“We need 4 hugs a day for survival.

We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance.

We need 12 hugs a day for growth.”

Virginia Satir

 

“The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides, and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire!”

Tielhard de Chardin

 

 

Dear God, today I am so happy, I cannot stop smiling! Thank you, God, for all the wonderful blessings in my life! I know that You care for me and that You love me, and that fills me with much joy. My prayer today, dear God, is for everyone in the world to feel joy. Please send joy where it is needed, and I thank You again for all the joys in my life.

Amen

 

     Moses Mendelssohn, the grandfather of the well-know  German composer, was not handsome. He had a grotesque hunchback.

     One day he visited a merchant in Hamburg who had a lovely daughter named Frumtje. Moses fell hopelessly in love with her. But Frumtje was repulsed by his misshapen appearance. When it came time for him to leave, Moses gathered his courage and climbed the stairs to her room to take one last opportunity to speak with her. She was a vision of heavenly beauty. After several attempts at conversation, Moses shyly asked, “Do you believe marriages are made in heaven?”

     “Yes,” she answered, looking at the floor. “And do you?”

     “Yes, I do,” he replied. “You see, in heaven at the birth of each boy, the Lord announces which girl he will marry. When I was born, my future bride was pointed out to me. Then the Lord added, ‘But you wife will be humpbacked.’”

     “Right then and there I called out, ‘Oh Lord, a humpbacked woman would be a tragedy. Please, Lord, give me the hump and let her be beautiful.’”

     Then Frumtje looked up into his eyes and was stirred by some deep memory. She reached out and gave Mendelssohn her hand and later became his wife.

     There’s a wonderful line that describes this kind of love from the writings of the apostle Paul which says love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

     Bennett Cerf relates this story about a bus that was bumping a back road in the South. In one seat a wispy old man sat holding a bunch of fresh flowers. Across the aisle was a young girl whose eyes came back again and again to the man’s flowers. The time came for the old man to get off. Impulsively he thrust the flowers into the girl's lap. “I can see you love the flowers,” he explained, “and I think my wife would like for you to have them. I’ll tell her I gave them to you.” The girl accepted the flowers, then watched the old man get off the bus and walk through the gate of a small cemetery.

     Love is a very special kind of gift...in order to be loved it is given without thought of a reward coming back. Let’s always remember to love in action as well as in words.

 

 

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”

1 John 4:16

 

     A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in high school by telling them the difference they each made. Using a process developed by Helice Bridges of Del Mar, California, she called each student to the front of the class, on at a time. First she told them how the student made a difference to her and the class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon imprinted with gold letters which read: “WHO I AM MAKES A DIFFERENCE.”

     Afterward, the teacher decided to do a class project to see what kind of impact recognition would have on a community. She gave each of the students three more ribbons and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the results and report back to the class in about a week.

     One of the boys went to a junior executive in a nearby company and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him the blue ribbon, two extra ribbons, and said, “We’re doing a class project on recognition, and we’d like you to go out, find somebody to honor, and give them a blue ribbon, then give them the extra ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person to keep this acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell me what happened.”

   Later that day the junior executive went to his boss, a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down and told him he deeply admired him for being a creative genius, and then asked him to acknowledge someone else with the remaining ribbon.

     The boss was greatly surprised to receive the honor. That night he came home and said to his 14-year-old son, “The most incredible thing happened to me today. One of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine! I started thinking about whom I would honor and I thought about you. I want to honor you. My days are hectic and when I come home I don’t pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not getting good grades or leaving your room in a mess...but somehow, tonight, I just wanted to let you know that you do make a difference. Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. You’re a great kid and I love you!”

     The startled boy  started to sob and sob and couldn’t stop crying. His whole body shook. He looked up through his tears and said, “I was planning on committing suicide tomorrow, Dad, because I didn’t think you loved me. Now I don’t need to.”

 

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.”

Proverbs 3:27

 

Each time I see a waterfall, I am silenced—both by the sheer beauty of God’s creation and by the symbolism water carries in the Scriptures. As God created our world, He made water a necessity of life. As scientists today consider the possibility of life on other planets, they look first for evidence of water on those planets. The absence of water makes the existence of life much, much less likely.

 

Paul writes in Romans 5:5, “God has poured out His love.” This phrase describes no miserly trickle! Rather, it calls to mind a mighty waterfall, a roaring, perpetual geyser! God has poured out His love for us in our Savior, Jesus.

 

It’s not by accident that  Jesus said to the woman at the well, “The water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.”  (John 4:14) Nor is it accidental that the woman then exclaimed, “Give me this water!” (John 4:15)

 

God poured out His love when He sent His Son to live the perfect life we could not live, to die the death we deserved in   punishment for our sins, and to rise from death victorious forever.

 

Recalling His sacrifice, let God’s love and grace continually wash over you, cleansing you in the flood of forgiveness and unconditional love Jesus earned for you on Calvary. Then live out that love in joyful confidence.

 

     Supposedly this is a true story but the source has been lost or misplaced. Could it have been one of those “Paul Harvey” stories? It is reported to have been written up in a small town newspaper.

     There was a burglar who was casing the homes in one particular neighborhood, trying to find his next target. He especially was looking for houses that would be left unguarded by people leaving for vacation. He slowly cruised until he saw a  family loading their suitcases and goodies into their family van. He parked a block away and watched until everything had been loaded and the van packed with kids and luggage pulled out of the drive.

     He left and returned after dark and approached the front door and rang the bell. Of course there was no answer, but he was just checking. Then the burglar neatly picked the lock and let himself in. He called into the darkness, “Is anybody home?”

     He was absolutely stunned when he heard a voice reply, “I see you and Jesus sees you.”

     Terrified, the burglar called back, “Who’s there?”

     Again the voice came back, “I see you and Jesus sees you.”

     Deciding to not run so quickly, the burglar switched on his flashlight and aimed it in the    direction of the voice. To his great relief, his light revealed a caged parrot reciting the refrain, again, “I see you and Jesus sees you.” The burglar laughed our loud. “I see you and Jesus sees you.”

     The burglar heaved a sigh of relief, his heart slowed down, he caught his breath. Then the burglar reached over and switched on the light. THEN he saw it! Beneath the parrot’s cage was a huge Doberman Pincher, mouth open, softly growling.

     Then the parrot said, “Attack, Jesus, attack!”

     The story was revealed by the burglar himself from the emergency room of the local  hospital where extensive stitches were used to close up the many wounds.

     We chuckle and think of the poetic justice meted out, “Serves him right!” Funny, yes but there is a truth here, too. At all times we are being observed by others, yes; but even more closely by God. Even the darkness can’t hide us from His omniscience. Sobering, thought provoking, and it makes you think. Not only are we being observed, but we will be asked, someday,  to give an account of how we have lived this life.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your    presence? If I go up to the    heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”  Psalm 139:7-8

 

Last week, I took my children to a restaurant.
 
My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace.
 
As we bowed our heads he said, “God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food , and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!”
 
Along with t he laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, “That's what's wrong with this country. K ids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!”
 
Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, “Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?”
As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job, and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly   gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, “I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.“
 
“Really?” my son asked.
 
“Cross my heart,” the man replied.
 
Then, in a theatrical whisper, he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), “Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes.”
 
Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal My son stared at his for a moment, and then did something I will remember the rest of my life.
 
He picked up his sundae and, without a word, walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, “Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already.”

 

I hope God sends you some Ice Cream today!

 

The United States Declaration of Independence states,

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

 

These words were based in the Bible, just as our country was founded on the Bible. Today we are going to briefly explore the unalienable rights endowed to us by our Creator.

 

Unalienable rights by their nature cannot be taken away, violated, or transferred from one person to another. That means that God gave them to you and no one can take them away, and you cannot give them away. They are your birthright. They belong to you.

 

Let us look at the first of these rights, LIFE.

 

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ⁴In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. ( John 1:1-4 )

 

Jesus Christ is the Word and “In Him was life.” Life is knowing Jesus Christ, not just know of Him. Life is a true relationship with God.

 

⁶Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. ( John 14:6 )

 

²⁵Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  ( John 11:25 )

 

¹⁰The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. ( John 10:10 )

 

³And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ( John 17:3 )

 

¹¹And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ¹²He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. ( 1 John 5:11-12 )

 

From these verses, and many more in the Bible, we see that JESUS IS LIFE! Asking Jesus into your life is like asking for Life. Do you have true life in your life?

Now let us look at LIBERTY.

 

³¹Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³²And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

³³They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”

³⁴Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. ³⁶Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.    ( John 8:31-36 )

 

To have true freedom (liberty) you must learn, live, and practice the truth (God’s Word).  Do you have something that you are a “slave” to? No one is perfect. We all sin. But, being a slave to sin is continually walking everyday on a path that you know with cause you to sin over and over again. Asking God for forgiveness and changing your path will set you free.

 

⁹If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ( 1 John 1:9 )

 

¹⁸    “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

    Because He has anointed Me

    To preach the gospel to the poor;

    He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

    To proclaim liberty to the captives

    And recovery of sight to the blind,

    To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

( Luke 4:18 )

     

Jesus was sent “to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” Are you oppressed by something? Does temptation continually draw you into a sinful situation? A life of sin can hold you captive. Call out to God for freedom!!! He is listening, and waiting for you.

 

 ¹⁷Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. ( 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 )

 

Now let us take a look at the Pursuit of Happiness.

 

We are all chasing after something that we think will make us happy. Be it a new car, a bigger, better house, a new mate, the bottom of a glass, or the new hot drug. Things will never make you happy. You may feel happy for a time, but it quickly fades and you are off looking for the next think to make you happy. What are you looking for? The next big thing? Or the REAL thing?

 

¹¹    You will show me the path of life;

    In Your presence is fullness of joy;

    At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore

( Psalm 16:11 )

 

      If we seek God first, he will provide all our needs. He loves us and wants to do wonderful things for us. Just as we love our children and want to do wonderful things for them.

 

²⁵“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ( Matthew 6:25-26 )

 

³³But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

( Matthew 6:33 )

 

       I challenge each one of you to take a look at your life and ask some hard questions. Are you truly free or held captive by the things that you think will make you happy? I’m not saying that possessions are bad. I’m just asking you to stop chasing after the next happy fix and turn to the Lord. In Him is true happiness.

 

       I hope you all had a wonderful Fourth of July. We live in a wonderful country. God Bless America!!! And, God bless you!

PASSAGE:
The Widow's Offering
   As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
( Luke 21:1-4 )

                              ******

   Jesus always notices women who throw everything they've got into the Lord's work! Sitting near the treasury at the temple, Jesus drew His disciples' attention to a poor widow. She was, I'm sure, unaware that Jesus was watching. She didn't have to be watched as she gave God everything she had. Her two small copper coins would have bought her a morsel of bread or five sparrows to eat ( Luke 12:6-7 ), but she decided to go hungry and give her money to God instead. Two small coins weren't much. They weren't noticed, they weren't appreciated by other people until Jesus came along and saw what she did and made sure the twelve apostles saw it. He made sure that Luke and Mark recorded it and that the whole world read about it! Solomon's temple would stand without help of the widow's coins, but Jesus knew that that sort of giving was the stuff of which the kingdom was made.
   Jesus always notices the small offerings. Even if the widow herself didn't think her offering was worth the notice, Jesus disagreed and affirmed her in her service. Have you cast in all you can? Are you married to a man who will not allow you to serve God as you wish? Does financial strain limit you to giving little when you desire to give much? If you've indeed cast in all you possibly can of your money, time and service, God understands. He affirms you in it. He says THANK   You.

                              ******

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE READINGS:

   At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"
   Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked.
( Acts 10:1-4 )

   Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
( 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 )

                              ******

MY THOUGHTS:

I'm so sorry that I have not posted since April. I am once again able to continue God's work by posting. Please continue to look for future blogs.

As for "giving", I hope you all give of yourselves to God. He desires anything you are willing to give, whether it be your time or your money, or even just a kind word to a stranger. God thanks you for all you do in His name.

God bless you all!
Danielle
( nelliegirl100 )

PASSAGE:
Faith or Observance of the Law
   You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
   Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
   All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

The Law and the Promise
   Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
   What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
   Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
   Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

Sons of God
   You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
( Galatians 3:1-29 )

                              ******

   You're at the beach...you're famished...you find a restaurant...you rush in...you spot a sign:

          No Shirt
          No Shoes
          No Service

   The message is clear. To be accepted, you must be clothed according to the restaurant's standard.
   God also has a standard. But He makes it possible for you to be acceptable to Him at all times when He gives you "righteousness as [your] clothing" ( Job 29:14 ). The word righteous, in its simplest form, means "right" and "just." The word also means "acquitted, vindicated." Your faith in Christ enables God to regard you as righteous. He doesn't see your sin any longer, but He sees you as clothed with the righteousness of Christ. As such you are acceptable and properly dressed to "come and dine."
   If you have struggled with feeling too unworthy to be called "the righteousness of God" ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 ), realize that this "clothing" you are given is like a uniform that, because it represents righteousness, also carries authority.
   Have you ever seen a gigantic eighteen-wheel semitrailer truck groaning to a stop just because a police officer walks in front of the traffic and holds up his or her hand? What gives this person the right to command such respect? Certainly not parentage, social status, education, personality, or even church affiliation. The officer stands confidently in front of this awesome "king of the road" because of the right clothing - the uniform has undeniable authority.
   At the moment of conversion you were issued a righteous uniform. The Lord not only covered your past but also gave you authority over your future. With the "breastplate of righteousness" ( Ephesians 6:14 ), God gave you power over sin.
   As a child of God, you have the righteousness of God. You have the power that backs the badge.

                              ******

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE READINGS:

I delight greatly in the LORD;
   my soul rejoices in my God.
   For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
   and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
   as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
   and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
( Isaiah 61:10 )

   Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
( Revelation 3:4-5 )

PASSAGE:
   It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not.
   They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.
   The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.
   The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God's word].
   It is good that one should hope in and wait quietly for the salvation (the safety and ease) of the Lord.
   It is good for a man that he should bear the yoke [of divine disciplinary dealings] in his youth.
   Let him sit alone uncomplaining and keeping silent [in hope], because [God] has laid [the yoke] upon him [for his benefit].
   Let him put his mouth in the dust [in abject recognition of his unworthiness]--there may yet be hope.
   Let him give his cheek to the One Who smites him [even through His human agents]; let him be filled [full] with [men's] reproach [in meekness].
   For the Lord will not cast off forever!
   But though He causes grief, yet will He be moved to compassion according to the multitude of His loving-kindness and tender mercy.
   For He does not willingly and from His heart afflict or grieve the children of men.
( Lamentations 3:22-33 )

                              ******

   Worry wastes time. Worry cannot produce good fruit -- the only fruit we reap from it is more worry. It can become a way of life. We worry whether someone will like us, if we will do a job well, if we can pay our bills each month, if our health will fail us. We worry about war. Prices. Traffic. Germs. We worry if we gain or lose a pound. We become consumed.
   Thousands of people have lost weight on the "Free to Be Thin" (Bethany House, 1979) program. As Coauthor of the books, I receive many letters. One woman who lost seventy pounds wrote, "I have a new life. I no longer have to hide, lie, or cheat. I eat healthy foods. I have more energy then ever and I feel better than I've ever felt in my life." But then she added, "One worry consumes me. Will I gain back the weight?"
   I see worry everywhere. Each time it reminds me of Lamentations 3:22-23: "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fails. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
   Worry could consume us like fire -- like a pile of smoldering embers that quietly destroys everything around it. Because we worry, we work hard to get ahead, do well and avoid pain. But our efforts may fail. Only the compassion of the Lord will never fail. His faithfulness is monumental, majestic, true and permanently dependable.
   The woman who feared gaining weight needed to trust in Lamentations 3:22-23. When she fully grasped that she was not alone in her desire to be healthy and strong -- that the Lord was blessing her to that end -- she began to trust His faithfulness. Each morning she dedicated her whole self to the glory of God, and each morning she discovered His compassions to be new and fresh.
   Now, five years later, she still has not gained weight and she has learned some valuable spiritual lessons. This woman can sing, along with all of us who offer up our whole selves to God, "Great is your faithfulness!"

                              ******

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE READINGS:

   What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You.
   By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?
( Psalm 56:3-4 )

   Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad.
( Proverbs 12:25 )