DON'T PLAY IN THE STREET

Maybe the Ten Commandments were written for our protection, like kindergarten rules for grownups.

Obey your Parents- Don’t learn everything the hard way. Follow good advice from people who love you.

Don’t steal- Don’t mistreat others.

Don’t murder- We can all agree on this one.

Don’t lie- Be real. Be yourself, own up. God loves the truth. He doesn’t want us to hide behind lies. The spirit of the Lord leads us to all truth.

Keep a Sabboth- Take a day off? Sure, my pleasure. This is also for our protection. So we don’t become a nation of stressed out workaholics. Wait! Too late. God wants to help you. You are not all alone in this. He knows your needs. Consider the lillies, man.

Do not covet other people’s stuff- Dude, you will never enjoy life if you always have to have the best stuff. Chillax!

No sex outside of marriage- Most people disagree with this one. But I have been married for 28 years and can’t bear the thought of my hubby being with someone else – even before we met. Yes, I can forgive it and get past it, just like God does. But I hate it. In a perfect world I could be his one and only. I guess that was God’s goal, a perfect world.

No other Gods- Well, if you can’t get this right, nothing else in your life will line up either. You will have constant confusion. Put God first and all these things will be added. Once you figure out that Jesus is Lord you will have your heading. Savvy?

Don’t take God’s name in vain- A sign of respect and belief. God says, “Hey! I’m right here. I can hear you”.

No carved images or idols- Wow, he really had to say this? Sad. God is not a thing you can see or possess. He is a spirit. You can only know him with your spirit. Many people are trying to find Him through science, reasoning, and academic proof. When it comes to God, the human mind can only process and confirm what the spirit already knows. Invite Jesus to make Himself real to you in a very personal way. Go ahead. I dare you. Believe me, He knows you better than anyone else. There will be things that only the two of you can share.

LOVE SONGS

There is someone who thinks you are amazing. He loves you more than you can measure. You can’t see this person with your eyes, but you can feel him with your heart.

You know those sweet love feelings that you can get when you hear your favorite song? Songs that say things like…

Girl, you know you are special. You know that I think of you all the time.
I’m yours. I long to be close to you. You are so beautiful.
I can’t help falling in love with you. I will always adore you.
I would die for you.
You are the one and only. I'm the lost and lonely.  Oh its magic when we meet.
Let’s be heart to heart. Heartbeat is a love beat and when we meet its a good sensation.
Let me take care of you. I want to shower you with my love. 
Love everlasting is what you're asking.  Until the twelfth of never I'll still be lovin you.
I'll be there to protect your with an unselfish love that respects you.  I'll be there.

And many more.

We get the message that someday there will be a special boy that will love us this much. But it is a trick because no human can love us as much as we want to be loved. What you feel when you hear songs like this could really be God singing to your heart. It is God’s Holy Spirit that causes those feelings of love in you, and hopes to draw you closer to Him. God can and will use anything in this earth to draw us to him.

We could go and search the whole earth. Try all kinds of exciting things. But will never find a greater love or a greater thrill. And maybe you will meet a wonderful guy someday and get married. But God wants to be your first love . His heavenly love for you will always be bigger than any human love you can find. God’s heart breaks when you ignore Him. Jesus laid down his life so he could have a relationship and a future with you. The bible says that the church is the bride of Christ. What great love!

I invite you to try this…the next time you hear your favorite song take a minute to pray. Ask Jesus if He is speaking to you through the song. Notice how your heart feels after you pray. See if you get happy tears. I bet that you will find that He is the real source of your special love. Go ahead and let yourself fall in love with Him. Sing to Him. Share your secrets with Him. He is the only one you can fully trust with your heart.

Who is your Best Companion?

Who knows you better than anyone else? Who can you talk to when there is no one else around? Who is the best listener when you need to vent your troubles? Who gives you a little extra affection and comfort? Who is always there and never leaves you no matter how much you mess up? Who is not judgmental or demanding? Who loves you unconditionally? Who can you lavish all your love on? Who can you trust with your secrets? Who can’t wait to spend time with you? Who wants to go on long walks and share life with you? Who wishes to rescue you? Who would love to teach you the hidden secrets of a restful, peaceful life?

It’s God. Jesus did the work of our rescue. The Holy Spirit is our companion and comfort. Invite Him to show you his unconditional love today. Call upon the name of the Lord, Jesus.

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.