Category Archives: A Father’s Love

JESUS WEPT??? You Can Too! A Word from THE WORD!!! #160

01 Friday Dec 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Crying Tears of Healing, God sees your tears--sorrow is ok!, It's ok to cry., Jesus Saves!, Jesus Wept!, Jesus Wept--You can too!, Tears can heal!

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JESUS WEPT???  You Can Too! A Word from THE WORD!!! #160

       “Jesus wept.”  John 11:35

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love Christmas—I love Jesus, so I love the season that celebrates His incarnation; His becoming man, a flesh and blood man who would live a sinless life, not only as an example but as the perfect, holy, “Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world”—The One born to die for my sin and yours!  (See Matthew 1:21 & John 1:12-14). Oh, praise God HE came for me!

Jesus lived, walked upon this earth as a man so that HE could be the perfect sacrifice for sin which God required, and I’m so grateful for that, but I’m also grateful that this sinless Son of God showed us that it’s alright to be sad.  I know many of you, like myself have the joy of the Lord, yet there’s some event, or tragedy or loss that came at this time of year (or any time of the year) and it still grieves our heart and brings those sad moments when the tears may or may not flow, but the pain is still there—with or without the smile!  Well my friends, this post is for YOU!  I have those tears too, but Jesus showed us that those tears are not shameful, or ugly, or inappropriate!  They are a healing and comforting gift from our Father in heaven!

“Thou tellest my wanderings:

put thou my tears into thy bottle:

are they not in thy book?”  Psalm 56:8

Isaiah was sent back, after giving the King a death message, to tell Hezekiah that God had heard his prayer and seen his tears when he asked God to heal him. Remember, our God hears, He sees, and He knows the pain that we feel.

“Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people,

Thus saith the LORD,

the God of David thy father,

I have heard thy prayer,

I have seen thy tears:

behold, I will heal thee:

on the third day

thou shalt go up

unto the house of the LORD.” 2 Kings 20:5

Jesus knows our hearts and the precious Holy Spirit intercedes when we don’t have the words—only tears and sorrow.  All because of the price that Jesus paid at Calvary to redeem us by HIS own blood.

“My friends scorn me:

but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.” Job 16:20

“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.

27 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.”  Romans 8:26-27

We also have our great intercessor ever at the Right Hand of God– always!  Jesus cares, and you can trust to HIS care—He hears your prayers—even the ones that just come out in floods of tears without words!  So, run to HIM, cry on HIS shoulder—they’re big enough to hold you, and HE tells us we can come any time we need to!  So don’t hold back those tears (even those of us who hate to let them out before others, for sometimes other people need to be aware!), just remember that Jesus died for those tears!

“For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:15-16

Take comfort in HIS care—He loves you so much that He came to earth, took on flesh and blood, walked among sinful people, reached out to those who rejected HIM, loved, lived, and laid down HIS life to pay for my sin and yours, rose again the third day, so that we could truly have eternal, “abundant life” IN HIM!  Even through the times of sorrow, tears, and grief.  HE loves you and me.

“Who shall lay any thing

to the charge of God’s elect?

It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth?

It is Christ that died,

yea rather, that is risen again,

who is even at the right hand of God,

who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

 shall tribulation,

or distress,

or persecution,

or famine,

or nakedness,

or peril,

 or sword?

36 As it is written,

For thy sake we are killed all the day long;

we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay,

in all these things we are more than conquerors

through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded,

that neither death,

nor life,

nor angels,

nor principalities,

nor powers,

nor things present,

nor things to come,

39 Nor height,

nor depth,

nor any other creature,

shall be able to separate us

from the love of God,

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”                    Romans 8:33-39

Walk in victory my friend; Jesus knows your sorrow, but let Him restore your joy, by sharing your sorrow with Him anytime!  He cares—remember, HE cried too!

Amen and Amen!!!

Twisting Or Bowing??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #158

26 Sunday Nov 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Born Again, Bow Before our God, Touch them while you can?, Trust, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True

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Twisting Or Bowing???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #158

Some food for thought as we approach the time of not only being thankful but abundantly grateful for God’s gift of “His only begotten Son” for our salvation. But a question that we often miss is “who is God”?  God Almighty the creator of all things or “me”?  We have become so focused on self that we forget that God is God, and we are not; for Jesus makes it very clear that our focus should be ‘bowing’ before our King, not dictating to HIM what we ‘want’!  It’s kind of the difference between being perpetually grateful and celebrating “Thanks” each day of the year rather than a day of “Pride-feasting”!

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day

our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil:

For thine is

the kingdom,

and the power,

and the glory, for ever. Amen.”   Matthew 6:9-13

Jesus called His followers to pray for God’s Kingdom to come, for God’s will to be done—right here on earth, as it is in heaven—perfectly, continually, rightly and to HIS glory and our good.  What are you praying for?  We are told to take our requests to God, but never in the dictatorial manner that so many today practice and promote.  We are told that we can come ‘boldly’ before our God, but never, never, never ‘arrogantly or presumptuously’!  For God is our heavenly Father not our ‘sugar daddy’.  We are called to love Him, to trust Him, and to seek HIS will in all things, because HE IS GOD and HE is trustworthy, and has given to each believer the indwelling Holy Spirit to teach us, lead us, and direct our steps!  We must trust to our God in all things, else how can we walk in union with HIM?

“Can two walk together,

except they be agreed?”  Amos 3:3

To be ‘agreed’ with God, we must know HIM through the ‘blood of Jesus Christ His Son’ that ‘cleanseth us from all sin’; and we must know HIS WORD to enable us to make wise and discerning choices.  Paul gives us amazing assurance that God is working all things around us—even when we don’t understand or see it, God never fails!  You can trust HIM, yet some claim to know HIM but not enough to trust HIM!  Do you really know Him as being trustworthy?

“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.

27 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.

28 And we know that all things work together

for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate to be conformed

to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us,

who can be against us?”  Romans 8:26-31

The author of Hebrews reminds us that we can come to HIM in complete trust, laying our needs, concerns, and burdens at His feet confidently!

“For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:15-16

So, the question is, are we trying to twist God’s arm, put our quarter in the slot and pull the demand handle and expect God to send the jackpot?  Or are we willing to truly trust in His will, His kingdom work, His will, and His Word?  Are we willing to be contented even when we don’t understand?  Are we willing to go to Calvary as Jesus did, or do we think we are above suffering for the kingdom?  Paul warned Timothy of the danger of discontent, greed, and self.

“Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds,

and destitute of the truth,

supposing that gain is godliness:

from such withdraw thyself.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world,

and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment

let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich

fall into temptation

and a snare,

and into many foolish and hurtful lusts,

which drown men in destruction

and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil:

which while some coveted after,

they have erred from the faith,

and pierced themselves through

with many sorrows.

11 But thou, O man of God,

flee these things;

and follow after

righteousness, godliness,

faith, love,

patience, meekness.”   1 Timothy 6:5-11

Paul sums it up for us in his letter to the Philippian believers, they were to have the humility and obedience of Jesus!  May we be found faithful before our God as well as a lost and dying world!  Our world needs the true Gospel—that Jesus died for our sin and calls us to repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin (See 1 Corinthians 15:3-5)!

“Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation,

 and took upon him the form

of a servant,

and was made

in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.”  Philippians 2:5-8

And Jesus’ own words set the record straight, we are called to die to “SELF” and live to Jesus, following HIM even unto death.

“And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

but whosoever will lose his life for my sake,

the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged,

if he gain the whole world,

and lose himself,

or be cast away?”  Luke 9:23-25

And one of my favorite and often repeated verses says it all:

“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.”  Galatians 2:20

Amen and Amen!!!

Thanksgiving Blessings!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #156

20 Monday Nov 2023

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, Choose Gratitude and show it!, Choose you this day?, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Gratitude to Generosity, Greater is HE that is IN US!, Thankful, Thankfulness with joy!, Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving Blessings!!!  A Word from THE WORD!!! #156

“O come,

let us sing

unto the LORD:

let us make a joyful noise

to the rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come

before his presence with thanksgiving,

and make a joyful noise

unto him with psalms.

3 For the LORD is a great God,

and a great King

above all gods.”  Psalm 95:1-3

 I pray that your time of Thanksgiving will include the greatest gift of all, the love of God toward us in sending HIS SON, Jesus to be our redeemer, savior, and LORD!  May God’s blessings rest upon you and yours as you take time to express your thanks in various ways.

May I just offer a few reminders of some things that could make your Thanksgiving special:

Share with someone in need out of your bounty (whether your bounty great or small

Call a friend or relative and tell them how thankful you are that God placed them in your life—

Hug your loved ones one more time, you never know when it might be the last hug—

Do something special for your spouse that doesn’t cost money, their favorite dessert, an unexpected massage, a surprise trip to see the sights or visit a friend—

Offer to help an elderly neighbor with their decorations—

Call or write someone who was a blessing to you or for some almost forgotten long ago kindness, you could make their day—

Tell your parents, children, friends and loved ones near and far that you love them, and then LOVE THEM—

Gratitude and kindness are contagious, spread them around!!!

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD,

all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD

with gladness:

come before his presence

with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates

with thanksgiving,

and into his courts

with praise:

be thankful

unto him,

and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth

to all generations.”  Psalm 100:1-5

May you have a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving season with family and friends.  God bless you with joy and laughter!

Amen and Amen!!!

The Blessed Gift Of Tears??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #155

16 Thursday Nov 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, Tears, Testing and Trials?, They that sow in tears...., Weeping Tears.

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The Blessed Gift Of Tears??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #155

I know this may seem like a strange subject in considering being thankful and grateful to our God, but for many it will hit a note of familiarity, for tears truly are a language that God understands; for HE made us with the ability to cry, and I praise HIM for it.  Yet often we suppress the natural gift of tears, we don’t want to have a ‘blubbery face’ showing in public; we don’t want people to know how we really feel; we don’t want others to know how badly we are hurting; and reasons that we don’t have time to list.  I have long had a problem with ‘tears’ but not in the sense you might think, I didn’t have any grandmothers growing up, for they both died before I was born, and I only had one grandfather still living, but he lived way out in the swamps on a bayou in Louisiana, and we didn’t see him very often for my dad was in the Navy and we moved a lot.  But when I was in about the 4th grade we were living in Mobile, AL (which I still call home) my mother heard that her dad was not well and she made a trip to see him and brought him home with her to live with us—and that was a precious time for we children, as we had never had a grandparent involved in our lives.  He was funny and told us stories, he sassed my mother (which amazed us, for we sure dared not!), and was just a blessing to us.  Well, he died after only a few short months with us, and we traveled back to Louisiana for his funeral and burial in the family cemetery there.

At the funeral, I was stricken with sorrow and started to cry but I had no hankey or tissues and didn’t want to embarrass myself with that ‘blubbery face’, so I learned my first lesson in “stuffing” it; and it’s a lesson that showed back up throughout my life.  But we must understand that God gave us tears as an outlet, a cleanser for the soul, if you would; a mechanism to relieve our grief, fear, sorrow, anger, joy, and frustration—an ‘all-in-one’ safety trigger.  But of course we intelligent humans do our best to short-circuit God’s goodness, and this is just another one of those foolish attempts to be “smarter than The Creator”! God gave us tears to bless us, to relieve some of our suffering and the results of being ‘fallen man’!  Let’s consider some things that scripture reveals about tears, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll learn to appreciate them more, and use them wisely!

“Thou tellest my wanderings:

put thou my tears into thy bottle:

are they not in thy book?

9 When I cry unto thee,

then shall mine enemies turn back:

this I know;

for God is for me.

10 In God

will I praise his word:

in the LORD

will I praise his word.

11 In God

have I put my trust:

I will not be afraid

what man can do unto me.”  Psalm 56:8-11

Oh, to remember the goodness and faithfulness of our God.  Job in the midst of some of the greatest trials ever, kept declaring his faith in God—despite the questionable help of his “friends”!

“Also now, behold,

my witness is in heaven,

and my record is on high.

20 My friends scorn me:

but mine eye poureth out tears

unto God.”  Job 16:19-20

Sometimes our tears come on the behalf of others—those who are in trouble, in deep need of God’s help—when we can do little else but pray and weep!  God hears, sees, and knows!

“They that sow in tears

shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth,

bearing precious seed,

shall doubtless come again

with rejoicing,

bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:5-6                   (Sheaves being the harvest of the labor of tears!)

One of my favorite books of The Bible is the book of Jeremiah—the ‘weeping prophet’!  Why the weeping prophet?  For a lot of reasons, but mainly because he loved his people, and while he faithfully proclaimed God’s warning of coming judgment if they would not repent (much like where we are today, perhaps?) and the response was at the most, negligible, and came with ridicule, torture, pain, and a grief that we can barely understand.  Yet, God promised Jeremiah that there would be relief—a relief that he wouldn’t live to see, but a relief and restoration of Israel that would come.  May we be found as willing and faithful as Jeremiah to proclaim truth even when it brings tears, grief, heartache, or ridicule!  God IS faithful and HE knows your pain, your heartache, your sorrow for the sin of our nation, the tears that we shed in prayer for HIS provision, and revival!  So, my friends “weary not in well doing”, but press on faithfully and let those tears flow when they need to—don’t suppress the feelings that God has given you!  HE IS coming to redeem HIS own, and HE will wipe away the tears that we shed before HIM!

“Thus saith the LORD;

Refrain thy voice from weeping,

and thine eyes from tears:

for thy work shall be rewarded,

saith the LORD;

and they shall come again

from the land of the enemy.

17 And there is hope in thine end,

saith the LORD,

that thy children shall come again

to their own border.”  Jeremiah 31:16-17

Amen and Amen!!!

 

Gratitude Spills Over??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #154

13 Monday Nov 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, Blessed by God, By His Grace, Confidence, Don't Wait, Faithful Follower, Follow Jesus, Forgiveness, Giving and Sharing, Giving or Getting, Giving Or Taking?, God's love, God's measure isn't ours, Good Neighbor, Good Stewards, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Greater is HE that is IN US!, Jesus IN You!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Living Right, Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

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Gratitude Spills Over??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #154

For the rest of this month (unless I change my mind!!) I want us to focus on God’s goodness and our attitudes; for sometimes we just take God’s goodness for granted and forget to thank HIM or share HIS goodness with others, Paul says it better than I could.

“Let him that stole

steal no more:

 but rather let him labour,

working with his hands

the thing which is good,

that he may have to give

to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication    

proceed out of your mouth,

but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace

unto the hearers.”  Ephesians 4:28-29

 Paul calls believers to live and behave like believers—those who “were” thieves were called to (in Blanche’s paraphrase) “get a job and work diligently to provide for one’s self and have to give to those in need”!  Our actions and our words have an effect on those around us—especially those ‘little people’ who follow us around and learn from our behavior and actions way more than they learn from just our words!  Are we teaching our children and grandchildren about gratitude—about sharing what we have—about looking to Jesus instead of the world—about giving more than receiving?  The truth is that we are teaching them every day, whether we are paying attention or not!  Paul’s admonition to live holy, faithfully, and generously is a call to each of us!  It compels us to hear and obey the call of Jesus to “do unto others” as we desire to be treated.  Small words but a giant obligation to reject the “ME” mentality of the world and share the “others first” love of Jesus!

“Jesus said unto him,

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God

with all thy heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it,

Thou shalt love thy neighbour

as thyself.”  Matthew 22:37-39

When the “love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost…” (See Romans 5:1-11) it ought to spill over on all around us!  An outflowing of the gratitude that we feel for the “gift of God” (Romans 6:23) which is eternal life in JESUS!  Are you shining for Jesus or hoarding everything to yourself?

Paul shares more in his letter to the Colossian believers; may we willingly and gladly heed God’s Word to our hearts?

“Put on therefore,

as the elect of God,

holy and beloved,

bowels of mercies,

kindness,

humbleness of mind,

meekness,

longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another,

and forgiving one another,

if any man have a quarrel against any:

even as Christ forgave you,

so also do ye.

14 And above all these things

put on charity,

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God

rule in your hearts,

to the which also ye are called in one body;

and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

in all wisdom;

teaching

and admonishing one another

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”   Colossians 3:12-17

May we truly be fountains of blessing to those around us, taking every opportunity to share not only Jesus, but the material resources that HE has blessed us with to those around us in need, as God leads?  We are to be wise and generous stewards of God’s blessings, not greedy, selfish Scrooges!  How will God assess our gratitude quotient?  Let’s be one of the ‘overly generous’ ones, not the selfish ones!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test!

“But this I say,

He which soweth sparingly

shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully

shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,

so let him give;

not grudgingly,

or of necessity:

for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able

to make all grace abound toward you;

that ye,

always having all sufficiency in all things,

may abound to every good work:

9 (As it is written,

He hath dispersed abroad;

he hath given to the poor:

his righteousness remaineth for ever.”                              2 Corinthians 9:6-9

May we be known for our gracious, grateful, and generous spirit.

Amen and Amen!!!