No Greater Love

“Greater love has no man than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
— John 15:13
It is so much easier to say those words than it is to think about actually doing them. Most of us are capable of imagining our lives laid down for our children or for someone we greatly love. But who of us would ever begin to contemplate laying down our life for our enemies? It’s not even a thought that would come naturally to our conscious or our unconscious thinking. Who could do that? Who would do that? Of course, we all know the answer. Jesus did.
For His friends and for His enemies He died. Such an amazing love is what wooed us to the Cross and led us to lay done our will for His will in our lives. This love enabled us to see the futility of life apart from Him and run into His waiting arms.

How could He love me so? Have you ever asked yourself that question? Have you ever stood in the mirror glimpsing the reality of exactly who you are apart from Him and been brought to your knees in praise?

For me, for you, He endured the Cross. He endured excruciating pain and suffering. He experienced soul crushing despair when He felt the Father’s rejection. And yet, in the throes of His agony He seeks forgiveness for the ones who despise Him unto death.

There is no greater love than this. Every insult or accusation hurled at us; every offense we experience; every cut and bruise our egos receive; everything and all that this life has to throw at us, we can bear and we can bear well, because he loves us!

Father, we thank you today for the Gospel. We thank you for loving us while we were still against You. Lord, help us to live today with a grander view of so great a love, and with an increased desire and willingness to share Your love in us, with our friends and our enemies. Gratefully in Jesus name. Amen.

Stephanie

Elohim ~ The God who Created You

“In the beginning God created the heavens and earth.” Gen. 1:1

I’d like to take a few devotionals to focus on the names of God. What better place to start than with the name Elohim, which is found first in the Bible. Not only is it first, but it is found 2,000 times in the Old Testament.

“EL” means powerful or mighty and “him” refers to the plural (This speaks of the Trinity). Putting the two words together ~ Elohim means “The powerful creator and sustainer of the universe”. This immediately reveals the external existence of God ~ he created, he was not created. It also demonstrates the self-sufficiency of Christ. Remember, Satan was created, which means his powers are limited.

So, what does that mean to you?

1. We were created by HIM ~ for HIM.
2. We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14)
3. God can use what he creates (Exodus 4:11)
4. God uses the Ordinary, because he created us ~ so that we boast in the creator ~ not in us. (1 Cor 1:26)
5. In Isaiah it tells us that we were created for HIS glory (43:7)
6. We are connected to the powerful creator and that power is available to YOU! (Prov. 18:10)

See God doesn’t need you or I, we need him! Without our Creator we are nothing, he created us for His purpose. To bring Glory to God the world must see us living His ways, and doing His good works.

Since God is Elohim….
I am here for a reason and I have been given a purpose. Do you believe that? Do you live as though that were true?

LDJ

II Corinthians 5:7 “We walk by faith and not by sight.”

I was given a “pass-it-on” message card put out by Universal Design. I haven’t passed it on, but I’ll share its message.

The card shows a picture of a little white dog peeking through eyes covered with hair. We have a white Westie who shares the same face! The title of the card reads, “We walk by faith and not by sight”. I love the little card as it reminds me that as Christians we have to walk by faith many times, not seeing clearly what may be ahead in our life. We have to trust Christ, our Savior and friend, for decisions and paths to follow. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

As I am writing this, I am watching our little Westie, whose name is Frostie, playing outside with one of the residents of our addiction recovery center. I notice three things as I watch:

1. They know and trust each other – and Frostie listens to John’s every word, obeying.

2. They enjoy each other’s company – it shows!

3. John leaves, and our dog waits for his friend to come back – he will, because he loves him.

Isn’t this how we react as we walk by faith with Christ? We need to enjoy being with and talking with our Lord. He is our friend, and He loves us. We need to trust His leading and seek his will. Even when we can’t see His reasons, we need to obey! Luke 8:18, “Take heed how you hear”.

Remember, too, that Jesus will come back – He has promised! Be ready and be looking for His return – maybe this year, maybe next. For now, enjoy being with Him as you read His Word, letting Him talk to you; as you pray, talking to Him.

Walk by faith and obey His commands. Remember, He loves you!

Dottie

The Passion of a Kiss (part 2)

Yesterday’s phone ad led up to this video, called “Like We Never Loved At All.” It is a really well done video about a broken-hearted couple. The point is how much they are both hurting over their break up and long to be back together but there are some obstacles, namely another woman. It’s obvious that they have shared a lot! It portrays the woman as wondering how he has moved on, she asks him; “Did you forget the magic? Did you forget the passion? Did you ever miss me? Ever long to kiss me?” Obviously by the look on his face the answers were, No, No, Yes and Yes. Their hearts were broken.
Anybody that has seen it, would probably agree that she could press the delete button forever and not get this relationship out of her heart. It’s just not that simple. I don’t believe it was designed to be simple. I believe that when the Lord said that the two shall become one, Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his mother and father and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh, He wasn’t just referring to the physical but also a spiritual joining of the couple.
There’s something special about going to the man you love on your wedding night and being able to share your most intimate experience under the protective banner of marriage. Song of Solomon 2:4 He has taken me to the banquet hall and his banner over me is love.
The Beloved tells us not to stir up nor awaken love until it pleases. Sure a kiss can bring pleasure but it leads to the desire for more sexual intimacy not meant to be awakened until it truly pleases. Pleases who? Pleases God.
There is nothing wrong and in fact, everything right about the love and passion we can experience in a marriage. That is truly a gift of pleasure from a loving God. And I believe it pleases the Lord to look down upon a loving, respectful, passionate, married couple.
Maybe you’ve experienced things in this way and can say yes, amen, that is so true. Maybe you haven’t. Maybe you’ve got some conviction going on and far be it from me to take that away. Let it lead you to our loving, forgiving Lord and start again. Maybe you’re not even at a point to have to consider it yet, but it’s never too early to start preparing to do the right thing.
Maybe that choice was taken away from you and you need the comfort, peace and healing only God can give. Or maybe you’re like me and wish you grew up knowing Christ and had the foundation to make better choices but didn’t. Let me say God is good, He has allowed me to be a wife and mother and come through a divorce, and by His grace has made me a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come. Should He decide to give me a godly husband I will have the opportunity to come to him as a new creation in Christ.
How about you? Where do you stand? Where would you like to stand?

Dina

The Passion of a Kiss

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases.
Song of Solomon 8:4

I was privileged to hear about a couple who made a commitment during their courtship to not stir up certain feelings by drawing a line right at the start of the relationship in how they would relate physically to each other. Quite honestly, I was surprised not only at where the line was drawn but that the man was the one who drew the line. He told her that he would not kiss her on the lips until she was his wife. But what’s even more amazing is that the woman was hoping he would do exactly that! She told me she took it as a confirmation from God that this guy was the real deal. She shared that in the past she would have had to be the one in a relationship to set the boundaries. It was encouraging to her to know that this man was willing to lead in that area. Her exact words were; “I knew then that I could trust him with my heart.”
Now some may say; so what’s the big deal about a kiss? When I was sixteen years old (way too young), I received my first kiss. WOW! It was not something I was prepared for, emotionally or physically. I wasn’t sure what to do with all the feelings that came with that kiss. I’m thankful now that it stopped there. But at the time I wanted more! I liked the feelings that were stirred up and wanted to experience them again, Not only that but I thought that it meant this relationship was going someplace. I didn’t know where but who cared, this was great! Keep in mind, this was a result of “simply kissing.”
Talk about stirring up and awakening love before it’s time! Needless to say, I never did go out with the boy again, but to this day I can remember not only that kiss but his name. Oh sure I moved on, but I can’t say it didn’t take away a little piece of my heart. The Lord tells us to guard our hearts. Proverbs 4:23, Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. How can we do that when we are in and out of relationships, especially when physical intimacy is involved.
Recently I clicked on to a music video on the net and there was a cell phone ad attached to it that was a girl sharing with others how by doing the following three things she could forget all about the man she just broke up with,
1. Get rid of all photos and memorabilia, i.e.: movie ticket stubs etc…
2. Delete his email address.
3. Last, delete his phone number from your cell, this will be especially helpful because a cell phone will always prompt that action with the question; Are you sure?
And there you have it ladies, he’s gone, what was his name?? Yeah Right!

But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- 2 Timothy 3:1-4

More tomorrow…

Thus Far…(Part Two)

In yesterday’s devotion we were journeying through a very serious time with the Israelites. After Samuel had spoken, they’d all gathered together at Mizpah. Mizpah was on the main north-south road through the hills north of Jerusalem and it means “Watch”.
We are with them as they drew water and poured it out. This was symbolic of their distress and brokenness. In his preaching, Samuel had called them to repentance, confession and contrition before the Lord. Every one of them heard and responded.
(I can think of at least one pastor who would faint over even half, or one-fourth of his flock responding as the Israelites did.)

As our story continues, the Israelites are trembling with fear as the enemy approaches to destroy them. Samuel is giving a burnt offering to the Lord and the Lord answers him. Wow! “The Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines.” Imagine that! God heard the prayers of Samuel and so confuses the enemy with the thunder that they were overcome by the Israelites. God’s people pursued their enemies and drove them far away.
“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up…and called it Ebenezer, saying, ‘”Thus far the Lord has helped us”‘.
Samuel sacrificed; Samuel prayed and God graciously answered. Oh what a comfort we have as true believers. Let’s pause and give thanks to Him who is steadfast in love and faithfulness. “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for His steadfast love endures forever. You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit. — I Chronicles 16:34, Job 10:12

Dear one, what is the sin that so easily besets you? What has invaded your life so as to rob you of God? The call here is plain. Begin to repent and reform. Pour out, fast, confess. Return to your God, the Lord Most High! And lest you forget, remember we have an Intercessor, who is never silent, nor does He sleep. He is always in the Presence of God for us. As we repent and pray (pray a lot) we will have victory over all our enemies.
Then, like Samuel, let’s set up our Ebenezers to the glory of God, and say, “Thus Far the Lord has helped me”.

Stephanie

Thus Far……(Part One)

In 1 Samuel 7 there is an account of history that could be an encouragement to any of us. As believers in and recipients of the grace of God, is a great comfort to know, our great Intercessor never ceases to pray for us.

In this story, Samuel has spoken to the house of Israel and admonished them saying, “If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away foreign gods and the Ashtoreths (the goddess of love and war) from among you, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only, and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
The children of Israel did exactly that. They put away their gods and served the Lord only.
Samuel gathers them all to pray to the Lord for them. Together they drew water, poured it out before the Lord, fasted and confessed their sin against God, and Samuel judged them.
Whew! There is so much going on in this story right now, I could probably write two weeks of victory calls! The Lord has so, so very much to say to us here. In a nut shell He is saying, loud and clear:
–return
–pour out
–fast
–confess
What happens next is exactly what our enemy the devil does. When the Philistines heard about what was happening, they set out against them! Why then? Why not when they were knee deep in sin and living recklessly and carelessly before a Holy God? Hmm? Ponder that one on your own. Be very aware of any thinking that would entice you to believe you are in the clear because “you aren’t as bad as them”. Selah
Anyway, just like us, when the children of Israel found out they were soon to be under attack, they were very much afraid and said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord for Israel.”
Guess what happened? The Lord heard them! Tomorrow we’ll look at the rest of the story.

Today’s Question:
Does your heart belong wholly to God? Do you love Him with all your heart? What is the evidence of that truth in your life?

Stephanie

Hebrews 3:7-8, “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if You will hear His voice, do not harden Your hearts as in the rebellion…”
Oh, how many times I have read and heard that verse in the 22+ years I have been a Christian. Until last night it always conjured up thoughts of the stiff-necked Israelites who hardened their hearts in rebellion against God. Last night however, God pierced my heart as He reminded me that many too many times that is exactly what I have done when I heard His voice hardened my heart. Most of the time I didn’t think that was what I was really doing, I just allowed myself to be distracted from obedience from other things that rushed in to take its place.
Today….Today….That word swirled around in my head. Today, if you hear His voice — respond today. Don’t put off obedience. When we do, we are hardening our hearts just as they did in their rebellion. You know the rebellion I mean; the one we turn our noses up at wondering how the Israelites could be so dense.
The longer I am a Christian, the more like the Israelites I realize I am, stubborn, prideful, disobedient and short-sighted. How can I thumb my nose at their disobedience? I harden my heart, just like they did, and I have two things they did not. I have the complete revelation of God in His Holy Scriptures and I have the abiding Holy Spirit.
Delayed obedience is no obedience at all. So if today we hear His voice, we need to respond to Him today. If we don’t eventually we will stop hearing His voice.

Are you listening?

Diane

After our recent NYE Conference at America’s KESWICK, I received an email from one of our friends/guests. I thought her thoughts were worth passing on.

Where God Speaks to Hearts
It was quite a revealing experience this past weekend loosing our car keys at the NYE conference. My Husband kept saying that he’s being humbled by this whole experience. I noticed he responded differently and I had such peace on the inside. I was scratching my head, racking my brain to try to remember Friday evening, but yet there was a sense that we were not alone in this and that God was in control and that things would work out. My husband was impressed with the amount of people who showed true concern and offered genuine help to us. He was humbled yet blessed at the same time.
In the Sunday morning service I found my heart saying that I really didn’t want to leave here. Our family always seems to get along well while we are at Keswick and I always get blown away with the true fellowship that I experience while there. So I thought it was pretty funny that we were waylaid a few hours and felt that God heard my cry. But I felt that He allowed me to see something during that whole fiasco. I had been saying that I didn’t want to leave there, but what He allowed me to see was that as Keswick emptied out, it wasn’t a bustling place anymore. As we watched one of the women drive the golf cart across the parking lot it struck me about what it must be like when everyone leaves to go home, the normalcy of life.
The thought that crossed my mind was it’s not so much that Keswick is a special place-it is the PEOPLE and the way God’s SPIRIT moves there that makes the place special!
On our way home I told my husband my thoughts and I said it would be nice if we could bring home how we treat each other at Keswick. So already I’ve said to the kids, “Hey, now you wouldn’t have acted like that at Keswick, let’s not do it here!” I’ve sensed a peace in my heart this week that is comforting. If God’s Spirit can move in NJ it can move in PA!! We need to be willing to allow God to “speak to our hearts” here at home like we allow Him to when we are at Keswick.

Anonymous

Are you allowing God to speak to your heart in your home?

Diane

Have you ever felt discontent? I know I have, in many areas of my life. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, fourth edition, defines discontent as this: “A restless longing for different or better circumstances” (emphasis added).
Does this ring a bell? Every moment of every day we are either content, or discontent. I challenge you to evaluate yourself on a daily basis as to whether contentment or discontentment rules your heart the majority of the day. Then, dig a little deeper and take note of the attitude of your heart.
Contentment is defined in Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary as: “A State of mind in which ones desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be.”
Proverbs 15:15 says: “All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.” Look back on the times you felt discontent. Do you see a parallel to the first part of this verse? When you are discontent do you feel frustration at everything? Do you feel like everything bugs you, and the littlest thing “ruins” your day?
Now let us evaluate the times we are content. Do you notice how you react differently to things? You may feel calm and joyful. We can take the same circumstance and react completely different depending on where our hearts are at the time. Our attitude will shape our day, and our reactions. Our hearts are visible every day. Many of us, if not all of us, wear them on our sleeves. People see our hearts by the very way we act, and the things we say, and how we say them. Do you want people to see Christ in your cheerfulness?
We should want to stand apart from the world, and want our attitude to reflect Christ. He has given us reason to live. He has saved us from sin and Satan’s lies. Let us reflect the love and joy we have in Christ, that others may see the difference and glorify God.

Kate