Good Morning!
What a beautiful day for the Lord to come again!
It’s 6:30 am… I am NEVER up this early… God must have something special in store for today. The house is quiet… Travis left a few minutes ago to take Savannah and JJ to school and Miss Tori to Nana and Papa’s, so it’s just me and Mr. Michael. He’s snoozing. Normally after I fix Savannah’s hair I go back to sleep, but not today, I just felt led to post a blog. I have no idea what I’m going to say, so I’ll just type and let God do the talking…
So… how have you been?
2009 has been a whirlwind. I can not believe it is February 10th! Seems like yesterday was Christmas! Travis & I helped Savannah & JJ write their names on Valentine’s cards last night for their class. They were so excited! Michael was not interested at all. He would have much rather watched Sponge Bob or listened to music. He’s going to Pre-School and loving it! Every morning when I drop him off he says, “Bye!” and “Play!” Some mornings if I’m lucky, I’ll get a “luv lu”. Those are few and far between. He knows what he’s there for… playing and having a great time with his friends! His personality changes everyday! It’s amazing how God created such incredible children… just for me! I sit in awe of God’s goodness. So often my mind goes back to Jeremiah 29:11 – He knows the plans he has for me – plans to prosper me and not harm me, to give me a future and hope. 1 Corinthians 13 speaks of faith, hope and charity (love)… but the greatest of these is LOVE.
Faith – confidence or trust in a person or thing; the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement; belief in God
Hope – to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence; the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best; to place trust; rely
Love – a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person; affectionate concern for the well-being of others; the benevolent affection of God for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from them to God
I can not imagine facing life everyday without faith, hope and LOVE. Faith in a God who has never failed me! Faith that no matter what the economic situation is… my GOD will provide! Psalms 50:10 – 15 “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the fields are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee; for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, and drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay the vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” I have faith that no matter what tomorrow holds, the God of the universe will not be taken by surprise and He will make a way! Psalms 37:25 – “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Philippians 4:19 – “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hope in the promise that I will spend eternity with him! Psalms 39:7 – “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” What are you looking today? Are you eyes upon Jesus or are you searching for hope in man? God is our hope! In Christ alone we find our future! Psalms 147:1-11 – “Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Do you have faith that if he can provide food for the cattle and ravens that he can take care of you? God is faithful! He knows exactly what you need and he will provide if your trust him! BUT, he didn’t stop there! … “the greatest of these is love!” The love of God… where do I begin? John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that HE gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all sins.” John 15:13 – “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” 1 John 4:8 – “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” God loves us so much that he gave His BEST! His ONLY son! First and foremost, have you given God your heart? Have you surrendered to him? That’s the most important question… if you answered yes… Are you giving him your BEST? Psalms 9:1 – “I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvelous works.” Psalms 111: 1-10 – “Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honorable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant. He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen. The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. Mark 12: 29 – 33 “ And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
As you walk through life today, remember – the greatest of these is LOVE!
1 Corinthians 13:1 – 2 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and I have not LOVE, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. 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, and have not LOVE, I am nothing.
I love each and every one of you & I am so thankful that God has placed you in my life!
And now abideth faith, hope and love, these three; but the greatest of these is LOVE!
In His Grip,
Jennifer
