Unity and the Worthy Walk...

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ² with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,³ endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.--Ephesians 4:1-6

To My Daughters in Him,

Today, we are looking at verse 3-6.

The Spirit has made us one...we are brothers and sisters in Christ...Everything about our faith is one!  There is one body, one Spirit,  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all and in you all!  All of us are called to one hope....we have the same eternal destiny...we, as believers, are going to the same place.   Each one of us is a temple of the Holy Spirit individually but are built together for an habitation of that one Spirit.  Are you getting the picture...we are already unified!  

Endeavoring to keep this unity is the goal of the worthy walk. This is how Christ is made manifest in the Church.   Discord and disunity are of the world not of God.  

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.  This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.  Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.--James 3:13-18

Beloved, it is our love for one another that speaks to the hearts of those observing us and tells them  that our Father is God...that we are not of this world.   Jesus says it best in John 13:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”--John 13:34-35

This kind of unity is achieved (well...really maintained) one person at a time.  It begins with our "inner man"...you remember...the one Paul speaks about in Ephesians 3 and it is personal.

that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.--Ephesians 3:16-19

It happens when one sinner saved by grace purposes in his heart by the power of the Holy Spirit, to obey His God and empty himself of self and walk in humility, meekness, long-suffering and forbearing love.  Beloved, each one of us need to turn our own hearts over to our God and surrender to His will and His Spirit in our lives.  We need to obey our God from the deepest part of our beings and purpose to allow Him to show us all of the pride that comes between us and His love.  As long as self is at the center of our life...as long as we are our first concern, our unity will always be in need of repair.  As we allow God to perfect our relationship with Him,  our earthly relationships will reflect this change.  The giving up of self is painful and difficult but this is where our joy will be full.  

It is only as we humble our own heart before Him, that we can know unity.  This is when we can begin to love those around us the way they ought to be loved so that they can become what they ought to be before the Lord.  Our unity as a body is what others see that makes them think that maybe this church is not an institution of man but an institution of God...supernatural in origin.  Christ is called the Prince of Peace and He has made His home with us.  Beloved,  reflect this peace by surrendering to His will and emptying yourself of you...of  pride, selfishness and sin...and be filled with His peace...the beautiful peace that was borne out of His love for each of us.  

Read the following verses and be exhorted and encouraged in the worthy walk...

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? ² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. ⁴ Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.--James 4:1-10

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.--Romans 14:19

 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”--John 13:34-35

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.--Colossians 3:12-17

Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.--2 Corinthians 13:11

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.--1 Corinthians 1:10


For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. ¹³ For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. ¹⁴ For in fact the body is not one member but many.

¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? ¹⁸ But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. ¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

²⁰ But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³ And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentableparts have greater modesty, ²⁴ but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, ²⁵ that there should be no schism in the body, butthat the members should have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. ²⁸ And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,but have not love, it profits me nothing.

⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part.¹⁰ But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.--1 Corinthians 12:12-13:13

Be Not Far From Me....

My heart is like wax; it has melted within Me. Psalm 22:14 

By Charles Spurgeon from Morning and Evening...April 12

Our blessed Lord experienced a terrible sinking and melting of soul. "The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a wounded spirit who can bear?" Deep depression of spirit is the most grievous of all trials; all besides is as nothing. Well might the suffering Saviour cry to his God, "Be not far from me," for above all other seasons a man needs his God when his heart is melted within him because of heaviness. 

Believer, come near the cross this morning, and humbly adore the King of glory as having once been brought far lower, in mental distress and inward anguish, than any one among us; and mark his fitness to become a faithful High Priest, who can be touched with a feeling of our infirmities. Especially let those of us whose sadness springs directly from the withdrawal of a present sense of our Father's love, enter into near and intimate communion with Jesus. Let us not give way to despair, since through this dark room the Master has passed before us. Our souls may sometimes long and faint, and thirst even to anguish, to behold the light of the Lord's countenance: at such times let us stay ourselves with the sweet fact of the sympathy of our great High Priest. 

Our drops of sorrow may well be forgotten in the ocean of his griefs; but how high ought our love to rise! Come in, O strong and deep love of Jesus, like the sea at the flood in spring tides, cover all my powers, drown all my sins, wash out all my cares, lift up my earth-bound soul, and float it right up to my Lord's feet, and there let me lie, a poor broken shell, washed up by his love, having no virtue or value; and only venturing to whisper to him that if he will put his ear to me, he will hear within my heart faint echoes of the vast waves of his own love which have brought me where it is my delight to lie, even at his feet forever.

Beloved of God!!

To My Beloved Daughters in Him,

I am studying Romans 1 with Mikayla and came to verse 7 which says:

To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints...(emphasis mine)

How do you describe the indescribable?  

Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God!

The God of all creation...the God of the Universe has set His love upon us. We, who believe, have been accepted in the Beloved and are, therefore, beloved of God...objects of divine delight and divine love!!!  We, who can bring nothing but empty hands to our God...we who have nothing good in ourselves....are in fact the joy that was set before Jesus at the cross. We are His children.  His special possession. To save us was His good pleasure!  There is nothing acceptable in us...but we are in Christ and there is everything acceptable in Him. 

We are a priceless commodity to God.  We have been bought with the precious blood of His Son!  His by creation and redemption!  Here on this earth we battle daily with our flesh, but we fight from a position of victory because our lives are hidden in Christ who has overcome the powers of evil.  We, who believe, are more than conquerors through Him who loves us and have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who was given to us as a pledge of our inheritance.  God seals us with a view to the redemption of His own possession. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God and the hope that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.--Ephesians 1:13-14

Our God will one day take full possession of what is rightfully His...US!!   

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; ²¹ because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. ²³ Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.--Romans 8:19-25

Beloved, in this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer,  Jesus has overcome the world.  Someday the curse of Genesis 3 will be lifted, and we will be glorified and sin will be defeated forever.  Our hope is sure.  Death has been swallowed up in victory.  The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ.  Rejoice as you read the following from Revelation 5: (the scroll spoken of is the title deed to the earth)

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. ² Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”  And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. ⁵ But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”

And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.  Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”

Rejoice!!!


“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.--Psalm 91:14

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.--1 John 3:2

The Worthy Walk: Long Suffering and Forbearing Love

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with al lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering bearing with one another in love endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.--Ephesians 4:1-2 

To My Beloved Daughters in Him,

It was noted in the previous study that the first three chapters of Ephesians were about doctrine and the last three about duty...or the first three describe our position in Christ and the last three our practice.  Paul begins Chapter 4 of Ephesians by beseeching us to walk worthy of the calling with which we were called.  Here in verse two and three he enumerates the 5 characteristics of the worthy walk: humility or lowliness, gentleness or meekness, long suffering, forbearing love...with the goal being endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  That is the goal...unity.  The center of Christian unity is in the heart.   It is not in a set of rules...it is not outward.  In verse 2 Paul gives us 5 attitudes of the heart which bring about peace in the body and bind believers together.

We have now reached the third and fourth characteristics of the worthy walk: long-suffering and forbearing love.

Stepping back in review before we discuss these...humility implies total selflessness and is embodied in Christ.  This is the quality that encompasses all the others and without which the others are not possible.  

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.--Philippians 2:3-8

Humility leads to meekness which is the kind of selflessness that never defends itself but always stands for the cause of God.  It is gentle, mild spirited and self-controlled. 

Meekness leads to long-suffering which can be defined as patient endurance. It is the temper which does not easily succumb under suffering. It is the self restraint that does not retaliate or avenge a wrong  John MacArthur describes it as the attitude that never gives in to negative circumstances.  I love that!!  Going with this theme then.. I picture the house that is built on a rock  "The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 

It is easy to respond well and suffer long when you are not experiencing negative circumstances...when things are going your way...the test is how do you respond when things are not going your way.  Do you give in to your flesh and become short-tempered or retaliatory with those around you?  Do you question God?  Or...Do you surrender to His will and walk in His Spirit?  Beloved, endure all circumstances for His cause...be patient towards all men. Accept God's will and plan for you without argument. Refuse to defend yourself when you are offended.  Defense says I am important...this life is about me and takes the focus off of God and onto you.  Humility, meekness and long-suffering say it is God who is important...it is God who matters...commit Yourself to Him who judges righteously.  Let the Lord be your defense...let Him bring you low and let Him exalt you in His perfect timing.  Put your trust in Him and allow Him to care for your "estate."   Put on the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace so that people see Jesus in your words and your actions....so that people see something in you that is "other worldly" and desire it for themselves.

The fourth inward grace of the worthy walk is forbearing love.  This is the love that loves with God's love..the love that covers a multitude of sins...the love that seeks only the other's highest good DESPITE the cost.  God's love, agape love, is selfless.  John MacArthur calls it a self giving, self donating love.  The love that just gives and gives and expects nothing in return. CLEARLY, this kind of love is not of us.  This love is of God and is reflected in the qualities of humility, gentleness and long-suffering.  This is the kind of love that went to the cross when we were still His enemies.  This is the kind of love that suffers long and is kind...the fervent (stretched to the limit) kind of love that Peter speaks about in chapter 4 of his epistle.  The love that does not envy, does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked and thinks no evil.  This is the kind of love that does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth. The love that is from God bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things.  This kind of love NEVER fails...it always has an effect.  Forbearing love is illustrated in Matthew 5:43-44

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 

Beloved, as John MacArthur says, "We have a high calling, but a low walk."  The lowly walk requires at its end the obliteration of self by surrendering to and obeying moment by moment the will of your Father in heaven. Jesus never did anything from selfish ambition or conceit...He made Himself of no reputation taking the form of a bondservant and came in the likeness of men and was obedient to His Father to the point of death...even the death of the cross.  He depicts a perfect picture of forbearing love on the cross at Calvary.  He endured all for the joy (us) that was set before Him...

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

And they divided His garments and cast lots.--Luke 23:24

But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”--Luke 23:40-43

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”  Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.--John 19:25-27

 "...and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.  You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin."--Hebrews 12:1-4

Forbearing love wraps itself around humility, meekness and longsuffering and not only takes whatever people can do and say to them...forbearing love LOVES them right in the middle of it and straight through to the end. John MacArthur says it best when he defines forbearing love as UNCONQUERABLE BENEVOLENCE AND INVINCIBLE GOODNESS.  Are you beginning to see how each one of these four characteristics is impossible without the Spirit of God and how each one works together to produce the final one...the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  

Letter to My Mom from 2005

Missing my mom this Mother's Day...The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are His everlasting arms. 

March 11, 2005

Dear Mom,

It is hard for me to believe that you're going to be eighty...I don't even want to think about it, Mom.  I just want to tell you how much I love you and that your presence in my life is such a blessing.  What a gift the Lord gave me when he gave me you.  There really aren't words...your example to me over the years has been an inspiration and has led me down many right paths.  

As I get older I understand more and more the impact that parents have on their childrens' lives.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have taught me and are still teaching me.  My life is a reflection of the Lord and His faithfulness but you, Mom,  taught me about HIM.

"You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.--Deuteronomy 6:7

Thank you for your steadfastness and faithfulness over the years...even when I sorely disappointed you.  What a blessing that the Lord included this verse in Romans...

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.--Romans 8:28

Most of all Mom thank you for teaching me how to be a mother...How to love my children...Each one of my girls is such a blessing from God and a wonderful tribute to all that you taught me.  Mom, I receive so many compliments on my girls...the glory truly goes to the Lord and to you for showing me how.

My life is a reflection of the values that both you and Dad instilled in me at a young age...thank you for your love, compassion, discipline...and, of course, all the hard work. (Smile)

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:--Proverbs 31:28

Dad...I don't want you to feel left out...your steadfastness, strength, kindness and protection enabled me to have the stability necessary to raise my girls and to choose a man who shares the same values.  I love you, Dad. 

Psalm 127

Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
 It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
 The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’--Numbers 6:24-26

from my journal:

I miss you Mom and am grateful for my conversation with you last Mother's Day...Here is what I wrote in my journal about it that day: 

"Woke my mom up on Mother's Day and of course she LOVED it. As I spoke to her I was thinking that it might be the last time I could wish her a Happy Mother's Day on this earth...which made me choke up during my prayer for her but by God's grace I made it through. Just before I got off the phone she told me how much she loved me and how good I had been to her and to Daddy. What a blessing from the Lord for both her and me to have been given a small window of clarity and coherence at 7:45 this morning. God is good."

This is the journal entry I made after seeing my mom for the last time this past November...

"Spent some time with my mom today who, from what we are told, is very near the end of her life this side of heaven. The one word that I would use to describe her demeanor would be GRACIOUS. She was in death as I remember her in life....forever and always gracious to everyone AND when I grow up I want to be just like her."

Love is the Antidote for Sin...

Let all that you do be done with love.--1 Corinthians 16:14

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”--Matthew 22:37-40

God's love is the antidote for sin.  May I by Your Spirit, Father, owe no one anything but love.  He who loves another has fulfilled the law.  Your Word tells me that the commandments can be summed up in this saying, namely, 

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  

Love does no harm to a neighbor...love is the fulfillment of the law.  Loving others with Your love is what brings You glory and others good.  This is also what is best and good for me!  May Your love be the motivating force...may it be the reason and the power behind all that I do, think and say.   If your love is not what drives me and fills me, then no matter what I do it is vain, empty and profits me nothing.  

Your love obeys...Your love is humble....Your love is sacrificial and meets another at their point of need.  The Bible in John 13:1 tells me this:

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.  (emphasis mine)

John MacArthur says "He loved them to the end" means literally, He loved them to perfection...fervently...to the limits of love.  Oh Father, my love falls so very far short of the standards that you have not only laid out for me but also modeled for me!  This is how I want to love those you have placed in my life...to perfection!  Help me to love as You do.  Your love is NOT of me...Love is OF You.  We love, because You first loved us.  My love cannot love my enemies and do good to those who spitefully use me.  My love cannot love those who say all kinds of evil against me.  My love can only love me...my love is selfish and always seeks its own.  Your love is sacrificial...it is good and gracious to all!  You send rain on the evil and the good.  Your love was demonstrated toward me when I was still Your enemy.  When I was helpless, hopeless and against You, You died for me!  I cannot generate this kind of love on my own...it is a gift from You.  Your love sacrificed Your Son and made a way in the darkness for me.  Your love endured the cross and paid the price for my redemption.  

I surrender to You, Father and I invite Your Spirit to take control,  govern my heart and produce the fruits of righteousness to Your praise and glory!  Ministry apart from Your Spirit is empty, vain and meaningless.  Guard and clothe all my words, thoughts and actions with Your love.  Your goodness...Your active love toward me is what led me to repentance.  Help me to demonstrate that kind of love to those You place in my life.  

Let all I do be done in love!!

Cause You Really Can't Take It With You...

Three of the best Psalms to read to renew your mind and aright your thinking as wickedness seems to increase all around you.

Psalm 37 - Why do the ungodly prosper while the godly painfully struggle through life?

Psalm 49 deals with the most real and certain thing about life—DEATH....cause you really can’t take it with you. 

Psalm 73 This psalm shows us what happens when we focus on the people and the evil surrounding us...instead of the sovereign, holy God above.    (We become and envious and filled with self pity) 

The Heritage of the Righteous and the Calamity of the Wicked

A Psalm of David.

Psalm 37

1 Do not fret because of evildoers,

​​Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.

2 ​​For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,

​​And wither as the green herb.

​

3 ​​Trust in the LORD, and do good;

​​Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

4 ​​Delight yourself also in the LORD,

​​And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

​

5 ​​Commit your way to the LORD,

​​Trust also in Him,

​​And He shall bring it to pass.

6 ​​He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,

​​And your justice as the noonday.

​

7 ​​Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;

​​Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

​​Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

8 ​​Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;

​​Do not fret—it only causes harm.

​

9 ​​For evildoers shall be cut off;

​​But those who wait on the LORD,

​​They shall inherit the earth.

10 ​​For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;

​​Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,

​​But it shall be no more.

11 ​​But the meek shall inherit the earth,

​​And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

​

12 ​​The wicked plots against the just,

​​And gnashes at him with his teeth.

13 ​​The Lord laughs at him,

​​For He sees that his day is coming.

14 ​​The wicked have drawn the sword

​​And have bent their bow,

​​To cast down the poor and needy,

​​To slay those who are of upright conduct.

15 ​​Their sword shall enter their own heart,

​​And their bows shall be broken.

​

16 ​​A little that a righteous man has

​​Is better than the riches of many wicked.

17 ​​For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,

​​But the LORD upholds the righteous.

​

18 ​​The LORD knows the days of the upright,

​​And their inheritance shall be forever.

19 ​​They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,

​​And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

20 ​​But the wicked shall perish;

​​And the enemies of the LORD,

​​Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish.

​​Into smoke they shall vanish away.

​

21 ​​The wicked borrows and does not repay,

​​But the righteous shows mercy and gives.

22 ​​For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,

​​But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.

​

23 ​​The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,

​​And He delights in his way.

24 ​​Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;

​​For the LORD upholds him with His hand.

​

25 ​​I have been young, and now am old;

​​Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,

​​Nor his descendants begging bread.

26 ​​He is ever merciful, and lends;

​​And his descendants are blessed.

​

27 ​​Depart from evil, and do good;

​​And dwell forevermore.

28 ​​For the LORD loves justice,

​​And does not forsake His saints;

​​They are preserved forever,

​​But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.

29 ​​The righteous shall inherit the land,

​​And dwell in it forever.

​

30 ​​The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,

​​And his tongue talks of justice.

31 ​​The law of his God is in his heart;

​​None of his steps shall slide.

​

32 ​​The wicked watches the righteous,

​​And seeks to slay him.

33 ​​The LORD will not leave him in his hand,

​​Nor condemn him when he is judged.

​

34 ​​Wait on the LORD,

​​And keep His way,

​​And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;

​​When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.

35 ​​I have seen the wicked in great power,

​​And spreading himself like a native green tree.

36 ​​Yet he passed away, [fn1] and behold, he was no more;

​​Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.

​

37 ​​Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright;

​​For the future of that man is peace.

38 ​​But the transgressors shall be destroyed together;

​​The future of the wicked shall be cut off.

​

39 ​​But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;

​​He is their strength in the time of trouble.

40 ​​And the LORD shall help them and deliver them;

​​He shall deliver them from the wicked,

​​And save them,

​​Because they trust in Him.

The Confidence of the Foolish

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

Psalm 49

1 Hear this, all peoples;

​​Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

2 ​​Both low and high,

​​Rich and poor together.

3 ​​My mouth shall speak wisdom,

​​And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.

4 ​​I will incline my ear to a proverb;

​​I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.

​

5 ​​Why should I fear in the days of evil,

​​When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

6 ​​Those who trust in their wealth

​​And boast in the multitude of their riches,

7 ​​None of them can by any means redeem his brother,

​​Nor give to God a ransom for him—

8 ​​For the redemption of their souls is costly,

​​And it shall cease forever—

9 ​​That he should continue to live eternally,

​​And not see the Pit.

​

10 ​​For he sees wise men die;

​​Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish,

​​And leave their wealth to others.

11 ​​Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, [fn1]

​​Their dwelling places to all generations;

​​They call their lands after their own names.

12 ​​Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; [fn2]

​​He is like the beasts that perish.

​

13 ​​This is the way of those who are foolish,

​​And of their posterity who approve their sayings.Selah

14 ​​Like sheep they are laid in the grave;

​​Death shall feed on them;

​​The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;

​​And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.

15 ​​But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,

​​For He shall receive me.Selah

​

16 ​​Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,

​​When the glory of his house is increased;

17 ​​For when he dies he shall carry nothing away;

​​His glory shall not descend after him.

18 ​​Though while he lives he blesses himself

​​(For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),

19 ​​He shall go to the generation of his fathers;

​​They shall never see light.

20 ​​A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,

​​Is like the beasts that perish.

The Tragedy of the Wicked, and the Blessedness of Trust in God

A Psalm of Asaph.

Psalm 73

1 Truly God is good to Israel,

​​To such as are pure in heart.

2 ​​But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;

​​My steps had nearly slipped.

3 ​​For I was envious of the boastful,

​​When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

​

4 ​​For there are no pangs in their death,

​​But their strength is firm.

5 ​​They are not in trouble as other men,

​​Nor are they plagued like other men.

6 ​​Therefore pride serves as their necklace;

​​Violence covers them like a garment.

7 ​​Their eyes bulge [fn1] with abundance;

​​They have more than heart could wish.

8 ​​They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;

​​They speak loftily.

9 ​​They set their mouth against the heavens,

​​And their tongue walks through the earth.

​

10 ​​Therefore his people return here,

​​And waters of a full cup are drained by them.

11 ​​And they say, “How does God know?

​​And is there knowledge in the Most High?”

12 ​​Behold, these are the ungodly,

​​Who are always at ease;

​​They increase in riches.

13 ​​Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,

​​And washed my hands in innocence.

14 ​​For all day long I have been plagued,

​​And chastened every morning.

​

15 ​​If I had said, “I will speak thus,”

​​Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.

16 ​​When I thought how to understand this,

​​It was too painful for me—

17 ​​Until I went into the sanctuary of God;

​​Then I understood their end.

​

18 ​​Surely You set them in slippery places;

​​You cast them down to destruction.

19 ​​Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!

​​They are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 ​​As a dream when one awakes,

​​So, Lord, when You awake,

​​You shall despise their image.

​

21 ​​Thus my heart was grieved,

​​And I was vexed in my mind.

22 ​​I was so foolish and ignorant;

​​I was like a beast before You.

23 ​​Nevertheless I am continually with You;

​​You hold me by my right hand.

24 ​​You will guide me with Your counsel,

​​And afterward receive me to glory.

​

25 ​​Whom have I in heaven but You?

​​And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

26 ​​My flesh and my heart fail;

​​But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

​

27 ​​For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;

​​You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.

28 ​​But it is good for me to draw near to God;

​​I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,

​​That I may declare all Your works.