Oh ancient Love of mine
You are so divine
I want to be like You
Oh ancient Love of mine
So gentle, meek, and kind
Transform me from within
That I may love enemy and friend
Like You do
O ancient Love of mine
Tag: Love
Dear Lord,
I realised something today
My heart has turned from You
To seek people, places, and things
To do what I want to do.
I desired fortune and fame.
Running here and there
Trying to elevate my name.
It stops today!
No more elevating me
I need You, Lord
To set me free.
I need You
Above all else
Your presence is more
Important than myself.
Your love and light
Are what I need
Along with Your Spirit
Who teaches and leads
Who guides me to the truth
Who lights a fire within
So others can find the path
That leads to You again.
Yours is the greatest love
I need it to live.
Fill me to overflowing
So it is Your love that I give.
Revelation 2:1-7 (NLT)
The Message to the Church in Ephesus
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:
“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.
“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!
Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.
“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
6:30 a.m. and I’m patiently waiting.
The lady in the apple green box she thinks is a car is slowing me down.
It’s my turn to fill the coolers for work.
But she’s filling more than one cooler, with tears and a frown.
“Cry later, lady.” I think to myself.
She yells at her kid for another cooler to catch more ice.
“Seriously, don’t you have a fridge at home,” I growl in my thoughts.
When they finish and the kid tries to move his cooler, it falls. “Nice.”
I decide I’d better help if I want to get on my way.
So I smile and lend a hand.
When I load up their coolers.
I see more than I’d planned.
A babe in a car seat and a thumb-sucking preschooler,
Both sleeping under blankets in the backseat.
I close my eyes and say a prayer.
“No fridge, no home–a family living on the street.”
Pastor Miguel’s sermon comes to mind.
“Stay alert and look for God during your day.
He is working all around you.”
My eyes are now open and now I know what to do and what to say.
A dash to my job and then to the church.
I leave the family in Miguel’s care.
I finish my day watching for God’s hand
To guide me to another way to share.
Jose’s experience reminds me of Jesus at the well in John 4. The woman went to the well for water and walked away with more than she expected.
God is speaking and working all throughout our day and He invites us to join Him. We are responsible for making sure we don’t miss those moments by focusing on ourselves more than others.
Quickly pacing past produce and frozen goods.
Aiming for the pickles and buns.
Hamburgers on the grill will make for a quick meal.
Jordyn and I make haste at the end of a long day.
We round the corner and stop on the “Bread” aisle.
Pausing to scan the shelves, we hear a dispute.
A family is in uproar and drawing us in.
Looking for a hasty escape is to no avail.
“She is so mean to me,” the man turns to me waving his arms in exasperation.
“He’s just an idiot and doesn’t listen,” grumbles motor cart lady.
“But all I am doing is trying to help,” the man looks at me with pleading, tearful eyes.
Another woman in their party cries, “This is just too much.”
Still glancing around, looking for an escape or a camera,
I turn from the buns and smile at the man.
“Remember that she has lived a long time. Love her anyway.”
“But she’s my mom. She is never kind. I can do nothing right in her eyes.”
“I see. Well, you have two choices. Hold it against her or love her.”
I tried to leave, but motor cart lady says, “He’s doesn’t do anything right, never has.”
“Lord, what are you doing? Why am I here?”
“See what I mean. It just hurts. And she says things like that, too and she’s my wife,” he points at the other woman in their group now weeping aloud. “That’s my mother.”
I smile again. “Okay. Your job is to be respectful and love. She is your mother.”
“Love her? Even when she is mean?”
“Especially when she is mean. And her too,” I point at his wife.
“Your job is to love no matter what they say or do. Just love.”
“How?” he sighs deeply.
“Can I pray for your family?”
Prayer meeting happens in front of the buns and we turn to leave.
“Grandma, what was that all about?” Jordyn asks as we grab our buns and leave.
The great commission in Matthew 28 compels us to go and make disciples of all nations. Sometimes our “nation” is Wal-Mart.
How Deep is Your Love
Are you willing to deny yourself,
The pleasures of your life,
Turn your back on fame
For the cause of Christ?
Will you give away your time,
Share your talents without pay?
Consider the needs of others above your own
when you kneel to pray?
Are you willing to choose a path
You’ve never traveled before,
Embrace an undesirable,
Pray for a stranger in the store?
When you hear His voice
Will you obey?
Even if He admonishes you
To give what is precious away?
How deep is your love?
Is your love for the Master
Deeper than what others see or feel?
Does it flow so deep within you
That through your life they know the Lord is real?
How deep is your love?
A little hug
A little caress
A little assurance
In the middle of despair
Will greatly calm the weary soul.
A little love
A little smile
A little hope
In a little while
Will lift a heavy burden.
A little joy
A little faith
A little encouagement
In the very moment when need is great
Will replace hopelessness with great peace.
A little flower
A little song
A little mercy
In the crush of defeat
Will turn the shame into great relief.
In a little while…..
The Lord has brought you out.
The wilderness is no more.
He’s sealed shut every window and door.
The fear of the past,
The oppression you once knew
Are exchanged with His love for you.
Walk in victory today.
Yesterday is a fading shadow.
He has provided more than enough for tomorrow.
Deuteronomy 8:18
Remember the Lord your God is the one who gives you power to do these things. He does this because He wants to keep the agreement that He made with your ancestors, as He is doing today! (ERV)
I came to your door today
I thought I'd try again.
To see if you would open up
To let Me come in.
I knew you were on
The other side
I could hear you breathe
You touched the knob unable to decide.
All I want to do
Is share this gift I have
For you.
To love you through
Your pain
To give you hope
again.
To wash away your sorrow
To give you joy
And hope to smile
Today and tomorrow.
I will return another time
Maybe then you will open up to Me.
To let Me set you free.
To live, to love, to recieve My all.
Today I wish you resurrection.
The beauty of this season is the hope that the end of something is approaching and we have something new to look forward to. That is resurrection.
This year may have been extremely challenging for you, but we have this hope…He who began a good work in us is faithful to complete it at the coming of Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
Jesus has come. He brought goodness, mercy, love, and grace with Him. He raised our hopelessness from the dead. His birth was the beginning of a resurrected life for us.
He came to give us access to the One who is able to do more than we could ever ask or think. He is the creator of heaven and earth and nothing is impossible with Him. Let Him resurrect your hope, your joy, your peace, and your love. Today is a new day…a new beginning.
This time of year can be very stressful for many reasons. People who have lost loved ones may not be feeling very festive. Others are experiencing financial hardships and may feel they are missing out on the gifting. Still others are recovering from illnesses and broken relationships. Many are going through the motions of celebrating, but missing the true gift of this season. Whatever your condition, you are a gift to this world. You have a destiny of blessing others.
Your future of hope is much like a beautifully wrapped gift. The outside of the package looks inviting, but covers the true gift inside. Receiving your destiny will take you through the same process as unwrapping a gift. Yes, it is a process.
The process requires removing the facade and excess wrapping. Letting go of pain and regret is not easy, but is necessary for God to complete His perfect work in you. He has given you a heart to love, hands to give, and His likeness to show the world. What’s inside is what the world is waiting for. Your circumstances won’t last long. Put your hope in God. He promised to never leave you nor forsake you. 
