Do You Really Love Me?

"So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My lambs." He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep.…" John 21:15-17

Jesus' conversation with Peter, about whether Peter loved him or not and then Jesus telling Peter what it would look like if He truly loved him. What it is he should be doing.

It is the same for us, Jesus says to us, Do you love me? and we say of course Lord, we love you. and He replies take care of my people.  Our actions must match our words. We go to a service or two on Sunday or Saturday and we sing praises to Him and then we leave and what? We go about our own business. When do we tend His sheep. Now, please understand this interchange was a confirmation of Peter's role in the church. He was being established as the "rock" on which Christ will built his church.

I think of the my relationship with my husband and we tell each other we love one another but if this is not backed up with some action then we begin to wonder, to falter in our belief of that love. Each night, when we are getting ready to turn in for the night, we would get water to put on our night tables. Many nights, I will go up and my glass is already poured, I did not ask him to do it, he just did. This may be small to some but, to me it shows he was thinking about me and was preempting my needs. His actions lined up with his words for me.

There are so many needs in our world, so many hurting, so many in need of a touch, of the truth of God's love and it is our place to "tend His sheep." This is not an easy mandate, but it was not meant to be. It is our job to obey His commands and to reach those that are lost!

Desire, Love, Intimacy - Relationship

As a wife, it has been hitting me more and more how much I love my husband. We are going into our twentieth year and I can truly say that our love has just grown more and more.

Reminder: Don't get me wrong, we are not perfect, our love did not begin in a perfect way but thanks to God,  "who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us". Thanks only to God who could take two unholy, unrighteous, needy, sinful beings and help us to be examples of his grace, his love; only to Him, our heavenly Father, be thanks given.



But, because of His work in us, our desire, love and intimacy has grown. I am not the same woman my husband met all those years ago and he is not the same, physically, emotionally etc. The first years of our marriage was so hard, we almost did not make it. We made so many mistakes and errors and we allowed pride and selfishness to rule and so we almost lost it. As a wife I tried to be a good wife but I was clueless, had no idea. I was wrestling my own demons, that I could not acknowledge or identify. My ability to love someone else was non-existent. Oh!, I thought I knew how to love but I did not.

You see, I had to come face to face with the one who is the creator of love. I cam face to face with him; after my last suicide attempt. I had been locked-up in the Rand Memorial Psych unit for my own protection. I came face to face with my Savior, my Lord. I had been given a tape player of verses by my then Pastor and one verse stood out to me in that horrify, crazy time. This verse reached out from that tape and grabbed me; "But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold"...I had felt that I was in a constant fire. I held on to that, that I could "come forth as gold" It was not a glamorous thought, I just did not want to live a tortured life anymore, and so I clung.

That clinging, has given gold in so many ways, it is unexplainable. My relationship with my husband is only one of those areas. Our love seems fresh and new but we have been together over 20 years. "The Mystery" Every day is new. Sometimes we can think about calling the other one and the other one calls, its crazy. We are in sync. We are not filled with as much pride anymore, we are not as selfish as we were, we seek to meet the other's needs. We allow God laws and words to define our movements, thoughts and actions. I am in awe.

This is our marriage, an earthly thing, something still imperfect but, there is something so much greater, something that allows us to experience this. The Father's Love - He desires love and intimacy with us ; a true relationship!

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
 

Father Unknown

 

This may not be your reality but to some little girl or boy; this is how they see their birth record listed. Father: UNKNOWN...Let that really sink in for a while. Father: UNKNOWN

Ok, thought about it? Does it disturb you? Does it make you think? Does it propel you to action?

Why? why is the father unknown. Yes, I know there can be and are some situations where there has been violence, captivity, abuse; this post is not addressing those instances. We want to look at the situations where the two people made a decision to come together in a sexual connection. A delibrate act that ended in a pregnancy, a child.

Many times, these things happen in a vortex of hormones and no thought to tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. An act that takes a few minutes of intended pleasure and has serious consequences. Another person's life. How does a child feel where they see this record? What must they think of themselves? 

In this life we have allowed our feelings to control our actions. We do what makes us feel good for the moment without ever thinking about the consequences. This is not what God intended for us. He is the example of a Father. He created us for a purpose greater than the sum total of our feelings. If we can just get to know Him, trust Him and love Him then we would not have this; 'Father: UNKNOWN"

He is our Father, Abba Father. His word says before our parents decided to commit this act He knew, before you were formed in your mother's womb He knew you, He knows the number of head on your head.  Today you may be searching for that Father. He is here! He is waiting. He says if any will open the door I will enter. Also there is nothing that can separate you from His love. 

Today, you can fill that space on your birth certificate on your heart with: Jesus

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Multipliation and Love - What Do They Have In Common?

As I look at this title today, I am thinking about what happens when we multiply two numbers together, we get bigger numbers; the correlation is the same; when we love the way Jesus loved us numbers increase. In today's society we have seen and heard often of the generational gap, of how we are losing the young people. Could it be that we have missed the boat, we have not loved and taught the way we should.

In a message by Dr. Rex Major, last week at  Grace Community Church, he challenged the congregation to look outward. He said that everyone has become with themselves and the problem of SELF- IDOLATRY is permeating our society. Think about that in mathematical terms; 1x1=1.

In the scriptures we are told to love one another and more specifically to women that w are to teach the younger women.  i have said this before and will continue to say it; the world has no problem teaching the youths, so we can sit by and let their thoughts, ideas, morals and agendas win or we can join the war and fight for our people.

One example I will give; in the life of my daughter for instance, there came a time in our relationship where she needed to hear that other women believed the same way I was and so I deliberately set out to place other older women in her life, who could mentor her and help. I knew these women and knew their beliefs. We did life together, so there was a trust level in place. One such woman was Erin. Erin, whom I love you so much. We met in her mid-twenties when she and her new husband Zawadi moved into our neighborhood. We spent alot of time together.

I helped her out as a new wife, to navigate the home, a husband and work. She in turn poured into my daughter. they would have Saturday dates and Audra knew I trusted Erin and so she felt free to talk to her about things that were happening in her life. In later years, I would share with Audra how I wanted other older women to speak into her life. That relationship with Erin and Zawadi multiplied and grew to numbers still unknown.

Another is Keema, we met at a crisis pregnancy center. She and her husband Tom were about to have their fourth child and were new to the area. We cared and loved them as our family. Today, as we speak, my daughter is with them and their five children doing life and they have taken her in and mentoring her, and in turn she is loving their five children. Another example of the multiplication by love in action.

Look at your life and see if you can identify the examples of multiplication by love; I know of other peoples' stories but don't have permission to share them and so I shared mine. Their are people who need us to really out and touch them, to love them, to mentor them.
How many people are you mentoring today?  In the words of my spiritual father; Selah! Think and Act on these things

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

Matthew 13: 24-30

²⁴ Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. ²⁶ But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. ²⁷ So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ ²⁸ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."



Today, it is evident, if it has not been evident,before now, that there are many tares among the wheat; they are there to destroy and are placed strategically. The issues that are arising in this day and time are showing clearly who will stand firmly in the truth of God and who will not. Remember He said I have come to set father against son...." because it is not easy to do the will of God completely. Narrow is the way to Christ and few will enter there. There is a saying, many use; "he is too heavenly minded to be any earthly good", noting that this person is of no use to those around him. Well, let's turn that around, "too many today are "too earthly minded that they are not heavenly good." We live here but this is not our home.

God's desire is that none will perish but it is their choice ultimately. Be careful that you don't allow those around you to influence you to fight for the earthly rights of others to do what they feel is right in their hearts, but lead to eternal damnation.  The countries of the world are making choices that go against what Christ taught and we have to make a choice. Persecution has come but it does not look the same as in the East. It is among us, living, breathing, working, playing with us to turn our hearts from the one true God. The evidences of it in the media, social media profiles, statuses, the arguments; its all so evident. Open your eyes focus and see what is true.


 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
¹¹ He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. ¹² For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. ¹³ Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ¹⁴ And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
¹⁵ For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should^[a] heal them.’^[b]

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; ¹⁷ for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

It's So Simple - A No Brain-er Really!!

I have gotten the question why do you have to be so radical in your faith, why does everything have to be about Jesus? I have been called a "holy-joe" by those closest to me when they were not saved. Many people don't understand me and my husbands standards for living and the choices we have made, are making and will continue to make for the sake of spreading His name. To me it is the simplest thing ever.

My husband is a "nut" for those television shows like "Extreme Make-Over," "The Briefcase," "Undercover Boss", you get the idea. They, the producers find someone who they think is worthy and deserving of immense gifts and they do just that, they give them more than they could have imagined. One scenario, a mother, with four children, lost her husband to some rare disease. While taking care of her children and trying make ends meet, she works at the soup kitchen providing meals for others, her churches events are spearheaded by her, she is a virtual saint and deserving of all she receives. And thank God receives the help from the show, and its affiliates. She now trumps the greatness, love and help of that show and those people, she is forever indebted to them and her children also know that they too should express that love for the people who intervene. I concur!!

However, but to the original question why is everything Jesus, Jesus!!
Because unlike the lady in the scenario above I am undeserving, I a murderer, a liar, adulterer,a sinner did not and still does not deserve the gift that He freely choose to give for me. How do I hold back my earthly desires, my money (the little I have), my love, my time, my energy, my thoughts for the one who took my sin on Himself, died for me? How?
You see it is really simple there is no one else in this world who has done for me what He has done. The thing is He was not finished, He has given me eternal life with Him and He walks with me everyday.

So, you see, it is simple; when I say "to whom much is given, much is required." And when we think of required we think obligatory, but no, it is a choice to love. to love the one who loved me so much, you me, a no one, a dirt rag and give me the greatest gift ever.

My prayer for you is that you who know Him may acknowledge Him in a way that everyone knows where you stand. For those who don't know Him, to give it all to Jesus. Its not about rules, its all about relationship, He accepts you just as you are. Ask Him to forgive you, that you trust Him, that you believe that He died on the cross for your sins, that you are a sinner and you want His grace; that you believe He rose again and is in heaven with the Father. You see that too is simple. Begin reading your bible, the book of John is good.

If you need help with any of this call me, I will help you!!!

"I love Him because He first loved me"

"Seek and Ye Shall Find"

Jesus says, "if you seek me you will find me" These words have been proven true for thousands of year; those who have sought Him have found Him and in turn found peace, joy, happiness and eternal life.

Let's look at those words in a different context: In, this world today we are bombarded with images, media, people's thoughts and ideas, our comparison to others, our thoughts on someone else, our thoughts on something else.  You may not think about it along these lines, but you seek after the things that you allow to consume you.

This person does not like you and so you give space in your brain and heart to that thought. You allow it to ruminate in your spirit daily until it consumes you. This person is treating me unfairly, my boss does not know what a gem he has in me, what do people think about me? She thinks she is better than everyone else? How did he get with her? They don't appreciate me.

These thoughts, ideas we allow to float around with us and we magnify them to degrees that they should not be  magnified. It's time to begin to seek after the things that will bring life and joy, peace and hope, abundance and not lack. Magnification is the process of turning "a molehill into a mountain". We are all guilty of it and so use this verse to help you to seek the joy, hope, peace that you truly want. It's easy to blame everything on things, circumstances or others,  than to take a look at what we can do to change ourselves and our lot in life.

Philippians 4

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.