God’s Love is Tough.

 

The sun rises over the clouds in front of the summit of Haleakala volcano in Haleakala National Park on Hawaii’s island of Maui, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. Park officials say the sunrise on Haleakala attracts over a thousand people a day, resulting in an overload of visitors and creating a safety hazard. As a result, anyone wanting to see the sunrise on the summit will now be required to make reservations in advance and pay a small fee. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones) ORG XMIT: NY301

As we consider the goodness of God and the greatness of His creation, we often feel a great affection for Him. I love the feeling I get when He manifests His love. He loves us and is kindly disposed to us. But there is much more to God’s love than those “warm fuzzies” we sometimes feel.

One feature of God’s love is toughness. Love is tough? Oh Yeah! Consider this part of Paul’s description of Love.

“Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud. Never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong.” 1 Cor 13:4-5 NIV

Think of that in the context of our lives. The love we are loved with and which we are to love must have power, character, and toughness to be able to act in these ways. Consider Jesus, our example.   In John 1 we see that through Him the world was made and when He came as man He was unrecognized and unaccepted. Yet He went about doing good, until that ultimate expression of love on the cross. How strong a love must be for that!

If God’s love is faithful as we learned last week and if His love is tough, we are in a very good place as believers.  Grace and Peace.

 

 

 

Who Do You Serve?

The Great Creator

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Gen.1:1 NIV

In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the Beginning. Through Him were all things made. John 1:1-3 NIV

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We look about us and it is not hard to believe that the God we serve is a great and Wonderful God.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega”, says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Rev.1:8 NIV

That is who you serve.

That is who Loves you.

 

Rejoice in a Great and faithful God.

How wonderful is His creation!

 

 

 

God’s Love Is Faithful.

As we live in this fallen world with its challenges it is easy to feel as if God is far away and His love is questionable. But as Christians, we are to believe the Bible. And scripture reassures us of God’s love. It is not a mushy weak feeling called love. It is His nature. And what is more, His great love for us is faithful. No matter what we go through His love will not waver. Consider these scriptures.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NIV

God’s whole plan of Salvation with Jesus’ death and resurrection was not designed to save us from hell meanwhile abandon us in our life on earth. The God who cared enough to save us cares enough to keep us.

I remember Psalms 136 as a psalm of Isreal calling to remembrance God’s love and faithfulness. It enumerates his great acts for them each followed by “His loves endures forever”…26 times in the chapter. Even in the old covenant, God’s character was the same and His love faithful.

So judge His love for you by His Word not how you feel or what you understand. He loves you and nothing can separate you from His love. Meditate on these things.

 

 

 

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

Maui-Sunrise Reservations

This blog is starting on Resurrection Day, the Dawning of a New Reality on the Earth.

Today’s post is introductory. Future posts will be dedicated to encouragement and teaching the wonderful truths of God’s Word.  Much of the content will come from me.  There will be contributions by others and referrals to other ministry sites.

About Tim

My ministry experience began teaching youth in our church, being a youth leader, and camp counselor.  I have worked with the Jesus People back in the nineteen seventies.  I have worked as a volunteer in ministries for years. I have been a guest speaker, event organizer, and many other things in these changing decades.  My heart is to encourage Christians as we navigate life’s ups and downs.

 

Today

I leave you, referring you to a friend’s blog. My friend is Dr. Eddie Hyatt. Go to his blog  christianawakening777.blogspot.com and read his great post called 5 Resurrection Realities that Will Rock Your World 

Our first regular blog post will be next weekend.

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