Behold - What a word!

Happy Monday Morning!

I can almost hear your groans from here.  It's Monday!  I trust you all had a wonderful weekend.

John 3:1. BEHOLD .. what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons (and daughter) of God. 

The first word is a commandment. Behold -- to ponder, wonder, meditate upon. 

I want you to use your imaginations with me for a moment.  I want to try to put the love of God into a format that we can wrap our minds around.  I am sure that we can all agree that we have only a limited understanding of everything.  So, lets try to bring the love of God into a size that we can understand.

Imagine, if you will, that the universe were the size of the earth.  According to scientists, the universe is expanding, and we cannot count the number of galaxies, stars, planets, etc.  Now, imagine that each grain of sand is a galaxy. Each atom in that grain of sand now represents a solar system, and each electron represents a planet. 

Now put 7 billion people on the surface of an electron.  Note: (We can't see an electron, even with the most powerful microscope).  In the grand scheme of things, the 7 billion humans on the face of this earth are so minuscule, that they make no affect or difference in the whole universe.

Now, understanding that God is infinite, we know that He observes the whole universe.  But, according to the scriptures, He attunes His ears to each of our voices and makes a way for us to be His Children. 

Think of the Love He has for us. 

BEHOLD!! 

Abide in Him and you will find rest. JP

Who is Leading?

Good morning! 

I trust that you all had a restful evening! 

Today's verse is John 12:26. "If any man serve me (Jesus), let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be. If any man serve me, him will my father honor.

The question that comes to mind is.... "Are we with Christ or, are we expecting Christ to go with us?" How often do we as Christians act like the ones in charge, like we are the boss! How presumptuous of us! 

Where is God leading you? Don't make God your co-pilot. Make Him the pilot, co-pilot, and navigator. Then, become one of the flight attendants.

That is when joy, peace, and love will flood your life as never before. Amen

Friday is Here! Thanks and Praise

I hope you have all had a good week. I'm happy it is Friday, though. 

Psalm 7:17 says, I will thank the Lord because He is just, I will sing praise to the name of the Most High. 

Stop and think... how often do we thank the Lord for who He is? Do we ever praise His name? 

The scriptures state that we enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. If we aren't walking in thankfulness and full of praise for God, then, we are not walking in His presence. Yes, He will never leave us Or forsake us, however, we cannot experience the joy of His presence first hand without thanks and praise being in our hearts. 

I encourage each and every one of you to try this today... Set some time when you can be alone and thank God for what He has done for you. Count those times He has extended grace and mercy to you. Thank Him for each one. Praise Him for His attributes, love, grace, mercy, patience, faithfulness, persistence, provision, and ever listening ears to hear our cry. Be sincere. And watch how quickly His presence surrounds you. I guarantee that you will experience a joy that you can't explain. For God inhabits the praises of His people. 

May you experience that joy and peace today. May you walk closely with Him and shine as a beacon wherever you are today. --  JP

In the Shelter of the Almighty

I was reading some scripture tonight about Security in the Lord.  This brought to mind the following passage from Psalms 91.  King David (from the Old Testament) is somewhat of a role model for me.  God, Himself, said of David "He is a man after my own heart."  I cannot think of a higher honor than that.  

Anyways, King David went through all sorts of hell in his life.  He was betrayed by family. He committed murder and adultery.  How can God call a person who committed such acts as these "a man after my own heart"?  I truly believe it is because of David's faith, and repentance..  The following passage was written during some of the darkest times in David's life.  The faith of David is legendary, and is clearly shown in the following verses of Psalms 91

1 He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence.
4He shall cover you with his feathers, and under his wings shall you trust: his truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;
6Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.
8Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the most High, your habitation;
10There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
12They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13You shall tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the serpent shall you trample under feet.
14Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known my name.
15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.
16With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

I do not believe that there is a clearer passage in scripture where God's mercy and grace are spelled out for those that abide and trust in Him.  Does this mean that we won't go through trials and dark times?  No.  It just tells us what will happen when we go through those times.  We are not alone, and never will be.  

I thank God every day that he was with me during my darkest hours. 

Lonliness

I have been reading scriptures pertaining to lonliness lately.  These are scriptures that are meant to encourage us, even though we may feel like we have no-one with us in the trials of life.  Sometimes, even though we KNOW God is with us, we don't feel His presence.  It helps to read the scriptures for encouragement. Tonight's reading comes from  Lamentations 3:22-25.

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;

therefore I will wait for him.”

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,

to the one who seeks him;

This is encouraging to me as I have been feeling that I am searching and coming up empty.  I pray, read, and seek after God, but feel like I am playing a game of hide -n- seek.  I don't feel like it is anything that I am or am not doing, just that I don't sense His presence with me as I desire.  I don't feel like I am getting through with my prayers.  My feelings are that of being alone, out in the wilderness with no-one around to hear me.  

Have you ever been in the woods after a rain, but when the mist is about?  It is quiet... too quiet.  No birds singing, no animals walking, the only sound is your breath and heartbeat.  That is where is seems I am as of late.  This scripture reminds me that I am not alone.  It tells me that maybe instead of searching for what is right there, that I need to stop and wait on Him.  My question is "Wait for what?"  I think I can find my answer in the First book of the Kings 19:11-13

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 

12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 

13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

I need to wait on the Lord to speak with me. Sometimes, I get so wrapped up in my problems and my prayers, that I forget that communication is a 2-way street. I know that I have constantly been praying about things in my life, but forget to take time to listen for God to speak to me. I ask for wisdom, but don't take time to listen to His answers.  I will make it a point to enjoy the silence as I wait for Him to speak.  He is there, I just have to listen.