Abba! Father!

And he [Jesus] said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

In one of his moments of deepest anguish, recorded in Mark 14:36, Jesus cries out to His "Abba," a name of close intimacy and personal connection.

Tears

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

Romans 8:15 draws us into the intimate and personal relationship of Jesus with the Father, and we are invited to call Him, "Abba!"

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

Through Galatians 4:6, we see the trinity at work in drawing us into the very inner circle of His deity with God sending the Spirit of His Son into our hearts in order for us to cry, "Abba!"

Each time the name "Abba" is referenced, there is great desperation yet greater intimacy. Jesus is in the garden getting ready to face His death when He cries out, "Abba!" We are encouraged not to give in to fear but to cry out as adopted children to our "Abba!" We are given this gift of crying "Abba!" because the Father sent the Spirit of the Son into our hearts--our inner core which gives life.

Are you feeling desperate? Are you experiencing excruciating pain? Are you facing overwhelming circumstances? Are you preparing for an even harder future?

There is hope.

If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9-10), He invites you to call Him "Abba!"--a name of deepest, closest and most intimate relationship. He has chosen you to be His child. He has adopted you into His family. He has given you abundant life.

Cry out, "Abba!"

He may not change our circumstances, but as Jesus prayed, all things are possible with Him. May His will be done.

When life gets you down...

Stop and smell the roses!

Sometimes, we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, and a friend may tell us to “stop and smell the roses.”

Have you ever considered that God gave roses a beautiful smell? That taking time to smell them may bring a smile to your heavenly Father’s face? That enjoying the everyday blessings of life may be part of your Comforter’s plan?

What else has God given you to enjoy?

How about…

A family to love--do you show them your love every day or as often as you see them?

A smile from a stranger--do you return the smile or greet them with care?

A hug from a loved one--do you treasure your closeness?

A sunny day from a cloudless sky--do you bask in the sunlight?

A rainy day to curl up and read inside--do you breathe in the peaceful moment?

A snowy day to get much needed rest--do you thank your Father for the time?

A warm meal made with love--do you tell the cook thank you?

A soft bed--do you enjoy the warmth?

A hot shower--do you marvel at such comfort?

A way to keep in touch with friends--do you send encouraging messages?

A word of encouragement--do you ponder these words in your heart?

A thank you--do you consider these gifts from your Father?

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
~ James 1:17 ~

Bus Rides

Bus rides are always an adventure.

This weekend, a friend and I got on a bus, paid for tickets to a city and told one of the bus workers that we needed to stop at a village before the next bigger city. A couple of hours later, we had veered away from the main road, circumventing the stop we needed, and arrived in the big city--not our destination.

Through communication with my friend, she arranged for a friend of hers to meet us and ride a different bus with us to her village. That bus arrived soon after the local high school ended for the day, so students and everyone else packed into the bus, filling every available space.

Finally, we arrived at my friend's village, where she met us as we stepped off the bus. We ate in her home and talked with her family. My friend mostly talked as I tried to understand a word or two. An hour and a half later, we returned to the city by an hour and a half bus ride because my friend needed to be home to teach some children she helps with their schoolwork. That time, we found seats.

Again, today, I rode the bus with some good friends to the village for the day, and on the way back, the bus got very crowded at one point, but the rest of the time, we had seats.
 

“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

Home in Him

What defines home?

For me, home is where I am loved for who I am in Christ, where I am understood, where I am cherished, where I belong, where I am wanted, where I have purpose, where I can dream, where I am taken on adventures, where I am able to laugh, where I have hope and where I am able to trust without a single fear of ever being disappointed.

There is only one place which meets each one of these desires: In Him Alone.

Wherever He—the Lord God Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the King of kings, the Lamb of God, the Lord of lords, the Most High God, the Great High Priest, the Ancient of Days, the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life, the Living Water, the Word made flesh—is with me, I am home.

“One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.” ~ Psalm 27:4-5

Where is your home, dearly beloved?