A New Look at God's Love Chapter, 1 Corinthians 13

I took a new look at God's love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, this morning. To love other people the way God does, it may be good idea to follow His description of love and make some commitments:

Love never gives up . . . How about committing to be patient?

Love cares more for others than for self . . . How about committing to be kind?

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have . . . How about committing not to be jealous or envious?

Love doesn't strut . . . How about committing to esteem others above ourselves?

Doesn't have a swelled head . . . How about committing to lay down our pride?

Doesn't force itself on others . . . How about committing not to be rude?

Isn't always "me first" . . . How about committing not to be self-seeking?

Doesn't fly off the handle . . . How about committing to deal with our anger in healthy ways?

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others . . . How about committing not to keep a record of wrongs?

Doesn't revel when others grovel . . . How about committing to take captive our evil thoughts and turn them over to Jesus?

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth . . . How about committing to seek the truth?

Puts up with anything . . . How about committing to the sanctity of life?

Trusts God always . . . How about committing to remain surrendered to God?

Always looks for the best . . . How about committing to focus on the positive?

Never looks back, but keeps going to the end . . . Because God's love never fails, how about committing not to fail others, but when we do, rely on God's grace and mercy to cover a multitude of sins?

Dear Jesus,

We love because you first loved us. We are asking you to strengthen us by your Holy Spirit-not a brute strength-but a glorious inner strength that You will live in us as we open the door and invite you in. And we ask You that with our feet planted firmly on Your love will be able to take in with all of Your followers the extravagant dimensions of Your great love. Help us to reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives in the fullness of God and love others the way you love us. Your love changes people. In your precious name we pray. Amen.

*photo courtesy of christianphotos.net

It's All Right to be Human

"You human," two year old Aleson said. At first, I didn't quite understand, but as she twirled her mermaid doll, Ariel, around in her hands and repeated, "You human," I finally got it. I am a human as opposed to Ariel who is a mermaid. Little Miss Aleson is exactly right.

Sometimes this truth frustrates me, however, but my humanity never takes God by surprise. He understands who I am and why I do the things I do. He reminded me the next morning in my quiet time when I opened my Jesus Calling devotional. The very first sentence was in bold letters: IT'S ALL RIGHT TO BE HUMAN. Yes, it is all right for my mind to wander when I'm praying. He even forgives me when I worry needlessly and comforts me when I grieve.

I loved the promises in the last paragraph of my devotional that day the best: "As you live in close contact with Me, the Light of My Presence filters through you to bless others. Your weakness and woundedness are the openings through which the Light of the knowledge of My Glory shines forth. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7) My strength and my power show themselves most effective in your weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

O Jesus, You have said to me that your grace--your favor, loving-kindness, and mercy--are enough for me. Your grace is sufficient against any danger and will enable me to bear any trouble with God confidence. You have promised that my strength and power are made perfect in weakness. For when I am human and weak, Your power rests on me. Amen!

*Personal photo of my precious little cousin Aleson.

The Refiner's Fire

I love the picture of God as the refiner. The Father sends the Holy Spirit, the flame (Acts 2), to perfect his saints in holiness. Our Lord knows the value of the refiner's fire. And when we learn how it's done we discover even more how much he loves us.

It is with the most precious metal that the refiner takes the most pains. God's children are most precious to him, he sent his Son to die for them. The refiner subjects the metal to the hottest of fires, because such fires melt the metal, and only the molten mass releases its alloy or takes perfectly its new form in the mold. He never leaves his crucible, but sits down and tends the fire ever so carefully. At the perfect time and heat the dross floats to the top and he skims it off. He then can look into the purified metal and see himself, and puts out the fire.

I found this poem that I want to share from my Streams in the Desert devotional about the One who shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver (Mal. 3:3).

He sat by a fire of seven-fold heat,

As He watched by the precious ore,

And closer He bent with a searching gaze

as He heated it more and more.

He knew He had ore that could stand the test,

and He wanted the finest gold

To mould as a crown for the King to wear,

Set with gems with a price untold.

So He laid our gold in the burning fire,

Tho' we fain would have said Him 'Nay,'

And He watched the dross that we had not seen,

And it melted and passed away.

And the gold grew brighter and yet more bright,

But our eyes were so dim with tears,

We saw but the fire--not the Master's hand,

And questioned with anxious fears.

Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow,

As it mirrored a Form above,

That bent o're the fire, tho' unseen by us,

With a look of ineffable love.

Can we think that it pleases His loving heart

To cause us a moment's pain?

Ah, no! but He saw through the present cross

The bliss of eternal gain.

So He waited there with a watchful eye,

With a love that is strong and sure,

And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat,

Than was needed to make it pure.

O dear Jesus,

My life is in your hands. I know it hurts sometimes, but I do desire to be purified. I need not fear, for you have redeemed me. You have summoned me by name. I am Yours. When I pass through the waters, You will be with me; and when I pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over me. When I walk through your refining fire, I will not be burned; the flames will not set me ablaze. For You are the Lord, my God, the Holy One of Israel, My Savior (Isaiah 43:1-3). You want the best for me. I praise you Lord, for your ways are mysterious and wonderful. I love you with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. In your precious name I pray. Amen.

Photo courtesy of http://www.christianphotos.net/

Listening Prayer

A "Listening Prayer" caught my eye in the journal I'm using. It's by A. W. Tozer, one of my favorite theologians. He said to . . .

Retire from the world each day to some private spot . . .

Stay in the secret place till the surrounding noises begin

to fade out of your heart and a sense of God's presence envelopes you . . .

Listen for the inward Voice till you learn

to recognize it . . . Learn to pray inwardly every moment.

What does it take to retire from the world each day to a private spot? For me, it took disciplined Bible Study to get me started. Now that I'm hooked on listening for the inward Voice, even though it's a fight some times, it's hard for me to go a day without retreating into God's presence.

Thinking about the wonderful, countless benefits of disciplined study makes me wonder why discipline gets such a bad rap. Is it because we don't like being forced? Or are we just lazy? It's a little of both, don't you think? On top of being stubborn and like sloths, we humans can conjure up more excuses as to why we don't have time for God than a pine tree has needles.

But if we do take the time to listen for His still small voice, the Holy Spirit will step in and teach us how to recognize God's voice and pray inwardly every moment. He promises to guide us into all truth and will bring glory to Jesus by taking what is Jesus' and make it known to us (John 16:12-15). In that private place there are unthinkable treasures to be found. Won't you join me as I fight off all of the excuses and distractions and carve out some time for listening prayer today?

photo courtesy of Christianphotos.net

Are You Caught in a Crab Bucket?

Crab fisherman have long known they don't need to put a lid on their crab bucket, as long as there is more than one crab. When there are several crabs in the bucket, if one tries to crawl out, the other crabs grab hold and pull it back down. Some call it the Crab Bucket Syndrome.

Some of us desire to climb above, raise our standards and improve ourselves, but Satan, and those who belong to him, act like crabs in a bucket. They do everything in their power to destroy the ambitions of those who wish to better themselves. Sadly, these grab and hold techniques often work among us humans, too.

As Christians, it's often our thoughts that catch us, put us in a bucket. What crabs are holding you back from improving your life? These crabs come in thoughts like

• I don't have any time to spend with God and his word today.


• Does God really hear my prayers? It seems like he's not answering.


• Living the Christian life doesn't pay-off here on earth.


• Things will never change for me, anyway.

Faithful Christians pray and believe God no matter how they feel or what things look like. Don't let these crabby negative thoughts keep you in a bucket of mediocrity. Therefore, my dear friends, continue to work out your salvation every day with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13). How do we work out our salvation? Follow Paul's advice that follows these verses in Philippians. Do everything without complaining or arguing (boy, that's a tough one), so that we can become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which we shine like stars in the universe.

Start shining today and escape the grabs, the holds, and the bucket.

The ABC's of Listening Through His Word

I hope you have the privilege of a spiritual mentor/mother like I do. If you don't, pray and ask God for one. Then open your eyes and look for her. She may be right in front of you. She'll tell you things like, "Get a new Bible every few years. Then God can speak to you in fresh new ways, instead of through those same old underlined verses and notes." My spiritual mom is my 83-years-young Sunday School teacher. While studying Psalm 119 last Sunday, which is an acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet, she challenged our class to find a Bible verse for every letter of our alphabet. God spoke to me volumes through this exercise and encouraged me in ways only he can. Here are my results:

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9 (NIV)

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. John 14:11 (KJV)

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison and test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10 (NIV)

Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee. Deuteronomy 16:17 (KJV)

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15 (NIV)

God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. Psalm 89:7 (KJV)

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4 (NIV)

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NIV)

Jesus answered and said unto them, "This is the work of God, they ye believe on him whom he hath sent. John 6:29 (KJV)

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3 (KJV)

Lord, thou has been our dwelling place in all generations. Psalm 90:1 (KJV)

Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling. 2 Corinthians 5:2 (NIV)

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. Revelation 21:27 (NIV)

On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:16 (NIV)

Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1 (NIV)

Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth. Psalm 119:88 (KJV)

Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous; and praise his holy name. Psalm 97:12 (NIV)

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Psalm 100:1 (NIV)

The LORD is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 (NIV)

Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. Psalm 25:1 (KJV)

The Voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD is majestic. Psalm 29:4 (NIV)

We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)

EXalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy. Psalm 99:5 (NIV)

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:18 (NIV)

Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness. Isaiah 1:27 (NIV)

photo courtesy of flickr.com

What is the secret to hearing the voice of the Lord?

The strange scene at the beginning of the book of Ezekiel holds a secret as to how we can get the voice of the Lord and the ability to hear it. Ezekiel 1:25 says, "And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings." Just like a bird resting on a branch, the secret is found in the fact that for the angels to let down their wings they must be still.

For my 2010 jubilee year (this year I turned the big 50) the Lord prompted me to take a sabbatical to rest and heal from the trauma of 2008-09. Since the new year broke, God has repeatedly sent me the message to "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10. He sends me this message over and over through e-mails, in the various devotions I read, through reading other's blogs, and many other ways. If it doesn't come up in my heart, He manages to get it before my eyes at least every other day. Last Wednesday was the most creative and made me smile. Driving home from meeting with a friend, I managed to get behind a Honda CRV from close to my home in Florida. I couldn't believe my eyes. There on their tire cover were the words big and bold--BE STILL AND KNOW! Have you ever in your life seen those words on a tire cover?

Then today I read a beautiful poem my Streams in the Desert Devotional:

Be still! Just now be still!

Something thy soul hath never heard,

Something unknown to any song of bird,

Something unknown to any wind, or wave, or star,

A message from the Fatherland afar,

That with sweet joy the homesick soul shall thrill,

Cometh to thee if thou canst but be still.

Be still! Just now be still!

There comes a presence very mild and sweet;

White are the sandals of His noiseless feet.

It is the Comforter whom Jesus sent

To teach thee what the words He uttered meant.

The willing, waiting spirit, He doth fill.

If thou would'st hear His message,

Dear soul, be still!

O Dear Jesus, I understand you want me to be still, otherwise you wouldn't send me your message over and over. Thank you for sending the Comforter to teach me what the words you uttered while here on earth meant. I am willing. I am waiting. I trust you to fulfill and heal me to shine like a star in the universe as I hold out the word of life (Phil. 2:15-16). Speak to my listening heart, Lord. Yes, speak to my listening heart. I have made up my mind to cease striving and be still. Amen.

Picture courtesy of Flickr.com by Stephie 189