Tag Archives: love

Gleanings from Psalm 119

Posted on by
Reply

This morning I was doing a bible lesson on Psalm 119. It’s a very long chapter so I was assigned to break down just the first 88 verses! LOL! Anyway, from all the things I gleaned from that passage, the most significant to me was this…. Obedience is all about the heart. It’s not about checking things off your ‘religious list’ or your ‘good deeds lists.’ No, God wants a loving and personal relationship with each of us. He wants to spend time with us. He wants our heart more than anything. He loves us so much. And when I trust Him to know what’s best for me, I wholeheartedly obey. (Often though, my pride, selfishness or disbelief gets in the way!) Here are just a few of the observations I jotted down in my journal from Psalm 119…..

photo

May I add that my trust or understanding in the Lord’s love for me is only possible by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit through Christ. I can’t know God the Father apart from the saving power of His Son, Jesus Christ.

The more I embrace His loving grace, the more I want to seek His face!

So, how do I sum up Psalm 119:1-88? In a nutshell, “LEARNING, LOVING AND LIVING OUT GOD’S WORD!”

God Rejoices Over Us with Singing

Posted on by
Reply

Unknown-6This morning, I caught a news clip about a You Tube video that recently went viral. It’s a video of a baby girl tearfully responding to the calming sound of her mother’s singing. It is so touching. I then started thinking about how God sings over us with love. I”m thankful that God doesn’t sing over us ‘heartbreak songs,’ as the video shows, but songs of love, grace and hope!

In my search for this Bible verse, I came across a devotion so beautifully written by Randy Alcorn. I couldn’t have expressed it any better with my own words.

So, here is Randy’s blog entitled, “God Rejoices Over Us with Singing.’ It is my honor to  share it with you all.

http://www.epm.org/blog/2007/Jun/30/god-rejoices-over-us-with-singing

And here is the YouTube video that sparked my search this morning. If you have not yet seen it, enjoy. But grab a box of tissues first.

Compelled by Love

Posted on by
2

Have you ever had one of those days, that you are so overwhelmed by compassion that you have no other choice but to act upon it- sometimes in the most outrageous ways? You know it’s the Holy Spirit living out through you. You are compelled by the love of God! There’s no other explanation for such behavior!

I’ve had experiences where I just started weeping uncontrollably over someone. “Where did that come from?” And just recently, I was sitting in church next to a sweet, older Asian women who was no more than 4 foot 8 inches tall. The whole service, I just felt ‘compelled’ to give her a hug! I was feeling a bit awkward because that particular Sunday, we didn’t do our regular ‘meet and greet your neighbor’ thing. But I knew the Lord wanted me to express compassion and love to her. So, during one of the concluding worship songs of the service, I just reached over and put my arm around her. When it was time to leave, she leaned over and said, “Thank you for showing such kindness to me!” I didn’t know her and I certainly didn’t know what she was going through. But I was so happy I was obedient and did what God had asked me to do- even though it seemed a bit ‘out there.’ (Not everyone appreciates a hug, you know!)

Or take today. I was shopping for some new autumn decorations in a specialty shop and I saw the most gorgeous painting of a cardinal. Well, you may or may not have read my “I Praise You’ poem that mentions the cardinal (I reposted it below in case you missed it), but today I just felt ‘compelled’ to read it out loud to those lady workers right there in the store! I did ask if they wanted to hear it- as if they’re going to say no, right? And I did purchase the painting so they could listen to my poem! Ha ha! Anyway, the poem is about praising God through all things- more than it is a poem about a cardinal. But it felt amazing to shine a little of heaven into that store. And the lady that was ringing me up quietly thanked me for sharing it. “I’m a Christian, too,” she said. We then further discussed church and other things. You just never know where conversations can lead to when you let the Spirit flow out of you!

Diptic-1

But I kindly ask one thing of you…. please don’t run the other way when you see me coming. I don’t always feel compelled to hug! But if you need a hug, I will be more than happy to give you one!

‘For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.’ (2 Cor 5:14-15)

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Lucy

Posted on by
Reply

photo-1As soon as I sit down in my recliner, I don’t have to finish counting to ten before I hear the pitter patter of our sweet dog’s little paws come bounding into the room and onto my lap. Once she hears the chair click and sees my feet slip into my slippers, she is there! She’s attentive and ready to settle in as soon as I am.

Our dog, Lucy, knows my voice. She gives me eye contact. She loves to please. She never holds a grudge or asks, “Why don’t you give me more attention?” She’s just thankful every time I enter the room.

Lucy knows that ‘all is good’ when she’s next to Mom. She completely trusts me. And if sheIMG_0494 disobeys or recognizes that she has displeased me in any way, her tail disappears between her legs and all she wants to do is make things right with me. She doesn’t argue or rebel. She just humbles herself.

She’s the most loving dog; however, she does have an issue with barking. As soon as the doorbell rings, she flies into a tizzy. Her reaction time to my “No barking!” command is getting quicker, but there’s still work to be done.

The spiritual parallels here are stunning to me. However, they aren’t a perfect illustration, by any means. First of all, the depth of my love and compassion for Lucy isn’t even close to  the Father’s love for me. Honestly, as cuddly as it is to have Lucy next to me, I don’t always accept her request. Sometimes, I just don’t want to make room for her on my lap. (But I do marvel at how she will persistently wiggle her way in to the smallest spot between the armrest and my computer, which is usually dominating my lap space!) How thankful I am that God NEVER rejects my request to be in His Presence and that He always makes ample room for me right by His side! Also, I wish I had the acutely attentive photo-2ears to listen and obey God’s every word and trust Him like Lucy trusts me.

Keep doing your sanctifying work in me, Lord. I pray I will keep my eyes fixed on you, my ears open to your voice and my heart yielded to your holy and loving instruction.

‘Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.’ (Psalm 51:9-11)

‘Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.’ (Proverbs 23:12)

‘Now, you women, hear the word of the Lord; open your ears to the words of his mouth.’ (Jeremiah 9:20)

‘Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (Mark 4:8-9)

Lucy, celebrating her 7th birthday on Cinco de Mayo!

Lucy, celebrating her 7th birthday on Cinco de Mayo!