A Life of Love for God

 (originally published May 19, 2015)

“…every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good” (Romans 8:28 The Message Version).

Each of us is blessed today because God is working every detail of our lives – the good, the bad, and the ugly – into something good.  According to the verse above, it’s because we live a life of love for Him.

How do we know if we love Him?  And are we loving Him enough to activate this amazing promise in our lives?

Think back to the first serious relationship you ever had. You thought about him or her incessantly. Your momma never had to tell you to call them up.  No one had to describe them to you; you knew everything from their hairstyle to their shoe size.  You knew their favorite food, favorite color, and favorite song.

I have a crystal-clear image in my head of my first date with Jorge. He was wearing a gray Member's Only jacket and white leather glove shoes (no socks), and he was drenched in Paco Rabanne cologne; it was deliciously pungent. His bangs were combed to the side and then expertly fashioned into a side-swept overhang that looked like a boomerang. He sported a thin, dark mustache, and his breath smelled slightly of tic tacs and red snapper.  His nails were nicely trimmed, and he looked all muscular and invincible.  He opened the car door for me, something he still does 33 years later, allowing my chaperon brother into the back seat first, and then he helped me in. I was sick with joy.  My stomach was in knots, and I just couldn’t get enough. 

And as our relationship progressed, I loved hearing stories about him like that time he jumped off his grandmother's garage roof and fractured his leg, or when he had a starring role in his high school's production of Grease.  He was Kenickie, Rydell High’s resident thug and member of the T-Birds. They had almost nothing in common, but as a result of his stellar performance, Jorge received his high school’s Most Dramatic award.

I also wanted to please him any way I could, and one time made him green eggs and ham as a tribute to a favorite childhood story. He became grossly ill but swore he wasn't mad about it.  

My ultra-conservative grandfather thought it highly inappropriate that Jorge wore a gold chain with his name on it and that he wore shorts out in public.  But he knew better than to criticize my man to me.  Jorge could do no wrong, and we regularly poured out our silly but sincere teenage hearts to one another. We were inseparable and found it unbearable when my mother forbade me to see him for one entire month because I missed curfew by 10 minutes. It was such an outrageous punishment that we had no choice but to go undercover. Jorge would show up at my house at 1AM after work, and I would hand him peanut butter and jelly sandwiches through the chained front door, which was right next to my parents' bedroom. He came because he loved me, and I risked further punishment for the same reason.

My love for God is actually very similar.  I think about Him all the time, I am still getting to know more about Him through prayer and Bible reading, and it blesses me profoundly.  Nobody better talk bad about Jesus in front of me because I will duke it out, and I want to live my life in a way that pleases Him.  I also pour out my heart to Him because I desire His guidance and blessing.

Loving God is not about perfection, and it’s not about religion.  Loving God is about having a relationship where we are going to mess up a lot and He won’t.  it’s okay, however, because He will fix our messes.

And these moments we share here together demonstrate our willingness to get to know Him better – to increase our faith, hope, and love.  And the more time we spend getting to know Him the more we will grow in our love for Him.  The best part is the moment we invited Christ into our lives, He showed up and hasn't left since.  Best of all is that He has always been working out all the details of our lives - the sin, sickness, mistakes, as well as the prosperity, blessings, and opportunities - for our ultimate good.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, we love You. Thank You that we can have a dynamic two-way relationship with You. We always seem to be asking, but it's only because You offer so much to us. You are incomparably generous, and it is amazing to think that even the worst moments of our lives are turned into blessings. Open our eyes to see Your goodness. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Keep My Lamp Burning

Greetings,

Last week as I was reading through Psalm18, I came across this verse:

“You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light” (Psalm 18:28 NIV Version).

I was immediately reminded of a little song I used to sing in Spanish at church on Sundays, and in the car, and around the house, and where ever else I happened to be because my mother insisted we always have praise coming out of our mouths.

The literal translation says, “Put oil in my lamp, Lord. I want to serve thee with love, put oil in my lamp, Lord.  Jesus, You are my life. Jesus, You are my love. You saved my lost soul, which is why I worship You with my heart…”

In other words, we need God's oil to keep from burning out.  Have you ever felt overwhelmed? that you were right on the edge of being completely drained?  That's when we need to turn to Him and say, "Keep my lamp burning." The Lord will shed His light on our otherwise dark path. He will illuminate our understanding. He will shine brightly into the dank and dingy parts of our existence flooding us with peace, joy, and hope.  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that You keep our lamps burning, and when You do, we see more clearly, our souls are refreshed, and our perspectives change.  We have tranquility and comfort.  With You in charge, we will never run out of what we need, and we can always look on the bright side. In Jesus’ name, AMEN. 

He is a Hoverer

Greetings,

I think it’s safe to say that for any of us who have ever loved a child, raised a child, or lent a helping hand in caring for a child, it has not always been crystal clear in knowing when to let go.  I remember struggling to let Rachel go to church sleep-away camp when she was 13.  I finally relented but was in a state of semi-panic for three days.  I remember dropping Jorgie off at UofM when he was 17 thinking, “Will he eat enough and get enough rest?”  Mind you, his college was a 15-minute drive away, but I couldn’t help myself.  Here he was, an almost 18-year-old man who was more than capable of taking care of himself, and I tried not to obsess. About two weeks later we showed up with a care package, and Jorge, in the most loving way possible, without trying to insult me (I hope), said as we got down from the car, “Bibi, cut the cord already.” 

Well, the nerve! He had a point, however, and I guess we all learn as we go.  But when it comes to our Lord, there is no guessing game.  There is no trying to figure out if He will gently nudge us out into the big wide world to face life on our own because He is a hoverer!  He is the ultimate helicopter parent, and this is the best possible news!

“Protect me…; hide me in the shadow of Your wings as You hover over me” (Psalm 17:8 The Living Bible).

God is always with us, and I find such comfort in knowing that He hovers, lingers, poises, sticks around, and remains with me all day every day. There is protection, peace, guidance, joy, and hope when the Lord is near.  Thank Him that He will never cut the cord!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we look forward to independence as we grow older, but never from You.  The longer we live, the more we realize how much we need You every moment of every day.  Thank You that You are always nearby.  Help us to find peace in the coolness and safety of Your shadow. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Is God Trying to Get Your Attention?

Greetings,

As of last Monday, I am my precious grandbaby’s caregiver.  Monday thru Thursday Ms. Ellie arrives in the morning and goes straight from her car seat into my waiting arms.  We are having so many beautiful adventures, and her favorite time of day and mine is when we lay face to face on the bed and babble to each other.  She says, “sssssshhhhhhhrrrrrrrssssssshhhhhh,” and I say it back.  She giggles every time, and I try to not cry at every little cute and adorable thing she does!

All this attention the baby requires means Hershey Pie is not quite the center of the universe like he used to be.  And this morning he reminded me that he still needs me.  I opened the door to the terrace, and all his toys were displayed on the rug.  One by one he brought them there and put them where I could see them as if to say, “Mommy, I want to play too! Remember when we used to play fetch?”

Of course, this broke my heart into a million pieces, and I immediately went outside and threw his basketball around for a solid 10 minutes until he collapsed on the floor exhausted and happy.

Maybe God does not pile all our toys on a rug to get us to redirect our focus on Him, but He does have ways of getting our attention.  If you have a distinct lack of peace and sense of well-being, if you can’t quite put your finger on what is making you so blue, or even if you can, God is waiting for you to turn to Him so He can give you rest.  God is just outside the door gently knocking. God is close by, ready to answer your call. God is willing, ready, and able to meet you in your need.  But first, you must lay aside all distractions, no matter how cute they are, and engage with Him one on one!

“I know what I am doing.  I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you. Not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on Me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for Me, you’ll find Me.  Yes, when you get serious about finding Me and want it more than anything, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed” (Jeremiah 29:11-14 THE MESSAGE Version).

Go back and reread this encouraging passage of scripture.  God is in control, He has wonderful plans for us, He wants up full of hope, He wants us to pray, He wants us to find Him, and when we do, He will make sure it was worth the effort!

The first step is to pray!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for Your precious promises.  We lay aside everything else clamoring for our attention and worship You for Your goodness and for Your willingness to bless us when we seek You.  We need You so much, and we are grateful that anytime we have a lack of peace, or feel down, or experience any other negative emotion, we have an open invitation to come to You and receive Your help.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

Direct Sunlight

Greetings,

For over two years I have had a Desert Rose in a teacup planter sullenly sitting on my terrace. They are so beautiful when they blossom, but my little plant just would not bloom.  Then a couple of weeks ago I saw a whole row of them at the Home Depot, and they were glorious!  There were so many different hues of pink, whites, and purples, and it occurred to me that maybe I should read the little plastic tab inside the plants with care instructions.  The first thing it said: "These sun-loving plants require a full sun location."

All along I figured a cool shade was the best thing, and I was wrong.  I immediately moved my sun-starved Desert Rose to the edge of the terrace where the sun hits it all day.   This morning I noticed the beginnings of new buds, and I am thrilled!

Sometimes, dear brothers and sisters, the best thing for us is direct sunlight.  We scoff at the notion. It's too hot, I can't take it, I will wither, I will dehydrate, I will not survive, and yet, that very thing that is putting the heat on you is what will make you bloom!  Your prayer life will become better. Your faith will become brighter.  Your hope will color everything and everyone around you. And your peace will flourish. 

"When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete [in your faith], lacking in nothing" (James 1:3-4).

Rather than avoiding the heat, and rather than shrinking back in the shade, let's embrace those moments when we are in the sun and we will grow!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You that we are never alone when the heat is on. Even during times of testing, especially during these difficult moments, we know You are near and that You are blessing us and preparing us to perfect and complete us in our faith. We praise You that we lack nothing! Every single thing we need is found in You, and we are growing more bright and more beautiful every day!  In Jesus' name, AMEN.

ME, MY, ME, ME, and ME!

Good morning precious and blessed children of the Most-high God,

A few years back one of Rachel's college buddies visited, and before he left I asked if we could pray tgether. He automatically stood up and reached for my hand, which made me chuckle because he had been down this road before and remembered how much I like making a prayer circle!

As we stood in our little circle, I asked if he had any personal requests, any areas where He would like to see the mighty hand of God move. He replied, "I do not feel comfortable asking for myself, but I would like for God to help my mom, dad, and brother."

It grieves me when people say to me they don't feel right praying for themselves, and I hear it so often that it's time to set the record straight. The Bible, as our infallible guide for living, very clearly states - in more than one verse - that we can and should pray for ourselves.  The best verse to drive this point home is found in 1 Chronicles 4:10, "Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, "'Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!'"  And God granted what he asked."

This is such a fully-loaded passage, but notice all the self-centered pronouns...the me, my, me, me, and me sequence.  Jabez was praying for himself! And let's not overlook the very last part of the verse: AND GOD GRANTED WHAT HE ASKED.

Could it be that praying for ourselves is actually the best thing for our families?  I constantly remind my children and husband that an emotionally stable, joy-filled, peace-infused, calm-exuding, lighthearted, keeping-the-faith, unruffled Yenise is the very best gift I can give to them.  This is why I pray for myself every single day.  By the way, of course I prayed for that young man's family, but I also prayed for him!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Your Word is clear that we can and should pray for ourselves.  And most importantly, You grant our requests.  We lift up our voice just like Jabez did and pray that You would bless us and enlarge our borders.  We especially need bigger faith, stronger hope, an expansion of hope, more love, an increase in our praying. We pray that Your hand would be with us - guiding us - and that You would keep us from harm.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~

OPEN

Greetings,

April is here, and a friend of mine told me the other day that April means “to open.” And as soon as I heard the meaning of April, I thought of this verse:

“I will bless My people and their homes around My holy hill. And in the proper season I will open the heavens and send the showers they need. There will be showers of blessing” (Ezequiel 34:26).

And then I thought of this verse:

“I ask that your minds may be opened to see His light, so that you will know what is the hope to which He has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings He promises His people” (Ephesians 1:18).

And then there was this one:

“…As Jesus was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him…and a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased’”  (Luke 3:21).

Our Lord opens up the heavens and blesses us with every spiritual, physical, mental, financial, emotional, and relational need we have, and it all starts with prayer.

As Jesus was praying heaven was opened! And when we pray we position ourselves before a God Who is willing to open up His heavenly storehouse of goodness and abundance to help us, guide us, provide for us, infuse us with peace, hope, wisdom, and healing – collectively known as “rich, wonderful, blessings!”

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for the fabulous month of April! We are Your people, and we look to You to open up Your glorious heaven and provide for us. I have a friend who needs showers of wisdom and joy as she makes life-changing marriage decisions. I also have a friend who needs buckets and buckets of peace as she settles into a caregiver role. I have another buddy whose child needs an outpouring of conviction to avoid temptation. Lord, so many requests, petitions, supplications, and urgencies! But You have an inexhaustible supply of every single thing each one of us needs for ourselves and those we love. We open our arms wide to receive Your generosity. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

In Tandem With God

Greetings~

I love to ride the tandem bike with Jorge, and for several years we have regularly cruised around the beautiful boardwalks and beaches of Miami waving to tourists and thoroughly enjoying ourselves.  I honestly didn’t think it could get any better, and then we discovered an attachment for our bike that allows our baby, Hershey Pie, to join us on our outings. Hershey is so beyond-words adorable in his little carriage, and he gets a lot of attention.  People will point and wave, and I love it because I get to wave back.

But what I love most about the tandem is that when we ride, Jorge and I are close - we're a team. I can drink water without fear of falling, I can talk on the phone. I can hand him things from his knapsack and wipe the sweat off his brow. I can kidney punch him just for fun. It's great, and it's a true joint effort. We can go twice as fast and twice as far.

What happens when we team up with God? When we're tandem with Him?

Philippians 1:19 "For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance."

When we team up with God through prayer, deliverance happens.

Never ever underestimate the power of being in tandem with the Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You have given us the awesome privilege of allowing us to make an impact on this planet by teaming up with You through prayer.  It is amazing to think that You hear us, care what we say, and most importantly, You answer us. Never let us waste this powerful opportunity and blessing. Too many people, starting with those in our own families, need Your help. Help us to become prayer warriors; help us to never give up! In Jesus’ name, AMEN.