In His Love and Glorious Service

My preview text is: As you read these devotions, you may recognize an event in your life. As God gave me each devotion, He always seemed to lead the way. He was ever-present and ever-loving and full of mercy and grace. All of God endured in me throughout this journey. Without Him ever by my side, I could not have written anything that would glorify Him and lead you, my beloved, into a deeper relationship with Him. That is the purpose. That is His love. That is the reason you were created for Him. That is why by living for Him and working every day in His strength you can finally understand that you were called to walk in His love, and work in His glorious service. I cannot emphasize enough that you read these devotions with prayer and a heart open to hearing from Him. What has come through my personality to your eyes from Him, may differ from what I thought as I was writing it. I hope and pray for a special touching of your heart from the words in this journey of this third season of service and then the other two. You've recognized His love and knew it was for you, One Spirit with One God, held together through and through. Understanding what He says and knowing He is right Releases you into His ever present light. Peace within your turmoil will show the world His Face Love that conquers anger, will exhibit all His grace. Ascending into heaven, not climbing any steps Completeness coming forth, through times that you have wept. Each day will carry pain. Each day will show His love, Into His mercy net, you will soon be caught above; No selfish thoughts or burdens, no rude unholy talk However you may choose, whatever path you walk. Instead of darkness choose, to walk into His light Mercy, love, compassion...there beside you, wrong - or right. From May 1st: When your life is suddenly turned upside down, do you run? Do you have a place to go, where you feel safe from the hurt and pain of your troubles? When my Dad died and I got the phone call, I felt numb. Then I tried to negate it with disbelief. I rushed to Mom and Dad’s house. My eldest sister was already there. As I reluctantly walked into the bedroom, I found him in bed. My Mom was just holding him, as tears flowed freely from her eyes and the deep sobs of all of us filled the room with sorrow. Where could I run? Where could I go to take this horrible sorrow.....Our tears can change to joy. Our wailing can change to dancing and our fears can be calmed by the everlasting presence of our Lord. King David could see no sense or profit in his loss, so he cried out to the Lord to lift him up. Beloved brother, beloved sister bring your sorrow to the river and lay it down at the feet of your eternal King. Let Him wash away your tears, your sorrow, your fears and your unbelief. All you need is at the riverbanks. Open up your heart and let the love of Christ well up in you. Let Him take your hand and walk in the water with Him. Let Him remove all the impurity in your life and watch it flow away into the river of forgiveness and love. It’s as real as He is and if you believe, it is yours. All I want is to be home and free, To feel Christ’s love and His liberty; To rest all my fears in His river of love; To believe and to cherish my eternity above. FROM MAY 12th: When you say you love, remember it was a choice. When you hear someone tell you that they love you, that declaration was their choice. God will never make you love Him or anyone else. He just hopes you will. The physical attraction we have for our spouses is a good thing to work on throughout a marriage. While looks are a shallow basis for love, they are vital for infatuation. I want to stay infatuated with my wife and continue to cherish her, physically as well as emotionally. Remember when you were a baby Christian and how much you were infatuated with God? Let’s be honest! When I first was saved, I did not love God. I didn’t really know much about Him. And yet, I was willing to give my heart to Him, because I finally realized what He had done for me. Wow! Then I came to know Him and understand how much He chose to love me! So, I finally chose to love Him back. Since that day, I have had many ups and down in my relationship with the Lord. There have been times I was mad and questioned His loyalty to me. There were times when I felt completely deserted and alone. I cried out to Him and wondered why He would let something happen. My love for Him still exists because I choose it to still exist. His love for me still exists because He chooses for it to still exist. It’s who He is. Is it who you are? “So much love is in my heart for you That nothing you can say and nothing you can do, Will ever change my heart or ever change my mind, Because I choose to love you, and my love is divine.” -God FROM JUNE 4TH: Jesus knew His Father would rescue Him through the resurrection. And although He also knew what would happen to Him, He fulfilled His mission and obeyed His Father. And the Father watched. As Jesus was scourged, His Father watched. As Jesus was led up the steps of Calvary and mocked and brutally beaten, His Father watched. As Mary wept and agonized over what she was seeing, the Father watched. It was not easier for the Father than it would be for us. Just like our child, this was His son. And still, He watched. He allowed it. He even commissioned it, because He loved you and me so much. Jesus didn’t have to obey, but He did. And He did because He too, loves you... FROM JUNE 10TH: As members of the Body of Christ, we the Church ought not to just invite people to church. Rather, we must show the lost souls among us that as a member of Christ’s family, they can see the Church, by watching us as we live. This is the ultimate witness. This is the greatest example we can give in our responding to Christ’s plea in the Great Commission. To lead a lost soul to Christ is not an act of brevity or of coincidence. We must build long-lasting relationships with them, knowing about them and staying interested in their lives. It must never be self-serving, and always be Christ-serving. He dropped to the floor on His knees and began to wash their feet. Sweat poured from His brow as the water ran across the disciple’s feet into the basin. He dried each foot and gave His whole heart to the task. He served them. In His greatness, He became a servant who washed them. In His unsurpassing and unconditional love, He wiped their feet dry. He gathered up the towel and looked at them. He saw that they were amazed, and the words of Peter rang in His head as He went to sit down, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” John 13:9 (NKJV) Let Jesus wash not just your feet, but also your hands and your head. Let His love and direction cleanse you and renew your spirit, as you grow in maturity for your service in His body. You are the Church, my beloved. Christ in you is your hope. Act on it. They gasped as he bent over and washed their feet Not yet understanding the glory of His act. He came to serve and to make them complete Eleven of these men were the first bible tracts.