New Location

I read about a law firm that sent flowers to an associate in another city to celebrate the opening of a new law office. Through some mix-up, the card that accompanied the floral piece read, "Deepest Sympathy."

When the florist was informed of the mistake, he cried out, "Oh no! That means the card that went to the funeral home reads, ‘Congratulations on your new location’!"

If we are in Christ, then that is appropriate!

2 Corinthians 5:8,9 — We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

I don’t know fully the nature of the New Heaven and the New Earth, but I know people who have seen it. Jesus, Paul, and John all saw it and communicated it is the ultimate place to be. I’m staking my whole life on it, living in preparation and anticipation.

He's All I've Got

Poor old Jeremiah! He had such a hard task and received such a hard time. He lived and worked for God in the 6^th century B.C. He was a prophet of doom, and his message was the last thing the people wanted to hear.

They turned on him, and he felt God had done the same. Lamentations 3 is hard to read. Jeremiah accuses God of lots of things. He vents! But then, in his utter brokenness he turns back to recognizing God as good.

Lamentations 3:22-27


God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He’s all I’ve got left.

God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,
to the woman who diligently seeks.
It’s a good thing to quietly hope,
quietly hope for help from God.
It’s a good thing when you’re young
to stick it out through the hard times.
There are some powerful messages there for us, wherever we are.

Gossip

Proverbs 26:20 (The Message)

When you run out of wood, the fire goes out;
when the gossip ends, the quarrel dies down.

Be. . .

"Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful."

- John Wooden

Prayer for the Week

I need to start the week off with prayer, a prayer that encourages me to consider the amazing dimensions of God’s love. Here is one that works really well. Wow! It’s Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians, but I’m pretty sure it’s for us too.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. – Ephesians 3:16-21

Read, say, and pray this a few times each morning before starting your day. It will change things and change you for things!

Men & Women

A husband and wife’s journal from the same day:

HER JOURNAL:

Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset I was a bit late, but he didn’t mention it.

Conversation wasn’t flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet to talk. He agreed, but he didn’t say much. I asked him what was wrong; He said, ‘Nothing.’ I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn’t upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it.

On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving. I can’t explain his behavior. I don’t know why he didn’t say, "I love you, too." When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent.

Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. But I still felt that he was distracted and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep. I cried. I don’t know what to do. I’m almost sure his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.

HIS JOURNAL:

Boat won’t start; can’t figure out why.

I Love Her

Think Along 262

I Love Her

I bought a dress this week! I’m not one to buy dresses, but I saw this dress in a store that I’m associated with and just had to have it! It’s for my granddaughter who will be born in January.

Even though I’ve not met her, I have a love for her that almost makes me melt when I think about it. How can I love someone so much?

I love her because she is a part of me and related to me. I love her at a very deep emotional level, and later on, when I may not feel all these feelings, I will still love her unconditionally. I’ve made that decision.

It’s very helpful to realize God loves us like that! From the moment of your conception he has loved you and will love you forever. Look at these interesting passages of Scripture.

 Psalm 139:13-16

. . .You created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Job 10 (The Message)

Oh, that marvel of conception. . .
What a miracle of skin and bone, muscle and brain.
You gave me life itself, and incredible love.
You watched and guarded every breath I took.

Oh, how he loves us!