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?

Fire of Heaven

"At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne." ~ Revelation 4:2-3

Have you ever seen a jasper or carnelian stone? I did not know or remember what those stones looked like, so I decided to Google images of "jasper the rock" and "carnelian the rock." What I saw connected dots previously isolated.

Jasper is a red stone, and Carnelian is a combination of reds, oranges and yellows--the colors of fire.

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'" ~ Hebrews 12:29


Dig Deeper: Read Exodus 24:17; Deuteronomy 4:24; 9:3; Psalm 97:3; Isaiah 33:14 and 2 Thessalonians 1:7 in their contexts.

Simple Delights: Father scares away hiccups

After I left the house and started down a side road, I realized I had the hiccups, and I wished I’d gotten a drink before heading out to pay rent. Continuing on, I tried to get rid of the hiccups by swallowing and breathing deeply, but most of the time, the only way I get rid of hiccups is by getting a drink.

As I turned a corner, three dogs dashed up behind me—growling and barking, and I jumped, not knowing what they might do. Afterwards, when I calmed down, I thought about my hiccups, waited and realized they were gone. Realizing how the dogs scaring me had chased away the hiccups, I remembered my Dad.

As a child, whenever any of us four children had the hiccups and he happened to be around, he would generally suggest scaring them away and sometimes he would try. :) Thinking of my Dad scaring away hiccups brought to mind how my heavenly Father is always watching, and I smiled, then laughed, as I pictured my heavenly Father sending those dogs to scare away my hiccups! :)

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” ~ Matthew 10:29-31

A Concert of Praise

Lights dimmed in the sanctuary.

A guitar player strummed a tune
As a drummer beat a rhythm.

Singers lined the front of the stage.

A melody began the evening
As a harmony blended together.

Words filled the background screen.

A quietness infiltrated the audience
As a soundness penetrated the room.

Truths soaked hearts and minds.

A shadow invited restfulness
As a vision set forth hope.