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Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 106:1 (NLT)
Love that endures spans the test of time;
The love story between the Creator God of the universe and mankind began in the Garden of Eden. History isn’t series of unrelated, disconnected events but a love story between a loving Father and his earnest desire to have fellowship with his wayward children.
Love that endures weathers the storms of doubt;
Love endures in spite of doubt. In the human realm, when a loved one loses faith is us, and doubts our ability to perform, or our desire to continue in the relationship, it dies. We continually struggle with doubt in our lives. It attacks every facet of our being. But even though doubt attacks our belief in God, our doubt never diminishes his belief in us. Doubt may destroy our faith in God, doubt will never destroy God’s faith in us.
Love that endures seeks restoration when wrongs are done;
Forgiveness for wrongs done in the human realm is considered noble. When a human love relationship is wracked with infidelity, doubt, abuse and defiance, death of the relationship is inevitable. Our father has loved us throughout all of the above. He holds on in our defiance, he continues to show himself when we doubt, he welcomes us back when we cheat on him, he seeks us out when we ignore or blaspheme him. His love doesn’t change when we wrong him.
Love that endures focuses on the object loved, not on the objects condition;
The father didn’t choose the Israelites because they were the most powerful or the largest nation or the most faithful. He chose them because he loved them. Human love is too often based on what the object loved can do for us. God’s love for us is based on what he can do for us! He loves us, not our actions. He loves us, not our beauty. He loves us, not our piety or discipline or ability. He loves us. He loves you. He loves me.
Love that endures loves even when that love is unable to be returned;
Even in our deepest desire to love God, we fail. It’s not that we don’t try. It’s not that we didn’t start out with noble aspirations of being mighty believers in God. We’re human. We fail. We struggle with the very things we hate. Even when you can’t love God the way you want because of the rocks and crevices in the path of life, he loves you. His love isn’t based on our ability to love back.
Love that endures finds joy in the presence of the one loved;
My favorite thought of all. Imagine that. He enjoys just being in our presence. What more can be said? Sometimes I’m not very pleasant. I don’t even like being around me. Sometimes I’m angry, self-absorbed, arrogant, and the list goes on. When I’m at my very worst God finds joy in my presence. Such love!
PRAYER: Father God, Thank you for your enduring love. Thank you that your love for me has nothing to do with who I am, or what I can accomplish or do for you. I’m overwhelmed by your enduring love.
“Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 (NCV)
Isn’t it nice to feel chosen by someone? When we are growing up we love to hear mom or dad pick us up and say “You are my little boy/girl”. Our children long to hear the words “I’m proud of you!” As young adults it’s exciting when that special someone says, in a variety of ways, “I choose you. I want you to be with me forever.”
Unfortunately, the opposite is true far too often. Children, especially those from families torn apart by divorce, grow up wondering why they were put into this world. Young people see the world wracked by war, disease, and political turmoil and wonder why things are the way they are, how long before we self-destruct and why they were put in this world. We adults worry about being able to stay healthy, make our financial obligations, and hold our relationships together.
Life seems to go easier when we feel we have a purpose for being here. The path we travel can take us through times of wilderness. We can travel through areas of our lives when the path is shrouded in darkness, or at best enveloped in a fog that keeps us from knowing our direction in life. Our journey can elevate us to the highest mountain top, or through the deepest valley.
No matter what you are going through right now; regardless of the reason for finding yourself in the situation you are in, life is easier when you know you have a purpose for being here and that someone cares if you are successful.
Remember this, with God there are no unplanned pregnancies, no ‘accidents’ when it comes to conception. You are here as a result of a plan God instituted long before your mother gave birth. Regardless of what people tell you about your lack of value, God formed you as you are. The aimlessness of life you feel is God’s call to bring you closer to himself. Your failures are God’s instrument to help you grow stronger in life.
For Jeremiah, his calling was a prophet. For you it may be to show Christ’s love to the kids you teach, the people you package the fast-food burger, the lonely old couple at table 7, or the sick child in the hospital room. Whatever your calling, you were placed here by the Creator God of the Universe to grow in relationship to him and show his love and grace to those who cross your path.
You are NOT an accident my friend. You are a masterpiece created by the master creator himself. Don’t listen to the voices that want you to believe otherwise.
PRAYER: Thank you God for making me just the way I am. Thank you for putting me where you have in life so I can show those around me the love of Jesus. Strengthen me for the battles ahead through your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Yes, everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened. Matthew 7:8 (NCV)
Do you remember when you were a little child as Christmas approached? Maybe your parents brought you to the local mall to ‘meet Santa’. The beamed proudly as you sat on some strange man’s lap and told him all the things you wanted for Christmas. Do you remember the disappointment when there was no pony under the tree? When you didn’t get the ball glove you told Santa about? By the way (side trip!), did you ever wonder why, if Santa knew when you were sleeping, when you were awake, and how well you behaved, he had to ask what you wanted for Christmas?
There’s a tendency in our human nature to think of God in the same way we grew up thinking about Santa Claus. He gives good gift if we are nice and bad gifts, or no gifts, if we are bad. Two things for you to remember. Santa Claus isn’t real (sorry for the disappointment so close to Christmas) and, secondly, God isn’t Santa Claus.
When Jesus talks about our relationship with the Heavenly Father he talks about commitment and endurance. Your Heavenly Father is committed to you. Period. In our world that’s hard to really comprehend. Sadly, fathers in our society are portrayed as bumbling idiots more intent on watching football than building relationships. Many of us men have lived up to that image.
I’ll say it again. Your Heavenly Father is like no other father you have ever known. You are his one priority. You are his pride and joy. Nothing else matters. So, when you are struggling with life ask. Not just once. Your Father is committed to you. Be committed to him. Don’t just ask once and forget about it. Persistent prayer, committed conversation with your Father helps you to see his feelings as well as evaluate your own.
Secondly, seek. Not occasional glances. Not hurried requests. To seek means you look deeply at every possible solution to find what how God wants to bless you. It’s too easy to pray once and figure if we don’t get what we want, God doesn’t care. Fact of the matter is, you may be asking him for a stone when he really wants to give you bread. You may be longing for a snake without realizing it when all the while he wants to give you a fish.
Unanswered prayer is really God’s way of telling us he has something better in mind. Grace teaches us to realize he will never let us down. Faith says we’ll trust his wisdom over our desires. It takes time. It takes commitment. It takes trust. God has all the time in the world. He’s totally committed to your well-being. All he asks is for your persistent trust.
PRAYER: Father, when I pray it’s so easy to be lured into the trap of thinking you are a vending machine god that gives according to what I put into our relationship. Help me to have the wisdom to seek your direction and the courage to follow it. Amen.
In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. Romans 8:37 (CEV)
I’ve learned a lot of important lessons in life. Far too many to put in this short post. But here are some that come to mind.
- I learned early in life that there is safety in my father’s arms. Growing up I was afraid of storms. I was afraid of water and, when we took rides in my grandfather’s boat was certain we would die. But when daddy was there, my fear was gone.
- I learned to walk, and then run. The freedom of independence was exhilarating to say the least! But in the midst of that freedom, I learned that falling was sometimes inevitable, but that even though the fall hurt a bit, I could get up and try again.
- I learned that scary things often aren’t really that scary after all and that if I put my mind to it, I could overcome my fears. I still watch the clouds. I still am cautious around water. But I know that I can handle many things if I just take the time to evaluate the situation.
- I learned that I can take care of myself. First it was simple things like pulling up my pants all by myself, then it was learning to tie my shoes, then all too soon I learned I could take care of my family and my kids.
- I learned, the hard way, that things aren’t always as they appear. Friends don’t always keep their promises. God isn’t always easy to understand. Just ‘living on love’ doesn’t really work. Being a superstar is hard work.
- I learned that I can be me without your approval. You may not like my taste in clothes. You may not like my taste in music. You may question my actions from time to time. But even though I’ll make mistakes and errors in judgment, your opinion of me doesn’t affect who I am. Frankly, I refuse to let you take the right of ‘me’ away; you won’t spoil my day.
- But maybe the most important thing I’ve learned is this: “God works more powerfully through me when I am at my weakest.”
I’ve gone through divorce. I’ve gone through rejection. I’ve made some really stupid mistakes in my life. I found out that I couldn’t live the life I wanted to live in my own power. I have stopped living the lie. It’s not about me after all. It’s all about Jesus.
So now, I believe what Jesus says about me. If he says I’m forgiven, I AM. If he says he’ll be with me through the rough stuff; HE WILL; If he says my needs (not my wants) will be taken care of; THEY WILL. If he says he loves me; HE DOES.
It’s so easy to listen to what others say about you. It’s easy to believe you have to pull yourself up by the bootstraps and make life go by yourself. But those are lies and are simply not true. Jesus says it’s by his strength, not ours, and it is. Going according to his strength is the key to success.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus. I’ve learned many things in my life, but the best thing I’ve learned is that your love and promises are true. Thank you for making me, me! Amen.
We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:16 (NLT)
I like how Max Lucado describes God’s love in his book “The Eye of the Storm”.
“Water must be wet. A fire must be hot. You can’t take the wet out of water and still have water. You can’t take the heat out of fires and still have fire. In the same way, you can’t take the love out of [‘God’]…and still have him exist. For he was…and is…Love.”
God is our ultimate example of what love is. How we view love is how we view God. How we define God is ultimately how we define love.
If God is truly love, how does he respond to those who struggle with addiction? If God is love how does he respond to someone in an adulterous relationship? If God is love how does he respond to you during those times you are feeling lonely, depressed, overwhelmed or frustrated?
We need only look at Jesus to know that answers to that question. Jesus said, if you what to see what the father looks like, look at me. See how I treat people who reject me. See how I treat people caught in the trap of sin, of abandonment, of disease. See me. See God. See love.
There are some who prefer to see God’s love in the light of his wrath. They live their lives in fear of what God will do. They pattern their lives according to the world’s standard of love, a standard that says, “My love for you is based on your performance. If you do as I say, I’ll love you. If you don’t meet my expectations, my love for you will die”.
That’s not Gods love. God’s love for you says that even though you aren’t the richest, or the most beautiful, or the strongest. I love you. Even though you struggle with life, can’t be trusted, put things off far too long and too often. I love you. Even though you may be going through the consequences of poor decisions, even that doesn’t take away the fact that God loves you more than ever.
Don’t allow the worlds view of God’s love to take away from the facts about God’s love. God’s love doesn’t spew hatred for anyone. God’s love doesn’t dwell on fear. God’s love doesn’t seek revenge. God’s love seeks what is best for you. Our human form of love can die, but God’s love will never die. You can trust him to always be there for you regardless of how bad life gets.
PRAYER: Father God, I’m so undeserving of so great a love. It’s so hard to fathom what your love is like because we humans have diluted it so much with performance, fear and demands. Empower me to live in the light of your love without distraction from the world. Amen.
