Love (Elements of Existence) #AtoZChallenge

 I took photo in Lubbock, TX, with Canon camera.
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
Psalm 31:16

New International Version (NIV)

      We've all most likely heard it said that "God is love" and yet sometimes we ask why a loving God would allow bad things to happen to us sometimes.  We have to realize that we live in a fallen world.  Humanity has opened the doors to sin and sin in turn causes the pain and the bad things to happen.  One follows from the other.  Imperfect that we are, we often fall into the ways of sin and face the consequences that result from our actions.

         Never fear though, for God is ever watchful over us.   Through his never-ending love He continues to provide our needs.  He hears our prayers when we call to him.  Even if his answer is not the one we want, it is the answer we need.   A good parent does not give a child that which will hurt them even though the child may beg or scream--that is the parent's love in action.  The child might feel resentment for a short term, but eventually that child usually will understand that what seemed like deprivation was actually an act of great caring.

         Love involves sacrifice.  God made the greatest sacrifice because he loved us.  If we accept this and believe in this truth, then we will come to know the greatest love of all.   God's love for us is like no other.

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
New International Version (NIV)

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Does Getting Old Have to Be Bad?

The Christian concept of apocatastasis includes a restoration of the world to its original state, as in the Garden of Eden (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.
Psalm 90:9

New International Version (NIV)

        Sure, we can blame our circumstance on Original Sin, but that's no excuse for disobeying God.  Our sin is not Adam's fault, Eve's fault, nor the fault of anyone else but ourselves.  We can cower from God or resent his authority over us, yet the fact remains that God rules and his wrath upon unrepentant sinners is real.

         Some may laugh at the concept of an all-powerful Creator/Savior.  Many scoff at the laws of living as presented by scripture.  Woe to those who go through life without accepting God's grace and understanding His plan of salvation.    These are the ones who will be excluded from a glorious eternity with the one who put us here in the first place.

         Should we fear growing older, the degeneration of our mortal shells, and our eventual demise?   Uncertainty is the primary component of fear.   When we make the rules and live life according to our own plan of understanding, then we end up not understanding much and wasting away into the creation of a self-made world that offers no lasting hope.   We cannot save ourselves.

           There is hope for those of us who look beyond the limitations of our humanness.   God loves us and wants us to grow in His Word and His Way.   In our discomforts, we can be comforted.   We can conquer doubts and fears with God's power.   God is with us in this life.   And if we are with God then we have an eternity of blessing ahead of us.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 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

New International Version (NIV)

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The One Majestic Ruler of All

Multiwavelength X-ray image of the remnant of Kepler's Supernova, SN 1604. (Chandra X-ray Observatory) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8:9

New International Version (NIV)

       There is no earthly power that comes close to our Sovereign God.   To place our complete trust and faith in some monarch, president, caliph, pope, or any other leader of world or religious affairs is foolish.  Humans are below God as is all of the creation of the Almighty Creator.  Worshipping temporal entities or even the elements that have existed for eons makes no sense when considered from the aspect of spiritual logic.

        There is one God, one Creator, and one Holy of all Holies.   If you are worshipping anyone or anything else then you are worshipping passing fancy and meaningless exultation.   Who do you hold on high?   Will that "god" be around tomorrow?   A million years from now?   Has that "god" answered any of your prayers?   Comforted you in your times of greatest need?

         Consult the Holy Bible with your mind and heart open.   You can find answers.   And if the One Holy Lord God is with you then you will find answers.  This is the greatest logic for those who have found true wisdom.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Jude 1:24-25

King James Version (KJV)

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Mercy (#atozchallenge)

Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglican Church http://www.stjohnsashfield.org.au, Ashfield, New South Wales. Illustrates Jesus' description of himself "I am the Good Shepherd" (from the Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 11). This version of the image shows the detail of his face. The memorial window is also captioned: "To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of William Wright. Died 6th November, 1932. Aged 70 Yrs." (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Psalm 51:1

King James Version (KJV)

          How many times does it take to get something right?   Some things are easy and we get them right the first time.   Other things require several attempts before we learn how to do them.   There are some skills that take a great amount of training before a person can become an expert.

          But what about life?    Relationships involve a lot of trial and error.   There are often misunderstandings.   Sometimes we mess up so badly that it's difficult for the one we've wronged to forgive us.   Humans don't have the same capacity for mercy and grace toward each other as God has for us.   We should thank him frequently for that.

          Since the beginning of time people have rebelled against God and gone astray.   God is always ready to forgive and show mercy.   God is ready to give, but are you ready to ask?

          God will not force Himself, his love, his grace, and his mercy upon us.   We must be willing to receive. For those who receive God's gifts, great things await.  

          Don't lose out on what God wants for you.   

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,  he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:4-7

New International Version (NIV)

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When You Are Fearful

Grand Canyon Thunder River Trail looking down at Upper Tapeats Creek (Photo credit: Al_HikesAZ)

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

King James Version (KJV)

     

        There are many things in today's world that can make us afraid.    If nature is not out to get us, then the evil in the hearts of men surely will hurt us or even kill us. Bad guys lurk in the shadows of the streets in the towns where we live while bad world leaders and armies gather in far off lands to destroy the nation where we live. If the criminally minded enemy in our own neighborhood doesn't harm us the larger powers will eventually do us in.

        So what should I fear most in this world? The government is supposed to take care of me aren't they? So why are they spying on all of us and coming up with those things that can take away our freedoms and enslave us under their evil rule? I am apprehensive about things to come, but also excited in many ways.

       We live in a wondrous time in respect to both the amazing accomplishments of humankind and the promise of things to come as prophesied in the Bible thousands of years ago. We should not be surprised about things that have happened already and the events yet to come. Nor should we be afraid as the pieces of God's great plan come together.

      Many people are afraid of that which is unknown. And many will be afraid as prophecies unfold. Then others know the comfort in God's love for us and know the end of the story that is in the telling.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

King James Version (KJV)

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When Your Pockets Are Empty

Bible (Photo credit: Light from Light)

The blameless spend their days under the Lord’s care,
    and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

Psalm 37:18-19

New International Version (NIV)

        We are in challenging times when many of us are feeling the burden of financial pressure.  The jobless numbers reported by the government are probably not even close to the reality of how many are out of work.   Many are living day by day and scraping together all available resources to get their bills payed.  More than a few have defaulted on their accounts and may be even one step closer to homelessness.

      A good number of the people in these positions probably have not given themselves over to a faith in Jesus Christ and doubt the power of God.   And some of these may be good Christians who truly believe in what God is capable of doing.   One big difference between these two sets of people is that those who have put their trust in God understand something about actual wealth--the riches that go beyond the earthly standards of measurement. 

       We can't rely solely on our jobs, our wealth, or the promise of being taken care of when we can no longer work.   People and governments can and will fail.    Prosperity as society typically sees it is a tenuous circumstance that can be taken from us at any second.

         Even if believers have to suffer and die along with the unbelievers, we have a joy within that will see us into eternity.   There's a good chance that God is going to see that our physical needs are taken care of in this life, but keep in mind that kept in perspective of the bigger picture this life is a blink of an eye. 

        A full belly and bank account is reassuring, but a soul full of joy and the Lord's assurance is the one thing the true believer in Christ can count on.  Think back on the metaphors Jesus often used about bread.  Food is not always something we eat with our mouths to fill our stomachs.  

 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

Acts 14:17

New International Version (NIV)

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Real Love ( #atozchallenge )

God the Father 01 (Photo credit: Waiting For The Word)

       Have you experienced real love in your life?   Can you give real honest to goodness love to another person?   I guess we can call this unconditional love.  We probably most associate this with our love for our children or perhaps even our spouses.   But sometimes we can be pushed to certain limits where we might question that love.  How far would you have to be pushed before you started questioning the unconditional love that you thought you might have had?

       Think about God's love for us.  Throughout the ages God has given humans so many second chances and what did they do with God's love for them?   Rejected it.   God has faced more rejection than any one person ever has.   To think that He has given us everything including our very lives and so many continue to reject Him.  Why?

        If you think that God has put conditions on His love for us, perhaps you should consider this more thoughtfully.  He has laid everything right before you.   God's children are the ones who have established the conditions.  We can accept or reject Him.   We have two choices in the end.  If we accept then we will be in God's presence for eternity.

        God shows us real love.   Can we love Him back?

 If you would like to know more about a true life change in a positive direction, then please click on the above tab labeled Take the Next Step. 

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Patiently Waiting

The Earth seen from Apollo 17. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the skies.
Psalm 36:5

New International Version (NIV)

          I've looked heavenward on dark silent nights pondering the unending blanket of stars above  me, wondering when, oh when, I will be face to face with you God.  In the vastness of the universe and even this world I feel small, lost, and forgotten.  But I know you are here with me always.  I feel your presence in the quiet of night.  I sense your being in the busyness of the big city bustle.  You were there when I've needed you in the past and I know you will not abandon me in whatever future I have left on this Earth.

        Your love is forever.  I know that.   Forgive my weaknesses and my foolish ways.  You know me.  I want to know you better.  I praise you for all the blessings in my life.  You are great, oh God!  I thank you for caring for me and the faithful love and mercy you show to all who will see.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.   Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7

New International Version (NIV)

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Future Is Now

Image via Wikipedia

Restore us, O God;
         Cause Your face to shine, 
         And we shall be saved! 

Psalm 80:3

New King James Version (NKJV)

        Old year gone, new year here--

         Let God's love shine down on you.

         Don't be overcome by fear

         Or doubt--your soul's renewed.

         Lift up your hearts.  Rejoice His love.

         Angels sweep down from above

          To sing the glory of the Lord.

          Sing ye too and be restored.

                                        arlee bird

         

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