The Most Intimate Relationship

Our relationship with the Lord is the most intimate relationship we will ever have.  No one will ever love you more than He does.  He came to this earth knowing the price He would have to pay for us and loved us enough to pay that price.  He knows our deepest desires, thoughts, feelings and fears.  He loves us regardless of our biggest mistakes and failures. 

He knows we are infants and children who are seeking to learn and grow in order to become the person we were created and placed on this earth to become, while realizing that purpose for which He created us and what He has assigned each of us to accomplish for His kingdom.  Becoming a Christian does not mean we are to wake up suddenly converted into perfect beings, who are not allowed to ever make another mistake or experience another failure.  Becoming a Christian means being reborn a second birth as a child of God.  It means being an infant in our faith and learning, growing and maturing in His Word, His will and His ways.  It means not being perfect but seeking to grow and be Christ like, as much as we are each capable of being.

So many times over the years I’ve heard “You can’t do that and be a Christian”.  Making a mistake does not mean I am not a Christian.  Making a mistake as a Christian simply means that I am a child of God with the key word being ‘child’.  I am a child that is learning and growing and being at a different level of growth and achievement in my relationship with the Lord does not make me any less a Christian than anyone else. I don’t know of anyone who would expect an infant to master the skills of a toddler, or expect a toddler to master the skills of an adolescent.  Nor does our Heavenly Father expect us to suddenly become mastered Christians overnight.  Growing as a child of God is no different from growing as children.  Our Father doesn’t have these unrealistic expectations of us.  We don’t have these unrealistic expectations of our children nor does He have them for us.

I think as Christians we all too often compare ourselves to others and begin the process of self-condemnation all over again because we have not yet reached the level of growth as other Christians may have obtained.  That’s one thing that prevented me from writing my book for seven years.  I wasn’t as ‘matured’ as this person or that person and all those around me would condemn me and put me down.  I also think it is one reason that people don’t claim to be Christians because they compare themselves to others and feel they don’t measure up.  Don’t compare yourself to anyone.  Your relationship with the Lord is yours and yours alone.  It is the most intimate relationship you will ever have.  I hope you understand that.  Read His Word, learn and grow in Him.  Spend time in prayer with Him by simply talking to Him.  If there is something that you feel He expects of you that you’re not capable of doing, ask Him for His help.  Seek Him.

He is patient, He is forgiving and He is kind.  He loves you and wants only the best for you.  He died on the cross for you and paid the ultimate price for you.  He has promised to deliver you from the fire.  He has assured us that His plans for us are to prosper us and not cause us harm.  All He wants is for us to accept Him, seek Him, grow in Him, love Him and be obedient to Him.  It is my desire that if you know Him you will desire more of Him and seek Him.  If you do not know Him it is my desire that you will come to know Him.  My relationship with Him is the most intimate relationship I will ever have.  I pray your relationship with Him will be your most intimate relationship as well.

Troubled Times

I’ve reached a point where I don’t like to watch the news because it can be so depressing but we can’t be oblivious to what is going on around us in our world today.  Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with the death toll of the war in Afghanistan reaching a new high mark, a revolution in Egypt spreading unrest in the Arab world, Gaddafi's son’s warnings of civil war as unrest spreads in Libya, an uprising in Iran, Bahrain joining many other Arab countries in demanding democracy, etc., etc., etc., reminds of things I’ve read and heard regarding wars and rumors of wars in the last days. 

I reflect over the past couple of years and think of the natural disasters the world has experienced with flooding and earthquakes. Earthquakes alone have caused so much destruction and taken so many lives.  The Sichauan Earthquake in China on March 12, 2008 claimed an estimated 68,712 lives with another 18,392 missing.  The earthquake that struck Haiti in January of 2010 claimed an estimated 316,000 and is considered one of the ten most deadly natural disasters in history. Now the earthquake that recently shattered Christchurch, New Zealand with the death toll rising.  Matthew 24:7 says there will be earthquakes in various places in the last days.

World Bank recently reported that food prices increased an astounding 29 percent in 2010.  The soaring food prices are leading to a dangerous situation that can send millions into poverty.  Food riots have already been reported in the Middle East.  The rising food prices are reportedly due to floods in Australia, drought in Russia and crop failure in China.  We in America are not exempt from famine.  Many of us Americans are more susceptible to living like those in a third world country now more than ever with the unemployment rate reaching all-time highs due to a recession.  With all the job losses and foreclosures Americans are experiencing situations in life like my generation has never seen. Oil prices have reached an all-time high and our fuel prices are creating a financial burden for many.  I think the only thing that prevents us from equaling The Great Depression of 1930’s is unemployment insurance. 

These are troubled times we are living in today and every time I hear another tragic report on the television I’m reminded of the prophecies of the last days and can’t help but feel we’re living them. Granted Matthew 24:36 tells us “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father”.  However Jesus did speak about the last days on the Mount of Olives in  Matthew 24:1-14 “Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

I certainly don’t claim to know when Jesus is coming back but I do know I want to be ready for Him when he comes.

Hope, Expectation, Faith and Belief

I have a habit of asking the Lord to lead me to what He would have His word say to me as I take my Bible and randomly open it to read it each day.  A couple of days ago I opened it  to Matthew Chapter 8 and read the story of the centurion whose servant boy was lying paralyzed at his house and in intense pain.  The Lord told the centurion that He would go to the boy and restore him.  The centurion told Jesus that he was not worthy or fit to have Him come under his roof, but if Jesus would only speak the word his servant boy would be cured.  Jesus replied to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.”

I have spent the past few days pondering hope, expectation, faith and belief.  The definition of hope is to wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment. Romans 8:24-25 “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees?” Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  The definition of expectation is eager anticipation of something wished for. So, expectation is a step beyond hope. Romans 8:19 "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God."  The definition of faith is belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence and is synonymous with belief. Hebrews 11:1 "Now, faith is the substance of things to be hoped for, the evidence of things that appear not.” The definition of believe is to have firm and unquestioning faith to accept something as true.  Matthew 8:13 “Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go and it will be done just as you believed it would.” And the servant was healed at that very hour.”

I spent the majority of my weekend ponding this and wondering why it was in the Bible that so many asked Jesus to perform miracles and they were granted immediately yet, I ask for miracles and it seems I spend so much time waiting for God.  Ecclesiastes 3:17 tells me that God has an appointed time for everything; every purpose and every work that He has planned for me and Psalm 46:10 tells me “Let be and be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations!  I will be exalted in the earth!

I realized that though I have hope for better things in my future such as my husband to be able to come home to be with us; and though I expect the Lord to make a way for that to happen; and though I have faith that He has a plan for us; I had not truly BELIEVED with all my heart and soul that it IS going to happen and instead have been very fearful of what the future MAY hold in store for us.  I now BELIEVE with my whole heart and soul that the Lord will answer my prayers based on my faith for the plans and purpose He has for me; as I await His timing expecting great things in regard to those things I hope for.  May God bless each of you today.