Have I Told You Lately that I Love You?

John 15:9

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you:continue ye in my love.

Just the other day my wife left me a note on my iPad. It started with... "Have I told you lately that I love you?"  Now I know that my wife loves me. She made a promise to me in marriage. She's told me many times before that she loves me. In fact, she tells me everyday that she loves me. So why did she write a note like this?  

Probably because she is just like me. I love her with all of my heart and I tell her everyday, but sometimes and somedays I want her to really know how I feel. It's almost like I'm saying it again for the first time and I want her to understand how much I really do love her. 

When is the last time you've had that moment with your Savior Jesus?  He knows you love Him. He loves you, in fact He loved you even when you didn't love Him. But maybe today you just want to tell Him again. Tell Him like you've never told Him before. Maybe it's time to renew your love to Him. Seek revival!

Dear Lord, I love you !

On a Treasure Hunt

Psalms 119:16

I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil 

Where is your Bible right now?  On your night stand? In the back dash of you car?  On the shelf with all of the other books?  At church in your pew?  Or maybe you don't know where your Bible is.  The sad fact is that many Christians today treat their Bible this way.  But did you know that when you read your Bible it's like going on a treasure hunt?

When I was young, and even today, I loved to watch movies about finding a treasure or even being on a treasure hunt.  One of my favorite movies of today is "National Treasure".  In this movie they find clue after clue that eventually leads them to a room full of treasure.  The one that believes in the treasure is ridiculed all through the movie.  He is told that he believes in fairytales and fantasy.  But he never gives up, he searches and searches until finally he is rewarded.

The truth is that God's Word is like treasure.  David said after studying on it that it was like finding great spoil.  Another truth is that many Christians never find this treasure because when they are ridiculed for reading it they quit.  When the Word seems to get deeper and it takes time to really understand the meaning they say, "It's too hard".  Will you go on a treasure hunt with the Holy Spirit today?  Let Him be your guide to the greatest treasure you could ever find.

Are You Sitting Down? Perfect!

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Wake up today and share your heart!  Do we need a pulpit? Do we need an audience? Have we forgotten that God has already given us an audience and pulpit to share our heart from?  

God tells us to take the words which He will give us and place them in our hearts. In our hearts to be guarded safely and close. In our hearts, being the center of our lives. Putting things into our hearts means to put things into action. Just like our physical hearts pump blood to every part of the body, so shall the word of God be to our spiritual blood stream. It's vital for us to follow His words. 

When we have things in order, our hearts will be the pumping station to our children and grandchildren. Pumping life and love to them. Teach them diligently (having or showing care) to our children. When we sit, when we walk, when we lie down and when we rise we need to teach.  

See God has shared His heart, so we in turn share our heart. Are you sitting? Perfect! Walking? Awesome! Lying down or getting up? Great! That is a perfect opportunity to share your heart. 

At Least Their Honest

Philippians 4:8-9

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Honesty is the best policy right?  Always!  But the other day someone said, "At least their honest". It struck the wrong chord because it was concerning someone in sin and living contrary to what they profess. Honesty in realizing your sin or fault is one thing, but being open and honest (or ok with living in sin) is different. 

God desires us to live truthfully, honestly, just, pure, lovely, and of good reputation. We should be honest with God about our lives and who we are, He already knows. We should live honestly before all men and women. Being real with them in all things. This lifestyle brings peace to the believer.  ("and the God of peace shall be with you")

So honesty is the best policy, if done correctly. 

Practice What You Preach

1 Corinthians 9:14

Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

"Get your Christian t-shirts! You're Jesus bumper stickers and little fish right here! You're armpit Bibles, and all other things that say you are a messenger of the gospel!"  

So many, too many, are professing to be Christians today and do not live out what they say. What if someone came to you and said I'm the fastest person on the earth and they ran a 2:00 minute forty-yard dash?  What if someone said they are the best at sewing and you were to have them make you a dress only to find that the hem fell out moments later. What would you think of these people?  You probably would say, "Fastest person on the earth? I don't think so."  "Seamstress? Yeah right!"  

So how do people see you?  Your shirts, stickers, Bible?  Wouldn't it be a shame if Christians ever got to the place where they say they are saved and live like they are not changed at all?  

Here is a difference maker though... Someone who says they want to be the fastest person on the earth will practice and practice at getting faster and faster. Although they will not start out running the fastest, they will continue the practice. Although they will fail and fall at times, they will get up and practice again and again. Too many today have set their practice aside and still declare themselves to be the Christian that they need to be. 

What would you say to that?  "Yeah, right!"

On the Eve

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

I can remember as a child being so excited about Christmas. I was that sneaky one who would always search the house from too to bottom in search of my presents. I started looking in November. My parents would hide them in the craziest places, but without fail I would find them. Then when they began to catch on to my hunting, mom would wrap them early and place them under the tree thinking that would deter me. But once again, I would precisely cut the tape, pull out the present and place them back without any notice. (I know what you're thinking. You are wishing you had a child just like me, hahaha)

It seemed to just drive me crazy!  I would think for days on end about what I knew I had for Christmas. I would beg my dad to let me open them weeks before Christmas was here. I remember one year telling my dad to just go ahead and let us have them on Christmas Eve because I knew what I was getting anyway. He said, "What?"  That's when I proceeded to tell him piece by piece and present by present of what was under our tree. But he never caved (much). It was always... "We open presents on Christmas Day!"  

As I think of that it reminds me of God's Word. As Christians, we long so much for the land that He has gone to prepare. A place where there is no more death, sorrow, pain or crying. A place of perfect peace where our Lord is. A place where our family in Christ have gone.  What kind of joy would you have if you knew today was the eve of your arrival in Heaven?  You see I'm often trying to search for those promises (presents) in His Word. I pray for sneak peaks. I say as John in Revelation, "Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus". 

Are you looking forward to Heaven and what Jesus has prepared?  We should be!  It's going to top any G.I.Joe train set or Michael Jackson microphone that I received on earth. 

Just Another Brick in the Wall

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying,

Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:

therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

John 15:13

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

In the late 70's and early 80's a song came on the radio called, "Another Brick in the Wall". It was a song that spoke of being another face in the crowd. In the video it has school children with clone/style faces and being nothing but another brick in the wall. But this teaching, along with many other worldly lessons, is dangerous. It causes people to feel that no one cares, or that no one loves them. But this is not true!  

God loves you!  I know you've heard it from every preacher that has run off with a lady in the church. I know you've heard it from every Christian who has said it while stabbing you in the back. But have you ever heard it from someone who loves you?  Someone who took your punishment?  Someone who has never ran off, lied, cheated or stabbed anyone in the back?  

To Jesus, you are NOT another brick in the wall. You are NOT just another face in the crowd. You are valuable!  So valuable that He paid the greatest price ever!  NO ONE, no one has loved you more than Jesus has. 

So all in all, your NOT just another brick in the wall!