13 Shopping Days–What Do I Get Jesus?

December 12, 2013 purposeunderheavenLeave a comment

Only 13 shopping days till Christmas, seems I should give to Him who is celebrated

What do you get the one who created the world?

He asks for so little. Only trust and love. Not your ordinary love but that agape kind The sort of love that God shows us. That is the love He wants us to give.

But how do you give the love he desires. This love refuses to get upset when offended or hurt My typical reaction is to get angry instead of being patient Could I give to God my anger and pain? Would He want that for Christmas?

Or maybe I could be observant and watching. Looking for those times, I can be useful to others. Would God appreciate 13 acts of kindness? That might be a good stocking filler anyway.

I wonder if God would be satisfied with just plain love? Agape is hard. I mean not getting angry, or lashing out. Not thinking about getting revenge. Not keeping records of other wrongs. I like to have my list and check it twice of all the ways that someone has hurt me.

I wonder if He would be satisfied if I just donate some money? No, He wants agape. Guess I need to keep thinking.

Agape expects me to protect my brothers and sisters in Christ, to trust them, to hope the best for them. And it expects me to persevere with them through all things.

I feel like the child who wants to get their parent a gift, but doesn’t have enough money to buy what they want to give. Mom or dad gives the child a little money so they can buy the gift they to give.

I need my heavenly father to fill me with Holy Spirit without the Spirit working in me I cannot give Agape to my Jesus. I cannot love all His children as he asks.

Jesus please help me to give you the gift of Agape

Prayer: Fill me with the Holy Spirit and teach me to love as You Love

Meditation: Who do I know who shows Agape type of love

Action: One act of kindness every day until Christmas.

Christian. · Ireland · March · March 17 · St. Patrick · St. Patrick's Confession · St. Patty's Day

Patrick Grieves For The Friend Who Betrayed Him

March 19, 2013 purposeunderheavenLeave a comment

Friends betray us sometimes intentionally often with no malice. Patrick’s friend promises to fight for him. The missionary has decided to return to Ireland and tell them about Jesus’ love for them. He left without defending himself. The friend who once forgave him now attacks.

But rather, I am grieved for my very close friend, that because of him we deserved to hear such a prophecy. The one to whom I entrusted my soul! And I found out from a goodly number of brethren, before the case was made in my defense (in which I did not take part, nor was I in Britain, nor was it pleaded by me), that in my absence he would fight in my behalf.

Besides, he told me himself: “See, the rank of bishop goes to you”– of which I was not worthy.

But how did it come to him, shortly afterwards, to disgrace me publicly, in the presence of all, good and bad, because previously, gladly and of his own free will, he pardoned me, as did the Lord, who is greater than all?

  I have said enough. But all the same, I ought not to conceal God’s gift which he lavished on us in the land of my captivity, for then I sought him resolutely, and I found him there, and he preserved me from all evils (as I believe) through the in-dwelling of his Spirit, which works in me to this day.

When we feel betrayed by friends, acquaintances or just people remember God does not betray us. Walk in obedience to His commands and He walks with you. No promise of an easy path, but a promise to never leave you. Patrick felt the Spirit as a gift which preserved him from all evils.

Christian. · Ireland · March · March 17 · St. Patrick · St. Patrick's Confession · St. Patty's Day

The Spirit Speaks What We Do Not Know To Speak

March 14, 2013 purposeunderheavenLeave a comment

Patrick, a man of prayer, at this moment cries out without even understanding his own prayer. He believes the Holy Spirit prayed for him when he did not know what to pray.

The very same night while I was sleeping Satan attacked me violently, as I will remember as long as I shall be in this body; and there fell on top of me as it were, a huge rock, and not one of my members had any force. But from whence did it come to me, ignorant in the spirit, to call upon Elijah?

And meanwhile I saw the sun rising in the sky, and while I was crying out “Elijah, Elijah” with all my might, lo, the brilliance of that sun fell upon me and immediately shook me free of all the weight; and I believe that I was aided by Christ my Lord, and that his Spirit then was crying out for me, and I hope that it will be so in the day of my affliction, just as it says in the Gospel:

“In that hour”, the Lord declares, “it is not you who speaks but the Spirit of your Father speaking in you [Matthew 10:20].”

Romans 8:26

²⁶Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

28 Day Love Challenge · Christian. · February · Love

Day 22:Without Me ye Can Do Nothing.

February 26, 2013 purposeunderheavenLeave a comment

As soon as I set my mind to do even one aspect of the many traits of Agape love, I fail. I can’t do it. I fail even with my family who I hold the dearest of all. Imagine how short my determination gets with people who don’t share DNA with me.

When I should be patient; I lose it.

My kindness leads to my resentment

Envy, pride and selfishness sneak into my day to day. I only see them after I act. But they are for sure a major part of my life

My temper flares and I promise you I am keeping a list of everything that others have done against me.

I try to “always” protect, trust, hope and persevere, but I fall short of always.

Can you imagine what a testimony we could be if we lived Agape love, but how?

I believe Jesus explained to us how this is to be done in John 14-16.

We can only love with Agape love if we are one with Jesus. Not if we are believers. Not if we go to church on Sunday or even say a prayer every evening before we go to bed. We must be one with Jesus through the spirit.

John 15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

²Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

³Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

⁴Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

⁵I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

⁶If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

⁷If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

⁸Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

⁹As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

¹⁰If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

¹¹These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

¹²This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

¹³Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

¹⁴Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

¹⁵Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Paul also tells us that Agape is one of the fruit of the spirit.

Galatians 5:²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

So the question is how to walk in the Spirit.

28 Day Love Challenge · February · Love · Valentines

Day 2–What To Do When You Are Asked to Do the Impossible

February 3, 2013 purposeunderheaven2 Comments

I can’t love the way Christ wants me to love. I try and I can’t do it.

Do you know what it is like to want to love the way Jesus said, but to find yourself always ending up angry or hurt? I think I equate making donations or paying for things as love. Then people take advantage of me and anger grows, resentment takes root. It’s not pleasant.

I pull away and close the purse. I feel frustrated that some people seem to always have their hands out. But even when I give them something it is out of duty and not out of love.

You see, I think about James 2:15 and 16 and I assume Jesus expects me to help them. I mean James tells us if we see our Christian brother or sister in trouble wearing torn up cloths and lacking food that we should help. He asks what good does it do to say keep warm and full, but to do nothing to help. So I give in and help, but it is not our of love it is out of duty.

I look at the negative list in Paul’s definition of love in first Corinthians 13 and I recognize myself. I know the right words and what I am suppose to say, but I am not sure I really mean them all the time. My words sound loving and kind but the emotion inside, the one hidden beneath my façade, is much more complex.

Paul says if we give up everything we have including ourselves, but don’t do it with love then we have nothing. Which brings me back to realizing that while I desire to love others as Christ has asked me to love I cannot do so under my own strength.

Galatians 5:22 tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is Love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance

The fruit of the Spirit means God working through us. God can love with Agape love; I cannot, but the Spirit when I become one with Christ can love others with Agape through me.

I know I am moving through verses today, but I think Jesus in John 15 told us how we could move from people who are incapable of love to people who produce the fruit of Agape.

Jesus said He was the vine and we are the branches. We can only bear fruit by dwelling in Jesus and by his dwelling in us. We are to live united to him. Jesus words must become part of us. But it is more than knowing scripture. It is about staying connected to Jesus throughout our day.

Journal

Write a prayer to Jesus asking him to draw you closer to him. Ask him to show you how to live in Him and how to be aware of His living in you. Ask him to teach you how to love with Agape love. Admit you are not capable of this type of love on your own. Ask Him to prune what is not productive.

Activity

Over the next 24 hours focus on discussing the day-to-day events in your life with Christ. Discuss everything with him as you go through the day. One day of treating him like a best friend spending the day with you.

Christmas · Christmas Traditions

Waiting in Anticipation

December 2, 2012December 2, 2012 purposeunderheavenLeave a comment

Advent does not represent the Christmas Season. That season starts on Christmas and goes forward for 12 days ending with the Magi’s presenting presents to the newborn king. Advent is a time of preparation and waiting for the promises of God.

Two thousand plus years ago, the Jewish faithful waited for the promised Messiah. Prophecies from hundreds of years before told of a King who would also be a High Priest. This Anointed One, Messiah, would come to rescue the people of Israel.

Decades and centuries passed from the time of the prophesies and doubts edged into the hearts of many. But a few faithful waited never doubting he would come. Many thought the idea of a Messiah was fantasy or wishful thinking. Yet, a few clung to the prophesies and waited for the one promised.

Simeon loved God and believed the prophesies. This man waited for the promised one. Simeon differed from others of his time in one way. The Holy Spirit promised this righteous man that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. Simeon waited assured that before he died he would see the answer to the countless prophecies.

One morning, the Holy Spirit led Simeon to the temple. And there at the temple he saw a man and woman holding a newborn baby.

He walked towards them asking to hold their child. Taking the baby,Simeon knew he held the promised one. He lifted the child and praised God.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. Luke 2: 29-32

Simeon had prepared his heart for the day of the Messiah through prayer and living for the Lord. He desired to see the one promised and God honored that desire. Today, we spend Advent thinking about Jesus’ first arrival. We study the prophesy fulfilled by his birth.

But this should also be a time of contemplation and prayer regarding His second coming. Spend time searching your heart to determine if you are ready for His second coming.

Luke 21:27-28

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Exercises

How do you think you should spend this time of preparing for Christmas?

Are you anxiously waiting for His return?

Suggested Activity for the season: Each morning of this Advent season, lift your head to heaven and pray the last words of Revelation 22:20

Even so, come, Lord Jesus