The Greatest Love

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13 NIV

God's been so good to us lately. No, things aren't rosy and perfect, but it could be worse. He looks out for us day to day. But that's what fathers do right? What about friends? Do you expect them to look out for you? I don't. So it's always a nice surprise when something happens and your friends come to help. They're not laying down their mortal lives, but they are putting their own needs aside to help a friend or loved one. That's the greatest love we can have and show.

Laying down one's life isn't just about dying. It's about living for each other. An officer helping a homeless man get a job by helping him shave. A friend offering a bed when a home isn't safe to be in. A neighbor coming over to physically help with work. These people are exhibiting the greatest love in that for that moment they are putting their own needs aside and helping someone else.

That's real love. Honest love. True love. Spouses do it every day for each other. Parents do it every day for their children. Teachers do it every day for their students. Employers do it every day for their staff. It happens all over the world and is not acknowledged for what it is. God's love. Agape love.

The world would be a better place if we all let God's love shine through us. Be the greatest love.

All You Need Is Love

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Matthew 22:37 NIV

So while I sit here blogging this, I should be packing. We are headed to a taekwondo tournament and I have a shot at winning grand champion in my division. But I sit here at my kitchen table with 2 cats circling me like vultures waiting for a kill because they want their snack. My hubby is cleaning the car. I'm sipping my coffee wondering how well I will perform when I haven't been able to train like I really should have.

And thats the context of this verse. I need to be packing, cleaning, feeding pets, washing dishes, stretching, training...whatever it is in a day that we need to do. That could be work, play, chores...you name it.

But what really matters at the end of the day? Is it how clean your house is? How full your checkbook is? How many accolades you got at work? No. It's love. It's how well you loved and how well were you loved in return. And where does love come from? God. He IS love. We are busy people but at the end of it all, there is only love. It starts and ends with God. He is the alpha and omega. He is love. Therefore it starts and ends with love. So this verse helps to remind us that we should love first and foremost. Everything else will work itself out in time. Even John Lennon widely proclaimed all you need is love.

So before I go pack and clean and calm the vultures, know that you are loved and return that love to its origin.

Walk This Way

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord , and who meditates on his law day and night. Psalm 1:1‭-‬2 NIV

I recently hurt my back somehow. Ok not somehow. It was while I was teaching Jazzercise or taking taekwondo. My body sometimes cannot keep up with my desired level of rigorous, physical activity. My back hurts to the point of sending pain down one leg making it difficult to walk anywhere, much less get myself in trouble. So I could take this verse a couple ways.

I liken it to the fact that right now walking is difficult. I'm going to choose very carefully where and why I have to go anywhere that requires moving my feet. If it's not 100% necessary, it ain't happening. So should we react when we think about making decisions that would lead us down a path God cant follow, and won't. We should tread carefully where our actions are concerned and be crystal clear why we must go or do anything. It's the only way to be sure we hear God's voice when we need to and abide by his word.

Or he could be telling me to sit down, shut up and listen to him by dwelling on his word. Of course we should be doing that anyway, yes?

Where Did He Go?

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:11‭-‬12 NIV

Dear readers, its been a while since I've written a devotional. Life has thrown us a few curve balls lately and I've never been good at sports. Zippo hand-eye coordination. I've kept up with my daily readings but I guess I was a little selfish in that I kept the message from the reading to myself. Then again, the Bible does encourage us to go into our closets to pray in secret at times. I think God knows when we need to take a break from outward stressors causing our focus to be imbalanced. He knows when we've had enough, so to speak, so he allows life to happen in such a way as to get us to slow down or change direction or thought process. So in keeping my readings to myself he's been building a foundation upon which I can rest the rest I so desperately need.

Which is how this verse speaks to me today. I could go on about love, but I focused on the 'no one has seen God' part. What? No one has ever seen him? Nope. Not the living anyway. We see the results of his work. We feel his presence. We breathe him in much like taking in the scent of your mom's perfume that brings back memories of childhood. He's there, working behind the scenes to make it all happen. We don't see him, panic, and then he must work to instill peace in us again by giving us glimpses, but only small ones. Then we panic again and he starts over because he loves us, not because we love him.

I'm sitting at home this morning when I should be at work because I've caught a cold. God's saying sit! Or he knows I just need a break. But what am I doing? Panicking because I don't have a lot of time at work to be off. I need leave time for other things. So he's now working through this writing to being me peace to say it will be alright even though I can't see it....yet.

Never doubt that God is there even though you can't see him.

Best Disney Ride

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114 NIV

Disney in the summer is hot and crowded. Hey, it is Florida after all. In fact, I guess its crowded and hot all year long, except for the one year when it was the coldest on record and we froze. But I digress.

Here in Florida we pack plenty of water and sunscreen. But even so the heat and sun can become unbearable. During our day at one of the parks we took refuge on rides and in stores. The rides are mostly covered giving us a respite from the direct sun and the stores provide AC to help shield from the heat. The indoor water rides, like Pirates, offer both along with a way to sit and rest.

God is our cool indoor water ride. Just imagine the worst day and you are sweaty and tired and miserable. You're in pain or under stress. Your feet hurt. Run to God. He will give you shelter from the pain and a cool place to relax for a while. Ahhhhhh sweet relief. That's what God is. He's the ultimate Disney park ride and so much more.

Let him give you refuge today.

How to Tie Your Shoes

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19 NIV

All throughout history we see evidence that parents and mentors passed on what they had learned in life to the next generation. Millions of dollars are spent each year on college attendance to teach the up and coming workforce. Yoda cautioned Luke to pass on what he had learned, that the only way for the Jedi to survive would be to have one remaining master and teacher. I teach children and adults what I've learned through my martial arts training, giving them the confidence to advance. Dozens of community action professionals just finished a national exam led by their predecessors, ensuring that the values of grassroots community work and leadership are continued.

Every day in every nation people train others. So why do we have an issue when it comes to training others in the gospel, the absolute best news of all? If we want to carry on God's work and bring as many to salvation as possible then we must pass on our knowledge and faith to others. It should be as simple as learning to tie shoes.

So be like Yoda: pass on what you have learned. Don't let others remain ignorant about the love and grace of God.

Test Day

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 NIV

I like to think of all the ways this message is taught from the pulpits. I sense grandiose explanations of the greatness and awe of Gods throne and temple and how Jesus's death rent the curtain so we can enter. We're to get in our prayer closets and ascend to the highest level of intimacy and not come out until the problem is solved and the need is met.

Well, I don't think it's that complicated. Right now I am proctoring a national exam site for candidates taking a certification test. They've been preparing for literally months for this exam. For many it will mean an increase in responsibility in their organizations as well as an increase in pay. It's a big deal. They've been studying and learning. They can approach this test with confidence that they know the material. In their time of need they can draw on the knowledge of what they've been studying.

So it is with God's grace and mercy. We don't have to throw ourselves on the ground moaning and wailing begging God for help, waiting for some magical force to solve our problem. We've been studying his word. We've been talking with him. We can draw on that knowledge to help us when we need it most. There's not a mythical solution to our problems as in that car you need will not magically appear in your driveway because you've prayed and fasted for 3 days. God's word is all we need. He's already given us the tools we need to work through our needs, or survive them as the case may be. But either way there is an end and we have faith that he's with us through it all.

So study, learn, pray regularly. You'll be more than prepared when the test comes.