Christian Perspective

We who are of the Christian faith have a strong sense of belief that God does indeed love each of us. Our part of the relationship is…to believe it. And with that belief, there is assurance of His love. He never leaves us, never stops caring for us…we are the ones who do that. We are the ones who walk away from His unfathomable love.

Recently I have been faced with the horrors of losing yet another sibling to a dreaded disease – ALS. While my oldest sister was a believer in God, I don’t believe my brother is and it is profoundly heartbreaking. I am praying that deep down in his heart, he remembers God’s love for him.

I am in the process of writing another book of encouragement and this morning after reading my devotions, this story came to me so I am sharing it with you. If you are a believer then you will understand her peace. If you are not a believer, then I challenge you to prove me wrong. For in both scenarios, we could all win.

Renewal

She stared deeply in the mirror at her withering body, her earthly tent. She glanced around her room and turned to walk slowly through her house. It was simple and comfortable, not expansive like some of her friends. She smiled as she walked over to her plants. Their bodies were rich and full, some had buds ready for fragrant blooms.

Fragrant, thought Sarah. Yes, that is what we are told it will be like. Heaven is fragrant. Maybe from the many flowers that are there. It’s a beautiful place filled with love…because He is there.

Sarah’s attention was broken as sweet Daisy wrapped her velvety tail around her frail leg.

“Oh, Daisy,” she said as she picked up her orange tabby cat, “It will be a beautiful place of no more pain, no more disease, and no more fear. Only love.”

“Only love,” she whispered setting Daisy back on the floor. Sarah walked over and sat in her favorite chair. She picked up her bible and turned to 2 Corinthians 5. She read…

For we know that when this tent we live in now is taken down, when we die, and leave these bodies, we will have wonderful new bodies in heaven, homes that will be ours forevermore, made for us by God himself, and not by human hands.

Sarah closed her eyes in quiet prayer. “Thank you, Lord, for the promise of blessed renewal. By G.A. Neal

I hope this reminds you of God’s gracious love for each of us and that even when we can’t see Him, or can’t feel Him, He is still there. Breathe in the peace He offers and remember to be kind to those who may not know kindness.

Acceptance of Love

In reading my devotion from Billy Graham’s Daily Devotions this morning, I learned a new concept of Christ’s love that I never thought of before. Billy Graham said…

A gift is not a gift unless it is accepted. God has given you His Son, but ownership is conditional on acceptance. God does not force His gift on us, but He asks us to receive by faith the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. Billy Graham

While I have long ago accepted Christ as my savior, I never really thought about that if you don’t accept Him as a gift, you don’t get to have Him. There have been tangible gifts through the years that I have refused, and I never connected the dots of God’s love, mercy, patience, or guidance as being a gift I would refuse.

A person who deliberately refuses God’s offer of love, mercy, and forgiveness is lost. Most people gratefully receive a gift when given in love. The greatest sin that a person can commit is to refuse God’s love. Billy Graham

I am creating this post not to make anyone feel uncomfortable in their own beliefs but to help anyone realize the beauty, compassion, love, and understanding that is available for accepting the gift from God of his one and only son Jesus Christ.

Remember to always share kindness with others as He has been kind to you.

Words of Hope

All people everywhere have some tangible evidence that they hold onto which guides them to the intangible belief of their hope. For Christains, it is God’s Holy Word – the Bible. Then there are song that are in the bible, the Psalms, and song written about the stories of the bible, that help us stay true the the truths written in this ancient manuscript.

One of my all time favorite artists of Christian music is Michael W. Smith and he sand a song about this magnificent manuscript called Ancient Words. Here are some of the words that show the heart of the song.

Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world
They resound with God’s own heart
Words of life, words of hope
Give us strength, help us cope
Ancient words will guide us home

Ancient words, ever true
Changing me and changing you
Holy words of our faith
Handed down to this age
Came to us through sacrifice
Oh, heed the faithful words of Christ

This song is on YouTube, if you would like to hear it. My goal for this post is to share the knowledge of how very much you are loved. For Jesus did not come to condemn but to love, and to bring us all to the place where we share in the beauty He has to offer.

May you all have a blessed weekend and are fully aware of the beauty and love that surrounds you. And as always, be kind. Kindness has the power to change the worse day into something sweet.

Strength

Periodically we need to truly understand where our strength comes from….is it our own making or are our burdens doing their magic work from God in making us strong.

This morning’s devotion with Oswald Chambers assured me that God is always with us carrying the heavier part of our burden as we grow in strength to see the joy of His profound love.

The burden that God places on us squeezes the grapes in our lives and produces the wine. Oswald Chambers

While we don’t enjoy any burdens we know they do have a purpose in proving His love for us.

For His hand is never far from us, filling is with the hope that proves His love.

No power on earth or in hell can conquer the Spirit of God living within the human spirit; it creates an inner invincibility. Oswald Chambers

So rest assured that whatever burden you mat be facing today, God id holding you hand and He will carry you through to the shining glory of His love for you.

Have a great day and a beautiful weekend. And always remember to be kind, even when it is really hard. For kindness shows your inner beauty of love.

Morning Encouragement

I want to share with you this morning the thoughts from Steven Scott’s devotion “Jesus Speaks”.

It is one thing to read and try to understand the scriptures of the bible and a very different thing to believe the words as truth. Jesus knew that understand the words was not enough. They needed to believe in the words and who they said he was, and to also believe in the relationship between him and the father. It is no small task and it is the same for us today. While we need to understand the words of Jesus, we must first believe in the relationship between Jesus and the Father. Believing in this relationship alters everything you do. For the evidence of this belief is demonstrated by our behavior. Jesus explained to his disciple that if you can’t believe in who he is from the things he tells them, to at least believe in him because of the works he was doing.

When we believe in this truth, our entire lives are changed. Everything that we are and that we do are changed for the better. And goodness will flow out from us to others because of this belief. So believe in Him and watch him work in you.

I encourage you to close your eyes and envision Jesus walking into the room where you are standing. Can you feel His love radiating towards you? This love that He is sending your way is stronger than you can imagine and He wants surround you in it as He takes care of you. Allow Him to be part of your life.

Have a safe and blessed weekend and may to feel the love and peace of Christ in all that you do.

Week’s End Encouragement

The week is almost over and the weekend is coming – a time of rest, a time for ourselves.

Our weeks are sometimes so busy that the weekend is too short to fully rest, so Matthew reminds us of Jesus’ words to come to Him to find complete restoration regardless of our business. He is gentle and humble in heart and never forces us to come to Him but he patiently waits for us to choose to come. Once we choose to come and rely on His fatherly comfort, that’s when the battle has been won.

It is only after we have begun to experience what salvation really means, that we surrender our will to Jesus for the rest He has ready for us. And it is a voluntary surrender. Surrender in today’s mindset is a negative concept that we fight against, but Jesus reminds us of the power we gain in His surrender and the rewards he has for us.

“For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory, with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” Oswald Chambers

Once we surrender to His will, His grace, His love and His peace, then the remainder of our life will exhibit nothing but the evidence of this surrender. And we will never need to be concerned again with what the future may hold for us, for Jesus is totally sufficient. Even though at times we may be shaking in our boots.

Even though you may feel you are alone in a snowstorm or vast desert, your tiny self is being watched over, and you will be given the strength to grow taller in His care.

And always remember to show the power of kindness. It shows your inner beauty.

Morning Encouragement

I have many devotions I read each morning. Some are here in WordPress, some are other online devotions and some are purchased books. I find them a good jump start to my day to help me focus on the Lord and not the circumstances I face that day. Today’s devotion in My Utmost for His Highest spoke exactly about that.

Oswald Chambers reminded us “If you keep your relationship right with Him, then regardless of your circumstances or whoever you encounter each day, He will continue to pour ‘rivers of living water’”.

That’s kind of an odd saying if you are not familiar with its meaning. For me it means that regardless of how desperate I may feel, the love of God is flowing in me, through me and out of me. Rivers of living water come from the attributes we receive when we follow God and are then filled by the Fruit of the Spirit.

Whatever your circumstances may be, you have been placed in them by God. And God uses the reaction of your life to your circumstances to fulfill His purpose, as long as you continue to “walk in the light as He is in the light”. Oswald Chambers

So I encourage you today, regardless of the difficulty you may be facing, let Christ’s living waters flow through you so that you can feel the peace of His love. Then let the fruit of the spirit attributes become part of you as now He is part of you. And remember in all that you do to always be kind.

Interesting Bird, Encouragement

Since I have been bird watching, I see that all creatures have slight variations even in the same specie. We humans are short, tall, fat, skinny and various shades of skin tone but…we are created by the same creator, in His image…according to how I believe.

And variation concept is true for the animal kingdom and it is how those who work with wildlife can tell the different individual animals apart, like zebra’s stripe patterns are individual. Again, same creator.

I always thought the one exception to the rule was birds. Yes you can always recognize the bird type but if you look close, there are variations. Case in point, our beloved cardinals…

This is a beautiful red cardinal from early this spring. Rich red body, red top crest and black face and neck area, large triangle beak. We are all familiar with this bird in the US. However…

Today, this cardinal stopped at the feeder.

Same size bird, the beak seems slightly larger but his color is the most striking. He is not a bright red so I don’t know if that is a seasonal change but the biggest difference is his entire head is black. And there seems to be more black than usual mixed in his tail feathers. He is still beautiful. A difference in creation I guess. I think it is a reminder to us that in God’s eye we are perfectly beautiful, even though we may look different. Even identical twins are different in subtle ways.

So I send this out to all who may read it to remind each of us that we are all special in our own creation from God for a purpose only fully known by Him. So listen to His voice as he guides you for the purposes He has just for you, so that you can enrich His kingdom and those around you. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us…

Have a safe and blessed weekend and remember to be kind in all that you do.

Weekend Encouragement

It’s Friday, the end of the work week for most. Has it been a rough week? Rest assure you were not forgotten as the week flew past you. Even though we don’t see it, God always has a plan for us.

If chaos is surrounding you, don’t let it over take you. Stop, draw in His peace and let it flow over you. You will see God’s great plan come to pass. His complete purpose can not be determined by human reasoning or understanding. We just have to trust in Him to make it all come to fruition.

Cling To God’s promises, His assurance of hope and you can be joyful and patient while the chaos swirls around you. He is holding you in His loving hand.

As you head for a hopefully restful weekend, store up some calming love and peace so the you will be strong but gentle, firm but loving and always kind. The power of the kindness you share with others will lift you as well and bring you peace.

Weekend Encouragement

The weekend is a time we try to unwind and rest from the hectic week we just had or possibly still reeling from. My devotion this morning reminded me of some of the walks I use to have when I lived in the North Carolina mountains. Since I am 1,000 miles from there now I have to go there in my mind. Come walk with me and I will take you there with words.

Its early morning. The morning fog still clings to trees around you. It’s peacefully quiet except for the few birds fluttering in the trees. It’s the perfect time to be alone with God and feel His peace.

Picture yourself by a small stream. Its deep enough where it doesn’t babble over rocks, yet it moves slowly. Its surface is smooth as glass and reflects the beauty of the forest around you. Sit here and rest in God’s love that He has just for you. Give all worries and concerns to Him and let Him carry them for you. His shoulders are much stronger than yours.

When we are calm and relaxed, it is then that the blessings of God are most beneficial because we remember who we are. We are children of God.

Always remember He is walking beside you and if needed…He will carry you. So lift praises to Him and He will cover you in peace as you walk the day together.

And in closing I remind you of the positive power of kindness. Not only does it encourage others, it encourages the beauty that is within you.