Relentless Pursuit

Surely your goodness and unfailing love 

will pursue me all the days of my life.

 Psalm 23:6

God is always pursuing us.  His gentle, unfailing love is always there encouraging us to go in the right direction. No matter how many mistakes or wrong turns we make, he continues to follow us, gently encouraging us back to the right path.  He never gives up on us. All the days of our lives his goodness and unfailing love will pursue us as we grow into his likeness.

Thank you for your unfailing, loving pursuit of us, Lord.  May we, sooner rather than later, respond to that still small voice behind us saying, "This is the way, walk in it."

Your own ears will hear him.

 Right behind you a voice will say,

 “This is the way you should go.”

 Is. 30.21

And I am certain that God,

 who began the good work within you, 

will continue his work 

until it is finally finished

 on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 

Phil. 1:6

Compassionate

The LORD is like a father to his children, 

tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 

Psalm 103:13 (NLT) 

The scripture tells us that God revealed his character to Moses.  And what was the defining characteristic that God revealed about himself? - his unending compassion and mercy.

To truly understand and know God we must understand and know him as he truly is.  If we see him as a judgmental and critical God we will never be drawn toward him.  But, if we come to see him as he has revealed himself to be - our loving father, full of compassion, then we will be irresistibly drawn to him to receive all that he has for us. 

Compassion is defined as: Having a feeling of strong affection for someone. The word has a special focus on mercy toward a person in difficult circumstances and is characterized by unconditional love. To come to understand and feel that God has a strong feeling of affection for you is a life changing experience.  All of a sudden you are no longer alone.  You know someone truly cares about you. 

We can trust a God who cares for us that much.  We don't have a thing to fear. We can freely draw near to him with our whole heart to receive that love, affection, mercy and companionship that we need.  

Open our eyes and hearts, Lord, to see and understand you as you truly are - our loving, compassionate father. 

He revealed his character to Moses.

The LORD is compassionate and merciful,

 slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 

Psalm 103:7-8 (NLT) 

We know how much God loves us, 

and we have put our trust in his love. 

Such love has no fear, 

because perfect love expels all fear. 

1 John 4:16,18 (NLT) 

Consistently Faithful

Jesus Christ is the same 

yesterday, today and forever. 

Heb. 13.8

No matter what we do, God is always moving towards us in love. He always wants the best for us and is sad when we go our own way, but he never abandons us. He just keeps moving towards us in love.

Here is a quote from Brennan Strawn who for twenty years tried to live life his own way resulting in addiction and depression:

In that moment I saw my heart the way God sees my heart.  I saw how much he was grieving for me..that he wasn't disappointed in me but instead was running to me..longing to just be with me and take all of the depression, shame, and guilt away. I felt loved and forgiven for the first time in 20 years.  He took it all away.. all of the pain..all of the things that I had done and the people I had hurt..he took it all.  Now I am filled with joy and love that I never knew existed.*

Lord, help us to see and know you as you really are a God who is not angry with us, but one who is consistently moving towards us in love.  Take away our resistance and let us receive all the love and joy you have prepared for us.

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful,

since he cannot deny himself. 

2 Timothy 2:13 

*To read the rest of the amazing story click here:  Brennan Strawn - see his post for Dec 12

 Listen to a beautiful song: He's Been Faithful

Child of God

For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. 

 Romans 8:16

The greatest awareness we can possess is the settled knowledge that we are truly God's child.  With that knowledge so many things are taken care of.  With God as our heavenly father we experience all the blessings reserved for his children.  

First of all, we experience his great love for us - a feeling of being wanted, accepted and cherished.  With that comes the knowledge that we are protected and safe. No matter what happens, nothing can harm us - we are safe in his arms.  He guides us with wisdom and gives the right answer for every situation.  As a good father he disciplines us that we might grow and become more like him. As we rest in him, all needs are supplied.  

Thank you, Lord, for the realization that I am your child.  As I trust in you, may I experience the peace, rest and joy that are my birthright.

See how very much our Father loves us,

for he calls us his children,

and that is what we are! 

1 John 3:1

Strength

 Your roots will grow down into God’s love

 and keep you strong. 

Eph 3:17 

Foundation is everything.  No matter how beautiful a house may be, if it is built on a shaky foundation it will collapse. If a tree grows in shallow soil, when flood waters rise, it will be washed away.

We have only one foundation that stands firm through every earthquake and flood and that is the love of God.  That love never fails. When we allow our roots to go down deeply into that foundation, we will be kept strong. Nothing can shake us or wash us away.

Help us, Lord, to feel our feet planted on that solid rock.  Help us to envision our roots growing down deep into your love where we will not be shaken.

Let your roots grow down into him,

 and let your lives be built on him. 

Then your faith will grow strong.

 Col 2.7

One Thing Remains

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing remains...

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never, ever, have to be afraid
One thing remains...

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

In death, in life, I’m confident and
covered by the power of Your great love.
My debt is paid, there’s nothing that can
separate my heart from Your great love...

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Click here to listen to the song:  One Thing Remains

The Humanity of Jesus

Image from The Humanity of Jesus, Dr. Dann Spader, sonlife.com

Because God’s children are human beings

—made of flesh and blood—

the Son also became flesh and blood.

 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing,

 he is able to help us when we are being tested. 

 Heb 2:14,18 (NLT)

We think so much about Christ's divinity, not often about his humanity. But, it is Christ, in his humanity, who is our companion in our times of trouble or sorrow.

Because he is human, he feels what we feel. He is our helper and not just one who stands aloof, but one who enters into our suffering with us. He is for us, constantly interceding and pleading for our healing and well-being. Because of his deep empathy for us, he is able to comfort and sustain us. 

Nothing we ever go through will ever be able to separate us from this love. That is why we are exhorted to come without hesitation to him to ask and receive the help we need. He stands ready to come to our aid, to calm our fears and to comfort us with his love.

Who then will condemn us? 
No one

for Christ Jesus died for us
 and was raised to life for us,
and he is sitting in the place of honor
 at God’s right hand,
pleading for us.
Romans 8:34 (NLT)

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, 

for he faced all of the same testings we do.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. 

There we will receive his mercy, 

and we will find grace to help us

when we need it most.

Heb 4:15-16 (NLT)

No power in the sky above or in the earth below

—indeed, nothing in all creation 

will ever be able to separate us from the love of God

 that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 Romans 8:39 (NLT)

Care

 Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow.
 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers

that are here today and gone tomorrow, 

he will certainly care for you. 

 Matthew 6:28, 30 (NLT) 

God cares for us and cares about us.  He is our ally, the one who is always there to help us.  He tells us to cast all of our care upon him because he cares for us.

There are times that we may not feel his love and care.  We may feel alone and abandoned.  But his care is a sure thing.  It never fails.  One of the central characteristics of God is his unfailing love and mercy.  We need to constantly remind ourselves of this fact.  

Why is it sometimes we do not remember?  It is hard to wean ourselves from the idea that we have to take care of ourselves.  We become worried and anxious about things forgetting that God is ready, willing and able at any moment to help us.  It is so hard for us to understand that dependence upon God is not weakness, but strength.  When we depend on his unlimited resources to solve our problems we are so much better off than when we rely on our own limited supply.

Maybe we feel we don't deserve his care because of how we have failed. His faithfulness is far greater than any of our failures.  We read in Nehemiah about how the Israelites failed God, they were proud and stubborn and paid no attention to him.  They refused to obey or recognize all the good things he had done for them and yet he did not destroy them but sustained them.

You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. In your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud still led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night. You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop giving them manna from heaven or water for their thirst.  For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell!  Nehemiah 9:16-21 (NLT) 

Jesus has not abandoned us and left us as orphans (Jn 14.18).  He has sent his holy spirit to be with us and in us.  Let us bring to remembrance the constant and unfailing care of God and turn to him quickly in our time of need. 

He remembers us in our weakness. 

His faithful love endures forever. 

Psalm 136:23 (NLT) 

He Gives More Grace (Click to Listen.)


He giveth more grace when the burden grows greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials
His multiplied peace.

Chorus:
His love has no limit,
His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again!

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

Reminders

Arches National Park

 Let all that I am praise the LORD;

 may I never forget the good things he does for me. 

Psalm 103:2 (NLT) 

It is good to be reminded of God's faithful love for us.  His constant care and love never fail.

• He surrounds me with love and tender mercies. Ps. 103:4

• He fills my life with good things Ps. 103.5

• He is merciful and gracious:  he is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love. Ps. 103.8

• He is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who honor him for he understands how weak we are he knows we are only dust. Ps. 103.13,14

• Your hand will guide me and your strength will support me. Ps. 139.11

Lord,  what a joy to have your unfailing love surrounding us.  If we feel alone, sad or discouraged in this moment let us remind ourselves of who you are and ask for a renewed sense of your presence with us.

Listen to this beautiful hymn:
Love Divine, All Love Excelling

Faithfulness

He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.

 John 1:14 NLT

I am always amazed when I contemplate God's unfailing love.  There is so much in this world that is uncertain.  No human can ever love perfectly.  We all fail in so many ways, but God is absolutely faithful.  

When we look at him and relate to him, we encounter a person of perfect love and compassion. He is one who always understands and sympathizes.  He never gives up on us no matter what we have done or how we have failed.  When thoughts of condemnation or self criticism come in, he brings encouragement and hope. Each time we turn back to him, he is there to receive us with tenderness and love.  God is faithful. 

I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the Lord.

      Hosea 2:19-20 (NLT)

Born to Love

Dear friends, let us love one another,

 for love comes from God. 

Everyone who loves has been born of God

 and knows God because

 God is love.

1 John 4:7 (NIV)

Love is a gift from God.  We cannot create it, will it, or manufacture it but only receive it with grateful hearts.  Whenever we experience love and affection for others we are experiencing God because God is love.  The greatest gift God has given is the ability as his children, born of his spirit, to experience and express his love. 

Things may try to come in to destroy love, but as we allow God to clear our hearts of resentments, love will spring up again. Nothing can destroy love because nothing can destroy God. 

Thank you Father for the gift of love that is born in us by your spirit.  Help us to uncover all the things that hinder your love from springing up in us. Help us to experience and express your love to everyone this holiday season.

No one has ever seen God; 

but if we love one another, 

God lives in us

 and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:12 (NIV)

Loved

See how very much our Father loves us,

 for he calls us his children,

 and that is what we are!

1 John 3:1 (NLT)

The very foundation of all of our service and all of our life is our knowledge of the love of God.  Everything we do springs from this place.  As we gain a deeper understanding and experience of His love, the more effective we will be in every area of our lives.

In the following illustration from Self-Esteem: By God’s Design, Dr. Larry Day asks us to imagine a parent’s love toward their sleeping infant as a fresh reminder of God’s love for us. 

Imagine with me for a moment one of those times in the evening when you tiptoe into your young child’s room to see if they are okay and asleep.  As you stand over your son’s or daughter’s crib and watch them quietly sleeping, you notice how their face looks so calm, peaceful, and angelic.  They look so sweet, innocent, and lovable.  As you gaze down upon that little bundle of humanity, no doubt you begin to experience an amazing assortment of feelings:  love, warmth, pride, awe, tenderness, caring, and concern.

In those few moments of quietness, you don’t see them as the “monster” that did all those things that drive you crazy.  The yelling, crying, fighting, and misbehaving that took place throughout the day fade into the background.  All hassles are set aside as you look at this sleeping form and see a little person.  You feel a deep warm love for them simply because they are there.

Before leaving the room, you feel the strongest urge to pick them up, hold them in your arms, and kiss them softly on the cheek.  But you don’t.  Why not?  Because you don’t want to wake them up and spoil the moment.  You know that as soon as they open their eyes and mouth you will have to deal with their behavior (Doing) and you will lose the enjoyment of their Being.  So you lean over, gently kiss them on the cheek, and quietly leave the room.

I know it is hard for some of you to feel that God really loves you when you have failed and made such a mess of things.  We all think our mistakes, failures, sins, and shortcomings stand as witnesses against us that we don’t deserve to be loved.  We believe God must be fed-up with our bad attitudes and stupid choices, and that that He wants nothing to do with us until we straighten out.

During times like these we need to look at the face of a sleeping child.  Watching them in their simplest and purest human form, can remind us that this is how God sees us.  He came into our bedroom last night, looked down upon us while we were sleeping, and saw us as His child, created in His image, and He deeply loved us. He saw us in our truest humanity – formed from dust, finite and fallen, but bearing His image in our very being – and He loved us for WHO WE ARE and not for what we have or have not done.*

As I meditate upon this illustration I have a sense of God's presence and an confirmation of the truth of his love for me. The message is clear.  I am deeply loved no matter what I do.  Even in the face of all my failings and shortcomings, I am loved and valued just as I am. I don’t have to do anything to be loved.  You and I are valuable not because of what we do, but just because we are the objects of his love.

When we truly assimilate the fact that we are deeply loved by God, that we are completely accepted and forgiven and are recipients of all of his grace and mercy we will be better able to give that same sense of love and acceptance to others.  We will be better able to love others when we have received the depth of God's love into our hearts.

We love because he first loved us.

1 John 4:19 (NIV)

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

  may have power, together with all the saints,

to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--

that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Eph 3:17-19 (NIV)

*Day, Larry G., Ph.D, Self-Esteem: By God's Design. Pg. 35,36

Repentance & Confession

Cactus Garden, Carefree, Arizona

Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 

  Put on your new nature, created to be like God—

truly righteous and holy.

 Eph 4:23-24 (NLT)

Our lives are never free from conflict with our old nature.  Whenever we become stressed, annoyed, tired, etc. we are faced with the temptation to become short or sarcastic and may say unloving things.  We become self-centered, more concerned with our own feelings than the other person.  In those times, it's hard to yield and allow the Holy Spirit to control our attitudes, thoughts, words and actions. 

Our goal is to be like Christ – even-tempered, understanding and gentle. But, because of our human weaknesses we fall short.  Whenever we are not acting in accord with the love of Christ, the spirit within us makes us feel uncomfortable.  When this happens, the only remedy is to turn our hearts toward him (repentance), acknowledge our failure (confession), and ask for his assistance.  He is the only one who can keep us from falling.  

Oh Lord, when I am out of sorts, come through with your sweet spirit to help me control my tongue.  Help me to allow your spirit to live in and through me. When I fall short, may I quickly acknowledge my failure and turn to you.  Help me to learn the art of self-care so that I do not become too hungry, too angry, too tired or too stressed out which leaves me vulnerable to temptation. 

If we claim we have no sin, 

we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 

But if we confess our sins to him, 

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 

and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

1 John 1:8-9 (NLT)

Opportunities

The New Driveway

When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

James 1:2-4 (NLT)

A storm is on the way!  Now we will see if our new driveway will stand the test.

Three Biblical writers (James, Peter & Paul) exhort us to look at the storms and trials of our lives with joy and to endure them with patience because it is storms and trials that provide opportunities for growth and spur us on toward maturity.  Our goal as Christians is to grow into maturity, to grow in love, to grow into his image. 

No matter what comes against us, what difficulties and disagreements we face, trials present for us opportunities. Every test is an opportunity to trust God or to trust in ourselves.  Tests can give rise to opportunities to assert self-will, to become resentful or angry, fearful or anxious.  But they also provide opportunity to throw ourselves completely on God and trust that he will work it for good. 

As we grow we come to realize that no matter what difficulties we face his love will win.  We see that difficulties are the breeding ground for new hope and new love. Every trial becomes an opportunity to surrender our way to God's, to present ourselves as vessels of his love trusting that his love will never fail.

There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT)

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials,

 for we know that they help us develop endurance.

And endurance develops strength of character, 

and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)

Go With the Flow

 

We hiked to the Verde River.

 

 

So where the river flows everything will live.

Ezek 47:9 (NIV)

We are doing some grading work on our property.  Since water always seeks the lowest place, the land has to be carefully sloped so that the water will flow in the right places.  If not controlled properly, it will go where we don’t want it to go, washing out the driveway or pooling around the house.  The test will come this summer when the powerful desert monsoon rains come. 

God’s spirit is like powerful flowing water that cannot be controlled no matter how big our equipment may be.  No matter how we might try to resist, to change its direction or dam it up, it will always break out and continue to flow in its appointed course.

I like to have a schedule.  I often have my day planned, what I want to work on, what I would like to accomplish for the day.   When things don’t seem to happen according to my plan or someone else’s agenda interferes with mine, I become discontent and struggle to divert the flow in my direction.

I am learning it is better to go with the flow.  Our schedule or our agenda may not be what God has planned for our day.  Even things we consider good, things we think God would want us to do, like Bible study or prayer, may get interrupted.  He wants us to be prepared to go with the flow of each day with an attitude of love and joy, praising and thanking him for whatever comes our way. 

The main focus and desire of his spirit is to bring joy, peace and blessing into every low place, every dry place, every place of need.  What a joy to accept each day as it comes ready to bless and give of ourselves to each person God has placed in our path.  God is interested in our plans, but he is most concerned with shedding his love abroad.  His river will continue to flow to the lowest places filling all the empty spots with his love.  As we go with the flow we will be available to provide refreshing living water where ever that river may take us.

 "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 

streams of living water will flow from within him."

John 7:37-38 (NIV)