Tuesday, March 24, 2009

66 Reasons I Love Jesus (Part Two--New Testament)

I love Jesus because . . .



40. He listed even the questionable women in his genealogy and adopted me, a questionable woman, as his daughter. (Matthew)
41. He gave his life as ransom for me. (Mark)
42. He blesses me and favors me highly. (Luke)
43. He teaches me about true spirituality. (John)
44. He fills me with the power of the Holy Spirit. (Acts)
45. He reveals the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. (Romans)
46. He offers solutions to my problems. (1 Corinthians)
47. He made me an ambassador. (2 Corinthians)
48. He provides me with the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians)
49. He blesses me in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians)
50. He is the source of my joy. (Philippians)
51. He strengthens me with all power according to his glorious might. (Colossians)
52. He sanctifies me through and through. (1 Thessalonians)
53. He is coming again to get me. (2 Thessalonians)
54. He encourages me and instructs me. (1 Timothy)
55. He makes me into a vessel of noble purposes. (2 Timothy)
56. He guides me on how to live the good Christian life. (Titus)
57. He demonstrates his power and true Christian fellowship in my life. (Philemon)
58. He clearly presents his sufficiency and superiority. (Hebrews)
59. He gives me good and perfect gifts from above. (James)
60. He offers encouragement when I suffer. (1 Peter)
61. He helps me to grow in my Christian life. (2 Peter)
62. He assures me that I know I have eternal life. (1 John)
63. He warns me about deception. (2 John)
64. He loves me in the truth. (3 John)
65. He is able to present me before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy. (Jude)
66. He is my soon and returning King. (Revelation)

Hope you enjoyed part two of the 66 reasons I love Jesus and PLEASE take them as your own. He is worthy of all of our love, honor, and praise.

Always Listen, Susan

Monday, March 16, 2009

66 Reasons I Love Jesus (Part One--Old Testament)

A listening heart learns to love God with all of her (or his) heart, soul, mind and strength. And when you study Scripture using the “listening heart”* method there is a place to list your reasons to love God more.

This morning I became inspired to list the reasons I love Jesus from each book of the Bible. Today’s blog entry will cover the Old Testament. I hope this list inspires you to get alone with Jesus and make your own list of reasons you love Him.

1. He created me in his image. (Genesis) Wow!
2. He set me free from bondage. (Exodus)
3. He is holy and made me holy. (Leviticus)
4. He is faithful, even when I fail. (Numbers)
5. He prepares me to claim my inheritance. (Deuteronomy)
6. He shows me how to claim victory and my inheritance in Christ. (Joshua)
7. He blesses my obedience, even though I live in a world where everyone does as they see fit. (Judges)
8. He redeemed me. (Ruth)
9. He speaks to me, his servant who listens. (1 Samuel)
10. He gives me examples of people like David, who mess up like I do and remain a man (woman) after God’s own heart. (2 Samuel)
11. He teaches me about leadership by sharing the contrast of good and bad leaders. (1 Kings)
12. He guides me in what not to do. (2 Kings)
13. He organizes my life. (1 Chronicles)
14. When I pray humbly, he hears me, forgives me, and heals me. (2 Chronicles)
15. He restores me when life crumbles around me. (Ezra)
16. He rebuilds walls of protection that the enemy destroys. (Nehemiah)
17. He providentially protects me at all times. (Esther)
18. He helps me understand that some questions don’t have answers. (Job)
19. He provides me with songs in the night. (Psalms)
20. He reveals the path of wisdom and life. (Proverbs)
21. He convinces me that with him, life is worth living. (Ecclesiastes)
22. His love for me is perfectly beautiful. (Song of Songs)
23. He made my scarlet sins as white as snow. (Isaiah)
24. He bid me to return so I could escape judgment. (Jeremiah)
25. His compassions never fail; they are new every morning. (Lamentations)
26. He is my glorious Lord and is worthy of reverence. (Ezekiel)
27. He directs the forces of nature, the destiny of nations, and the care of his people. (Daniel)
28. He is devoted to me despite my unfaithfulness. (Hosea)
29. He repays the years the locusts have eaten. (Joel)
30. He is my plumb line. (Amos)
31. He pays back those who harm his people. (Obadiah)
32. He disciplines those who belong to him. (Jonah)
33. His requirements are simple: to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with him. (Micah)
34. He completely destroys his enemies. (Nahum)
35. He asked me to write down his revelations. (Habakkuk)
36. He quiets me with his love and rejoices over me with singing. (Zephaniah)
37. He encourages me to complete the work I start. (Haggai)
38. He reminds me, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty.” (Zechariah)
39. He listens when I talk with other sisters and brothers about him, and records it on a scroll of remembrance. (Malachi)


*If you are interested in receiving a Pure Listening Bible Study Guide, please contact me.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Lost Your Song?

He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
Psalm 40:3
Are you as tired as I am of hearing about the doom and gloom of our country? It is enough to make you want to crawl into a cave and hibernate until this season passes. But if we belong to God, we can expect times of refreshing. Times when he gives us a new song to sing. Many will hear it and won't believe that it's possible to live with a song in your heart in these days and times. God's song in your life will cause people to accept his gift of salvation and trust in the LORD.
I desire to pray and thank God for the songs he has given me in the past and ask him for new ones. Only with God is it possible to live in a dark and dreary world triumphantly.
Dear Jesus,
Please place your new song in my mouth and into the mouths of my readers. We are tired of being beat down by constant bad news. Thank you for the many times you have given us songs to sing so far. Spark our passion into a flame for seeing your lost ones saved. Like you promise, use your songs as a witness to others so they may see and fear and put their trust in you. We love you Lord with all we possess. In your precious name we ask all of these things.
Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.
Psalm 40:5

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

PS on March 2 Blog Entry

When I needed God's help again this morning (Isaiah 30:18), I thought about the abounding graciousness of our mighty God. Don't you just love how even a rebuke like in Isaiah 30 is full of awesome promises? Here is one more:

"How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you" (Isaiah 30:19).

GOD IS GREAT!

Monday, March 2, 2009

How do we get from here to there?

The LORD will cause men to hear his majestic voice.

Isaiah 30:30


How to get from here to there represents a universal dilemma. We all want to know if we are doing it right, heading in the right direction, and pursuing the right purpose. But how do you really know? After struggling with this quandary for years, I have finally come to the conclusion that I don't know and never will without hearing his majestic voice. He causes me to hear him by putting me in places that are completely out of my control, like when my aging, diabetic father, who depends on me for help, remains noncompliant of doctors orders. No matter how many times I tell him (and the doctor tells him) the importance of taking medications properly and on time, he still does it his way. I get so frustrated, I just want to scream!
I then have to wave the flag of surrender and say, "Lord, I give up. I can't do this on my own. Please speak to my heart and tell me what to do next." I re-visit old promises like the one in this same chapter of Isaiah that says, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21).
But I know I can never take promises in God's word out of context. The Lord is rebuking Jerusalem in Isaiah 30. Their only hope was to repent, return to the Lord, and by faith rest only in him, but they refused to listen to his voice and obey. It works the same for me. I have to repent from my attempts to control those around me, especially my family and by faith rest only in God. I'll get there all right, as long as I come to him first, before I get aggravated.
So the Lord must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for his help.
Isaiah 30:18 (NLT)