Truth

Current culture would say that truth is whatever we want it to be. I saw a recent movie clip that showed Jack Nicholson raging at Tom Cruise with a statement.”you can’t handle the truth!!!” We can all relate to that statement, right?

In the world, your truth and my truth can be dependent on our opinion more than absolute truth. God’s truth never changes because God is the same yesterday, today and into the future.

God’s word is truth that stands a test at time. His truth is a foundation to stand on when the fog of false statements and cloudiness of the weather makes us feel lost.

Psalm 25:5 TPT Escort me into your truth; take me by the hand and teach me. For you are the God of my salvation; I have wrapped my heart into yours all day long!

In Strongs concordance, a Bible study resource, #371 ( emet), the Hebrew word for truth, is found in numerous scriptures. Paul said in Romans 3:2 ( MSG) God keeps his word even when the world is lying.

According to the New Spirit filled Bible, “the Hebrew word for truth (emet) is spelled with the first, middle and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Rabbis concluded truth upholds the first and last of all creation.” Isn’t that amazing?

We need the direction of our Creator God that never changes. He is like that steady, trusty compass when you’re on a hiking trail and you’re not sure to go to the left or the right. He is true North.

Being the God of truth, He sees all things so we can’t hide anything from Him. Our immaturity may want to have the last word. Trying to be the king of our own lives gets in the way of real truth, yet this amazing God of truth gives grace when we have humility, and surrender to Him.

Psalm 25:6-7 TPT

Forgive my failures as a young man, and overlook the sins of my immaturity. Give me grace, YAHWEH! Always look at me through your eyes of love—your forgiving eyes of mercy and compassion. When you think of me, see me as one you love and care for.

His goal for our lives, when we are disappointed with people or feel betrayed is to trim away those who don’t belong in our community. It may feel as if it’s punishment, but in the pain of loss, God can work on our hearts and minds to bring clarity and that amazing compass of direction for the next steps.

Sometimes God trims people out of our life! He is a loving Father, He has a better plan. Could it be that person would be a distraction to our relationship to God? Luke 15:1-11, we read: we need to be trimmed like a branch on a vine. But the trimming isn’t punishment it is so we can bear fruit. An example of bearing fruit would be stepping into our calling and purpose for being here.

Our Father God is a Master gardener. He wants us to bear fruit. He wants us to remain in Him. Listening for His truth. Taking steps to our destiny and loving His people through our God-given gifts.

John 15:1-11 NIrV
“I am the true vine. My Father is the gardener. [2] He cuts off every branch joined to me that does not bear fruit. He trims every branch that does bear fruit. Then it will bear even more fruit. [3] You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. [4] Remain joined to me, just as I also remain joined to you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain joined to the vine. In the same way, you can’t bear fruit unless you remain joined to me. [5] “I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain joined to me, and I to you, you will bear a lot of fruit. You can’t do anything without me. [6] If you don’t remain joined to me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and dries up. Branches like those are picked up. They are thrown into the fire and burned. [7] If you remain joined to me and my words remain in you, ask for anything you wish. And it will be done for you. [8] When you bear a lot of fruit, it brings glory to my Father. It shows that you are my disciples. [9] “Just as the Father has loved me, I have loved you. Now remain in my love. [10] If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. In the same way, I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. [11] I have told you this so that you will have the same joy that I have. I also want your joy to be complete.

We never know why people filter in and out of our lives, but we must trust the truth of God. We must turn to Him for comfort. The more I am learning to ask , “ God is there something you’re trying to teach me here? Help me to trust you?”

The more I realize the detours or disappointments are likely protection, and the love of God than they are a punishment . There is purpose when we were being trimmed by God and we may not know the full picture. Nothing in this world will ever satisfy. No person can take the place in the God shaped hole of our hearts except Yahweh (Jesus)!

Psalm 25:8-12 TPT
How good you are to me! When people turn to you, YAHWEH, they discover how easy you are to please—so faithful and true! Joyfully you teach them the proper path, even when they go astray. [9] Keep showing the humble your path, and lead them into the best decision. Bring revelation-light that trains them in the truth. [10] Loving are all the ways of YAHWEH, loving and faithful for those who keep his covenant. [11] For the honor of your name, YAHWEH, never count my many sins, and forgive them all—lift their burden off of my life! [12] Who are they that live in the holy fear of YAHWEH? You will show them the right path to take.

So the next time you question, why somebody’s been removed from your life, ask God for the answer. And be patient and develop into who God calls you to be. He really does love you unconditionally.

Yahweh, our amazing God is loving, faithful, and true always.

Photo credit by MMesikapp

Grace

Grace is defined as kindness, a few synonyms of grace include majesty, elegance, blessing and favor.

A few days ago, our sweet tabby cat Nemo was playing with ornaments on our Christmas tree. I felt like it was Providence that he chose the shining silver ornament he fixated on with the word, Grace. As Nemo was spinning it around I was thinking about the message of Christmas and the gift of Jesus.

Christmas, gives us an opportunity to realize the love of our Father God, and the grace and mercy that He showed by sending His Son, Jesus, to the earth as a baby to provide a bridge between His children; you and I.

From the beginning of time, God always wanted a relationship with his children, including Adam and Eve. Sadly, however, sin entered the garden with a bite of an apple from the forbidden tree of knowledge. The relationship between Father God and humans, His children, was forever changed.

Thankfully, God made a way to restore our relationship by sending His Son Jesus to earth.

His mother, Mary was a teenager, and Jesus’ adoptive father, a carpenter were given visitations by angels for a God given destiny to unfold. They both chose to obey God. The conception was supernatural something our human minds may not understand. God was the Father.

Luke 1:27-33,35,38 NIrV
He was sent to a virgin. The girl was engaged to a man named Joseph. He came from the family line of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. [28] The angel greeted her and said, “The Lord has blessed you in a special way. He is with you.” [29] Mary was very upset because of his words. She wondered what kind of greeting this could be. [30] But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary. God is very pleased with you. [31] You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must call him Jesus. [32] He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king like his father David of long ago. [33] The Son of the Most High God will rule forever over his people. They are from the family line of Jacob. That kingdom will never end.” [35] The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come to you. The power of the Most High God will cover you. So the holy one that is born will be called the Son of God. [38] “I serve the Lord,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me just as you said it would.” Then the angel left her.

Matthew 1:20-23 AMPC
But as he was thinking this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary [as] your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of (from, out of) the Holy Spirit. [21] She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Savior], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God]. [22] All this took place that it might be fulfilled which the Lord had spoken through the prophet, [23] Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel-which, when translated, means, God with us.

Jesus came in a manger, wrapped in swaddling cloth, and He walked this earth experiencing what it is to be both human and our Savior died for our sins on a cross at 33 years old. Jesus obeyed His Father in unconditional love.

Just as Jesus had a destiny so do each of His children. There is a purpose for your life, our life journey was conceived before we were born. We have to trust and obey the Lord has the best plan.

Step by step, moment to moment with our mind fixed on seeking Jesus and His plan, we will achieve our destiny when we allow Jesus to be the authority in our life.

Jesus made the loving decision to take upon Himself all of our sin, He was beaten and bruised for our sin. Pause for a minute and think about that pain and amazing gift for us.

What an unconditional love our Father God in heaven, had for us in sending His Son to the Earth. God has always wanted a relationship with His child. He gives us free will to choose Him.

Emmanuel is the Hebrew word for God with us! The life of Jesus started in a manger to bring hope for each day, a connection from heaven to earth and it’s the eternal circle of eternal life.

This Christmas breathe in the breath of God, it’s already in your lungs, so breathe deeply of the unconditional love of the Savior Jesus, and breathe in the grace, mercy, and hope for your destiny.

Prayer: We thank you, Lord for your Majesty and your favor over our lives. We thank you, Lord for coming as a baby in a manger to bring Hope to the world we thank you, Lord for choosing to obey your Father in heaven so we could be blessed. We thank you, Lord for what an amazing love You have shown to each of us in Jesus mighty name amen.

Grace, Peace and love to you and your families! Merry Christmas! Emmanuel He is with us!

Love first

Loving people does not always come easy. Our expectations of others can cloud receiving love from people.

Our thoughts start in the mind. It doesn’t mean those thoughts are true and as a result, we can have people around us that love us, but we can feel unable to receive the love.

Past experiences of betrayal, abandonment, disappointment, codependency, depression and even struggles with addiction, can bring obstacles to the simplicity of love.

Whether it’s our actions or the actions of others, Jesus came as a baby because of love for us. He loved first.

“We love each other because he loved us first.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God sent His Son as a bridge between humanity and Himself. What an amazing love, God could’ve turned His back on His people because of their sin. But that’s not the God who created us.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”
‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Oh what a love, Jesus laid down His life so that we could be saved, and Jesus gave us the grace that we don’t deserve.

“Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Christmas is a time to reflect on the love of Jesus! It’s a time for family and friend gatherings.

Sometimes our relationships are so complicated. It’s hard to forgive others.

We are to forgive others, but it doesn’t mean we forget the pain and hurt by others.

We must talk to Jesus and lay those experiences at the foot of the cross. Giving all of our hurt to Him. Only He can change another person’s heart.

Go to Jesus in Prayer:

Father God, I thank you that you’ve created me uniquely. I thank you Lord, that You know the challenges in my life and in my relationships I give those concerns to You now. I repent for the words or actions that I may have done to another and I asked forgiveness from you. Transform my mind to be like yours, give me the ability to forgive others. Give me strength for every circumstance. Please give me wisdom.I trust in You alone.

Thank you, Lord Jesus for loving me first.

In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen!