God's love for you

This is it, church. 

We need to show people 

how much 

the Father loves them!

Sin is a non-issue.

What does God believe about us?

Do you struggle with wondering what God thinks of you, maybe even on a daily basis? Do you wonder if He is pleased with you?

 

What are God's thoughts toward us and how do we find out? 

If we are wise, we'll go to the Word. We were appointed to the Word, according to 1 Peter 1:8b. And this is how God sees us...

            "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,

             His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him

             who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once

             were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not 

             obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." 1 Pet. 1:9-10

Read this over several times. Saints, it's time to renew our minds to what the

Word of God says about us. He says that we have been called out (sanctified)

to proclaim His praises. We are to tell others of the marvelous works that God 

has done in our lives. He pulled us out of a miry pit and brought us from death to life. He brought us from darkness to light! To God be the glory for what he has done in our lives!!

Wanderlust

Wanderlust...I woke up with that word on my mind today. I had to look it up, so I checked with Merriam W.

It means "a strong longing for or impulse toward wandering."

David and I have moved quite a bit in our 22 years of marriage...just ask our kids. And I have always had a desire to see new places and experience new things. For good or for bad, we have traveled to new lands many times.

I do believe that part of it is that we are just plain "homesick." This earth is not our home. Our citizenship is in heaven. (I have to qualify it and say this is for Christians, now) We are waiting for a land where Jesus Himself will be the light. There will be no darkness there. There will be no tears, no sorrow, no pain, no sickness. And best of all... no more death!  Finally, an end to "wanderlust."

If you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, go to the post titled "Salvation Prayer." He is waiting to hear from you...with some new citizenship papers.

St Francis of Assisi

We are heirs, joint-heirs with Christ. We are co-laborers with Him. What a privilege God has given us. What a responsibility, as well. We don't have to walk around and look at all the evil that is present in our world. Christ is in us, and we can make a positive difference in the world.

Lord, make me an instrument of peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, let me sow pardon.
Where there is doubt, let me sow faith.
Where there is despair, let me sow hope.
Where there is darkness, let me sow light.
Where there is sadness, let me sow joy.
                                 St. Francis of Assisi

Seek His Righteousness

Many people believe that they can earn their way to heaven by "being good and doing good." Nothing could be further from the truth! The Bible tells us that 'our righteousnesses'  (our way of trying to do and be right) are as filthy rags. Pretty plain, huh? The Bible doesn't mince words.

Isaiah 64:6

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ But we are all like an unclean thing,
And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
We all fade as a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind,
Have taken us away.

But, the Bible also tells us what we should be doing in Matthew 6, verse 33... that we are to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you."

What this means is that we, in and of ourselves, have no inherent goodness, holiness or righteousness. We have to seek those qualities outside ourselves and there is only one place to look. We need to look toward heaven and look to Jesus. The only 'righteousness' that counts with the Father is His (Jesus') righteousness, and the only way we attain it is by surrendering our life to Jesus and letting Him give us new life [in Him.] 

If you haven't surrendered to Him, do it today. If you have, then go out and share the joy you have found in Him.  

I'm Not Worthy

Have you ever wondered if you were worthy enough to be saved or to go to heaven? Or have you ever flat out said, "I am not good enough or worthy to be saved." Well, if you have, I have "good news" for you! You will never be worthy enough or good enough to make it to heaven, apart from Christ. This is "good news" you say?  Yes, if you are apart from Him, change it right now...the choice is yours to make. Jesus has already invited you in His Word.
If you are "saved," your only qualification for heaven and every other blessing is Christ. You need to be found in Him.

¹² giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Col. 1

When (if) you accepted God's Son, He qualified you. You never have to worry about whether or not you are good enough. You will never be good enough.
But, Christ is more than enough! He is your Sufficiency! He is your Strength.
He is your Everything! Praise God for Jesus!

Have you manufactured a god for yourself?

John 1:1

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Eternal Word

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Think about that verse...especially the last part of it. 

The Word was God. 

So many people have listened to their families, friends and other voices, telling them who God is. If that information doesn't line up with what the Bible says about who God is, then it is just false information. There are many Christian books out there today, trying to define who God is. But, let's face it...some of them are just plain untrue depictions of our God and His nature.

We can only learn who He is by reading His Word. God, at His core, is love...according to 1 John 4:8. "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." Everything God does is motivated by love. His nature is love. The very famous verse, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16) has been quoted and heard by many. 

One thing may be missing. You have to believe that God is love and that He so loves YOU. You are part of the world. You are the reason He sent His Son to die a horribly cruel death and to pay the price for your and my sin. You are the reason that He was raised from the dead. He wanted more than anything to give you "new life." Think about it. He thought you were worth it. You are.

Come to Him today...the one true God.