President Trump

 

Mr. Trump, we welcome you, as our 45^th President of this great country, the United States of America.
 

Thank you, Lord, for our new leader, Mr. Trump.  We pray that he would grow in Your understanding and wisdom.  May he lead this great country, at its core, to be a country after Your heart and Your ways.  We pray that Mr. Trump's relationship with you would flourish as men and women of God gather around him throughout his days encouraging and praying for him.  We pray for his safety.  We pray even that he would gain favor with those who were previously set against him. 

 

We also pray for Mrs. Clinton.  Any loss is painful, and the loss of presidency when you were so driven to gain the seat, has to be devastating.  Putting aside personal opinions about her and her running for president, we pray for her sincerely.  Help her through this time and through this, may she come to know You; come to know Your deep love for her, and may she fall deeply in love with You, as well, and follow after Your ways.

We pray for our country.  Please protect us from any safety threats; from all enemies that would threat us physically or spiritually.  We pray each of us would assume our personal responsibility to be faithful citizens.  May we be faithful to our country.  May we walk in gratefulness for our freedom and thankfulness towards those who paid and continue to pay the price for it.   May we do our part in keeping peace and living orderly lives rather than contributing to unnecessary violence amongst ourselves and destroying our very own.  May we come to an understanding of what it means to honor those in authority and become a people who understand, once again, what it means to be respectful to our leaders and to each other.

 

Be King of our country, Lord, and use President Trump to be Your vessel to bring Your will to pass.   Amen.

Worth It

 

As I walked one afternoon, I was meditating on:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

 

God loved us smack dab in the middle of our sin.  He demonstrated His love while we rejected Him.  He poured His life out as an offering with the chance we may never love Him back.  Why would He lay Himself down for us in the midst of our wickedness?  Why would He provide a way of escape for us when we lived a life that mocked His ways?  Why?  In that moment of question, I felt Him gently speak, “Not because you were worthy of it, but because you were WORTH IT.”

 

Immediately I was reminded:

 

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12

It is not a suggestion, but a commandment to love as He loved.  We are called to love those who do not deserve it.  Just saying we love people isn’t what He meant.  Love is a verb.  It is demonstrated in our actions, in our attitudes, in our words towards EVERYONE… yes, even the unlovely.  Yes, even the one who disrespects you, the one who speaks evil of you, the one who has smeared your name, the one who has broken your heart, corrupt leaders, misguided politicians, the harsh boss that takes you for granted…

We have become so accustomed to the thought that we need to only respect and love those who are deserving of it and those who have earned it.  But God’s ways are much higher than our human logic:

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy; But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you to show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers alike. For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that?  And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the heathen do that?  You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:42-48

Each one of us was once lost in our sin and living a life separated from God… and yet - Jesus found us WORTH IT.  When we are tempted to pull our judgmental swords and  withhold “the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts” let’s remember where we came from and love those who have not yet found The Way. 

"And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"  Romans 2:3-4

The goodness of God.  The goodness of God in what Jesus already did, the goodness of God in our everyday lives, and could it also be the goodness of God THROUGH US to others that will lead them to true repentance?  

 

May our love walk demonstrate the God who loved “while we were yet sinners.” May God's love in action - in us - be the very tool that gains us access to speak the Truth into those people’s lives who Jesus found WORTH IT! J

 



Worth It

 

As I walked one afternoon, I was meditating on:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

God loved us smack dab in the middle of our sin. He demonstrated His love while we rejected Him.  He poured His life out as an offering with the chance we may never love Him back.  Why would He lay Himself down for us in the midst of our wickedness? Why would He provide a way of escape for us when we lived a life that mocked His ways?  Why?   

“Not because you were worthy of it, but because you were WORTH IT.”     

Immediately I was reminded:

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12

It is not a suggestion, but a commandment to love as He loved. We are called to love those who do not deserve it.  Just saying we love people isn’t what He meant. Love is a verb.  It is demonstrated in our actions, in our attitudes, in our words towards EVERYONE… yes, even the unlovely. Yes, even the one who disrespects you, the one who speaks evil of you, the one who has smeared your name, the one who has broken your heart, corrupt leaders, misguided politicians, the harsh boss that takes you for granted…

We have become so accustomed to the thought that we need to only respect and love those who are deserving of it and those who have earned it.  But God’s ways are much higher than our human logic:

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy; But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you to show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers alike. For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that?  And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the heathen do that?  You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:42-48

Each one of us was once lost in our sin and living a life separated from God… and yet - Jesus found us WORTH IT.  When we are tempted to pull our judgmental swords and withhold “the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts” let’s remember where we came from and love those who have not yet found The Way. 

"And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"  Romans 2:3-4

The goodness of God. The goodness of God in what Jesus already did, the goodness of God in our everyday lives, and could it also be the goodness of God THROUGH US to others that will lead them to true repentance?  

 

May our love walk demonstrate the God who loved “while we were yet sinners.” May God's love in action - in us - be the very tool that gains us access to speak the Truth into those people’s lives who Jesus found WORTH IT! J

Honor

Honor protects, submits, is willing to yield, and is quick to listen. Our reaction to instruction reveals our understanding of honor. We lack honor if we grumble and complain or just outright do not follow instructions because we think we have a "better way."

We are called to honor both God and man. Living a life of honor is God's way. Without it we are clearly in disobedience to His Word.

"Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12

"In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered." 1 Peter 3:7

"Elders who do their work well should be honored and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching." 1 Timothy 5:17

"Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." 1 Peter 2:17

"Honor the Lord with your substance." Proverbs 3:9

"Remind people to be submissive to [their] magistrates and authorities, to be obedient, to be prepared and willing to do any upright and honorable work, to slander or abuse or speak evil of no one, to avoid being contentious, to be forbearing (yielding, gentle), and to show unqualified courtesy toward everybody." Titus 3:1-2

Dishonor is a seed for tragedy and loss. When we choose a life of dishonor, failure will be our harvest. Marriages will fail, relationships are damaged, careers are lost, our relationship with God is hindered.

The little foxes spoil the vine (Song of Solomon 2:15)... It's the little things that destroy. A practical example: A wife asks her husband to put the toilet seat down or a husband requests that his wife not allow the children to get into his toolbox. When the spouse disregards the request over and over again because they find it unimportant, their lack of honor opens the marriage up to growing resentment. Over time, this "little fox" can be the cause of a total breakdown in the marriage.

Dishonoring is never worth the loss it brings. Start planting seeds of honor for a harvest of blessing from the Father! :)

"If anyone serves Me, he must continue to follow Me, to cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying] and wherever I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone serves (honors) Me, the Father will honor him." John 12:26