Matthew 22:37-40 GNT ³⁷ Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and the most important commandment.  The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.  The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

I John 4:19-21 GNT  We love because God first loved us.  If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen. The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also.”

Love. A simple 4 letter word that changes us and everything around us. I believe that if all of the churches would teach this simple but profound truth, it would change the world. But how can we love if we don’t know Love. God is Love. People have such a twisted and perverted concept of what love is. It’s been left out of our homes, churches and schools for so long that we’re seeing a generation of believers who have no idea of what love looks like. It’s God. We’ve been taught about a ‘mean’ God, one who sits on his throne just waiting for us to mess up so he can zap us with his scepter, but that’s not God because God is Love. 

So we continue our search for love, looking to this thing and to that thing hoping that someone will love us, only to be disappointed each time, coming away feeling empty and lonely once again. When we were created to love God with all our hearts, to sit in his presence and allow him to lavish his love upon us, to infuse us with his DNA which is LOVE. He called us to be like him, LOVE. Jesus said to follow him and learn of him and he would show us the way to have relationship with God, the exchange of love, the demonstration of love. Our response, “I’ll find my own way! Your way is too hard! I just want to be like the rest of my friends!” You want to be like the rest of your friends who are empty, longing, searching for this love that has been freely given to you? My dear, we are commanded to love and people around us are waiting for that love we carry inside of us. 

Christ in me the hope of glory. What is that glory? Love and the power of love that changes us and the world around us. We must learn to love. Nothing I ever do will be effective for the Kingdom of God without it. 

I Corinthians 13:1-3 GNT says; I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even of angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell.  I may have the gift of inspired preaching; I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets; I may have all the faith needed to move mountains—but if I have no love, I am nothing.  I may give away everything I have, and even give up my body to be burned—but if I have no love, this does me no good.

I don’t know about you, but I HAVE to love. I have to get up every morning and drink of Love, commune with Love and fill my tank up with Love. I cannot run on empty, sputtering fumes and hoping that I make some sort of difference in the world. I must be Love. More of Love, less of me. My desire is to show this God to the world. He has so much to teach me about Himself, I have to come away and be with my Love. I cannot love you, my husband, my children, I cannot love my neighbor or myself without this deep abiding presence of Love. It draws me, woos me, ‘Come away, my beloved, learn of me. I love you with an everlasting love. My love is so deep, an endless supply. Drink of me and when you do, you’ll never thirst again.’

Matthew 7:13-14 GW  “Enter through the narrow gate because the gate and road that lead to destruction are wide. Many enter through the wide gate.  But the narrow gate and the road that lead to life are full of trouble. Only a few people find the narrow gate.”

At work, there is a narrow ‘half’ door that goes from the waiting room to the reception area. I usually go down the hall, to my office which leads into the reception area because the narrow door is awkward to go through. I’m sure there was a purpose for that door, but it’s rarely used because of it’s size. It is however a fast track to turn off the alarm system in the morning. Still, it’s easier to go the longer route, put my bag and purse in the chair, then go turn off the alarm. Perhaps if I weren’t carrying so much on my arm in the morning, I could get through the door easier.

Funny how God shows things to me. It seems that what hinders me from entering the narrow door are the things I carry with me. Less of me, more of you, Lord. We get into habits sometimes that hinder our effectiveness in the Kingdom of God. I know, it’s just a silly demonstration but when you compare it to the things we do daily, things we carry that we shouldn’t, attitudes, feelings, emotions, religious ideas, all things we’ve carried for so long that they have become a part of us. 

The Lord has recently shown me some areas I have been harboring unforgiveness in. I thought I’d let that go, forgiven them, but God showed me that ‘forgetting’ doesn’t mean forgiven. The only way that happens is when you pray blessings on them and mean it. I was simply glad to not have them in my life anymore as a reminder of that hurt but God wasn’t satisfied with that. He wanted me to bless them. Narrow door. So I lay hold of the very root of offense that had stubbornly stayed in my heart and poured the Love of God on it. Now when I remember, I bless with the freedom that only God can give.

Father, I don’t want to be restricted by what I carry anymore so I lay it down. I’d rather enter the narrow gate bruised and broken than take the long way buried beneath a weight I was never meant to carry. You said that the way to life is full of trouble, but if there’s only room for one on that path and you’re in me, I will travel there gladly, in the light of your glory and grace. Your love for me causes me to overflow with love to others, so here we go! Crossing the threshold of that narrow gate that leads to you, my final destination and my prize.

I began my morning in the book of Deuteronomy chapters 7 & 8. I love reading about the children of Israel, their exodus out of Egypt and slavery, their reaction to their testing and how very similar it is to my own journey through life. Obedience, disobedience, need, abundance, unfamiliar, familiar.  Sometimes it feels like someone has dipped me in hot water, removed me and thrown me in ice cold water.

Deuteronomy 8:2-6 GW says;  Remember that for 40 years the Lord your God led you on your journey in the desert. He did this in order to humble you and test you. He wanted to know whether or not you would wholeheartedly obey his commands.  So he made you suffer from hunger and then fed you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had seen before. He did this to teach you that a person cannot live on bread alone but on every word that the Lord speaks.  Your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t swell these past 40 years.  Learn this lesson by heart: The Lord your God was disciplining you as parents discipline their children.  Obey the commands of the Lord your God. Follow his directions, and fear him.

I am much wiser today than I was before I turned 50 and each day brings greater insight and deeper revelation of who God is and what He’s been trying to teach me. I’ve suffered in my wilderness but learned to keep my eyes on the God who loves me. Was it easy? No. Worth it? Yes! I’ve never given my children everything they asked for, some of it wasn’t good for them. I had to teach them valuable lessons in life, one of which was that if they disobeyed, they would get their butts beaten. After a few times of keeping my word to them, they learned either not to do it or to expect punishment for what they did. 

Isn’t that how we are with God? Pushing the envelope, seeing how much we can get away with before it’s noticed? Trust me, we’re only hurting ourselves and our progress. I don’t want to fall down the mountainside anymore. First off, the fall really hurts me and it takes a long time to recover. Secondly, I know I’m going to have to climb back up that mountain I was halfway up. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to do that.  I hate back tracking! 

This is my prayer, Lord, that you would cause me to learn quickly so that I’m ready to do what you’ve purposed me to do. So many souls are lost and need to hear of a God that loves them fiercely and deeply, just as you love me. Help me to love like that. A fierce lover, ready to lay down my life, pick up your Word and follow you. Not where I want to go, where you want me to go. That you prosper me in every way so that my prosperity may prosper your Kingdom. I would not be rich for my own comfort, but to help others. Yours is the Kingdom, power and glory forever. Amen

Philippians 4:19 GW is the verse on my mind this morning; My God will richly fill your every need in a glorious way through Christ Jesus. 

May I just start with the first two words; My God. This isn’t for those who follow whenever it’s convenient or feel like it, this is for those who claim that above all else, I belong to Him. Those who have made no other gods mean more to them than the one true God, maker of heaven and earth and all that is in them. When we hear others talk badly about him we loudly proclaim, “Hey! Watch what you’re saying! You’re talking about MY God!” We don’t join in with the mocking to fit in or stay silent hoping they won’t notice we’re not joining in.  We know that He was our ultimate sacrifice and we owe him everything. We have made our choice to follow and never turn back. He’s My God!

Now lets move into the verse; will richly fill. Not at a thrift store or a Walmart or even a yard sale, richly shows the very best quality, taylor made with the richest of fabrics, sparing nothing on design and workmanship. Richly denotes sparing no expense. It speaks of kings and queens, princes and princesses. At the snap of a finger, the finest provision known to man is ours, provided by ‘My God’.

Your every need In a glorious way in Christ Jesus, not just some or part but every need. He misses nothing. He knows things we need that we’re not even aware we need yet and he provides ahead of time so that when we arrive, it’s there for us. He thinks of everything, all the time, we are always on his mind. Best dressed, because we’re clothed in His righteousness. Hidden in Him, wrapped in His glory. All the gold and silver of the world doesn’t compare to that kind of garment. I walk in Him, surrounded by angels, clothed in His Love.

The wonder of all of this is that He never does it the same way every time. He doesn’t want us to get familiar with his provision but to stay focused on the Provider. Don’t daydream about how He’ll do it, daydream about the God who will do it. Your God. It’s like when you know your Father and what He’s capable of, you will never doubt that the answer’s on the way. When He said it, He meant it and you can take that to the bank. He created it and owns it therefore He can give it to whoever He wants and trusts to be faithful with it. If you focus on the means, run to the means, depend on the means He will quickly remove that means because He wants you to be totally focused on Him. 

Stop crying about what you need. He already knows what you have need of; trust Him, he has this. Don’t spend so much time telling God what you need, weeping and moaning, fasting and praying, instead, get up and wash your face. Start praising God like you just found out you’re going to Hawaii or won the lottery, because you have. You always have the winning numbers with God. He is your source and supply and knows how to provide for you. You just focus on souls for His Kingdom. Instead of reminding God that you have needs, ask Him what he needs you to do for Him today. When you seek Him first and serve Him, you’ll never want for anything because you will realize you already have everything you need in Him.

Psalms 50:7-15 TLB  O my people, listen! For I am your God. Listen! Here are my charges against you:  I have no complaint about the sacrifices you bring to my altar, for you bring them regularly.  But it isn’t sacrificial bullocks and goats that I really want from you.  For all the animals of field and forest are mine! The cattle on a thousand hills! And all the birds upon the mountains!  If I were hungry, I would not mention it to you—for all the world is mine and everything in it.  No, I don’t need your sacrifices of flesh and blood.  What I want from you is your true thanks; I want your promises fulfilled. I want you to trust me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you and you can give me glory.

Three things God wants from us and I will begin with the first one; To give true thanks. I believe that is more than a passing ‘thanks’, it’s a heart felt, genuine thanks for all he has done. To rise up and thank him for sleep, for a roof over our heads, food on our table, family and friends to love us. Thanking him for his Holy Spirit that leads us and guides us into all truth, our constant companion, our strong tower. Most of all for the blood of His Son, Jesus who he gave to redeem us from sin. That blood still speaks today. When our heart remembers and we truly thank Him, he delights in that kind of thanksgiving.

To fulfill our promises. Father, if you sell my house, I will give you first fruits of the sale. But when the house is sold, you find there wasn’t very much profit so you justify that you don’t have enough to give.  Father, if you heal my body, I will never miss church again and I will serve you the rest of my days. Then when your healing comes, you make excuses that you are too tired, too busy or just too full or yourself to keep that promise.  We expect God to keep all of his promises to us, but we’re very loose with our words in promising and not keeping those promises to God. Deuteronomy 23:23 That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.

Lastly, He wants us to trust him in our times of trouble so he can rescue us and we will give him glory. If you know anything about the Lord it’s the fact that he loves to rescue his people when they’re in trouble. All through the bible we see story after story of Gods amazing rescues. I love how often David honors the Lord with the glory. He constantly talks of what good things the Lord has done and tells everyone of the awesome rescues of our God. Even we humans love recognition for good deeds. If we save a life, they give us accolades and we are honored.  How often has God saved us, not just from our sins, which in and of itself is something we should shout from the rooftops daily, but close calls in the car. Cancelation of a debt? Undeserved favor? Avoided being fired? Protected your children? 

Father, we truly thank you today. We remember your goodness and mercy, your provision for every need we will ever have, your protection in time of trouble. You are a good Daddy! We love you. Please help us to remember our promises and keep them always. You always keep yours and are such a great example of unconditional love. May we also reflect that today in the lives of everyone who crosses our path. We give you glory, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN!

Exodus 2:23-25 TLB Several years later the king of Egypt died. The Israelis were groaning beneath their burdens, in deep trouble because of their slavery, and weeping bitterly before the Lord. He heard their cries from heaven,  and remembered his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to bring their descendants back into the land of Canaan.  Looking down upon them, he knew that the time had come for their rescue.

Last night, we had the honor of listening to our Nigerian Overseer, Judah Flourish, as he reminded us that God sees what we’re going through and remembers his covenant.  It’s not the covenant that was, it’s the covenant that is; the covenant He swore by himself to keep because there was none greater than him. That was the promises made to Abraham and all of his descendants which are us, to be with us and bless us in every area of our lives. Than Jesus sealed a new part of that covenant, it was to add forgiveness of all our sins, no more sacrifices. Matthew 26:27-28 GNT says; Then he took a cup, gave thanks to God, and gave it to them. “Drink it, all of you,” he said;  “this is my blood, which seals God’s covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Think about it. The blood of Jesus still speaks today. Do you hear it? It says, “I forgive you! I heal you! I deliver you! I give you life to the full till it overflows! I protect you! I’ll never leave you! I am yours and you are mine!” When we plead the blood of Jesus, we can expect his blood to work for us because His blood never dies, it never weakens, it never gives up, it’s always enough.

What have you been crying out for? Does it seem like God has forgotten you? Remember the Israelites in slavery and how they cried out to God day and night? What happened to them will happen for you. Remind him of his promises to you, He will hear and answer and take you from your place of misery to your place of destiny. What satan intended for your demise, God will turn it into a life giving river that flows from Him to you to others. Remember that Word the Lord gave to you years ago, it’s still alive today and it’s time for it to manifest.

Psalm 46:10-11 TLB “Stand silent! Know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation in the world!” The Commander of the heavenly armies is here among us! He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue us!  YES and AMEN!

I’m so excited in my spirit today for the promise of the Father to come to light. Every word he’s ever given to me, every promise spoken, everything I’ve written down, I can take it to the bank because it WILL come to pass. The blood of Jesus cries out for me, “Father, it’s time! Remember your daughter. The time has come for her rescue.”

II Timothy 3:1-5 ERV Remember this: There are some terrible times coming in the last days.  People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud and boast about themselves. They will abuse others with insults. They will not obey their parents. They will be ungrateful and against all that is pleasing to God.  They will have no love for others and will refuse to forgive anyone. They will talk about others to hurt them and will have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.  People will turn against their friends. They will do foolish things without thinking and will be so proud of themselves. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure.  They will go on pretending to be devoted to God, but they will refuse to let that “devotion” change the way they live. Stay away from these people!

The last days. What does that mean for us, the ‘laid down lovers’? Those that care more about the Kingdom of God than our own lives?  The Bible says that we will be persecuted and that is going on all over the world right now, even in our own U.S.A.. People want nothing to do with God or the things of God because they just want to do what they want and be who they are. Paul gives us a command in II Timothy 4; Tell everyone God’s message. Be ready at all times to do whatever is needed. Tell people what they need to do, tell them when they are doing wrong, and encourage them. Do this with great patience and careful teaching.

Why must we do this? Why is it so important in this time to stand apart and be separate? Because without God there is no hope, but we have God living in us by way of his Holy Spirit which means, we are carriers of hope and love. When we walk in love and serve others as Jesus would, it causes the flame of hope to burn bright so that they can find us, so they can find God.

And when it’s all done and Jesus returns for us, all of us, we can say with Paul; I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have served the Lord faithfully. Now, a prize is waiting for me—the crown that will show I am right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give it to me on that Day. Yes, he will give it to me and to everyone else who is eagerly looking forward to his coming.

Even so, Lord Jesus come.

Exodus 24:5-7a   Then the Lord came down to him in a cloud, stood there with Moses, and spoke his own name. That is, the Lord passed in front of Moses and said, “Yahweh, the Lord, is a kind and merciful God. He is slow to become angry. He is full of great love. He can be trusted.  He shows his faithful love to thousands of people. He forgives people for the wrong things they do, but he does not forget to punish guilty people.”

This is how God wants to be known to us, how he described himself to Moses using his own name, Yahweh, the Lord. Kind and merciful, slow to anger, full of love, He can be trusted. Isn’t that the most beautiful picture you’ve ever seen? When I read it, my heart felt as if it would burst inside my chest. I understand why Moses responded as he did in verses 8 & 9; Then Moses quickly bowed to the ground and worshiped the Lord. Moses said,  “Lord, if you are pleased with me, please go with us. I know that these are stubborn people, but forgive us for the bad things we did. Accept us as your people.”

We have been fed the wrong perception of our Father.  Our churches have been quick to judge and slow to love but that is not the nature of God. He is quick to love and slow to judge. I John 4:8 says; Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.  Unless the world experiences something different than the world is, the world will never desire to change.  People respond to love, you should try it sometime.

We were not called to be John the Baptist crying out, REPENT! The Kingdom of God is at hand.  No, the Kingdom of God has come in the form of Jesus Christ and we have been asked to duplicate HIM.  The only people he judged were the religious leaders.  He came to seek and to save that which was lost and He did that through love.  Love is humble and servant hearted. It welcomes and makes room for the hungry at their table.  It mends things that are broken.  

Thats what I want to look like, Father. Filled with great love, your love.  If I can’t be that in the world, than you have every right to remove me so that new lovers of light can be seen.  I want to benefit your kingdom, not keep it from advancing.  I don’t want to hide the light of your love but set it on a hill so all can see.   As you told me the other day, “Be a laid down lover.”  Laying down my own will for yours.

Has God ever asked you to do something you felt unqualified for? Have you ever made excuses as to why you couldn’t? I know I have, several times in my life. The Bible is filled with stories of God using men and women who weren’t qualified, but one in particular came to my mind this weekend. His name is Moses.

His first encounter with God was in Exodus 3 when he saw a bush that was burning but not burning up and thought, ‘Golly-G-Willikers, check this out!’. I mean really, he was tending sheep in the middle of nowhere and right there, bush on fire and when he approached he heard his name being called. Freaky! Verses 5-6 says, Then God said, “Don’t come any closer. Take off your sandals. You are standing on holy ground. ⁶ I am the God of your ancestors. I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.

So the rest of this chapter and the first part of the next, God has to prove to Moses who he is and what He’s capable of doing and will do through him. Seriously good stuff here. Read it for yourself but I really want to show you what God showed me on Saturday. Exodus 4:10-14 Then Moses said to the Lord, “But, Lord, I am telling you, I am not a good speaker. I have never been able to speak well. And that hasn’t changed since you started talking to me. I am still not a good speaker. You know that I speak slowly and don’t use the best words.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who made a person’s mouth? And who can make someone deaf or not able to speak? Who can make a person blind? Who can make a person able to see? I am the one. I am the Lord.  So go. I will be with you when you speak. I will give you the words to say.” But Moses said, “My Lord, I beg you to send someone else, not me.” Then the Lord became angry with Moses and said, “All right! I’ll give you someone to help you. Aaron the Levite is your brother, isn’t he? He is a good speaker.”

Do you see that? God spends all that time showing Moses what he can do and Moses says, send someone else. Did you see how angry that made God? Moses was Gods first choice to speak through, 2nd choice was Aaron. I can’t help but wonder if the children of Israel hadn’t been so familiar with the 2nd voice, would they have made the golden calf?

Fast forward to chapter 32, that’s where Moses has been with God on the mountain for 40 days and Aaron has the people make a golden calf and party hearty. Verse 9-13 is where I want you to focus. God is very angry and tells Moses that the people have sinned greatly and He is going to destroy them all and raise up a nation from Moses. Listen to this man who at the beginning didn’t want to speak because he wasn’t qualified; But Moses begged the Lord his God, “Lord, don’t let your anger destroy your people. You brought them out of Egypt with your great power and strength.  But if you destroy your people, the Egyptians will say, ‘God planned to do bad things to his people. That is why he led them out of Egypt. He wanted to kill them in the mountains. He wanted to wipe them off the earth.’ So don’t be angry with your people. Please change your mind! Don’t destroy them. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. These men served you, and you used your name to make a promise to them. You said, ‘I will make your people as many as the stars in the sky. I will give your people all this land as I promised. This land will be theirs forever.’”

So what changed Moses from afraid to bold? Spending time with God! Moses went from ‘send someone else!’ to boldly talking to God in behalf of the people. Verse 14 says,  So the Lord felt sorry for the people. He did not do what he said he might do—he did not destroy them. Moses interceded for the people and God listened. 

What will you take away from this story today? What has God called you to do and why aren’t you doing it? Perhaps what you need is a new revelation of who God is and what He is capable of doing through you. There are men and women all around the world who are waiting for what is in you, waiting for you to say yes, here I am Lord, send me. You can’t just throw your money at the missionary while he’s at your church than turn a blind eye to those God’s put in your work place or neighborhood. He’s called us ALL to be disciple makers. Yes, even you.

I was scanning through my face book page when suddenly I saw a picture of the rear window of a vehicle. On it were the letters;

HE > i 

It reminds me of a song my mom used to sing; “Bigger than all my questions, bigger than all my fears God is bigger than any mountain that I can or cannot see. Bigger than all my problems, bigger than all my fears, God is bigger than any mountain that I can or cannot see.” Isn’t that what it’s all about? Learning that He is greater than I am? Knowing that everything I face in life has a ceiling, a limit, an end? Knowing this simple fact can change a whole lot of discouragement, defeat and self loathing in every area of our lives. He is greater than I. 

I John 3:20 says; “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” There is it is again, God is greater than I. My dear friend, don’t let anyone or anything in life tell you that you don’t amount to anything, that you’re a loser, that God doesn’t love you. You are deeply loved! Loved by a God who gave everything just to make Himself assessable to us. He wants to talk with you, walk with you, provide for you, keep you in peace. It’s more than that, the Greater One lives in you, which makes you great! Think of that. Galatians 2:20 says;  ^“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Christ lives in me. Me. That means the Great God of this universe, the God who is greater than me lives in me. How can I think differently than He thinks of me? It’s when we know who we are in Christ that we become the greatest threat to our enemy. When we tap into the Love that’s inside of us and love like Him, we separate ourselves from the world and all that’s in it. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Love. What did Jesus look like? Love. He loved and gave because that’s what love does. It thinks of others first, it helps, it serves, it loves. That’s what I want to look like to others. Boldly loving them into the Kingdom of God.