To know HIM

Like many others, music resounds within me and moves me not just physically, but emotionally and its words stay within me.  From the time I was small, songs have communicated more to me than simple words ever could.    

Lines from a favorite song by Bobby Vinton when I was a teen is like that.  The lines go, ‘To Know, know, know you is to love, love, love you, just to see your smile, makes my life worthwhile, to know, know, know you is to love, love, love you and I do, I do, I do.”  Nowadays, I’ll sing those simple words to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY changing just one word.  Instead of singing ‘just to SEE your smile, I sing just to SENSE YOUR smile, makes my like worthwhile.  To know, know, know YOU is to love, love, love YOU and I do, I do, I do.

Psalm 147:7 is just one of many verses urging us to sing to the LORD.

GOD says, I love those who love me (Proverbs 18:17) and we love HIM because HE 1^st loved us (1 John 4:19). It thrills me that GOD says HE  rejoices and sings over me and those who have come to HIM through JESUS (Zephaniah 3:17).

In Jeremiah 22:16 GOD is speaking of King Josiah, “He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know ME, declares the LORD?”

That verse declares that as we get to know the LORD, as we see HIM in action, it will produce in us like action (2 Corinthians 3:18) we will take on aspects of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:2-4) changing us into the likeness of our LORD JESUS CHRIST (Romans 8:29).

The thought that I am being changed is exciting, it’s a real motivator to find out more and more about the one and only wise GOD, the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY who made me!

Hugs

Sharon

HE listens

Ever need someone to just listen and understand how you feel?

“I love the LORD because HE listens to my prayers for help. HE paid attention to me, so I will call to HIM for help as long as I live” (Psalm 116:1-2)

Hugs

Sharon

What can I do?

How can we help people open their hearts to GOD?

Just looking around we know the time is getting close for the 7 years of Tribulation to begin since the criteria mentioned as precursors spoken of in Matthew 24 are everywhere.  To name a few, the world in many places seems to have lost their minds.  Mass rioting and looting in Europe,  wars and rumors of wars, famines, A1 to rewrite Genesis using man’s concepts and rejecting GOD’s, identity confusion being encouraged in schools.  Many see all this and just blend in, others are naturally thoroughly confused and want answers but don’t know where to turn.

We Christians have the answer.  “Come to GOD through JESUS” (Hebrews 7:25) and JESUS will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and is coming to get us out of here before all hell breaks loose (2 Thessalonians 2:4-8a). We are called to witness of CHRIST JESUS and restrain wrong by our presence.  But often our attitudes, words and even actions turn people away from JESUS not to HIM.

JESUS asks of GOD the FATHER, “That all of them (that believe in ME) may be one, FATHER, just as YOU are in ME and I am in YOU  (John 17:21). 

1-JESUS is speaking of many individuals so, what does HE mean that we may be ONE?  One in what way?

Peter shows that we are to be one in nature with GOD the FATHER and JESUS, united in purpose and attitude (2 Peter 1:4).

JESUS continues, “May they also be in US so that the world may believe that YOU have sent ME (John 17:21).   

”I in them and YOU in ME—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that YOU sent ME and have loved them even as YOU have loved ME” (John 17: 23).

2-What will play a big part in leading people to be open to listening to and believing GOD the FATHER sent JESUS to save sinners?

Unity can only come as we act like JESUS and consider others before ourselves for how we treat others is a good indicator of what fills our heart.  

We are told to, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others ABOVE yourselves,not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as CHRIST JESUS” Philippians 2:3-5

Look up the verses on this subject below to find the missing words for the crossword puzzle.  (all verses from the NIV)

Across

1-Search me. O GOD, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious ______________ Psalm 139:23

2-Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as _______________for the LORD, not for men. Colossians 3:23

3-You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the _________________ of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34

4-A________________ look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. Proverbs 15:30

5-Create in me a pure heart, O GOD, and renew a right spirit _____________ me. Psalm 51:10

Down

1-You will seek ME and find ME when you _______________ ME with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

2-Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were ______________the LORD, not men. Ephesians 6:7

3-I will give you a_______________ heart and put a new spirit in you. Ezekiel 36:26

4-the secrets of his heart will be laid bare.  So, he will fall down and _________________ GOD 1 Corinthians 14:25

5-Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the _______________so that you have a sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply from the heart. 1 Peter 1:22

hugs

Sharon

Ants and squirrels

GOD is stunningly remarkable in the details HE teaches HIS creation.  HE equips them and shows them what they need to know to thrive but HE is selective and does not give them all skills nor all wisdom (Job 39:17). HE built within HIS creatures knowledge of what they need to do.  Like salmon born in fresh water going out into the salty ocean for a couple of years and then coming back into the fresh water, then going upstream to where they were born to lay eggs. That kind of guidance can only come from GOD HIMSELF.  HE guides those who look to HIM through HIS HOLY SPIRIT (John 16:13) which GOD gives to all who believe and receive JESUS CHRIST as Savior and LORD (John 7:38-39, Ephesians 1:13).

GOD tells us we can learn from HIS creation and in Proverbs 6:6-8 says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:  Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.”

Well, squirrels, like the ants, gather food for the winter. Let’s look at a few other things we can learn from this small playful creature with the fluffy tail.

When a female squirrel finds another’s baby squirrel, she gives him food then investigates to make sure that he is a true orphan with neither mother nor father. After 3 days of investigation, being certain he has no family, she takes him gently and feeds him and brings him to live with her and her young as if he were one of her own children.

The female squirrel is unique in receiving her husband when he returns with food.  She greets him with kisses and wooing him in order to ease the fatigue of bringing food to her and her young.

The male squirrel always expresses his love for his female by giving her the most beautiful roses and the largest walnuts and almonds…

Mother Squirrel and Father Squirrel are a wonderfully industrious family, and the future of mankind actually depends on their activity.  You see, half of the seeds they store become new bushes creating food for mankind.

We can gain a little wisdom by paying attention to what GOD shows us through this little animal as well as what HE has taught HIS other creatures.

Hugs

Sharon

How can I?

There are so many kinds of love and ways to love.  My Pastor has often referenced a book about love languages for married people.  Some things say love to one person but not another. And the icon or word love can conjure up many things in our minds.  We love different things differently.  I definitely don’t love Jeri’s cat like I love my daughters or son.

I have questioned how can I know if I love JESUS as I should?  HE loved me so much that HE set aside all HIS rights and privileges to take on a human body, suffer and die for me (Philippians 2:5-8).  On the cross JESUS paid for my sins and thus saved me from GOD’s wrath on sin (Romans 6:23, Colossians 2:13-14), since HE has given me eternal life (John 3:16) and is now at the right hand of GOD the Father interceding for me (Hebrews 7:25) I want to love JESUS like HE should be loved.  How can I love HIM the way HE deserves? 

There are songs about loving JESUS that are not the way I feel about JESUS. Am I lacking in my love for HIM? As that question came into my mind, HE answered them with scripture.

“HE that has MY words, and keeps them, he it is that loves ME: and he that loves ME shall be loved of MY FATHER , and I will love him, and will manifest (reveal) MYSELF to him” (John 14:21).

That verse says two things show JESUS that I love HIM, 1) having HIS word and 2) keeping it.  So, 1st we have to know what HE wants and 2nd we have to do what we know we should do.

The Bible tells us what GOD is like and what GOD wants. “YOUR word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against YOU” (Psalm 119:11).

We can ask GOD what HE wants us to do in specific situations. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge (ask) HIM, and HE shall direct your paths. Don’t be wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7).

GOD says in Deuteronomy 30:11-14 that HIS word of direction for us is not hidden from us, but that the word is very near to us, in our mouths, and in our heart, so we may do it (in other words we will know what we should do).

“For it is GOD which works (places) in you both (the desire) to will (know what to do) and to be able to do that which HE wants done” (Philippians 2:13).

In other words, seek to know what you should do by reading your Bible and asking HIM and then simply do what you know you should do.  When you do that you show JESUS that you love HIM and HE will manifest /reveal to you more about HIMSELF.

Isn’t that wild?

Hugs

Sharon

What does JESUS ask of us?

Way back when I first came to JESUS one song I loved to sing was: Living for JESUS by Thomas o. Chisholm:  “Living for JESUS a life that is true, striving to please HIM in all that I do.  Yielding allegiance glad hearted and free this is the pathway of blessing for me. Oh JESUS LORD and Savior, I give myself to THEE, for THOU in THINE atonement did give YOURSELF for me,  I own no other master, my heart shall be THY throne, my life I give henceforth to live, O CHRIST for THEE alone.”

Yesterday in our Bible study in 1 Timothy we came to 1 Timothy 6:11 and among other things we spoke of how we can obey the command to PURSUE LOVE. We looked up many verses as we cross referenced love in the New Testament.  One verse puzzled several gals.  They wondered how we were to love as JESUS loved us when in the very next verse JESUS spoke of laying down HIS life for us.  The gals thought only physical death and wondered how that applied to them.

Now GOD is love and both GOD the FATHER’s love and GOD the SON/JESUS’ love is shown to us by THEIR personal sacrifice.  They gave up something they treasured for people who mocked them.

GOD is the only ONE who is good (Mark 10:18), therefore we who believe in JESUS and have become GOD’s children (John 1:12) are given GOD the HOLY SPIRIT to live within us. HE, as a river living water (John 7:38-39) flows GOD’s goodness (and HIS other qualities- also called the fruit of the SPIRIT) through us to meet the needs of others around us.

GOD does good to all (Matthew 5:45).  As HIS children we are to follow HIS lead (Matthew 5:48) but that is only possible as we yield to the promptings and warnings of GOD the HOLY SPIRIT who lives within us.  As we choose to listen to HIM and to yield to HIM, HE empowers us to act and feel as GOD wants us to (Hebrews 10:16, Philippians 2:13).

We are commanded, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in CHRIST JESUS:Who, being in the form of GOD, … equal with GOD:But made HIMSELF … no reputation, and took upon HIMSELF the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, HE humbled HIMSELF, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:4-8).

That is what JESUS is basically asking of us, (since most of us living in the USA will not die as martyrs). 

In John 15:12-13 JESUS said, “This is MY commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  That is exactly how JESUS loved us.

Both GOD the FATHER’s love and GOD the SON/JESUS’ love is shown to us by THEIR personal sacrifice of putting others before themselves.  Are you, am I willing to sacrifice thinking of ourselves 1^st so that we can love others as JESUS and GOD the FATHER loved us?  Are we willing to obey the clear directions GOD gives us through HIS SPIRIT (John 16:13)?

That song I learned to sing when I 1^st came to JESUS, I believe HE wants the same for us today.

Something to think about, isn’t it?

Hugs

Sharon

How does it happen?

Do you ever feel like Peter when he went to JESUS and asked, “How often do I have to forgive someone for the same thing, up to 7 times?” (Matthew 18:21 paraphrased). 

JESUS’s response must have blown Peter’s mind, for the LORD answered, “No, not 7 times but 70 times 7” (Matthew 18:22 paraphrased).  Just think how hard that would be.  But that is what JESUS wants.  This is how GOD taught me how to really forgive and the biblical principle to look to JESUS to find out what to do.

One day this person did it again.  He’d done it over and over and it was so wrong and so unfair!  I told the LORD all about it and you know what happened?  It was like GOD switched on a video in living color and I began remembering time after time the LORD forgave me.  I was no longer mad at that person for I forgave him.  I saw how little his offense was compared to the many of mine that GOD had to forgive.  I learned how and was strengthened to forgive by watching GOD forgive me. (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Still in John 15, today I read verse 9.  “As the FATHER has loved ME, I also have loved you: abide in MY love.”

Yesterday I mentioned that to abide means to stay connected/ receive nourishment from.  We abide in JESUS/ stay connected to and are nourished and strengthened by JESUS by meeting with HIM in HIS word and pouring out our hearts to the LORD/ consulting HIM in everything expecting HIS input and direction.  GOD does that by impressing truth in our hearts (Philippians 2:13) and by directing our thoughts (Proverbs 21:1) and remember it will always be in accord with the word of GOD (Isaiah 8:20). 

Now today I saw that I am also to abide in JESUS’ love. How can I abide (be nourished) in JESUS love?  HE tells us how.

“If you keep MY commandments you abide in MY love just as I kept MY FATHER’s commandments and abide in HIS love…This is MY commandment that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no man than this, that HE lay down his life for his friends (put another’s good before his own)” (John 15:10, 12-13).

Just as I was strengthened that day years ago to forgive by seeing how GOD had and continues to forgive me, so I allow HIS love to flow through me as I see what JESUS did for me.  How HE 1^st loved me by laying down HIS life for me (John 15:12-13).

“…beholding (catching a glimpse of) the glory (magnificent character) of the LORD (we) are being transformed (like from a caterpillar to a butterfly) into the same image from glory to glory (little by little as we progressively see JESUS more clearly) by the SPIRIT of the LORD” (2 Corinthians 3:18). 

But what is my part? To abide in JESUS and in HIS love, we need to receive and act on what GOD shows us (Philippians 2:12).  Those things I call the nudges and the little reminders the HOLY SPIRIT gives by bringing Scripture to our minds.

As we abide in JESUS and HIS love, through looking to HIM and doing what HE says, we are being changed into JESUS likeness (Romans 8:29) little by little by the HOLY SPIRIT.  Isn’t that amazing?

Hugs

Sharon

Know ME

GOD says, “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know ME!” (Hosea 6:6 TLB).

What comes into our minds when we think about GOD is the most important thing about us for it affects how we think and act.  There is scarcely an error in doctrine, or a failure in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced back to imperfect and ignoble thoughts of GOD. 

Throughout nature we can look around us and learn many things about GOD (Romans 1:19-20, Psalm 19:1-3).

In 2^nd Peter 1:1-4 GOD tells us that through our knowledge of GOD the FATHER and our LORD JESUS CHRIST (who is the exact representation/ likeness of GOD the FATHER- Hebrews 1:1-3) we obtain faith, grace, peace, all things that pertain to living life and being godly, and great and precious promises that if we use transforms us so that we may participate in the very nature of our LORD JESUS (Romans 8:29) that is the divine nature. 

No, we don’t become gods, but we start thinking and acting like GOD our FATHER and JESUS our LORD and Savior.

We find that knowledge of GOD not just in nature but also in HIS word the Bible.  JESUS said that man can not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of GOD.

 But we need an interpreter to understand GOD’s words (1 Corinthians 2:10-11) for man on his own cannot understand GOD for HIS ways and thoughts are way, way above ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).  So GOD, provided a way for us to know HIM.

For GOD so loved the world that HE sent HIS only begotten so that whosoever believed on HIM would not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16. When we believe in the LORD JESUS CHRIST we become the children of GOD ( John 1:12) and we are given the HOLY SPIRIT as our teacher and interpreter and so much more (John 7:38-39).  The HOLY SPIRIT leads and convicts us so we can grow in our knowledge of GOD and personal holiness.

In GOD’s word HE reveals things about HIMSELF through HIS names.  Let’s just look at a couple truths about GOD revealed in that manner.

GOD is the GOD of all comfort who comforts us in all of our affliction, so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction ( 2 Corinthians 1:3-4).  This name shows us HE will meet us in our affliction and give us answers.  Answers that work, and that enable us to help others that are afflicted.  So as HE comforts us, HE prepares us to help others and become more like HIM.

GOD is the GOD of all hope who will fill us with all joy and peace as we believe in HIM, so that we can overflow and abound with hope by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT (Romans 15:13). 

In dealing with rebellious children there has been time after time when I have felt helpless and hopeless. But, GOD the HOLY SPIRIT reminds me of Nebuchadnezzar.  He was the king of Babylon who, due to his pride, went crazy and had the mind of an animal, and for 7 years lived with the beasts of the field and ate grass.  Then one day GOD brought him back to his senses, gave him back the mind of a man, then when Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged GOD was in control, GOD nudged his counselors to come and place him back in authority as king of Babylon.  He became more powerful than before (see Daniel 4 for more of the story). 

Now if GOD can take an insane king and bring him to a place of wisdom to reign, then HE surely knows how to bring my loved ones to their senses so that they escape the snare of the evil one (2 Timothy 2:25-26).  Nothing is impossible with GOD.  HE is the GOD of all hope.

Tell GOD you want to hear HIM speak and open HIS word and you may be surprised.

Hugs

Sharon

What GOD has never seen

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of GOD; and every one that loves is born of GOD, and knows GOD. He that loves not knows not GOD; for GOD is love (John 4:7-8).

Herein is love, not that we loved GOD, but that HE loved us, and sent his SON to be the propitiation (to pay) for our sins (1 John 4:10) so that we could be forgiven.

GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that whosoever believes in HIM will not perish but have eternal life…..He that believes on the Son has everlasting life; and  he that believes not the SON shall not see life; but the wrath of GOD abides on him (John 3:16, 36) 

JESUS is the lover of my soul.  All of GOD’s love is found IN CHRIST JESUS our LORD and once we have JESUS nothing can separate us from GOD’s eternal love. (Romans 8:39) 

Hugs

Sharon

The proof of love

For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believes in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life John 3:16   He that believes on the SON has everlasting life: and he that believes not the SON shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him John 3:36  

If you shalt confess with your mouth JESUS is LORD, and believe in your heart that GOD raised HIM from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation Romans 10:9-10

hugs Sharon