God Is Love

We hear it all the time:  "God loves you", "Jesus loves you".

What does this really mean? 
It has been used until we don't think about the meaning.  We don't connect the words to their meaning.  There are those who would use this to control where you attend church, your finances, your opinions.  You are told God loves you, then subject to a sermon of wrath, hell fire or eye for an eye. 

Let's just explore these issues.

Wrath:  Yes, God had wrath alright, especially in the Old Testament.  But, if we actually search it out, His wrath was directed at non believers, evil doers, idol worshipers and enemies of His people.  Yes, He did punish various of His people but only as a loving father must discipline a child who misbehaves for the good of the child.  His people were always restored after the discipline.  You ask, "What about the times when Israelites were order to wipe out a people - even their children - even their flocks - and take no plunder?"  I answer: Those to be wiped out were idol worshiping enemies of God's people.  I did a study of the idol Baal and the Ashera poll.  The Ashera poll was a carving of the goddess Ashera and it was not modest (to say the least).  What they did to babies and children was an absolute abomination to God.  Mass graves have been uncovered with hundreds, even thousands of children's skeletons.  They practiced horrific mockery of God with priests and priestesses involved in public intercourse followed by orgies.  God is a just God to wipe them from the face of the earth.

Hell fire:  It is doctrine.  There is hell fire.  But, only for non believers.  Those who actually believe in Jesus as the Son of God sent for the atonement of human sin, have nothing to fear of a hell fire.  Isn't that great?  Those of us who believe are already saved through our belief in Jesus Christ.  Once you have accepted His sacrifice as your saving grace, you cannot lose it.   The rapture will lift all believers from this world before God's wrath comes in the final days.  The "Lamb's Book of Life" (Rev.21:27) will be read later; after the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven - after Jesus defeats Satan Rev.19:11 - 21.  We will already be with Him, bringing down the new Jerusalem, when the Book of Life is read.  If we follow a sequence of events: the rapture of believers, three and one half years of the reign of an anti Christ, his defeat, the New Jerusalem, reading the Book of Life, we see that Christian believers will actually be with Jesus before all this.  Jesus cannot re-judge believers He has already taken up into the clouds to be with Him.  Is He going to read the Book of Life and say, "Oooops!  I didn't know that about you; get out!"  I don't think so.  Christian believers do not face a judgement.  We will be taken up to meet Him in the clouds.  God is faithful to His faithful.

Eye for an eye:  In Ex.21:24 this first appears as God gives Moses instructions for governing the Israelites.  This is the Old Testament - the Old Covenant with the Israelite people.  Jesus brought a New Testament and taught in Mt.5:38 & 39 that you are now to turn the other cheek.  The old covenant of law has been replaced with the new covenant of grace through Jesus.  God's amazing grace.

To be loved by God is to be safe, provided for, at peace, confident, worry free and happy.  No one can love like the Creator of time and space, stars and suns, wind and the very atoms that comprise all things.

Story:  There was a scientist who came to God and declared, "We can now create life in the laboratory.  I am like you."  God replies, "Is that so?  Let's just prove your claim."  The scientist agreed they would each create a human being.  When the scientist reached down to gather the dirt to begin his creation, God stopped him and said, "Oh no you don't.  Go get your own dirt."

Challenge:  I dare you to disprove God or Jesus.  Throughout history, every time someone sets out to disprove His existence, they either come to believe in Him or give up in frustration.  Go ahead; I dare you - actual proof.

You ask me for proof of His existence?  I point you to the Bible - a perfect puzzle where all the pieces fit and the old reveals the new and the new proves the old.  I point you to the man of Jesus; perfect, without sin (Heb.9:14, IPe.1:19).  It was very important in the Old Covenant that all sacrifices be "without blemish".  He began a movement that has lasted 2,000 years and survived wars and persecution all that time just to flourish stronger than ever.  No other movement or religion in the world has with stood such opposition.


I fear I have strayed from the subject of love. 
See God as the perfect father.  He loves you so much that He wants to give you everything that is good for you.  Being a good father, who knows you from your beginning, He knows what is best for you.  He knows if you touch the hot stove, you will get burned.  That's why He has rules; just like you give your kids - because you LOVE them.  If you did not grow up with a concerned father, surrender to God and find out what the perfect father can be: never leave you, protect you, guide, discipline, provide every need, teach, listen and care.  Experience His perfect love.

Then, consider the ultimate.  Having a son that you adore.  This perfect being is your absolute joy but to save all of His bad siblings, this child must be punished severely and tortured to death.  Oh, how He loves you and me.

Deut.5:10, Jdgs.5:31, Ps.119:132, Jn.14:23

Time demands I move on with my day.  Think on these things and come back.  We'll share some more.

Amen

My Personal God

"My God" has made Himself personal to me:

I called on Him when I prayed "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" during my parents divorce.  I was seven years old and He made His presence known to me.

He put His wings around me during the abuse I endured at the hands of a stepfather, and sent me a savior; my grandfather.

He advised me when I was molested by three teen boys at a bus stop. I was 16.

When there was disappointment over missing high school graduation, due to minor surgery, He was there holding my hand.

I held fast to Him through the loss of two children at birth.

During marriage to an alcoholic, He advised me through His spirit.

He was there to console me after the death of Grandfather, the only earthly father I have known.

An angel, in the form of a police officer, was sent when my brakes failed early one morning on busy city streets.

I prayed "Our Father" in an ambulance after a car accident.  It left me with 44 stitches to my face, a broken foot and crushed vertebra, but He chose to spare my life.

Late one evening, in New York, He sent an angel to perform a miracle and save me from an assault in a public parking lot. 

Again, He held my hand during surgery for malignant tumors, consoled me when I learned that I would never have children and held my hand during the hysterectomy ten years later.

I had traveled across this country for forty-five years to sell my art work.  I remember dangerous driving conditions, storms in the mountains, icey roads and being lost - a lot.  My God was sitting next to me in the passenger seat every inch of the way.

In Alabama, He sent an angel with yet another miracle to keep me from an auto accident with two little girls in my car. 

During a time of great depression, from many wrong choices through the years, He spoke and saved me from suicide.

He has loved me from my conception, with a plan for my life.  Thirty-five years ago, my God placed me in His church, changed my life and my way of thinking and, twenty-six years ago gave me my greatest earthy treasure, a husband who truly loves me.

My God bandaged emotional wounds and started the healing.  He has always made Himself personal to my needs.

He sent me a healer and holds my hand every time I take a treatment for liver failure.

He stepped in to fill a huge void when my mother died and consoles a great loss, again, when my brother died young.

A compound fracture in my ankle was set without anesthetic by a strange doctor in a strange hospital in a city far from home.  I was alone for surgery - except for my God.

Throughout my life, and even now, my God has been with me every minute to make sure I did not suffer more than I could bare.  He has been there watching, teaching, protecting; keeping my heart, my body and my soul in His ever gentle arms.

My God took hate, fear and guilt and replaced them with joy, compassion and peace.

My God is the magnificent "I Am" who made time and space and lives on the sides of the north in the third heaven.  Every existence exists in His thought.  He knows every inch of every star in the universe, every grain of sand on every beach and cares enough about me to know how many hairs are on my head - He is the keeper of my soul.

My God loves, protects, blesses, teaches, comforts, heals and answers my prayers. Getting to know Him is a lifetime of joy and amazement.

The Christian life is not easy but the rewards are great.
Amen

My Story - Epilogue

Yeah, my story has a great ending.  

Looking back over my life, I can see how blessed I am.  All the trials have made me who I am today.  Perfect?  No!  But, I have learned, matured, grown spiritually, come into a personal relationship with God and am so grateful for all of it.

God did not do any of the bad things.  People were given free choice from the time of Adam and Eve.  My parents made choices and I made my choices in response to their actions.  It is obvious that I made poor choices - one after another for many years.  And, look how it just spiraled to that turning point with the loaded gun.

God does not do bad  God is total, complete love.  As a good father, He created us and knows what we need and want better than we do.  It's not easy to trust a spiritual being when everything we relate to is physical.  Faith and belief are not easy in this world.  It takes a desire and a lot of practice - a lot of trial and error.  Not to worry, the blood of Jesus covers the believer's mistakes.  You get a "do over" - every time!  Keep doing it over until you get it right.  It starts with your first step.  Jesus does not push; He waits.  You have to take the first step in faith and practice belief.  Here is another easy part:  if you need faith, just ask for it.  That first step is submission by getting on you knees and asking for everything you lack.  The father's love makes it easy.

The enemy knows where we are most vulnerable.  He knows every weak spot.  He prowls the earth like a hungry lion searching for who he can devour.  Constantly in our head whispering everything negative and telling us we are not worthy; prodding us to do and be everything Jesus is not. 

God turns bad to good:
Because my father left, I got to know an amazing grandfather.

Because of the sexual abuse, I learned to cherish physical relationship as the ultimate expression of love within the privacy of marriage.

Because I was betrayed by a close friend, I know how to be a friend.

Because of the molestings, I am cautious and aware of my surroundings.

Because of poor choices in husbands, I learned to let God have His way.  

Because I lost children, I have a passion for them.

Because of many trials, I was blessed with amazing friendships for support. 

Because of a restless spirit, I have traveled all over this country, been places, seen things and met all sorts of people. 

Because . . . because . . . because . . . get it?

My husband and I are not wealthy but we have everything we need; what a great blessing.  Sometimes, I feel downright rich. 
Note:  We have learned that any time we get a financial windfall (like a bonus at work or I sell art I was not offering), to hold on to it for awhile before we spend it.  Many times, a reason for the money comes shortly after we receive it.  So many times, God has provided BEFORE the need.  What a blessing to be able to ask our Heavenly Father for advice in every part of our daily lives.  When the answer is immediate or obvious, our faith gets a boost.  Fear fades and confidence grows.

As we mature in our relationship with Jesus, we have learned how to be grateful and show daily praise.  We are making Him the center of our married lives.  He shows us His amazing love and understanding time and again.  Our lives have become miracles.
Amen

My Story

Privacy is something I value highly.  When we relocate, I will pack personal things so movers don't come in and pack the contents of my underwear drawer or see my toiletries.  I never could share a bathroom with a husband and have only two friends I will share a motel room with.  If I don't get "alone time", you can't stand to have me around.  Anyone out there understand what I am saying?

That said, when it comes to my past, I am an open book.  Like everyone else, I have had trials, temptations, failures and embarrassments.  I don't believe in regret.  I made bad choices (for whatever reason) and they were my choices.  I like to think that I have learned from them.  After all, I did do a full turn around at one point in my life.  There were times of great sorrow, fear, worthlessness and loneliness.  I have felt "lonely" but never "alone".

When I say that I did a full turnaround and repented of a life style, I don't mean all of a sudden I realized there was a loving being out there that created everything and His son came to save me to eternal life by paying the debt for everything I did wrong; although, all of that is true.  The thing is, I cannot remember a time in my life when I was not aware of God and His presence.   And, I can remember back to the time I was still sleeping in a crib. 

It amazes me that people do discover God in there teen years or even later in life.  They have great epiphany, a moment of awareness - that "aha moment".  I have a bit of jealousy for that.  It's like I missed out on all the excitement.  On the other hand, friends have told me that they envy the fact that I have always had this awareness just like many others - I am not unique.  Neither am I different.  We have trouble seeing our own life as valuable.

Okay, all this being said, let's get back to my story.   I once offered to give my testimony in church.  My pastor, at the time, had me jot down some highlights for review.  He called me into his study and denied my request on the grounds that "no one will believe it"  -  ?  Huh?  

I know that I have had an active life of varied interests, jobs, a career and, as stated before, great changes.  I am also far passed retirement age, so it has been a rather lengthy life.  The longer your life, the more stuff happens!  To keep this writing within some boundaries, I am using key words in summary form so you can get the idea without a lot of lengthy (and boring) script.    This also keeps my private side happy because I do not have to disclose all the embarrassing details.

As first born, Mother dedicated me at birth and sent me to church from the time I could step onto the bus. Things were pretty middle-income-normal until I was eight years old.
Parents divorced  
grandfather moved in
no financial support from my father  
first experience with rejection from a man
father never answered any correspondence
moved to a less expensive neighbor hood = inner city (big city)
dislexic before there was dislexia = thought I was stupid
step father = sexual abuse (me and my sister)
teenage baptism
molested by three teens on way to work
pregnant at 17 = gave up art scholarship
high school graduation = stopped going to church 
lost two children at birth
married and moved to Boston - moved to Long Island
betrayal by closest friend; changed the course of my life
husband cheated = another rejection and divorce
attacked by man in parking lot
married an alcoholic
various menial jobs
socialized in dive bars = all sorts of people
major auto accident - 44 stitches to face
grandfather died - my only earthly father
partial hysterectomy 
husband cheated = another rejection and divorce
found a roommate
single girl for awhile = dating
out of body experience
traveled = selling my art work
married a businessman = he traveled
he had two daughters = I was a step mother
moved to Alabama = nice home, pool, country club
continued traveling and selling art
husband turned out to be an embezzler
he cheated = another divorce and rejection
single scene again
still traveling with art work
met a portrait artist and became her apprentice = hired agents
continued travel 
complete hysterectomy 
married a country boy from Alabama = step mom, again
different life style in the "back woods"
he had a country band = I ran sound system
opened small town business = framing and portrait studio
he dealt in drugs = I went back to church
he cheated =  devastating divorce
considered suicide - had loaded gun in hand
got baptized and took it serious  
* No wonder the pastor said, "No one would believe it".

The out of body experience opened my eyes to my life style but I am a stubborn person and it was years later before I made major changes.  There were  highlights along the wrong path: travel, people and I never lost that feeling of God's presence.

I took that baptism 35 years ago serious and, like the prodigal son, my (heavenly) Father welcomed me back with open arms and all the blessings of my heritage that were just waiting for me.   Imagine that!  All I had to do was "come home".  (I am reminded of the Proverb: Raise a child up in the way He should go and he will not depart from it.)  My marriage, of 26 years, is to a great Christian man who is "the wind beneath my wings".  My business became successful.  Fear and anger no longer rule over me.

It did not happen over night.  There were trials and many errors along the way: health issues, decisions and major adjustments.  During this time, I learned to let God have control and it has made all the difference.

Lately, I have been reminded that we all have a story and as Christians, we need to share it with others.  It can take us out of our comfort zone but it is our story of how God, our Father, molds us to become what He calls us to.  Just maybe your story can help someone else.  If we just plant the seed, God will make it grow somewhere.
Amen!

  

Honoring God

"Blessed be the name of God", "Bless our God", "Blessed be God", Ever wonder how we puny human beings of this ever expanding universe can bless God? In Hebrew, whenever the word "blessed" is used with reference to God, it translates "kneel".   So . . . . when we make this statement, we are actually saying "I kneel before you." Before any reading the term "Baruk Atah Adonai" (Blessed be God/kneel before God) is said in reverence. What a beautiful sentiment to remind us of our humility before Him and his wonderful grace to us.

Cross nebula

Another place Jewish people show great reverence is in the book of Job in the Hebrew Bible.  In 2:9, Job's wife is quoted as saying "Curse God and die".   In the Tenach, this passage is better rendered "Bless God and die".  This reverence for the name of God will not allow the word "curse" to be next to God's name.  WOW!  Other translations of the Bible do not allow for this kind of honor. 

God's Eye constellation

David was special in God's sight because he praised (honored) God with his any Psalms. 

Solomon was special in God's sight because he built a magnificent temple to honor God.

Abraham honored God with his obedience.

Angels around the throne of God constantly honor Him with continuous song. 

The universe sings with praises.  If no one praises Him, the rocks will.  Recordings have been made of the sounds emitted by stars and planets.  All together, they ring like a chorus.

There are many ways to honor God and He rejoices with each one.  To honor Him is to acknowledge Him.

Kneel, pray, sing, give thanks, acknowledge Him, dance to Him and feel His presence.

Our Heavenly Father deserves to be honored.  God Loves You more than any human can.  God is absolute goodness.  God cannot see the sins of believers.  Believers will be raptured and will not be required to face judgement.  God answers prayer, heals, provides.  He created time and space (time and space) and gives you the air you breathe.  He restores life and forgives all who seek Him. 

How great is our God.  He deserves our honor.  Baruk Atah Adonai !  Kneel before His Majesty.
Amen

Psalm 91

To God's holy people in this world, Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Paraphrased greeting from Apostle Paul to the Ephesians)

On this quiet Sunday morning, I would like to share my favorite psalm with you:  Psalm 91

Whoever dwells in the secret place of the Most High (Jesus)
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty
I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God in whom I trust".
Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His feathers,
and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror by night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you say, "The Lord is my refuge",
and you make the Most High your dwelling
no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For He will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
"Because He loves me," says the Lord,
"I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

This is a promise of protection to all who believe in Him.  What a wonderful protective father is our God.

Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
(Eph 6:24)

Amen

Study of Jonah, Chapt. 4

Great chapter.  I find so much humor in it.  Great writer!  (This book is commonly attributed to Jonah himself.)  He had his faults but he knew how to build the story to a climax and entertain at the same time.    (I am a great movie buff and this would make a tremendous movie without deviation from fact.)

In the blog about Chapter 1, I mentioned all the ups and downs in this little prophetic book.  Well, Chapter 4 is no different. 

In the first verse, Jonah is mad - again.  In the second verse, he tells God, I told you so.  In verse three, he is so angry and frustrated over God's mercy that he wants to die.  In today's world, revenge is a common cry.  Jonah hated the people of Nineveh more than his own life.  There is the possibility that Jonah was afraid, if Nineveh was spared, they would again turn on Israel.  He was jealous that God could spare those who had oppressed his people.  Do we see this hate and fear in the middle east today?  Did Jesus see this depth of hate at the cross?

Verse 4 is God's answer to Jonah.  Hebrew text reads, "Is it right for you to be grieved to death?"  God expects us to understand his grace and mercy.  He expects us to reflect His gracious attitude in our lives.  (Jonah's blood pressure must have been sky high.)  God knows that when we exert negative emotions we can only hurt ourselves.  There is no peace for Jonah at this point. 

Verse 5 says Jonah was waiting to see what would happen to the city.  Did he think he might have changed God's mind?  Did he think God would care more for his feelings than the entire city of Nineveh?  Verse 6:  God's is understanding of Jonah and shows him compassion by providing shade.  Indeed, a miracle was done with the plant growing up immediately.  This made Jonah happy.  Well, I guess: shade from the very hot sun of that middle eastern climate.  I would be very happy.

Here comes the lesson:   We all go through these lessons from our loving father in heaven when we need correcting - just like a caring earthly father.  That is why God caused the plant to die.  This, of course, put Jonah back into another bad mood.  Do you see the frustration here?  Do you see the humor of God?  Jonah was so mad and God is giving him a trial; taunting him in order to teach him a lesson.  When you were growing up, did your parent ever do this to you?  (My grandfather did it a lot.  A little salt in the wound to drive a point home.)  Again, Jonah says he wants to die rather than to live like this: mad, jealous, spiteful, hot, tired, frustrated and not being able to manipulate God to do what he wanted.  He was a pouting child. 

Jonah is more worried about loosing his shade than the death of an entire city.  This back and forth conversation between God and Jonah shows God's tolerance.  He could have let Jonah die but God had a purpose for Jonah.  After all, he had not yet written this great book.

In verses 10 and 11 God makes his point plain to Jonah.  Jonah was given the plant for shade - without working for it.  (God does spoil His children.)  There were 120,000 people, plus animals, in the great city of Nineveh that Jonah wanted dead.  People with lives, feelings, families, friends, jobs and futures.  God was trying to explain that Jonah was wrong to have this hatred and jealousy to other human beings. 

I also see that this lesson worked and Jonah eventually came to a greater understanding of himself or he could not have penned this story from a impartial perspective.  Reach out to God, trust His grace and you will sail the calm sea of peace in your life.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> * * * <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Our lessons: 
1.  God's word is final
2.  God knows best
3.  God is an amazing teacher
4.  It is good to obey God before He has to teach us a lesson
5.  God's grace is for all His children/creation

* Note about the number 120 (120,000 population):  This number represents the end of law (the end of human effort) which is replaced by grace.  We clearly see God's grace extended to the people of Nineveh who in the past have condemned God's people.

I am sure there is more in this amazing little book that I have yet to discover.  The Bible is so full of subtle, under the surface, messages that it awaits our seeking them out. 
Seek and you will find.

Amen