Love Letters to God - Part III

I Corinthians 13:6

“It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.”

Dear Father: 

You don’t keep score of my sins or the sins of others, and you don’t expect me to do it either. In fact, once I confess them, you erase them from your memory. 

So the day something bad happened in my life, you immediately went to work to make it turn out for my good. You took my stumbling blocks and turned them into stepping stones. I saw you begin to change circumstances.....and you began to change me. You lifted up my head.

You showed me how to avoid situations like this in the future, and how to forgive like you forgive. Not the kind where I say it with my mouth and still rehearse the offense when it comes to mind, or the kind where I subtly cross the person off my list. The right and truth you talk about prevails when my heart is in the right place. I knew I had truly forgiven when I began to feel great compassion for this person. I am so honored to be your workmanship in progress. 

     So, because I have let go of the fear I could have embraced which is ultimately the root of unforgiveness, I am free from the chains of bondage that would surely have entangled my future, my life. 

Father, in you is light, and there is no darkness! Thank you for helping me to keep myself out of darkness. As I walk in the freedom of your light, then the darkness can never overcome me, because light everywhere dispels darkness. I receive the glory you have given me. 

I realize now that if I stay out of the way, you can make masterpieces out of my messes.  You are always on my side! You will do for me what I cannot do for myself. When the battle tried to knock me out, the realization that you really do love me caused me to pull myself up and put one foot in front of the other......one more time.  (to be continued....)

Scripture Links:  Hebrews 8:12; Psalm 3:3; Ephesians 2:10; II Timothy 1:7; I John 1:5; 

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 h; as 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.

Love Letters to God - Part II

I Corinthians 13:5 

“Love is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].”

Dear Father: 

Your love is not prideful. You’ve told me about the destruction I can bring upon myself when I allow pride to rule my life. Sometimes it can be hard to admit I am wrong, but I’m believing your grace is sufficient for me so in times to come I will resist pride without hesitation. You said you desire truth from the inward parts, and I want to be like you.

You’re not rude or unmannerly; neither are you touchy, fretful or resentful, Father. If somebody does you wrong, you don’t seek revenge or pretend you don’t see them when they walk by, so I won’t do that either. I know everyone needs mercy like I sure have in my life, and I know everybody’s working on something. Nothing can ever be compared to the great love Jesus showed toward me when He made the ultimate sacrifice for me on the cross, so I find it easy to forget about the wrongs done to me. Jesus took on not only my sins, but also the sins of the whole world, so much so that His face was marred beyond recognition. He even took on things that don’t even have a name, and He did it just for me. That’s perfect love.

And, Father, you’re not self seeking, because it wasn’t your way or the highway when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew death was imminent and He could have gotten up off His knees and said to His disciples, "Dudes, I'm really not feeling this.  This is making me sweat. I think I’m gonna go back to God and see if I can get a replacement. I can always go back to my last job of healing people." But, instead, He commended His love toward me, and with me in mind he fearlessly acknowledged that this whole thing was not about him at all, but it was about me and about us, your people. He trudged his way to the cross, not once even looking back. Now that’s perfect love.

Your perfect love casts out all my fears, and fear is the only reason I would always want my way----because I would be afraid I would lose something by leaving the way open for someone else or by relinquishing to them something I felt I should have. With you, I don’t have to hold onto anything to obtain; I save my life by losing it.  

  So when the lady eases ahead of me in the grocery store line, I’ll just pretend she was there first and give her a warm smile at the checkout counter.

          My distinguishing characteristic is not my morality or my vast knowledge of music. Neither is it my ability to recite the Book of Ephesians or my athletic skills. It is your supernatural love operating through me for other believers. That’s how the world will know we are your disciples and believe on you. Your love is the kind that draws a drug addict out of the gutter and compels a wayward child to come back home. I need to know and deliver that kind of love. 

Father, help me to come to the end of myself and abandon trusting in myself, and show me through your Word how to love others as you loved Jesus. -AMEN

Scripture Links: Proverbs 16:18; Psalm 51:6; I John 4:18; Philippians 2:3

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.

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.