Much More a Whisper from your Father, God

Much More

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matt 7:11 NIV

Why do you hesitate to ask of me?  I am the Father of “much more”. My Son, told you that in my house are “many” mansions.  When He fed the 5000 there were baskets of food left over.  I brought my children into a land “flowing” with milk and honey.  I have always wanted my children to live in the abundance of my kingdom.

It is the devil who kills, steals and destroys in your life.  My Son showed you that I want you to live a full, abundant, meaningful, purposeful, and fruitful life.  A life that is good and never ends once you begin walking with me.

How do you measure love?  Today is it ever expanding toward you.  You are the apple of my eye.  How do you qualify the extent of my forgiveness?  The sacrifice of my Son on the cross continues to speak to me as an everlasting covenant.  You are Forgiven.

I send my goodness like rain on the just and the unjust.  But, I hold back some of my abundance for at least one reason.  I am waiting for you to ask!  You are afraid of my answer.  You fear that I will withhold from you.  It is true that I will not give you everything that you ask, for my ways are not your ways.  But when you ask…trust begins to multiply in your life.   Approach the throne of grace boldly, for I am waiting.  I am your Father of “much more”.

Whispers from your Father, God

Who do you serve?

¹⁴ If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

¹⁵ For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. ¹⁶ Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant^[c] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. John 13

To identify yourself as a servant begins with the right heart attitude.  My Son knew the power of influence that comes through serving.  He is known to many as the suffering servant for all that He endured in behalf of mankind.  There was never any conflict in the flow of actions in his life between being the One in total authority and being the One who washed feet.

A servant is more than a title, it will be expressed through the actions you perform for others.  Who do you serve?  What activities reveal your servants heart toward those you love?  Are you a part time servant who works on an off the clock or do you understand that I have placed important people in your life that are worthy of “full time” service? 

Serving gives the opportunity for you to work out selfish attitudes in your life.  There is a joy that is withheld, but it is fully experienced for those who learn the freedom of serving.  So many opportunities exists for you to serve.  I love to see the creative nature expressed in your myriad of ways that you show others that they are more important than yourself.  Start with true gratitude and appreciation for the other person.  Being thankful for the one you serve opens up the joy that comes through serving.

If you feel jaded, short changed, unappreciated, and even hardened, look for opportunities to serve.  Remember when you are serving others, you just may be serving Me.  If you had known it was Me standing beside you that needed serving, would it have made a difference?  My Son served those closest to Him in the most intimate ways.  This is the example that He left for you to follow.

Whispers from your Father, God

Grace Wins

Grace Wins by Matthew West

My life has been a whirl wind the last two weeks.  Good stuff! Katy graduation from college, Micah ^nd and at Vineyard Community Church on the 29^th.  Got nothing planned in June but rest. J  So I am sorry I missed last weeks devo.

and Michele getting married, Bible Reading Marathon (which included lack of sleep marathon), and the National Day of Prayer.  Still to come in May: David and Elizabeth baby due any day, Melody graduates, some ministry meetings, preaching at Pastor Ben’s Church- Iglesia la Vid Verdadera on the 22

There is a song by Matthew West called Grace Wins.  It is a good phrase on which to meditate.  Where do you find the hardest struggle to accept grace?  Is it falling short of a standard of perfection that you have established for yourself?  Is it the struggle of breaking free of an addiction or the bondage of failing at a consistent sin?  Are you so pride filled that you are not sure how grace fits for you, but you see how many other people need it?

You will never be “good enough” to deserve grace…never.  The only real qualification is that you “don’t deserve it”.  Grace points out our inability to be perfect, and then erases the picture as if it had never been drawn.  Then God re-establishes the relationship with you and Himself as if nothing had ever changed in your closeness.  Grace Wins.

I would love for you to share a story where grace wins.  The prodigal son has his story, the woman at the well has her story….and you have your story.

If you haven’t heard the song before..here is a youtube link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JXl1czvh7g

Here are the lyrics

In my weakest moment I see you 
Shaking your head in disgrace 
I can read the disapointment 
Written all over your face

Here comes those whispers in my ear
Saying who do you think you are
Looks like you're on your own from here
Cause grace could never reach that far

But, in the shadow of that shame
Beat down by all the blame
I hear you call my name sayin it's not over
And my heart starts to beat
So loud now, drowning out the doubt
I'm down but I'm not out

There's a war between guilt and grace
And they're fighting for a sacred space
But I'm living proof
Grace wins every time

No more lying down in death's defeat
Now I'm rising up in victory
Singing hallelujah
Grace wins every time

Words can't describe the way it feels
When mercy floods a thirsty soul
A broken side begins to heal
And grace returns what guilt has stole

And, in the shadow of that shame
Beat down by all the blame
I hear you call my name sayin it's not over
And my heart starts to beat
So loud now, drowning out the doubt

image: http://static.urx.io/units/web/urx-unit-loader.gif

I'm down but I'm not out

There's a war between guilt and grace
And they're fighting for a sacred space
But I'm living proof
Grace wins every time

No more lying down in death's defeat
Now I'm rising up in victory
Singing hallelujah
Grace wins every time

For the prodigal son, grace wins
For the woman at the well, grace wins
For the blind man and the beggar, grace wins
For always and forever, grace wins
For the lost out on the street, grace wins
For the worst part of you and me, grace wins
For the theif on the cross, grace wins
For a world that it lost

There's a war between guilt and grace
And they're fighting for a sacred space
But I'm living proof
Grace wins every time

No more lying down in death's defeat
Now I'm rising up in victory
Singing hallelujah
Grace wins every time

Every time
I'm living proof grace wins every time
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/matthew-west/grace-wins-lyrics/#QvXVbBMHyi2yQiBF.99

Strength to endure

When I was a teen….a long time ago, I listened to a lot of Christian artist.  Some were “rocky” and some were “mellow”.  Chris Christian was one of the mellow artist.  As I was praying about the post for the morning the lyrics from one of his songs kept playing in my head.  The song is entitled, Look how far you’ve come.  Here is the first verse and chorus.  You can listen to the entire song here.  Very 70’s “don’t judge me” Jon Quitt.

So you've lost your will to live
Seems you're down to your last friend
And the weight of the world keeps trying to pull you in

Chorus:
Don't give up. Don't give in. Give it all to Him.
'Cause He cares so much more than you know
When it seems who you really want to be
Is someone you'll never become
Just look how far you've come

BUT, this encouragement only last for a moment.  Strength to endure comes primarily from looking ahead.  Not just looking for a hopeful thought, but looking to Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith.  When we look to him, we see that he endured for a purpose.  He was thinking of us.  Jesus gives us hope to endure.  He will never leave us as orphans.  His presence can find us in the midst of the darkest storms.  His voice can be heard in the greatest of chaos.  His comfort can be felt deep down in our spirit. 

You may feel alone, but you are a part of the body of Christ.  You are connected to him and to so many others who are walking the journey of life also.  He who did not spare his own son, is committed to finishing what he started in your life.  Don’t give up, Don’t give in