How Much Is God's Love

This is my grandson, Mason. He loves his Pop and his Pop loves him. He will be two in July and he has blessed our lives more and more as he grows each day.

When he does this - arms spread out - I think about God's love for us. His love is immeasurable. He loves us so much that H allowed His Son and our Savior to die for us.

But I also think of Jesus when I see Mason do this. This was Jesus' posture as he was nailed to the cross in an act of violence, but Jesus laid down His life for the world because of His love for us. He actually loves us that much. The Father, Son and the Spirit love you even if the world does not. Remember that!

Sid

Not Making Sense To The World

A blonde walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the loan officer. She says she's going to Europe on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000. The bank officer says the bank will need some kind of security for the loan, so the blonde hands over the keys to a new Rolls Royce. The car is parked on the street in front of the bank, she has the title and everything checks out. The bank agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan.

The bank's president and its officers all enjoy a good laugh at the blonde for using a $250,000 Rolls as collateral against a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then proceeds to drive the Rolls into the bank's underground garage and parks it there.

Two weeks later, the blonde returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41. The loan officer says, "Ma'am, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multimillionaire. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?"

The blonde replies, "Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $15.41 and expect it to be there when I return?"

This puts a smile on our face because here is a lady that at a first glance seems foolish by the wisdom of the world, but when the final accounting was due, she was the wise one.

And it puts a smile on the Father in Heaven when we live by values that don't make sense to the world, but when the final accounting proves to be the wise ones. Live for God and win the prize.

Sid

Serve Where God Has Placed You

In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch.
He decided to make a change and become a monk, so he went to see the prior of the local monastery.
Your Majesty, said the prior, do you understand that you must make a pledge of obedience to me as prior of this monastery. That will be hard for you because you have been a king.
I understand, said King Henry, the rest of my life, I pledge to be obedient to you, as you are obedient to Christ.
Then, I’ll tell you what to do, said the prior. Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you…which King Henry did with newfound purpose.
The same is true for you and for me. Remember, God has planted you in a certain place, to be the best mother or pipe fitter or bookkeeper or cabinetmaker we can be. God expects us to be faithful right where we are, so bloom where you are planted.

Sid

Right Lane

I have noticed something about Americans. They just don’t like to drive in the “right lane”. When you are in the “right lane” you have to change lanes if someone is slower than you. Even on a three- or four-lane road, we just prefer to not drive in the “right lane”. The law says that slower traffic is to merge right, but we don’t want that tag so we get out in the show-off lane and do 55 M.P.H., but never in the “right lane”.

I found this true about Christians. We have trouble being in the “right lane”. We want to be out their in the world. We want to look, smell and be seen as being just like everyone else. We have trouble praying the Lord’s Prayer as we ask not to be lead into temptation. No, we love to live on the edge. We pray instead, “Lord, we are not that worried about temptation, just don’t let us get caught or let there be any consequences.” The “right lane” is too slow for us. It is too good for us. It is not what our nature wants.

We need to be submissive to the call of God and be in the “right lane”. Stay within his will, love like he does, put restraints on what we will and will not do, and if we do – God will be proud. Live in the “right lane” for God.

Sid

Homecoming

Homecomings are great!

I have just spent a couple of days with my son Andy. Andy is a 1st Lieutenant in the Tennessee National Guard and has been serving in Iraq for the last six months. He is home on leave. We have missed him and glad to see him, if only for a short time.

As I reflect on the excitement of seeing him, I think about how God will feel when he sees His children face to face. What a glorious time it will be to see the Father. What a marvelous experience for the family of God to be in His presence. I have to believe it will be a time of celebration, happiness and worship.

I have to let my son go back into the war in Iraq. I got a glimpse of being with him this past week. But I long for the time when he will be home for good. I know that he wants to be home, too. May we all long to be home with God! What a glorious day when the saints are in His presence.

Sid