Saturday, May 1, 2010

God Loves Us Without Condition

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.
Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes
of him to whom we must give account.”
Hebrews 4:13



We learn that God sees all and knows all. He is aware of what His children think as well as what they say. When we fall short and cause pain for Him. Our Father loves us in spite of our sins.

Let’s consider the way this aspect of God works. He creates us, therefore He loves us. We grow in the faith but, along the way, we decide we can do things our way without His help. This kind of conduct causes hurt for our Father, but, we belong to Him.

He waits for us to approach His throne. He reaches out to us and draws us closer. He listens as we pour out our sorrow, reminds us of His love for us and speaks words of forgiveness.

We don’t deserve this love. When our sins become apparent, a part of us don’t realize that we also have to forgive ourselves. I used to find it easier to forgive others than to apply that process to myself.

God forgives and continues to love us as if nothing happened. He doesn’t hold anything over our heads. It isn’t Him that stands beside us and says,” Do you remember doing . . . ?”

I’m very thankful He forgives me when I ask Him.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

God Cares for Us

He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them
close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40:11 (NIV)



As we live and work in this 21st Century, the landscape looks bleak. Unemployment creeps through our society, the people of our nation are polarized by the actions of our government. Freedoms have been taken away from us. Persecution exists in our world and could soon cause intensified issues for all who hold God’s Word holy.

In checking out one of the devotional magazines my church orders for distribution, I found the scripture for this entry. I received a mental picture of a shepherd carrying a lamb in the crook of his arm with his free hand stroking the animal as he walks toward a grove of trees and safety.

We refer to God as our shepherd. Yes, there are times He carries his children, as He protects them from harm. God has always loved us, his children. It was that facet of Himself in His plan that makes it so dear to us..

As we go through each day, we should look at all the times God protects us. Then we need to thank Him for his embrace and for holding us close.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Does God Like our Excuses?


“Then the master said, “Go out into the highways and
hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall
taste my supper.’” Luke 14:2324 (NKJV)

Jesus told a parable about a rich man who planned a feast. When the host told those invited that the feast was ready. He received a whole host of excuses: business ‘reasons’, work ‘issues’, and family ‘things’.

When the host heard of these excuses, he sent the servant out to invite anyone, especially those who were forgotten by the social world at that time.

In the 21st Century, do we make excuses for our not doing God’s work? Sometimes we do. We have times when we rationalize our inaction as being too busy. Other times, we allow family issues to color how we feel about what He asks of us. We have been guilty of working too many hours at our ‘day job’. Some of us don’t feel we are gifted enough to work in ministry. Our we don’t believe we have any Spiritual gifts to use for the Kingdom.

We will have to answer about these excuses when we go to be judged by Jesus. How do we want to be judged? Something tells me the decision is ours.

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...