I'm So Glad I'm a Part of the Family of God

Yesterday my post was about being a part of the Family of God and how our Father always has His arms open wide to His nice, and even sometimes naughty, kids. He's ready to invite them to sit at His royal table and feast with Him, along with so many other “royal” benefits. It's ours for the taking. We just accept His invitation to come into the family and then play by His rules which include integrity and honor and when we make mistakes and ask for His forgiveness, He always forgives. He especially asks us to hold to His number one requirement: to love Him and each other as we love ourselves. As one of His adopted kids, I assure you, there is nothing like being part of the Family of God.

Christmas and the New Year are drawing near. Many of us look forward to spending more time with family while others find this holiday season to be an especially painful reminder of people they miss, broken relationships and their deep longing to be surrounded by a loving family. The good news is, as children of God who have been adopted into His royal family, we have an unlimited supply of brothers and sisters! It’s like an old song written by Bill and Gloria Gaither:
“You will notice we say “brother” and “sister” around here;
It’s because we’re a family and these folks are so near.
When one has a heartache we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.
I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God!
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood.
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I’m part of the family, the family of God.

Let me tell you about this "family" from personal experience. I grew up in this family because my parents introduced me to the Father, God, and I invited Jesus, His Son, into my heart as a young child. That’s the “orientation” to coming into the family. John 3:16 explains it this way: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son and ALL who believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” Wow! How’s that for benefits….believing equals eternal life with Him in this family forever and ever!

Growing up in this family, I was around folks that pursued God in their walk and talk and it left an “eternal” impression on me. I wanted to be just like them. I witnessed how this family sticks together. We’re brothers and sisters and when one hurts, everyone hurts and when one has a victory, we all celebrate with them. We met together at church, became part of groups that created fellowship, grew together in learning more about God and His Word, and we were forged together when we locked arms and arms in making it through joyful and tough times.

In this family, there were baby showers where “the sisters” lavished gifts and blessings on the hopeful new parents that would soon welcome their new baby. Then, those same sisters, bearing lots of food for the new parents, brought relief to them when they had added pressure with that new little bundle of joy and lots of sleepless nights. Then there were the brothers in the family who helped another brother out when he had lost his job and they shouldered up to him and gave him encouragement and even helped him find a new job. I witnessed those brothers and sisters caring for my mom and me when my dad passed away. They brought us food and I saw them hugging and loving on my mom and me which brought us so much comfort. Later, I knew that comfort when my brothers and sisters encouraged my husband and me when he became so sick, but our freezer was so full of food that I had to ask them to slow down. I know what it is to have brothers and sisters in the Family of God.

Most recently, I’ve witnessed how the brothers and sisters at my church have come to support and love a precious family going through a major crisis that has resulted in so many needs. Of course, fervent prayer was the first thing we did, then tangible things were done: their home was cleaned, a food chain started, groups got together to go and encourage and support them financially and spiritually, and there have been so many social media posts that offered encouragement and notes assuring continued prayer. And, for me, my brothers and sisters in Christ are my own personal cheerleading team when they follow me on social media and when I speak at ministry events. They keep “pushing” me to be the best “sister” in the family. I strive for that!

I am utterly convinced that the Family of God will stand by you in thousands of ways if you’ll get to know the family, hang out with them, serve with them and do life with them. None of us deserve it and haven’t earned it. We were just born into it. They’ll treat you like royalty, too, because you are! We are. We’re children of the King.

He Loves Me. 🌹 He Loves Me Not. 🌹

Blast from the past! Did you ever take a flower (usually a daisy or a rose) and proceed to pluck off one petal at a time and repeat the words “He loves me; He loves me not”? Playing that little game represented the truth between whether that cute boy loved us or not. I don’t know if guys played that game like we girls did, but I just know we were motivated by our longing that he would like us and that little flower game gave us hope.

In my case, when that cute, black haired, brown eyed boy paid me some attention, I started saying “He loves me; He loves me lots!” My hope became a reality!

Now I segue to a love that is a much bigger deal than the attraction we had for that cute guy! God is crazy in love with us. Proof-positive is found in John 3:16 “For GOD SO LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever (that’s YOU and ME) believes in Him, will never perish but have eternal life.” Jeremiah 31:3 emphasizes His love, even more, “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever!” And, as in that beautiful old song, "The 12th of Never", FOREVER is a long, long time!

Back to that flower game. How often do we play it with God’s love – when we doubt Him and we question His plans for us? It’s like this:
I get a flat tire – He loves me not.
I get a job promotion – He loves me.
I sprained my ankle – He loves me not.
I get a check in the mail I wasn’t expecting – He loves me.
I drop my cell phone and the screen cracks -- He loves me not.
I am given a new cell phone – He loves me.

No matter how our day goes or even how our life goes – no matter the ups and downs – the sweet surprises or the disappointments -- no matter whether we feel sad or glad; God’s love is unconditional (unlike those cute boys who were here today, and gone tomorrow). God is with us. He has plans for us beyond our greatest imaginations. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Let’s throw away those flowers and emphatically believe and know "...how deep, how wide and long is the love of Christ." (Ephesians 3:18).
HE LOVES ME! 🌹🌹 HE LOVES ME! 🌹🌹 HE LOVES ME!

Shouldn't "Good Friday" be called "Black Friday"?

At first I thought "Black Friday" specials on "Good Friday" -- how dare they? But then I thought maybe Home Depot is on to something with their Black Friday specials.

After all, on this day, the most scandalous betrayal of justice in human history took place. Jesus wasn’t guilty of any crime or sin. After the illegal trials, this loving, compassionate, giving, caring, innocent man was stripped and tied to a post. He was whipped and beatened -- too horrible to even imagine. He was betrayed by His friends, and spit on by countless people, some of whom, just a few days before, treated Him as royalty as He entered the city. He was forced to carry a heavy wooden cross to Calvary where nails were driven through his wrists and ankles and He was left to die. And, bottom line, He could have called ten thousand angels to his side, but He refused. Instead, He died there for you and me.

What is this message? For us, to never again wonder if we are loved. God thought our eternal life was worth the death of His only Son. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, would never perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16) His GOOD Son, died for us on GOOD Friday. We, in so many ways, are the guilty ones that deserved to die in HIS place. Instead, He died in OUR place. NOW, we know why it's called "GOOD FRIDAY". He paid a debt He did not owe. He paid our debt.

Someone asked Jesus, "How much do You love me?" He answered, "This much," as He spread out his arms and died. This is a TRUE love story written with you and me in mind. Isn't that enough reason for us to slow down, literally put on the brakes, today, to remember and give thanks for this GOOD Friday when HE loved us -- TO INFINITY and BEYOND!
#GoodFriday

Celebrating Epiphany -- The Wise Men Showed Up to Worship

Epiphany, or the 12th day of Christmas, falls on January 6th (but celebrating on the closest Sunday -- today, the 8th) and it marks the official end to the wonderful season of Christmas. That’s why so many of us wait until after this day to take down our Christmas decorations. Epiphany means manifestation of God in His Son as human in Jesus Christ. It marks a visit to the baby Jesus by the Three Kings, or Wise Men.

Most manger scenes include those three wise men, but, in reality, the wise men didn't even actually appear until about two years after Christmas. Tradition has led us to assume many things about these men that the Bible doesn't tell us. For one, they're referred to as “kings,” which is probably not accurate. To call them wise is probably fair, as the mostly likely possibility is that these men were astrologers and the Bible doesn't give the number of men. All we know for sure is that they brought three gifts on their long journey from the East.

These men had seen a very unusual star that signaled to them the birth of divine royalty. So, like captains charting a course by the stars in the middle of the vast ocean, these men set off to “follow” the star. Their journey brought them to Judea. And assuming that the star indicated a birth in the house of the ruler, they went first to King Herod's home.“Where is the King of the Jews?” they asked Herod. That question was the beginning of Jesus’ troubles. Herod didn’t like the question, because he WAS the King of the Jews, and the fact that it was being asked by some foreigners who had journeyed from a distant country was even more troubling to the king. The thought that there was a rival to his throne was terribly disturbing for him.

So we get the sense that a plan began to form in Herod’s head. But first, he needed to know where this newborn King of the Jews was. Herod sent the men out to find the baby, then to report back where he was. So the men go, continuing to follow the star that had led them there to Judea. And sure enough, it led them right to the doorsteps of the home of Mary, Joseph and their child Jesus.
Reader’s Digest once posed the question “What if God had called 3 Wise Women instead of 3 Wise Men? If 3 women.....

1. They would have asked for directions to the stable instead of going to King Herod.
2. They would have arrived on time and helped deliver the baby.
3. They would have cleaned the stable and brought practical food for the family to eat – like a casserole.
4. And there would have been peace on earth!”
LOL!

Back to this intriguing story. Matthew 2:11 says that immediately upon entering the house, the wise men knew they were in the presence of the most wonderful king to ever been born. They fell to their knees to honor and worship Him, and they offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Not such practical gifts, like a casserole or diapers for a year, but most definitely...valuable gifts. A gold brick in today’s time is worth about $485,000 and in that day it would have probably been even more valuable. Those gifts probably sustained the Holy Family for many years to come. Now that's what I call "a baby shower"!

Those wise men brought gifts to Jesus, but Jesus gave them, and us, back so much more -- an even greater gift. He came here to this earth ON PURPOSE. He became one of us so that He could GIVE to us the gift of a “PAID IN FULL” bill. He gave us the gift of forgiveness and a pardon from ever having to pay for the mistakes we make. He gave His ALL!

All we have to do is receive and take the gift. And once we do, we won't be able to help ourselves -- we will want to give back to Him in worship with everything we are and everything we have. We honor and worship Him. When we experience His love, like the Wise Men, we MUST give and we MUST worship Him, not because we’re required or have to, but because we want to honor, adore and worship our KING of all KINGS!

Frolic and Play the Austin Way!

This Norman Rockwell painting shows a worn-out Santa on December 26th -- and, like Santa, if all that’s left of Christmas for us -- frazzled, exhausted, a bulging credit card balance, and an over-full stomach, then we missed the true meaning of Christmas. I'll admit that after a full-of-fun-and-lots-of-activities week in Frisco, that just two hours of sleep before my drive to Austin, I was feeling a bit like this Santa during the day yesterday. LOL!

But, it was easy to get revived when these three boys awaited me. Such precious sights! Big brother, Braden, and sweet bride, Ruth, were on call-of-duty this weekend -- Braden at the fire department and Ruth at her ICIU nursing job, but I love this photo of Ruth dropping in to have lunch with her Honey yesterday. I was just in the nick of time to watch my kids opening their Christmas morning gifts. They must have been good kids all year long because "Santa" was sure good to them all. After a scrumptuous Christmas breakfast of chocolate gravy, cream gravy, bacon, biscuits and eggs, we headed out for a Christmas Day movie. This year it was the cute animated movie "Sing". We came home and enjoyed our Christmas dinner outside in 81 degree weather. -- certainly NOT a white Christmas, but we were okay with that! Then it was time for our annual pool tournament. And the winner and still champion.....Ryan!

Ryan and Shawntel will leave for their annual "honeymoon" trip this morning -- one they've taken every year since they first married, and as tradition holds, Nana is here to take care of the boys (once upon a time, it was Papa and Nana, but since Papa's exit to heaven, I carry on this sweet tradition with my boys).

Back to my opening paragraph about Santa, and all of us, being worn out after a very busy time leading up to Christmas Day. But, Christmas isn't just about that ONE MAIN EVENT. And neither is all the waiting, planning, organizing and preparing for OUR babies to be born, just about their ONE day of birth. It's about that day and every day after that. Jesus' birth-day was just the beginning of His incredible life. We need to recall how we looked at our babies and how Mary, Jesus' mother, looked at her baby boy, her Son -- a Son like no other Son - the very Son of God - and she saw in his sweet, soft, precious face -- the Redeemer of all mankind. A Redeemer who came to live on this earth to die - for our salvation and all mankind. Christmas is a part of the still unfolding story of God's love which began in the Garden of Eden and continues on from generation to generation, and in you and me as our own Christmas story is written of how God pursued us, loved us unconditionally and how His grace and unmerited favor kept us, gave us the courage to face tomorrow……and caused the peacjoy and love we experience at Christmas -- to stay alive in us each and every day.

As I frolic and play with my boys here in the Austin way for the next week or so, and even when I return to my day-to-day walk with God, I'll be remembering all that Christmas was AND IS because "Joy to the World" came for our taking and experiencing EVERYDAY!

He loves me. He loves me not.

Remember taking a flower and “playing the game “He loves me; He loves me not”, while picking one petal off a flower (usually a daisy or a rose) for each phrase? The phrase we said at the last petal represented the truth between whether that cute boy loved us or not. I don’t know if you guys played that game like we girls did, but I just know we were motivated by our longing that they would like us and that little flower game gave us hope.

In my case, when that cute black haired, brown eyed boy paid me some attention, I started saying “He loves me; He loves me lots!” LOL!

Last week I heard Amy Groeschel speak about how to really know God’s love – a much bigger deal than that cute boy we were attracted to. The fact is God is crazy in love with us. Proof-positive is found in John 3:16 “For GOD SO LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever (that’s YOU and ME) believes in Him, would never perish but have eternal life.” And to emphasize His love even more, in Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever!” Wow – how’s that for a FOREVER love?

Back to that flower game. How often do we play it with God’s love – when we doubt Him and we question His plans for us. It’s like this:
I get a flat tire – He loves me not.
I get a job promotion – He loves me.
I sprain my ankle – He loves me not.
I get a check in the mail I wasn’t expecting – He loves me.
I drop my cell phone and the screen cracks -- He loves me not.
I am given a new cell phone – He loves me.

Bottom line, no matter how our day goes – no matter the ups and downs – the sweet surprises or the disappointments -- no matter whether we feel sad or glad – God’s love is unconditional (unlike those cute boys who were here today and gone tomorrow). God is with us. God is for us. He has plans for us beyond our greatest imaginations. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Let’s throw away those flowers and emphatically believe and know how deep, how wide and long is the love of Christ” Ephesians 3:18. HE LOVES ME! HE LOVES ME! HE LOVES ME!

Good Friday or Black Friday?

Shouldn't "Good Friday" be called "Black Friday"? After all, on this day, the most scandalous betrayal of justice in human history took place. Jesus wasn’t guilty of any crime or sin. After the illegal trials, this loving, compassionate, giving, caring, innocent Man was stripped and tied to a post. He was whipped and beatened -- too horrible to even imagine. He was betrayed by His friends,and spit on by countless people, some of whom, just a few days before, treated Him as royalty as He entered the city. He was forced to carry a heavy wooden cross to Calvary where nails were driven through his wrists and ankles and He was left to die. And, bottom line, He could have called ten thousand angels to his side, but He refused. Instead, He died there for you and me.

What is this message? For us, to never again wonder if we are loved. God thought our eternal life was worth the death of His only Son. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, would never perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16) His GOOD Son, died for us, Who, in so many ways, are the guilty ones that deserved to die in HIS place. Instead, He died in OUR place. NOW, we know why it's called "GOOD FRIDAY". He paid a debt He did not owe. He paid our debt.

Someone asked Jesus, "How much do You love me?" He answered, "This much," as He spread out his arms and died. This is a TRUE love story written with you and me in mind. Isn't that enough reason for us to slow down, literally put on the brakes, today, to REMEMBER and GIVE THANKS for this GOOD Friday when HE loved us -- TO INFINITY and BEYOND!

#GoodFriday

We Love So Much, We Give

Day 16 in this Month of Love -- We Love So Much, We Give

What would a Month of Love, with all the beautiful red hearts, chocolates, balloons, greeting cards and all kinds of things that say "I love you" be, without expressing our gratitude to the GREATEST Lover and Giver of them all -- our Father God -- for His GREATEST Gift -- His Son? "For GOD so loved the world (that's YOU and ME) that He gave His ONLY Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have EVERLASTING life." John 3:16. How's that for a LOVER who gave His best gift to you and me?

When I think about so great a love, I can't help but think, "How can we even with the slightest degree love like that? This scripture tells us how: “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.” - 1 John 4:7. If we are in the family of God, we know Him, and knowing Him and spending time with Him, we start to take on His character. We start to look and act like Him. I believe that compassion for others is a real good place to start. It is a gentle stream of tenderness and concern for other people's needs. That love compelled Jesus to feed the hungry, comfort the sorrowing, heal the sick, teach the multitude, and raise the dead. I've experenced that flow of love toward someone, and I'll bet you have, too. You couldn't explain it, but your impulse was to do something special for that person. In fact, you just couldn't help yourself. You just HAD to give.

The first step to loving like God loves is to actually TAKE the first step. We start loving by faith and then we follow that flow. It's really becomes God's compassion flowing toward the one in need. The tug of love within us means that He is filling us with Godly compassion and He has chosen us to help that one. Then we simply ask God to flow His tender compassion through us in some way today. Maybe, as we pray, we should ask Him to lay someone on our heart. What if God wants us to be the answer to someone's prayer today? When God leads us to help someone, He will equip us to do it.

After church last Sunday, a friend told me she was led to start volunteering at Clarehouse. It's a loving home environment that provides end-of-life care. She told me that when she reaches out and touches those who are there, she knows they feel her love flowing from her to them. And, in turn, she leaves feeling so loved and blessed. Just think of it....the heart of compassion, the warmth of a touch. This hurting world is hungry for the touch of someone who cares -- who really cares! Through God's LOVE, you and I can be that someone. We are chips off the ole' block -- and our BLOCK gave to us BIG TIME. Let's reach out and touch someone and GIVE what He's given us....TODAY!

Can We Pass the Love Test?

Day 11 in this Month of Love -- Can We Pass the Love Test?
I can't post about LOVE in this Month of Love without mentioning the scripture that we hear in just about every wedding ceremony. Words from the "Love" chapter, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way (oh me, how many times did I miss that one?); it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."

WOW -- that's a boatload! And, I'll admit there have been plenty of times when I had to do a self analysis and if God were giving me a Love Test, I'm not quite sure if I would have passed the test. If I replaced LOVE in that scripture with my name, how would I measure up? For example, "Donna is patient and kind; Donna does not envy or boast; Donna is not arrogant or rude. Donna doesn't insist on her own way.........."

I wonder if we sincerely took those words to heart and applied them and heeded them in our marriages and friendships, how many relationships would be saved? What if we quoted this chapter before our feet hit the floor each morning? Imagine how we could change our world when we made LOVE our priority? .

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life."

How can we compare THAT love to the love that we share? In reality, we are just not capable, in ourselves, to love the unlovely or love those who have hurt us, but if we ask God to place within us His AGAPE love (His selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love), we CAN be that kind of LOVER. AGAPE love is a divine capacity to love. And I pray for His AGAPE love to be in me and you today, AND to flow through us to those who need His love so much.

Love through me, Holy Spirit, love through me,
I will be my brother's keeper, love through me;
Hearts are bleeding deep inside, love can dry the weeping eye,
Love through me, Holy Spirit, love through me..