There's a Fountain Flowing Deep and Wide

One of the sweet ladies at church took my husband aside and told him that she could tell that he and I were still in love after 10 years. She could see that we were a truly happy couple. He and I are best of friends; I share everything with him and he with me. I am most comfortable when I am with him, call me co-dependent.

If someone from the outside can tell that we are not only together but completely and totally happy, we are projecting our love outward. We should have that sort of relationship with God. Others should be able to see us and know that there is a deeply personal relationship with our Lord. We should all be most comfortable when we are with Him. Since He is always with us, we have only to realize this and all our anxiety would wither.

The fountain of Christ's love is deeper and wider than any love we have ever known before.

John 15:13 NIV

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

1 John 3:16 NIV

New International Version

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

 

I did a search for "Love" on my favorite Bible site and it returned with 500 hits. I don't need a search engine to tell me that God loves me five hundred times over. I feel it every day. I know that when I rely on Jesus, I am at peace. Brother Terry said that when we are truly born again that our lives change. I can't remember back that far if my heart was different. I have had to block out a lot of my childhood. I do know that since I have rededicated my life to Christ, that it is wonderful to be in His house. It bothers me to find myself in the sins of my past person.

Everyone needs to be able to look at us and know that we love our Father with all our hearts. We need to be a daily reminder to them that He loves them, too. I hope that I am that Christian in other's eyes, but I really do try.

Helping Others and Blessings Will Rain

A co-worker (and friend) and his wife are in a fight for her life. She complained of a lump that was being irritated by the underwire of her bra, not a normal place for a lump. The xray and manipulation indicated that it was most likely a cyst and not to worry. The lumpectomy and subsequent lab work changed everything. It was not just breast cancer, but she has lymph nodes in her breasts (rare again,) the lump was close to the bone, and she has a familial history of breast cancer. The choice had to be made for chemotherapy first then mastectomy or vice versa. They chose chemo first. His wife is a tiny woman so she gets cold easily...not a problem I've ever had! So I decided that I would make a quilt with encouraging scriptures t wrap around herself, metaphorically and physically. 

This project taught me scriptures I didn't know. I now have people who don't know her sending out their prayers, too. My daughter saw what I was doing and hopefully is encouraged to do something selfless for someone else.

I hope my friend gets as much comfort from this as I have.
God Bless You Shawn.

If You Can't Something Nice

Today's sermon has nothing to do with what is on my mind. Yesterday was a day of fun and uplifting with my daughter and I spending the day out. I made a concerted effort to say something encouraging to everyone I encountered that day. Let me rewind for those who have just joined the program. My name is Dana and I am a sarcastic-wicked witted-smartmouth. It's a disease. Part of it comes from being the youngest and having to defend myself, also from being bullied mercilessly, and it's also genetic. I come from a long line of smart-alecks. I used to be quite proud of how quickly I could retort, and often with a laugh from the peanut gallery.



As I have grown older (and wiser?) I have been instilled with the knowledge that not everyone appreciates this gift. Looking back, it has been a curse more often than not and that I should hone the ability to encourage those around me instead of hurting those around me. It is irrelevant the pain inflicted as I cannot control others actions. I can pray they come to their own epiphany they need to change. I can pray I react in a way they see the folly of their actions, but not so I hurt them in the process. It isn't mine to make others to bend to God's will. I don't know what His plan is for them. I have only my own log in my eye in which to remove. I can't judge others and I can't make them behave, no more than I can make someone else's kid stop acting like a heathen. I am not their parent and I can't discipline them, only intervene if bodily harm might befall them. Do my nerves scream bloody murder every time they do, oh you betcha! But I will not intervene again.

God's children are his to discipline, not mine. If you are not walking, or talking, with God, only you and He can decide that.

Judging Others

7:3-5pp -- Lk 6:41,42

1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

Psalms 1-41

1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Inspiration Strikes Back

My husband has inspired me to get back into my graphic art design hobby. Since I have never been paid to create anything, it is just a hobby. He has been on fire for the Lord since the passing of his grandfather, and has recently been certified as a peer counselor. I was inspired by the host state's logo for their chapter, and this is what I came up with. I don't have a problem with anyone using this for personal use, but please, do not use it for monetary gain.

Submission to the Authorities

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

The Secrets of a Great Church

Acts 2:31-47
37 When the crowd heard this, they were deeply troubled. They said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Change your hearts and lives. Each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is for you, your children, and for all who are far away—as many as the Lord our God invites." 40 With many other words he testified to them and encouraged them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." 41 Those who accepted Peter's message were baptized. God brought about three thousand people into the community on that day.
42 The believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. 43 A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. 44 All the believers were united and shared everything. 45 They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. 46 Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. 47 They praised God and demonstrated God's goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved. 

  
1. The church must be a converted membership. Each of the members of the church have to be saved and not just folks with a name on a church scroll. Do you know without a doubt that your name is written on the Lord's Book of Life? 
the call of salvation is by the Lord. God takes the initiative for our salvation. Have you heard the call? Have you responded to or ignored the call? We are all here by divine appointment.
Divine conviction: God touched their hearts as he touches ours when we are saved. You have to know you are lost before you can be found. You have to know that you are a sinner and have been convicted of our sins before we can accept and appreciate the divine salvation. 
Our sins are responsible for the death of Jesus. When you realize this and come to know Christ as your savior, this knowledge should break your heart. 
What shall we do?