Twice His

Jeremiah 31:3 "I have loved you with an everlasting love."

Inspired by and taken in part from an article written by Ron Hutchcraft; it is a subject matter too good not to pass on.

There are people who have felt like they've been unwanted most of their life. And in this often cruel world we live in, people really do make you feel like you don't belong, that you're never good enough, that they don't particularly care if you're there or not. Honestly, if we put our sense of worth in the hands of other humans, they are almost surely going to drop it, crush it or stomp on it. On purpose or unknowingly; either way, it feels crummy.

Then along comes Someone who says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love." That's our word today from the Word of God in Jeremiah 31:3; someone who never lies; someone who always delivers. There really is Someone who has always wanted you so much that He's pursued you at great cost. All the way to a rugged old cross where He gave His life so He wouldn't lose you.

Actually, the problem isn't that God doesn't want us. It's that we don't want Him. Oh, we're okay with a God who runs the universe as long as we can run our own universe. We want God as a belief, a religious pacifier, a cozy blanket when it's cold, and a spiritual ace to play when we die, but not when it comes to God actually running our lives.

So we've cut ourselves off from the One who loves us more than anyone. All our God-ignoring sins have set us up for an eternity without Him, because sin separates us from a sinless God.

But Jesus was God who came looking for us. In His words, he came to "seek and save what was lost" (Luke 19:10). He suffered for our sinning so we would never have to; so we could be with Him for all eternity. That's how very wanted we are by the most important person in the galaxies.

There's a story of a little boy who built a toy sailboat with his daddy. His father let little Scotty glue it and sand it and paint it and name it. He called it "Arthur," for some reason. And Scotty couldn't wait to get his masterpiece in the lake nearby. But on "Arthur's" maiden voyage, a storm came up and quickly blew the sailboat way beyond the little boy's ability to get it. Scotty ran to his daddy heartbroken. His father just said, "I'll just buy you another one." Scotty was adamant. He said, "I want my boat back."

Later, in an amazing discovery at a little store downtown, Scotty saw his boat in the window! He ran into the store and asked the man if he could have it. "Sure," the owner said. "Twenty bucks." That probably sounded like a million dollars to a little boy, but he went back home and went to his neighbors, asked for any job he could get paid for, and one day he walked into that store proudly and he plunked down his hard-earned 20 bucks.

He ran all the way home with that sailboat wrapped tightly in his arms. His father was home, so Scotty jumped into his lap with one arm around Daddy and one arm around "Arthur." And he gushed out what his heart couldn't contain: "Daddy, I love this boat so much, because now it's twice mine; once because I made it and once because I paid for it!"

That's how Jesus feels about us. He loves us so much because we're twice His; once because He made us, and once because He paid for us with His life. And today He stands with open arms waiting to welcome us into His love, into a forever relationship with Him.

Jesus, no one's ever loved me like You do. I am Yours!

Shepherd's Voice

This morning found me sleeping in till almost seven! For me that is very late. The pups were still snuggled under the covers and didn’t wiggle until I started to get up. We were all lazy sleepy bums this morning. I changed bedrooms yesterday, moving from one end of the house to another and the first night in a different room found me waking several times; new room, new noises. My ‘momma ears’ heard many. Then, of course, the weather changed; wind blowing in from the south made quite an impression in the middle of the night here on top of Hacienda Hill.

Yet for all the newness, some things remained the norm, the constant little things I love and appreciate. The pups snuggling for one, the comfort of my bed, the whirl of the fan providing the white noise that is supposed to help me not notice every little bump in the night and the peace of knowing my Lord Jesus is watching over me and in charge of my life. I may wake during the first noise of a storm but I am able to rest in the back of the boat with Jesus regardless.

As I started me reading and study time this morning, both pups wanted up in my lap. I gave the command, “Momma’s working” and they know that means they can’t get up with me and sat down. Nikos lay down under my chair and Pan sat as close has he could, glancing up once in a while at me. It fills me with warm fuzzies all over to see their faithfulness and love. I reached down to scratch their heads and told them I recognized their faithfulness and loved them all the more for it. Then it hit me, does the Lord get all warm and fuzzy when He sees His people faithfully waiting at His feet? Can you imagine the magnitude of love outpouring from Him to know His faithful are just waiting for His touch, His voice and His commands for their lives? It blew me away!

The Bible uses sheep as an example for people in many parables. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are His sheep. David risked his life to care for his sheep. Mat 18:12  How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

In our culture and day it is neither necessary nor feasible for each family to raise sheep for their food and income source. The actual sheep are not the issue either. It is the care, nurturing and mutual love and faithfulness to which I speak. John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: About the time you think you are all powerful and influential…try ordering someone else’s dog around. You will quickly be reminded that they know their master’s voice and follow him/her. You can go stick your head in the sand for all they care.

I’ve said all that to say this…Who is your master? At whose feet are you waiting? To whom do you depend for your provisions? Are you waiting at the feet of your employer, your significant other or your children for that pat on the head and unconditional love and appreciation? You can be waiting a long time if that be the case. Employers come and go, as do our children. People, in general, come and go through the different stages of life. And, yes, my pups will only be with me for a season. The only lasting relationship is the one we have with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

My babies are grown and raising babies of their own; my shepherding days are over for them. I want to be the best shepherd I can to my little pups and I will guard and protect them. My life is blessed by them and theirs by me; mutual love and faithfulness. It is my Shepherd, Jesus, whose voice I listen for and whose feet to which I sit as close as I can. He is the example to which I aspire. No other voice can move me; I know my Shepherd’s voice.

Liker or Lover?

In the time I recently spent with my brother, Michael, we had conversations on many topics. Several included my pups, Nikos and Pan Dulce. As you know, they live in the house like family. This caused Michael to shake his head more than once and make ‘that face’.

Michael thinks dogs should live outside, be there when you want to interact and stay out of your way when you don’t. Nikos and Pan Dulce sleep in my bed. My first steps out of bed are to take care of my pups needs to go outside to potty and my last steps in the evening is shutting up the doggy door before going to bed. Michael shakes his head.

In one of our conversations he kept saying he just didn’t ‘get it’…his daughters do and he sees that but it just doesn’t make sense to him. I told him that was because he was a Dog Liker, not a Dog Lover. Dog Likers can love their dogs and Dog Lovers like theirs, but there is a special connection between man and beast if you are a Dog Lover. He said they aren’t family; he was. I said, “Yes, and tomorrow you will leave to go home, they will still be here. They play a large role in my life, you pop in and out.”

This morning, I looked over at them asleep on the couch as I work. They will lay there until I get up to get more coffee, they will watch my every move and follow me from room to room to see what I am up to. At first opportunity they will crawl up in my lap and love on me, I will love on them back. My decisions involve them; where I could live, arrangements for them when I make a trip, food and vet trips. Just like having children. When I leave the house, they will be on the back porch watching me drive away and they will right there waiting when I get back home, happy to see me. They aren’t just in my life; they are a part of my life. I need them as much as they need me.

It occurred to me that some people treat their relationship with God as if they were God Likers. They call out to God when they need Him but pretty much leave Him out of things when they don’t. They may toss out a few prayers here and there, as if it were dog food, to keep the relationship alive when they feel desperate and expect God to be their watch dog in times of trouble.

God Lovers start their day with God and end it the same way. My relationship with God is not something akin to a watch dog over me but an integral part of who I am, why I can get up and want to start my day serving that relationship. It’s not out of obligation but out of love. I need God in every area of my life, from room to room, season to season, and into eternity. It is His lap in which I climb to love on Him and to feel the comfort of His arms.

I couldn’t survive without the love of Jesus anymore than my pups could if left to their own devices. The biggest difference is I have been on my own, trying to live life my way and I know the hardships and pain there. My pups have never known anything but a loving home. I am able to give them so much love because I know what it is to live without it. I am a Dog Lover and I am God Lover…..I’d have it no other way! Liker or Lover, something to think about.

Unconditional Love

Acts 20:24 None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself . . .

There are not many things more disturbing to a writer than to sit at the key board and be at a loss for words that make sense. (Can I get an AMEN, Eileen?) You want to share some profound wisdom but each additional word turns your efforts to mush. Such has been my morning’s writing. That’s when I know it is coming from my efforts and not the Lord’s leading.

God gave me the marching orders to write and share the day-to-day life lessons He teaches me through Truth in the Morning. I’m not writing a deep theological essay here each day. I just share how He is moving in my life. I believe He uses me in this way so people can recognize themselves and situations in their own lives and be more aware of Him moving in them. I don’t know that is His plan but I do know it is easier to ‘see a sermon’ than hear one.

So this morning I did my reading/studying/praying I do every morning. I sat down at the computer feeling prepared to write. Nothing…nothing came from my source, my Lord. I’m writing from my bedroom this morning, sitting on the edge of my bed because I am doing a lot of painting in the house, demo in places and rearranging the way I live in the house. There seems to be as much upheaval in my home as there is in my life at the moment. As I sat waiting for words to line up, Nikos and Pan Dulce, my pups, snuggled up behind me and leaned against my back. It felt warm and reassuring. I looked over my shoulder at them and said, “Aww, you’ve got my back.” That’s when the Holy Tap came.

A simple day-to-day life lesson reminder from God. He has my back in the midst of upheaval and chaos. His presence is warm and supportive. He can use two small dogs as a reminder to me of His never-ending love for me. Deep and theological…no. The Lord is everywhere, in everything and shows Himself all the time; we just need to be sensitive to the things He shows us.  

Take Another Look

Matt 25:35-36 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.

We’ve all heard and read this scripture. At first read, it seems to be talking about addressing the physical needs of people. Reading it today, I saw an expanded version of it. I do not believe in adding to or taking away from the Word of God, yet this morning it read a little differently. Jesus spoke in parables, using verbiage common to those in the day and time. Maybe, what I saw was God expanding my understanding beyond the obvious. Bear with me as I share what was revealed to me.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat – For I was hungry for something real and relevant to nurture my soul and You gave me the Word of God to feed me truth and salvation.

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink – For I was thirsty from living in the barren desert of this worldly life and You gave me the overflowing cup of Living Waters to satisfy my thirst and I will never thirst again.

I was a stranger and you invited me in – For I was a stranger, alone and lonely, as I walked through my life and You invited me and made me the adopted child of the Living God.

I needed clothes and you clothed me – I needed clothes that were not the filthy rags of sin I had worn so long and You washed me white as snow and clothed me in a robe of Your righteousness.

I was sick and you looked after me – I was sick and defeated by the evils of this world, man’s striving for power, position and possessions and You looked after me and my eternal soul with Your mercy, grace and love.

I was in prison and you came to visit me.  – I was imprisoned by sin, depravations and strongholds holding my mind and spirit captive and You came to visit me to set me free from the law, my sin and condemnation.

Jesus was talking in these scriptures. Everywhere we look there are people in need physically and spiritually. Jesus cares about the person as a whole. Their spiritual needs take care of them for eternity; physical needs, while important, are temporary. If we are to strive to be more Christ-like, we, too, need to care about both and seek to help where and how we can. There is no greater love or help than sharing the gospel and love story of Jesus Christ with those in need.

Matt 25:40 The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

John 13:34-35 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.