God's love

Walking in Fervent Love until the End {Revelation 2}

10:30 PM



John was told to write what he saw in a book and send that book to the 7 churches in Asia. (Rev. 1:11). The entire Book of Revelation which includes the special messages to those 7 churches, was sent to those churches and a blessing was pronounced upon all who would read, hear and keep the words contained in this prophecy. Jesus wanted believers to know that He knew exactly where they were. He saw their good works, faithfulness and patience in the face of persecution. He also saw the bad which included their compromise, apostasy, indifference and lack of love.

Jesus talked about these events while still being with the disciples:
10 At that time many will be offended and repelled [by their association with Me] and will fall away [from the One whom they should trust] and will betray one another [handing over believers to their persecutors] and will hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will appear and mislead many. 12 Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved. (Matt. 24:10-14 AMP)




Apostasy:  in the Greek original, to express abandonment of the faith = a falling away, a withdrawal, a defection. ( Tim. 4:1-3; 2Thess. 2:3; 2Pe. 3:17, 2Tim. 4:4). (International SB Encyclopedia)

Jesus wanted them to know that despite persecution and their corruption, He’d stand in their midst as a mighty conqueror and that through Him they too could overcome!

John writes to the Church of Ephesus:” 3 and [I know that] you [who believe] are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name’s sake, and that you have not grown weary [of being faithful to the truth]. 4 But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me]. (emphasis mine)

Here are seven warning signs that show that a church or individual has left their first love.
(1)   Christ is no longer the central focus in your life; (2:4)
(2)   You neglect your relationship with the Lord and spend less time in prayer, worship and the Word;
(3)   You allow family, friends, job and your own desires to come between you and your relationship with God;
(4)   There is a loss of intimacy in your relationship with God;
(5)   You are caught in a cycle of dead works;
(6)   You are more tolerant of sin; (idolatry and sexual immorality- 2: 14-15, 20)
(7)   You will no longer have a burning passion for the lost.

Many of us know people who were once walking close with Christ and now because of compromise and worldliness lose out with God. If this is the condition of you or your church, Jesus is calling us to REPENT:
 5 So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]”.(AMP)




 Jesus, then praises them as we see in the next verses.
“6 Yet you have this [to your credit], that you hate the works and corrupt teachings of the [c]Nicolaitans [that mislead and delude the people], which I also hate.  He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who [d]overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will grant [the privilege] to eat [the fruit] from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’ (2:6-7)

There are precious promises for those who remain faithful to the very end (2:10-11, 17, 26-28)!

There is much labor ahead of us:  Revelation 2:26 "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:" You see here that Jesus specifies His works are what is to be done. It also means that we should not just do a little and get self-satisfied, but stay with the Lord's work to the very end. Just as Jesus told the parable of the good servant (Luke 19), we must be a good servant and bring the fruits of our labor to Jesus.. He also promises that His faithful will rule. Remember, the power is Jesus'. He gives us His power. This power is to do His will as we walk in His Truth.  We are working under Jesus' direction. He is our leader!

Revelation 2:28 "And I will give him the morning star."
Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star. He promises to give Himself to those who will follow Him. Although the morning star has already dawned in our hearts (2 Peter 1:19), someday we will have Him in His fullness!

Revelation 2:29 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
Notice again this message is not just given to this one church of Thyatira, but to “unto the churches”.

Before closing today’s study, let me ask you: do you remember the day you received Jesus as your personal Savior? Compare your love for the Lord today with what it was then. Has your love grown deeper or has it lost its fervency? Are your works motivated by a passionate love for God or are you doing them as part of a Christian duty? Ask the Lord to forgive you for leaving your first love! Begin to do your first works again! Make a new commitment to the basics of prayer, worship, and the study of His Word. Let me remind you to: …” [a]fan into flame the gracious gift of God, [that inner fire—the special endowment]…” of your first love through a renewed communion with the Lord (2 Tim 1:6). This fervent love is required of all those who belong to the Lord.!!  (Matt. 22:37-38)
We must take heed to the warnings. Let us open the ears of our heart and receive Jesus in His fullness.
"The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands and forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin" (Ex. 34:6-7).

Thank you Father for your abounding Love and Faithfulness, may we found faithful servants walking in fervent love until the very end!

Blessings,


Mari

alpha and omega

Alpha and Omega {Revelation 1}

1:00 AM



The final book of the Bible is one of the most talked about books.  In the Greek language it is called  A·po·kaʹly·psis (apocalypse), means “Uncovering” or “Disclosure.”     In this book, God chose to reveal to John ( by way of an angel) a glimpse into the future and He wanted the whole world to know.  There have been many negative associations with the word " apocalypse" as it calls to mind a dark, and gruesome end of the world.  But God makes it clear that the prophecies of this book are to give those who trust in Him a future to look forward to.  

He starts out by proclaiming a blessing: “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” (V3)

He then puts our focus on Christ and how wonderful He is and how much He loves us. As a child, I had fears associated with the end times but with my focus on how much Jesus loves me, my perspective is now that of looking forward to a grand reunion with someone who truly cares. 
"...Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."( v5-6). 

The return of Jesus will impact every single human being who ever lived. For those who trust Him, this will be a joyous occasion.  For those who rejected him, it will be a time of sorrow as they realize the folly of their choices. 
 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”(v7)

God reminds us of his sovereign rule throughout eternity.  ““I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (V8).  It's quite mind boggling to grasp infinity and God always existing....past, present, and future. But we are supposed to find comfort in this.  Who better to place our trust in?  When John is overwhelmed with the grand appearance of Christ, Jesus comforts him by reminding him: “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” (V17-18)

He doesn't want us to fear him either.  He wants us to recognize that he loves us and has complete control of our future. How joyous it is to know that He wants us to spend an eternity with Him. 

2018

Not My Ususal Post! {Jude}

12:00 AM

Hi Everyone!
For those of you who have been graciously reading my posts each week, I have to warn you right up front, this will NOT be like all the others. The Lord began speaking to me weeks ago about His plans for next year and He used the Book of Jude to do it! NOW, I finally get to share what He has shared with me!!
Jude was also diverted from what he had originally planned to write on. Notice, “Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else...” (Jude 3a) So what’s so important!? I’m so glad you asked!
First God offers a warning:
“[I’m writing instead]  urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people.  I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives.” (Jude 3b-4)
We already know girls, that this world is increasing growing away from God and His ways. My former pastor used to say, “It’s growing gloriously dark.” Darker, in order for our light to shine brighter is what he meant by that, but unfortunately, often times God’s universal church has remained quiet, and worse, some have even adopted ideas contrary to God’s Word, for fewer people today are actually reading His Word for themselves!
I can promise that, that will never be the case on Women in the Word! The Lord began this ministry six year ago so that like-minded women could find a safe-haven to come to, and find the support, and all they would need to go back out into the world and minister to those around them! And the Lord once more is calling us to “defend the faith” in 2018!

 He begins by warning us to be on the lookout for those who might try to come among us; pretending to be one of us, but being used to actually weaken our faith. God gives us five characteristics to be on the lookout for; four found in verse 16, and the fifth in verse 19:
  • These people are grumblers and complainers.
  • Living only to satisfy their desires.
  • They brag loudly about themselves.
  • They flatter others to get what they want.
  • These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.
These are who we must watch out for, and should we see any of these signs we must trust that they are not for us, but against us and The Lord.

 He then Exhorts Us to Focus on Five Areas Next Year:
Here in verses 20-23, God gives us five things we need to focus on in the coming year! (And this is what gets me so excited!!). We are to:
  1. Build one another up in your most holy faith
  2. Pray in the Spirit
  3. Keep busy serving one another through God’s love as you wait on The Lord Jesus
  4. Show mercy to, and help those whose faith is wavering.
  5. Save others by snatching them from the fire. (Bring salvation to other)
 
Isn’t this exciting!!? (I love when God speaks a personal message to us!!

  Are you set and ready to join us? Great! But here’s the best part!
It’s all for His glory!!
Now all glory to God, Who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.  All glory to Him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are His before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen. (Jude 24-25 emphasis mine)
O goodness! I can’t wait until our study begins next year, for He promises to be there too; and will keep us from stumbling, while building us up, and bringing us right into His presence with “great joy”! It promises to be an incredible year and if you haven’t had a chance to join us yet, we sure hope you will! Simply, click on this link. There will always be someone there to welcome you!

 Also, if you're still curious about what we'll be studying next year, here's a link that will provide a bit more information for you.

 Blessings,
sue


3 John

Hospitality {3 John}

12:30 AM

November 28, 2017

How do you react when the doorbell rings or there’s a knock on the door?  Are you excited or anxious?  Do you welcome these uninvited guests or do you look around and think, ‘my clean house is going to get dirty?’ Are you annoyed at the inconvenience or are you quickly seating your guests down and sharing a meal or a cup of coffee?

I hate to admit, but I have gone through a phase of life that I disliked uninvited guests.  So often someone would stop by and I didn’t have enough dinner to share or I simply was exhausted with the phase of life I was in and did not feel I had the time for them.  Or it was someone who always stayed too long.  But one thing that always comes to mind is Hebrews 13:2, “Do not forgot to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

3 John is a personal letter to Gaius who had a reputation and habit for friendship and generosity, especially to travelling teachers and missionaries (v. 5).  Gaius definitely was an example of one who follows Christ and loves others (vs. 1-8).  Then there’s Diotrephes, the self-proclaimed church leader who does not reflect God’s values (vs. 9-11).  And finally, Demetrius, who also follows the truth (v. 12). 

Hospitality can be defined as “the quality of or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.”  In the New Testament, the Greek word for hospitality literally means “love of strangers”.  Hospitality is a virtue that is both commanded and commended throughout scripture.  In the Old Testament, it was specifically commanded by God:  “When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him.  The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born.  Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt.”  (Leviticus 19:33-34)

Jesus depended entirely on the hospitality of others as they ministered from town to town (Matthew 10:9-10).  And as the early Christians began their ministry, they too depended on and received hospitality from others (Acts 2:44-45; 28:7).  Hospitality was indeed a highly regarded virtue in ancient times, especially for Christian leaders (Titus 1:8; 1 Timothy 3:2).

And let’s not forget Abraham’s humble and generous display of hospitality to three strangers.  He gave generously to these three strangers, giving them the best he had.  And as it turned out, he had entertained the Lord and two angels (Genesis 18:1-8).

As followers of Christ, we emulate His love and compassion when we show hospitality, not only to fellow Christians, but even more so to strangers and the less fortunate.  In fact, we honor God when we are kind to the needy (Proverbs 14:31; 19:17).  Christ taught us the second greatest commandment, to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39), and the parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us that “neighbor” has nothing to do with geography, citizenship or race.  Wherever and whenever people need us, we can be neighbors and, like Christ, show mercy. 

And last but not least, in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus discusses the hospitable behavior of those who will inherit the kingdom:  “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”  (Matthew 25:34-36)

A couple of years ago, 2 young men walked up our driveway.  It was like a blizzard outside.  My husband had been out plowing our driveway for the 2nd or 3rd time that day.  These men were walking through 2 plus feet of snow!  So my husband invited them in to warm up and we made them some hot chocolate and I gave them some warm muffins I had just baked.  My husband introduced them to me as missionaries and they were out sharing the gospel with anyone who would let them in.  He told them they didn’t need to share the gospel at our house because we loved the Lord.  We learned that they were 18-19 years old and this was sort of a ‘rite of passage’ for them in their church and that they depended solely on the generosity of others.  So we packed them up with muffins and some fruit and told them if they ever needed anything else, to remember our house and return for help. 

By serving others, we serve Christ (Matthew 25:40) and we promote the spread of God’s truth (3 John 5-8).

Image result for 3 john 5

2 John

Walking in His Truth {2 John}

12:00 AM


Walking in His Truth {2 John}  



Monday, Nov. 27
In this second epistle by John, he writes to, “the chosen lady and her children”. Some argue that this woman was not an actual person, but rather the church as a whole and her members. But whether John’s letter was written for one or for all, it is a wonderful reminder of the importance of loving one another, discernment in regards to false teachers, and walking in the truth.

John begins by expressing his love, and the love of all fellow believers in God’s truth. “The Elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever.” (vs. 1-2) In an undependable world, the one thing we can always depend on is God and His promises. For His truth is everlasting, and His Word eternal. It will never forsake us, never abandon us, and as told in Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” 

In this chapter the truth John speaks of is Christ Jesus. The truth that He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, and Redeemer of the world. When we receive Jesus as our Savior, His truth lives in us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is described in many ways including a “Spirit of help”, (John 14:16), and a “Spirit of truth”. (John 16:13) The Spirit helps us to walk in God’s truth and to obey His commands. Especially God’s greatest commandments; to love Him and to love others as we love ourselves. 


"And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.” (vs. 6) Jesus says in John 14:23, “If anyone loves Me, He will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” Real love walks in obedience. Even when it’s hard or inconvenient. And by loving and obeying God’s commands, our intimacy with Him deepens, He is able to work through us, and our faith is strengthened.

John goes on to tell us that God’s truth is our best defense against false teachers. In John’s time “deceivers” where spreading false doctrine, and refusing to acknowledge that Jesus came as God in the flesh, rejecting the truth of the Bible. Such “deceivers” are still prevalent today. We are warned that when these wolves come knocking on our door we are to turn them away. “do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in His evil deeds.” (v. 10-11) I love the saying, “We are defined by what we reject much as by what we accept.” Knowing God’s Word gives us the discernment we need to say yes to what we should, and to reject what should be rejected. 

God wants nothing more than to bless us beyond our wildest imagination. He delights in joyful obedience, and wants each of us to receive our “full reward”.  His love is unconditional, and as His children with His love living inside of us we should practice the same. Obeying His commandments and walking in His truth keeps our feet on a straight path to success. “Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, .....that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn.” (1 Kings 2:3) 

Cream

Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce

1:00 PM

After the heaviness of a big Thanksgiving meal, this pasta dish by the Pioneer Woman was a nice light alternative.  I served it with a crisp green salad and some homemade croutons to mix in for some added crunch.


Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil 
4 cloves garlic, minced 
1 medium onion, finely diced 
Two 15-ounce cans tomato sauce or marinara sauce 
Dash of sugar (or more to taste)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 pounds fettuccine 
1 cup heavy cream 
Grated Parmesan or Romano, for serving
Chopped fresh basil, for serving

Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and saute for a minute or so. Pour in the tomato sauce, add sugar, salt and pepper to taste and stir. Cook over low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the cream. Add cheese to taste, then check the seasoning. Stir in the pasta and thin with a little pasta water if needed. Add the chopped basil and top with a little extra grated cheese.

1 John

ASK IN CONFIDENCE!

9:00 PM

ASK IN CONFIDENCE!




Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Today we are memorizing 1 John 5:14 and 15…

And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.

Here is the amplified version…

This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us. And if we know [for a fact, as indeed we do] that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him.

Confident, abiding faith combined with God’s power can produce amazing results, if the request is in harmony with God’s will. God is fully capable of doing what we may regard as impossible.

John outlines in these verses three keys to effective prayer:
  1. ask for anything
  2. seek according to God’s will
  3. knock until He hears

If God has given each of His children the ability to pray for anything, it only follows that He expects us to rightly use this power of prayer to accomplish His great and glorious will. 

Commit yourself to prayer. What practical steps can you make to make your life count for Him? Ask the Lord to train you to pray and be prepared for an wonderful journey with your hand in His!


Have a blessed and precious day everyone!

1 John

Praying According to God's will {1 John 5}

3:33 AM


BORN AGAIN OR NOT?


Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

What are the signs in your life that God has caused you to be born again? 

Evidences of the New Birth according to 1 John

* Those who are born of God keep his commandments. {1 John 2:3-4, 1 John 3:24}
* Those who are born of God walk as Christ walked. {1 John 2:5-6}
* Those who are born of God don't hate others but love them {1 John 2:9 ,1 John 3:14, 1 John 4:7-8, 1 John 4:20}
* Those who are born of God don't love the world {1 John 2:15}
* Those who are born of God confess the Son and receive (have) him. {1 John 2:23,1 John 4:15,1 John 5:12}
* Those who are born of God practice righteousness. {1 John 2:29}
* Those who are born of God don’t make a practice of sinning. {1 John 3:6, 1 John 3:9-10,  1 John 5:18}
* Those who are born of God possess the Spirit of God.{1 John 3:24, 1 John 4:13}
* Those who are born of God listen submissively to the apostolic Word. {1 John 4:6}
* Those who are born of God believe that Jesus is the Christ.{1 John 5:1}
* Those who are born of God overcome the world. {1 John 5:4}

Nevertheless, mistakenly we tend to make two conclusions based on these verses:

“If you’re born again, you’re perfect. If you’re born again you don’t sin at all. There is no defeat in the Christian life. There is only victory.”

" we can loose our salvation. That is, we can be born again for a while and then begin to fail in these tests and die and lose the spiritual life that we were given in the new birth."

But John knew that his words could be misunderstood, so he explains further that Christians are not sinless, and born-again people cannot lose their spiritual life and be lost.

He says in 1 John 1:8-10, “If we say we have no sin [present tense], we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins [present tense], he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” So John is at pains to say that “walking in the light” (1:7) does not mean walking flawlessly. It means that, when you stumble, the light of Christ causes you to see it and hate it and confess it and move forward with Christ.

1 John 2:19 says, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”

Jesus never promised that obeying him would be easy. But the hard work and discipline of serving Christ is no burden to those who love him. And if our load starts to feel heavy, we can always entrust Christ to help us bear it  {Matthew 11:28-30}

PRAYING ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL




1 John 5 vs 14 and 15 teach us about prayer and God's will.

It is only when we know God's will for our lives that we can certainly ask for those things boldly.

In everyday situations when we are unsure whether something will be God's will or not {specially because we don't have a Bible verse to back up our specific petition} we must pray that His will is done and not ours. 

Another  thing to consider when praying for God's will in our lives is his timing. Many times we can pray for something that is the will of God, but until His timing is right in our lives we will not see the physical manifestation for our answer.

To ponder:

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:11) If you have the word of God to back up your requests, stand in faith and persevere in prayer until you see the results. But remember, real faith causes us to enter the rest of God, so waiting on Him should be a pleasant experience, not one of frustration and depression :-)

LET'S PRAY

God, thanks so much for the confidence we have that if we ask anything in Your name, according to Your will and in agreement with Your plan your are always faithful to listen and hear us (1 John 5:14)

1 John 4

Gratitude for God's Love {1 John 4}

12:30 AM


Thanksgiving 2017

This Thanksgiving I have been reflecting on memories of family gatherings.  As a child growing up, I have fond memories of lots of food and desserts and cousins to play with at my Great Grandparents home.  But, I also remember that as the years passed and I got older, I became more aware that between many of the adults that gathered was constant friction, tension, grumblings and arguments. Sadly, many of my great aunts and uncles have passed away and the bitter rivalries continued with them to their final days. They did not know how to be grateful or show love to each other. 
In contrast, I have been blessed to experience Thanksgivings over many years at the home of my husband's grandmother.  She always extended love and acceptance to me as if I were her own.  Gatherings were always pleasant because those who gathered were truly grateful to be there and to be with each other. That family embraced Christ and loved so genuinely. How grateful I am to have been blessed with such a family. 

In 1 John 4, we are reminded that the source of true, genuine love is God.  If we know God, then we will extend the love of God to others. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” ( v 7-8)

God loved us first.  Not only did he send his Son to save us but He  welcomed us into his family with full acceptance.  As part of God's family, we should naturally extend the love of Christ to each other. “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” ( v10-11)

When others observe us they should see God and the love of God. They may never read a Bible or attend church. They may have only experienced self centered, harsh and unloving family dynamics. We may be the only chance they have to see the difference God's love can make as we yield to His Spirit. . “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” ( v 12-13)

The more we understand how much God loves us, the more empowered we are by that  love.  “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” (v 18)

We would not be capable of genuine love toward others if we did not know the love of God. “We love because he first loved us." ( v 19)

Are you grateful for the love of God shown so mercifully toward you? If so, then ask God to help you extend that same  love toward others. "And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” ( v 21)

I wish each and every one of you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!



1 John

Ramblings from a Grateful Heart on this Thanksgiving Eve {1John 3)

12:00 AM



On this Thanksgiving Eve here in America, I found I couldn’t move past the first verse of the chapter!
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew Him not.” 1 John 3:1

The apostle John has always been my favorite of Jesus’ disciples, for I love that in John’s gospel he always refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. I can’t prove it, but I tend to think Jesus loved all the disciples, but the fact that Jesus loved him was  all consuming to John and all that mattered to him in terms of his identity! Can you relate?
The Strong’s Concordance defines the word, “behold” as a Greek imperative meaning – literally, "Be sure to see . . . !," i.e. "Don't miss this! It is an observable, objective fact!"
Can you see how important it was to John that you and I grasp how much the Father loves us? John is calling us to turn our attention to something extraordinary in his mind! "John is utterly spellbound in holy awe. “Behold,the love of the Father.” This was something that the apostle could not get over and he never will. Eternity will not exhaust its marvel.” - John Murray


Look and See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. —1 John 3:1-2

There are very few places in the Old Testament where God is referred to as Father. Jesus radically changed that when He came, by speaking of God as, “My Father,” “Our Father,” and “Your heavenly Father.” And John is desperate for us to grasps the manner of love the Father has “bestowed” on us, for when we do, it will change everything!

We worship a God who adopts His enemies through the sacrifice of His Son!  A God who makes us His children at the price of His only begotten. Can you imagine such a love!? That’s how much He loves YOU. It's overwhelming and awe inspiring! And John stands breathless in awe of this incredible truth. “Behold, what manner of love the Father has given to us that we, we should be called children of God.” 

For, the Father’s love is the highest form of love; a devoted love as of a father for his child.  It’s a love that looks beyond our past with all its mistakes and failures.  It looks beyond our present faults and weaknesses!  It sees the potential in all of us as to what we can become with God’s help.  It sees in us what we can do when we put our lives into His hands and let Him shape us into His image.  
What manner of love is this?  It is a love that claims us as a true daughter/son, as one of the family, even as a soul worth dying for.

I remember as a young Christian, I had a hard time calling The Lord Jesus, my Friend. I could call Him, Lord, God, Savior, but Friend seemed so foreign that I actually prayed and asked Him to help me be able to call Him, "Friend"! Has that ever happened to you? Up until that time, my view of God had been of a righteous Judge! One to be feared and revered, but as I drew closer to The Lord (James 4:7-10; 1Pet 5:6-8) and as He began to reveal more and more of Himself to me (Phil 3:8,10), it really wasn’t long at all that one day, as I was praying I whispered, “...my Friend”. I can still remember the moment and the joy that filled my heart! It was in becoming more and more deeply and intimately acquainted with all He is that caused my love to grow and our relationship to deepen.  It seemed so trivial then, to share that moment with anyone else, but this is exactly what John is trying to convey here in this chapter!! For I believe John already understands that when we truly grasps the depths of God's love for us, constant sinners, that, this will be what will motivate us not only to obey and follow the Lord, but to turn and lavish His love on others as well!

Jesus told us, “If you love Me, you’ll keep my commands.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever—  the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for he lives with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” - John 14:15-18

He also gave us a new command,


We know that God’s love (1 Cor 13) is not a feeling, but has always been active! It’s been proven time and time again by actions, which is precisely what John is pointing out in this chapter. He draws a line in the sand with those who are children of God on one side and those of the devil (3:8) on the other, and he exhorts those that are His to actively be about demonstrating the love that dwells within each of us!
And what better time to be reminded of these truth than on the eve of Thanksgiving; the day we set aside to give God thanks for all He has given to us!?
O Father, Please help us to continue to marvel over how amazing Your love for us is!! May we never loose sight of the depth of Your love for each one of us!! And may it cause us to love You all the more abundantly, so that it will begin to spill over unto others around us! 
If we could only grasps how deep and wide Your love is for each one of us today, I do believe we could hugely impact this world all for Your glory, honor and praise!! Amen