Encounter with the Risen Christ (from the book I Thought I Knew What Love Was)

April 1, 20132 Comments

I would love it if you check out, I Thought I Knew What Love Was. You can purchase right here on the site there’s a link entitled Get Your Copy or you may purchase through these wonderful sites: http://www.westbowpress.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com. and http://www.amazon.com or iTunes store.

I thought I knew what love was until I encountered the King of the Universe. This book is filled with prayers, psalms, letters to God, and encouragement from God. I hope it blesses your heart. Here is an excerpt from the book.

I kneel my heart before the risen Christ.
He stands so perfectly
with the glory of our Father
surrounding Him.
He is Holy.
He is King.
His reign is eternal.
He has risen,
for death could not hold Him,
and the grave could not keep Him.
He has risen with all power in the palm of His hands.
His hands are marked with scars of where they pierced Him.
I see the nails He took for you and for me,
so we would no longer have to carry the weight of our shame.
He seeks to reconcile the entire world to His Father,
knowing that His Kingdom is the only kingdom
that will last forever.
I kneel before the risen Christ.
I take in His sweet fragrance,
the fragrance of love.
He laid down His life,
so He and I could live in paradise.
One tear I shed, leads to many,
for I understand I have nothing to repay Him with.
So I commit to Him for life.
My tears of adoration bathe His feet,
for there is no greater gift than the one He’s offered.
He has offered a new life.
I gaze upon Him
dressed in fine white linen,
in breathtaking radiance He stands.
There are flames of eternal fire in His eyes.
His presence is so overwhelming and captivating.
If only we could truly encounter the risen Christ,
the same Christ who with one touch
healed the woman with the issue of blood.
He is the One who heals our diseases
and delivers us from the penalty of our sins.
He was bruised for our transgressions,
and the price for our peace rested on His shoulders.
He stood blameless,
taking on the weight of sin from the entire world.
The burdens of all people He carried.
He still carries our burdens and our ailments today.
He was there in the beginning.
He is here, now.
He is there in the end.
He is in complete communion with the Holy Spirit and the Father.
There is nowhere we can go
where we are out of His reach.
There is nothing that can separate us from His love.
Though we may not feel loved,
we are loved.
I see love every time I gaze on the cross,
for God so loved the world that He sent His Son,
to die for us,
and to be the payment for all our sins.
He knew we had no ability to pay.
If only we could encounter the risen Christ,
who delivers the tormented
and sets all captives free.
He brings complete liberty,
so people are no longer chained and shackled.
He brings freedom so we may live the abundant life He has promised
to give us.
We bow before the risen Christ
who, alone, can change a sinful man
into a holy man.
He is the One who can take something completely broken,
and make it whole again.
If we could only encounter the risen Christ,
who still walks on the water and has the ability to calm all storms.
The winds and the waves are still subject to Him.
He is the same yesterday, today, and always.
He has not changed, nor will He ever change.
If we could only encounter the risen Christ
and see Him in the fullness of His glory;
to have that mighty power that was at work raising Him from the dead,
at work in our lives
and at work in our hearts.
If only we could encounter the risen Christ
and have that transforming power
changing us into the image of the Father.
We were purchased by Christ’s blood
and set apart to do His bidding.
We are no longer slaves,
but God’s children.
We are the children He loves.
We are the children He adores.
What a perfect sacrifice!
With acceptance of His sacrifice and belief in Him,
we become a part of His family forever.
We enter into a royal priesthood,
and we are set apart for His glory.
If only Satan knew
that on the third day
Jesus would rise again.
If only Judas knew that his betrayal
was a part of the plan.
The plan was to reconcile the world to the Father.
That one act
would help lead people to encountering the risen Christ.
He is risen.
Death could not hold Him.
Death has no power over Him.
He took the keys of death and hell.
He proclaimed victory over all who believe.
If only we could encounter the risen Christ,
who spoke and it was.
The truth of His words
permeate and saturate the soul.
His words are sharper than any sword
and able to divide the bone from the marrow.
If only we could encounter the risen Christ;
walk in holiness,
with purity of heart and purity of mind.
He walked the earth,
tempted,
yet, He did not sin.
He proved that sin did not hold Him,
and there is freedom from sin for all who believe.
He is our hope,
our salvation,
and our Deliverer.
He is Faithful and True.
He came to save the world,
cleanse the world,
and change the world.
If only we could encounter the risen Christ,
who has defeated death,
who has defeated sin,
and who has reunited us with our loving Father.
We do not accept defeat,
for He has already won the battle.
So let us rejoice
that Christ is RISEN!

All rights reserved. No part of the material may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, without the written permission of the Publisher, Westbow Press (www.westbowpress.com), or Author, Erin Lamb. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

He is RISEN

March 30, 2013Leave a comment

Jesus Has Risen

Matthew 28:1-10

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The passage above brings great hope. The story does not end with the crucifixion. Jesus rose with all power in His hands. The resurrection brings hope to us because Jesus defeated not only sin, but our final enemy-DEATH. Those who enter into relationship with Him are offered life eternal. He said, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am,” John 14:2-3.

Paul’s take on the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:19-28

If our hope in Christ is good for this life only and no more, then we deserve more pity than anyone else in all the world.

But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised. For just as death came by means of a man, in the same way the rising from death comes by means of a man. For just as all people die because of their union with Adam, in the same way all will be raised to life because of their union with Christ. But each one will be raised in proper order: Christ, first of all; then, at the time of his coming, those who belong to him. Then the end will come; Christ will overcome all spiritual rulers, authorities, and powers, and will hand over the Kingdom to God the Father. For Christ must rule until God defeats all enemies and puts them under his feet. The last enemy to be defeated will be death. For the scripture says, “God put all things under his feet.” It is clear, of course, that the words “all things” do not include God himself, who puts all things under Christ. But when all things have been placed under Christ’s rule, then he himself, the Son, will place himself under God, who placed all things under him; and God will rule completely over all.

So, sweet friends, I pray you celebrate all that Jesus paid for. We have a hope that does not disappoint. Have a wonderful, blessed, and joy filled Resurrection Day! You are deeply loved!

Misunderstanding the Father’s Heart

March 24, 2013March 24, 20133 Comments

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him, Matthew 7:11.

I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us– yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses, Isaiah 63:7.

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32.

Sweet friends, I wanted to talk about our heavenly Father. He is probably one of the most misunderstood members of the Trinity. He is often represented as out to get people, cold, stern, or everything He is not. Some say we must cling to Jesus for He protects us from our grumpy Father. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. The Father loves with the same intensity as the Son. They are one.

Some things to ponder.

You were the Father’s idea. Every person was a thought in His mind before conception (Psalm 139).
The Father sent His Son. I don’t know about you, but I would not send my son to die for people who were guilty.
Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing; the good we see in Jesus is also in the Father. Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does, John 5:19.
The Father wants us to have good gifts. Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”
Good gifts come from God. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning,” James 1:17.

There are people who have taught that poverty and suffering is a sign of humility. Think about it this way. If you have/had children, how would them being poor, sick, hungry, depressed, or suffering make you look? It would make you look like a dead beat parent. Children’s services would probably come and take your kids if you did not feed them, clothe them, or care for them. Why do we believe God is a dead beat dad? Why do we think God wants us to have less than what we would give our children? Why do we think God is delighted with our sufferings?

The Bible says we will suffer for living in a sinful world. The Bible also tells us that we are more than conquerors through Christ who gives us strength (Romans 8:37). Jesus tells us in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.“

Sometimes we take on the mind set that the will of God for our lives is to be miserable, poor, sick, and hurting until heaven. We are just making it through. There is a difference between suffering for preaching or teaching the Gospel and the suffering that comes from sickness, disease, poverty, lack, abandonment, abuse, or injustice. God isn’t sitting in heaven going, “10 million more of my kids died today from sickness, let’s party angels.” We read that the Father delighted in Jesus taking on our sins for we could be saved and He knew the grave would not hold His Son. The death and resurrection of Jesus brings life to many. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand, Isaiah 53:10.

I am not hear to state God is our genie in a bottle and whatever we ask, He is obligated to oblige. Nor am I stating walking with God is a guarantee of a life free of problems. It isn’t. In the world we do and will have trouble. I am stating God is a good Father. He wants to bless us. He cares about us. He wants us to dream. He wants us to enjoy life. He wants us to be a blessing…

If I am poor, I can not help the poor.

If I am unhealthy, I can not serve others well. My sickness brings no glory to the Healer.

If I am always depressed, I can not give hope to others.

If I hate life, I am not going to encourage anyone! Nor will I have the joy Jesus paid for.

If I am always in need, I can not effectively help those in need.

I know God does not want us consumed with the desire for things or blessings. He wants us to be consumed with passion for Him. He is the greatest blessing and reward. We cannot believe that in any way that it glorifies Him for His children to be poor, in need, in lack, sick, full of disease, hurting, or depressed. It sends a message to the world, “God doesn’t take care of His own.”

As we prepare for Easter, I pray we thank the Father for all He does and has done for us. I also hope we cling not only to our salvation, but embrace all Jesus paid for. We have a Father who gave His very best to save us. May we be free to dream with Him, embrace the beauty of life with Him, and enjoy Him. May we ask for more so we can bless more people. May we believe God is the Perfect Father and our desires touch His heart. Bless you friends, in Jesus name, Amen.

I See the Cross (from the book I Thought I Knew What Love Was)

March 10, 20132 Comments

Hello sweet friends,

I would love it if you check out I Thought I Knew What Love Was. You can purchase right here on the site there’s a link entitled Get Your Copy or you may purchase through these wonderful sites: http://www.westbowpress.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com. and http://www.amazon.com or the iTunes store.

I thought I knew what love was until I encountered the King of the Universe. This book is filled with prayers, psalms, letters to God, & encouragement from God. I hope it blesses your heart. Here is an excerpt from the book.

I See the Cross Copyright 2011 © Erin Lamb.
I see the cross,
so vividly in front of me;
one nail pierced hand on the left
and another on the right.
I see His head hanging there
with the thorns positioned, oh, so tight.
I see the blood
dripping from the pure, spotless Lamb.
I kneel before Him
laying my sins,
all of them,
there.
I see the cross.
I see the beauty of God’s unmerited favor
and His forgiveness.
I see love in the eyes of the One who took my place.
For no greater love lies within a person,
than to surrender His life for His friend.
I see the cross,
that rugged cross;
my freedom was purchased with His blood.
He has been and always will be,
the One who paid the greatest price.
I was purchased by His life’s offering.
I am forever seated with Him in the heavenlies,
and my name is written in His heart.
His children are seated next to Him in heavenly places,
for on the cross He did not remain.
He rose again with all power in His hands.
The same power that raised Him from the dead,
now lives inside of me.
It lives inside of you.
It is that great power at work in us
that changes us from the person we are,
into the person that He chose us to be.
It is that same power that transforms a wicked man
into a righteous man.
I see the cross;
my Deliverer
is hanging there.
He purchased my freedom,
my healing,
and every blessing in the heavenly realm.
Some blessings I see now,
and some are yet to be seen.
I see the cross.
Do you see Him?
Do you celebrate here;
the place where tattered rags of our wretchedness
are exchanged for a robe of righteousness?
This place, the place,
is where scarlet sins are washed white as snow.
This is the place we must go.
The cross is where miracles occur.
The greatest miracle of all
is that God would seek to be reconciled with a sinful world.
I see my Father’s love here.
He cared enough
to send His only Son to save the least, the last, and the lost.
I see the cross,
a reflection of what real love is.
Selfishness died on the cross
when He said, “Father not my desires, but all Your purposes be
accomplished.”
Death was triumphed over on the cross
when He spoke, “It is finished.”
We know that we will see Him again,
and this life here is not the end.
We know that when the trumpet sounds,
the dead in Christ will rise again.
We know that we will have eternity to worship Him
and eternity to love Him.
I see the cross,
and it is all I must see.
Even if the world around me fades away,
I know that through my Savior I am
reconciled,
restored,
and made complete.
This body may fade and wither,
friends and family may come and go.
I have knelt before that rugged cross enough times to know
that my days are in His hands;
so are His purposes and His plan.
He is the reason I live.
He is the reason I rejoice.
No man would sacrifice his life,
put his very life in jeopardy, for someone who was guilty.
He gave His life,
so we may stand before Him completely unashamed.
Take a moment and look to the cross.
Ponder the wonderful cross.
I hope I find you there,
basking in the love of the Father.
He is the One who deeply loves you
and cares for you.
He is there
carrying your infirmities,
collecting every tear,
rejoicing when you rejoice,
and weeping when your soul has had its wear and tear.
You are never alone
and never abandoned.
I see the cross,
engrained forever in my memory.
The cross is a picture of the greatest love.
He is a love so true
and a love so dear.
He is a love that will never end.

He Chose Nails

March 1, 2013March 1, 20132 Comments

As we approach Easter I wanted to take some time to talk about Jesus. Sometimes our holiday celebrations overshadow the real meaning they were intended to be. Christ’s birth (though not born on December 25th) has been overshadowed by Santa Claus, trees, lights, and presents. Christ’s death and resurrection has been overshadowed by Easter bunnies, eggs, candy, and pastels.

Jesus endured pain that most people will never endure. He did it to complete the Father’s will, to redeem what Adam lost. Love hung on a rugged cross for us. As I reflect on Isaiah 53, I am reminded that He not only chose nails, He lived a life without comfort. Let’s read below.

Isiah 53

Who has believed our message

and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

He grew up before him like a tender shoot,

and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,

yet he did not open his mouth;

he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,

so he did not open his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away.

And who can speak of his descendants?

For he was cut off from the land of the living;

for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,

and with the rich in his death,

though he had done no violence,

nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,

and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering,

he will see his offspring and prolong his days,

and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.

After the suffering of his soul,

he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied;

by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,

and he will bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,

and he will divide the spoils with the strong,

because he poured out his life unto death,

and was numbered with the transgressors.

For he bore the sin of many,

and made intercession for the transgressors.

The King of the Universe left a palace on high to bring salvation to the lost. I hope we never forget our freedom cost Him greatly. We are so blessed that He did not remain on the cross. He rose again.

“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him,” ~Acts 2:22-24.

He has given us more than freedom from sin. He has given us a hope for life eternal. This Easter may we continue to ponder the wonder of the cross. We have a love that was tried and a love that is true. I don’t know anyone who endure what Jesus did for the guilty. For me and for you, He chose nails.

Hope (from the book I Thought I Knew What Love Was)

February 16, 2013Leave a comment

Hello dear friends,

I would love it if you check out my book, I Thought I Knew What Love Was. You can purchase right here on the site there’s a link entitled Get Your Copy or you may purchase through these wonderful sites: http://www.westbowpress.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com. and http://www.amazon.com or iTunes store.

I thought I knew what love was until I encountered the King of the Universe. This book is filled with prayers, psalms, letters to God, encouragement from God. I hope it blesses your heart. Here is an excerpt from the book.

There is a place of growth
between faith and the actualization of a promise
that I call the waiting room, or garden of hope.
Hope
is eagerly awaiting an answer to prayer;
the prayers that have seemed to linger, for years and years.
Hope
is the water for the seeds of faith,
so delicately placed in the soil of our souls.
Our souls
are the fertile places that need turned over.
Our hearts have to be infused with God’s love.
Our minds
need a reminder of His faithfulness.
Hope
keeps us alive.
Hope
keeps God’s promises for our lives alive
when we feel like giving up and dying.
Hope
requires the nurturing of our spirits and souls.
Hope
requires a renewing of our minds
that focuses on what God says, versus what our eyes may see.
In this place
there is a of tug-of-war
between God’s will and our own.
Can we see past the unseen into the realm of what could be?
Could we believe that what God has planned could,
and would, supersede
anything we could possibly dream?
Every so often fear comes
to strangle the seeds of faith,
attempting to grow weeds in the garden of our souls.
Fear seeks to devour our hopeful place.
Our skillful gardener,
our heavenly Father,
tells us not to be anxious because He is the keeper of our souls.
Hope
involves waiting;
waiting for blossoms,
and waiting for winter to turn into spring.
We are waiting for a glimpse of something better;
something more beautiful than what we could have imagined in our
wildest dreams.
Hope
is eagerly anticipating
the next chapter to unfold in God’s plan.
Hope
rests in today,
but desperately desires a peak at the complete picture of what He has
planned.
Hope
is delighting in the simple realization that God is love,
and God is in control.
God has the best plan and the best methods to achieve His plans.
Hope
is releasing our expectations
and our predisposition to settle for less than God’s best.
Hope
encourages us to soar above mediocrity.
Hope
is trusting in the unseen life force
that is His Spirit within.
He is our hope.
He is our only true hope.
We are hopeful
that we will be transformed into His image.
He is our security.
He is the truly faithful One.
He has the ability to change our hearts into His astonishing work of art.
He can take any impossibility,
at least in the eyes of man,
and turn that impossibility into reality.
He is the God who sees our impossibilities,
as His own personal opportunity
to showcase His power, His might, and His great love for those He
calls His own.
He is able to repair,
rescue,
deliver,
and save.
On that cross,
everything we required was released;
all of our spiritual promises were fulfi lled for all of eternity.
So, we cling to Him,
the One who is able to do remarkably and lavishly
more than we could request or even envision.

For His Glory

February 10, 20131 Comment

The last post was about when God’s answers don’t seem to match our prayers. Today, I wanted to expand on the topic. God works all things together for His purposes on the earth. Many times we are frustrated because we are trying to get God to work all things together for our purposes. It’s, “God, my will be done on earth,” instead of, “God, Your will be done on earth.”

God is interested in every single detail of our lives. He cares about us more than we could possibly care about ourselves. He cares about it all. He, however, sees the bigger picture. He sees all, knows all, and works all things together to accomplish the greatest good. Here are some examples from scripture.

Jesus:

Our Savior came into the world as a babe. He was born into humble circumstances. He lived only 33 years before being crucified. Jesus knew why He came. He knew His life would be the atoning sacrifice for all sin. He knew He would suffer and endure hardships for us. In the garden of Gethsemane He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done,” Luke 22:42. The Father had the crucifixion of the Son in place for our redemption. He allowed it to happen knowing He would raise His Son up to glory. The pain that Jesus endured accomplished more than our minds fully fathom. It was for His glory! The Father was glorified. The Son was glorified. And we are able to partake in an abundance of promises because of God’s glorious plan.

Lazarus:

I love the story of Lazarus. He was a friend of Jesus. He was loved by Jesus. He became sick and died. Lazarus’ sisters sent for Jesus, and He did not come.

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, John 11:4-6.

It seems strange that Jesus did not immediately stop what He was doing and attend to the request to come see His friend. By the time Jesus got there, Lazarus had been dead four days.

Jesus went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” John 11:11-15.

Then Jesus proceeded to raise Lazarus from the dead.

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him, John 11:39:44.

The death of Lazarus resulted in the resurrection of Lazarus, and God was glorified. Many people came to believe because of Lazarus’ encounter with Jesus.

Final Notes:

In our own lives we can focus on a small part of the equation, and God is focused on the greater picture. It’s not simply about us. It’s about the greater purpose. God knows what will bring the greatest impact for His Kingdom. It isn’t that He does not care about us or He’s selfish. He is perfect in wisdom and has a plan that is beyond what we can understand, reason, or fathom. We may never fully understand what He is doing. He is not obligated to explain everything to us. He asks that we trust Him.

I told you about my car accident. I was able to share God’s love with the salesman who sold me my car. I did finally get one Friday. The man who sold me my car provided a discount that was quite generous. The car I purchased has more than I could have asked for. God has also given me opportunities to share His love with others and the testimony of His saving power, healing, and grace during a challenging time. He continues to solidify my faith that He is my Protector, Provider, and Healer. I don’t know all that He has planned, but I am certain it will be for His glory.

God is good friends. What He is preparing for those who love Him is greater than anything we could imagine. May we trust Him more and more, knowing that He is good, and He is love. God bless you. Love, Erin.

I Love You More

January 25, 2013January 25, 20131 Comment

All the world seems to be looking for love. We were created to desire love, affection, affirmation, relationship, and the void in us is not easily filled. God set it up so no person on this planet has to be alone. People are born into families. Not only are we born into families, we are birthed with a great opportunity to know the Creator of the Universe.

I am often amazed that God, as perfect as He is, wants to be friends with us. He wants us to be recipients of His great love, forgiveness, and to adopt us as His children. I mean seriously, He can do whatever He wants. He could create the world’s perfect best friend or person. Yet, He chose and chooses to dwell with sinful man. God was not lonely before creating man. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all existed long before we did. God did not need us, He wanted us.

There’s something to be said about being wanted. No matter how awful we are or have been, we are here because God loves us. We are here because He cares for us. We are here because He had and has a great plan for our lives. We are no mistake!

He created us to be recipients of His great love. We were made to be loved by Him.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will—to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding, Ephesians 1:2-7.

No matter who we meet on this journey, there will not be anyone who loves us more than God. There will not be a person who will sacrifice all that they are for our best interests. It’s not going to happen. My earthly father is wonderful. I have no doubt he would do all in his power to protect, provide, and be there for me. However, I do not believe he can or would do all that God has done for me. While I was a sinner, Christ died for me. No greater love in the entire world, than the love God has lavished on us.

We may not always feel His love. We may not always see His love. We may not always believe in His love, but the truth is, God is love. Every day He pours out His love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, compassion, and wisdom on a world that rejects Him, denies Him, abuses His name, and blames Him for all that goes wrong. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is. I as a human, I grow tired of loving people who I know will never love me. I grow weary in turning the other cheek and responding in kindness to people who are cruel. God, however, is infinite in patience and love. Love is who God is.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, Psalm 103:8.

You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you, Psalm 86:5.

I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which He is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us–yes, the many good things He has done for the house of Israel, according to His compassion and many kindnesses, Isaiah 63:7.

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you, Isaiah 54:10.

God’s after relationship…with us.

Some don’t hear God’s voice; it’s challenging to be in a relationship with someone you can’t hear. I will say if you are a born again believer, you can hear from God. Pray and ask God for the ability to hear from Him. You can have a relationship with Him that is as close and intimate as you would like it be. As Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me,” John 10:27. Even if you don’t hear from God directly speaking to your spirit, you can hear from Him through His Word (which is the best place to start and He does not violate His Word. He increases our understanding, but does not violate His Word). God also speaks through dreams, visions, others, and sometimes our circumstances.

Lastly, here are the words God deposited in my heart today.

I love you more…I love you more than you can imagine. You are My workmanship, created for My glory. I chose you. I wanted you. I have never left you, and I will never leave you. You are an extension of My heart. Where you are, there I am. You are a part of Me. There is nothing that can separate you from My love. There’s nothing you can do to make Me love you less or more. My love for you extends from before the world was made into eternity. It is a love that cannot be broken. Your name is written on My heart. You name graven on My hands. I move heaven and earth to care for you. You are My beloved. You will always be My beloved.

Sweet friends, these words apply to you as well. God loves you. He is for you. His heart cries out again and again, I Love You More….Praying God blesses you richly and abundantly this year, above all you could ask or imagine. Love, Erin.

When Heaven Comes Down (from the book I Thought I Knew What Love Was)

December 24, 2012December 24, 2012Leave a comment

Lovely friends, here is an excerpt from I Thought I Knew What Love Was. I hope it blesses your heart. You are deeply loved.

Image from are-you-going.com

When Heaven Comes Down

When heaven comes down,

there is light that pierces through every level of darkness;

a ray of pulsating light

breaks off all the chains of the captive.

His presence,

a full cloud of glory,

saturates the ground,

leaving pools of His splendor that are heavenly and holy.

One touch from Him,

and the heart and the soul are transformed;

no longer does it remain vacant,

cold,

or broken.

When heaven comes down,

every knee must bow,

for He is majestic;

no one can stand upright in His presence.

The body shakes and

the earth quakes,

for He is a rolling thunder.

His voice drowns out

the noise,

the chatter,

and He silences all of man’s agenda.

He stands in full authority,

speaking to the wind;

He commands it to obey.

He brings with Him

justice and mercy,

setting wrong things right.

He is establishing a Kingdom that diminishes all darkness with

immense light.

When heaven comes down,

there is a healing rain;

it heals the heart,

heals the soul,

and builds up the spirit.

There is a downpour of love

that reaches down, even to the human cellular level.

It moves through and

navigates through,

every cell,

every tissue,

and every vein.

It brings life-giving oxygen

to a depleted heart.

He brings His love, His comfort, and His saving power to those who

are lost.

When heaven comes down,

we begin to understand

He has a great purpose.

He has always had a great plan.

Darkness trembles

and bows its head,

for in the presence of His light

even darkness must acknowledge He is good, and He is divine.

When heaven comes down,

the soul begins to weep;

it knows it has encountered the King above all Kings.

The heart may race

and pulse increase,

for He is so incredible;

our eyes can barely see.

We can barely take Him in.

We are captivated,

elated,

and motivated

to seek more and more of Him.

His goodness

is so alluring;

we want nothing more.

When heaven comes down,

we see ourselves as we were meant to be;

loved,

esteemed,

highly thought of,

and part of a divine family.

He washes away our insecurities.

He clothes us in His acceptance;

He declares, “I made you for Me.”

When heaven comes down,

our lives will change,

our world will change,

and our perspectives will change.

There in His presence,

wisdom is imparted into the mind of man;

not human wisdom,

but Godly wisdom.

His ways are drastically different from ours.

His thoughts are not the same as our thoughts.

An encounter with Him

brings our high thoughts low.

We are humbled by His presence;

overwhelmed by His grace.

How could someone so holy

want to stand with us, face to face?

When heaven comes down,

the conflict between the already, and the not yet, ceases to be,

for He stands loaded with His promises;

He holds all the elements of time and space in His hands.

He proves to be the miraculous working God,

time and time again.

Book available: http://www.westbowpress.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com and http://www.amazon.com

The True Meaning of Christmas (A King was Born)

December 22, 2012Leave a comment

The Birth of Jesus, Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Christmas is a time of the year where most people focus on time with family, shopping for presents for friends and family, eating lots of good food, and parties. It’s a time of the year where people talk about elves, Santa Claus, Christmas tress, cookies, and holiday cheer. Though Jesus was not likely born in December if you go by the Jewish calendar, the intent of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of a King. The King of the Universe came down and humbled Himself. He entered into humanity to eventually save the world.

Jesus was not born in a 5 star hotel. He was not born to rich and wealthy parents. He was not born in the best of circumstances. He was born in a manger. I grew up on a farm, and I can tell you animals stink. A manger is a trough that animals eat from. The Savior of the world was born in a place where animals dwelt. He entered into a world filled with sin, darkness, and pain. He came to be the atoning sacrifice for the world’s sin.

I never want to forget that Christmas is supposed to be about celebrating His birth and life on earth. He left paradise for our sinful world. Not only did He leave paradise, He entered the world the way we enter the world. He was born. Jesus had to grow up just as we do. He did not show up as a fully grown adult. He learned to crawl, walk, and be taught by His earthly parents. He experienced the same life issues we experience. He grew from a baby to an adult.

We have such a great Savior. He came for love. He came out of His great love for humanity. He came in the most humble way. This Christmas may we think of gifts to give God for the birth of His Son. Christmas isn’t about us and what we can acquire for ourselves. It’s the most beautiful love story ever lived and told. Jesus is the reason for the season. What the world needed and still needs is God’s great love.

Thank you God that love came down and dwelt among us.

God=Love

Exploring God's Heart

Tag: Jesus

Encounter with the Risen Christ (from the book I Thought I Knew What Love Was)

He is RISEN

Jesus Has Risen

Misunderstanding the Father’s Heart

I See the Cross (from the book I Thought I Knew What Love Was)

He Chose Nails

Hope (from the book I Thought I Knew What Love Was)

For His Glory

I Love You More

When Heaven Comes Down (from the book I Thought I Knew What Love Was)

The True Meaning of Christmas (A King was Born)

The Birth of Jesus, Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)