a glimpse of heaven's love

Christmas is not just a holiday.  Nor is Christmas just about a baby being born in a manger.  Yes,  we celebrate Jesus being born--and don't minimize this--if Jesus hadn't been born of a virgin, He would not have been God!  Jesus Christ is God Incarnate, God in the flesh!  And wonder of wonders that God would come to this earth--why? to die for mankind!  How precious, how wonderful that is!  That is the truth of Christmas--Jesus Christ was born so that He might die for us!!  That is the wonder of Christmas-- Jesus coming to earth to provide salvation to lowly sinners like you and I.  But that really is only the beginning.  Christmas is all about Christ and the gospel--His death, burial, and resurrection.  Once you start to tell about God Incarnate, you just must tell the whole story!  John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlast...

Our relationship with Christ ought to be one of constant dependence and communion.   Prayer is a natural outflow of that dependence and communion. Prayer isn't the way to get God to do whatever we want.   Prayer is an expression of our trust in God's power, wisdom and grace.   The Holy Spirit, Our Prayer Partner 24/7 Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Prayers of the Saints are Precious Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. Prayer, Our Strengt...

John 15:4-5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. The abiding relationship with Christ is the vine and branch intertwined in communion and strength that we might produce fruit and Christlike character which glorifies God. Our relationship with Christ ought to be one of constant dependence and communion.  Prayer is the natural outflow of that dependence and communion with Christ. It has been said, "To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." The Abiding Relationship Results in-- Spiritual Fruitfulness John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. Answered Prayer John 15:7 If ...

Psalms 118: 29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Gratitude is the memory of the heart.      ~Jean Baptiste Massieu, translated from French I would maintain that thanks is the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.  ~G.K. Chesterton Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel.  ~Author Unknown  "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. " -- Melody Beattie "Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others." -- Marcus Tullius Cicero "Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty. " -- Doris Day "Life without thankfulnes...

John 3:16  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."    1) The Greatest Lover 2) The Greatest Degree of Love 3) The Greatest Company 4) The Greatest Act 5) The Greatest Gift 6) The Greatest Opportunity 7) The Greatest Simplicity 8) The Greatest Attraction 9) The Greatest Promise 10) The Greatest Difference 11) The Greatest Certainty 12) The Greatest Possession    God's wondrous love!  Nothing can describe it.  Nothing can measure it.  Oh, the magnitude of God's love!  God loved us so much that He was willing to give His only Son to this world, that we might through Him believe and be saved.  That is the greatest love!  God was willing to sacrifice all that we might be saved!  God literally turned His back on His Son--He Who took all of our sin upon Him--that He might bring us to God. "The nail-pierced hands of Jesus reveal ...

Question:  Do you realize the choices you make have a real outcome on the lives of those you come in contact?  You make a difference -- for the good or for the bad! You'll forgive me if I paraphrase Pastor Love's sermon from Sunday.  It was a good one!  Course, if you've been keeping up with my postings, some of it will sound familiar.  I suppose that's why I thought it was so good…the Lord has been working on me in those same areas!  Perhaps you need to hear it too! Colossians 3:1-4 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. As born-again Christians, we are to "seek those things which are above." You can virtually close the book and say "no" to God--or ...

John 3:16  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."   One of the most well-known verses in all the Bible, isn't it?  Yes, God loved us so much that He was willing to sacrifice His only Son, that we might have a way to Heaven.  How incredible!  Course, His wondrous grace and mercy enter into it as well.  But what about God being just?  That's also true!  God is just and holy!  God is all those things, and all at the same time.  You might say (or have heard it said) that God couldn't send me to hell…God is love!  It's true, God is love;  but at the same time (and perhaps even more so) is the realization that God is a just God.  He cannot allow sin into His Heaven.  You must trust Christ as your personal Savior. John 14:6 says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Fath...

  Let's discuss that topic again: producing fruit.  What is fruit ?  I believe fruit is everything in our lives--as born-again Christians--that points others to Christ.  That can mean everything from the fruit of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace...), to our witness and testimony for Christ, to even the character (or God-like qualities) that God and His Holy Spirit is producing in us.  [Hope you continue reading and enjoy my further points of study on the fruit produced in our lives.] Fruit refers to evidence of what is within We will see a harvest of fruit as we yield to God and allow His Spirit to work in and through us The fruit of the Spirit should be evident--ever growing Psalm 1:3   And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Jeremiah 17:7-8  Blessed is the man that t...

When I think of the subject of maturing or growing, I think of the passage in James 1.  Verses 3-4 say this: "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."   We need to realize that in order for us to mature or grow, we're going to have to go through testing or trials.  God knows that is the only way we're going to grow and mature…and He knows just what it'll take to get our attention, and produce the fruit that He desires.  When we're put under God's pressure cooker, our faith is forced to show what it's really worth.  How true, how strong our faith really is, is going to show forth.  On the other hand, it is in times such as this that we exercise our faith as well.  If we remain faithful, our faith and character is strengthened.  God works through a su...

This is one of my favorite verses: John 10:10  "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Satan wishes to destroy you.  If you don't know the Lord, he is trying to keep you from making that most important decision; if, on the other hand, you know the Lord, Satan would love to--in the very least--keep you from walking a close walk with the Lord.  Satan would love to "sift you as wheat," and work so that your life, your testimony would not amount to anything for God.  Don't let him do that! God desires to give us the richest of blessings, and we're the only thing that stands in His way!  We are the only thing that can limit God's blessings.  It's as simple as that.  God's blessings--God's abundant life--is promised to those that follow Him and obey Him. Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall...

Do you know what your biggest problem is?  [yours and mine!]  Our biggest problem is a heart that wants it's own way.  I've heard it said that pride is our number one problem… but I think selfish desires is the thing ruling our hearts.  You can picture it this way--either Christ is on the throne of your heart or self is.  Either you're serving God or you're serving self.  And that's true for every decision or choice you make throughout each day.       Galatians 2:20 says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." "yet not I, but Christ"  If you're growing and maturing in Christ at all, you should have realized, "It's not about me…It's all about Christ!"  He is the reason for our living.  He is the reason for it all.  And we are to be...

I spoke about faith to begin with.  That was rather premature, though, wasn't it?  Is it enough to believe there is a God, to be saved?  No!  Not if you want a home in heaven.  Now, that's not just a Baptist belief (although I admit, I am Baptist!); but no, it's strictly a Bible-based belief.  God said it, therefore I believe it!  (In James 2:19 it says, "the devils [or demons] also believe, and tremble.")  Now, you can bet they're not going to be in heaven!  In John 14:6 it says, (and Jesus Christ is speaking), "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."  Jesus Christ is our only way to heaven!  But believing He exists, even believing that He came to this earth to die for our sin, isn't enough.  To have faith is not enough.  So what does God say we must do to be genuinely saved?    God Wants you to Know… You are a sinner and cannot save yourself.  ...

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith is the vehicle whereby we trust God.  Faith believes what God says and acts upon it.  In other words, faith is our transporter!  Without faith, we have nothing.  We must believe God and trust.  And the second part of that verse says our faith is what glorifies God .  Our faith shows to the unbelieving world what God is all about.  Our faith is the evidence of God at work.  Faith is the initiating force.  Faith can be likened to a seed.  Without the seed, nothing grows.  But if that seed germinates or sprouts, and it is watered and fertilized, you'll find it will blossom into something quite beautiful.  Faith is like that.  If we will but believe God and act upon it, then that faith will grow and strengthen and flourish into something beautiful for the Lord. Biblical faith means having trust,...