John 1:14 and John 3:16 God's Love Came to Earth

John 1:14 says, “The Word was with God and the Word was God and this Word became flesh and dwelt among us”.

1 John 4:8 says, “God is Love”.  God’s love was revealed to us when He came among us to dwell on earth.

John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. 

Matthew 1:23 says, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel (which means God with us).

Jesus Christ is the priceless gift of God’s love.  He came down from the Father in heaven to earth.  He was given for each of us so that we might know God and know God’s love.

Jesus is God in human flesh as we have seen in John 1:14.  John’s gospel is about the deity of Christ.  The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One and existed from the beginning.  In John 14 Jesus tells His disciples that He and the Father are One; “if you have seen me you have seen the Father”.

The same titles used for God in the Old Testament are used for Jesus in the New Testament:  The Eternal Judge, The Holy One, The First and the Last, The Alpha and Omega, The Lord of the Sabbath, The Savior, The Mighty God, The Lord of Lords, The Lord of Glory, and The Redeemer.

God is Love.  Jesus and Father God are One.  Jesus is Love.  The Father sent The Son to show us Love and to teach us how to love. 

When Jesus returned to the Father He left us His Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit continues Christ’s ministry in us and in the world.  Each person in The Triune Godhead possesses the same attributes.  They are eternal, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, immutable, sovereign, and all glorious. 

Love is all about God.  Love originates in God.  Love was with, and in, our Triune God before the creation of the world.  Love began with God.  Love was personified in Jesus when He came to us in flesh, as man.  Love came down as a baby in a manger, to walk the earth, and to show us how to live and love.  As a believer, the Holy Spirit abides in me and I in Him.  He has given me the Fruit of His Spirit.  1 Corinthians 13:13 says that the greatest gift of all is Love.  I want God’s love to be perfected in me.  Lord, thank you for your Love.  Teach me how to love others.     

Galatians 5:22 Love, the First and Greatest Fruit of the Spirit

Love is the first Fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22.  God is love.  Love is of God.  He is the source.  Love originates in God the Father.  Love was manifested in Jesus, His Son.  Love is a gift from the Holy Spirit to us, God’s children, to be perfected in our being and character.  Spiritual growth is a process.  When The Holy Spirit enters into the believer’s spirit He gives the believer His gifts, His nine spiritual fruits; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  We are not all of a sudden perfected in these virtuous gifts.  He teaches us, guides us, convicts our hearts, and grows these gifts within our spirits and understanding.  As our faith grows and we mature in our Christian walk, these gifts manifest themselves in us to a greater extent or degree as we grow.  Others will see that we are walking in compassion and love.  It is hard to walk in love when God isn’t walking with us.  God within us enables us to love, forgive, be joyful even in difficult times, and exercise all nine fruits of God’s Spirit.  

1 John 4: 7-12 tells us much about God’s love and His character.  Love is the supreme virtue of our God.  “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us”.

God’s spiritual gift to us of Himself; the gift of the Holy Spirit, empowers us to love.  Romans 5:5 says, “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which was given to us”.  Faith works by love.  Jesus said that the greatest commandment is that we love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind; and our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:27).  Loving God and others is the first and greatest gift of the Spirit to the believer.  Love makes it possible for us to walk in the other eight gifts; joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Let us walk in love and in the Fruit of the Spirit.        

Galatians 5:22 Joy, a Fruit of the Spirit

We pursue many things in life.  We look for happiness, fulfillment, peace, and meaning.  At some point in life we ask ourselves the questions, “What is life all about?”, “What will make me happy, fulfilled, and peaceful?”  Each of us will follow different paths as we search for answers.  At times the answers are clear for the moment but are only temporary in duration; a new car, success in an endeavor, a sought after relationship, etc.  Things and circumstances can make us happy. 

In my journey through the years I have come to realize that external happiness and internal joy are not the same thing.  No one is happy all of the time.  In Galatians 5:22, joy is listed as the second Fruit of the Spirit.  Joy is a product of God’s Holy Spirit, not a product of the natural mind.  Joy is a supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit of God.

In Psalm 16:11 David speaks to God saying, “You will show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore”.  Joy as described in the Bible cannot be separated from our relationship with God.  I sought God and I continually seek a closer relationship with Him.  I have received the gift of faith and the promise of eternal life with Christ.  I know where I will spend eternity and I know that God’s hand is upon me and guiding me in this life.  Peace and joy are external signs of having found this internal purpose and reason for being. 

1 Thessalonians 1:5 tells believers that even in affliction we posses the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Joy is a Fruit of the Spirit.  We can remain supernaturally joyful even in the midst of pain, trial, and suffering.  Even if we are not happy in times of difficulty we still posses the Holy Spirit’s internal joy.  This joy does not diminish because of external circumstances.  It is Christ’s light in us that can be seen by others who observe us and see how we react to the ups and downs of life.  Those who do not know God cannot understand the peace and joy which I am trying to describe.

John 3:16 tells us that it is available to everyone.  Jeremiah 29:13 and Matthew 7:7 tell us that when we seek we will find.  God wants us to seek Him.  You have everything to gain and nothing to loose by doing so.  He is real.  He will convict your heart.  He wants us to come to Him in an attitude of repentance.  He has the gift of faith waiting for each of us to accept and receive.  He wants us to be filled with His Holy Spirit and to receive His Gifts of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Coming to faith and growing in faith is a process.  Never stop seeking.  Never stop praying.  Never stop listening.  Never stop learning His Word and His promises.  Never stop seeking a closer walk with the Father, through the Son, empowered by His Holy Spirit.  Never stop growing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  May the Fruit of the Holy Spirit be manifested in each of us so that God’s light would shine through us into the lives of others prompting them to seek what we have found.  

Galatians 5:22 Peace, a Fruit of the Spirit

Of the nine qualities called the Fruit of the Spirit the first three portray a Christian’s mindset with special emphasis on his relationship with God.  They are love, joy, and peace.  Romans 5:1, tells us that true peace of mind depends on attaining “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. 

I am sure those with a secular mindset would disagree when I say that man cannot experience true peace without trusting in and obeying God.  I speak from personal experience.  I have heard many testimonies of people trying to fill the emptiness in their spirits with many things as they looked for true peace in their lives.  They find out that material things, success, wealth, acclaim, or even relationships do not bring a true internal peace.  They reach a goal which they have envisioned and look around and say, “is that all there is?”  At some time in life each of us is faced with the questions, “What is life all about?”   “What is the purpose of the trials which I face?”  “I have to do the same thing day, after day, after day.  Is there purpose to the monotony?”  One can become very fearful and depressed until he finds answers to these thoughts.   Faith in the God who is waiting for us to come to Him cannot be logically understood.  Faith is a gift.  We are to come with the faith of an innocent child.  Faith comes to us when we seek its reality.  We experience God’s reality when we ask, “Is what God promises in His word true?  Is God who He says He is?”  God and His answers came to me as I read specific Bible verses.  His Spirit entered my spirit and I knew He was with me.  He heard me and He spoke to my heart. 

Receiving God’s gift of faith and the virtues of the Fruit of His Spirit make our personal spirits peaceful.  We experience peace when fear is replaced by faith.  A fearful person has not found God’s internal peace, a gift of the Spirit.   The greatest gift which the believer has is the promised hope of eternal life.  God’s promise of eternal life tells me that I will be with Him and my loved ones throughout eternity.   This gives me peace.  I am not afraid to die therefore I am not afraid to live.  Christ conquers the believer’s ultimate fear of death.

God has given us His grace, His promise of eternal life, and His peace.  As He has given, He wants us to give.  When we receive His peace, He wants us to live in peace.  Peace and harmony come to those who extend it to others.  In the world, peace is described as the opposite of war and social unrest.  Man prays for world peace.  The peace which I have been describing is an internal quality possessed by individuals who are reconciled with God.  God has not given man the power to give peace.  God’s peace can only return to the world when He returns.  Our heavenly Father is called the “God of Peace” in 1 Thessalonians 5:23.  The Messiah, Christ, is called the “Prince of Peace” in Isaiah 9:6.  There is a peace which the world can not define, understand, or achieve.  Peace is something every human being longs for to achieve in their personal lives and in the world.  In John 14:27 Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”     

Galatians 5:22 Longsuffering, a Gift of the Spirit

The antidote for the traits of the human spirit is God’s Spirit.  Our human nature is described as the flesh in scriptures.  The human spirit possesses selfish tendencies.  Our self absorption should decrease as we grow from infant, to child, to adult.  This happens in varying degrees in each of us; some people never continue growing beyond their childhood selfish traits.  We can work on improving the works or traits of the flesh but the results usually fall short of our intentions.  We need God’s help.  We need His strength, wisdom, and power.  He enables us to improve and grow in love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

The forth Fruit of the Spirit is longsuffering.  Longsuffering is patience.  The human trait tends to be impatience.  I can identify with the fact that impatience comes easily to most of us.  It is easy to speak impulsively and to over-react in any given situation.  God wants us to patiently endure as we relate to others.  Our attitudes and actions are being observed by others and affect our testimony.  The Spirit of God within us will power our ability to be longsuffering.  Romans 8:14 tells us that to truly be “sons of God” we must be “led by the Spirit of God”.

None of us can exhibit patience like God.  The Father waits patiently for each of us to come to Him believing who He is.  He waits in an attitude of unconditional love for each of our hearts to be convicted and to choose to receive His gift of faith.  Christ patiently endured suffering during His three years of ministry on His way to the cross for us.  The Holy Spirit teaches us and convicts our hearts as He waits for us to repent, believe, and receive salvation and the entry of His Spirit and gifts into our lives.  We want God to be forgiving and patient with us.  He wants us to be forgiving and patient with others.   

Longsuffering and endurance means patience and perseverance.  I can remember repeating the following words often to my girls when they were struggling with a task, “patience, persistence, and perseverance, makes perfection”.  Now I hear them encouraging my grandchildren with the same advice.  We do not attain perfection in most areas of our lives but we get to reach our best position or result when we patiently persevere. 

Philippians 4:13 is a Bible verse which I have repeated quietly and out loud to myself many times and in many situations, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.  I want Christ’s Holy Spirit within me to help me to persevere in patience and longsuffering as I grow in the Fruits of the Spirit.        

Galatians 5:22 Kindness, a Fruit of the Spirit

Kindness is the fifth Gift of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22.  It is a characteristic which has to do with our relationships with others.  It is the way we express love to our family and others.  When we love someone we want to treat them with Kindness and we want others to treat us kindly.

Kindness, generosity, and mercy are the heart of God’s nature.  Christ gave Himself for our sins.  Because of what Jesus did for us, when we receive Him and His Holy Spirit, this nature of Kindness begins to grow in our human spirit.  In our human nature we are all deficient, flawed, and weak.  No one has “arrived” spiritually.  As we yield to the Holy Spirit, He grows our spirit developing the virtue of Kindness within us.

Isaiah 54:10 says, “ ‘For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall my covenant of peace be removed’, says the Lord who has mercy on you”.  As a believer, I experience God’s peace and His Kindness (Blessings and Favor) in my life.

Our Lord and Savior was kind and our Father requires us to be kind and merciful.  He gave us His Holy Spirit to enable us to grow in Kindness and mercy toward others.  In   Matthew 5:7 Jesus says, “Blessed are the merciful (kind) for they shall obtain mercy”.  Our Kindness and mercy toward others will in someway come back to us.  We are not to be kind for that which we want to receive in return.  We are to be kind to others because Kindness and mercy have now become our nature and our natural loving response to others.  We look for no reward from the person to whom we showed kindness.  An example of this unselfish kindness is seen in the parable of The Good Samaritan in Luke 10: 30-37.  The Good Samaritan showed the wounded traveler unconditional kindness.  This is the Kindness and mercy which the Holy Spirit is working on perfecting in our lives.  Come Holy Spirit Come! Perfect your gift of Kindness in my spirit.  Thank you, Lord.          

Galatians 5:22 Goodness, a Fruit of the Spirit

Each Fruit, as described in Galatians 5: 22 and 23 describes a specific character quality that God creates in the believer through His Spirit.  They are gifts of the Holy Spirit.  The sixth gift listed in these verses is the gift of Goodness.  Goodness is the state of being good.  It is a virtue which expresses moral excellence.  It is seen in an individual as a recognizable attribute of character. Genuinely good people are kind, caring, generous, and strong in essence and conduct.  In Biblical writings, Goodness is seen as uprightness of heart and life.

Goodness is the essence of God’s nature.  Psalm 100:5 says, “For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation”.  Our human nature is not instinctively good.  As a child we begin to learn how to be good.  When we receive Christ, God the Father now sees us through the filter of Christ’s righteousness and the Holy Spirit enters into our spirit giving us His gifts.  The Holy Spirit, by giving the believer the gift of Goodness, transmits God’s goodness into our human spirit.  God’s goodness and righteousness become our strength of character. 

About twenty years ago I worked with a nurse who came back into hospital nursing after working in other nursing fields for years.  I had accomplished the same transition a number of years earlier.  One day she took me aside and asked, “What is different about you?  Don’t you ever feel burnt out?”  I love nursing.  I love caring for others.  I make it a practice to work hard and live in an attitude of thanksgiving with a positive outlook.  I try to live my faith without being verbally preachy.  My sincere response to her, as I prayed for boldness, was “I love the Lord with all of my heart, all of my soul, and all of my mind”.  The way I lived, the way I treated others, and the way I practiced my profession became a witness to someone who was watching me.  I thank the Lord for the gift of faith and the gifts of the Holy Spirit in my life.  I want the Goodness of God to shine through me as He grows me in His gifts.  I want God to be glorified in my life as He teaches me, fills me, and flows through me.  I want to live in His light and in the light of His Word.        

Galatians 5:22 Faithfulness, a Fruit of the Spirit

I have learned of God’s faithfulness over the years.  He has brought me through many trials and difficult times.  He is with me in times of joy and in pain.  One of my favorite Hymns is “Great is Thy Faithfulness”.  It is one of many old Hymns which bring my eyes to tears as I sing the meaningful words.  He is so faithful and I am so very grateful for His faithfulness.

Faithfulness is synonymous with steadfastness, constancy, and allegiance.  We live in a world of broken promises.  Consistency and commitment seem to be less and less important in society today.  Man cannot be faithful to God or his fellow man when he has a selfish mindset; when he always puts himself and his needs first.  In using the word man, I am sure that you will understand that I am talking about mankind; man or woman.  This selfishness must be broken before he will put God and others before his own self-interests. 

By nature, God is faithful.  Our human natures are imperfect, self-centered, and sinful.  The Holy Spirit has convicted the Christian’s heart bringing him to Salvation.  When God saves us the Holy Spirit enters into our spirit giving us His spiritual gifts. God, through His Holy Spirit within us, is working to improve us in character and spirit.  He wants us to become more trustworthy, loyal, and dependable.  A faithful person is someone you can trust, depend on, and count on.  The Holy Spirit teaches us faithfulness.  The more we know God and His word, the more we are aware of His total faithfulness to us.  We learn how Jesus lived; and how He wants us to live.  The Holy Spirit makes it possible for His gifts to grow within us.  As we love more, we mature more in our faithfulness in relationship to God and to others. 

God’s faithfulness to us is synonymous with His covenant love for us.  This we can read in Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 100:5, and Lamentations 3:22, and 23; Great is God’s faithfulness!  God is faithful to us.  We are to be faithful to Him in our speech, worship, prayer, service, and stewardship.  We are to be faithful to others in relationship as we live in love, integrity, truth, and commitment.  It isn't always easy, but it is possible.  We must ask the Holy Spirit to give us the strength in His power to make it doable.  He will be faithful to build faithfulness in us as we ask for and receive His help.

My faithfulness to God is based on the gift of faith which He has given to me and in my belief that He is who He says He is in His Word.  He is faithful to me.  I want to be faithful to Him.  I want to live in His will and for his purpose.  The Holy Spirit enables me to grow in faith, increase in my faithfulness to God, and to be faithful to the people in my life.  Faithfulness is a Fruit of the Spirit.  

Galatians 5: 23 Gentleness, a Fruit of the Spirit

Gentleness is the eighth of nine Godly virtues given to us by God through His Holy Spirit when we come to Him in faith, in Christ.  Paul describes gentleness as meekness in the King James version of the Bible.  Since meekness is no longer a commonly used word, newer translations use gentleness.  Meekness is one of the beatitudes in Matthew 5:5.  The beatitudes are beautiful attitudes for which God promises blessings.  Gentleness is therefore, a beautiful attitude. 

The attitude of gentleness is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Reacting in gentleness is a learned quality which matures and grows within our spirits as the Holy Spirit and his gifts increase.  Our natural (human nature) responses decrease as the Holy Spirit gives us wisdom and increased self-control over impulsive reactions in conflict. 

Jesus demonstrated true gentleness in the midst of conflict and in His popularity.  Being sure of whom He was, allowed Him to react in a gentle and humble way in response to His friends and to His adversaries.  In the same way, we must be aware of our power in the Holy Spirit.  Knowing who we are in God, enables us to react gently and humbly to people in our lives.  We become more aware of others and their needs.    The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to not view our own needs as primary.  We can see the bigger picture.

We face conflict daily in our lives.  It seems natural to react to others with a defensive attitude.  The wrong attitude causes us to respond in anger with harsh words or even violence.  Our human nature reacts impulsively when we are insecure about who we are, and insecure about what our position is.  When we have received the Holy Spirit and His gifts into our lives and accept the reality of who we are in Christ, we trust Him to help us to become gentler and humbler in the midst of conflict.

I am certainly, and in no way, perfected in this area.  I have always instructed my daughters, “learn not to react impulsively to thoughtless harsh words”.  They both seem to be better at it than I have been but I am learning to take my own advice.  Knowing and reacting are two different things.  This is where the Holy Spirit’s teaching and His gift of gentleness, with a forgiving attitude, comes in.  Much more is accomplished when a situation of conflict is discussed at a future time when all involved have calmed down.  The Holy Spirit is in the process of taming and training my spirit.  I want Him to teach me to react as Christ would have reacted.  Christ did display righteous anger to the money changers at the temple.  Learning how to react in conflict is a process.  I do not want to under act or to over act.

Jesus, help me to be slower to react in most situations.  Help me to be gentler in conflict.  Help me to know your purpose in my life in any given situation.  I want to be a reflection of you, in gentleness, as I journey through this present life.   In daily situations and in conflicts may your Holy Spirit direct me and teach me as your fruits grow within me.  Thank you, Lord!

Galatians 5:23 Self-control, a Fruit of the Spirit

In my November 4th posting I wrote about the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.  These Gifts of the Spirit are nine Godly virtues which the Holy Spirit gives to the believer when His Spirit enters into man’s spirit.  I will write about the ninth gift first and go backward, one Fruit at a time. 

Self-control in a person’s life is an attribute of will power and discipline.  In the King James Version of the Bible self-control is called temperance, meaning self-restraint.  Everyone faces temptations.  The Holy Spirit’s gift of self-control enables us to resist temptations and to make Godly choices for our lives.  God’s indwelling strength and presence give us the power to overcome our natural (human nature) spirit.

Just as our faith matures, the gifts of the Spirit will mature, grow, and become more evident in our lives as we walk our life’s spiritual journey.  Growth is a process.  The Holy Spirit teaches us and gives us wisdom and increased self-control.  We must grow in the word, trust God, and be obedient.  As God’s Spirit transforms us we can see the manifestations of a self controlled life in our choices and attitudes. 

Jesus said in Matthew 26:4, “The (human) spirit (attitude and actions) indeed is willing but the flesh (human will power) is weak.”  I want God to be in control of my will and my heart.  God’s gift of self-control to us as believers is the key to overcoming many of our human struggles and habits.  We can overcome the flesh with God’s Spiritual gifts; His strength, His presence, and His power.  

Galatians 5:22 and 23 The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

When we live in the Spirit we are to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).    The Holy Spirit lives within the believer’s spirit to teach, comfort, and to give us God’s power and to give us the fruits of His Spirit.  These gifts of the Spirit are listed in Galatians 5:22.  Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are the Holy Spirit’s gifts to us when He enters into our human spirit. 

It is not natural for us to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and in control of self, all of the time, in our human nature.  God promises us that when we come to Him believing, He will give us His Holy Spirit, who gives us the manifestations of these gifts in our lives.  Our spirit is re-born; we experience the new birth when we receive God’s Spirit into our human spirit.  Growing in His Spirit and in these gifts is a process.  These gifts mature in us as we live our faith, study the word, and walk with the indwelling Holy Spirit in our redeemed and changed lives.  God gave Christ, His Son, to the world.  When Jesus went back to the Father, Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to continue His ministry in us and in the world.  Our Salvation, our spiritual re-birth, is a one time event but the maturing of our faith is a continuous growth process.  We mature, grow, and become more filled with the Holy Spirit as our faith increases.  Our human spirit and human ways have to diminish as the Holy Spirit fills us and takes up more space in our being.  Our nature changes as we are filled with more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control because of the supernatural indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives as Spirit filled believers.        

Romans 15:13 God of Hope

My hope is in the Lord.  Romans 15:13 says “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Hope is a confident desire.  I have been reading, studying, and writing about the internal joy which the Holy Spirit gives to the believer.  As I trust in God I experience the joy and peace promised in God’s Word.  I do not put my hope and trust in things of the world.  They will pass away.  “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17).  In this promise lies my hope.  My hope is in God and His promises.  The Holy Spirit gives me the power to be bold in my faith and constant in my hope.   I pray that the light of my hope will overflow and touch the lives of others.   

Isaiah 55:11 God's Word Will not Return Void

As I read and study the Bible I grow in my faith.  The Word becomes alive and God speaks to my heart.  He opens my spiritual eyes and ears.  I gain new insight even when reading the same scriptures over again.  I am no longer a baby Christian.  I can now read the scriptures with increased understanding and spiritual maturity.  I have found that the Holy Spirit will lead me to hear or read scriptures which I need at any given time or in any given situation in my life.  As I read and feed on God’s Word it accomplishes what God wants it to do for me or for others when His word is able to flow through me. 

Isaiah 55:11 says, “It is the same with my Word.  I send it out, and it always produces fruit.  It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it”. 

Prior to this, verses 9 and 10 put into context what He is referring to.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my Word that goes out from My mouth”.

God tells us that His Word does not return to Him void or empty.  It accomplishes in the readers’ life what He desires it to do.  It will achieve God’s purpose.  This can only happen when we do our part.  We must open His Word so He can speak to us through it.

God’s Word will speak for itself.  As I write about one Bible verse in each blog post, I am studying and feeding on God’s Word.  I want to learn, remember, and keep the promises of His Word deep in my spirit.  I am able to memorize some verses and paraphrase others.  I do not have to remember the exact chapter and verse where it is found because in knowing it, I will be able to locate it when I need to.  My minimal knowledge just scratches the surface of all that God has given to us in His Word.  I know what I believe and I want to keep growing in faith and sharing His Word and my faith with you!  What you read will not return void!  His Word ignites a spark in our lives and the Holy Spirit gives us understanding and direction.  A taste of God’s Word gives us an appetite and increases our hunger for more truth, greater understanding, and deeper revelation.  Psalm 119:103 says, “How sweet are your promises (your Words) to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts”.     

Jeremiah 15:16 Feed on God's Word

In Matthew 4:4 Jesus said that “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the word of God”.  In the Lord’s Prayer when we pray “give us this day our daily bread” we are asking for spiritual food as well as for the provision of our physical nourishment.  God wants us to feed on His word.  His word is life to our mind, body, and soul.  It is called the Living Word. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart”.

Jeremiah writes in chapter 15, verse 16, “when your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my hearts delight”.   I want to feed on God’s word.  I want to learn His words so they will come to my memory when I need Him to speak to me.  God wants us to hide His words in our hearts (Psalm 119:11).  Romans 10:17 says that Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  My faith grows as I feed on the Word of God. 

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord Always

I am rejoicing in the Lord today.  Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again, I say rejoice”.  It is not humanly possible to always be joyful but “in Christ” we are given an internal joy.  This joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit.  The source of this internal, permanent joy is love.  God is love.  It would be impossible to “always” walk in love and joy if God was not walking with me. 

Living in a joyful spirit with a positive attitude affects all aspects of ones life.  God wants us to have the peace and strength of His joy.  Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that “the joy of the Lord is our strength”.  I want to be strong in the Lord so that His strength and His joy are always present in my life.  I want others to see Christ’s joy in me even when I go through trials.  No one escapes trials.  Many times it is in our trials that we come into a deeper relationship with our Savior.  We experience His presence and His power as we pray for answers and understanding.  His Holy Spirit comes into our life giving us His Gifts of the Spirit.

Today is my daughter Erica’s birthday.  She and her family give me so much joy.  I rejoice in the Lord today.  I thank God for my family; my children and my grandchildren.  I have experienced God’s love and internal joy.  I will rejoice in the Lord always! 

1 Corinthians 1 and 2 The Realm of God's Mysterious Wisdom

The deep things of God are a mystery to the human mind.  The Holy Spirit reveals God’s wisdom to those who have sought and received Him in their hearts and spirits.  My spiritual understanding and God’s wisdom within me grow as my faith matures.

I read in 1 Corinthians 2: 9 and 10, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him, (until) God has revealed it to us by His Spirit”.   Verse 14 says, “The man without The Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned”.  The gift of discernment comes with the gifts of the Spirit when our spirit meets God’s Spirit.   This occurs when we decide to believe and receive God through Christ into our lives.  This re-birth is spiritual, not physical.  It can only happen when we choose to seek God so that He might open our spiritual ears, eyes, and heart.

Paul, who penned 1 Corinthians, says in chapter 1:18, “I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction.  But we who are being saved recognize the message as the very power of God”.  In chapter 2:12 I read, “And God has actually given us His Spirit (not the world’s spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given to us”.

God operates in the realm of mysterious and all knowing wisdom.  His wisdom does not come in the human understanding of logic.  Man can get a PHD in knowledge but not in wisdom.  No one knows the thoughts of God.  The Holy Spirit connects the believer’s mind to God’s mind.  He gives us wisdom and understanding.  In The Holy Spirit “we can understand these things, for now we have the mind of Christ”      (1 Corinthians 2:15). 

I believe God’s teachings and I ask the Holy Spirit to give me wisdom, increased understanding, discernment, and direction in my life.  His ways are not my ways (Isaiah 55: 8 and 9).  I pray for His guidance in all I do and in what I say and write even when His ways seem hidden and mysterious.     

John 14: 15-20 The Promise of The Holy Spirit

I believe in and serve the One True God; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  He is three in one as I am mind, body, and spirit.  God is spoken of in the plural, as we and us, in the record of the creation in Geneses.  Jesus said in John 14 that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him.  When we know Jesus we know the Father.  In the same chapter of John, Jesus tells His disciples that His body would be leaving them but He would not leave them alone in the world.  In verse 15 He says to his disciples, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of Truth.  The world cannot accept Him because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.  But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you……Because I live, you also will live…….I am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you”.  In chapter 16 Jesus says, “Now I am going to Him who sent me………But I tell you the truth: it is for your good that I am going away.  Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you;  But if I go, I will send Him to you.     I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.  But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.  He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.  He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.  All that belongs to the Father is Mine.  That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you”. 

The Holy Spirit was given to the disciples after Jesus went back to the Father.  In that same way; when we come to the Father by believing in His Son, He gives us His Holy Spirit to dwell within us.  The Holy Spirit teaches us what the Father and Son want us to know.  I have come to Faith in God through His Son, Jesus, and they have given me their Holy Spirit.  He is my teacher, comforter, and guide.  He abides in me and I abide in Him.  John 15:4-5 says, “Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in Him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing”.

As a believer, I know that the Holy Spirit lives within me.  He entered into my spirit the moment I believed and received Christ as my Savior. The filling of His Spirit within me is a continuous process.  The amount of His infilling increases as my faith grows and matures.  He abides in me and I abide in Him.  He fills me with Himself and the Gifts of the Spirit as I study the Word and practice His presence.  Thank you Lord, for the promise of your Holy Spirit in my life.     

John 14:27 My Peace I Give To You

The world today is anything but peaceful but God promises His children peace.  It is not a peace which is understood by the world.  This peace is a promise which is found in John 14:27.  Jesus tells us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”.  In the first verse of John 14 Jesus tells us to trust in God and also trust in Him.  In verse 9 Jesus tells His disciples, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father……I am in the Father and the Father is in me……It is the Father who is living in Me who is doing the work.”  God became flesh so that man would learn of His character, His love, and of how He would want us to live.  The world in Jesus’ time was no more peaceful than our days now.  It is only in believing in, and trusting God that we find the peace which Jesus describes in John 14.  In Him we are not to be afraid.  He replaces our fears with His gift of faith.  As a believer I have the promise of God’s protection in my daily walk and the hope of eternity at the end of my physical life.  It is in these promises that I have internal peace and joy.  This promised peace and joy in the Lord is available to all.  He has promised that if we seek we will find.  He so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son to the world.  This peace is given to whosoever believes.  

2 Peter 1: 3,4 Precious Promises

I think about the words of a song which I learned in Sunday School about God’s promises.  The words I remember are; “Every promise in the Book is mine, every chapter, every verse, every line”.  Here is the song:

Every Promise In The Book Is Mine
Every promise in the Book is mine
Every chapter, every verse, every line
I'm trusting in His love divine
Every promise in the Book is mine

2 Peter 1: 3,4 says, “His divine powers have given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.  Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises”.  Read this in its context by reading all of chapter 1. 

As I read this, another song which was tucked in my mind and spirit comes to me,

Standing on His Promises   

Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

When I gave my heart to God, I became a child of The King.  As a child of The King, I inherited great wealth.  God gives His children hundreds of promises in His Word. I cannot know of these promises unless I open up the Book to see and read them for myself.  I hide them in my heart, spirit, and memory in the same way I did with the above childhood songs.  God brings them to my recall when I need them.  I claim the promises, I believe the promises, and I act upon the promises in faith knowing and believing what God says is true.  I believe that His precious promises are for me.   

Hebrews 11:1 Being Sure of the Hope I Do Not See

My faith is a gift from God.  I cannot physically see what I believe.  Hebrews 11:1 tells me that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  I live by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).  My “faith and knowledge rest on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time”.  This was written by Paul in Titus 1:2.

My entire being cannot be separated from the faith within me.  I want to demonstrate my faith by living it in a determined and deliberate manner.  I will not waiver nor be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  My faith defines me and is within me.  Acts 17:28 says, “For in Him we live and move and have our being”.  Early one morning, a few months ago, I woke up with these words in my spirit and on my lips.  I knew God’s Spirit was speaking to my spirit.  The words comforted and encouraged me and were with me all that day long. 

The more I read and learn God’s word, the greater my faith grows.  I hide His word in my heart and He brings the words which I need to my mind when I must hear from Him in any given situation.  He is always with me and so are the words needed to comfort and direct me.  I am sure of the hope which is within me and I know that nothing is going to happen to me that He and I together cannot handle.    

1 Peter 2 Jesus is The Cornerstone

In 1 Peter 2 Christ is called The Cornerstone.  Referenced in this chapter are the Old Testament verses of Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm 118:22 which speak about a time coming when God was going to place a foundation stone in Jerusalem.  It would be a “firm, tested, precious cornerstone.  It will be safe to build on.  Whoever believes need never run away again”.  Psalm 118:22 says, “The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone”.

Peter, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, penned the books of first and second Peter. He was writing to believing Christians.  Read First Peter chapter two!  In verses 4 and 5 He says, “Come to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple.  He was rejected by the people, but He is precious to God who chose Him.  And now God is building you, as living stones, into His spiritual temple.  What’s more, you are God’s holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please Him because of Jesus Christ”.

God tells me that because I believe, I am a living stone in His spiritual temple.  All of us, in the family of God, are a kingdom of priests.  I am part of God’s Holy Nation, God’s Kingdom.  These are not my words; this is God’s description of who I am in Him.  He goes on to say in verse 9 that He wants me, and all in His Kingdom family, to reflect Him by showing others His goodness through our lives.  He has brought us out of unbelief, out of darkness, into His wonderful light.  He is Holy and He calls us to be Holy, a royal priesthood.  Christ is the Cornerstone of this spiritual realm which we have been received into.  The Holy Spirit gives believers the gifts of the Spirit.  These gifts manifest themselves in our lives as we grow in our spiritual walks.  As written in Galatians 5:22, the gifts of the Spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  God’s character grows in us and shines through us to be a living testimony of Him.  Christ is the cornerstone of my spiritual temple.  By God’s Grace alone will I grow in my faith and be able to be a reflection of Him.         

Psalm 127 and 128 Children, Foundations, and Blessings

I read these various verses in Psalm 127:

“Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is useless”

“It is useless for you to work so hard…….anxiously working for food to eat;

 for God gives rest to His loved ones”

“Children are a gift from the Lord…….Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior’s hands.  How happy is a man whose quiver is full of them!”

I see the following verses in Psalm128:

“How happy are those who fear the Lord - all who follow His ways.”

“You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.  How happy will you be!  How rich your life!”

“May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.”

I thank the Lord for the gift of faith.  I have built the groundwork of my family’s house on a strong spiritual foundation.  It will not fail and its legacy will be passed down from generation to generation.  Richie and I have been given the ability to enjoy our grandchildren at this stage in our lives.  I seek the Kingdom of God first and He supplies my needs and the desires of my heart.  This promise was given to me in Matthew 6:33.    Matthew 7:24 tells a parable about a wise man who builds his house upon a rock.  I have built my house upon Christ, my rock and my foundation. I sing a children’s song about the wise man who built his house on a rock and the foolish man who built his house on sand.   I sang it to my children and am now singing it to my grandchildren.  I sang it again today, motions and all, to little Harrison at nap time.

I am blessed.  I pray for God’s blessings on my life and in the lives of everyone in my family.  I pray without ceasing.  In Psalm 134 I am instructed to also Bless the Lord.  Verse 2 says, “Lift your hands in Holiness and Bless the Lord”.   As I honor and Bless Him I experience all of the ways He honors my faithfulness and blesses my life.

Proverbs 9:10 Seek Wisdom

In Psalm 8:17 God tells us, “I love all who love me. Those who search for me will surely find me”.  A wise person will search for truth.  King Solomon chose wisdom before any other gift which was offered to him.  He was smart enough to know that wisdom would help him in all areas of his life.  Proverbs 9 and 10 say, “Teach the wise and they will be wiser.  Teach the righteous, and they will learn more.  Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding”.

The word fear instructs us to reverence, respect, and trust God and His wisdom.  Being educated and having knowledge does not make a person wise.  I have known smart people who do not have wisdom and common sense.  They just don’t “get it”.  I know many people who are less educated but are some of the wisest in their thoughts, actions, emotions, and consideration of others.  

I will continue to seek a closer walk with God.  I will search His word for truth.  The book of Proverbs gives us lessons about living our lives wisely.  Lord, help me to be wise enough to heed your instructions.  I pray for increased understanding and wisdom.  Thank you Lord, for teaching me how to pray!  Thank you Lord, for hearing my prayers!  Matthew 6:33 promises me that He will take care of my needs as I seek His Kingdom and His righteousness first.  Proverbs 9:10 tells me that knowing Him will bring increased wisdom and understanding to my life.

Luke 11:1 - 4 The Lord's Prayer

In Luke 11, the disciples asked Jesus to show them how to pray.  Jesus gave to them and to us the words which we identify as “The Lord’s Prayer”.  It is used in Church and in personal worship.  As we look at the words we find an outline of the way we should pray.

When we speak to God in prayer, Jesus teaches us to include expressions of our Adoration, Confessions, Thanksgiving, and Supplications. 

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name”.                                                                           

Our God is holy.  We adore Him.  We praise Him.  We glorify Him.

 “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”.

We want God to show us His will for our lives.  We believe in Him and in His Kingdom. We want to experience God’s blessings in this present life.

For the believer, God’s Kingdom begins now.

“Give us this day our daily bread”. 

We come to Him in prayer with our needs and requests.  The word bread represents our spiritual needs as well as our physical needs.  He will supply our needs daily according to His riches in glory just as is told to us in Philippians 4:19.

“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us”.

We come to God confessing our sins, asking for His forgiveness, and in turn promising Him that we will forgive anyone who has hurt us and sinned against us.

“Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil”.

We ask for God’s protection in our life. 

We come to Him believing in His promise of protection.

We thank Him for taking care of us and being concerned about every area of our life.

The Lord’s Prayer is familiar and recited often in church services.  We must consciously be aware of not just repeating words.  I want to be attentive to the meaning of every word and sentence.  I pray it in Jesus' precious name.  As I speak the words I think about their meaning.  Prayer releases the power of God’s kingdom in my life.  

Psalm 139 I Needed a Word from the Lord

Today is possibly going to be the Birthday of my fourth grandson.  I opened my Bible because I needed a Word from the Lord.  I read Psalm 139.  I know that God is with me, with Christa, and with Baby K.  His word assured me that He is in control.  His timing is not always our timing but His timing will be perfect. 

I am going to quote the words which I read in verses 1-7 and 13-18:  “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  You know when I sit down or when I stand up.  You know my every thought when far away.  You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest.  Every moment you know where I am.  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.  You both precede and follow me.  You place your hand of blessing on my head.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, to great for me to know.  I can never escape from your Spirit!  I can never get away from your presence! ……………You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous and how well I know it.  You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.  You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.  How precious are your thoughts about me O God!  They are innumerable!  I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!  And when I wake in the morning you are still with me”.   

Our children are on loan to us from God.  I am so grateful to Him for the gifts of our precious grandsons.  As He loved us first; He also knew them first.  I ask the Lord to bless Baby K in the same way his mother, Christa, was prayed for and blessed while yet in my womb.  I daily ask for His blessings to be upon each of my grandsons, my daughters, and my son-in-laws.  I want to pass on the spiritual legacy which was passed down to me.

Praise the Lord!  God wants our Praise.  God is praised throughout the Psalms.  The final five Psalms begin with the words, “Praise the Lord”.  Psalm 147: 13 tells me that the Lord has “fortified the bars of your gates and blessed your children within you”.  I claim this promise for Christa as we anxiously await the arrival of Baby K.  Praise the Lord! 

Matthew 6:33 Seek God First

I talk to God.  I am constantly aware of His presence, believing that He never leaves me.  He is directly connected, like a main frame computer is to each of its terminals, to me and each of His children on earth.  I come to Him in prayer and communication about everything.  Some think that He is too busy and that He cannot be bothered with the little problems and joys in our lives.  His Word and His personal relationship with me tell me differently.  I know that He cares about the little things and the big things in my life. 

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that we should seek Him first.  Matthew 6:33 says, “Your Heavenly Father already knows all of your needs, and He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern”.

I experience God’s wisdom, guidance, blessings, and God’s favor in my life.  I have made Him the Lord of every area of my life.  I seek Him and His will first.  In 1 Samuel 2:30 God says that He will honor all who honor Him.  I will continue to honor, praise, and glorify His Holy name.  I lift up my needs and desires, and those of my family, friends, and loved ones, to Him in prayer.  He hears me and I trust Him.  Thank you Lord for knowing what is on my heart and answering my prayers.            

1 John 4:19 Love Casts Out Fear

God tells me that He is continually showing me how to love more perfectly.  I John 4:19 says that perfect love casts out fear.  It expels fears.  My faith increases as my knowledge of God and His Word grow and my relationship with Him strengthens.  As my faith grows my ability to love becomes more perfect and is a measurement of who I am and how I treat others.  Others can see God’s love in me.  The closer I am to God and the more I love, the less I fear.  I see that faith and fear are opposites and proportionate to each other.  As faith increases, fear decreases.  Without faith, hope, and purpose one tends to live in fear.

John was Jesus’ most beloved disciple.  He knew and lived in Christ’s love.  He tells us about his experience and Christ’s teaching in the book of 1 John.  It is a book of 5 short chapters filled with teachings on the love of God in his life and in our lives.  Read it, God will speak to your heart.  Chapter 5 concludes in verse 13, “I write this to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you MAY KNOW you have eternal life”.  I have always loved the assurance of this verse.  I do not have to say, “I think I am going to heaven when I leave my earthly existence; when my body dies”.  I believe what the Word tells me.  I KNOW that I will be with my Savior and those I love when I enter eternity.  It is God’s promise to all who believe.  Choose to believe, take God’s promise for yourself, and be certain of the assurance of your eternal life in Christ.  I do not fear death because God’s perfect love casts out my fears.                 

Mark 12: 29, 30, and 31 The Most Important Commandment

After Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the leading Jewish Priests and other leaders questioned Him and His authority.  He answered their questions well.  He could not be trapped.  In Mark 12:29 one of the leaders of Religious Law asked Jesus, “Of all of the Commandments, which is the most important?”  Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.  And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength’.  The second is equally important:  ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.  No other commandment is greater than these.

I have been thinking, reading, and writing about God’s love in my life.  He tells me how much He loves me.  In Mark 12:29, 30, and 31, He tells me how I am to respond to His love.  As a believer, I am to love Him with my whole heart.   Experiencing His love and loving Him back is only part what He tells us to do.  We must love others.  Love is a gift of the Spirit.  The love spoken about is a supernatural love.  God’s love in us makes it possible to love the unlovely and the unlovable.  He fills us with his Spirit and His love.  We are able to love in a deeper dimension.  Only with God’s love within us can we love our enemies and forgive those who have hurt us.  In 1 John 20 He says that if we say we love God but hate people in our lives we are lying because if we don’t love others who we can see, how can we love God, whom we have not seen. 

God does know my heart.  The greatest of God’s gifts is love and He has said that the most important commandment is that we should love God completely and love our neighbor as ourselves.  1 John 4:17 tells me that as I live in God and grow in my faith, I will be able to love more perfectly.         

Psalm 100 A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Psalm 100 is a prayer of Thanksgiving.  In this short 5 verse Psalm we are instructed to come to the Lord in a spirit of praise and thanksgiving.  We are to shout to the Lord and come to Him joyfully in song.  I love singing with fellow believers during church worship.  I love the traditional hymns and I love the praise and worship music in contemporary services.  When I am alone I sometimes come to God in song; on the bike trail in Layton or on my swing in Orefield.  I have so very much to be grateful for.  God is my creator and my shepherd.  I serve Him with gladness, joy, praise, singing, and thanksgiving.  

Today I particularly come to Him in thanksgiving for my children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.  A baby boy, Preston, was born to Richard’s nephew Christian on September 26^th in Colorado.  And yesterday was Christa’s due date.  Our fourth grandson is just about ready to come into the world.  I am gratefully in prayer for Christa and her second little son, baby boy Kachline.

The Psalm closes saying that the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations.  I want to pass on my faith and the knowledge of God’s goodness, mercy, and truth to my children, and to their children, and to the generations after that.  We will enter His gates with thanksgiving and bless His holy name.    

1 John 4:19 He First Loved Us

I believe what I read in 1 John 4:19.  God knew me before I knew Him and God loved me first.  As an infant, God used loving parents to pour love into my life.  I was cared for and cherished.  Not every baby is that fortunate.  It is easy to feel love when one is loved.  In verses 15 and 16 we are told that God is Love and all who proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God live in love.  We live in God, and God lives in us.  Believing in and experiencing God’s love, a gift of the Spirit, causes my own love to grow more perfect.  We are commanded to love God and our neighbors.  My neighbor is anyone God places in my life as I walk my physical life and my faith journey.

I felt God’s love as a child.  One can come to experience His love during any stage in life, young or old.  He wants each of us, whosoever, to meet Him, receive Him, trust Him, and love Him.  He loved us first.  He will grow His love in us and let it flow through us. God wants us to pass His love on to others.      

1 Corinthians 13 Love, the Greatest Gift

God is Love and we are to love.  In John 13:34 Jesus told the disciples that He was giving them a new commandment instructing them to love one another.  Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”  As a believer, I am instructed to love others. 

I want you to look at 1 Corinthians 13.  As you read it, I am sure you will recognize the words.  I do not remember if it was read at my wedding but I have read it a few times during my nieces, nephews, and God children’s marriage ceremonies.  The first time I read it out loud was at my Nursing School graduation in 1963.  I was the Valedictorian of my class and we were at Hanson Place Methodist Church in Brooklyn.  This chapter in 1 Corinthians is special to my heart. 

Richard and I celebrated our 49^th Wedding Anniversary yesterday, September 25^th.  Growing in patience, kindness, and love has been a process and a commitment.  The love which we now have for each other has grown from the teenage love we felt for each other in high school to a deep dependent devoted love which we have for each other in the grandparent stage of our lives.  We are truly blessed!  In verse 13 God tells us that there are three things in a faithful life that will endure.  These things are faith, hope, and love but the greatest of these is love.       

John 3:16 God's Love For Us

This is one of the first Bible verses which I learned and memorized as a child.  It taught me that God loves the world, His world.  He loves me.  He loves each and every one of us and wants us to know and love Him.  He made a way to bring us to Him.  His plan of salvation is seen throughout the 66 books of the Bible.  He sent His only Son down from Heaven to be The Way back to Him.  The Prophets foretold the Messiah’s coming even though they did not fully understand what God was telling them to say.  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are the One True God seen in the plural since the account of creation which is written in Genesis.   Jesus, The Son, came to earth to show us the character of God and to be a living Spirit Filled example for us.  He shows us how we are to live.  He was perfect.  We, as believers, can never be perfect. The Holy Spirit enables us and is constantly perfecting us by giving us as believers the fruits of the Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit has convicted my heart and I believe in God’s promise to me in John 3:16.  Because I believe in Christ, my promised redeemer, I know without a doubt that I will not perish, but have eternal life.  I will be in eternity with God, and family, and loved ones some day.   

John 3:16 is The New Testament message, the Gospel, and the Good News, stated in a one sentence Bible verse.  I will not stop reading it, repeating it, meditating on it, and sharing it. God loves me and  He loves you!

Philippians 1:6 God Will Complete It

The Holy Spirit has convicted my spirit.  I believe.  I have received.  I will continue to study.  I will continue to grow in my faith as God continues to grow my spirit.  His plan and His purpose will be accomplished in my life when I am open to His leading.  He directs my steps and my words.  I am His vessel.  He works in me and through me when I hear His leading and follow it with my steps, words, and actions.  He wants His children to be His eyes, ears, feet, hands, and mouth in the lives of others.  I fall short of His expectations when I don’t hear Him.  I cannot hear Him when I am not in the Word or I am too busy to spend quiet time with Him.  He speaks to me in His Word, in nature, in times of silence, in prayer, in family, in friends, and in those I love.

In Philippians 1:6, He tells me that I am to be “confidant that He, who has started a good work in me will carry it out to completion until the day of Jesus Christ”.  He will keep working in my life and growing my spirit until Christ comes back to earth or until He takes me back to Him in eternity when my earthly life is over. 

This promise gives me encouragement.  I know that He will always keep working in the lives and hearts of those He has convicted.  He hears my prayers and He will continue to work in the life of everyone I love and pray for.  I can sow His seeds but the work is His.  I want my family and friends to know the Lord and grow in His Spirit.  To God alone be the glory!   

Philippians 4:19 My Needs Are Supplied

I trust in God and His Word and I believe in His promises.  Philippians 4: 19 promises me that He will “supply all of my needs according to His riches in Glory, in Christ Jesus”.  Believing in the last part of that verse, in Christ Jesus, is key to my asking and having my needs supplied.  It is conditional.  I must believe that God IS.  Hebrews 11:6 tells me that “it is impossible to please God without faith, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him”. 

I come to Him in faith.  I also come to Him asking for my needs, not my wants, to be met.  I believe that He knows what I need even before I ask.  He has taught me not to pray selfish prayers.  I want my prayers to line up with God’s thoughts and plans for my life and for the lives of the people I pray for.  When I receive His supply and experience His answers to my prayers my faith grows even greater than it was before.  Remembering what He has done causes me to live in anticipation of what He will do today and in my future.  I am grateful to God for His favor and His blessings in my life.  He supplies all of my needs according to His riches in glory.  I live in an attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving.  

Philippians 4:7 The Peace of God

The Bible consists of 66 individual books.  There are 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 Books in the New Testament.  The book of Philippians is one of my favorites.  In it I see the character of God in Christ.  He tells us to be thankful, joyful, content, and peaceful as we walk our journey with Him.  He gives me an internal joy and peace even when the circumstances of my external life are anything but peaceful.  This peace which God speaks about, and I experience, can only come from God.  God’s peace is supernatural.  It cannot be humanly explained or understood.  Philippians 4:7 says that the peace of God transcends or “passes all understanding”.  This peace “will guard our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus”.  God has promised that He, the “God of peace” will be with me when I put into practice what I learn in His Word.       

Romans 10:17 Growing My Faith

Faith is a gift.  I have received God’s gift of faith.  In the Gospels Jesus tells the Disciples that even if they had faith as small as a mustard seed they could “move mountains” (Matthew 17:20).  God tells us that nothing is impossible with faith.  I want my little faith to grow into big faith.  Romans 10:17 tells me how to grow my faith.  It says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  My faith increases as I listen to and read God’s Word. 

When I was young in age and young in my Christian walk, I had baby faith.  The more I read the Word, believed His promises, trusted God, and obeyed what I was learning, the more my faith grew.  Every time I stepped out in faith, boldly, I saw God working in my life.  My faith increased as I read and learned His Word.

My faith is now a mature faith which will continue to grow as I stay in the Word of God.

Ephesians 2: 8 and 9 Faith is a Gift

I can remember where I was and who read Ephesians 2:8 in a Sunday morning church service.  It was like a light went on in my understanding.  I am sure I had read or heard this bible verse before but this time I knew what it meant.  I knew where my faith had come from; my faith was a gift to me from God.  I believed and had received my gift of faith before this moment but now I heard God explaining His gift to me.

As I continue reading in Ephesians 2:9, God tells me that my faith is not about anything which I have done, only about what He has done for me.  I cannot boast about my works or my actions.  It is God alone, by His Grace that I am saved.  I thank the Lord continuously for His gift of Faith.  It is an awesome gift.  I believe His Word, I have received His gift and I want to pass it on.  His gift of Faith is available to everyone who seeks and receives.

Psalm 32: 8 and 18 The Lord Watches Over Me and Guides Me

In Psalm 32: 8, God tells me that He will direct me along the best path for my life.  I spend time with Him and talk to Him so that I will hear His directions. 

If I am traveling to a destination for the first time, I will need a map, a GPS, or someone to tell me how to get there.  Last week I drove to visit my daughter, Christa, in her new home.  I am not a person who has a built in homing pigeon instinct.  I needed all the help I could get.  Richie told me the directions, printed a Google map, and set up a GPS on the car’s dashboard.  I did it!  I was very proud of my accomplishment.

If I need directions between two Pennsylvania towns why would I think I could go through life aimlessly?  God is my GPS and the Bible is my guidebook.  God has used many people in my life to keep me from getting lost.  I lift up prayers of Thanksgiving for His faithfulness, for my parents, for sisters, children, family, and so many friends.  I am especially grateful to Him for Richie.  We will be celebrating our 49^th anniversary on September 25, 2013.  I am so glad that He has allowed us to walk our paths together.

In addition to our anniversary, it is Christa and Kris’ 7^th anniversary today, September 16, 2013.  May they travel a long happy path, directed by The Lord and His Word.  Richie and I send them our love and all of our best wishes for God’s Blessings and Favor in their lives today and always.  A huge second Blessing is expected at the end of the month.  Harrison will be meeting his baby brother.  We are all very excited and are in prayer for mommy and baby, and for daddy and brother too, of course.

Psalm 32:18 promises me that He watches over all who fear Him; all who rely on His unfailing love.  Our God is a Holy God.  He is to be praised and respected.  I trust Him, love Him, and rely on him to watch over me and my family.  

Proverbs 3: 5 and 6 Trust in The Lord

Today’s Bible Verse, Proverbs 3: 5 and 6, has always been one of my favorites.  In my spiritual walk, over many years, I have trusted and continue to trust the Lord with increasing certainty.  Faith begets more faith and trust begets more trust.  I step out in faith.  I come believing.  He honors my faith.  I see Him working in my life.  I want to be obedient.  He honors my obedience when I honor Him.  I seek His presence and His direction in every situation in my life; large and small.  He speaks to my spirit with His presence and His peace. 

I love The Lord with all of my heart, mind, and soul.  I trust Him with all of my heart.  In this verse He also tells us that we should not lean on our own understanding.  There are so many things that we cannot humanly understand.  This is where believing in God and in His Word become my anchor.  I will trust even though I don’t understand.  God’s ways are not our ways.  I spend time in His Word and talk to Him in prayer so I can seek His will in all I do.  He promises to direct my path and I believe His promises.

Note:  As you see, I do not write the words of the Bible verse; I only tell you where it is found.  I want each of you to go to your Bible and read the verse for yourself.  God, through His Holy Spirit, will quicken it to your own heart.  His Word never returns void.          

Jeremiah 29:11 God's Plans

In this, my new blog, my intent is to share one bible verse in each posting.  It is my hope that my readers will pick up a bible and read the verse.  I pray that God will bring the verse alive in each reader’s life.  I want His light to shine through His words, illuminating each of our paths.  In Jeremiah 29:11, God says that we will find Him when we look for Him.  He knows us already and He knows the plans which He has for each of our lives.  When I sought God and earnestly looked for Him, I found Him.  Seek and we will find!  God listens when we come to Him in prayer.  In this scripture He tells me, and He tells you, that He has plans for our lives.  They are plans for good and not for disaster.  They are plans to give us a future and a hope.  I believe that God hears my prayers.  The light of His word gives me hope and I live in anticipation of his plan for my future and for the future of my loved ones because I believe Him, I believe His word, and I believe His promises.          

Philippians 2:13 and Philippians 4;13 God's Strength

Philippians 2:13 tells me that God is always working in me to give me the desire to obey Him.  I am a spiritual work in progress.  Since I accepted Christ as my Savior I have never been alone.  He is working in me to give me the desire, the power, and the strength, to do what pleases Him.  He began a good work in me and He will continue His work “until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus comes back again” (Philippians 1:6).  He gives me the hope and strength to believe and do his will.  I am walking the walk, He knows the path.  I know that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.  He tells me this in Philippians 4:13.  He has proven this in my life over and over again.   

Colossians 1:9 and 10 Spiritual Wisdom

In reading Colossians 1:9 and 10, I see God instructing me to continue praying for myself and others.   I read that He wants me to ask Him for Spiritual wisdom.  I want him to personalize the message to me and give me wisdom in all areas of my life.  This wisdom shows me how to live in a way which is pleasing to Him.  He also instructs me to continually do good kind things for others.  When I follow His instructions I learn to know Him better and better and come into a more intimate relationship with Him; my God, my Savior, and my Friend.   

Seeking God's Presence and Power

I want to grow into a deeper understanding of who God is in my life.  I have met Him and received Him as my Savior.  I believe that He will never leave me nor forsake me, therefore I am never alone.  I believe that the Bible is the Word of God.  It is God’s instruction book and His love letter to each of us.  In it I learn about God’s character, God’s promises, and God’s will for my life.  He tells me about His unconditional love in Bible Stories such as the Story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.  He loves me.  He loves you.  He wants us to come into a closer relationship with Him. 

God never changes.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, our Triune God, is the Creator.  We see this in Genesis and throughout the Psalms.  I have heard many sermons and have read books about God but the only way I can discern truth is by reading the words in the Bible for myself.  God speaks to me personally through His Word.  He has, is, and will continue to reveal Himself, talk to my heart, and grow my spirit and my understanding as I come to Him in prayer and Bible study.  Ultimately, it is not how much scripture I know; it is the truths which I believe and how I live my life in God’s presence and power in the sight of others.