Tag: cross

Where is Love?

Constant Love is Found in Jesus
The sweet love of Jesus is genuine and steadfast, enduring forever through all things. And the meaning of the word “all” is ALL!

Where is love?

“If God is love, where is He?” Some might be asking.

“This is so elementary. I don’t have time for this,” some might be thinking.

But perhaps, it’s in simplicity that God paints His pictures of love everyday.

If we open our eyes, we can see love in everything.

Color, design, majesty, in each leaf and flower. We are awed by each morning’s sun.

We understand the need from protection from danger. We blink before something might touch our eye.

Simplicity is found in much complexity.

A Designer? Many of us agree, “Yes. I believe in God.”

Many believe shallow thoughts that the Bible is only a religious book. Fluffy, fairy-tale like, with a long set of rules.

God’s Word is far from soft and fluffy, especially in its definition of love.

God’s creation went his own way, deceived by the snake, disobedient to God’s instruction way back in the beginning, Genesis 3.

The prophet Isaiah sums it up like this,

“All we like sheep have gone astray . . .”

no longer under the protective care of the Shepherd, we, stubborn sheep go our own way and then are overcome by pestilence and fear.

Hatred.

Pain.

Darkness. Every day. More and more.

Where is love?

Over 2000 years ago, on a hill called Calvary, Jesus took all our filthiness, cruelty, stubbornness, envy, pride, hatred, and murders and was nailed to the cross. He willingly left the glory of heaven to come down to us.

He took all our sin on Himself.

That’s what love is.

“Who has believed our report? . . . He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised and we did not esteem Him” Isaiah 53: 1-3.

God. Loves. The world. He sees. He knows. He never slumbers.

Do we cry out for His presence?

“God so loved the world that He . . . “

gave. . .

His only Son, . . .

for me. For you.

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed” Isaiah 53:4-6.

Love offers freedom, healing, the power of . . .

forgiveness and new Life.

Love is not like the natural man, ever.

Only God is perfect love. And He took all our failure on Himself and He offers His love to us, today, no matter what we’ve done.

The Bible tells us so:

Love is very patient and He’s kind.

Love’s not irritable,

or rude.

Love doesn’t demand His own way.

He’s never jealous or envious.

Love is never selfish, boastful or proud.

Do we hold grudges?

God’s love does not.

God’s love hardly notices when others do it wrong.

Love is never glad about injustice!

But, Love rejoices whenever truth wins out.

Love came down and was, and is loyal at a great cost.

Love always believes the best about people.

Love hopes the best for all.

He says, “I’ve been waiting for you. You are such a treasure to Me. You are Mine.”

He cleanses and heals our broken and darkened hearts. He shines light to repair all damage done. He makes all things new when we invite Love in.

Do we resist God’s love? . . . still?

Isn’t it time?

His love never fails.

Never.

(Taken from 1 Corinthians 13, Living Bible with emphasis added).

“Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” James 4:8.

Do you feel the Lord touch your heart today?

Talk to Him. He’s been calling You by name.

The Final Answer

Can we be angry and humble at the same time? Can justice be found without anger? Where is the love we all long for? Can forgiveness be complete?

Today, our eyes witness evil. That is an absolute we can agree on.

“Justice,” is the people’s cry in the streets. This is a two way street that is an absolute .

Love is planted deep in the heart of every human. Family is a place to often see it grow.

Forgiveness is an absolute necessity and a great need.

“Where in the world do evil, justice, love and forgiveness converge at one point in history?” Ravi Zacharias concluded his talk at a United Nations Prayer Breakfast.

We know evil exists. We seek justice. We’re hungry for love. Forgiveness is needed. “Can I take you to a hill on Calvary and show you the person of Jesus Christ.”

Ravi, who has recently gone home to be with the Lord after a short but painful battle with a rare bone cancer stated, “Deep in my heart, I believe there are no other answers apart from the person of Jesus Christ.”

He shows us evil, taken on himself. He was the just and justifier who loved us so greatly that He prayed, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”

What’s truth? Where’s God in all this suffering and pain?

Ravi Zacharias shared thoughts by James Stewart of Scotland:

“It is a glorious phrase of the New Testament, that ‘he led captivity captive.’ 

The very triumphs of His foes, it means, he used for their defeat.

He compelled their dark achievements to subserve his end, not theirs.

They nailed him to the tree, not knowing that by that very act they were bringing the world to his feet.

They gave him a cross, not guessing that he would make it a throne.

They flung him outside the gates to die, not knowing that in that very moment they were lifting up all the gates of the universe, to let the King of Glory come in.

They thought to root out his doctrines, not understanding that they were implanting imperishably in the hearts of men the very name they intended to destroy.

They thought they had defeated God with His back the wall, pinned and helpless and defeated: they did not know that it was God Himself who had tracked them down.

He did not conquer in spite of the dark mystery of evil. He conquered through it.”(James Stewart, October 17, 2012).

We seek peace in the midst of evil. We pray for justice. We desperately need love and forgiveness . . .

There are many questions.

Jesus Christ laid down His life us. He paid our debt in full on the cross at Calvary. He rose from the dead. And He lives today. Does He live in our heart, today?

The final answer? The Gospel:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in him, should not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16.

How to talk about God in flower seeds

In helping parents and friends talk about God to children as they walk along the way, today we take a Zinnia seed and explore the wonders of God. Let’s talk to the kids and bring God in ordinary things:

Do you see the seeds on the dirt in the picture?

These are Zinnia seeds. In that one flower there are more than 100 seeds. That means 100 Zinnia plants.

But, not until those seeds are put in the soil to grow. Otherwise, they will simple sit, alone.

Do you see the little baby Zinnia’s in the next picture?

Yes, they’re young and growing. All because someone, (well, in this case, it was me), took a shovel and softened the soil and took out the rocks, and then planted the seed. And then, buried it in dirt.

The seed was buried. Then the seed basically died.

Well, you see, the seed loses itself as a seed. It allows itself to become something entirely different. A living sprout.

Yes, after being watered, it starts to grow.

Life bursts forth with water, and sun, from the soil and the seed where it all began.

What a promise in each seed. A possibility of  a hundred plants from only 1 flower!

That’s what the word “glorious” means. Well, maybe not, but at least to me.

This is actually a picture of the Gospel. The Good News of God.

Yes, God speaks to us everyday through everyday things. He is the Creator of all the natural beauty around.  I suppose He’s waiting to see who’s looking for His messages from His many glorious wonders that occur throughout each day.

Well, back to the seed that died in the ground. There’s a verse in the Bible about all this in John 12:24, NLT, Jesus  speaks to those who have listening ears:

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels, a plentiful harvest of new lives.

How is the gospel message hid in this seed? Well, It died. It gave up it’s own identity.

Jesus was God, in heaven from the beginning. God sent His Son, as the Christmas baby, with angels announcing to shepherds to be the Savior of the world.

He came that He might die.

Yes, on the cross. Have you heard the story? He died on the cross. His blood was shed for forgiveness of our sin.

But He rose from the dead! Much like this sprout that came from the seed that was buried.

Yes, Jesus rose again. This is call the resurrection. And for those who believe, He forgives and makes new everything that was old. I know it’s hard to believe, but look at the seed.

There’s a whole new look, and a whole new life, and then with time and water and sun, there’s fruit in the end. This is God’s love and life all shown through nature.

Yes, and when we believe in Him, He makes us new. God’s Word expresses this truth in 2 Corinthians 5:17,

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Daily, we need to die to our own stubborn way, and instead of putting ourselves first, we need to seek God, and obey His way. for example, when a guardian asks, “Can you clean up your space.”

Do we whine, and moan and put it off for a time? Or do we simply obey? And, cheerfully?

God is watching. He knows everything!

Hey, the seed picture should help move us to action. The seed died to itself, in a way, that a plant could grow. But more than that, there’s a reward in it for us.

Can you see in the picture, the reward of putting God first and doing things His way?

Yes, fruit. Well, in this case a flower. Beautiful and bright.

Have you prayed to God, receiving Jesus, and His promise of new life? Pray today with no delay, ask Him in your life. He uses a simple seed of faith, and creates beauty and life.

And maybe, you have the Lord, but need to be planted anew. Pray to God. He hears. He waits for us to talk with Him.
“Dear Lord, help us this day make the choice to put You first.

To give You some time, and forget about ourselves.

I bow my head and ask, “Will You forgive me Lord? For the times I’ve been stubborn and not cared about what’s right.

Help me to “die” to my own selfishness, and sometimes, meanness too, and lead me to care and desire about what You say.

Thank You that You gave up Your life that I might have mine. That You, Jesus, went to the cross for my wrongs. That You were willing to pay for my debt of sin. You loved me . . . then.

And You love me now.

Thanks for speaking in a simple seed that was buried in the ground, but didn’t remain like that. No, it changed and grew to something beautiful in time.

Thank You God.

Help me choose You, today. That I might have a flower’s joy.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Proverbs 4:8,9, (about gaining wisdom when we hear God’s Word),

Cherish her, (wisdom), and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.
She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.”

Aren’t the “heads” of these flowers arrayed with glorious crowns?”

Amen, and when we obey God and seek to obey, we will have His light shining from us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I want a garden of flowers, but the soil of my heart, needs work.

Soil, hard with clay and stone. A barren landscape. Plain. Forlorn. Similar to my heart, quite honestly, at times. Nothing will grow in this, except the weeds of discontent and misery.

But a shovel, some good soil and earth, a bit of sweat and great effort. And seeds of Truth and God’s Holy Word, can be received in the dirt to bring about hope.

The seeds are a promise. There’s now hope of refreshing fruit.

God speaks to His people so they understand difficult things:
“. . . unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.

But if it dies, it produces many seeds,” John 12:24, NIV.

“If it dies, it produces,” produces and multiplies. Life and fruit overcome barrenness.  And life overcomes death, all because a seed fell to the ground and dies.

What can this mean for you and me? Is the soil of my heart open to hear? Or do I carry on without a care?

The mystery is clarified. God’s Word simplifies:

 In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. 

You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn’t obey God.

 Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else.

 But God was merciful!

We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God’s wonderful kindness is what saves you.

Openness to the Word softens the heart. Receiving the seed, is death on our part. But God then can work miraculously and bring life out of death. Only God brings life.

God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven. 

 God did this so that in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. 

You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. 

This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own.

God gives the gift. We simply receive. If our hearts are soft like good soil, and simply Believe.

  It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.

 God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live.

That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are. Ephesians 2 Contemporary English Version. 

An old hymn comes to mind:

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
  The emblem of suff’ring and shame,
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
  For a world of lost sinners was slain.(1)

Soil worked, seed in the ground, sun and water required, seed then dies, but by miracle it seems, a sprout appears. Hope for fruit right before our eyes.

Promise of a flower, a tomato, or pear. And for me and you, the fruit of the Spirit, more love, more patience, and self-control and gentleness. The ability for faithfulness and joy. Do we desire kindness and peace? Do we have the ability to do good

“. . . unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, . . .” 

it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, . . .”

the fruit of love is spread all over.

On the old rugged Cross, stain’d with blood so divine
A wondrous beauty I see
For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above
To pardon and sanctify me
So I’ll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
Like a beautiful garden, is that what we desire to be? Soft hearts, bearing fruit?
Seeking God to help keep out the weeds, until the time He calls us home:
To the old rugged Cross, I will ever be true
Its shame and reproach gladly bear
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away
Where his glory forever I’ll share

The Old Rugged Cross, George Bennard, 1912

 

Re-weave this tapestry

“Empty the impatience, empty the anxiety.” You, Lord, can read my heart as it cries,  “Give me a break!”

This tapestry of mine is frayed and torn and worn out, forlorn.

Then, I remember, when You walked this dry, barren land, officials with position put on Your head a thorny crown.
The words, “Give me a break,” come back to me, as I watch You in Your word, in silence You went, the way of the cross.
I have a payment owed. I can’t come close to pay it.
Death for my sin is the bottom line. To be separated forever from Your Love, for all time.
I am broken and frayed. I can’t meet the requirements. To be perfect and holy, there’s naturally, no way.
“I am willing.” Jesus answers.
Not with words, but in action. The words of the pages bring the past into focus.  The words are today, for me, in the present.

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.  The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe  and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”  

When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them,

“Here is the man!“

As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted,

“Crucify! Crucify!” (John 19:1-6, NIV).

 The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” (John 19:7).

The word speaks with such sharpness. How the story often is blurred. But living, it is, and it speaks. To me, every word:

 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace.

“Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.

 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

12 From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar . . .”

13 When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out, . . . “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.

15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
How can I read all this and not ask, “Who is this Man?”
Praying, “God, give me a break.” He shows me, “I AM. I have given you a break.”

Deeply woven in me is a sense of justice. But, it’s not found in You.
Weaved inside my being are threads that life should be fair. That what’s “right” must prevail.
But, Jesus.
You didn’t fight. You didn’t defend Your innocence.
You remained silent. You weave the word s-a-c-r-f-i-c-e in Your cloak of Love.
And in my tapestry, you find competition,
comparisons,
insecurities,
and pride.
And, who am I kidding, rudeness and evil thoughts thread their way through, knit, naturally inside.
Rip it all out Lord.
Rip these threads from me.
I believe Who You are. You came that I might be made free.
Weave in me, Your Scarlet thread.
Death to myself and my own righteousness, and my needing control of the circumstance.
Re-weave me.
I am broken and frayed.
But I believe You came. Let my tapestry proclaim You.
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 
(Revelation 21:5-7).
Jesus brings eternal life.
 

Speak in a hymn. "Be Still My Soul" Make melody in your heart to the Lord

“Be Still my soul … ” (1)
O God … How can it be? The reality? God help us see – that You are the Almighty. “Be Still my soul … Be Still my soul.” 
Words – are powerful. Let us speak old words together. With tears and pain, whether seen on the outside – it is raining within. Let us cry out with our whole heart  – “O God – increase our faith  – again.”
 Words penned in 1752, over 200 years ago, bring health to the soul, somehow. So, today, let us pray together, to our God Almighty and our Father in heaven, with old words, true, (yet first person is changed a few)-  that we might  comfort ourselves in You. Let us say together:    “Be Still my Soul.” 
“Be Still my soul, The Lord is on our side …
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to our God to order and provide;
In every change, You faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”
“Dear God there is so much change. But You, O LORD remain. We draw near to You, and You draw near when we do. O God, help us, today in such darkness, take hold of Your light and believe and rest …
in Your faithfulness:
“Be still, my soul: Our God doth undertake
To guide the future, as You have the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
Your voice Who ruled them while You dwelt below.”
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart, And all is darkened in the vale of tears, 
Then shalt we  better know Your love, Your heart,
Who comes to soothe our sorrow and our fears.
“Dear Lord, comfort the downcast with Your Spirit, we draw near.”
“Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with You Lord.
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.”
“Dear Father in heaven, we bow our heads together. The most important change that needs be, is that which must be done, inside of me. Increase my faith, that I might stand, and follow You, as You take hold of my hand:
“Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing,  You, O Lord on high; to
Acknowledge You in all our words and ways,
So shall You  view us with a well-pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Son of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.”
Today. Today! This is what You have given us. Teach us to pray. To talk with You the words of this hymn rather than complaint. Be merciful to us.
Teach us to trust.
Help us to take hold of You – who are Love, and let go of all lust. Let us put off the fight, and the anger, and the strife …
and let us make harmony as we sing Your melody throughout the rest of our life.
We bow our heads, we pray to You. We end our words  and whole heartedly say:  “Our soul is still, as we set our minds on the hill, where You laid down Your life, as a perfect sacrifice, forgiving my failures, Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You.”
(1) “Be Still My Soul” by Katherine von Schlegel.