Put On Love

It's the month of red hearts, candy conversation hearts, shoeboxes covered in hearts, paper valentines, chocolate-covered strawberries, red roses, and romantic dinners by candle light. Valentine's Day is just around the corner. 

I did not remember that Valentine's Day was originally a Christian feast day named for a martyr, Saint Valentine of Rome. One legend says Valentine was imprisoned for protecting persecuted Christians and was buried on February 14, on the Via Flaminia, an ancient Roman road through the mountains. Accounts say there is not much known about Saint Valentine.

Through the years, Valentine's Day became associated with romantic love and "lovebirds" of early spring. In 1868 Cadbury created heart-shaped boxes for their chocolates, beginning a favorite Valentine gift of candy, Just walk through a store that sells candy and find hundreds of varieties of heart candies.

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity,"  (Colossians 3:14 NIV). 

It is always a good idea to "put on love" as we strive to live out our faith. As Colossians 3:12 tells us to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:14 continues: "over all these virtues put on love."

The virtues listed can make showing love so easy if we just work at living them out.

Oh Gracious God, thank You for giving us Your Word to guide us in our faith. Keep these virtues at the top of our minds this week. Help us choose these actions in all that we do. We want to live like Your Son. Thank You for sending Him to teach us and to save us from our sins. We pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Fix Our Eyes on Jesus

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God," (Hebrews 12:2 NIV). 

Sometimes when I am walking I set my eyes on where my next step is to be placed. There are some sidewalks that have uneven edges, broken pieces of concrete, or tree roots that have forced the cement to break or buckle. They can be dangerous if I set my eyes on where I am going instead of where my foot will be placed. 

That is what makes a walking track nice. Each step is the same. The surface is even and smooth. The only hazards are other walkers who may stop suddenly on the track or back into you, or when you stub your toe. (I am a danger to myself anywhere I walk).

The Scripture above tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus in our big picture of life. We need Jesus to make our faith stronger and more perfect, like Him. Jesus endured the painful torture and hanging upon the cross for us! He must always be in sight or we will focus on ourselves and stumble and fall.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal," (2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV).

Lord God, Help me keep our eyes fixed on You. The path of my life is bumpy and long. It winds around and through dangers that only You can help me through. I need my focus to be on You. Fix my eyes on Jesus, in whose name I pray, Amen.

Run With Perseverance

Welcome to a new month, a new week, and a new day. February. One month closer to spring! Will it be warmer than January? Will we get more snow? What will our path look like? Will we have a smooth, rock-free, hill-free road to travel this month or will we face challenges with every step? Only God knows what lies ahead.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).

The author of Hebrews recognized that he was surrounded by faithful believers who had experience and wisdom and encouraged him to keep running the race, whatever it looked like. We do not walk alone. Others have walked through our troubles and survived. We can make it, too.

The key is perseverance. I never noticed what a long word perseverance is. Just saying the word takes a while. That gives a hint to the challenge that might be ahead. Our walk in life as a Christian is not easy. We have temptations and sin that gets in our way. We must confess those hinderances and keep going. 

We must get rid of anything that gets in the way of our relationship with God. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to help us run toward the freedom we receive through confession of our sins. We need to start again, if we pause. Keep Jesus in our sights. He leads the way.

Lord God, I'm not a good runner, never have been, never will be. But I can persevere on the path You place before me. Guide me, Lord. Show me the way. Point out the hazards in my path. Don't let me give up. I need the encouragement that You and fellow believers provide. Thank You, God. Make my life give You praise in all I do. Let every step I take bring You honor and glory. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

What I Need to Do

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness," (Colossians 2:6-7 NIV).

I am totally blown away by the beautiful verses that can be found in the Bible. Those above just spoke to me when I ran across them again. My study Bible has been my go-to since 1991, I think. I have read through it several times so it has many stars, underlines, notes in the margins and a number of bookmarks with an assortment of treasured writings of friends and authors. There are a couple very special letters inside. And a few study guides clutter inside the front and back covers. It has become too heavy for me to carry to church or to my Bible studies. I use it at home where it lays open on my desk.

"Continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him..."

Live in Christ Jesus. That's what I need to do.  To be rooted and built up in Him! Like a tree stretches its roots out seeking nourishment and the water it needs to grow, that's what I need to do. With my branches, my arms, stretching out toward the sun, the Son, praising the Father.

"Strengthened in the faith as I was taught..." 

Returning to the basics of my belief, grasping the foundation that was built in Sunday school, youth group, church camp, sermon after sermon, and Bible study after Bible study. That's what I need to do.

"Overflowing with thankfulness..." 

Thank you, Father God, for giving me the Word to guide my life in Christ Jesus. I need You every moment of every day. Fill me with everything I need to stay rooted and grounded in You. You are my source. I praise You and thank You with my whole heart, and I pray in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Monday Morning Challenge

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience," (Colossians 3:12 NIV).

That is a lot. A verse so full of direction and challenge is a big way to start the morning. But, the reminder Paul gives us here, in his letter to the church in Colosse and all believers, is so precious for our hearts to hold close. 

First we are called God's chosen people. What an honor and what big shoes to fill! Yet, Paul reminds us that we are holy and dearly loved. I picture God's mighty hands lifting us up and embracing us with His wonderful love.

Then comes the directive on how we are to act, as God's chosen people. Clothe yourselves with compassion and kindness. Oh, if only my heart was always filled with these characteristics. What a beautiful world we would live in if we all held compassion and kindness as our usual pattern of action.

Then Paul tells us to clothe ourselves in humility. Being humble used to be easy when I had no self-confidence. Can I consider myself worthy of God's love and be humble at the same time? It seems to be a serious balancing act for me. 

Finally, this verse tells us to be gentle and patient. Gentleness fits well with acts of kindness and a heart full of compassion. But, patience is a quality that seems to take more work than the others. Our society seems to have the attitude of wanting things to happen right now. That doesn't fit well with having patience. I need to slow things down and wait for God's timing to be my guide; easier said than done.

Wow. I want to be this person that Paul describes. I want to wear compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Do you struggle with any of these or am I the only one?

O God, so Great and Caring, help me be the person you want me to be, today and each day forward. I need your help. I miss the mark by so much! Help me change my attitude to be as Paul tells me. Give me encouragement to be a person of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Show me the way, Lord. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

The Blessing

In the book of Numbers God told Moses how to ask Him to place His divine favor upon others. Giving a blessing included five parts, as shown in the scripture below. A blessing included: favor and protection (bless and keep), be pleased (make his face shine upon you), merciful and compassionate (be gracious), give His approval (turn his face toward him), and give peace. God taught Moses how to ask for a blessing upon others. 

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26 NIV).

Giving a blessing upon others helps the one receiving it but also demonstrates love, encouragement, and is a model of caring for others. Moses taught Aaron and his sons the blessing they were to ask for the Israelites as their priests.

Lord God, I ask a blessing upon all who read this blog. May they be encouraged, loved and cared for this day and beyond. Give us all a heart of a blessing. Make us kind in all situations and help us love others as You have commanded. Bless us with Your wisdom through Jesus Christ. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

Handling Hard Better

Today the words won’t come. I’ve been searching the Bible for the right verse but half an hour later I’m still looking. The one I chose seems to be a reminder to me that God is way bigger than I can imagine. He handles the hard better than we think is possible. Even in grief we have hope in Jesus that one day He will return with believers who wait in heaven to rejoin us.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV). 

A friend whom we admire for his strength in his illness earned his angel wings yesterday. Our hearts are broken for his wife and two sons who face all the tomorrows without him. We must cling to Jesus more than ever before because He is with us through all the hard days ahead.

Lord God, hold this family close to You. Don’t let them slip away. May they feel Your strength and power flow through them as they move through the hard days ahead. Thank You for standing with us through the tough times and lifting us up above the pain. We need You, Lord, and we pray for those who can’t find the words today. Embrace them and comfort them. We pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.