Category: God’s Love

Posted on by

Warning: Restoration in Process

Old House

No one could see what Tim saw in that old house. They saw brokenness; he saw potential. They saw chipped paint, falling gutters, and a leaky roof–not to mention dirt everywhere and enough cobwebs to catch an ant farm. He saw the builder’s original intent–and what that house could one day be.

Others couldn’t understand why Tim worked hour after hour, nailing in broken pieces, sanding down the chipped paint. His hands often got splinters or ached from his labors, but he didn’t stop. He spent lots of money, but he didn’t care. He saw not what was, but what would be–and that house had been made to shine.

You see, Tim knew something the others didn’t. He knew what the house had been built to be…because he’d built it. A terrible disaster had destroyed the home many years back, but Tim wouldn’t give up on that old house.

It took years–one could even say a lifetime–but one day others saw it too. No one could recognize in the elegant mansion the once forsaken home.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh.

2 Corinthians 5:16 (ESV)

Thought: God is in the business of restoring what sin has ruined. In Christ, we’re new creations (2 Cor. 5:16), but we still often look like a messed up version of what God intended. Lord, give us eyes to see one another as You see them.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Short Story: The Billionaire’s Daughter

I have to act like a billionaire’s daughter. Amy told herself once again.

Trying to act like a billionaire’s daughter was exhausting for Amy. After all, she lived on the streets and was hopelessly in debt. Amy ended every day in frustration, feeling like such a failure. Try as hard as she might, she just couldn’t act the part. How was she ever supposed to afford fancy clothes?

You might wonder why Amy was so bent on acting like a billionaire’s daughter. The desire stemmed from a notion she had that if she could just act the part, she’d somehow earn the billionaire’s favor. She wanted him to accept her as his daughter.

Now, Amy knew that the billionaire had announced long ago that he would pay off any debt people owed and adopt children into his household. Which was great news for Amy. She’d accepted the invite, but then really failed to comprehend what that meant. If she had, she wouldn’t be living in constant frustration on the streets.

“Amy, don’t you understand?” Sarah tried to help her friend comprehend the situation. “You’ve already been adopted by the billionaire. You don’t have to earn his favor. Yes, you should act like a billionaire’s daughter, but only because you are one! The only way you can act like it is through the riches he’s given you. You don’t have to try to piece together your own clothes–he already has beautiful ones in his mansion for you to put on. Just run to him. Rest in his love. Let the love and the position he’s given you sink in.”

It took Amy a long time to understand. But slowly, she realized that she was welcomed in the mansion simply because her father had adopted her. She didn’t have to impress him–her father wanted her just as she was. Yet he had also bestowed on her his vast resources so she could live out like his daughter instead of like a beggar. And you know what? The more time Amy spent with her father instead of trying to please him on her own the more she found herself imitating him and acting as he’d intended. Joy gradually replaced the frustration–when Amy spent time with her father and remembered who she really was and all she’d been given.

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV)

We’re called to walk as Christ walked–but from the position of beloved children imitating Him, not to earn God’s favor. The first part of Ephesians reiterates how hopeless we are and always will be apart from God but what an incredible gift God has given us in salvation (Ephesians 2:8). It’s in light of that gift–and through His power and Spirit in us–that we can imitate Him.

“…that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16b-19 (ESV)

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Changing Her Name

wedding

It had happened the moment she said “I do.” Instantly, her name changed. She had inherited her husband’s name, belongings, and being.

Anna smiled at the remembrance of the day she had gone from a Lawson to a Newman. Then her eyes moved back to the paper on her lap. The paper she had unthinkingly signed with her maiden name again. Would she never remember?

She’d been adjusting to her new name in other ways too. Her whole lifestyle had changed when she got married–she’d gone from being homeless, stealing or begging for each meal, to living with incredible wealth. Yet she’d forget that she now had her husband’s riches and fall back into her old street ways more often than she’d like to admit. Her failures loomed before her as mountains sometimes. She was so unworthy…

“You’re worthy because your my wife.” Anna remembered her husband’s precious words after she’d confessed to him her failures yet again. He saw her as worthy, not because of what she did, but because she was his wife!

And little by little, Anna was learning to live like the new, dearly loved woman she now was. She was learning to live in the truth of who she now was because of all her husband had bestowed on her. She was learning to live out her new name.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

Posted on by — 6 Comments

The Wedding Gown That Can’t Be Stained

Wedding Dress

Mia gazed down at her gown in awe and wonder. She still couldn’t get over the fact that the Prince had clothed her in this sparkling white wedding gown. It was so beautiful, pure, and clean—so very different from the clothes she used to wear. And best of all, she got to wear it, not just one day when she married the Prince, but every day!

To understand the magnitude of Mia’s joy, you need to know that Mia grew up on the streets. When the Prince found her, she was grimy and in rags. Now, she was His beloved bride, clothed in this amazing gown that He’d purchased for her at an incredible price.

No wonder Mia hummed to herself and had a little skip to her step as she went about her daily chores. She belonged to the Prince!

The shatter of glass intruded upon her happiness. Mia looked in horror at what she had done. The cup of coffee she’d been cleaning off the table lay in a hundred pieces on the floor. The coffee had spilled everywhere. Mia didn’t even have the courage to look down at her beautiful gown for fear of what she’d see. She felt certain without looking that a coffee stain now marred its purity.

“What have I done?” she cried, burying her head in her hands. “Oh, I’m not worthy to be the Prince’s bride! After all He’s done for me, how could I have done this!” Her whole body trembled as the tears streamed down her face. Her joy was gone.

For days, she walked with her head hung low, ashamed of herself. She tried extra hard to do her chores well, hoping somehow that would make up for what she had done, but knowing all the time it never could. She felt disgusted with herself. She couldn’t forgive herself, but rather kept punishing herself over and over.

At the same time, she was critical of everyone around her, subconsciously hoping that if she could point out others’ flaws it would make her feel better about her own. But it didn’t. She just became more and more miserable.

Worse of all, she felt ashamed in the Prince’s presence. When they met in the streets, she barely said hello. Her conversations with him, instead of being filled with joy, were filled with unspoken fear. Perhaps he wouldn’t still love her. If he only knew…

The Prince, though, already knew all about the spill. In fact, he’d known Mia would spill before he had bought her the gown. That’s why he’d gotten her a special gown made of fabric that couldn’t be stained or spoiled in any way—fabric that was spotless forever no matter what. In fact, he’d left Mia multiple notes explaining this to her and urging her to look at her gown and see that it was still without spot. He had paid an exorbitant price to buy this gown for her; she had only to realize it.

The Prince patiently kept trying to get Mia’s attention. His heart ached to see her living in guilt instead of the joy of being his beloved.

His patient love eventually won out. Oh, the joy that flooded Mia’s heart when she realized her gown couldn’t be spoiled!

I would love to report that Mia never spilled or stumbled in the mud or did anything else that would have soiled a normal gown again. But that wouldn’t be true at all. She continually stumbled and spilled and stuttered. But the next time she felt tempted to bury her head in shame and call herself a failure, she lifted it with grateful tears streaming down her cheeks. “My Prince gave me a gown that can’t be spoiled,” she whispered in gratitude, a great smile of praise filling her face. “And,” she added, “He’s promised to keep working on me.” You see, her Prince loved her enough not to leave her on the streets, but to clothe her in a spotless gown and to give her his strength and all she needed to live more and more like the princess he’d made her.

She felt like singing…and she couldn’t help but talk about her Prince to anyone who would listen.

“For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14 (esv)

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10 (esv)

“…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:26-27 (esv)

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,” 2 Peter 1:3 (esv)

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6 (esv)

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Story: Forgetting

Jonathan could hardly believe the gifts he’d been given.

His father had sacrificed everything he had to not only ransom him from prison (which he was in due to his own fault–due in fact to crimes he’d committed against his father), but also buy him everything he would need for surviving in the wilderness in which they lived. He’d been given a flashlight to light up his path, access to food to sustain him in his father’s kitchen, a shelter to hide under during the scorching heat–the list could go on and on. Above all, his father had given him his word that he would meet all his needs forever.

Now, you would think Jonathan would have been incredibly grateful for all he’d been given. And he was–at first. He couldn’t believe that his father would have given him so much, especially when he knew how wrong he’d been and how much his actions had grieved his father.

Yet as the weeks and months went on, a strange thing began to happen. Jonathan began simply ignoring his father’s precious gifts. He got busy with life and found himself complaining more than giving thanks. He complained about how dark it got at night, forgetting about the flashlight his father had given him. He complained about how hungry he was, forgetting to go to his father for food.

Jonathan had been given everything–yet he was living as if he had nothing. He was tired and angry and fearful and frustrated–all because he’d forgotten his father’s gifts.

One day, he wad pouring out his frustrations to a friend. His friend shook his head. “If you’d just stop ignoring your father and instead remember all he’s done and given you, you could be walking in peace and joy. You’re all worried about how you’ll meet your needs, but didn’t your father promise to meet them? You’re all frustrated because of how dark the prairie gets at night, but didn’t your father give you a flashlight? You’re malnourished and exhausted, but have you been going to your father for food?” he admonished.

Jonathan shook his head, realizing how foolish he’d been. “I’m not sure my father will want to see me now,” he muttered.

His friend gently touched his shoulder. “You know that’s not true. Your father rescued you when you had nothing. He’s longing for you to run to him.”

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (KJV)

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” 1 Corinthians 1:30 (KJV)

“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:1-3 (esv)

Jesus: The Life-Giver Easter DevotionalPrepare Your Hearts for Easter Now Just $3.99!

If you’re looking for a way to focus your children on the life Jesus came to bring this Easter season, check out our Easter devotional, Jesus: The Life-Giver. It includes a fun craft for children as they discover why Jesus came.

Learn more.

“This is a wonderful product! It can be used for simple or in-depth conversations, depending upon the length of time you may have and the ages of your children. Our kids, ages 4 – 12, enjoyed it very much; my husband and I did too. Also, our boys liked designing their own flowers just as much as our girls. Each day we had great discussions, and we saved the flowers for a month or more! This was our best Easter week ever thanks to ‘The Life-Giver.’” – Stephanie Woole

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Short Story: Unconditional Love

Wedding

Lilly loved the golden bracelet she’d been given. It was a symbol of her fiancé’s love—something precious beyond measure. She reached out to touch it…

Panic gripped Lilly’s heart. The bracelet wasn’t on her wrist! She knew she’d put it on that morning. She must have lost it! It could be anywhere—she’d been on a long walk. Where, oh where, had it fallen off?

And how could she lose that bracelet? What must her fiancé think? She felt unbearably terrible and ashamed.

Unable to find it on her own, she told her fiancé; his reaction completely surprised her. He wasn’t mad at her. In fact, he assured her that all that mattered to him was her. He wept with her because he knew she valued the bracelet and assured her he’d work with her to find it if they at all could, but her actions had not affected his love in the least.

Wiping away the tears and the shame, Lilly began to realize that her fiancé wasn’t surprised at her failures—and when she failed, she should run to him, not away. His arms were always open wide; he saw her, not as the mess she was, but as his spotless, beloved bride.

“…Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” Revelation 21:9 (KJV)

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV)

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Returning to Rest

Biscuit bounced into the room with all the energy and joy of a puppy, despite being a two-year-old lab. She wagged her tail and happily buried her face in Jason’s lap.

Jason lovingly stroked her head. He loved Biscuit. And so far, Biscuit had seemed delighted with her new owner. Ever since he had rescued her from the pound, she had seemed to understand that Jason loved her and would care for her. He was so very different from her previous owner, who had treated her harshly.

*******

One day, Jason couldn’t find Biscuit. It was so unlike her not to greet him the moment he walked in the door. What had happened?

He finally found her hiding underneath a bed. She hid her head in her paws when she saw him, trying to hide her eyes and make him disappear.

“What are you doing, Biscuit? It’s okay…you can come out.” It took quite a bit of coaxing before Biscuit finally came out from under the bed. Her whole frame trembled, as her head was hung in shame. Tail drooping in between her legs, she led Jason into the other room. As Jason surveyed the broken china and glass all over the floor, he suddenly understood. Biscuit had obviously broken the lamp and then hid herself under the bed, afraid her master would no longer love her.

Jason reached out his hands gently and stroked Biscuit. “It’s okay, girl. I still love you. Nothing you do will make me stop. You may have consequences for what you do,”—Jason added this as he noticed a small cut on her foot caused by some of the broken glass—“but I’m still going to care for you.”

It took several days of Jason repeating these words and still lovingly caring for Biscuit before the happy wag came back to her tail. Once again, she was at peace in her master’s care.

*******

Biscuit was still adjusting to her role as mother. She took the responsibility of caring for her four puppies very seriously. In fact, she hadn’t seemed to realize yet that Jason would care for them just as he had for her. Once they finished nursing, she seemed convinced it was still her job to provide food for them. She even tried her hand at hunting—which proved a comical, although utter, failure.

Jason faithfully put out food for each puppy as well as the mother. Each time he did, though, Biscuit seemed incredibly surprised and relieved. It took months before she finally realized she didn’t have to worry—her master would take care of her puppies as well as her. The happy wag returned again to her tail. She was at peace in her master’s care.

*******

At one point in time, Biscuit ended up with a broken leg. Jason, as usual, took good care of her. He got the leg set and casted (even though Biscuit hated the veterinarian working on her) and gave her medicine to ease the pain. He even carried up the stairs when her leg was too sore to make the trip.

But as the days went on, Biscuit began to show signs of depression. She wouldn’t eat well, and she didn’t seem interested in anything.

Jason kept trying to interest her in all the things she still could do—sitting on his lap, chewing a bone, etc., but Biscuit remained uninterested. All she wanted to do was run and play outside—and since she couldn’t do it, she seemed determined to be miserable.

“What’s wrong with your dog?” Jason’s friend Mike asked one afternoon when Biscuit shrank back from his attempts to interest her in a toy. “She used to love that toy.”

Jason nodded. “I know. She’s been this way ever since her injury. She doesn’t seem to believe that I’m still here caring for her.”

“Too bad,” Mike remarked. “She was always such a happy one. What are you going to do?”

“Do? Why, keep loving and caring for her, of course. Maybe one day she’ll realize she can rest in my care, no matter what’s happening or how she feels.”

“Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.” Psalm 116:7