Faith, Hope, & Love

FAITH= Trust. Faith is putting your trust in something or someone. The only person worthy of your trust is the Lord Jesus. Faith is also allowing yourself to believe the amazing things that were written down for you in the bible. Childlike faith is a good thing.

HOPE=Optimism. Letting go of your fears and look for good things to happen in your future. A new life and home in heaven is our ultimate hope. But hope is also looking for God’s blessings in your life right now so you can recognize them when they happen.

LOVE= Giving. Love is doing something for another, fulfilling a need, helping, and putting someone else’s need before your own. Showing kindness when you don’t feel like it or it is not deserved. Jesus saw what mankind needed. He put our needs before his own. He defined love.

The bible says that these 3 things remain forever. Many things in our lives will change when we finally see God face to face. In fact, the whole earth will change and get a make over. But faith, hope, and love will not need to change. They will endure even in to a future age.

Everything about living on earth tells us to do the opposite of these three. We are told to “trust no one”. So we become fearful of taking a chance on faith. We also conclude that if we expect the worst then we will not be so disappointed in life. We become pessimistic and actually think that we are happier that way. If we listen to the advice that we should take care of ourselves first, allow survival of the fittest, and look out for number one. We may never discover the surprising joys of sacrificial love.

It seems easier to give up and live in negativity. That is the way life on earth pulls us. But faith, hope, and love are what God called us to do. He even said He will help us. That is the life He can work in. That is the mindset that produces a thankful attitude. For you will see what you are looking for. So with God’s help we can be brave and fight the good fight of faith.

1 Corinthian 13:13 Now abideth faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.

He knows MY name!

If you have asked Jesus to come in to your life then you know that you have a home waiting for you in God’s heaven. The bible says that before the earth began He knew who would come to Him. He also knew that you would be born into a world that is full of disappointments.

Yet, for you, He has dotted the earth with glimpses of heaven.
Our dads were meant to be an example of what our Heavenly Father is. Wow, what a huge responsibility for them! But how can they do that unless they had a good dad to learn from? And what dad can ever even come close to being the super dad that our Heavenly Father is? Sometimes our earthly father is so busy that we wonder if he even notices us. Many times our fathers are gone long hours trying to make enough money. Sometimes a dad can say something that really breaks his child’s heart. And some dads actually abuse and hurt their children. Some of us have fathers who have already gone on to heaven, or have a father that we have never even seen. But the bible says that, if you have seen Jesus you have seen your Heavenly Father.

So how can we see Jesus? We see Jesus in the pages of the bible. The bible tells us all about Him. Jesus loved children. He had time for people. He was helpful to them. He fed them. He healed them. He taught them. He listened to them. He encouraged them. He worked with them and he rested with them. And that is what Father God does for us.

For us, Jesus gave up His life on earth. He knew we could not get to heaven. And if He would take the punishment that belonged to all people, then we could follow Him into heaven. He could have said no. But He trusted Father God. And that gave us a wonderful future in God’s family.

Our Heavenly Father will never be too busy for us. He will never be in too big a hurry. He will not forget about us. In fact, He waits patiently for us to call on Him... and if we don’t, He misses us. He thinks we are beautiful. Be- you- T- ful! Nothing we have to say will ever be too small for Him to listen to. He will never leave us. He will never change his mind. He will not punish us, because Jesus has already taken our punishment. He only loves us. And that make us love Him back and want to do everything we can to please Him.

He Knows My Name (by Tommy Walker)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBmtGSuw04Y

I have a maker. He formed my heart.
Before even time began, my life was in his hand.
He knows my name. He knows my every thought.
He sees each tear that falls. And hears me when I call.
I have a father. He calls me his own.
He’ll never leave me. No matter where I roam.
He knows my name. He knows my every thought.
He sees each tear that falls. And hears me when I call.
And hears me when I call. And hears me when I call.

Looking At The World From Every Angle...As It All Comes To One Point!

My Life with My First Love

God gave me life… When I was a child He became my friend. When I got to know Him He became my Father. When I wanted to see what I could do He taught me to fly. When I thought flying made me special He taught me to be still. When my heart longed for love He brought me a marriage. When my lover became my God He sent jealous discontent. When my heart was broken He lifted my head. When my eyes were up He healed my relationships. When I least expected it He grew me a family. When I loved like a parent He showed me his heart. When my children left home He showed me a seed. When that seed was planted He increased our family. When lonely days find me He sends me friends. When friends don’t exist He fills me with music, or romances me with dramas, or thrills me with passions, or adorns me with colors......
When winter assaults me He provides me a nest. When summer is here His world is my playground. When I hate the world He sends dreams of heaven. When I long for heaven He shows me how great life is. When I'm down for the count He invites me to dance. When I dance too fast He leads me to rest. When my tears start flowing He sends me a laugh. When I laugh too long He shows me the needy. When I fulfill a need he sends me great joy. When the sun is too bright He sends me a cloud. When the skies turn gray He leads me to shelter. When I pray through the storm He sends me His peace. When peace turns to fear He is still with me. When panic takes over He waits next to me. When all hope is gone He comforts me there. When my songs are silent He sings to me. When I can’t get up He reaches for me. When I respond to Him He becomes clearer. When I am weak He is yet stronger. When I am strong we run together. We sprint, We leap, We soar together. When I am king we rule together. When I am a pauper He’s my bread daily…Hourly...Now. When I question everything He sends me answers. When I question my hearing He shows me His word. When I engulf in the word He opens my eyes. When my eyes are open I see my neighbor. When I see my neighbor I see the world. When I see the world I feel like a speck. When I am but dirt He sees me as clay. When I am a vessel then He fills me up. When I am full He flows into my world.

God’s Valentine

Precious One… Do you know how very much God loves you? I found these scriptures scattered throughout the bible and there are many more. It is nice to highlight them in your bible so you can find them easily when you are having a bad day. I use a pink highlighter for the love scriptures so I can feel like I am reading a valentine. I know...I can be such a GIRL! I can't help it. There is no love like God's.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his loving kindness is everlasting . Psalm 118:1

I love you just as the Father loves me, live, linger, and enjoy my love. John 15:9

I love those who love me, and those who seek me shall find me. Proverbs 8: 17

Nothing can ever separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:35

This is real love-not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son (to rescue us) 1John 4:10

No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. 1 John 4:12 (be kind to those who hurt you Luke 6:27)

We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5: 5

How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of men take refuge and put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. Psalm 36: 7

Be rooted and grounded deep in God’s love. (like the tallest flowers of a garden) Ephesians 3: 17

Whom the Lord loves He corrects, like father corrects the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3: 12

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

For God so loved the whole world, that He gave us something…(he gave us a way to be reunited with him). That he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will never perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God and everyone who loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God for GOD IS LOVE. Beloved let us love one another. 1 John 4: 7 & 8

Dear One, never let anything take God's place in your heart. 1 John 5:21

His love for us goes on forever! Psalm 118:4

Why we are... DUST IN THE WIND

I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment's gone. All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind
Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea. All we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind, All we are is dust in the wind
Don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky. It slips away, all your money won't another minute buy
Dust in the wind, All we are is dust in the wind

Kerry Livgren, Kansas, Point of Know Return album, 1977)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH2w6Oxx0kQ

Anyone who enjoys this song would also enjoy dusting off their bible and reading Ecclesiastes, Solomon’s depressing rant about the hopeless state of fallen man. This also could have been the song that Adam sang to Eve after they ate the apple. Genesis 3:19 That is when God said, “From dust you came and dust you shall return.”

Yet, death was not part of God’s original plan for mankind. He originally intended us to be rulers of the earth and to live forever. He wanted us to always be in a close relationship with Him. God loves us with an everlasting love as a good Father loves his son. The bible says that He sees us as treasures inside of clay pottery. The fact is that we were the ones that broke fellowship with God by committing treason and falling for a trick of his enemy. Adam and Eve did it, and we do it all the time. We deserve to be forever banished from God’s kingdom. We deserve the death penalty.

God said that all we have to do to be restored to his kingdom is follow his laws. That is what happened throughout the Old Testament. Yet he knows no one can ever do it. Like watching a child try to do something you already know he can’t do. He patiently let man try, so we would realize our limits.

But one man finally did it. Not only did Jesus follow all of God’s laws, he stood up face to face with his enemy and defeated him. After he was filled with God’s spirit he had the strength to resist every earthly temptation the enemy offered, including money, power, and fame. Then He spent the next few years teaching the truth about God’s love and desire for restoration. He exposed lies, took authority over earthly forces like oceans and storms, and annihilated sickness and disease. Then the enemy used mankind to torture his body and Jesus allowed death to take him. But he did not return to dust. He woke up with a body better than any zombie movie you have ever seen. It had been changed into a body that was not made of earthly elements. Jesus used this new body to teach on earth for several more days then He rose up into the atmosphere on his way to God’s kingdom. Think about it, his new body was for earth and heaven, and it defied time and space.

The bible says that we can also receive supernatural bodies. It just depends who we choose as our leader. Is it going to be Jesus, who will bring us into God’s kingdom of unconditional love and acceptance-and where a new mission is waiting for you? Or is it going to be the invisible trick master who slowly destroys you, all the while letting you think that you are the wise one?

God, you are King of the Universe. Most days I feel like I am just a speck of dirt. But I want to know the truth about things. I do not want to be tricked or used by your enemy. Your Holy Spirit has been released on the earth to lead people to find the truth. I want to follow that Spirit only. Open my eyes to the invisible things of God. Help me to believe that I am valuable and important to you as a Dear Son and that I have an amazing future in your kingdom. I declare now that Jesus is my Lord and I intend to follow him. I ask you for your spirit’s help in that endeavor. Be my strength as I fight the good fight of faith. Amen.