He Will Wipe Away Every Tear

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. 

The thought of no more pain in particular, in this season of my life, gives me the hope to press through the pain in life. I have often been in so much pain that tears start flowing and my prayers become desperate pleas. The Lord gets me through it each time. What really got me in reading this verse this time around is the fact that he will wipe away every tear. I had a visual in my mind of Jesus sitting beside me with a tissue in hand wiping my tears away forever. What does that say about our Lord? The words love and compassion come to mind first but also tenderness and gentleness. How many times has anyone wiped away my tears? Probably not since childhood but I have no distinct memory of it. The act of wiping away tears is figuratively like they are trying to take away the pain and hurt. Jesus will literally wipe our tears away and they will be no more. Now that is hope with a big dose of LOVE!

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 345

My daughter and I went to see the new Disney movie, Frozen last weekend. It had a great message about fear and how love conquers fear. I am not going to do a spoiler on this so no worries if you haven’t gone to see it yet.

Have you ever wondered how another person can be so fearless while you are shaking in your boots? It is a part of who God made us to be. Some of us will have lots of fears and some of us will be fearless. Some of us will have problems with anger and some of us have no problem letting our anger out. Some of us will feel worthless for no reason and others will think they walk on water. God made us each in a unique way but in this uniqueness is a place for God to come in and take those troublesome parts of us and make them into something beautiful. His love will conquer our fears. His love will conquer our anger issues. His love will make you feel worthy. His love can do all this and more for the inner parts of you that only He can see.

He has helped me overcome my low-self esteem, my feelings of being unloved, my fears of what others think of me, my fears of being assertive with my feelings. He continues to work on the inner parts of me, refining me and weeding out those trouble areas in the inner garden of my soul. Don’t wait for some unknown to come and help you with “your stuff”. Don’t think you can do it all by yourself. Allow God to work within you by being in his Word. Through His Word I have learned so much but I have also taken it and applied it to my life. Let His Word become a part of who you are.

Psalm 97:11 Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 344

In all my gung-ho-ness about Paleo, I ended up reserving a grain-fed, no antibiotics or hormones kind of turkey from Natural Groceries. Did I bother to ask about the price? Nope. I went for the best of the best. So, I go on Tuesday before Thanksgiving to pick up the turkey. It is a nice 18lber…and then they ring up the price. Ouch! $120. I said, “WOW, this better be the best damn turkey ever” and the checker says it is. My second thought was what is my hubbie going to think of this? Well, the cost didn’t come up until we were actually at the table with my brother’s family diving into the food. It turned out to be the best turkey I ever had but was the $120 price really worth it? The answer came through the voice of my daughter. My husband stopped everyone talking and said our daughter had something to say. You remember the commercial about Life cereal. Mikey liked it. She liked it. Now, this is a big thing because my daughter is by far the pickiest eater ever and is especially not fond of meat. She liked it and actually had some more. That made the cost of the turkey all worth it! The cost of Christ dying on the cross is worth it to God. Every time a new person chooses to believe in Jesus, God is smiling and his heart is saying he or she is worth it. That kind of love is unfathomable. Our salvation was paid for because of he loves us that much. Will I buy another $120 turkey? Probably not. I think it is best to let it be a treasured memory of the Thanksgiving of 2014 when my daughter declared she liked the turkey. Thankfully, Jesus took on the sins of us all so his death and resurrection are a done deal. The price has been paid. You just have to accept it.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 307

I have found a three part sermon series on the fruit of the spirit that is very well written. The first part of the first sermon is setting straight that it is not fruits of the Spirit but fruit of the spirit. The nine character traits that are in Galatians 5:22: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are a parts of what we can have with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. And like all fruit(s) these character traits ripen and grow over time with the guiding of the Holy Spirit and our daily walk with God. Here are two statements from this first sermon that state in a clear way what that “Fruit of the Spirit” is:

Fruit of the Spirit is a physical manifestation of a Christian’s transformed life.

Fruit of the Spirit is the visible growth in Jesus Christ.

Take some time to meditate on this today and let the Holy Spirit speak to you about your character traits and how the ripening process is going.

John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 296

Wisdom is not an age thing. It is a gift from God. This is a quote from a seven-year-old boy on what love is: 'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.' Stop and listen are two of the best commands given to us to help us know that our amazing God is with us all the time.

Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 288

My job is such that I come across cases of customers or alarm companies that are simply not educated in what the law requires. However, I am very sympathetic to this because I realize how little do I know about the actual laws where I live. If we haven't been taught that we must do our own research to find out what the law says than we end up in a mess of fines, etc. My job is to teach alarm companies what is required of them so they can be in compliance with the law. Have you ever read an ordinance? Why oh why can't they just put it in honest straight to the point language? No wonder people are confused and don't know what the law is telling them. Now God's laws are the honest straight to the point kind. You know what they mean and you understand what you have to not do. Do not murder, lie, cheat, steal to name a few. Jesus gives us a "law" to live by in saying to love God and love one another as you love yourself. This is a positive motivating "law" in that it is telling you what to do instead of what not to do. Focus on loving, loving, loving. It can't get any more straight to the point then that.
Matthew 22: 37-40 Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 279

In the midst of life and its inevitable sufferings, God is always with us. Despite waking up with a headache this morning, I am going to sing praises to God for guiding me and comforting me on this path to a healthy body, mind and spirit. Without the balance in all three areas, we will suffer. More time is taken right now in my food planning and preparation but I am certain that within time, it will all become easier and everything will balance out again. Praising God is a demonstration of our love for him and shines his love for us. I am singing to God today for all his goodness.

Isaiah 12: 4-5 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 276

This verse from Isaiah has been repeated several times. It is a literary devise intended to make a point. The first time I read it I was intrigued by it, the second time it made me pause to consider why it might be said again but the third time was the deciding factor to really stop and look at this verse. What does this verse tell us about God? He gets angry. We are made in his image so God has all the emotions that we have including anger. He deals with his anger with his perfect wisdom and patience rather than stuffing his anger inside or worse, turning away from us completely. God has a choice too. He could leave us to Satan but he fights for us because he loves us more than all the sins we have done and will do all put together and more. He uses his anger wisely and with patience he disciplines us with some tough love, not because he is mad at us but because he loves us and his heart’s desire is to have a one-on-one relationship with him, relying on and loving him. Satan is fighting every day to pull us away from God. God is fighting every day to keep us close, under his wing. Our part is to cherish that place under his wing and look up to him for all things and not let what Satan does in our world shift our focus away from God.

Holy Father, thank you for the shelter of your wing. Help us to cherish this so much that we can withstand the ploys of Satan to pull our gaze away from you. With you all things are possible. Amen.

Isaiah 10: 4.5 Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challege-Day 272

We watched a movie called “Killing Season” last evening with Robert DeNiro and John Travolta.  At first, I thought it was going to be another vengeance-themed movie but it ended up having some depth and a good message about forgiveness. The basis of the story is about an American soldier who during the Bosnian War shot execution-style, along with his squad, prisoners they had captured who had done horrible things to women, men and children. 20 years later, this soldier is now in the mountains living the life of a recluse, avoiding his family. The man he shot survived and came back to seek vengeance but what he really wanted was a confession from the soldier that shot him. In the end, the confession comes and a beautiful thing happens, there is forgiveness. The vengeful man returns to his life with a smile on his face and the soldier goes to meet the grandson he has not yet met. Bitterness and shame will put up a wall that will keep you from living the life God intended with love and peace. But with forgiveness, our bitterness or shame will be washed clean and we can go out with peace in our hearts and be able to love as God love’s us.

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 263

The word “rely” means to have trust or confidence in. God demonstrates our love for us in so many ways. Every day of our life is filled with how he loves us but the greatest example of his love is through his son Jesus. I can’t even imagine being a parent and watching my child be tortured and brutally be put to death on a cross. God can do anything. He could have told Jesus “never mind these humans, speak up and defend yourself” or he could have made the cross turn to dust and the nails become invisible. He could have stopped his only son from dying on a cross if it were not for the amazing depth of his love for us. That love is our confidence! If you are ever feeling doubts, fears or separated in any way from God, look to the cross and be reminded of God’s amazing love.

Father, it isn’t even possible to convey with words the feelings of what you did for us. Thank you is not enough. Help us to show the kind of love you showed us through Jesus. Amen.

1John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 259

It has been over 2000 years since Jesus suffered on the cross for us and rose from the dead. Some may think he is not coming back considering how long it has been but God doesn’t measure time as we do. But it is not really about the time but that God’s heart wants us all to repent and be saved. He grieves over every lost soul and celebrates with all souls that are saved. His love and mercy give us opportunity after opportunity to turn to Him. His patience is because of his love for us. I am eternally grateful to God for his patience with me and that I finally was able to see the truth. Patience is given to us by the Holy Spirit and love is at the core of all the fruits the Holy Spirit gives us. So when the kids are making you crazy, your boss is pushing your buttons or your spouse isn’t listening to you, it is time to demonstrate your love for them with the patience the Holy Spirit can give you.

2Peter 3:8-9 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 242

The word ‘task’ has been mulling around in my head a lot lately because of my class on temperament theory. Some temperaments are task-oriented, others are relationship-oriented and some are most comfortable with one but will or can do the other in order to meet their needs. The word ‘task’ can seem boring or just something that needs to be done but when we are talking about the task that Jesus Christ would have us do in sharing about Him to everyone who doesn’t know Him or whose heart has been closed is much more than a ‘task’. I looked up the definition of ‘task’ and found a couple of synonyms that I think might speak better about what it is we are doing for Christ. You tell me? Do you like assignment, mission or duty? Or perhaps it is a mix of all of these? What it is and should be is something we are passionate about, committed to and we are able to do it without fear but with joy and love. In the end we are nothing if not for the mission that Jesus has given us that we might help Him save others as He has saved us.

Acts: 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 230

My computer was being upgraded yesterday so excuse me for missing yesterday. I am thrilled with the new stuff on my computer though!

Last night I watched the last ten minutes of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs with my daughter. We had seen it in the movie theater but much like reading the bible when you watch a movie again you see parts you missed the first time. The father of the hero in the movie has trouble expressing his love to his son. He tries to get words out in front of a crowd of people and is stumbling and stuttering but miraculously the leading lady takes a device that is on Steve, the monkey and puts it onto the father and immediately his voice comes through the device and he shares what is in his heart to his son. I found this especially beautiful because it is a great example of the weakness found in certain temperaments and how the Holy Spirit can be that miraculous device that enables us to express our love and our need for love. I am always amazed by God and how he works. His power can drive out the fear that keeps us from love.

1John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

 

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 220

Today as we celebrate the freedom of our country, I will celebrate the freedom given to me by God. I remember the day that the weight of fear and shame was lifted off of me thanks be to God. Driving home from the Women of Faith conference, a sweet lady in the car asked me about how I came to know Christ. I told her about my years of disappointment after disappointment trying to get pregnant with our second child and how I finally opened up to God and acknowledge that I didn’t have control over what was to happen with my life but He did. With my knowledge of my temperament and temperament theory, I can see how that was the time when I started really communicating with God. When it comes to relational and social issues, my temperament is a double-edged sword. I do not initiate friendships and conversation for fear of rejection but I need to have a good amount of this to be fulfilled. During this time of infertility, my two best friends became pregnant and my sister. It was a struggle to maintain my emotions with them so the topic was avoided as much as possible but it pushed me towards God and ultimately led me to accepting Jesus into my heart. My need for socializing was now being met fully by the one who can meet all our needs. Another temperament need I have is the need for lots of control over other people and no control from them over me. Because I was becoming more open to God and starting to learn about Jesus, I finally was able to submit to God and acknowledge that I didn’t have control. But the third need in my temperament regarding love was not being met yet because of my fear of rejection. I have a compulsive need for love and affection but do not initiate it so others don’t know of my need and it doesn’t get met. As I told my story in the car to this dear lady, I heard a voice ask “why are you afraid?” It was at that point I realized that I didn’t need to fear rejection because I have the one and only true God who loves me in ways beyond measure. This love set me free. The weight of shame from the three abortions I had in my younger years was lifted so I went home and told my husband and family of my past sins. I was free from the fear of people rejecting me because of my past sins. I know that I am loved and that compulsive need for love has been fulfilled by the only one who could fulfill it. Do you have a freedom story? I would love to hear how the Lord has set you free. Have a blessed independence day!

Matthew 10:8 Freely you have received, freely give.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 206

Yesterday I played hookie from work to attend an all day class on basic pistol training. We were off early in the morning to get my daughter to her camp and down to the Honda dealership to drop off one of our cars for a maintenance service. So, the plan was to go to McDonald’s for breakfast and do Burger King by the class for lunch. I was ready for sacrificing the hash browns at McDonald’s but was completely thrown off by the donuts at the class. Yep, I failed miserably. I keep thinking of a song that says, “your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me.” I am so thankful to God for this unfailing, never-ending love he gives to me. He won’t give up on me and with his help I won’t give up on growing and being able to glorify and love him by my actions.

This scripture about David giving counsel to his son Solomon really speaks to us about our own temple.

1Chronicles 28:20 David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 199

I think I may have admitted this before but here goes again, I watch The Bachelorette. It is really the psychological aspects of it that draw me. In this last episode, my heart was breaking for this one man who broke down into tears because he was reminded about the hurt and rejection he felt of all the men in his single mom’s life who came and went away. This same man later decides to tell the bachelorette that he is falling in love with her. So it is only episode #2 and I am pretty sure he thought telling her this would help him stay. I couldn’t possibly guess what his temperament is but from my studies I know there is a temperament who is so fearful of rejection they will do and say whatever they perceive as necessary to get the love and affection they are needing. I wanted to climb into my television to be face to face with this man and tell him that he is loved by the one and only awesome God of the universe but a prayer is all I could do. May this man and all who fear rejection and only want to be loved be led to the One whose love is never ending, never failing and will comfort the hurts and replace the fears with peace.

Psalm 147:3  He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

365 Days of Spirt-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 137

I think everyone is aware that people are unique and complex but I am not sure people really understand how unique each of us are. As I was studying temperaments the other night at the library, I thought, God could have created us all with the same temperament. My next thought was the answer; we would all be the same, like robots. God made each of us unique and special and put us in a special part of his grand plan for the world that only we can fill. All this uniqueness is complex which is part of the reason we find it hard to love one another. We have to figure out ourselves, which some people never do. The more you understand how God created you, the more you will be able to let the Holy Spirit within you, guide each of your steps, decide each of your words and give you all that you need. With the patience and kindness only the Holy Spirit can give, you will be able to truly love. And love is what it is all about.

Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 130

The Holy Spirit has guided me to the topic of judging. In a negative office environment, with issues out of our control, it becomes very easy to judge individuals in the scheme of what’s happening. But the Lord is telling me to stop the judging and set the example of righteousness. I need to put on the rose-colored glasses of Christ each day that will help me view those that I work with in the way Christ viewed us. We are humans who make mistakes and we should forgive them. We are all uniquely designed by God and we must celebrate this uniqueness rather than put it down. And lastly, we all have a special place that God has designed for us that fits into his big plan for all of us. What is happening at my work or yours, in our homes and everywhere is being used by God for his big plan so we shouldn’t be judging but asking God to guide us in his special plan. So along with the armor of God, I will put on the rose-colored glasses of Jesus and view others without judgment but only with love.

James 4:11-12 Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 125 & 126

Our Easter message from our pastor was so simple and yet had so much meaning in our world today. With our busyness and all the complications that come our way in life, it can be difficult to remember that our faith is not busy or complicated but simple. Our pastor quoted from a well-know theologian Carl Bart who was asked if you had to just say one thing about Christianity what would it be? He started to sing the beloved song
“Jesus Loves Me This I Know”. This was in my recent class that I took on Christian counseling. Many of us get wrapped up in the complexities of life and religion. To stay connected to the Lord and really grow we have to be centered in that original belief of Jesus loves me, this I know. I have said this before and will say it again and again because it is the truth. All is because of one thing, love. He loves you, me, the gunmen who slays children, the husband addicted to porn, the woman wrapped up in her self, the lonely, hurt and poor. He loves us all no matter what we do and all we have to do is believe in him to have all the sins of our past, present and our future washed away. Keep your child-like faith in knowing that Jesus loves you.

1John 4:13-16 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him.

365 Days of Spirit-Filled Fruits Challenge-Day 57

I like this quote from Joel Osteen: You have a choice; you can either keep your joy, or you can give it away.  Choice is by far one of the biggest factors in becoming a believer of Jesus Christ and in our Christian walk. From the moment we make that first choice to believe that Jesus is the son of God and died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead so that we too might live we have the Holy Spirit within us. But everyday is a new day and so everyday we have choices to make. Not just the physical choices of what I am going to eat for breakfast or pick to wear today. Not just the mental choice to have a positive attitude or figure out the bills to pay but the spiritual choices of do we rely on God today, do we pray for the Holy Spirit and the fruits he can ripen within us or do we go it on our own. I for one have seen the power of the Holy Spirit working within me and it motivates me more. It is much like going on a weight-loss plan. The first week you are motivated by the idea of losing weight and feeling better about yourself, etc and by the third or fourth week the motivation comes from the very real reaction to your action. You get on the scale and see you have lost 3lbs and are thrilled. I have felt that same way every time I experience the Holy Spirit has given me what I needed. It makes me want the Holy Spirit working within me every moment of my life. For each day in the rest of my life, I am going to choose to pray in the morning for the Holy Spirit to ripen the fruits of the spirit within me, to help me love, to remind me that my joy comes from knowing I am saved and have the love of an awesome God.  And each night, I am going to pray and thank the Lord and confess my sins and what I could have done better and thank him for all the blessings, help, guidance, protection, inspiration, love and fruits of the Spirit that he gave to me for that day. I made a choice a couple years ago after a dentist visit with the typical talk about needing to floss. I made the choice to do it everyday and have only missed maybe two days in the last 2 years. If I can floss everyday, I can certainly pray everyday and so can you.  It is your choice.

2Thessalonians 2:13

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.