Jesus Gave His Life For Love

My dad is one of the best examples of Christ’s love that I have ever known.  He loves me so much that he would truly do anything to ensure my well-being, safety, and health.  That’s how fathers and mothers are.  They would run into a burning building, or dash in front of a moving truck, in an effort to protect their children.  So how much more did our Heavenly Father love us?  So much that He gave His only Son to show His love for us.  John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  God didn’t just give His Son’s life for one or two people.  He gave His only Son for every man, woman, boy, and girl on this earth. 

When was the last time you said, “I love you,” to someone you know?  Was it this morning at breakfast?  Or last night before you went to bed?  Sometimes, we just get busy.  Before you know it, a day, a week, or even a month may go by before we realize we have not recently told our loved ones how much we love them.  Funny, isn’t it?  How can we become so busy that we do not tell the ones we love that we love them?  Sure, they know this already; however, we all have an inherent need to be loved.  We all need to hear those three little words every now and then.  Of course, sometimes love is shown in a different way and requires no verbalizing whatsoever.

Consider the love of Jesus Christ.  He didn’t just send us a card on Valentine’s Day.  He didn’t send us a text message, follow us on Twitter, or befriend us on Facebook.  And He didn’t make a phone call, send a letter, or e-mail us either.  No.  Jesus Christ died to show us how great His love is for us.  I John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is; Jesus laid down His life for us.”  The Bible clearly states that love is the selfless act of Jesus giving His life for us.  He loved us so much that He endured the agony of the cross, so that we might have eternal life in Heaven.  The Son of the living God went above and beyond every gift ever given in the history of mankind.  He gave His life.  Not just for a particular person of a certain race, culture, socioeconomic status, or other demographical statistic.  Jesus Christ died for every single person on the planet.

As Jesus Christ hung on the cross, He thought of you.  He knew you needed redemption.  He knew you needed a friend.  He knew you needed to be loved.  He didn’t die for fame or fortune.  He didn’t die to have His name engraved on a plaque in a prominent place or have His picture on the cover of People Magazine.  Jesus Christ died to cleanse us of our sins.  I am a sinner.  You are a sinner.  We are all sinners.  The Bible says that everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  God’s Word also states, “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5).  It doesn’t say that He was pierced for the transgressions of criminals, murderers, or abusers.  It says He was pierced for our transgressions.  He bore all of the pain and suffering for everyone.  Why?  Because that is how much He loves us.

No matter what you’ve done in your life, there is no place beyond the reach of Jesus Christ.  He can make the vilest sinner clean.  Maybe you have taken drugs to the point where you think life is pointless.  Perhaps you have consumed enough alcohol that you have medical concerns being raised.  You may be abusing your family, whether physically or verbally.  In spite of all you have done, there is forgiveness found through Jesus Christ.  As Christ hung on the cross, one of the criminals hanging next to Him said, “Remember me” (Luke 23:42).  He had likely never walked in the door of a church.  He may have never read the Bible, given to his favorite charity, or even said a kind word to anyone.  But he believed that Jesus Christ had the divine power to redeem him of his sins.  Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Jesus Christ extends the same grace and mercy to you.  Romans 10:9 states, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  There is no special prayer or secret code.  It is simple enough that a child can understand.  Just call on the name of Jesus Christ.  Believe that He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who arose on the third day.  Put your trust in Jesus Christ today and you will be saved.  He will cleanse your sins, mend your broken heart, and fill your mind with peace that passes all understanding.  There is hope in Jesus Christ.  He loves you more than you could ever imagine!  That’s why Jesus gave His life: for love.

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

Enjoying Life Every Moment You Live

Do you enjoy every minute of your life?  If you’re like me, you would probably have to respond with a definite no.  While we want to enjoy every moment of life, there are often circumstances beyond our control that we must endure.  Some of these circumstances, ranging from minor ones like a flat tire on the way to work to major ones like the loss of a loved one, serve to squelch any positive feelings we may have when we first get out of bed in the morning.  Still, Jesus says that we should enjoy every day of our lives.  How can we enjoy everyday life, even in this imperfect world in which we live?  Jesus knew that life would be hard at times, so He tells us how to have joy on our journey.  In reality, it is not about enjoying every day of our life; it’s about enjoying every moment we live.

When Jesus walked on this earth, He did not experience unprecedented joy 365 days a year.  There were times when He prayed all night long, desperately seeking His Father’s will.  There were days that He was tempted by Satan.  Toward the end of His ministry, many people sought to kill Him and shortly thereafter, He was beaten and crucified.  While every day was not filled with laughter and joyous occasions, He had joy down inside of Him.  He wants His joy deep inside of us as well, so we can be full of joy at all times.  Jesus said, “‘These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full’” (John 15:11).  If we seek the will of our Heavenly Father, the joy of the Lord will remain in us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year.  At the grocery store, on the job, or anytime, we can be full of joy when we follow Him.

Perhaps you are reading this, thinking, how can I possibly have joy?  I agree.  There are some things in life that are so very difficult to overcome.  In these moments, it is nearly impossible to find joy in the midst of our sorrow.  I am reminded of the days that my parents and I prepared funerals for my two baby brothers.  They were both born premature.  They never even had the opportunity to come home from the hospital.  Maybe you have also experienced grief through the loss of a child or another loved one.  Jesus gave us detailed instruction on how to find joy during difficult times.  Jesus states, “‘Therefore you now have sorrow; but […] your joy no one will take from you. […] Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full’” (John 16:22, 24).  No one can take away your joy.  While my parents and I grieved the loss of my baby brothers, we knew that God had a greater plan for our lives.  We knew that God would restore our joy, even though it seemed like a hopeless time in our lives.  God’s promises are true and He never fails.  If He promises that our sorrow will be turned into joy, then rest assured that it will happen (John 16:20).

You may be thinking...it’s too late.  My joy was gone a long time ago.  I gave it away.  There’s no way I’m ever getting it back.  I exchanged it for drugs, alcohol, or some other outlet that promised to bring me joy for a fleeting moment.  Your battle may be a personal one, where you are engaging in activities that are harmful to you physically, emotionally, or mentally.  Each day goes by and you wonder why you were even placed upon this earth.  You wonder if you will ever have joy again.  I want to encourage you today.  You were put on this earth for a purpose.  God knew that you would exist long before you were ever born.  You matter.  Put your trust in Jesus Christ.  There is joy to be found in the midst of your trials.  No matter what you are going through, Jesus will give you hope for a brighter future and joy to replace your sorrows.  Jesus loves you.  He gave His life for you.  Through His death, your sins have been washed away.  You are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God!  Call on the name of Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. 

If you are a Christian, there could be coworkers, friends, or family members who are trying to discourage you in your faith.  In the book of James, Christians are given the following advice: “‘[C]ount it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience’” (James 1:2).  Joy gives us the strength necessary to endure sorrowful times, or to overcome persecution from believers and non-believers alike.  Nehemiah 8:10 states, “the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  The Lord will give us strength to face every single challenge that life throws our way.  Does this mean that we should thank God for our trials?  No.  James shares this wisdom so we know that these trials, though difficult, will make us stronger.  We should rejoice in our trials, not for our trials.

Even in the midst of these trials, though, we can still enjoy living.  We may not enjoy everything that happens in life, but we can enjoy the fact that we are alive.  We can also enjoy more abundant life by applying the fruits of the spirit to our daily existence.  God’s Word declares, ^“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).  By applying these “fruits” to our individual lives, we can learn to experience joy on a daily basis.  Psalm 1:3 says, “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”  The fruits of the spirit will enable us to succeed in everything we do: great or small.  Through these successes, our lives will take on a greater meaning and we can experience divine happiness, something that cannot come from the worldly pleasures we encounter.  Divine happiness is God-given.  It is a type of joy that abounds when life is wonderful and even when times are tough.  Through this joy in our lives, we can enjoy living life, even with the flat tires that inconvenience us and the great losses that threaten to overwhelm us.

God created this earth and He provides us daily with the means to enjoy and value everyday life.  While some days will be harder than others, we can face each day with the calm assurance that God is in control.  We can boldly go forth, with the assurance that He will always bring us joy, even in the depths of despair.  While we may not always enjoy every moment in life, we can certainly be grateful for and enjoy every moment we are alive.  Every day is a blessing from above.  I Timothy 6:17 states, God “gives us richly all things to enjoy.”  God wants us to be joyful.  He wants us to rejoice in our trials, not for our trials.  By focusing on the fruits of the spirit as the backbone of our countenance, we can truly enjoy every moment we live.  By doing so, we can value life and live a life of value.

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

God Is With Us!

This past Sunday morning at approximately 1:30 a.m., the doorbell rang.  Chills ran up and down my spine.  Questions filled my mind.  Who was it?  What did they want?  Why were they here?  I was genuinely scared.  Immediately, I began to pray.  While I didn’t have an answer for the questions racing through my mind, I knew that God had everything under control.  I had the reassurance that God was with us.

My dad went to see who was banging on our door violently and ringing the doorbell repeatedly.  An individual who was under the influence of either drugs or alcohol had flipped their car and landed in a neighbor’s field.  This person had come to our house for help.  We called 911 and soon they were being attended to by the EMTs.  I prayed that they would be alright.  And I also thanked God for standing beside us, protecting my dad and me, and giving us His wisdom and peace even in an uncertain situation.

Sometimes, it is difficult to have faith that God will be with us through every trial in our lives.  I cannot tell you that it was easy to trust God while someone was beating on our door in the middle of the night.  There are times when we will be frightened to the point of trembling.  In these moments, our human nature tries to take over and tells us that everything is not okay.  But if we listen closely enough, we will find that there is a still, small voice saying, “Child, I am with you always.  Everything is going to be alright.”

Other times, it is so easy to trust God completely.  Last weekend, I attended a church ladies retreat.  At the retreat, we laughed and enjoyed a lot of delicious food, including delicious, fresh-baked cinnamon rolls and copious amounts of fresh strawberries straight from Plant City, Florida.  Most importantly, we were fed spiritually.  By Sunday morning, we were on cloud nine.  Right before the communion service, we received news that our retired pastor’s cancer was in remission.  At this very moment, God seemed so very near.  Trusting God was so simple.

On Monday morning, I learned that Pastor Jim had gone on to be with the Lord, having stepped through Heaven’s gates peacefully in his sleep.  He was such a kindhearted man of God, who was humble in every way.  He loved his family, his church family, and most important, he loved Jesus Christ with all of his heart.  We prayed for Pastor Jim on Sunday, just as we had been doing for months.  And on Monday, our prayers were answered.  Only it wasn’t the answer that we were praying for.  You see, we don’t always understand God’s answers, but we can always be assured that He knows best.  When we are on top of the mountain, trusting God comes easily for us.  But when we are in the valley, it becomes much more difficult to trust that God has a perfect plan.

I want to encourage you today.  This valley that you are going through will not last forever.  Sometimes you have to go through a storm in order to enjoy a rainbow.  Even in the sunset, there’s sunshine awaiting you.  Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”  Don’t rely on what your human mind can or cannot comprehend.  Rely on God.  God knows exactly what you are going through.  He is right there with you and He will walk every step of the way right by your side.  The Bible says that He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).  Things may not make sense to you right now, but a day is coming when everything will be made clear to you.  God will show you His plan for your life in His timing.  Trust in Him.  Follow His steps.  Take comfort in the fact that God is always with you!

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer

It's Not a Fairytale

As a little girl, I remember watching fairytales like Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Dumbo.  The idea that life could be so idyllic was mesmerizing to me.  While I still look forward to the day when I meet my very own Prince Charming, I always knew, even as a child, that pixie dust could not fix every problem and that elephants could not fly.  Even so, it was such an awesome experience to imagine a world of make believe where anything was possible.  That’s why I was captivated when I first heard the words, “With God, anything is possible.”

You see, the best stories I ever heard as a child were not fairytales at all.  For in my very favorite book, there is a non-fiction account of a young boy slaying a giant.  In this book, men survived the lion’s den.  And one individual literally parted the Red Sea.  A few loaves of bread and a handful of fish fed thousands.  And the King of Kings and Lord of Lords was born in a manger and then hung on a cross to die.  At that very moment, my sins were all washed away.  But the best part of all is that He arose from the dead on the third day and sits at the right hand of His Father in Heaven to this very day.  And I can talk to Him whenever I want, no cell phone required!  While the stories in the Bible seem wondrous and awe-inspiring, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that every single one of them is 100% true.

When I watch the news, I can’t help but think how many prophecies in the Bible are coming true today, right before our very eyes.  Just as the Bible predicts, nations are rising up against nation, and there are wars and rumors of wars.  The line between right and wrong is being blurred, as seen in the way millions of babies are losing their lives each year through abortion.  And homosexuality, drugs, alcohol, and other promiscuous behavior are gradually becoming more and more acceptable within our society.  The government is being infiltrated by corruption as well, causing confusion as to who can be trusted.  Children are being influenced by the wrong crowd, and they often lack the parental support that is so crucial to a young person’s transition into adulthood.  Even the weather has turned on its head with record highs and lows in the most unlikely places, as well as an ever-increasing number of earthquakes, snowfalls, tornadoes, and other severe weather around the world.

Let’s face it.  Life is not the same as it was when my parents and grandparents were growing up.  Black and white has turned to gray.  We no longer live in the Donna Reed or Leave it to Beaver society where every neighborhood is ornately manicured and the mother wears pearls to cook dinner for her family every evening.  While wearing pearls is certainly not the criteria for a good mother, it is certain that these shows did promote moral behavior, strong family relationships, and the idea that life is a valuable gift.  Since then, the definition of a family has been altered quite considerably in some homes and many people take life for granted.  The Bible refers to the “gracious gift of life” (I Peter 3:7).  We have been given something that money cannot buy.  We can take our life and use it for the glory of God, treating it like the treasure that it is, or we can throw it away as if it has no value or worth in our eyes.

God’s Word says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)  Jesus Christ did not die so that we would lead an immoral life and throw our lives away.  He died so that we could live a life of abundance, a life of joy, peace, and love.  Jesus Christ loves you more than you could ever possibly imagine.  Your life is valuable.  You have a purpose on this earth.  You matter.  And it is my prayer that you will follow in His footsteps.  I pray that you will ask Him to be the Lord of your life.  I pray that you will begin to enjoy a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  If you do, your life will be forever changed.  And your future will get a whole lot brighter!

For centuries, people have talked about the return of Jesus Christ.  Sadly, I’m sure some people have decided that it is just a fairytale.  But one day soon, Gabriel’s trumpet will sound aloud, announcing the coming of the one and only King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  All Christians will rise up to meet Him in the sky.  We will live eternally with Him.  I urge you to please ensure that your heart is right with God and that you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  As the song says, redemption draweth nigh.  Friend, the Bible is true.  There is only one God.  Jesus Christ is real.  And He is coming back for His chosen people any day now.  I pray you are ready.  For the return of Jesus Christ is not a fairytale, but a dream come true for those who are gazing at the Eastern Sky!

In Christ’s Love,

Jennifer