A Friend’s Love!

“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (I Peter 2:11,12 NIV)

When Peter writes this letter to Believers–especially to those who are new to the faith–his greeting lets people how he views them–friends.

When we write a letter to a friend (I know–strange concept huh), how do we greet them? Dear______! What’s more important is how we treat them. Do we love them enough to tell them the truth or do we simply keep quiet and let them fall by the wayside of life?

Peter urges all to abstain–don’t give into–from sinful desires which engage our spirits with our fleshly drives. We can do it. We have Holy Spirit to give us strength to fight off the urges of the flesh which desires those things that are not good for us. Sometimes, in order to fight that fight–we have to remove ourselves from certain environments or people to make sure we are not enticed or led astray. Those who deliberately lead another astray–away from doing what is right–are not friends, they are fiends–tools of the devil.

We are to live the good life that God has planned for us–doing what is right no matter what others think or say. In fact, we are told to do to keep doing what is right or saying what is right to the extent that those who find fault with us, will soon acknowledge that we are indeed messengers of God and live according to His Divine Plan for us. When they see us not caving to gain favor of others, but living to please God, they will be convinced and some will change their ways because of what they see in us–the love of God shed abroad in our hearts–filled to overflowing onto others! Hallelujah!

Are you a friend that loves enough to tell your friends the truth? Do you love your friends enough to live God’s Best Life for you in front of them? Do you love your friends enough to be a living letter of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Dear Friends,

I love you enough to always pray for you–that you’ll understand why I do what I do and say what I say–in agreement with God’s Word–so that I will spend eternity with you in heaven and together, we will glorify God at the foot of His throne. I love you enough to back you up in all the good you do and to admonish you when I see you going astray. I love you enough to always tell you the truth, even though the truth may sting for a moment. I love you enough to be there when you need me, always ready to listen and to encourage you to do things God’s way!

Love, your friend in Jesus!

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How People Read Us!

“Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.” (2 Corinthians 3:3 NLT)

If we are a letter from Christ for others to read, what is the letter saying?

Does the letter inform others of our desire to please God and to do–always–those things that are pleasing in His sight?

Can people read our compassion for others in what they see us do?

Do they see the commitment we have to stand firm on The Word and not be swayed by man’s corrupt thinking?

Is the letter they are reading so full of light, hope and faith that our lives ignite hope in them?

Do they see someone on fire for The Lord or do they see complacency?

Exactly, what do we want people to read of us–since we supposed to be the living epistles (letters) read by men?

I pray that the letter written upon my heart is confirmation and testament of my receiving God’s love and sharing it with others. I pray that others read the desire I have to please God in everything I do and say. I pray that others read upon my heart a blueprint for being a Godly mother, wife, grandmother, and witness of all God’s goodness. I pray that all that is written upon my heart from Christ ignites a love of Christ in others that overwhelms and spills over onto every person reading it.

I would rather people read a letter that sets them on fire–burning with desire to repent and turn to God, than one that is simply a copy or imitation of some other person’s life. For which is better for societal change that turns hearts to God–a never-ending flame to please Him or a flickering light that changes with every wind of doctrine, changed by man.

Allow the love of Jesus to burn brightly within and people will see and read the letter He has written upon our hearts–to His glory, so all will know to whom we belong.

Become The Magnifier!

“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together” (Psalm 34:3).

Most of us (those over 60 years old) have had an opportunity to use a magnifying glass at one time or another.  In fact, if we wear bifocals or use reading glasses, their job is to magnify (help us see clearly) what we see when we read print that is too small for our “unaided” eyes to see.  Magnifying works!  We can see small print and continue to enjoy reading!

If magnifying the print works well for us to read, how much more would magnifying God help others to “see” Him for who He is?  Didn’t Paul say, “we are epistles read of men?” So, what are they reading when they see us? Are we magnifying the One we say we love or are we magnifying the one who hates God? Time to think!

When you finish thinking, “magnify The Lord with me” and let us together help others see, just how good God is, just how great a provider He is, just how awesome He is, just how merciful He is, just how wonderful a healer He is, just how forgiving He is, just how loving He is!  Magnify Him wherever you go, whenever you get a chance–let your lifestyle magnify The Lord on a consistent basis.

From Father to Daughters

June 2013

My Darling Daughters,

I have watched you for some time now and my heart grieves for you.  I know it’s not your fault and I know that you have done the best you can, with the life you’ve had.  All of the tragedies you suffered were not part of my plan for you.  My plans for you, were to bring you hope, a bright future, and all the joy and happiness you could handle.

What I have seen is men abusing and using you, making you feel worthless, when you are worthy of love—unconditionally.  Your body—my creation and gift to you—was meant to be cherished, not exploited by the media, fantasies of sick men and even sicker women.  Your body was meant to be beautified and appreciated by all who looked upon you, not detested and scorned.  I have dressed you with a beauty that cannot be found in a tube or a bottle, so why do you feel the need to expose all the parts of you meant to be seen by the wonderful man I had predestined to be yours?

My heart aches for all the pain you have endured at the hands of those who could not possibly know how much destruction they caused when they influenced you to thinking that you are just body parts, not part of a body that was meant to loved.  My heart is heavy every time I see men leer and lust after you when all I wanted was for men to see your beautiful spirit, not your partially clad skin.

Sometimes, I wish I could close my eyes and not see how you have been convinced that your body—my wonderfully, unique creation—is meant to be used as an instrument of torture when men and women stick all manner of objects in you and abuse you for their wicked pleasure.  I cannot bear to see your mouth, meant to praise me, used for the act solely meant for the purpose of procreation.  I cannot bear the pain I know you feel when men prod the parts of you meant to be used as a means of exit, not entrance.  I cannot bear the pain I see in your eyes, when your expectations of finding love are lost in the illusion of sexploits, in the pages of books, on the screens of television and movies, and in the music where you are constantly denigrated by those who have no clue as to how to love you.

Remember this, my darling daughters. I love you and would never use or abuse you because I Am Love and can do nothing else.  Learn to love yourself, as I love you, and watch all the wonderful things I had planned for you, come to pass.

Your Loving,

Heavenly Father