Have Mercy

Jude
I've often heard how sometimes people who get "educated" start to leave the faith. They hear the words of those who they deem know more (aka professors) who think that in order to believe in something, it must be proven.

God tells us through Jude, brother of James, that these type of men revile against the things they don't understand. Things they know by instinct. Why is it that even things we 'instinctively' know...we question and often purposefully turn our backs on?

I find that the Word of God is consistent with what science and all 'educated' doctrine tries to tell us. Everything except that I am the ultimate authority. Heaven forbid. When I try to be the authority I find that I mess it up royally.

Help me Father to instead contend earnestly for the faith that You have apportioned to me. Your Word provides a blessing to me that mercy and peace and love may be multiplied upon me. Thank You for that Father...I sure wouldn't be able to 'dig' that up for myself. As that mercy is multiplied upon me, I thank You that You will how me an help me to have mercy on on others who doubt...that some may be saved from the clutches of death. Guide me also to have mercy and yet keep the appropriate distance from those who deny the Lord, Jesus Christ.Thank You Lord for the love, peace, and most of all mercy that You have given to me today and every day.

GOD WINS!

Revelation 18-22
I've read, tried to read, re-read portions of this book so very often. Yet I still find much of it gives me pause and leaves me with questions.

Is the wife of Jesus really the city...or are His people His bride? The cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murders, immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars will all be thrown in the lake of fire. So, unbelievers, those whose name is not in the Book of Life? Why does it also say that they just outside the gates of the city (21:8 vs 22:15) What is meant by "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and the one who is righteous still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy."? Are we not to pray for those who do wrong, that they may give their hearts to Christ and be cleansed?

I don't know... but I'm not going to wallow in or get stuck in the questions. Yes, there are lots of questions...but there is also answers. The big one for me right now...

Without a doubt, God wins. PRAISE JESUS, GOD WINS!

Yesterday - A Day Late

Song of Songs 7-8

This was from yesterday's reading, but I didn't get around to posting.

Since I'm so very single (I just don't know how else to express it right now) or maybe because I also had mom's hospital stay on my mind, I had a difficult time 'connecting' to these two chapters about the passion between two lovers.

Yet, one part 8:6-7 talks about how strong love is. This stayed with me all day. No where have I ever heard that sin, hate, or anything else is "as strong as death," "as unrelenting as Sheol." How awesome that love is the strongest of all. The love of our Father, the love of family, friends, a lover...is stronger than anything else. It's fiery flames can't be extinguished or swept away with water.

So...why do we sometimes 'fall out of love' why does love end...or worse yet, turn to hate? I think it is because it takes work...and we may not be willing to put forth the effort or make ourselves vulnerable. The Bible doesn't say love comes easy. In fact, relating it to strength makes me think of all the hard work it is to build up strength. Sheol only holds concern because we are vulnerable to it. 

I have seen too many couples really difficult times...times and behaviors that have caused many other to throw in the towel. Sometimes behavior that have caused other godly people, pastors, etc to counsel to divorce and move on. Yet there are those who find a way to work through it. To love through it. To come out on the other side, stronger, more in love than ever.

So how do they do that? Are they just 'luckier' than others? I don't know.

I know sometimes, ending a relationship seems right. But I also know that if both are willing to work, to seek God and follow His lead, to 'choose' to love even when they don't 'feel' like it...God is bigger than the behavior, than the hurt, than the problem.

How fabulous to be loved like this...so fiery that nothing can put out its flames. Even us seriously single folks are loved like that. God loves us like that. Do I need to be loved like that by another person if I'm loved like that by God? Apparently not at this point in my life...maybe one day, that's up to God.

This type of love also explains why someone would give their life for someone else. Why Jesus gave His life for us. Thank You Jesus!!

For love is as strong as death; ardent love is as unrelenting as Sheol. Love’s flames are fiery flames the fiercest of all. Mighty waters cannot extinguish love; rivers cannot sweep it away.