Monthly Archives: August 2024

Invitation to Know Him

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“For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.”
‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV

Shortly after Rich and I started dating he went home with me to meet my parents. I had been in college for three years and was 21. He was 19 and had been in college for one. We were driving along and he took off his high school class ring, flipped it up on the dashboard and said, “Here, why don’t you take this so the other boys won’t flirt with you?” This was his way of saying, “Would you like to be in an exclusive relationship? Just me and you?” He had extended an opportunity and expressed a desire for us to know each other better. At that moment, I had a choice. Accept what he offered or deny it.

Jesus offers us an invitation. It is to an exclusive relationship. He wants us to know Him. This is why He has given us His Word. The key is for us to accept His Word. We have to take it in and allow it to work in our lives.

In a small way it is like that high school class ring Rich offered to me. God holds out the invitation for us to receive what He has offered, His Word. When we receive God’s Word into our hearts, we receive an exclusive relationship. We are His. We grow in our knowledge of Him and our love for Him. We will believe Him, because we have accepted His Word.

God help me to always have a heart that is receptive to the Word You have given me. Help me to always take the time and make the time to be with you each and every day engaging with You and Your Word in a deep and intimate relationship.

Love Birds

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“Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 9:9 Berean Study Bible

When Rich and I were dating we exchanged love letters via mail since long distance phone bills were a thing back then. In one of the letters I wrote “When we get married, we need to get a couch and a big TV. So we can talk through the commercials and kiss through the show.” Young love… ☺️ It turns out we have two recliners that sit side by side. Most evenings you will find us there.

I went out to have my time with Jesus this morning and these two doves sat there on my roof, for the longest time, just hanging out. It made me think of us.

Time has flown by. It was 32 years ago that I made the suggestion for our couch and TV in that letter I sent. Solomon was right when he wrote that life was “fleeting”. Time has went by fast.

There are times I don’t show how much I appreciate just hanging out like these two Doves/ lovebirds did this morning. But I truly do.

Rich and I had a whirlwind romance that was mainly in the summer of 92 or as we like to call it our “Summer of Love”. It was one of the happiest times of all. But I’m thankful for the 32 years of a “Life of Love” that we have had hanging out “Enjoying life” together. God has given us a very good “portion in life”.
Love you Baby! 😘

Wash Feet

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“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬
“Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” John 13:1 NIV

When I was a kid I had to wear prescription orthopedic shoes. I had foot issues and my feet often hurt. Often there were times that my mom would sit by me on the couch in the evening and ask me if I would like for her to rub my feet. It always felt so good. She loved me and offered herself as a servant to me not only by rubbing my feet but all the other sacrifices she did.

Jesus loved His own. He wanted to teach them a very important lesson — to serve. Why? Because living our lives as a servant focused not on ourselves but on God and His will is the way to a blessed life. (Verse 17) So Jesus washed feet. He displayed humility and love to His disciples.

The truth is you and I are by nature selfish and self focused. When we come to Jesus and ask Him for a heart that is like His, He gives us a new heart. This heart enables us to become more and more like Jesus. It gives us the desire to be humble and loving as He is. He empowers us to no longer be focused on ourselves, but focused on God and pleasing Him.

In this life, there will be many who we encounter that come to us with dirty, stinky, hurting feet. May our hearts desire be as Jesus desired on that night. May we love, bow down onto our knees, and wash the feet — meet the needs — of those around us.

Jesus help me to wash the feet of others so I can be like you.

Room For His Word — John 8

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“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””
‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“If you hold…”. Continue, abide, dwell to Jesus’s teachings/ Word. That is the mark of a true disciple. It is impossible to pattern our lives after, give our lives to, and follow closely someone we do not know or relate to on a moment by moment basis.

Jesus warned that it is possible to encounter Him, but to not allow Him to dwell in our hearts. He told those listening to Him. “…you have no room for my word.” We can fill our lives with all kinds of ideas, passions, and pursuits and yet miss the most important pursuit of all, knowing God and His Word.

There is only one way to true freedom and to fulfillment. It is to make room for Jesus in our lives.

More of Jesus, Less of Me— John 7

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Jesus and God the Father are one. Jesus said that He did what He saw the Father doing. “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” Hebrews 1:3. When we see Jesus, we see God the Father.

Jesus repeatedly spoke about “the one who sent” him. He wanted us to understand that He was not working on His own. He was connected in a real and intimate relationship with His Heavenly Father. Jesus said, “… but I know Him because I am from Him and he sent me.” Jesus had and still has an intimate relationship with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. They are one.

Jesus came to show us what our Heavenly Father is like. He revealed God to us. He also came to restore the relationship mankind lost long ago in the Garden of Eden. He came to restore our connection to Him through the Holy Spirit, who we can now receive to live within us.

When the Holy Spirit lives within us, we are able to identify with Jesus in His own words, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.” May this be our desire. That we do nothing from ourselves and for our own ambitions, but that we live for the glory of God. That He is lifted up in our lives, and that we will display God as His visible representation — Image Bearer — to the World around us.

More of Jesus … Less of me!