Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life… (Psalm 23:6, Amplified)
Because of Who He is, and Who He is to me, I expect to be pursued by only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love.
Because of Who He is, and Who He is in me, every where I go, I will leave in my wake His goodness, His mercy, and His unfailing love. They follow me.
That which I have freely received, I freely give.
Just relax and be His kid.
When I say this, I’m not necessarily talking about your activity level or your productivity in the kingdom of God. I’m talking about the state of being within your own being, spirit, soul and body.
Someone asked me about my ‘ministry’ the other day. I was thinking about that this morning and had this thought, “I don’t want a ‘ministry’. I just want to share the message.” For me that message is He loves you and He sent Jesus to save you spirit, soul, and body because He loves you.
Many years ago I attended a ladies meeting at church. During this meeting someone prophesied over my life and spoke of things I would do for the kingdom of God. At the time I had no idea what they were talking about. In a way that was good. I couldn’t make it happen, because I didn’t know what ‘it’ was.
What I did know was how to follow God’s leading. He would nudge me in a certain direction and I would follow. He would then nudge me in another direction and I would follow. Years later, as I walked through the hall of a hospital it suddenly occurred to me that I was doing what had been prophesied concerning my life. He made it happen, as I simply followed His lead, one step at a time.
At some point in my ‘ministry’ I lost sight of this. I was so busy doing the work. I was so busy being the ‘minister’ everyone expected me to be. Really I was no longer ‘being’. I was just doing.
Then I felt that nudge again. I followed Him. He reminded me that all the activity, the ministry, was not who I was or who He wanted me to be. He just wanted me to be His kid. The rest would follow as I simply followed Him.
Relax and be His kid. That’s the root. The rest is fruit.
For in Him we live and move and have our being… (Acts 17:28, Amplified)
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. (John 15:4, NKJV)
You are so beautiful to me. Can’t you see? You’re everything I hoped for. You’re everything I need. You are so beautiful to me. *
I had an interesting experience with God recently. I was sitting with Him and I began to see some things about myself I might have done differently had I created myself. Some were physical changes. Some were personality changes. I didn’t even realize that I felt this way deep down inside.
As I came to the realization that there were things I guess I didn’t like about myself, I also realized that I was exactly what He was “hoping” for.
When a couple find that they are expecting a new little one, they have hopes, yes about the child’s future, but also hopes like “I hope he has your eyes” or “I hope she has your smile.”
God said to me, “When you were being formed, I was ‘hoping’ for a petite little hispanic girl with dark curly hair and big black eyes.”
In that instant I felt loved, accepted and beautiful. I was everything He hoped for.
When you were being formed, He was ‘hoping’ for you. You are so beautiful to Him.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalms 139:14, KJV)
* “You Are So Beautiful To Me” sung by Joe Cocker
It was in His eyes.
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her… (Luke 7:13, KJV)
It was in His words.
…and he said unto her, Weep not. (Luke 7:13, KJV)
It was in His touch.
And he came and touched the bier… (Luke 7:14, KJV)
It was in His actions.
…And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And [Jesus] gave him [back] to his mother. (Luke 7:14-15; KJV, Amplified)
What was it? It was love.
It was love in His eyes, His words, His touch and His actions then, and it’s love in His eyes, His words, His touch and His actions today and forever.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8, KJV)
Let it be His love in our eyes, our words, our touch and our actions too. They will know us by our love (John 13:35).
We love, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19, ASV)
In the mornings I sit with God. What does that mean? What does that look like? Well, I sit in my ‘prayer’ chair surrounded by my Bible, possibly a book or two, my iPad with worship music, a notebook and the communion elements. Then I wait. I sing. I pray. I write. I sit with Him and follow His lead. I sit with Him so that He can tell me about His love for me and I can respond with my love for Him.
…Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. (Song of Solomon 2:13, Amplified)
Do I take time to meet my Good Shepherd each day, letting Him tell me of His love, and cheering His heart with my interest in Him? (Footnote to Song of Solomon 2:13, Amplified)
I start each morning not with a list of wants and needs. I start each day not with my cares and concerns. I start each day with Love. Just letting Him love on me and loving Him in return.
We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19, KJV)
As I sat with Him one morning last week, I suddenly felt overwhelmed with love for a person that came to mind. I knew she had need of healing in her body and in her soul. I knew she had financial needs. I longed to see her needs met. Why? I was feeling His heart for her. He longed to see her needs met. He longed for the freedom, in her life, to meet her needs.
As compassion rose up in my heart I felt that God wanted me to call her and offer to spend some time with her in prayer concerning her own personal needs. She is someone who prays for everyone else. She is someone who prays for nations. God wanted prayer put forth for her.
I called her and she agreed to meet. I told her that I was coming just to pray for her and nothing else. A few days later I went to her home and together we sat with God and let Him love on her.
She was happy and grateful to receive His love, but she said that her focus was not on herself but to take that love out to others. My response to her was that going out and ministering that love to others is not the root it’s the fruit.
We love each other as a result of his loving us first. (1 John 4:19, NLT)
We are to go out and love others. We are to be moved with compassion towards others. We are His ministers on this earth, ministers of His love. How do we do that? By first letting Him minister His love to us personally.
I sat with Him that morning letting Him love on me and the next thing I knew I was compelled to go love her. I was moved with compassion, compelled by love after first being overwhelmed by His love.
We love, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19, ASV)
…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15, KJV)
And as ye go, preach saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:7-8, KJV)
Go ye. Selah.
Highway of Love 