I am sitting here pondering today, like many before me in the history of this world, the great love God has for us. The Psalmist David often
wrote of God's love and described it in deep and thoughtful terms.
God's love is so far above our thinking or understanding that
putting it in human terms is almost impossible. His love is
everlasting, and never fails.
Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies (Psalm 36:5).
But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (Psalm 86:15).
Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever (Psalm 136:26).
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).
My friends, as I read these verses I am overwhelmed that God would love us at all. We are so fickle, often ignoring him for other interests, and often neglecting our prayer life for days or even devotional time.
As you walk down the street, and make snap judgments about people, I want you to take a second look. God loves the homeless person as much as he does you. He loves all people, every race in the world. He loves the poor, and the rich. His love is abundant and free and the word tells us if we want him, we will find him if we seek him with all our hearts. Proverbs 8:17 God is no respecter of persons, he longs that all of us might come to a saving knowledge, and is speaking to you, calling you by name, and longing for you to have a relationship with him. For this were you created.
But with that great love came a great sacrifice. God loved us so much that he recognized we were sinners, and in need of spiritual cleansing from sins. The only way the Bible ever teaches of atoning for sins was a blood sacrifice. Jesus was born pure, without sin, like a spotless lamb. Born to teach us how to live, and then die to atone for our sins (pay that price for us) , and then rise again to show us we could have eternal life if we received the great salvation of Jesus.
Let me ask you, among your friends, whom do you know that would give up their life for you? Who do you know among your friends that never fails you? Who do you know that you could talk to 24/7 about your problems and get actual guidance that works? Who do you know that constantly loves you and that love never fails?
Read this hymn penned in 1875 by S. Trevor Harris and the music written by Thomas J. Williams:
O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean full of blessing, ’tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!
My friends, if you have not experienced this love, it is possible today.
It starts as a conversation between you and God. Father God, I have sinned. Please save me from my sins through your son Jesus who loved me and gave himself for me. Cleanse my sins and make me righteous before you. I give you my life, and I will follow you all the days of my life. I will turn away from my sin and my old lifestyle and read your word daily and talk to you and learn of you, and seek to please you first and live as you have called us to live, as disciples, following you always. in Jesus name, Amen.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 ESV
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Worthy Is The Lamb
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.
Isaiah 53:6
Somehow it seems unfair, and undeserving for Christ to
have to suffer for people who neglect him daily. That He
should be whipped, and beaten and mocked, and crowned
with a crown of thorns that dug into his head and caused him
to bleed... only to be led to a cross and cruelly crucified for us.
Why did he do this? Because he was worthy.. the Lamb of
God who came to take away the sins of the world.
3. He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
4. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
5. But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
Isaiah 53:3-5 NLT
Have you let him take away your sins? What have you done
to be justified in his sight? Have you sought Him? Have you called
upon His name? Have you praised him and lifted his name
on high for the great things He did for you, long before you
were here? Have you bowed down before that cross and
asked Him to cleanse you from all unrighteousness and
sin and be your Savior forever?
Who is Lord of your life? What is your purpose in life?
Do you look at the eternal picture, or just drift from day to day?
God has plans for you my friend, and He loves you with a deep,
eternal love that never changes or fails. He saw you even
as you were being formed in your Mother. He longs to walk with
you daily, and talk with you, and guide you and set you free
from all that binds you and hurts you.
We all have a choice.. to worship the Risen Lamb and
live for him, and surrender our lives to him and follow him daily,
or walk away from Him, his protection, guidance and salvation.
What is your choice?
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done for Christ will last!
For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.
Isaiah 53:6
Somehow it seems unfair, and undeserving for Christ to
have to suffer for people who neglect him daily. That He
should be whipped, and beaten and mocked, and crowned
with a crown of thorns that dug into his head and caused him
to bleed... only to be led to a cross and cruelly crucified for us.
Why did he do this? Because he was worthy.. the Lamb of
God who came to take away the sins of the world.
3. He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.
4. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
5. But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
Isaiah 53:3-5 NLT
Have you let him take away your sins? What have you done
to be justified in his sight? Have you sought Him? Have you called
upon His name? Have you praised him and lifted his name
on high for the great things He did for you, long before you
were here? Have you bowed down before that cross and
asked Him to cleanse you from all unrighteousness and
sin and be your Savior forever?
Who is Lord of your life? What is your purpose in life?
Do you look at the eternal picture, or just drift from day to day?
God has plans for you my friend, and He loves you with a deep,
eternal love that never changes or fails. He saw you even
as you were being formed in your Mother. He longs to walk with
you daily, and talk with you, and guide you and set you free
from all that binds you and hurts you.
We all have a choice.. to worship the Risen Lamb and
live for him, and surrender our lives to him and follow him daily,
or walk away from Him, his protection, guidance and salvation.
What is your choice?
Only one life, will soon be past
Only what is done for Christ will last!
For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
The Touch of the Masters Hand
Dearest Friends:
Never, ever give up!
No matter what circumstances you face,
they will change. No matter what today brings
forth, you are not alone. No matter what anyone
tells you, God loves you and desires the best for you.
Seek Him first, make Him your Savior, your source.
You are beautiful in His sight, truly loved,
and if you have received Him as your Savior.
You are truly forgiven. But you must ask!
And if you don't ask Him to do this, He will not
answer or hear your prayers. (John 9:31)
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be
added unto you.
Matthew 6:33
Nothing is impossible to those who believe
and are right before God.
Love
millie
**************************************
THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND
Well it was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer felt It was hardly
worth his while, to waste much time on the old violin But he held it up
with a smile..."It sure ain't much but it's all we got left, I guess we
ought to sell it too...Now who'll start the bid on this old violin, just
one more and we'll be through."
And then he cried, "One! Give me one dollar! Who'll make it two? Only
two dollars! Who'll make it three? Three dollars twice! Now that's a
good price...now who's got a bid for me. Raise up your hand and don't
wait any longer. The auction's about to end Who's got four? Just one
dollar more... to bid on this old violin."
Well the air was hot and the people stood around As the sun was setting
low. From the back of the crowd a gray-haired man Came forward, picked up
the bow. He wiped the dust from the old violin, and tightened up the
strings... Then he played out a melody pure and sweet...sweeter than the angels sing.
And then the music stopped... and the auctioneer with a voice that was
quiet and low, He said, "What am I to bid for this old violin? " Then he
held it up with a bow.
And then he cried, "One! Give me one thousand! Who'll make it two? Only two thousand! Who'll make it three? Three thousand twice! Now that's a good price... but who's got a bid for me. The people cried out, "What made the change? We don't understand" Then the auctioneer stopped and He said with a smile, "It was the Touch of A Master's Hand"
Now you know many a man with a life out of tune is battered and scarred with sin And he's auctioned cheap to a thankless world, much like that old violin. Then the Master comes, and the foolish crowd. They never understand The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought, Just by one touch of THE MASTER'S HAND.
God is able to change any heart and make any life worth living to those
that feel worthless and unworthy. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, Ephesians 3:20. If you sometimes feel like that violin, then I encourage you to seek a touch of The Master's Hand and
He is faithful to do for you all that you ask of God.
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Ephesians 4:22-24 "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
Psalm 103:2-5 "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who
redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."
Never, ever give up!
No matter what circumstances you face,
they will change. No matter what today brings
forth, you are not alone. No matter what anyone
tells you, God loves you and desires the best for you.
Seek Him first, make Him your Savior, your source.
You are beautiful in His sight, truly loved,
and if you have received Him as your Savior.
You are truly forgiven. But you must ask!
And if you don't ask Him to do this, He will not
answer or hear your prayers. (John 9:31)
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be
added unto you.
Matthew 6:33
Nothing is impossible to those who believe
and are right before God.
Love
millie
**************************************
THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND
Well it was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer felt It was hardly
worth his while, to waste much time on the old violin But he held it up
with a smile..."It sure ain't much but it's all we got left, I guess we
ought to sell it too...Now who'll start the bid on this old violin, just
one more and we'll be through."
And then he cried, "One! Give me one dollar! Who'll make it two? Only
two dollars! Who'll make it three? Three dollars twice! Now that's a
good price...now who's got a bid for me. Raise up your hand and don't
wait any longer. The auction's about to end Who's got four? Just one
dollar more... to bid on this old violin."
Well the air was hot and the people stood around As the sun was setting
low. From the back of the crowd a gray-haired man Came forward, picked up
the bow. He wiped the dust from the old violin, and tightened up the
strings... Then he played out a melody pure and sweet...sweeter than the angels sing.
And then the music stopped... and the auctioneer with a voice that was
quiet and low, He said, "What am I to bid for this old violin? " Then he
held it up with a bow.
And then he cried, "One! Give me one thousand! Who'll make it two? Only two thousand! Who'll make it three? Three thousand twice! Now that's a good price... but who's got a bid for me. The people cried out, "What made the change? We don't understand" Then the auctioneer stopped and He said with a smile, "It was the Touch of A Master's Hand"
Now you know many a man with a life out of tune is battered and scarred with sin And he's auctioned cheap to a thankless world, much like that old violin. Then the Master comes, and the foolish crowd. They never understand The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought, Just by one touch of THE MASTER'S HAND.
God is able to change any heart and make any life worth living to those
that feel worthless and unworthy. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, Ephesians 3:20. If you sometimes feel like that violin, then I encourage you to seek a touch of The Master's Hand and
He is faithful to do for you all that you ask of God.
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Ephesians 4:22-24 "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
Psalm 103:2-5 "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who
redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."
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