the promises in Your Word, for the boundless joy of loving You, for the blessings You bestow upon me daily, You alone are my LORD, thank You for the depths in which You love, may I do all things according to Your will, and purpose in my life, today, tomorrow and always, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding.”

 Psalm 111:10

God’s wisdom spurs godly decisions. When we lack wisdom, our decisions ultimately will bring about circumstances that could be devastating, or shallow in terms of life overall.

There isn’t any among us who haven’t been faced with challenges, many beyond our control, just take a look around our world and country, and most of what we face are of our own making and choices.

In college we had an acronym ABC, which meant…”action, behavior, consequences.”  Which is to say, our actions promote behavior that will invariably have consequences.  And those consequences can go both ways. They can produce repercussions that can be life altering.

These actions concerning our behavior, can either be favorable ringing out truths, and wisdom of God. Or they can be insurmountable in disfavor for all parties concerned.

When we don’t surrender and acquiesce to the LORD our God, but instead seek to follow our own path and our own ways, we are then foolish.  Proverbs 1:7 states, ” The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Being equipped with the wisdom of God is a gift from God who supplies that supernatural protection all the days of our lives. His Omnipotent power is prolific and lies within all of us. The Holy Spirit is wise, kind, resolute in providing the best outcome for us at all times.

Proverbs 3:5 –8 solidifies further that being wise in our own eyes is foolish, but instead to trust God at all times, and He will guide us, and keep us healthy as well.

Today as we handle “life” and all that it entails, whatever it may be, let’s focus on the One that can provide a sea of tranquility to allow us to sail on the stormy seas. The One who is in control, the One who loves us more than anyone or anything.  He alone can bring “our ships safely to port.”

God wants to give us His wisdom. He wants to supply all of needs, and He is standing by the ready to do so.

He is just asking “for us” to allow Him to do so.

“LORD, please provide Your wisdom in my life, may I be wise in all my decisions as I seek Your counsel daily, and may Your will be done this day and always, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Psalm 94:18-19

I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

There might be days when we keep falling down emotionally, there is only One Being that can catch us, and keep us standing straight upright.

When we feel as if we’re under water and drowning, there is only One Being that will pull us from the depths of the ocean.

When we feel as if all hope is gone, there is but One Being that will provide light and inspiration to keep forging ahead with confidence.

The LORD coats us with the balm needed for our very souls. He rejuvenates our Spirit, allowing us to adjust and become stronger still in His love and His grace.

Jesus, precious King of kings, and LORD of lords.  The very lifter of our embodiment and foundation for LIFE.

It’s okay to feel weak in the face of adversity, because that’s when God is the strongest.  It’s okay to feel reticent about life and its uncertainty, because we have a God who is constant, and every faithful.  It’s okay to feel pain and sorrow, because that’s when God will heal us and provide comfort.  It’s okay for us to cry, because that’s when God will wipe our tears with His hands of grace.  It’s okay to be human, because He made us, and knows we fall short of perfection; although we strive toward Spiritual growth, we still are encased in flesh.  And because of our flesh, is the very reason why we need to saturate ourselves with His Word, His commandments, and His love.

He promises us, that His promises, will never be broken.  That in and of itself is a rewarding and refreshing guarantee in this journey called life. However, eternal life, and its rewards will be spectacular, and to grasp His promises on a daily basis, is to arm ourselves with His truth, His light, and His love.  His promises, promise to keep us contained, and secure under His wings of protection, which enables us safe passage in an otherwise “dangerous” world.

Knowing He never forgets us, is tantamount to spontaneous and explosive joy within our souls, during every single aspect of our days, and all the days of our lives.

He never will forget us, it’s clearly apparent in His Word, in His promises, and in His love and mercy.

The question then becomes, “Knowing He loves us unconditionally, and is with us always, why is it then, that so many of His children have forgotten Him?”

“Father, thank You for endless love, and Your promises today, tomorrow and always, all glory and honor are Yours, Almighty Father, forever and ever, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

A Psalm of David

Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Psalm 29:1-2 (KJV)

Heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1) and those who are created in His very image are called to do the same (Genesis 1:26.) As children of God, we are to worship, and acknowledge His infinite glory, His Sovereign nature, and Omnipotence, in all aspects of our daily existence.

Christians and those of faith are part of an extended family, all serving one God, and processing life through the lens, hearts, and mind of Christ.  As a new day begins, we invariably will face many given issues in a 24/hr. time frame.

A sense of responsibility catapults each of us into a daily grind, that is to say, routines. Within this time frame can come challenging circumstances, and perhaps frustration, and or pain as well. But with God as our nucleus of all things, we can handle obstinance, frustrations, pain, defiance, darkness, good times as well as bad times. He alone will provide a cornucopia of ways to handle matters, because that is who He is…our faithful, loving Father. Through Him all things are made, and through Him all things are possible.

With hearts of love and appreciation, we realize without a smidgeon of doubt, that He is our eternal Jehovah, loving Father, and Creator.

In so doing, our Spiritual growth will intensify, as will our blessings from above.

Finally, eternal rewards, and His promises, will be fulfilled when we are called home.

Have you harnessed the magnificence of the LORD in your life?

“Father, may I always give You all the glory, today, tomorrow and always, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Always there for His Own

In this day of technology and robotic overtures, isn’t it a welcome relief to have a 24/7 access line directly to the LORD?

It’s calming and self-assuring to know that He is always with us, no matter what the time, or the place, He is there. Lovingly watching over us, patiently seeing us through obstacles, dilemmas, and guiding us unto paths of righteousness. When we seek Him.

This bit of knowledge was glaringly apparent this morning, as I was attempting to get in touch with my insurance company, yearning to reach a “live voice”—which is obsolete these days—and after endless prompting instructions, the phone disconnected!  Yikes!   Hey! I was on hold with the prompting and music for over twenty minutes. Are you kidding me?  Seriously?

After a second cup of coffee, I laughed aloud.  Oh well, I’ll try again this afternoon. It was at that moment I smiled up at the LORD, and said, “My Father, thank You for never disconnecting me. I can always get a hold of you, 24/7. Thank You!” 

Blessed Assurance from His Word

The Bible is my number one “go to” in all things pertaining to LIFE, organization, understanding, and significance.  His Word is a powerful tool in this world, and a must have in ” my wardrobe” as I dress in the morning.  For to be clothed in His Word, the Gospel Armor, is to be prepared and undefeated in everything I do or attempt to endeavor.

His Promises

 Deuteronomy 31:6, Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; “He will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

When I read that unprecedented passage, it catapults me into “full blown peaceful mode” knowing He is here!  He is with me! That affirmation settles into my soul and encourages me to get on with whatever I have to do.

Reality Check

Can anyone of us stand up and say we have never been disappointed?  

Can anyone of us stand up and say, we have never had a broken heart?

Can anyone of us stand up and say, no one has ever shattered a dream by breaking a promise?

Can anyone of us fully trust someone knowing they will never let us down no matter how much they love us?

I’m thinking that the answer has to be “no” to at least one of those scenarios. Because after all, we are humans encased in flesh bodies, and prone to make errors, and break promises along the way, or let people down here and there, intentionally or otherwise.

But consider this, “Can you trust God above all else?” 

The answer should be an undeniable and emphatic YES!

Trusting in God might at times be challenging, when a decision turns out to be less than appealing, disappointing, or confusing.

Or a certain situation turns out to be unexpected.  But this is when “trusting” God becomes critical in the passage of life.  When we surrender to Him, knowing His will for us is the best option, even when the outcome isn’t what we’d have chosen for ourselves, is when our lives become solidified and saturated in His love. It’s quite frankly, when we experience spiritual growth.

Trusting Him, knowing He is there 24/7 for those of faith, is a “life-line” that inherently keeps on giving in ways that no one else can.

Proverbs 3:5-8

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean …  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.  This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”

Knowing that He is with us, and will make good on ALL OF HIS PROMISES, is one of the greatest joys in life!

The next time you’re waiting desperately for someone to respond to your needs, look up and take comfort knowing there is instant access to the Greatest of all time.  He is available, willing and able. And just waiting for you to connect to Him!

“Father, I thank You for Your untrammeled protection and love, there is none like You, may I be ever mindful of Your Word, Your promises, Your blood, in Jesus’ precious name, Amen.”

Deuteronomy 28:1-2 KJV

 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

Christians, or those of faith can sometimes get lost in preconceptions about God thereby influencing what we “think” we might “hear” from Him.  For an example, when we think of God as a perfectly wise and loving Counselor, (which is what He is!) we will most assuredly be open to His Word and His Promises.  Irrespective of the adversities or calamities we may be facing, we know that He will undeniably help us, when we believe and trust in our Rock.

On the other hand, some who may believe God is a vindictive Judge, might expect punishment on a daily basis, and perhaps relentlessly waiting for Him to extract due to our follies in harsh penalties.

Simply put, the depth of our relationship with the LORD, will be instrumental in how we “hear” Him.  When we approach Him, knowing we are serving a living God, and under the auspices of His grace, we are filled with assurance that He will “talk” to us. And we then “hear” what it is that He’s saying to us.  Even if they might not be exactly what we “want” to hear.  Nonetheless, His will not ours.

When we have an intimate close-knit relationship with Him, we will turn to Him for all matters concerning our lives, and believe everything He says, everything He promised, and every commandment He issued.

It comes down to this.

Do you know and love Him?

Have you judiciously applied all the foundations of His doctrine and His will for your life on a daily basis? 

You see, our personal view of the LORD has to remain accurate and perceived Biblically. By being fully acquainted with God, and His character, we will truly know who He is.

We will know Him as the God of love (1 John 4:8) who wants us to approach the throne of grace boldly (Hebrews 4:16). It is by knowing Him, we will grow closer to Him, and become embedded enabling our Spirit to take root, growing deeper and more profound.

The next time you think you “hear” what the LORD is telling you, make sure it isn’t some preconceived thought of your own mind, luring you and leading you to the wide path of the world.

Instead, follow the sage advice of 1 Thessalonians 5:21, and quickly test whatever you “hear” alongside the truth of Scripture.  It is only then that your barometer of Christianity, will register reality, which will let us abandon the shrill “fictitious” sounds of the world!

“Dear God, thank You for Your Word, which is an immovable anchor in my life, may I always hear Your voice through the noise of the world, and may I always apply Your Word in all aspects of my life, today, tomorrow and always, in Jesus’ name, Amen.” 

In the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago…

Titus 1:2

We can confidently depend on our eternal King because He Himself is truth (John 14:6), and His promises are true. According to Titus 1:2, God cannot lie, and never makes a promise that He won’t keep. And He certainly has the power to keep His word, for “nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

His promises are manifest in His Being and His Word, which is to say, Jesus Christ who is the Living Word. When we are given to daily frustrations, or intermittent valleys of turbulence, we are subject to inherent emotional storms due to the circumstances. However, with His promises, and His Word, and most especially His love…we are assured guidance and a way to get “through” whatever it is we are battling.  He is the solitude of peace in which we can maneuver effortlessly, and the One who give us the ultimate strength in which we can then accomplish what it is we need to do.

His Word.

His Promises.

His Love.

As faithful followers and believers, we’re instructed many times in the Bible not to worry. Instead, “Be of good cheer, and be encouraged” for we know the LORD our God is near and will uphold us.

We are told to “be encouraged” numerous times in both OT and NT. We are told that God will never forsake us, and that He will love us through it all.

We’re encouraged by His Words, and promises, we are to seek God’s kingdom and therefore rely on Him for all of our needs. Ostensibly, the polar opposite of what the “world’s” philosophy is, which suggests we rely on “ourselves” and/or other individuals for security/wants/needs.

Rejecting the world’s ideology and seeking Him for everything, and anything, is a process of dutiful compliance to His commandments, Word, promises, and foundation of His love.

How blessed we are to know we serve a Living God that is aware of needs, and His provision in matters of all things in our Universe.

Rejoice, be exceedingly glad, and embrace Him. He provides for birds, flowers, and even more so for His beloved children.

How amazing is our God? 

How amazing that He is so in tune with His children.  He is aware of our needs and desires before we have any conscious awareness of what we ourselves are in need of.

Believe God, seek His kingdom, and rest in His peace which truly surpasses all human comprehension or understanding (Phil 4:7).

His promises are given, His Word is accurate and sustainable.  The choice then becomes yours.

Do you wish to be a part of an extended family of royalty?

Our Father, the King of kings waits patiently for your choice and   acceptance of Him, His promises, and His love.

The choice is rather obvious, wouldn’t you agree?

“Thank You for the promises which are apparent in Your Word, thank You for Your love, and grace which is in abundant supply in all our needs, and thank You for being so amazing in every way, may we always be in awe of Your Omnipotence and Sovereign power, and may we always seek Your kingdom today and forever, in Jesus name, Amen.”