A cute Tiny Sepuku Comic to celebrate Valentine's Day.
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Random Thoughts Thursday
Quran Burning. So, Pastor Terry Jones has decided not to burn the Quran, because the Ground Zero mosque will be moved (a fact that the group building the mosque denies). I'm wondering if he's reveling in the attention he's gotten from the media. Don't get me wrong, I have no doubt he would've burned the Quran. I just think the media attention didn't make things any better. Now that I think about it, does it (media attention) ever make things better when something negative is showcased? I really think part of this is for attention...and he got just what he wanted. I will be surprised if his church membership doesn't increase after this. smh
And what about him representing all of Christianity? Um....no! I'm a Christian (very faithful and active in my church; in love with God) and I do NOT agree with the burning of the Quran. Do I agree with the Muslim faith? No. But do I believe I have the right to judge Muslims and go about burning the Quran? No. As Christians, our job is to tell people about Jesus and let them make the choice. Whether they choose Jesus or not, we're supposed to love them anyway. How is burning the Quran spreading the love of God? Yes, people around the world probably burn Bibles everyday, but two wrongs don't make a right.
And blaming the whole entire Muslim faith cos of the 9/11 attacks is pure insanity. So, I guess that means African Americans can blame the whole entire white race cos of slavery and the injustice our ancestors suffered, right? Or Jews can blame everyone of German decent because of the Holocaust. Maybe everyone of Native American descent can blame anyone of European descent cos of Christopher Columbus and others following him took their land away. Am I the only one seeing the silliness of this?
Willow Smith. I have mixed feelings about Willow Smith signing on to Jay Z's label. I'm hoping and praying she doesn't grow up too fast. She's only 9. I'm a firm believer in letting kids be kids. On the other hand, I'm kinda feeling her song. I love the beat. It's a great dance song (and I love dancing). Plus, if this is really her singing, she has a nice voice...very Rihanna like. I'd have to hear her live to make sure auto tune didn't doctor her voice up. Judge for yourself.
Inspirational Sunday
You're the only one that knows me.
Love it when you hold me.
I'll never find a love like this.
Now I'll never be lonely.
Look at what you've shown me.
I'll never find a love like this.
Natasha Bedingfield
Rae's Thought: This week's quote comes from one of my favorite songs, Love Like This, by Natasha Bedingfield. Although it's actually a secular song, I think it describes perfectly the love God has for His children.
You're the only that knows me. In John 10:14, Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd who knows his sheep. Second Timothy 2:19 tells us 'The Lord knows those who are his.' Now, you may say, "Sure God knows me, but is He really the only one that knows me? I mean, my family/friends/significant other knows me too." They may know you, but God knows you. He knows you down to the very fiber of your being. He knows every cell, every DNA strand, every hair on your head. Psalm 139:15 (Msg) says, "You know me inside and out. You know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, how I was sculpted from nothing into something." God knows you even better than you know yourself! He knows how you think, what you're gonna do years from now...God knows EVERYTHING about you. He even knew you before you even existed.
Love it when you hold me. So, you may wonder how on earth can the Lord hold you? Psalm 73:23 tells us that He holds us by our right hand, meaning He guides us. But He does so much more than that. Isaiah 66:13 says, "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you." When God comforts His children, it is equivalent to Him taking us in His arms and holding us. There's just something about being able to rest in God's arms.
Now I'll never be lonely. Once you join the family of God, He's with you forever. He promises, in Joshua 1:5, that He'll never leave us of forsake us (forsake: to leave someone who needs or counts on you). That means He'll be a constant in your life. Friends and family may leave you, but not God. He's there through good times and bad. Feeling lonely? Well, have you asked God to fill that loneliness with His presence? Try it and watch Him do just that.
Look at what you've shown me. Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). Being children of God opens our eyes to things that nonbelievers don't get to see (unless, of course, God gives them a glimpse). We look at the world differently, seeing it through God-inspired glasses. And when we look - I mean, really look - we notice how the Lord truly is good.
I'll never find a love like this. As much as your family, friends, spouse, or significant other may love you, their love can't touch the love of God. In her book, Praying God's Word Day By Day, Beth Moore states "The child of God who trusts God's love possesses security in salvation. We can know the Father will not reject us." I believe if people really knew and understand how much God loved them - if they truly experienced His love - we'd have a lot more people experiencing true freedom. He delights in His children. Out of all His creations, we're His most cherished. God is so in love with us, y'all! He longs for us to be in relationship with Him. 'How priceless is your unfailing love!' (Psalm 36:7) Unfailing, meaning He will always love us, no matter what. We may disappoint God with our actions, but we can never make Him stop loving us. Absolutely NOTHING can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). You know what's awesome? He knows you - the real you - and He still loves you. He loved you enough to sacrifice His only Son so that you may have eternal life. He knew you'd sin and hurt Him - knowingly and unknowingly - yet He chose to love you anyway. I agree with Natasha Bedingfield: we will never find a love like this!
Inspirational Sunday
"Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you - majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling."
Exodus 15: 11, 13
Rae's Thought: This week's inspiration solely focuses on celebrating God and His greatness. Too often, we focus on what we need and want from God, that we forget to focus on how amazing He really is.
Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? I can answer that question easily: no one! There are literally no other gods (notice the 'g') like the God (notice the 'G'). The Greeks, who believed in gods like Zeus, Poseidon and Aphrodite, and Romans, who believed in gods like Jupiter, Venus and Apollo, both believed that their gods were powerful beings. I believe my God is a powerful being. So what's the difference? #1: Greek/Roman gods were born...they were created. God was not born. He was here before everything else was. He is the creator. #2: Greek/Roman gods pretty much left with Ancient Greece/Rome. God was, is, and always will be. He'll be here even after the end of the world. #3: There were many Greek/Roman gods. There is only one God.
Some people worship gods that are inanimate...in statue form. They can see and touch their god. Although I can't see or touch my God, He is definitely NOT a statue, nor is He inanimate. All five of my senses are engaged when God is around, which is all the time. I see Him when I look up and see the white, cotton-like clouds lining the sky. I can see Him through breast cancer survivors whose cases were written off as hopeless, but, thank God they've survived! I may not be able to see Him physically, but all I have to do is look around me to know He's here. I may not be able to touch Him, but I can feel Him. I can also smell, taste, and hear my God. I repeat, there is NO other god like my God.
In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. I am one of His redeemed, therefore He will lead me, and, you know what? I will gladly follow. Notice it says 'unfailing love'. Isn't it awesome that, in God, you can experience a love that never fails? Absolutely nothing will separate me from the love of God (Romans 8:35). NOTHING! It lasts for an eternity. Even the person who loves you the most can't love you for an eternity. I find comfort in the fact that God guides me where I need to go. It doesn't matter if I can't see the road or if I don't know how to navigate through rough waters. It is in His strength that I find guidance. He can see that road. He not only can navigate through rough waters, He's the one that made the waters! God is a bazillion times stronger than the strongest man or woman - or both put together - on Earth. I mean, you have to be strong in order to be able to hold up this and the hundreds (possibly thousands) of other galaxies.
Do you believe that God is amazing? If you do, why don't you take the time out to thank Him just for who He is. Just for a moment, don't think about this recession and how you're gonna pay the bills. Don't think about that scary diagnosis the doctor just gave you or the pink slip you've just receive. Forget about that house you've been eyeing or the kind of lifestyle you want God to bless you with. Think only of Him and His awesomeness. Think of how holy and majestic He is. Remember the wonders He's already performed in your life or even the lives of others. Think of His strength and His unfailing love. Once you realize how glorious God is, you'll realize that He's bigger than any problem, trial, or heartache you're experiencing right now. Everything else PALES in comparison to the God I serve. God is truly an awesome God!
Inspirational Sunday
We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
Rae's Thought: There's a story about a retiring missionary coming home to America on the same boat as the president of the US. As they got off the boat, cheering crowds, a military band, a red carpet, banners, and the media welcomed the pres home while the missionary slipped away unnoticed. Feeling self-pity and resentment, he began complaining to God. Then God gently reminded him, "But my child, you're not home yet."
Children of God tend to focus on acquiring things like wealth, recognition, and status during our brief stay on Earth. The more awards you receive; the more money you have; the more people you know, the better off you'd be...or so we think. Second Corinthians 4:18 tells us that, instead of focusing on earthly treasures (things seen), we need to focus on our heavenly treasures (things unseen). Everything we accumulate here will perish, but what we've accumulated in heaven will last for an eternity.
Feel like being a Christian isn't as rewarding as you thought? Tired of living a godly life yet slipping away unnoticed? Take heart! God is watching everything you do. Every gift you've given; every smile you've shown, every door you've opened; every time you turned away instead of fight....God is making a note of every reward-worthy thing you do here on Earth. Keep working to bring souls to Christ. Keep giving from your heart. Keep living a godly life.
Can you imagine what will be awaiting you when you get to heaven? I can. I get chills thinking about it. I see a huge crowd made of angels and loved ones, cheering me on. I can hear their cheers, claps, and whistles. I hear the heavenly music playing as I walk down the golden streets. Ah! Beautiful, peaceful music - unlike any I've ever heard. I look in the crowd of angels and see my grandparents, great grandparents, and ancestors, smiling and waving. I finally get to meet GaGa, my great grandmother/guardian angel. But the best part? At the end of the parade, I see the Father and Son, holding their arms out, waiting for me with huge smiles on their beautiful faces. When I reach them, they wrap their arms around me and say, "Welcome home, princess." As I inhale their sweet fragrance and bask in their love, I realize that living the godly life on Earth - and focusing on things unseen - was totally worth it.
