Love Love Love

 

     Just a reminder. God loves you. He loves you so much, He sent His Son to die for you. Every sin, every wrong thought, every fear, every shame-filled moment was nailed to the cross. He suffered every sin and He overcame death. For you. There is no greater love.

Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

     No greater love. The gap was too large to bridge. God could not and cannot look at sin. Thank God, He sees us now through the image of Christ, and when we believe in Jesus as Savior, we will be with Him now, every single day of our lives and we will be with Him forever.

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live with Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:10

Lord,

Your love knows no bounds. You willingly died for us, shedding Your holy blood on the cross, as You experienced all of the darkness and despair of this world. We pray for those who do not yet know You, that their hearts may be open to Your sacrificial, unconditional, heavenly love.

Amen

 

Heart Treasures

 

     How is the condition of your heart? Is it troubled, angry, resentful, bitter or joy-filled, hopeful or passionate? True treasures lie within our hearts. If Jesus and His word are the greatest treasures in our life, the condition of our hearts will reflect His life, filled with inner peace, joy, hope and love. Count on it.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34

Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise. Apply your heart to what I teach. Proverbs 22:17

God is not interested in the outer man, how we look, how we dress, what we drive, where we live.  He always looks at the heart.

For the Lord sees not as man sees. Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 1 Samual 16:7b

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles or the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4

Lord,

Check the condition of our hearts. Help us to pay attention and to turn our ears to Jesus. He treasures the things of the heart. He understands what we need. Turn our attention to what He teaches, and our hearts will be filled with true riches.

Amen

 

More Precious Than Gold

 

    We have God’s word. The more we study, the more it becomes alive. It is active, sharper than a two-edged sword. (Hebrews 4:12)   It gives us everything we need to live a faith-filled life Every word is Spirit-breathed and useful. (2 Timothy 3:16)    It is a most precious treasure.

And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. Psalm 12:6

The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Psalm 119:72

     God’s word is flawless. Every word is completely true and God-breathed. The fulfilled prophecies of old have been 100% accurate, with many more prophecies to be fulfilled before the second coming of Christ. Can you imagine how our lives would change if we believed the word holds the greatest treasures available to us? With Scripture in our hearts, we can remain pure in God’s love and not dragged into the ways of the world. What if we spend more time in it? What if we take the time to study and grow? Imagine the difference it would make to our lives and to the people around us. Dig into the treasures, the eternal, the hope, the peace and the joy that our God offers.

Jesus,

You are the word come to life. (John 1) Remind us to put down our phones, to sit still and study, to seek You in the Bible. The truth will set us free! Your truth is filled with great treasures, more precious than silver and gold.

Amen

Things Above

 

     Heavenly wisdom comes as we keep our focus on the unseen, on things above. Our circumstances can overwhelm and confuse. God is so much higher and so much wiser. He knows the end from the beginning. Focus your eyes, your mind and your heart on Jesus. He’s got this.

Since then, you have been seated with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

     All of this is temporary, our belongings, our stress, our grief and our worry, even our very lives. Our true home awaits.  God is so much bigger than what we see.

Jesus,

Keep us focused on the eternal, on the unseen, on things above where our true home and treasures lie. We become consumed with details, with busyness, with overwhelming obstacles. With You, we can have all things. Give us your peace.

Amen

 

Heavenly Wisdom

   

     Be encouraged as you read the Scriptures below. The full riches of heaven are found in Jesus Christ. You believe in Him. You ask Him to be your Savior, and there the exciting journey begins. As He guides your life and mine, we grow in true understanding of what is good and true, what is valuable and worthy of our time.

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3

     In Jesus we discover the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I would like to grow in His wisdom. How about you? The Creator of the universe gives us understanding? How is it possible? With God, all things are possible.Ask Him

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5

Lord,

Keep growing us in Your kind of wisdom, in the mysteries of Your heavenly power. It is difficult to grasp the enormity of what You offer to us through Your word. Your wisdom is beyond anything of earthly value. Keep us hunting for the hidden treasures of Jesus.

Amen

Treasures in Heaven

 

     The riches of God are not tangible. Most of the treasures of heaven are not visible. The Bible tells us to keep our attention focused above, on the unseen, counting up our treasures for heaven. This week we will talk about the true riches of God and how to find them. Where do we look? What are they? What pleases God? How will we know when we find our true treasures?

     The rewards of heaven are heart-based. God looks at our motives. As we humbly serve God and love in His name, our treasures in heaven will grow. The love of Christ given freely will bring true blessings to our lives right now, to our future days on earth and will follow us into the new heaven and the new earth.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6;20-21

     Give God your day and ask Him to flow through you as you go to work, as you talk to your family, as you greet strangers, and rely on His complete love to shine through you. And that pile of treasures? It’s worth more than silver and gold.

Lord,

Give us eyes to see true treasures, the things in life that are measured in the heart. Guide our hearts to be wide open, to change lives, to seek kindness, to love mercy, to love the unlovable, to forgive, to be different in a cold and calculating world. Only with Your help, can we do it.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Creation's Groans

 

     As we ponder God’s creation, we also understand that we live in a fallen world. Along with the fall of mankind, creation fell along with us. In Romans Chapter 8, we read these words.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, grown inwardly, as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:22-23

     As the coming of Jesus draws ever closer, the earth will be as if it were in childbirth. Jesus calls them “birth pangs.”  As we have witnessed, storms have increased, wars are on the increase, as well as earthquakes and more. (See Matthew 24 and Luke 21)

     My prayers are with those suffering in Texas right now. Our good friends lost everything with hurricane Ida a few years ago. These tragedies are hard to understand when we think of our loving God.  He has told  us of the future and of the coming glory. In the meantime, we pray and we wait expectantly and we look up.

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:28

Father,

We pray for all of those affected by floods and famine, from storms and war. Our hearts break from such unimaginable grief. You tell us what to look for and we wait expectantly for You. Comfort us with Your presence.

In Jesus name,

Amen