Happy Memorial Day

...do this in remembrance of Me.

Luke 22:19

Happy Memorial Day! I hope you have had some time on this holiday to consider those who fought and died for this country. Those who gave their lives to preserve the freedom that we enjoy deserve our respect, gratitude and admiration. It is hard for humans to remember things aright. For the Children of Israel it was easier to remember Egypt's easy meals, rather than their miraculous deliverance. It is always easy to forget the incredible blessings and character of God when enticed by worldly things. Christ's message to the church at Ephesus was just that, "REMEMBER the height from which you have fallen" (Revelation 2:5). I hope you had an opportunity today to remember the courage of those who died for the sake of this country. However, I hope we take time every day to remember your First Love. He who loves you and gave Himself up for you.

Lover of the Lost

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

2Peter 3:9

Jesus loves the lost. The Lord's heart for the lost is clearly stated in Scripture (Matthew 28:19-20; John 10:16; Romans 5:8). In order to reach them He is doing amazing things. He draws all people (John 12:32). His Holy Spirit convicts all of sin (John 16:8). He desires that none would perish (2 Peter 3:9). He has given all the witness of His amazing, ordered, beautiful creation (Romans 1:20). Along with all of the other amazing things that He has done to call the lost to Himself, there is at least one other thing. This is a remarkable comfort to those of us who care for the lost who are in our lives. He has placed Himself in their lives, personally and undeniably...in you.

Soil Check

"Behold, a sower went out to sow." Matthew 13:3b

Today I got to spend most of the day in the garden. Most of my time was spent working different soils. The soil in the far back was hard, thick clay which I broke up with a shovel, and water to softened it. On the side of the yard I spent some good time digging weeds out (all the way to the root, thank you!). In the front planter box, the soil had dried out completely and had almost become sand, so I lovingly massaged in water and more good soil. The real delight was the planter box! I got to plant that with brand new, fresh and springy potting soil. Naturally my thoughts drifted to the parable of the soils (Matt. 13:3-9). How's your soil?

Built Together

...in whom (Christ) you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:22 NKJV

How many support beams can I take out of your house? Would you be willing to let me remove some of the frames upon which your dry-wall is hung? Okay, if I can't take those, can I take some of your roof away? Not over the master bedroom, but just over the kitchen, or perhaps the living room. Summer is coming up, you probably won't miss it. No? Why not? It is interesting how we would never let anyone take the beams and pieces out of our house, yet we would take ourselves out of fellowship with the Body of Christ, we who are the very parts and pieces of this temple of His Holy Spirit on Earth. That is how much we need each other.

Mother Love

But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

1 Thessalonians 2:7 NKJV

Nobody had to tell my wife to love our children. An infant does very little but take. Mother's milk, mother's time, mother's sleep and even mother's sanity on some occasions. Yet a mother takes this difficulty on with a courage that would make the soldiers at the battle of Thermopole look faint of heart. A mother's love is one of the pictures that the Lord gives us to show us how great His love is. We see in mother's a love that is insanely self-sacrificing; and we dare to ask, "Lord, is that how you love me?" And the reality is that our Lord's love is so great that a mother's love is a mere shadow of the reality of the perfect love that He has for you. This week thank a mother for boldly displaying an amazing love in a dark world. And realize that He longs to exercise that "much more" love in and through you, as you are in Christ.