Love-Gifts

Have you ever thought about the many gifts that love brings?

Of course, GOD's love brings gifts beyond measure but I'm speaking of HUMAN love. When we let love reign in our actions, words, thoughts and attitudes, many wonderful and beautiful things happen...




...like patience, humbleness and forgiveness. Like kindness, gentleness and mercy. Some of these, in and of themselves, are often difficult things to practice. But graced with the oil of love they become easy and even pleasureable. Why do we shy away from them?

There are no limits nor barriers to the many-faceted graces of love. Love is given AND received by the unloved and unlovely, makes both parties more beautiful in each other's eyes and is NEVER a wasted act. Do I need to repeat that?

What is love, anyway?? Simply put, it is "a concern for the well-being of others". My husband gave
me that definition many years ago when we were dating and I must say that it about wraps it up in one neat and beautiful package, don't you?

So go out there and practice the divine act of love to your fellow human being. No one deserves it but everyone needs it. It isn't as difficult as you think and the rewards are priceless.

        This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. (John 15:12)

In His Hand

Going across town the past six weeks to our new place of ministry, we have about a half-hour drive each way. All of this is within the city so we are faced with the normal hectic, every-man-for-himself traffic, especially on Wednesday nights. Sometimes it is quite the challenge and gives us (as driver and passenger!) some tense moments. We have seen at least two accidents, one which happened right in front of us and the other had obviously taken place just moments before as the ambulance had not yet arrived.


These things have reminded us many times that we have been blessed to have the Lord's protecting hand, safely taking us back and forth through this city. It is not something that we take lightly, realizing that many people suffer daily with the results of traffic accidents.

 If He should see fit to end our earthly life, then we are ready for that. In the meantime, we must be busy for Him while we have opportunity. Our times, our lives, our souls are in His hands.

There is no more secure place to be than there.

"Our times are in Thy hand..." (Psalm 31:15)

 

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, 

neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:28)

 

My Favorite Christmas Songs

I love Christmas carols! There are my oldie-goldie favorites of "What Child Is This?", "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem" but my current new ones (although they've been around for several years) are "Mary, Did You Know?", "Joseph's Song" and "Breath Of Heaven". (I do not necessarily endorse all of the singers.)

I should put these in a playlist so that they'll automatically play for you here while you read this, but for now just click on each of the above titles for it to open up in another window while you look at these photos that I have made (or will make) into Christmas cards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory,

the glory as of The Only Begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Greater Love

Because He Lives!

I was driving along by myself a couple days ago, just listening to the car radio (BBN) when all of a sudden an instrumental version of "Because He Lives" came on. The overwhelmingly beautiful and powerful swells of music brought me to tears. As my mind thought of the power of God to raise His Son Jesus from the dead and to save all those who believe on Him as their Savior, to change their hearts and lives, my heart said "If Since God has the power to do that, He has the power to care for and resolve our problems. He can comfort the grieving heart, soften the bitter heart, turn around the wayward heart and forgive the repentent heart. Why should I worry over the problems in the world and in our family? He has it all in His hands and knows what to do." 

Because of the power of the ressurrection, I have His

Person

Peace

Promises

Presence

Power

Why should I worry or fear?!

This is a different version of the well-known song "Because He Lives" but I found it this morning and would like to share it with you. Click on the following link:

http://youtu.be/OWj2vKD4LGM

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11:25,26)

Pass The Bread, Please

Saturday. This is my day to make bread.            The most-eaten food in all the world is bread. Statistics show that rice, wheat and corn are the three grains most eaten by humans. Bread is made from those grains...which proves my first statement, don't you think?Wheat has the highest amount of vegetable protein of any grain-except for amaranth, which I'd never heard of. You find out interesting facts when you research!

Bread is my favorite food. That does not come as a surprise to those who know me. But, sadly, I have to limit my consumption of bread for it is also, um, well you know what bread does. It makes one gain weight pretty quickly and easily! When I was 13 I helped in the school cafeteria that year we lived in Tennessee. They let the workers eat the leftover, huge, yummy, southern biscuits. Ohhhh...! I grew to weigh...well, let's just say, more than I should have for a young teen girl. In fact, I didn't weigh that much again until my first pregnancy!

I can't have all this talk about bread without showing a couple pictures of Brazilian breads. The one on the left is pão francês (french bread) and the other is pão de queijo (cheese bread). The hot, fresh version of these just can't be beat and are the ultimate in bread temptations!

I make homemade bread at least once a week because it's cheaper, because it tastes better and because it has healthier ingredients than what I would buy in the grocery stores. You'd think I would own a bread machine but I've never really wanted one for the simple fact that I know I would eat too much bread. If I ever get arthritis in my hands...well, I would then consent to having one given to me for Mother's Day. *smile*

 

     Let's get a closer look at those rolls...I mean, just look at those pieces of goodness coming through! 

Knowing how basic and important bread is to people around the world, it's no wonder that Jesus referred to Himself as the Bread of Life!

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life:

he that comes to Me shall never hunger;

and he that believes on Me shall never thirst."

(John 6:35)

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Resurrection Morn

Christ's birth, life, death, burial and resurrection (THE Gospel!) has been more outstanding in my heart and mind this year, for some reason. What assurance and joy it brings to those of us who truly know Him as our Savior and Friend! There are no "ifs", "buts" and "maybes" in our faith (or religion as some of you might call it). That's because we base our beliefs on God's Word, the Bible. Why add to or take from the Truth? Why believe the words of man or tradition or your own untrustworthy feelings and opinions? Personally, I much prefer the Words of the One True God. Period!

Come, my reader, join me in latching onto His Words, embracing His love, believing in His Son and claiming His promises! Let us rejoice more than ever before on this day, this wonderful Resurrection Day of celebrating Life from God!

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he who believes in Me will live even if he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.

Do you believe this?"

(John 11:25-26 - NAS)

Jesus Died For You

                                     

He died for you. Oh, praise His Name!

He died for you, His love proclaim.

He died to save your soul from sin,

He died that you a Heaven might win.

                                                                    

He died for you, His name adore,

Go tell His love from shore to shore.

Proclaim the message that He gave;

Go tell the world that He can save.

(photo above: internet)

He died for you, lift up your voice!

Make every nation to rejoice;

For many souls have never known

A Savior they can call their own.

He died for you; He is your friend.

And He will keep you to the end.

There is no other Name so sweet;

Oh, come, and worship at His feet.

He died for you; He bore the pain,

That you might always with Him reign.

Each day believe; oh, trust Him more!

Soon you'll meet Him on Heaven's shore.

-© Hilda O. McMillan

 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in Him

should not perish but have everlasting life."

(John 3:16)



FRIENDS For Life

This will complete my posts about friends (click here for the first and here for the second) and I'm sure you aren't surprised to see the title. Without going into detailed explanations of this level of friendship, I believe I can safely say that, while everyone probably has many friends of the road, they may not have any or many friends for life. They are a rare find, a pure joy and worthy of being treasured.

The story of David and Jonathan is perhaps the most well-known Biblical example of this level of friendship. This beautiful story is found in I Samuel, beginning with chapter 18. Indeed, it is possible to have our soul "knit" with the soul of another and to love that person as we do our own soul (I Sam. 18:1).  A husband and wife can (or should!) experience this and so may two people who are blessed to have a "David and Jonathan" quality of friendship.

Sometimes it may appear to others that two such friends are just "friends for the road" but time will prove otherwise. Distance, lack of the means of communication, or some other factor are never a hindrance to keeping these two souls knit together.

Is there a higher level of friendship than this? Humanly speaking...no. But there is a "Friend For Eternity" and that is Jesus Christ. No one loves like Him, no one is as loyal, faithful and true. He is THE Friend that sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24)!


"A friend loves at all times..." (Proverbs 17:17)
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you..." (John 15: 13-14)

Born To Die

All over the world today many people are celebrating Christmas. Sadly, very sadly, only a small percentage of those are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, which we know is the real reason for this season of joy.

Very often over the past few weeks I have thought of the reason that Jesus was sent to earth: TO DIE. Yes, He was born to die! That does not bring us sadness but, rather, great joy for it was because of His death that we are able to live.  

A forever life with Him...What a precious and beautiful gift He gave to us and that is why we can have such great joy as we celebrate this Christmas Day!

May you know and experience the True Joy of Christmas this year.

Merry Christmas to all!

"For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.

And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me...that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life..."  -John 6:38-40

TRUTH

I love the simple and beautiful truth of God's Word!

We don't like it when people lie. We like to know what the truth is even if it hurts. It makes our life safe and secure, it gives us hope and joy, it gives meaning, structure and reality to our own little private world and to the wide world around us.

Where do we find truth? In God's Word. He is the only One who is incapable of lying. He is the only one Who knows all truth for He IS truth! He said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life..." (John 14:6)

Why do so many people insist on having the words of some human being as their basis for truth? Why do they prefer to believe the words of  unstable, untrustworthy, fallible men instead of the truth of the one and only, true, faithful, and loving God of the universe? He Himself said that He cannot lie. Why don't we believe Him?

There are many who say they believe Him, but when they also believe the words of others who contradict God's words they are really calling God a liar.

That is so sad and it often pains my heart. But I am so thankful that the truth of His Word remains, no matter what man says or tries to do to it!

"For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and Thy truth unto the clouds." (Psalm 57:10)

"For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations." (Psalm 100:5)

A Little Rose...

God picked a little rose...
...to grace His home in heaven.

We grieve with our missionary colleagues in the loss of their daughter, Lydia. We will miss this ray of sunshine that blessed many lives and warmed many hearts.

"In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:2,3)

Angels' Joy!

                   Forty-four years ago today I was the cause for bringing joy to the angels.

And who can describe or even imagine HIS joy

when a sinner repents?!

I believed in God's Son....therefore I have life. Eternal life!

So simple, so true, so wonderful. No wonder this gives joy to the angels!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosover believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life"
(John 3:16)

Water!

I already wrote specifically about the rain but I'd like to mention water in general. We all know the benefits of water...or should know. We cannot live without it, it's as simple as that. Who ever dreamed that this (usually) colorless and tasteless thing could be such a maintainer of life?! I'm amazed when some people say that they never drink water. Hellooo...? NEVER drink water? How can you be so cruel to your own body? Sooner or later, you will have negative results from such a habit. OK, so I'm not a doctor. But I have proven to myself the benefits of water to my own body.

Water, in its natural form, is free. That's because it's one of those perfect gifts, as are all of God's gifts. So is water's counterpart, salvation. Jesus said He can give us living water. He can give us salvation. We don't have to buy it, we don't have to work for it, all we have to do is accept it. When we believe in Him, we are accepting His free gift of salvation-that living water that is necessary for our spiritual life. The benefits are not only here and now, they are eternal!

"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him  shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14)

Life!

From beginning to end, life is a gift. A gift is something someone freely gives you-you don't pay for it and you probably don't deserve it. So is physical life. God created it and gave it to us. And, as a gift, we may do with it as we choose. We can cherish and care for it or we can waste and neglect it. Which will it be?? So, too, we have spiritual life in Christ. Freely and lovingly given, those who accept it by faith are the only ones who possess it. Will we cherish it or neglect it? Let us choose the former for it is beyond value. Jesus, Rose of Sharon, bloom within my heart...

"...I am come that they might have
life, and that they might have it
more abundantly." (John 10:10)