God's Idea~

Greetings,

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and already the street vendors are out in full force hoping to sell roses, stuffed animals, and heart-shaped balloons.  Plus, go into any grocery store and the first item you'll run into is chocolate of some sort.  Of course, all this is fine and dandy, and Jorge and I are planning on joining the thousands of others who go out to eat and catch a movie.  We'll make sure and hold hands the entire time too!  And it's all because we are celebrating love.

Love, in case you didn't know, was God’s idea, and it’s the best one He ever had.  

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

It is because of Love that we have the promise of a perfectly perfect eternal life!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for loving us so passionately and so fiercely that You sent Christ to secure eternal life for us.  We accept His gift.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~

A Personal Resurrection~

As a mom…scratch that.  As a human being who has loved her spouse, children, parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, in-laws, cousins, etc…I can not imagine, not even for a second, what it must be like to witness a crucifixion.  Much less what it must have been like for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to see her own child on that cross.  If ever there were an adequate definition for the lowest possible point to be at, that would have to be it.

It’s this lowest of lows, however, that sets the scene for the greatest comeback in the history of the universe: Christ’s resurrection.  What a powerful and encouraging reminder that just because death has occurred, it doesn’t mean it’s over. 

In the eternal sense, if we physically die, then it’s the beginning of a glorious existence in heaven.  In the meantime, we have to live this life and deal with the death of dreams, relationships, hope – even our health. 

However, according to Ephesians 1:19-20 the “immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of God’s power which He exerted when He raised Christ from death,” is “in and for us who believe.”

That same mind-blowing power that resurrected Christ is IN us and FOR us to resurrect dead areas of our lives too. 

This is profound, people.  It’s not too late, and it’s not over.  God is willing to exert His power for us. 

Think about something you have given up on. 

“I’ll never get married.”

“I’ll never have children.”

“I’ll never get out of debt.”

“I’ll never have peace.”

“I’ll never get along with my spouse.”

“I’ll never enjoy the work I do.”

"I'll never have faith."

"I'll never feel better."

Let’s stop saying never.  The immeasurable, unlimited, surpassing greatness of God’s power CAN RESURRECT ANYTHING. 

There is one condition, however, and it is that this power is reserved for those who believe.  Are you having difficulty believing?  Take heart!  Ephesians 1:18 tells us that prayer is the key. We can pray that "the eyes of our heart be enlightened to know the hope to which He has called us."

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I long for do overs and new beginnings -- especially in this area (____________________).  I need a personal resurrection, and right now as I struggle to fully comprehend the exceeding greatness of Your power for me and in me, I pray that You would enlighten my eyes to believe You with my whole heart.  You raised Christ to give me eternal life, but You also exert Your power to raise up hopeless areas of my life.  In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Have a Little Drink~

Today let's look at a perfect example of what it means to come alongside someone, provided by the One and only JESUS! Whoop whoop!

John 4 tells the story of a Samaritan woman who came to draw water from the well. Jesus was there and He asked her for a drink. Sounds so simple except that (A) Jews back then did not associate with Samaritans, (B) Men did not speak to women & (C) In asking her to get him a drink of water, it would have made Him unclean to drink from a woman's cup.

But that's not the kicker! The real story lies in the fact that this woman had been married five times and was currently living with another married man. Not good not good not good! She was a social outcast. Honestly, how many friends do you think a woman would have if her reputation were that of a prolific adulteress? And yet...Jesus did not scream, yell, or condemn her to hell. He invited her to drink water from a Well that never goes dry and quenches our deepest needs for forgiveness and peace.

Verses 13&14
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

What do you think happened after that? Was the woman depressed? Upset? NO!!!! That life-giving water welled up inside of her, and empowered by her new-found forgiveness she went straight to the town and shared with all the people how her life had just changed. Skip down to verse 39 and it says that, "Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony."

How does this story apply in 2013? It teaches us that we should cross cultural divides, be willing to speak to anyone and everyone, share with them without thinking we're better than they are because we aren't, and offer them our support and encouragement so they too are drawn to the Well. What can we expect as a result? Many will believe in Him because of the testimony of even one person who was treated with love and respect. As a footnote, let me just point out that Jesus was all about treating women with equal dignity and respect way before anyone else ever did. We serve a trailblazing Jesus! AMEN~

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Fill us today with that life-giving water. Thank You that we do not have to thirst for or long for joy, peace, and hope. It's ours already. We receive the "gushing fountains of endless life," that You offer us today. Help us bring those we love in closer for a little drink. In Jesus' name, AMEN~