The Greatest Love of My Life

       It’s been tough lately.  Feeling very under-appreciated as a mom.  It’s times like these that I remember one of the reasons I love God so much.  It’s because He loves me very much.  He has never: let me down, shut me out, held me back, wasted my time, walked out on me, turned His back on me or stabbed me in the back, given me the cold shoulder, been more interested in anything or anyone but me, spoken disrespectfully to me or hurt me with mean words, disregarded my needs, etc, etc.

       He is honest, direct, caring, kind, generous, merciful, compassionate, someone I can look up to and admire in His person.  Even in His discipline as my Dad, He is all of these.  And so, on this day that celebrates love, I remember the One who loves me most: God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit.  My thanks to You for being the greatest Love of my life.

     Forever Yours,

          Vicky

 

I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

Pr. 8:17

Sochi 2014- Mogul Skiing

       There are many things in this life that I don’t understand.  One of them is mogul skiing.  I mean, who, in their right mind, would want to go plummeting down a hill at about 85km/hr on two thin slippery boards on a hill that is like a giant, snow covered antique washboard.  That doesn’t sound enjoyable to me.

       I guess it’s no different than speeding down the highway at 100 km/hr on washboard like asphalt after a couple months of winter mucking up the roads.  Of course, that’s not a choice but a necessity, and it seems all the roads are full of pot holes and buckled areas. Anyway, kudos to the two Canadian men and sisters that won gold and silver in their events.  Good for them, even if I think they’re crazy for being in that sport.

       Back to the roads though, as I was driving down a bad section, my body vibrating and the car making noise with the bumpy road, I got thinking about how one day there won’t be any mucked up roads anymore.  Even if there are roads in Heaven, they won’t ever be corrupted or decay. 

that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Rm. 8:21

Do not lay up treasures on earth for yourselves, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up treasures in Heaven for yourselves, where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Mt. 6:19,20

to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in Heaven for you 1Pt. 1:4

        It is difficult for us to imagine a place where nothing breaks down, goes wrong, falls apart, wears out, but that is where our destiny lay- with the Savior in an eternal and glorious place forever.  With the snow piled high, and one too many frigid days to endure, a house in need of a new roof, bathrooms held together by duct tape and plastic that need fixing, rusted cars with engine lights on, I am strongly desiring to be out of this world (and this body) that keeps falling apart.

How about you?

All glory and honour to the Lord who keeps me going every day!

And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.

Ps. 39:7

Jesus Speaks to the Churches- Part 2

Is the church in North America different enough from the world that they see us as Christ followers?

       In my opinion, we are so much like the world that we are blind to the fact that we continue in the same beliefs, values and ethics of this age.  We bear many similarities to the church in Laodicea and it could be because we are similar economically.  We are wealthy*.  In our affluence, we have become a self-satisfied society which has caused the church to lose its life and passion.  I just wonder what Jesus will think of our spending $200 plus on each person for Christmas while 5660* children die of starvation every day.

       Wealth gives a sense of false security.  We feel like if we have no needs than we are all right.  In fact some Christians even teach that if you are truly saved, you will be blessed with abundant finances.  Laodiceans were known for producing black wool, banking institutions, had two theaters (a lot for back then) and a medical school which produced an eye salve thought to heal weak eyes.  In 60 AD the city was destroyed by an earthquake yet did not need Rome’s help as they rebuilt on their own.

Because you say, I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I counsel you to buy from Me gold purified by fire, so that you may be rich; and white clothing, so that you may be clothed, and so that the shame of your nakedness does not appear. And anoint your eyes with eye salve, so that you may see. Rv. 3:17,18 (written 68-90AD)

       Our passion and life seems gone in the church probably due to feeling little need.  Need causes one to press in to God, seeking Him first.  It is harder to do that when we don’t feel our need.  But we are as they were, and blind to the fact.  But there is hope.  We can go to God and ‘purchase’ purified gold as true wealth, clean clothing* to cover our shame, and get eye salve to open our eyes that we may see.  And boy, wouldn’t we all like to see God move today like in the days of Acts?  The price- needing God and going to Him in everything.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me. Rv. 3:19,20

       Out of love, God rebukes and chastens His children- as all good fathers do.  We must repent and be zealous again for Him.  He is knocking and waiting for us to open the door of our hearts to Him (written to Christians) and intimately dine with Him.  He will come in.  To them that overcome this apathy, lukewarmness and blindness He leaves this precious promise:

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame and have sat down with My Father in His throne. Rv. 3:21

*Before you think we aren’t, know for the most part that we use most of the world’s hydro, spend more on gifts and consumerism than other places, even when we are supposedly ‘broke’. 

*World Hunger Statistics

*…For the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. (Rev. 19:8) 

Jesus Speaks to the Churches- Part 1

Could this be the church in North America today?

       I question whether the world sees Christians as being any different then themselves.  We often dress the same, speak the same, think the same, and believe the same values and ethics of the day.  We spend money, eat, have the same work ethics, live similar lifestyles and enjoy the same pastimes as the world.  So where exactly is the difference seen?  If it is only the couple hours we spend in church on Sunday, then we aren’t much of an example of Jesus Christ. 

       In the book of Revelation, Jesus speaks to the seven churches of Asia.  In them we can find many similarities to the church of today.  When I did an intensive study on them I spent a lot of time on my face repenting for the way we act as a body of believers today.  Not much has changed in 2000 years- imo.  Here is only one passage example: 

Because you say, I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I counsel you to buy from Me gold purified by fire, so that you may be rich; and white clothing, so that you may be clothed, and so that the shame of your nakedness does not appear. And anoint your eyes with eye salve, so that you may see. Rv. 3:17,18

 
       Isn’t it true in this age that we could say, we have food, a house to live in, money coming in and technology to enjoy, what more do we need?  But today we no longer see how caught up in the world we are because this is our new norm.  We have adjusted to the darkness that surrounds us instead of transforming all around us by our light shining.  So we don’t even realize we are afflicted, miserable, destitute in physical and spiritual ways, mentally blind and laid bare.

How is it we are so blind to the truth of our own situation? 

in whom the god of this age has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving, so that the brightness of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God, should not dawn on them. 2Cr. 4:4 LITV 
(Jesus came to bring) …new sight to the blind… Lk. 4:18 
Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not; nor do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which said, "By hearing you shall hear and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see and shall not perceive; for this people's heart has become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." Mt. 13:13-15 (obviously about spiritual blindness and lack of perception) 
…His anointing teaches you concerning all things… 1Jh. 2:27 LITV 

Tomorrow I will continue with Jesus Speaks to the Churches- Part 2