Tag Archives: God’s Love

Posted on

The Love of Christmas

by

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”  1 John 4:7-11

As a father and a grandfather, I love my children and grandchildren.  If there is ever a time when I am called to give up my life to save theirs, there would be no hesitation.  Yet, as devoted as I am to my family, my love for them is imperfect.  The problem is not a lack of affection, but rather that I am a fallible human…I sin, I err, and I fail.  Lest I feel totally hopeless, God continues to provide His perfect example for me to learn from.

Continue Reading »

Posted on

Belonging to God

by

The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all it contains, You have founded them.  Psalm 89:11

I spent most of the last two days driving.  It’s not something I do easily, but God was gracious in providing the needed strength and endurance.  Knowing that I would be traveling and my time would be limited, I was considering what I would write about this week.  As I drove, the song “I am Yours” started playing.  It echoed the quote from Charles Spurgeon that I shared earlier in the week and is shown at the top of this post.  The common theme was not lost on me.  Given the calamity due to hurricanes, earth quakes, threats of war, prayer requests, etc., it seemed appropriate to consider the concept that we belong to God and what that means.

Continue Reading »

Posted on

Thoughts From the Beach Pt. 1

Praise the Lord Oh My Soul

by

“Praise the Lord, my soul.  Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.”  Psalm 104:1

My wife and I are currently on vacation staying in a seaside condo.  We determined a few years ago that we are “beach people”.  We like to see and visit other places, but our first love is a seaside beach.  Marie grew up by the ocean in New England.  I was inland; consequently, my only encounter with the ocean was an overnight stay in Daytona while on a college choir tour.  She was excited to get me to the ocean and once there I was hooked.  At dinner last night we were talking about that fact.   As we talked while eating seaside, Marie observed that it is quite possible that I love the ocean more than she does.  I agreed stating that trips to the ocean are as much or more about my soul than rest and relaxation.

Continue Reading »

Posted on

The Father’s Love

by

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?  Psalm 8:3-4

Chronic illness can be lonely.  When severe enough, it often leads to isolation either because we are not able to get out or because we just don’t feel up to the task mentally.   However, isolation is not limited to illness.  Personal tragedy, loss or grief can also lead to isolation whether it is circumstantial or self-imposed.  When we do not sustain a close relationship with God to guard our souls and do not maintain connections with godly people who challenge us and draw us out of our isolation, it’s easy to let feelings of insecurity and doubt take center stage in our thoughts and erode our faith in God and man.  It causes our world to darken and makes our future seem bleak.  We often feel small, insignificant and of little value…we may even feel abandoned.  In those moments, we need to consider the answer to the question posed in Psalm 8:3-4.

Continue Reading »

Posted on

Pressing On

by

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  1 Peter 1:3-5

Do you ever have days when you just can’t function?  Today is one of those for me.  It’s cold and I feel it to the bone.  My body rebels against any movement and my mind is just as sluggish.  I know from experience that it will pass and that there will be better days, but today I don’t feel like I’m much use to anyone and wonder if there’s really and value in trying to do anything.  After all, doesn’t Ecclesiastes tell us that all is vanity?  At times like this, I have to keep plodding until the fog lifts and, in the meantime, remind myself that the truth of the situation is much different.  Today’s necessity is to focus on the fact that it’s worth the effort to endure and that’s what the passage above does for me.  It reminds me…us… that we are valued, have purpose and that there is a reward for our efforts.

Continue Reading »

Posted on

Hope

by

My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.  On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.  Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.  Psalm 62:5-8

As I sat to write this week’s post, I must admit that while I generally knew where I wanted to go with the topic, I was at a loss as to how to start.  For inspiration I decided to search for a definition of hope. 

Continue Reading »