May You Find Jesus to Be

The music that causes your heart to sing;

The joy that causes your heart to rejoice;

The glory that causes your heart to worship;

The wonder that causes your heart to believe;

The security that causes your heart to trust;

The peace that causes your heart to rest;

The promise that causes your heart to hope;

The beauty that causes your heart to delight;

The majesty that causes your heart to surrender;

The love that causes your heart to give.

“For me to live is Christ [His life in me]”. Philippians 1:21 AMP

by Roy Lessin
used by permission

A Poem of Hope …”I feel the arms of God around me”

I Testify that God is…. – by Wendy Patrick

A Morning Prayer by Malcolm Boyd

The post May You Find Jesus to Be appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“God is the strength of my heart.”  Psalm 73:26, NKJV

God is for you. Turn to the sidelines; that’s God cheering your run. Look past the finish line; that’s God applauding your steps. Listen for Him in the bleachers, shouting your name.

Too tired to continue? He’ll carry you. Too discouraged to fight? He’s picking you up. God is for you.

by Max Lucado
used by permission

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

FURTHER READING

What Matters to You Matters to God

Let God Teach You

You Are God’s Design

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I don’t know about you, but I love going to Charity performances, etc., and feel really good about giving my money to a worthy cause.  It makes me feel warm inside and generally, I have a great time with my friends as well.  This week, I had cause to read the passage from Matthew about giving, and it made me stop and question my way of giving.

I asked myself if I would have given that money if I didn’t get anything out of it? Would I have been willing to give a homeless person I met in the street a bed and shelter without the fear that they would take my possessions or dirty my clean house?  I don’t think so.  It is far easier to give to an organization, using the excuse that they are able to deal with the situation much better than I can.

Another question that needs my answer is whether I would give my money to the church if I wasn’t in the planned giving program?  I know I give my time and my talents freely, but would I give my money anonymously during the week and not just on a Sunday when it is time for the offering?

I found these tough questions to answer but think we need to ask them every now and again, keeping in mind these verses and the way we give of our time and our money.

Matthew 6:1-4: “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Prayer: God of Wisdom and Compassion, thank you that you sent your Son to teach us your ways so that we can make your Kingdom here on Earth a better place and also bring us closer to you.  Help us to see all our giving as an act from you and not from ourselves.  Amen

By Terry Stead
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Tithing – The Generosity Habit

Try Tithing

Joyful Generosity

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The post Giving appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart.” Psalm 15:2

Singer Bethany Dillon believes that college students value honesty when you’re telling them about Jesus. She said, “If Christ is shared in an honest, no frills, very passionate way, I think [the message] is heard.”

When Deanna heard that, she was puzzled.  All her life she had never let out what she really felt inside. So, her faith on campus seemed all too surreal to her classmates. Most of them thought she came from a loving home. But that wasn’t true.

Dear friend, honesty speaks far louder than the content of your words.  When Deanna decided to admit her emotional scars, the work God had done in her life seemed genuine. Christ’s love, comfort and joy were evident now as Deanna spoke honestly.

Maybe it’s time you shared how Christ has totally changed your life, honestly!   I think the difficulty in sharing with college-aged people is that it’s such a transitional season of life, SO much learning is going on– figuring out who you really are– taking hold of independence for the first time… I just think there are a lot of walls that go up because of it. However, I also feel like people in college really value HONESTY… whatever’s  REAL, you know? And if Christ is shared in a brutally honest, no frills, very passionate way, I think it’s heard.  I think one of the most precious things about His presence in my life is the permission to be HONEST… whether that’s weeping on my floor for hours without saying a word, or dancing around like a fool and not thinking twice about it. For that to be a safe place full of understanding, that’s been such a healing thing.

by Vonette Bright
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Ideas to share Christ’s love

Extending Grace to Others

Love is Patient and Kind – a story of a man on a bus

The post Honestly appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“The LORD hates those who tell lies but is pleased with those who keep their promises.”  Proverbs 12:22 (NCV)

Our Master has a strict honor code. From Genesis to Revelation, the theme is the same: God loves the truth and hates deceit. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Paul lists the type of people who will not inherit the kingdom of God. The covey he portrays is a ragged assortment of those who sin sexually, worship idols, take part in adultery, sell their bodies, get drunk, rob people, and–there it is–lie about others.

Such rigor may surprise you. You mean my fibbing and flattering stir the same heavenly anger as adultery and aggravated assault? Apparently so….

Why the hard line? Why the tough stance?  For one reason: dishonesty is absolutely contrary to the character of God.

by Max Lucado
Used by permission

From: Just Like Jesus
Copyright (Word Publishing, 1998)

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

Further Reading

•  Truth Be Told – by Melissa Talbot

• Truth– A Devotional by Katherine Kehler

•  Salvation Explained

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Beloved child of God, listen to your Father’s heart and his ways for you in Galatians 5:22-23,25.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Listen with your spirit to Romans 5:5

“God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.“

Be blessed to know how dearly God loves you, because he has given you his Spirit to fill your heart with his love. You were created of your Father’s love. You are the evidence of God’s love deposited in you in lavish measure in making you just the way you are. Know deep within that your Father who is love speaks his love to you. He enjoys you and finds pleasure in who you are. You are not an “it.” You are you, the real you in your essence, your inner being, your spirit.

Deep inside, be blessed with larger-than-the-universe love, the faithful love of your infinite Father for you. Be blessed to know that you are shielded in his love that always seeks your highest good, no matter what you do. Be blessed with God’s kind of self-giving love that gives freely without asking anything in return. Be blessed with knowing deeply that you are accepted and affirmed in him. His love for you was forever settled on the cross. Be blessed with being completely persuaded that nothing can separate you from his love. He loves you with a mighty love that has no end. Marvel at the goodness of his holy love without measure. His love extends its covering over a multitude of sins. He perfectly loves you, and you need have no fear before him.

Be blessed to love others as the fruit of God’s love living in you. You love others because he first loved you and lives in you to love through you. Be blessed with the love of Christ that compels you. Be blessed with 1 Corinthians 13 unfailing love filling you through and through. Be blessed as you let that love flow through you to your family and everyone around you.

Be blessed to love by character and by choice, not by emotion. Love must give, whatever the cost. Be blessed with increasing and overflowing love for others (1 Thessalonians 3:12). God who is love lives in you to will and to do it.

Be blessed to display the fruit of the love of God that the Holy Spirit produces in you, your grace-inspired response from his love (Galatians 5:22).

by Sylvia Gunter
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Impossible Love Made Possible

How to Make a Difference in Someone’s Day

The Fruit of Love

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““For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Much has been said about Jesus’ “gift of the Cross.” But what of the other gifts? What of the nails, the crown of thorns?  The garments taken by the soldiers?  Have you taken time to open these gifts?

He didn’t have to give us these gifts, you know. The only required act for our salvation was the shedding of blood, yet He did much more.  So much more.

Search the scene of the Cross—and what do you find? A wine-soaked sponge.  A sign.  Two crosses beside Christ. Divine gifts intended to stir that moment, that split second when your face will brighten, your eyes will widen, and God will hear you whisper, “You did this for me?” Dare we think such thoughts?

Let’s unwrap these gifts of grace– as if for the first time. Pause and listen.  Perhaps you will hear Him whisper, “I did it just for you!”

By Max Lucado
Used by permission
From: He Chose the Nails

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

FURTHER READING

• Eternal Love

• Fully Surrender to the Lord

•  Salvation Explained

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The post Unwrapping the Gifts of the Cross appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”  Ephesians 3:17-19

Thoughts on today’s verse

Love that surpasses knowledge. That’s very difficult to explain, but when you have loved your spouse for decades you experience what this means. When you love a child and do what you never dreamed you could do for another human being, you understand this phrase. And when you stand before God, adopted as a full heir of all his great riches, a full sibling to Jesus Christ the Lord, and know you are seen as holy, without reproach, and blameless, you begin to understand this phrase.

Prayer:

Holy and incredible God, help me to know in my soul the love that is greater than words and knowledge so that I may not only be like you, but that I may know you in experience just as I know you in faith. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.

by Phil Ware
used by permission

FURTHER READING

God of Love

You are Loved

Grasp His Love for You

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Our self-effort is nothing compared with the glory of God at work in us.

Regardless of our background, skills, sharp wit, and dedicated heart for success, the real truth about our Christian lives is that God is at work in us, and He can do so much more through us than you or I could ever do without Him. We do not have to psych ourselves up to accomplish something for God. In fact, we know that even in our feeblest weakness God is able to work through us – and that is what we count on.

Yes, the world is waiting to see the truth and all we have to do is be available, and yet something stands in the way of this happening. It is us. We are in the way. We hide the truth behind the masks we wear because we are not willing to be seen as the sinners we really are.

The glory of Christ can only truly be seen in contrast to our own despicable sinfulness.  As we begin to lose a heartfelt awareness of our own wretchedness as Christians, we begin to lose the full significance of Christ’s work on the cross for everyone. His glory is seen only against the horribleness of our sin. Yet we create masks to hide our sins. Our masks return us to bondage and keep us from the freedom found in His Spirit’s liberty.

Masked with near perfection, sin hides itself beneath the surface of good churches, good confessions, good works, and good intentions. Everyone really knows that something is wrong, but because of all the good rituals, works and confessions, sin is not seen for its exceeding sinfulness (Romans 7:13). When our sin is not seen as exceeding sinfulness, our light is no longer His, but darkness masquerading behind all the ‘right‘ things we do, making our darkness even darker.

We are all called to be ministers of the new covenant. God is making us able. We understand that God breathes into our lives and through us to all those around us – our families, our neighbors, our workplace, our community, our world. If we are willing to live unmasked, life will never be the same again.

by John Fischer
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

Look at Jesus, Not the Waves

Our Loving Sacrificial Savior

God’s Covenant

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

The post Living Unmasked appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“We fix our eyes…on what is unseen…”  2 Corinthians 4:18

Twelve-year-old Susan repeatedly asked her parents to watch a popular movie about the sufferings and death of Jesus. Because the film’s graphic scenes had a profound emotional effect on these two adults, relatively new to the Christian faith, they wondered if some of its raw scenes would be too difficult for Susan.  Finally relenting, they agreed to view the movie together in their home, closely observing their daughter, alert and ready to explain the movie’s powerful message.

During the two-hour story, Susan was quiet and absorbed but showed little emotion. Upon its completion, her mother asked if the gripping scenes bothered her too much. Susan replied, “Oh, I’m very sad about how Jesus was treated and the awful way He died, but after all, I know the end of the story.”

Knowing the end of the story should have a profound effect on us as we go through the realities of life—realities that often bring the anguish of incurable illness, unspeakable terrorism, wrenching grief, and so much more. Young Susan grasped the same perspective that the Apostle Paul wrote about:

We do not lose heart… For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Paul—and Susan—know the end of the story.

by Marilyn Ehle
used by permission

FURTHER READING

You Can Do It

The Secret of Contentment

Your Eternal Purpose

God’s Purpose

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My seminary course in Trinitarianism included several class lectures on “I AM” in the Bible. I wrote the following piece to fulfill the assignment of a creative project having to do with the Trinity.

I have wondered if Jesus had come at a different time how he would have communicated with His children. The following is a result of two greats in my life coming together: God, the ultimate lover of my soul, and Dr. Seuss, who had a love of the simple things of life. If Dr. Seuss had written theology books, instead of classics such as Green Eggs and Ham, I think it would have gone a little something like this.

Green Eggs And I AM

My name?
I AM.

I am I AM,
I AM I am.

I AM here,
I AM there,
I am I AM everywhere.

Father, Son, and Spirit are we.
We are one, but we are three.

I AM here,
I AM there,
I am I AM everywhere.

One in Three and Three in One,
Jesus is God, Jesus is Son.

Spirit’s Power, Father’s Plan,
Nail scars in the Son’s pierced hands.

“What,” you exclaim, “How can that be?”
Shhhh, my child, just rest in me.

I will not be put in a box.
I will not let you worship an ox.

I created it all-the family, the mountain, the tree-
We created it all, so you could grasp the “we.”

I will call you here and there,
And I will go with you everywhere.

I AM here,
I AM there.
I am I AM everywhere.

Confused, uncertain, and having doubt?
Give up now, you won’t figure it out.

Father, Son, and Spirit are we.
We are one, but we are three.

Adonai, Yahweh, Savior, Friend-
The aspects of me never end.

I will not be defined by just one name,
But I will love you just the same

So what should you do?
How should you react?
Learn enough truth to guard against attack.

Then let go of questions like “Why?”
And raise your voice in praise toward the sky.

Never to leave is my promise to you.
Stay focused, listen to me, and follow through.

Wherever I lead, wherever you go,
I’ll be there, too, just continue to grow.

I am I AM,
I AM I am

On a train
In the rain
In a box
With a fox
On a boat
With a goat

Anywhere, everywhere you may go,
I am I AM is all you need to know.

by Sylvia Gunter
used by permission

FURTHER READING

• I AM by Vonette  Bright
• The I AM God
• Who Do You Say I Am?

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Islands seem so romantic.  The gentle sea breezes and the soothing sound of the waves crashing on shore.  The breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. The peace-no hustle and bustle of the mainland.

And yet, an island can also hold us captive.  If we have no way of getting off, we might not be in a 5’x5’ cell but we’re prisoners just the same.  Stuck, going round and round but never accomplishing anything. When the storms come, we’re sitting ducks with no place to run. Isolated and alone.

Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to an Island.  It wasn’t the kind with gentle breezes and the soothing sound of waves.  Oh no, this Island was one of my own making.  It was the Island of “What If?”  Have you ever been there?  What if I don’t get that job?  What if my children grow up to be drug addicts and alcoholics?  What if I’m forgotten?  What if it’s cancer?  What if they don’t like me?  What if I fail?  What if God fails me?  Round and round we go in the “What If’s?”  Held captive, not in a 5’x5’ cell but a prisoner just the same.  The Island of “What If?”

When we allow the “What If’s” to rule our lives, we run round and round never accomplishing anything.  We’re stuck and we wonder why.

“What If’s?” allow fear to run rampant in our lives and keep us from trusting the One who holds us in the palm of His hand. (Our lives are in His hands and He keeps our feet from stumbling.  Psalm 66.9)

“What If’s?” isolate us.

“What If’s?” keep the focus on us. “

What If’s?” hinder us from knowing our God.  (But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things.  I, the Lord, have spoken!  Jeremiah 9.24)

“What If’s?” hold us captive and hamper us from embracing the beautiful plan God has for us.  (“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.  “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  Jeremiah 29.11)

But there is HOPE!  We no longer have to live on the Island of “What If?”; this Island of shifting sand and endless anxiety!  God wants to lift us up out of this muck and mire and place our feet on solid ground.  (I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire and He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. Psalm 40.1-2)

Today is the day to leave the Island of “What If?”!   Call out to Him, put Your hand in the hand of the One who loves you (. . . Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.  For apart from Me you can do nothing.  John 15.5) and experience FREEDOM, it’s what Jesus gave his life for!

By Kristi Huseby
used by permission

FURTHER READING

• Peace for Anxious Days
• Hope for the Hopeless
• Good News for You

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