Dearly Loved, that’s me!

March 13, 2019March 29, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, I have the Father’s love. Knowing you are loved gives power, affirmation, hope and joy. Knowing you are love by God the Father fills us with confidence, hope, security, and comfort. Scripture speaks frequently of God’s love for us. Jesus was talking to the disciples about God’s love and his imminent return to the Father shortly before His death in John 16:27-28. “For the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. ²⁸Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.” Jesus said I am dearly loved by God because of my love for Him. God loves that I love Jesus! When you think about one of your loved ones, aren’t there things you really love about them. Maybe it is the way they smile, maybe that they always hug you so tightly or say loving things to you for no reason except that they love you. This little portion of scripture gives us a glimpse into God’s character and love. He loves us dearly- not a little bit of love but a special love that is close to His heart. The motivation for this dear love is because I love His son. Isn’t that like a good Father? As earthly mothers and fathers, we love the kids that love our kids. We cherish them and want our kids to associate with them. Being a good Father, God loves and cherishes us with a special love because we love Jesus. What a privileged and heart warming thought to ponder today!

Linda

Suggestion: Think about your love for Jesus. How has He brought you to faith, and provided you with hope, joy, security and comfort. Know that the things you love about Jesus makes God the Father love you even more.

I have the keys to a home in heaven. Thank you Jesus.

March 12, 2019March 29, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I have a place in heaven. I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about my eternal home in heaven because I’m usually so preoccupied with life in the here and now that it seems distant. However, the older I get the more I have pondered what this home will be like and who will be there with me. I realize now the urgency for telling others about Jesus and His saving power, so that they will not be left behind.

Today’s scripture comes from John 14. It is a familiar passage about the home Jesus is preparing for us and gives us great hope. I like the extra meaning the Amplified version John-14-2 gives John 14:1-4 ““Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe[confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me.²In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you.³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.⁴And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way.” We are not to be afraid because through faith in Jesus we know that He is preparing our eternal home and that He will come get us when the time is right.

Another passage in Ephesians reassures us that through faith in Jesus and because of God’s great love for us, we will be seated with Christ. It is truly by God’s grace, His unmerited favor, that He made such a place for us, as we did nothing to earn the riches we will receive. Ephesians 2:4-7 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,⁷so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

In our eternal home will have a place of honor that is prepared for us by Christ himself, and we will be with Him for eternity. My finite mind can only try to imagine such provision, but I know I only need to believe in Jesus and His saving work on the cross for it to be mine.

Linda

Suggestion: Give some thought to heaven today and make a list of at least 5 things you know about it. Need some help- read Revelation 21 or go back and reread today’s passages. They are filled with promises about our heavenly home. Hint- one of my favorites is Revelation 21:4

1st Sunday of Lent

March 10, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Lenten Sunday’s are a time apart to get recharged and worship our Savior. These last weeks I have been studying King David’s life and was brought to my knees by Psalm 51. David wrote this psalm after his great sin with Bathsheba and the ordering of the death of Uriah, her husband. David’s confession is real, heartfelt and gives us hope that God can indeed forgive all our sins and restore us. Be restored and seek God’s forgiveness as you meditate. Psalm 51: 1-4, 10-12, 17

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
    blot out my transgressions.
²Wash away all my iniquity
    and cleanse me from my sin.

³For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is always before me.
⁴Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
    and justified when you judge.

psalm 51 10 David acknowledges his sin and knows God can forgive and wash him clean.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹²Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

David knows God can restore, renew and bring joy where there was sorrow over sin.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.

David’s humbly offers God is his broken and sorrowful heart.

Prayer: May it be so with me too. Forgive my sins and create in me a new restored, resolved and committed heart to serve you. Amen.

Linda

Suggestion: attend a worship service really focusing on the praise and worship of God, so that you can soak in His restoring power.

Hope, now and for eternity. Thank you Jesus.

March 8, 2019March 29, 2019 nofearlinda1 Comment

Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, I have hope. Lent it a time of reflection and I was thinking what life would be like if Jesus had not come. I would be dead in my sins without hope. I would face eternal punishment because there would be no way to approach holy God. Jesus’ death on the cross changed all that. Praise God! Thank you Jesus! Here are some verses to offer up in praise for the work of our Savior.

Psalm 62:5 “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”

Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ²Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

1 Peter 1:21 “who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

Because Jesus came, died and rose again, I can have hope for a life lived by faith today and a hope of future glory. That is a blessed hope! Thank you Jesus.

Linda

Suggestion: Today as you consider the hope you have in Jesus, express to someone something you are hopeful about and why. It could be as simple as “I hope you have a good day” to “I am hopeful because of Jesus.” Show someone you possess hope. If they ask you why you have hope then you can explain, as today you have the answer! Jesus.

Which attitudes are you ‘Be-ing’?

March 1, 2019 nofearlinda1 Comment

The longest list of blessings for the blessed man/woman is in Matthew. They are commonly known as the Beatitudes. Each one points to a blessing from God that will come to the person who lives a life of faith. Reflect as you read each one and ask yourself- which of these do I see evidences of in my life? Remember that blessed means-a gift of divine favor, happiness or something that will prevent misfortune. Matthew 5:3-10

³“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (This refers to being humble- a blessed attitude, not proud or arrogant)

⁴“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (This mourning is over our sins, and we are comforted in our salvation and redemption by Jesus. Mourning or sadness will also be comforted by God.)

⁵“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Here again our meekness is before God, as in humility.)

⁶“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (I know this one to be true in my own life. Studying God’s Word creates a hunger within me that only He can satisfy. I pray that others will be blessed with this same hunger and receive the satisfaction only God can give.)

⁷“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. (This is promised compassion or mercy when we give or act mercifully. God’s Kingdom does not operate the same way the world does and in His kingdom showing compassion or mercy will be returned in kind. This is a wonderful assurance to believers.)

⁸“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Those who have clean hearts and attitudes will be able to see God, know God and walk with Him daily. David prayed in Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” God desires us to have an attitude of holiness, purity and cleanness in our hearts so we can see Him clearly.)

⁹“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (This applies to all believers as through Christ we are adopted into God’s family and are His sons and daughters. Through our redemption, we are made peacemakers as ones who love Jesus and desire others to have His peace too.)

¹⁰“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Because of our faith in Jesus, the world will persecute us. John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” As believers we are encouraged by the conclusion of this verse-ours is the kingdom of heaven. Praise God!)

Which resonated with you today? Thank God for His gift of divine favor and presence in your life!

Linda

Can you stand the heat of life?

February 19, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Our blessings passage today comes from Jeremiah 17. Like in Psalm 1 where the blessed man was contrasted with the wicked man, so Jeremiah presents God’s description of the blessed or God favored man versus the worldly or self-sufficient man. I looked at this passage in several translations but really liked the Message as it seemed to explain the essence of this passage the best. Jeremiah 17:5-8

^5-6God’s Message:

“Cursed is the strong one
    who depends on mere humans,
Who thinks he can make it on muscle alone
    and sets God aside as dead weight.
He’s like a tumbleweed on the prairie,
    out of touch with the good earth.
He lives rootless and aimless
    in a land where nothing grows. The man who depends on himself or this world is not rooted or grounded in anything but like a tumbleweed, rolling around in life, not producing any fruit and bumping from one thing to another.

^7-8“But blessed is the man who trusts me, God,
    the woman who sticks with God.
They’re like trees replanted in Eden,
    putting down roots near the rivers—
Never a worry through the hottest of summers,
    never dropping a leaf,
Serene and calm through droughts,
    bearing fresh fruit every season. The men and women of God are quite the contrast being rooted, growing, flourishing, trusting and bearing fruit even when storms, droughts or things get ‘hot’ in life.

Which type of person are you? I know from time to time we can all be tumbleweeds- tossed to and fro by the winds of the world, but we have learned that trusting and clinging to Jesus can bring us through every situation. Walking with Him keeps us steady and calm in the midst of life’s storms and gives us a life that is fruitful and honoring towards God.

I challenge you to walk like the blessed man today. See if you don’t have a song of praise in your heart and your steps are lighter as you trust and cling to Jesus.

Linda

Blessing #2- His Refuge

January 25, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Today’s blessings passage is from Psalm 34. David wrote this psalm after experiencing God’s rescue from his situation with the Philistine king seen in 1 Samuel 21. David praises God for his deliverance and protection. David praised God for his blessing -protection and divine favor in preventing his great misfortune. Psalm 34:4-10

I sought the Lord, and he answered me David knew God answers prayer
and delivered me from all my fears. and that God delivers.
⁵Those who look to him are radiant, David knew seeking God leaves
and their faces shall never be ashamed. one glowing with hope.
⁶This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him David knew God hears him.
and saved him out of all his troubles. David knew God could save him
⁷The angel of the Lord encamps David knew God protects.
around those who fear him, and delivers them.

⁸Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! David knew God blesses.
⁹Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, David knew God supplies without fear.
for those who fear him have no lack!
¹⁰The young lions suffer want and hunger; David knew by placing his trust in
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. God he would never be lacking.

Do you know, like David, that God answers prayer, delivers, gives hope, hears, can save, will bless, has resources beyond measure, can be trusted and will never leave you lacking for anything? That is an amazing list that gives me hope and assurance that God in His Sovereignty will take care of me. I am blessed if I can learn to take refuge in Him!

As you journey through this day, praise and thank God that He alone is your refuge and receive His blessings as you trust in Him.

Linda

A Day to Remember our Dreams

January 21, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

i-have-a-dream-mlk Today is deemed Martin Luther King Day in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who stood for rightness in fight for freedom of equality for all men. He was very eloquent in speech and inspired many with his life and fight against oppression. He challenges the generations to dream of equality and reach for it. Where do you have unrealized dreams today? Are you actively pursuing them, keeping them in focus and grabbing onto opportunities to make them happen?

The verses I’ve chosen for this year Psalm 37:5 and Nahum 1:7 are meant to hone my focus and keep me in pursuit of godly goals for 2019. Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Nahum 1:7 ““The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,” Like Dr. King, I want my dreams to be accomplished and I want to glorify God in the process. I came across another verse today that fits in and encouraged me. Proverbs 16:3 in the Message translation. “Put God in charge of your work, then what you’ve planned will take place.”

As we remember Dr. King today and honor his achievements for mankind. think how much God has for you to accomplish and what wonderful purposes He has for you. We know for certain that He has a plan and a purpose for each of us. “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 Put God in charge of your plans and He will make them align with His will and be accomplished!

Linda

A Struggler’s Confession

January 15, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

I have struggled these first few weeks of January as it seems I can’t get things to run smoothly. Yesterday I sought solace in God’s Word and Job 42:1-6 brought me comfort. I was touched by the Message version.

42 ^1-6Job answered God:

“I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything. I’m comforted by God’s
Nothing and no one can upset your plans. Sovereignty.
You asked, ‘Who is this muddying the water,
    ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?’
I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me,
made small talk about wonders way over my head. I’m talking and not
You told me, ‘Listen, and let me do the talking. listening.
    Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.’
I admit I once lived by rumors of you;
now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears! I do know you!
I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise!
    I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor.”

As I read this passage, I identified with Job. I too question God’s wisdom and His perfect plan. I forget that He alone is Sovereign. I tend to run on about things and not take time to listen to Him in prayer and in the Word. Thankfully, I do know Him and have experienced God first hand in my life. I know He is truth and He will fill me with His love and mercy if I turn to Him.

Prayer: Father, I do know you and trust in your plans for me. I know who you are and of your love and grace. You do not do to me what I deserve but shower me with grace and mercy. Thank you Jesus for loving me and keeping me in the palm of your hand. You shield and comfort me in hard times. You bring me joy and hope everlasting day after day. Create in me a clean heart that is focused upon you and not the swirling world around me. Help me, like Job, to cling to you and your truth with a repentant heart. Amen.

job 42 2 Have a blessed day living in the light provided and protected by Sovereign, Almighty God.

Linda

Live Like you Believe in God’s Love and Mercy

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

The first few weeks of January I write about goals, motivation, change, etc. This morning God has laid on my heart the idea of rising up and going. That may sound weird, but where do you get your get up and go? What makes you want to get up in the morning and pursue your day? For the believer, it is partly motivated by their understanding that God has a purpose for each day. I love Lamentations 3:22-24 and here it is from the Message, which may bring new meaning to these verses for you, “God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left.” Knowing that God’s love and mercy are new each morning gives us hope and the ability to start a new day.

Another motivation for the believer can be taken from Acts 3:6-8 when Peter healed the man that had been lame from birth at the Beautiful Gate in Jerusalem. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” ⁷And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.” Then look what happened in verse 8 “And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.” How about you? Has Jesus healed you in mind, body or spirit? What is your life’s reaction to that healing? Are you leaping and walking and praising God in your life? Today is the day to begin!

rise up and walk Each day, each year are new opportunities for us to walk, talk and live praising God. Let’s determine today to live that way. Put a smile on your face and live like you mean it because you know that God loves you, has mercies ready for you and wants to hear your praise as you journey through this day.