Love Letters to God - Part I

I Corinthians 13:4 - Amplified

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

Dear Father:

You say your love goes far beyond what I am able to conceive with my mind. My heart’s desire is to experience your kind of love. Your love endures long. You have a long temper, not a short fuse--you are the perfect example of patience. I am so grateful, because I have really needed your patience in my life. People’s patience runs out real fast, but not your’s, Father. You are not just waiting for me to get out of line so you can pour your wrath out on me. You gently teach me, prompt me and remind me to follow your Word. When I do, I see how much it pleases you. 

Your love is kind. I’m sure there were times when you tried to show me the magnitude of your kindness, but I rejected it because I didn’t know you well enough to receive your grace and recognize what you were doing. Thank you for continuing to extend your kindness and not giving up on me. 

And, thank you, Father, for never being envious or jealous. I don’t have to worry about you turning on me or rejecting me for no other reason than because I am who I am. You made me, Father, and you have absolutely nothing to lose by accepting me unconditionally, so I am safe with you, knowing you have my best interest at heart. 

You never boast about your works or show vanity in your speech, and I want to be like you, Father. You do spectacular things, but you are meek and lowly in heart and I can always find rest for my soul with you. Simple things mean a lot to you, Father, so it must be easy to communicate with you. You said if I draw near to you, you would draw near to me, so I am going to believe that and take the first step.

Your ways are amazing, Father. I’m grateful at how you so divinely and meticulously orchestrate things, so I am eager to know more about how you make them happen. It helps me learn  your true nature, makes me more mindful to take a back seat in my comings and my goings and lets you be the driver, as you so perfectly do. And as you say, I will let other men praise my works if it’s in their hearts to do so.

Father, help me to come to know [practically, through experience for myself] Your love, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that I may be filled [through all my being] with all Your fullness; that I may have the richest measure of Your divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with You....

Scripture Links:  I Corinthians 13:4; Matthew 11:28-30; Proverbs 27:2; Ephesians 3:19

To Receive Jesus as Lord ad Savior:(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.

To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

You're Gonna Do What?

       Okay, I'll call you back in a few minutes......we'll be there at 7:00.....I'll return your cd tomorrow. Promises.

       A promise is all about giving the person to whom it is made a right to expect a specified performance or act. Wonder what life would be like if Abraham Lincoln, as he sat down to sign the Emancipation Proclamation, said, "Uhh, I'll be right back," gets up to go do something else and never signed the papers? 

       Or, what if Bill Gates had changed his mind and decided to stay at Harvard rather than dropping out and starting Microsoft? Would that window of opportunity have still been open later on?

       Let's bring it a little closer home. How does it make you feel when your spouse or a friend promise to never put you down again and continues to do it?

       Finding promise keepers these days is more the exception than the norm. Young and old alike say what they are going to do and never do it. They fail to realize that the same is true as in old times--your word is your bond, and a person is only as strong as his word.
       And what if Jesus, rather than saying to the Father, "Not my will, but your will be done," got up off his knees in the garden of Gethsemane and said to His disciples, "Dudes, I'm really not feeling this.  This is making me sweat. I'm gonna go back to God and see if I can get a replacement." Where would we be?
       Each time we open our mouths to make a commitment to anything, our hearts should be, with all that is in us, to see it through to the end. Granted things come up and plans change, but communication and heart is key. Jesus gave us His life; He set the standard. How much more can we keep our word to Him and to others? 

Scripture Links:  John 3:16; Hebrews 6:12-14; Proverbs 19:1; Proverbs 20:7; 

To Receive Jesus as Lord ad Savior:(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.

To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

Let Me Introduce You

          I have a friend I'd like to introduce you to. Everyone should want to know her. My life is going nowhere but up since I've become acquainted with her. Her name is Wisdom.

     Wisdom can help you. If you will hear her, you will increase in learning and discretion. She will tell you what to do and what not to do, when (and where) to go and when to stay; what to say and what not to say. She will cause you to profit and show you how to live a long life.

     If you've ever asked yourself "What was I thinking?" when you made poor decisions in the past, then you need Wisdom. If you've done things that have produced death in your life, if you let her in, she can be a tree of life to you. She will give you understanding which will preserve you and keep you. She will help you see why you made the choices you have made and show you how to avoid the same pitfalls next time. With Wisdom as your friend, your path will get brighter and brighter with her.

     All the things you desire in life will never compare to having a relationship with Wisdom, for she will show you what you really need. 

     Get to know her.

Scripture Links: James 1:5; Proverbs 1:5; Proverbs 3:16, 18; Proverbs 2:10, 11; Proverbs 4:18

To Receive Jesus as Lord ad Savior:(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.

To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

A True Friend

       The word “friend” is used very loosely these days. I can think of several phrases to describe a friend in its truest form, but here are my top six. A true friend: 

Friends since elementary school.

• Is honest - Many forego candor these days and either say nothing or glaze over the truth when it comes to dealing with people. How else do we help one another than by telling the truth, even when it hurts? If I am “trippin,’” would somebody please tell me rather than letting me make a fool of myself?
• Shows unconditional love and unwavering loyalty - It blesses me to know my friends will stick by me, no matter what I am going through and will love me and pray for me when I am unlovable or in trouble. I need to know they are there for me regardless, even when it is inconvenient. A friend loves at all times and stands the test of time. 
• Is a good listener - Sometimes we are so tempted to say to certain people,”Would you please be quiet?” Everybody needs a good listener in a friend. All too often we become self consumed and just can’t stop talking about ourselves! What a way to turn people off. One of the easiest ways to make friends is simply to listen to them. 
• Makes you better - If no one else does, your friend should be the one who challenges you and motivates you to be your best and to follow your dreams. If you find yourself the rescuer in all your relationships, then it's time to reevaluate who you call friends.
• Shares common interests - You should be able to connect with your friend first on a spiritual level, because two people who walk together will end up agreeing on matters of the heart. (So, make sure you agree with what your friend stands for.) Whether it is a hobby, a work ethic, a skill or a personal characteristic, friends share something unique that binds them. 
• Celebrates who you are - True friends are never envious or jealous, because they appreciate your uniqueness and realize God manifests himself differently in the lives of each individual. They rejoice with you in victory and stick by you when you lose. 

       Jesus was the perfect example of a friend. He laid down His life for us. That's the highest form of friendship. It’s a beautiful thing to have a good friend, but it's even better to be one, because you will always get back what you give!

Scripture Links: John 15:13; Proverbs 17:17;  Proverbs 18:24; I Corinthians 13:4; Proverbs 27:17; Galatians 6:7

To Receive Jesus as Lord ad Savior:(Sinner's Prayer) Dear God, I am a sinner. I need a savior. I need Jesus. I believe Jesus died for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask Jesus now to come into my heart and to become Lord over my life. Satan has no more power over me. I say with my mouth that Jesus is Lord. Father, help me to live for you, and thank you for saving me. John 3:16.

To Rededicate Your Life to the Lord (after falling away):Dear Heavenly Father: I confess to you that I have sinned. You said if I confess my sin you are faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I turn away from sin and turn to you, and I ask you to forgive me. I forgive myself also. Father, thank you for forgiving me, remembering my sin no more and allowing me to have right standing with you again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.