love

God’s Panorama

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For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38‭-‬39 ESV

I love the vast panorama from the mountain ridges as we travel from North Carolina into Virginia. It gives us a revelation of astonishing beauty both where we’ve been and also where we are going. Then in it is gone and we simply move in between the folds of the hills.

In life all of us sometimes feel lost or trapped in the demands the stress and painful situations around us. They block our view until God brings us up high along the eternal ridge-line of His love. There with the apostle Paul we get a glimpse of that amazing love of Jesus Christ that refreshes our faith. There we gain the perspective from the overlook and are readied by faith to finish the journey.

I Hope You Are Listening!

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So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34

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Photo by Abel Tan Jun Yang on Pexels.com

Jesus could have likewise said, “So I am giving you a new commandment. Listen to one another just as I have listened to you…!” Listening is one part of love. Stop for a moment and ask yourself, “How has God listened to you?” Has He listened, not only when it was to his advantage? Has he given His attention only when we were being kind to a stranger or when we were singing in church? No! Fortunately for us God also listened when we got into trouble and when we fell into sin. God has listened at those times and He has been ready to bring us restoration and forgiveness. When we know deep in our hearts that God will always listen, we will be ready to hear what He has to say.

Now think about the people around you in the nursing home. Who is listening to them? Are you? Am I? One woman who was a nursing home resident wrote, “No one touches me who is not paid to do so.” In other words, “No is willing to help me unless it is to their advantage.” We, as Christians have a unique opportunity to show others the love of Christ by listening. When we slow down long enough to hear what others are saying, we are also offering them the hope that God is listening too!

Jesus Went Fishing!

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Catch Anything – Part Three

When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” John 21:9-10

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People who have read this story often focus on the fact that the disciples were fishing when they should have been doing something more spiritual. But Jesus also went fishing that night. The difference was that He not only caught fish, but he filleted them and had them baking on the fire by the time Peter and his friends showed up in the morning!  In fact, Jesus never told the disciples that they shouldn’t have been out in the boat. Instead He welcomed them in a way that they would remember for the rest of their lives. He wanted them to know that their success or failure had nothing to do with their own efforts. His love was not just about being “spiritual” but about being willing to fish and knead bread dough and make breakfast for others. His love was about being willing to meet them in the morning in a most miraculous way.

Before this day is past pause to ask if there isn’t someone who needs us to wait through the night. Maybe God will bring a person you haven’t thought of for a while to mind to whom you can give a simple gift. Not even filet mignon at the finest restaurant will taste half as good as filet of fish in the morning after a night filled with struggles.

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God knows where we have been. He has stayed up fishing for us all through the night. What a blessing it will be when we pull our boats to shore and sit down with Jesus at the dawning of that eternal day!