r L n -- really LOVE now! : February 2021

Sunday, February 21, 2021

Authentic CHRISTians Gladly Serve GOD


'IF it is disagreeable in your sight to serve The LORD, choose for yourselves TOday whom you will serve -- whether the gods which your fathers served... or the gods...in whose land you are living -- but as for me and my house, we will serve The LORD.' (Joshua 24:15)

i've chosen to serve The LORD -- The One TRUE Living GOD Who canNOT lie, who is The Just JUDGE of His creatures, Who acts with INfinite WISDOM, INcomprehensible LOVE, UNchanging HOLINESS and INfallible TRUTH.

i've chosen to serve The GOD Who gives the Breath of LIFE to ALL (whether yet inside the womb or outside), Who is SOVEREIGN Ruler of the destiny of ALL creation. i've chosen to serve The GOD of Law and Order, not of chaos and rebellion -- The GOD of The Holy Scriptures Whose written WORD is INfallible TRUTH revealed and to be obeyed.

i've chosen to serve The GOD Who SO ABOMINATES ALL SIN and yet SO LOVED sin-natured, utterly helpless, PRIDE-dominated doers of SIN that HE commissioned HIS One and Only SON to be The CHRIST Who died for the SINs of the world and Who is RISEN from the Dead so that repentant SIN-doers may be forgiven and quickened ALIVE to divine EVERlasting SPIRITual LIFE that is a GIFT from GOD Himself.

The GOD i am privileged to serve TOday is my Almighty FATHER Who lives in the UNapproachable LIGHT of His Heavenly KINGdom, Whose very SON JESUS The CHRIST declared The REALITY: 'I AM The WAY and The TRUTH and The LIFE. NO ONE comes to The FATHER except THROUGH Me' (John 14:6).

'The LORD — The LORD is a Compassionate and Gracious GOD, slow to anger and ABOUNDING in FAITHful LOVE and TRUTH, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, FORGIVING Iniquity, Rebellion, and Sin. BUT He will NOT leave the GUILTY UNpunished, bringing the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.' (Exodus 34:6-7)

The LORD i serve is a GOOD GOD. His GOODness is what is "admirable, attractive, praiseworthy -- ALL His moral Perfections, His Generosity, His Mercy, His Grace, His LOVE. HE is The LORD Jehovah, The I AM What I AM, The SOVEREIGN Savior -- Compassionate and Gracious, slow to anger, ABOUNDING in LOVE and Faithfulness, maintaining LOVE to thousands and FORGIVING wickedness, rebellion and SIN. YET He does NOT leave the GUILTY UNpunished."

The LORD GOD i serve is 100% PERFECT in ALL His GOODnesses -- "His TRUTHfulness and TRUSTworthiness, His UNfailing Justice and Wisdom, His Tenderness, Forbearance and ENTIRE Adequacy to ALL who penitently seek His Help, His NOBLE Kindness in offering Believers the EXALTED Destiny of Fellowship with Him in Holiness and LOVE... GOD NEVER COMES SHORT of the GOODNESS to which HE has laid claim." (notes from J.I. Packer's "Knowing GOD" p.161)

Who do YOU serve TOday? god of SELF... the gods of THIS world... the father of lies that is the Devil? OR do you NOW serve GOD IN CHRIST JESUS?

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my Prayer For You

When i think of the wisdom and scope of GOD's plan, i fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. i pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy SPIRIT. i pray that CHRIST will be more and more at home in your heart as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of GOD's marvelous love.

And may you have the power to understand, as all GOD's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of CHRIST, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from GOD.

Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by CHRIST JESUS to all generations, forever and ever. AMEN!

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

The Great I AM

I AM the Bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35)

I AM the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life.
(John 8:12)

I AM the Door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
(John 10:7, 9)

I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. I AM the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
(John 10:11, 14)

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
(John 15:1, 5)

I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
(John 11:25)

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
(John 14:6)

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" JESUS answered, You say rightly that I AM a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.
(John 18:37)

LOVE is...

Though i speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, i have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though i have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though i have all faith, so that i could remove mountains, but have not love, i am nothing.

And though i bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though i give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When i was a child, i spoke as a child, i understood as a child, i thought as a child; but when i became a man, i put away childish things.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now i know in part, but then i shall know just as i also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(I Corinthians 13)

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the LORD always. i will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in CHRIST JESUS.

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

(Philippians 4:4-8)

How Great Thou Art!

O LORD, my GOD! When i in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands have made.
i see the stars, i hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

And when i think that GOD, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, i scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When CHRIST shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then i shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, my GOD, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! i once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now i see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour i first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, i have already come; 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

The LORD has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, i shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

The world shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun refuse to shine; but GOD, who called me here below, shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun; we've no less days to sing GOD's praise than when we'd first begun.

The Holy BIBLE -- The Word of GOD

The BIBLE contains the mind of GOD, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the CHRISTian's charter. Here is Paradise restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of GOD its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

(Foreword from The Gideons International)