GOLDEN WORDS

Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
   
Romans 8:38 – 39



One time a father wanted to teach his son the lesson of God’s great goodness. He took him to the top of a high hill and pointed northward over Scotland, southward over England, eastward over the ocean, westward over the hill and valley, and then sweeping his arm around the whole circling horizon, he said "Johnny, my boy, God’s love is as big as all of that." "Why father," the boy replied with sparkling eyes, "then we must be right in the middle of it." – Earnest Worker

We are right in the middle of God’s love – and NOTHING can separate us from this undeserved, unlimited love.



When it is said that God loves man this is not a judgment on what man is like, but on what God is like.

—  Anders Nygren, Agape and Eros, 1953
 

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman

January 16

"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus" Acts 4:13.

It was beyond doubt that these unsophisticated and common men were friends of Jesus. Their words and acts proved it. What was it that finally convinced the authorities that these men they scorned now were so bold because they had been with Jesus?
"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" 1 Corinthians 1:27. Peter, impulsive and assertive, who just recently cursed and disowned his Lord, is transformed from sinking sand into bedrock firmness; John, ambitious, sensitive, longing for love and companionship, becomes valiant.

What was it that could make this personality and character change? Basically they remained simple of heart and mind. This is what Jesus wantedand wantsin His disciples. It was their courage and determination that changed. Peter and John became portraits of Christ, shining through with His character. It was the power of the Holy Spirit that wrought the change, and not the power of money or intellect or social urgings. These men were poor and unlettered, clothed with the armor of God.
Unfortunately, there are times when we become caricatures of Christ rather than characters for Him. Legalists bent on keeping God's laws and making sure that others do make a mockery of having been with Christ.

If we don't know the Person, then we can't have a true change of personality. Peter and John knew Jesus intimately. Indeed, John rested on Jesus' breast at the Last Supper (John 13:25). We, too, must lay on the bosom of Jesus and share our intimate secrets with Him. Then others will note that we have been with the lovely Jesus.

Pat Nordman ©

 

T H I N K A B O U T I T

Ice Cream For the Soul Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked   if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he   said, "God is good. God   is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if mom   gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice   for all! Amen!"   Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman   remark, "That's what's wrong with this country.   Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice-cream! Why, I never!"   Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"   As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God   was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentle man approached the table.   He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."   "Really?" my son asked   "Cross my heart." Then in   theatrical whisper he added (indicating the   woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never   asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is   good for the soul sometimes."   Naturally, I bought my kid's ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at   his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of   the woman. With a big smile he told her,   "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes and my   soul is good already." Author Unknown

 

January 16   Genesis 46:1 - 48:22 Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

 

 

Today's  Devotion

 

... ...and by his light I walked through darkness!    JOB 29:3 NIV   Weightless by Pat Nordman   ". . .Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" Hebrews 12:1b A runner knows that he cannot run with weights that would pull him down or back. So it is in our spiritual race, too. Not everything that hinders is a sin, either. Benjamin Franklin, in his Poor Richard's Almanac, wrote: "When confronted with two courses of action, I jot down on a piece of paper all the arguments in favor of each one. Then, by weighing the arguments pro and con and canceling them out one against the other, I take the course indicated by what remains." There are legitimate gray areas of life when it is a good idea to do this. It's choosing the better of two goods when two options are equally honorable. What are the weights? They are different for each of us. They might be weights of too many possessions; works of the flesh that inhibit the growth of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit; certain habits that we haven't quite given up–the little foxes that spoil our branch so it rots and falls from the Vine and thus bears no more fruit; the most terrible weight of what we feel is unforgiven sin; the grievous weight of an anxious heart that cannot trust its journey to the Captain; a human affection that seems so innocent–indeed, it may be–but it overrides our love for God; the weight of society's mores, known as greed, versus God's mores, known as principles; and the constant need for distraction and noise that kill noble motives and pursuits. Our backs and hearts are breaking from the weight of the world. Jesus begs us, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.. for my yoke is easy and my burden is light" Matthew 11:28,30; "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with. . .the anxieties of life" Luke 21:34. © Pat Nordman ... the most terrible weight of what we feel is unforgiven sin; the grievous weight of an anxious heart that cannot trust its journey to the Captain...   More Walking Through the Darkness

 

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