Monday, October 22, 2018

Sit With Me

”Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:20-22)

“Who loves you?” As a mother of a young boy, I often asked my son, “who loves you?” I wanted over and over to express to him by word and deed that I loved him. It became a fun game at times as each of us stated, “I love you” to the echo of the other saying, “No, I love you more.”

When discipline was needed, love was expressed, it wrapped the words of correction. I learned that from my dad.

The Bibles speaks of Love covering a multitude of sin. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

In the Book of Revelation, we see a picture of 7 churches being addressed by God. To the church of Laodicea, we hear the words, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Rev. 3:19-20)

Here is God inviting us to repent, to make things right with Him. He even provides a table for us to sit and eat with him. He extends forgiveness for our error and wholeness for our brokenness. The Creator of everything is inviting us. Can you hear him? “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 3:22)

Yesterday while I was at church I had the privilege of holding my friend’s daughter on my lap. As I held her I noticed that she seemed to be losing her vibrant energy. As I rocked her back and forth her little head leaned in on my chest and she fell asleep. How precious the trust and confidence that she would be safe in my arms.

God says he will do the same for us. He invites us to a place of security and rest with Him. When I read, “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (Rev. 3:21) this is God’s invitation for me to sit and rest with him.

His arms are a place of security and a reassurance that we have been accepted. The invitation said, that he rebukes those he loves. He does it in his great love! He warns and directs. He invites us to enter in where he is. This is God asking me to rest in his arms! The call is to me.

When life has diluted our vibrancy and our energies have been zapped by life’s circumstances or by our own rebellion against God, he reminds us that we can repent and rest in him.

When I engage with God he renews me; my body, soul and spirit. I can hear my heart speak to him saying, “I love you Lord.” to which He responds, “but I love you more.” And, indeed God does!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Therefore, rest and lean into the heart of God. It’s a safe place. Repent, recline and rest, you are in the arms of Jesus!

God bless you!~Liz

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

The Rescue

"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that
person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted." (Galatians 6:1)

I watched a video today about an dog in a very dangerous predicament.  Using a simple tool 3 brave boys begin to address the situation.

A dog wrapped in a vise-grip position by a huge snake.  The boys begin the rescue.  

I often see every day situations as spiritual lessons.  

How quickly would we go to get someone out of harms way?  Some of us would run into oncoming traffic if we saw a helpless toddler in the middle of the road.  Well, that actually recently happened and it was on the news.

We often see people jumping into rivers to save others without a concern that they themselves might loose their lives.  Advocates speak up for those who can not speak for themselves.  Every day Samaritans at the rescue of the helpless.

These are quick rescues without any regard for our own safety because others, strangers are in a life or death situation.   

When sin has tangled someone we love, do we run with the same tenacity? Do we seek ways to rescue those we love from spiritual dangers?

A snake wrapped around a helpless dog.  Three boys to the rescue and indeed free this animal.  How refreshing!  

I'm reminded of the three Hebrew boys that refused to bow down to a false idol.  Throw them in the furnace but they refused to turn their backs on the God of all creation!  And their God rescued them!

"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted." (Galatians 6:1)

We are to stay close to our God who fortifies us and leads us daily.  Help us Lord to gently restore those being led astray.  Give us wisdom and the resolve to help those being dragged away by sin.

God bless you!~Liz


Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Jesus Loves Me This I Know

"But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." (Luke 18:16 )

The simplicity of the Gospel.  This Sunday on my way home from church my 9 year old niece, Meyli began to tell me what she learned in Sunday school.  She told me the story of Saul who became Paul after God stopped him with a loud noise; spoke to him and asked him, "what are you doing?"

She continued to tell me that Saul was killing Christians and after Jesus spoke to him he became blind.  He had to go to Ananias so that he could be "fixed." Love it!

I listened intently as she continued.  She said, "then Saul got a new name.  His name is Paul.  Now he loves God and tells everyone about Jesus."  Then she said, "I love God too!"

I took the opportunity to talk about the Lord. I asked her if she wanted to know God too.  I told her Jesus loved her and very simply explained that he "fixes" us when we are in trouble too.  This was no long drawn-out theological explanation or sermon, just the simplicity of our need for Jesus and his love for us.

I asked her if she wanted to pray and ask Jesus to come inside her heart just like Paul.  She said, "yes!" I told her that it was important that she prayed because it was her request to Jesus.  I said, "prayer is just talking to God."

She said something like this, "Jesus I love you and I want you to live in my heart.  Thank you for listening to me.  Help me learn about you. Help me do well in school. Amen."  I said, "amen".

I told her to remember this day, Sept. 30th.  Jesus has heard you.  Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.  You belong to Jesus.  Afterwards, she said that she wanted to speak to her little sister, so she could know Jesus too.  My little evangelist!

It's simple. Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so! I'm broken and he can fix me!

I'm in the process of mailing her a children's Bible.

A shout out to the Orange County Gospel Fellowship Children's Ministry, "YOU ROCK!"  Thank you Brigid Callahan for sharing the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Interestingly, I gave my life to the Lord when my Niece, her mother was born almost 30 years ago.  This Sunday I had the privilege of praying with her daughter to do the same.  Isn't God Marvelous!

God bless you!~Liz

CHANGE, WELCOME IT!

 Acts 9:32-34 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas,...