“Children are a blessing and a gift from the LORD.” Psalm 127:3 (CEV)

It struck me that if children are a blessing from the Lord, then God must actually be looking upon us as blessings too! Since we are “His children God is our Heavenly Father” God also views us as a blessing to Himself.

I know some days my children are blessings. Just recently, a simple “thank you” from our kindergartener made me smile. When she saw the impact her words had on me, she quickly asked, “Mommy, did that just lift your spirits up, up, up?”

There are many simple things that make my heart sing: I am blessed when our children, “brother and sisters” treat each other with Love and respect. I am blessed when they are kind to friends and neighbors. I am blessed when they share well. I am blessed when they remember good manners. I am blessed when they are thankful and not just consumed with their own needs. I am blessed when they are obedient. I am blessed when they learn and grow into new skills. In the same way, our Father in Heaven is blessed when we, His children, do these simple things.

Reflect:
Knowing that God loves you unconditionally, take a few moments and ask God to show you how you bless Him. How can I bless the heart of my Father today?

Prayer:
Dear Father, help me be a blessing to You and Your Kingdom. Help me love others and treat everyone with kindness and respect. Help me live a life that makes Your heart sing.

By Idelette McVicker
used by permission

FURTHER READING

• God’s Creation
• Be Blessed, Beloved Child
• No Child Ever Leaves God’s Sight\

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“… Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3

The vast expanse of ocean seemed to stretch on forever. Here and there a sand laced island broke the endless blue. From the airplane window I watched as the sun danced on the rolling waves.

A song I learned as a child suddenly played across my mind:

“If we with ink the ocean fill
and were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill
and everyman a scribe by trade…
To write the love of God above
would drain the ocean dry,
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
though stretched from sky to sky.”

From my vantage point in the sky I was reminded of our amazing God’s endless love for each of us. If that vast expanse below were ink, it would not be enough to write of His love.

Do you know, right now, how much you are loved?

Do you know God’s love for you is measureless and strong?

Do you believe it includes you… right where you are right now?

Never doubt God’s love for you.

So many people have no knowledge of the loving, personal God who calls their names. Be reminded today of how very much God loves you. Carry that knowledge in your heart in a fresh way and be amazed by it. Give it away to those along your path. Thank God for His love right now and live as a treasured child of the Father today.

Father God, Thank you that even if the ocean were ink, it would never be enough to write of Your love for me. What an amazing fact! Help me to live in the knowledge of how very much You love me. Help me never to doubt Your goodness toward me. Give me Your strength to handle the things in my life that I do not understand right now. Help me to live today as Your treasured child. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Thought: Pause right now, wherever you are reading this, and thank God that He loves you and that He always has your best interest at heart. Ask Him to show you someone today who needs His love too and pass it on in some act of kindness.

By Gail Rodgers
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Keep Yourselves in God’s Love 

The Supernatural Power of God’s Love 

God’s Love is Holy Love 

How to Begin a Relationship God

The post Do You Know? appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Sometimes life throws curve balls, hands us difficult decisions, and asks us to deal with complicated relationships.

We want to respond Biblically and choose wisely. We search the Scriptures. We pray.

But if you’re like me, sometimes you just want to pick up the phone and let God tell you what to do.

I’ve recently concluded that if I could pick up my phone and ask God for advice, He would always give me the same answer.

Whether it’s a major decision, a tough relationship, the need to respond properly to the various curve balls that come, His answer would always be the same.

I believe this, because so much of Scripture is centered around this answer.

Those who were under the law knew what God wanted of them. He spelled it out plainly in several books of the Old Testament.

Those of us who are no longer under the law are told how all those books of rules can be summarized (Romans 13:19):

• Love God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength. This command summarizes the first five commandments.
• Love your neighbor as yourself. This command summarizes the last five commandments.

Everything God expected of His people came down to these two commands.

If this is all God really asks of us, couldn’t we apply this desire of His to every area of our lives?

If I had a major decision to make and I called God on the phone, I think His answer would be:

• Which decision would increase your love for Me and help you grow in your love for others?

If I had a relationship I was struggling with and I asked Him for advice, I think He would say:

• How can you demonstrate that you love Me with everything in you and that you want to love that person to the max?

If a curve ball came my way and I wanted to respond properly, I think He would tell me:

• What response would come from your deep love for Me and your desire to love others as yourself?

God lets us make decisions, handle difficult relationships, and respond to curve balls.

But if He were to tell us what to do in each of these cases, it would always be grounded on these two principles.

Love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.

Love others as yourself.

I believe this is what He would say.

If God were to answer your phone call.

“There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31

By Bethany Hayes
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

•   Chosen Love

•  Keep Yourselves in God’s Love

• Keep Yourself in God’s Love

The post If God Were to Answer Your Phone Call appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Love your neighbor as yourself”  Matthew 22:39

There is a beautiful young singer/songwriter, Georgia Germein, who lives in my home state of South Australia and she has helped with development projects in Ethiopia and the Kalahari and one of the songs that she wrote when she returned from one of her journeys was “They Matter”:

They Matter

…No matter who, they matter
No matter when, they matter
No matter where, they matter
They matter, they do

No matter how, they matter
No matter why, they matter
No matter what, they matter
They matter, they do.

When I first hear these words they had a profound effect on me.   I have always tried to be compassionate, loving and giving just as Christ has taught us, but when I see images on television of starving children in other parts of the world and read newspapers which detail civilians caught in the crossfire of war etc., I sometimes feel detached from the horror and block out these images.

Two simple words “they matter” and how much difference these words would make to so many people in a world where often there is little hope?  How much more did we matter to God that He gave his only beloved son to die on the cross just for us?  Our lives are forever changed because of this incredible act of His.  It is up to us to show everyone that they matter and in doing so we change people’s lives by showing them God’s love and making sure that they know how much more they matter to the One who loves, gives us strength and sustains us through all our trials and persecution.

When you next see an image or read a newspaper report on the plight of people around you and in other parts of the world remember “They Matter”.

By Terry Stead
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  They Say I’m Nothing, but I’m Something by Londeka Zondi

•  There is Nothing Beyond Your Reach – by Mark Doyle

•   When I say… “I am a Christian” – by Carol Wimmer

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“Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.”  Matthew 25:40 (MSG)

There are many reasons to help people in need.

“Benevolence is good for the world.”

“We all float on the same ocean. When the tide rises, it benefits everyone.”

“To deliver someone from poverty is to unleash that person’s potential as a researcher, educator, or doctor.”

“As we reduce poverty and disease, we reduce war and atrocities. Healthy, happy people don’t hurt each other.”

Compassion has a dozen advocates.

But for the Christian, none is higher than this: when we love those in need, we are loving Jesus. It is a mystery beyond science, a truth beyond statistics. But it is a message that Jesus made crystal clear: when we love them, we love him.

This is the theme of his final sermon. The message he saved until last. He must want this point imprinted on our conscience. He depicted the final judgment scene. The last day, the great Day of Judgment. On that day Jesus will issue an irresistible command. All will come. From sunken ships and forgotten cemeteries, they will come. From royal tombs and grassy battlefields, they will come. From Abel, the first to die, to the person being buried at the moment Jesus calls, every human in history will be present.

All the angels will be present. The whole heavenly universe will witness the event. A staggering denouement. Jesus at some point will “separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats” (Matthew 25:32). Shepherds do this. They walk among the flock and, one by one, with the use of a staff direct goats in one direction and sheep in the other. Graphic, this thought of the Good Shepherd stepping through the flock of humanity. You. Me. Our parents and kids. “Max, go this way.” “Ronaldo, over there.” “Maria, this side.”

How can one envision this moment without the sudden appearance of this urgent question: What determines his choice? How does Jesus separate the people?

Jesus gives the answer. Those on the right, the sheep, will be those who fed him when he was hungry, brought him water when he was thirsty, gave him lodging when he was lonely, clothing when he was naked, and comfort when he was sick or imprisoned. The sign of the saved is their concern for those in need. Compassion does not save them—or us. Salvation is the work of Christ. Compassion is the consequence of salvation.
The sheep will react with a sincere question: when? When did we feed, visit, clothe, or comfort you (vv. 34–39)?

Jesus will recount, one by one, all the acts of kindness. Every deed done to improve the lot of another person. Even the small ones. In fact, they all seem small. Giving water. Offering food. Sharing clothing. The works of mercy are simple deeds. And yet, in these simple deeds we serve Jesus. Astounding this truth: we serve Christ by serving needy people.

Some of them live in your neighborhood; others live in jungles you can’t find and have names you can’t pronounce. Some of them play in cardboard slums or sell sex on a busy street. Some of them walk three hours for water or wait all day for a shot of penicillin. Some of them brought their woes on themselves, and others inherited the mess from their parents.

None of us can help everyone. But all of us can help someone. And when we help them, we serve Jesus. Who would want to miss a chance to do that?

Then the King will say to those on his right,

“Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”(Matthew 25:34–36 NLT)

PRAYER

O Lord, where did I see you yesterday . . . and didn’t recognize you? Where will I encounter you today . . . and fail to identify you properly? O my Father, give me eyes to see, a heart to respond, and hands and feet to serve you wherever you encounter me! Transform me, Lord, by your Spirit into a servant of Christ, who delights to meet the needs of those around me. Make me a billboard of your grace, a living advertisement for the riches of your compassion. I long to hear you say to me one day, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” And I pray that today I would be that faithful servant who does well at doing good.
In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

By Max Lucado
Used by Permission
From Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make a Difference

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:    
https://maxlucado.com/about/

Further Reading

•  Come Alongside – by John Fischer

•  Desolate or Fruitful?  How are you with others?

•  Salvation Explained

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The post When We Love Them, We Love Him appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

Be intentional today to stand as one loved by God, with purpose and dignity. Reach out in kindness to someone today and feel His love flow to you … and through you.

God’s love, given generously through you, has a way of coming full circle back to you.

You have much to give! Stand tall! His grace will shelter you and protect you. His grace will fulfill you. His grace will enable you to step forward and not shrink back. His grace will enable you to give CARE even when you desperately want to receive care yourself. His grace is given to you in order to be given away. Let His grace flow to you … and through you as you care in the ways He has made you to uniquely show His love. It will fill you up in an unexpected way.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

Four ways to show C A R E today …

C – Compassion = concern, kindness, consideration.
As you go through your day today ask God to show you where and how you can show kindness, consideration and concern in a meaningful and simple way to someone on your pathway. When you feel the nudge take the time to respond. Show consideration.

A – Appreciate
Show appreciation in an intentional and specific way to someone whom the Lord highlights on your radar screen today. Be genuinely appreciative. Say “thanks”.

R – Reach Out
Don’t wait for others to take the first step to greet, speak, say or do something. Be ready to reach out in the moment you become aware of the choice. Go first.

E – Encourage
It costs nothing to say a sincere and encouraging word. Be aware today that you have the power of life and death in your tongue. Bite your tongue when careless words want to spill out. Ask God to fill your mind and heart with His goodness toward others. Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Use your words to build.

Prayer to help action CARE in your life: Father God, Today my heart yearns for love. To answer that yearning, please help me to extend CARE to those in my circle. Let me feel Your lavish love toward me today and help me to pass it out. May consideration, appreciation and encouragement mark my attitudes, words and actions today as I reach out with Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray.

by Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Love your Neighbor
•  Extending Grace to Others
•  Salvation Explained

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The post Taking Time to Care appeared first on Thoughts About God.