Yes! Jesus Loves Me.

Something wonderful has happened in my spiritual life. I finally believe God loves me. I really believe it with all my heart for the first time in my life.

Growing up with a stern and abusive father has always colored my perception of God, I think. My father was religious but didn't really know God. You could see that in his actions.

I've always been afraid of God and thought he expected me to be perfect. The Bible said God loved me, so I tried to believe it and sometimes I did, but not like now. I don't have to try anymore; I believe.

This all happened because of  talks by Ty Gibson I found online, I finally saw the deep love God has for me and the human race. Ty tells us that God would rather die than live without us. What a revelation that was for me.

Here are a few addresses where you can find Ty's Bible Studies on the Love of God:

http://betterlifetv.tv/watch_videos_now.php?ProgID=4

http://www.pilgrimskeyradionetwork.com/sermons/sermons.php?speak=40

You can also watch Ty on youtube.com

Two Kinds of Wisdom.

James tells us there are two kinds of wisdom, wisdom from the world and wisdom from God. He also tells us how to tell the difference between the two. They stand side by side in glaring contrast in their motives and outcomes.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
 James 1:5-8

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (Wisdom from God)

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. (Wisdom of the world)

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
 James 3:13-18

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 

God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

James names, "selfish ambition" and "bitter envy" as worldly wisdom. In our culture, who is admired? Those who get ahead, those who become rich and have many possessions. Have you heard the saying, "Whoever dies with the most toys wins?"  Actually, this has probably been true of almost all cultures. No matter how they get to the top, the top people are envied and admired. How did they get there? Most likely through envy themselves and selfish ambition. 

James knows this. The wisdom from God is nothing like the wisdom of the world; when you look at Jesus, you see wisdom in action. One reason people make fun of Christians is they don't understand God's wisdom. It seems foolish to them to put God and others first. But God can open anyone's eyes if they will ask Him. He gives generously to all, James says. And I love what James says next, "without finding fault." 

We have a God who understands how our brains work and what we have been taught and seen in our lives. He doesn't find fault, he only asks that we come to him for true wisdom, which will result in peace and love instead of "disorder and evil."

Our Wonderful God.

The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, "Praise God for the Son of David." But the leaders were indignant.  Matthew 21:15

When he (Jesus) said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. 
 Luke 13:17

As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.  
Mark 9:15

This also comes from the LORD of hosts, Who has made His counsel wonderful and His wisdom great. Isaiah 28:29

O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. 
Isaiah 25:1

Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.  
Psalm 107:21

Lenny Leblanc - What A Wonder Lyrics 

You give hope to the hopeless
You give faith to the faithless
Your love comes through
Like the morning light
You give grace to the humble
And have mercy on the merciful
This world's never seen anybody like You

O what a wonder
A wonder You are
You hide the sun and let it rain
O what a wonder
Jesus what a wonder You are
O what a wonder
A wonder You are
To save somebody like me

O what a wonder
Jesus what a wonder You are

You bring healing to the nations
There's no other salvation
You're the only One who can turn it around
You make a way for the wanderer
You give freedom to the prisoner
All of hell must tremble
At the sound of Your name

O what a wonder
Jesus what a wonder You are
O what a wonder You are 

What Can We Give to God?

How can I repay the LORD for all the good He has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,
I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
Psalm 116:12-14

What does God desire in return for his love? He wants us to accept his plan of salvation from the evil in this world. He wants us to call on his name every day. He wants us to be true to our vows. Vows should be few and not broken. He will forgive though, if we break a vow to him.

Song, Two Hands, One Heart.  by Don Moen,

What can I give?
What can I bring?
That would be pleasing to my King
I'll give my heart, not just a part
I'm lifting up my everything
Well it's all I have to offer
And it's all I have to give

Two hands, one heart
One life to offer You
Two hands, one heart
That's what I give to You

Use me today I know You can
Lord I surrender to Your plan
You made this heart
And you made these hands
Take me and use me as I am
Well it's all I have to offer
And it's all I have to give

Little becomes a lot
When it's in Your hands
Take me and make me more like You
Well it may not seem like much
But with the Master's touch
I know that I'll be more like You

Two hands one heart
One life to offer You
Two hands one heart
That's what I give to You

More lyrics http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/don_moen/two_hands_one_heart-lyrics-1021542.html#ixzz3l5PO55Dd

God's Love Reaches to the Heavens.

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the skies.

Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,

your justice like the great deep.

You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!

People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house;

you give them drink from your river of delights.

For with you is the fountain of life;

in your light we see light.

Psalm 36:5-9

Album: Woship With Don Moen

Your steadfast love extends to the heavens
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds
Your righteousness is like majestic mountains
And your wisdom like the depths of the sea
And you come to me

Filling my heart with your loving kindness
I find my peace in the shadow of your wings
I eat my fill from the abundance of your household
And I drink from the streams of rejoicing

You are my king

More lyrics http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/don_moen/your_steadfast_love-lyrics-224759.html#ixzz3kx2vejFv

Who is God?

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom

or the strong boast of their strength

or the rich boast of their riches,

but let the one who boasts boast about this:

that they have the understanding to know me,

that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,

justice and righteousness on earth,

for in these I delight,”

Jeremiah 9:23,24

I've been writing about different Christian songs that help me. When I listen to the song, "Above All," I picture the ancient powers that no longer exist and kings who are long dead. I think of how majestic mountains were made by God's hands and how he flung the stars across the universe. I think of the wisdom of man that is so small compared with God's wisdom. I think of the wealth of the rich, how they fill their homes with great paintings and other art, how they wear the best clothes, drive the most expensive cars and try to find happiness in these things.

Then I think of what God is like and how these things of the world cannot compare to him. Humans tend towards pride in what they have and what they do, but Jesus left everything behind to become a human being. He left his Father's side for the first time in eternity. Then he suffered excruciating mental and physical pain when he took the fall for us.

What an amazing God we worship! The Bible says, "God is love." He isn't just loving; he is love. 

Above All by Don Moen.

Above all powers, above all kings
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms, above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what You're worth

(Chorus)
Crucified, laid behind the stone
You lived to die, rejected and alone
Like a rose, trampled on the ground
You took the fall and thought of me
Above all

More lyrics http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/don_moen-lord_you_are_good#ixzz3kTPbp9FE

A River of Love.

"Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst."  John 6:35

"Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."  John:4:14

I read John 6 this morning and I thought about whether I hunger or thirst for anything. I don't, as far as I know. I used to hunger and thirst for love, but I have found that in Jesus. I looked for love from men, but men are fallible human beings who cannot love the way we want them to love. That is too much to ask for from any man or woman.

In our North American culture, we are taught from childhood to seek love from someone. And of course, God has put within each of us a desire for love. Unfortunately, our culture tells us, "You can find the love of your life right here on planet earth!"  Um, no. We can find human love alright, if we are blessed, but Jesus is the only one who can be the love of our life. Once you really believe and accept he loves you, just the way you are; that he loves your company, he loves to talk with you, he "delights in you," as the Bible says; only then do you never thirst or hunger for anything else in this world. He is enough.

River of Love by Don Moen

Thirsty for more of You More of Your Spirit and truth Wash me from all my sin Fill me with Your Spirit again You're the River of Love Flowing with grace and mercy Flooding my soul Filling my heart with peace O River of Love Like streams in the desert Giver of life Giving You life and love To set me free Heal me and I'll be healed Save me and I will be saved You've filled me with songs of praise Forever I will sing of Your grace If anyone is thirsty let him come on in When you drink the living water You will never thirst again Giving Your life and love To set me free Giving Your life and love To set me free.