Monday, June 27, 2016

Rick Springfield said it the best!

I've been waiting for God to give me a reason to interject Rick Springfield into one of my blog posts and today is the day! I admit it. I'm a Rick Springfield fan from the 1980's. I know most of his songs. I've been to two of his concerts, AND, I'm pretty sure I cried at both of them when he came out to sing. I know. That's probably not what you wanted to hear a Christian woman talk about today. But it's the truth.

Rick Springfield makes me think about love. BUT WAIT! Before we go any further let me make one thing straight. God knows my heart and He knows I'm a committed follower of Jesus Christ and not Rick Springfield. And, God knows that my husband, Dean, is the love of my life and there is no other man for me. But, God also knows that the teenager in me just loves Rick's music. It takes me back to my younger years and some fun memories. It takes me back to a time when life was simpler and I drove a Camero. Rick's music does make me think about a lot of people and things I love.

Love is important to us Christians. The Bible tells us that God is love. The God of the Bible is actually called The God of Love. We also know that we love others because God first loved us. The Bible also tells us that God so loved us that He sent His Son to pay for our sins. That's an amazing love! Love is important to God. So important that He even told us how to love. Check out these verses:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 7.

This kind of love seems hard, but it's so beautiful when we love this way. When we are patient and kind, it shows the most beautiful kind of love for someone. When we are not proud or rude, we are showing love to others. When we are not irritable and when we forgive rather than keeping up with someone's wrongful actions, then we have loved well. Love rejoices in truth and it never gives up. I like the thought of this kind of love. 

So, what am I saying to you here today? What would God have us do in this world? Well, in the infamous words of Rick Springfield from his 1980's hit song.....

"You better love somebody!!"

Jesus - help us to love others like you love us. And thank you for Rick Springfield. May he find you and know your kind of love if he doesn't already. - In Jesus' name, Amen.

For a deeper study read and journal about what God tells you in the following scriptures:
  • 1 Corinthians 13
  • Matthew 5:43-48
  • John 3:16
  • 1 John 4:8
  • Galatians 5:22-23
PS - I confess that my ringtone on my phone is "You Better Love Somebody". I believe it's a perfectly acceptable ringtone for a Pastor. Just sayin'.


Monday, June 20, 2016

What kind of HOPE do you have?

Hope will last forever according to the Bible. (1 Corinthians 13:13) But, I don't think worldly hope will last forever. Godly hope, the hope that the Bible speaks of, now that will last forever! 

Hope according to a worldly perspective is to wish for something without certainty of fulfillment. Godly hope is a strong and confident expectation. I am confident in Jesus and my salvation in Him. I'm not wishing for something without certainty. No way! I'm confident in Jesus.

Godly hope has great results. It changes how we see ourselves. It changes what we value. It even effects how we live our lives. Before I had placed my hope in Jesus, my life was honestly a mess most days. I saw myself and others through a worldly perspective. I wasn't tall enough or rich enough or thin enough. And my friends, well, they were in the same boat. Today I have a godly hope and I see things differently. I see myself as a Daughter of the King of Kings. I see others with compassion. The world just looks different and has different results when you have godly hope!

Godly hope has rewards! According to the book of Romans we have joy and peace as we place our hope in Jesus. (Romans 15:12, 5:2) The Book of Psalms tells us we are protected because of our hope in our God. (Psalm 33:18) And if that wasn't enough, our godly hope gives us strength, boldness, courage, and confidence even in the face of death! (Psalm 31:24, 1 Thess. 4:13, 1 Timothy 4:10)

Do you know the God of Hope? I sure hope so. (-: His name is Jesus, and without Him we truly have no hope. But, with Him we have unlimited, eternal hope.

Jesus, my hope is built on You and You alone. Help me to be a hope in this broken world so that others may see you and know the God of Hope! - In Jesus' name ~ AMEN.

For a deeper study:

  • Look up verses regarding HOPE in your Bible and journal/discuss what God speaks to you.
  • Journal/Discuss some of the ways God has given you HOPE in your life.


Monday, June 13, 2016

Faith

Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God.

Impossible - that's a loaded word. It is IMPOSSIBLE to please God without faith. You can love others and do all kinds of good works, but without faith you can't please God. You can cook casseroles for your sick neighbors every day until you die, but without faith it is impossible to please God. You can give all your money to charity, but without faith you can't please God. It's impossible -unimaginable, unattainable, unworkable - to please God unless you have faith in Him.

You know what else I know about FAITH? I know that faith comes in different sizes. In Matthew 8 there is a Roman officer that was noted as having GREAT faith, and Jesus was blessed by his great faith. But, also in Matthew 8 Jesus wonders why the Disciples have little faith when they were scared of the weather that was rocking their boat. Jesus also mentioned in Matthew 17 what faith the size of an itty, bitty mustard seed would do for you.

Faith also acts like a shield for Christians according to Ephesians 6:10-17. What does our faith help us shield? It helps us shield the lies throw at us by the devil himself. All shields are used to stop the offensive measures of the enemy.

Faith is important to me. It's also important to God. In 1 Corinthians 13 God tells us that 3 things will last forever, and one of those is faith. With that in mind, where is your faith?

Is your faith in your money? I sure hope not because I've been to a lot of funerals and I can tell you that money and possessions don't really matter at the end of your life.

Is your faith in those you love around you? I have some AMAZING family members and friends, but if I was completely honest with you they've let me down at some point or another. And, I'm pretty sure I've let others that I dearly love down as well.

Have you considered putting your faith in Jesus Christ? The Bible tells us that we've all sinned (Romans 3:23). The Bible also tells us that God sent Jesus Christ to die for us even though He knew we were sinners. (Romans 5:8) It also says that if we believe in Jesus with our hearts we will be saved. (Romans 10:9) And then in Romans 5:1, it says something so sweet to my hears and my heart and that is, "We have been made right with God by FAITH."

I hope your faith is in Jesus Christ. Not because it pleases me, but because it pleases God.

Lord, thank you for sending Jesus to die for each of us. The more I study Your Word the more amazed I am at how much you love us. You are truly and indescribable God. Help me to live out a life of faith. In the precious name of Jesus ~ AMEN.

For a deeper study on FAITH, read Hebrews 1 and also the stories from the Bible giants of faith found in Hebrews 1. Journal/discuss what God tells you in their faith stories.