Valentines Day

Cards, hearts, flowers, candy, and martyrdom.

I thought I'd write a lighthearted post on Valentine's day.  But when I started looking into the history of it, I found, not a beautiful, pleasant picture, but confused stories giving several accounts of a saint named Valentine.  

Some accounts tell us that St. Valentine was a Roman priest and a physician.  He is supposed to have been killed during the persecution of Christians by the emperor Claudius II in about the year 270.  There are other "Valentines" that people have named as the person to whom February 14 is connected.  At least one of those men was supposed to have been martyred as well.

For myself, I prefer not to dwell on the martyrdom, or to think of the "cards, hearts, flowers, and candy."  I prefer to dwell on the fact of love - not just romantic love as the holiday has evolved into, but the love of our God.  

The only reason there is real love in this world is that God himself IS love.  It is so cool that the creator of this world IS what His creation needs.  

God showed His love to me today

in fluffy clouds and new mown hay,

in mountain's towering peaks that rise

from gentle plains, to ice blue skies.

Flowers shouting loud and clear - 

their colors bright with dew drop's tear,

and tall green trees that wave, and sway

in summer breeze - they boldly say,

"God's showing love to you today."

Cold clear streams that leap and roar 

and soothe a throat that's dry and sore --

in all these things my heart can say

"God's showing love to me today."

In gentle hands that help and bear

and tears that come from hearts that care,

in family's love and loyalty

God shows his mighty Love to me.

In words that come from deep within

the loving heart of a dear friend,

a pat, a hug, a tender touch

that says, "I love you, oh so much."

We see in each amazing way 

God show HIS awesome love each day

"This is love: not that we loved God, 

but that he loved us 

and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

1 John 4:10 (NIV)

Mature?

In the garden God created a man and a woman.

In the garden He made them 

man and woman,

not boy and girl.

No baby steps here - fully grown - fully made - Yes!

Genesis 1:31 "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good."

It was very good indeed.

And yet, the woman and man fell for the lies of the devil.  They fell for the twisted words, the enticing fruit, they fell for the dream of being like God - knowing everything.   

They were grown, but being grown does not always equate to being wise, or mature.

In the Bible, 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul is writing to a young leader.  He uses the words, "Don't let anyone despise your youth..."  We can make much of this, saying that age has nothing to do with a person's ability to understand and teach the Word of God.

I agree.  Age does not, but for the most part, maturity does.  And as Paul continues the sentance, he says "set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love and in purity."  Those actions are cultivated over the years of one's life - hopefully.  

There is always a "but," because we also learn from those we want to learn from - children as well. 

Jesus specifically brought children to Himself.  He said that the Kingdom of God is like them - like those innocent and trusting children.

A flower begins as a seed, and then a bud, it becomes more and more beautiful as it ages, so a follower of Christ can become.  As a Christ Follower is warmed by the Son of God, fed by the Holy Spirit and watered by the Word, she will become beautiful and healthy.  That person will be a blessing to others.  She will give healthy food and a beautiful aroma to those she touches.

My prayer as I age is that I will "smell good" to those around me.

Love Diane

Mercy Is!

 Micah 6:6-8 (NLT)

What can we bring to the Lord?

    Should we bring him burnt offerings?

Should we bow before God Most High

    with offerings of yearling calves?

Should we offer him thousands of rams

    and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?

Should we sacrifice our firstborn children

    to pay for our sins?

No, O people, 

the Lord has told you what is good,

    and this is what he requires of you:

to do what is right, to love mercy,

    and to walk humbly with your God.

I recently spent some time wondering just how those scripture verses in Micah applied to Christ followers in our world.  
It seems that the word "Mercy" is used in different ways in the Scriptures, but one of the most moving to me is that "Mercy" seems to be connected with "God NOT doing something." 

The mercy of God is ultimately shown in His forgiveness - in God NOT punishing us for our sins, for the way we let him down, and the way we lack true obedience.  God doesn't punish his followers, his children, as they deserve - He forgives.  

God paid the price for our failures.  

The Latin word merced or merces - translated as Mercy, means "price paid." It has the connotation of forgiveness, benevolence and kindness. 

Mercy from God says that He acts gently and kindly towards his children.

So if we look at it that way, we see what this Mercy is.

It is God not giving us what we deserve. 

And that's a very humbling thought.  

In Micah 6, the people are being told that loving mercy is truly understanding our own sinfulness.  He says, "the Lord has told you what is good," stressing our dependence and station as created children of the God of the universe.  

The God of the Universe!  This is the one and only God who has so graciously forgiven, loved, and gifted us with his help and compassion.

How can we do anything other than walk humbly before Him?

We lay our sin-filled lives before you

with eyes downcast, almost afraid. 

We seek You Father, King, Creator,

dejected, daunted and dismayed.

We know you've promised not to leave us

even when from your path we've strayed.

So

We ask for Grace and Mercy from you,

And with a gentle touch you tell us 

My Child, my love, your debt is paid.

“How Deep The Father's Love For Us” is a timeless hymn from British songwriter and Christian worship leader, Stuart Townend.

This song seems like it must have been with us forever, but it was just  written in 1995.  Mr. Townend has written many songs used in Christian worship.  This one, however, stands out to me as more than a normal hymn: it's a sermon.  This song/sermon  tells us the real truth about God and His love, and it speaks of the price that He paid for our sins.  The words denote true worship, focusing on Him primarily, and focusing on us as recipients of God's love, His sacrifice, and His grace. You'll want to click on the link below to hear the words.

How deep the Father's love for us

The song tells of the sacrifice of God's only Son as proof of His great love for mankind.

I can't quote the entire song here, but the words create in me deep feelings of regret and sadness for the pain my sin has to have caused our Father, but they also inspire feelings of tremendous gratitude for this sacrifice.  

The lyrics end with that sacrifice.

"His wounds have paid my ransom."

We can continue to thank God for the ministry of this writer and pray that God will continue blessing us with the thoughts and music that come from Mr. Townend's heart.

Next week I'll be talking about sacrifice - I wonder what thoughts will show up in my scripture reading time.  God has so much to tell us.

 

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

Right now I'm wondering about the God who is so powerful that He can control the stars, the sun, the wind and the water.  Why would He ever want to come down to my level and care for me.  

Why would the God who created the world, bend down and breathe life into His created man?  It seems so strange that God would bend down from the heights of heaven for someone so small and so helpless as man.

Soon I'll be spending time studying with a group of ladies, the lessons by Beth Moore, called "Chasing Vines."

I cheated and began reading the student book.  The first pages I read brought thoughts of God's work in creating mankind.  He made man out of the dust of the ground - out of dirt.  That's a picture that hadn't come to mind for me in the past.  "Out of Dirt."  

Thinking of the value of dirt in growing living things, I'd be interested to know what picture that brings to your mind.

But for now - 

We're told of the God who is King of the earth.

and we picture His majesty, power and worth.

We speak of His glory, 

We're awed by the sight.

We speak of His infinite knowledge and might.

Yes, 

Over all things He's master.

Over all things He reigns.

He's Lord of the universe and all it contains.

But 

That God of the universe made you and me.

And in order to know Him, His love I must see.

Not only the majesty, power and worth,

But His care and compassion for the children on earth.

"How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings." Psalm 36:7  (NIV)

He is so good.

  Happy New year 2023.

I didn't think I'd make it to 2023.  Years ago I thought 2010 might be stretching it.  But dear friend, we did, and I truly  don't want to miss what God has ahead for me, for all of us - and yet, sometimes I fear it.  Don't you?

Sometimes I feel more than a tiny bit afraid of what this year will bring, but the word I hear within my fear is - TRUST!

I heard the song again this morning,  "Trust His heart." sung by Cynthia Clawson.  You can find it on YouTube.  It really says what I wish for all of us.  "When you can't see His hand, trust His heart."

Can you do that, can you trust God's heart?  I believe you can - and I can.  He's proven time and again that He is powerful, He's just, and He's good and loving enough to be trusted.

When you sit on a chair, you may believe it will hold you.  

But,

when you reach for the Savior, 

you know His arms will enfold you.

When you're tired of the day, with its sin on display,

When your thoughts circle round and the sleep is not found. 

Then there's only one way to end every day 

Only one word brings sleep on the way

Only one God

Trust Him.

Is Christmas Over?

Another Christmas has come and gone Let's talk of what we’ve seen. 

      The angels sang of Jesus birth, 

announcing peace to all the earth. 

Shepherds ran to see the son, 

the promised, long awaited one.

We stop to ponder Jesus birth and sing of glorious peace on earth, we praise the baby in the hay and pause to celebrate the day - 

and then we pack it all away.

 The trees and lights and treasures fair, we put the crèche with Jesus there. And for one more year we put away the trappings of that special day. 

But, if we this year instead, take Jesus from his manger bed 

and see the holy life He led,

then watch the Son of God and see Him die upon that cursed tree. 

If we do -

then Christmas might be just the start 

of Jesus living in our hearts. 

Has this season of concentrating on the birth of my Savior made a difference? Tomorrow, when I start to “undecorate” my house, I will not be putting Jesus away for another year. This year, as I looked at Christ’s birth in a different way, I found so much more about God to worship and to love. He will not be living in a box in the attic; he will be living in my heart. 

We read in Galatians 2:20  

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.