for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress;
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
Psalm 62:5-7 (ESV)
in the silence, my heart knows He hears.
Some thoughts about Life from the heart of a forgiven Child of God.
Thanks for reading through this.
I hope it gives us all some food for thought.
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Beautiful words
from someone who had been face to face with Jesus. They were written by a man who was so
overwhelmed with his knowledge of Jesus that he continually rehearsed in his
mind the fact that Jesus could love even him.
He often
referred to himself as “the disciple that Jesus loved.”
I truly
believe that it was John’s humility that created those thoughts and words.
John sees
Christ in a special way. John’s words speak of Jesus as “the One who made all
things” and “the light of all mankind.” He speaks of Jesus as “the light that
shines in the darkness” and cannot be overcome by that darkness.
Can you
imagine the way John's heart would pound when he saw our Savior face to face - as he watched Jesus' actions of love for needy people each day? Can your mind picture his confusion and concentration as he heard the words of God from the mouth of this perfect
one?
And finally, can you imagine how he must have felt when Jesus gave him the
responsibility to take care of Jesus’ mother – words from the cross?
John spoke of Jesus as the one
who brought the world to life.
He spoke of what he’d seen and knew.
He spoke of Christ who loved him too.
He spoke of Jesus Christ, “The Light”
whose love shown through the darkest night.
His name!
“Immanuel” “God’s Son” “The King”
His purpose!
“Ransom Payer” “Go-between.”
His Gift!
Eternal life for those who bring
a humble faith in offering.
If I see John, “the one Christ loved”
as a man
who looks like me,
a sinful one in need of love, I cannot help but see
a trait that I must strive to have -
it’s deep humility.
If I see me, in Jesus eyes, as I look to heaven above,
then I can say with John today,
“I’m the one that Jesus loved.”
Using social media we’ve begun to stress emotions through emojis - hearts, smiles, thumbs up, tears, and several pages of little “meaningful” pictures. They truly are a lot of fun, but are they real? Do they picture our true emotions?
When we spend time listening to people, I mean really listening to them, we can truly read their heart’s emotions. And only then might we get an idea of just how we can be a real friend to them.
My friends, I pray that I can always be a real friend to you.
Love, Diane
We pray, "God, thank you for our blessings.” I wonder what we really consider as
blessings when we say those words.
Sometimes
we see them as “blessings” only if they are wrapped in pretty paper, or resulting in things we've wished for, or maybe only if they are clear and definite "yes" answers to our
wants.
The word “Raindrops” sound beautiful, soft and
lovely. But when we use the word “Rain” it has a different sound to us. Like
something a little harsh, like a trial. Let’s explore that a little.
Do you remember reading the book of Job? Job was a good guy. He did what God
wanted him to do. He lived a pretty blameless life. But there was more to the story. Blessings?
Job lost everything. His children and servants were killed, and he lost all his
riches. Soon he was afflicted with sores over his whole body.
Job laid out his complaints to God. But he also asked God to show him where he
had fallen short. He spoke of God’s
goodness, and yet complained about the state he was in. He felt that God wasn’t
listening to him - sometimes we feel the same way. Job just didn’t understand – and that’s the
crux of the matter.
God’s answer set Job back a bit. In Job 38, we read.” Then the LORD spoke to
Job out of the storm. . . In the storm He showed Job that God was God, and Job
was not.
God was laying out for Job a picture of just who he was complaining to,
and then God asked Job to answer Him.
Job didn’t know that God was so
sure of Job’s love that He would allow him to go through these troubles for
another reason. Job didn’t know what blessing was going to be
his. He didn’t know that God was showing Job how to trust Him.The storm helped him grow, and because of it, Job learned more and more about
God and learned that no matter where Job found himself, in the sunshine or the
rain, God can be trusted.
Job's blessings
came through raindrops. This time the rain was a real gully washer, tearing
through Job’s life was a real storm. The rain in Job’s life was a blessing,
even though at the it didn’t feel like it.
A little aside -- Job’s “blessing” is really a blessing
to us. It helps us to know God better. It speaks of an almighty God, a God we
don’t always understand. It also shows that man can have a conversation with God – not a “formal” talk, but a real
conversation. For although God basically
scolded Job for his attitude, He continued to talk with him. He didn’t shut Job out. And in the end, God demonstrated His love for
Job in a very tangible way. We may, in our rainstorm, hear a gentle word from
our Savior saying, may this trial be a way for you to understand Me more.
Oh yes, sometimes in our storms we wonder if He’s
listening - but the Bible tells us that God always hears His children. Yes, sometimes our blessings come through raindrops.
These were just my thoughts after I listened to this beautiful song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKPeoPiK9XE
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
I wonder what Jesus thought and felt during this week prior to His crucifixion and death. He knew what was coming but was still determined to do what He came to the world to accomplish. That week He confronted the merchants, and the pharisees, Judas, and even a fig tree.
He met with his disciples and celebrated the Passover meal with
the twelve. He prayed for the children
given to Him by the Father – His followers.
He also included us in His prayer – the ones who would hear of Him in
the future, have faith in Him and would remain in the world.
I consider and try to imagine the dread Jesus must, (truly
must) have felt. He was a man, after all
and as a man as well as God, He would have had to viscerally dread what He knew
would come. When we read the accounts of
this week, of His suffering, we can’t help but get physically involved as well. If my heart does not ache, if I do not feel my
blood pressure rising, if I can ignore the picture portrayed in the garden, in
the courtyard, before Pilot, then I wonder if I truly understand the depth of
His love.
All this pain, even prior to His actual crucifixion must
have been unbearable – but He did bear it for you, for me, for all the people
who would come, or had gone before.
-----
He might have said -
The night that Satan thought he had me, the night he
planned his victory,
the night his servant Judas kissed me – began my walk to
Calvary.
Rough arms came, reached out, and seized me.
A dear friend drew his sword to fight.
I said “No angry swords are called for.
It has to be this way tonight.”
Oh don't you think I could withstand them at any time if I
should try.
Oh don't you know ten thousand angels would be at hand with
just a cry.
Lead me on the way to Calvary.
We'll take the road together now.
I'll walk along - no need to drag me
for I won't use my heavenly power.
Oh I could call ten thousand angels if I wanted to be free.
But my love for you will keep me silent.
For
I’ve lived to die upon that tree.
As you see the pain and suffering that He endured, may you also see the unbelievable love that He has for each of us.
Love,
Diane
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be sh...