A Heavenly Marriage

God designed marriage to be a reflection of His relationship with us. Jesus is described as the groom and we (the church) are his bride. Our relationship with our Lord should be even more intimate than our relationship with our spouse.

Just as a groom loves, protects, challenges, and grows with his wife, Jesus wants to be invited to love, protect, challenge and help us grow. We are to relate to Him as a bride relates to her groom.

I was just married on Dec. 4 (2010) and I can vividly remember my feelings on that day, and on all the days since. I remember I was excited. I couldn't wait to see D all dressed up in his suit. I couldn't wait to walk down the aisle, say the vows that have been used for generations, but that came from my heart, and then to become his wife. The clock couldn't move fast enough that day!

We should be just as anxious to begin a growing intimacy with Christ. We should enjoy getting dressed up (on the outside and the inside) so that we look our best for Christ. He should be the focus of our day.

A bride trusts her husband. She trusts that He will protect and provide for her. That she has his loyalty for all their days. In Christ we have that. Christ is our fortress, our strong tower. Our shelter. Christ is the very definition of loyalty. And, once we commit ourselves to Christ it is a marriage that lasts beyond this life, and for eternity.

Your spouse should be the person you long most to see. Just as a bride misses her husband after an absence, so we should pine for Christ and want to be with Him, to be near Him all the time. He is the very giver of our breath, He is our living water.

God is our groom, and we are his bride. Picture the most perfect marriage you can, picture you fantasy marriage, and you won't even come to close to picturing how amazing our relationship with God can be. God is that wonderful a groom!

God is a Giver

This week my RA has been really acting up. My joints hurt and my hands are swollen to the point that I can't wear my wedding and engagement rings. It isn't bad enough that I am stuck in bed, so Praise God that I can still do most normal activities.

What the RA is teaching me is that God is the giver of peace, the giver of strength, and the giver of the power to take the next step. I don't know if it will get better, if it will remain at this level, or if it will get worse. What I do know is that God will give me all that I need to continue to praise and love Him.

God gives to us lavishly. He gives us salvation, He gives us life, He gives us peace, courage, and joy. God gives us so much. When one thing is taken away, He gives us something else. We are NEVER without blessings.

Paul was right when he said that when we are weak, we are strong. We may not have physical or emotional strength, but what we do have is love, peace, and even joy. We can be strong in the ways that matter most. We have strength given to us by the most lavish gift giver.

God gives us just what we need, and what I need is different from what you need. God looks at the individual and gives accordingly. God is personal. God takes an extreme interest in each of us. God knows us better than we know ourselves. We may think we need something. I may think I need less pain, but that might not be what God sees.

I live each day excited to see what God is going to give me. I know that whatever it is, it is something that I need, or something that He knows will bring a smile to my face. No matter how dark the night, no matter how gloomy the day, no matter how hard the experience, I know that I belong and matter to the most lavish, the most generous God. I know that if I look hard enough I see the gifts.

AMEN!

Dear Lord,
Thank you for your love. Thank for taking a personal interest in my life. Thank you for knowing just what I need, and for giving not only needs, but wants as well. Thank you for being so generous. I praise you and adore you.

Your loving and thankful daughter
JLP

Jesus Wept

Throughout Lent I have been pondering God and all of His attributes. I have been thinking about just who God is and how I relate to my Savior. Who is God and what is He like? That has been my focus this season.

One Bible verse that I keep coming back to is John 11:35. "Jesus wept." The verse comes from the account of Lazarus. Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha. Lazarus was also a dear friend of Jesus. When Lazarus became ill, Jesus was ministering elsewhere and before Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had died and been buried.

The Bible goes on to tell us that as Jesus was with Mary and Martha, talking about Lazarus, he wept. I think some of it was that human Jesus loved his friends and he wept because he felt their sorrow in the death of their brother.

Honestly though, that wasn't the whole of Christ's weeping. Jesus wept for a much different reason. Jesus knew that his Father was going to call Lazarus back to earth.

I think Jesus wept because he knew what Lazarus would be giving up. Heaven in amazing beyond our understanding, our comprehension. Jesus wept because he felt bad that Lazarus had to leave Heaven.

Our friends and family that have gone to Heaven before us, they are in glory. They are worshipping Christ, they are exploring a VAST expanse of beauty, they are banqueting on food that is indescribly delicious. Our loved ones are singing "Glory!" with the angels! Who would want to leave that!?!

To ask God to keep a loved here, to return a loved one is tempting. I know I have family members and friends that I wish I could have more time with. To want them back is selfish and wrong thinking. The prayer should be, "Lord, I miss my loved ones. Please come soon and call us all home. Allow those of us still here to join y'all in Heaven." We should be wanting to go there.

Heaven, it is a wonderful place! It is full of glory and grace! We will get to see our Savior's face! We will be reunited with those pilgrims that made it home first! We will see why Jesus wept for Lazarus.

God is the designer of Heaven. God is the ultimate gift giver. God is lavish! God weeps.

-JLP-

God is So Much to Us

I promise that I have been keeping up with my study of God's traits. I apologize that I haven't blogged in awhile. Life has been crazy around here, but here I am with some thoughts on God.

GOD IS CREATIVE
Look around and you will see God's creativity in every different plant, animal and person. You can see it in the sunrise and the sunset, and in every snowflake. Every inch of creation sings of God's creativity. Not to mention how complex He has made us. Our creativity comes from our Creator.

GOD IS PATIENCE
All the time we humans fail to do God's will. We sin time and time again. We hurt ourselves and we hurt others. People may not forgive you, but God in Heaven will patiently forgive you time and time again. God will be there for you to turn to Him no matter how long it takes for you to recognize your need for Him.

GOD IS POWERFUL
There is nothing that God can't do. God has the power to create life, and to take it away. God has the power to destroy mighty armies with a single word. God has the power of Satan. God has the power to forgive your sins and to let you into Heaven.

GOD IS JUDGE
God is the judge and the jury. We have all been found guilty of sin. The penalty is death and we are marked with it. God judges our actions. But, He uses the blood of Christ as a standard. If we plead, "Guilty but faith in Christ" God will pardon our sin and allow us into His home. That is the only plea that will allow us to bypass Hell.

GOD IS BEAUTIFUL
God is the total definition of beautiful. His appearance is beautiful and His love is beautiful. Everything else pales in comparision to God and His beauty.

GOD IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP
God is the only one that is worthy of our worship and adoration. God deserves it all, for He is our all. God deserves all our praise, fear, wonder, and yes worship.

GOD IS KING
God rules over everything. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. God is able to strike down earthly rulers and raise others up. God has all the authority and we are his subjects. God grants us prince and princess status if we just accept His Son, the true Prince as the righteous one.

God: 3 Character Traits

Tonight I need to catch up on my study of God. I'll be looking at 3 facets of God's character/personality. The more time I spend thinking about God and just who He is, the more I realize I don't know, but the more I realize He is completely amazing!

God is Just
God is justice and He demands payment for sin. Romans 6:23a tells us "For the wages of sin is death..." God is impartial in His condemnation and justice, as we are shown in Romans 3:23 "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." God's standard for justice is perfection, morally, ethically, righteously perfect. God is totally perfect and we are measured by His standard. When it comes to sin and eternity, God is impartial. You either measure up (are perfect) or you don't.

God is Forgiving
God's forgiving nature comes hand in hand with His justice and His measuring us by the ultimate standard. The continuation of Romans 6:23 says, "But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. God's knows that if His sense of justice alone was what guided Him, we would all be spending eternity in Hell. So, God made a way for us to pay for our sins. First it was through the blood sacrifice of animals. Then, Jesus Christ (God the Son) came down, lived a perfect life and was therefore able to be the sacrifice for all. He gave Himself up to be crucified. He went to Hell for us, and He arose, defeating death once and for all. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are able to seek (and find!) forgiveness. If we call to God through Jesus, we can be forgiven. God forgives ALL sins, without partiality.

God is Eternal
There has never been a time when God did not exist. This idea is hard for me to fathom. I can understand that there was a moment when creation began. I just can't imagine before the universe existed. In that time God still was. God is, and God will always be. God has never changed. Who He is has never changed. God was, is and always will be God, and He will always be the same God. That is comforting, astounding and weird to my human brain.

There is so much to God. Even after spending 10 MILLION years in Heaven I won't be able to say I totally know God. That is part of what makes this life and this relationship so vibrant and vital. I am always learning more about God. It is exciting to see what He will reveal to me next.

I hope that y'all are having as much fun as I am learning about God, delving deeper, and growing more intimate with our: Father, Savior, Judge, Friend, Doctor, Comforter, and Creator.

-JP-

Lent 2011

I realize that I am a Baptist and that most Baptists do not participate in Lent, but being as I also affiliate with the United Methodist Church, I like the idea of Lent. Traditionally during Lent you are asked to give something up and whenever you tempted to eat that something, or watch it, you pray. It is a time to prepare your heart for Good Friday and Easter.

In this modern era I know a few people that take something on during Lent, they will volunteer at the food shelter, help out at a school or church. The idea of Lent is about being intentional. I think that ALL Christians could use 40 days to focus on being intentional in our walk.

During Lent we say, "Ok God I am going to take these 40 days and really focus on you. I am going to spend the days being intentional and focused on my relationship with you." Everyone, even people like Billy Graham and Jonathan Falwell could use some spiritual growth. I know that I am looking for ways to grow and be a better reflection of Christ.

One of the things that I want to focus on this year is God, and just who God really is. I am taking each day and studying a new facet of God. Today I am focusing on God as Compassion.

Way back in the beginning of human time God created the universe and God considered humans to be a crowning achievement because we are created in His image. For awhile Adam and Eve did ok, they walked around, they loved, they were face to face with God in the garden. Then, sin entered the world through the choice to go against God's wishes.

It wasn't that they ate a piece of fruit that got them in trouble. It was that God had put choice out there, so that we are not automatons, and humans chose to say, "I don't believe God, what He said about death that isn't true, so I'm going to do it my way." It was arrogance and pride.

Even though humans sin, God still loves us and considers us His crowning achievement. So, God showed compassion. God is a just God (more on justice tomorrow) and there had to be a payment for sin. God knew that on our own we couldn't pay for our sin, so He took compassion on us and came down and paid the penalty himself.

Ultimate compassion, laying down his life, putting aside his glory to take on our shame, our death. He bought our way into Heaven. God is utter compassion.

-JP-

Closed Door, Open Heart

As I was driving to work today I was jamming out to Infinite Green early this morning. Because I am quite familiar with the road now, I was able to let my mind wander a bit (I still drove the speed limit and was safe, I promise). I began to think about my bathroom mishap at the bowling alley. This thinking led to thinking about God.

How many times in life do we walk smack into doors God has closed and wonder why we are stuck? How often do we get confused by road blocks God has put in our way? How often do we fail to see how easy it can be if we just follow His protocols?

Just as it was easy for me to leave once I unlocked the stall door and opened it, the Christian life is the same. God has gone out of His way to make life with Him understandable. Maybe not simple, but understandable. He is not a god of confusion. He is a god of clarity.

God has a plan for each of our lives, and He is willing to show it to us. We just have to ask. In James 1 we are told to "pray to the Father, He loves to help." (The Message)

God's plan for our lives is:
1. Love and accept Him
2. Love others and share the gospel
3. Follow His few rules
A. Serve only God
B. Be faithful to your spouse
C. Be honest
D. Keep your thoughts and actions pure
E. Live holy
The rest really is just details. When it comes to eternity it isn't going to matter what we did as a profession. It isn't going to matter what our bank accounts said or how many twits we twittered. It is going to matter what we did to benefit the kingdom.

Are we doing what we need to, so that we can see the closed doors and recognize them? God will open and close doors for us, but we have to be in tune enough with Him that we recognize the door and what state it is in.

I for one would rather save myself the pain and embarrasement of smacking into more closed doors.

-JP-

Be Still and Know

My theme for March is to make the most of each moment, to treasure each day that God gives me because I'm not guaranteed any tomorrows.

I don't know how many times I have deleted paragraphs from tonight's blog, but the number is getting up there. I had something I wanted to share, but I wasn't sure how to share it. I had the dreaded "Writer's Block". It happens from time to time to all authors. You have thoughts, but you fail to put the thoughts into words.

Finally, I took a time-out. Not long, but enough to spend a few moments with God, praying about what to share, what to say. What words would God want me to write?

The time-out reminded me of just important it is to take time every day to just be still and dwell with God. We don't have to say anything, just sit and listen, open your heart to God. Quiet time is so important.

I came home from D's bowling league tonight exhausted. It was bad. While we were at the bowling alley I had to go to the bathroom. I did my business, got up and hit the stall door. It took me a few beats to realize that it is easier to leave the stall when the door is open.

Yet, now after my refresher with God I feel better. I'm still ready for bed, but I'm not utterly exhausted. It always amazes me just how much of a boost I get when I tune into God.

Be still and just know. Rest in the truth, soak up the energy God wants to give you. Let Him know that you are willing and open to Him. It doesn't have to be all day, but the longer we can rest in Him the better you will feel after.

-JP-

Do Not Worry???

Today I was reading in Matthew and I came across the command, "Do not worry." Not long after I read that I went out to get our mail and there was yet another bill in the mail. Looking at the bill and at our checking account, and what I'll get paid tomorrow and I said to God, "Umm God, WHAT!?! HOW???"

Bills pile up faster than paychecks. Surprise expenses pop up and we wonder how God expects us not to worry. And for most of us the bills are not due to frivolous living, but to life in America. Not only bills, but life in general is stressful and worrisome.

We have those bills, family members get sick or hurt, friends have problems, the world is in chaos and we read in multiple places that we are not to worry!!! There are times when that command seems ludicrous.

How can you not worry? Where does the faith come from to avoid the worry? How can God expect us to have that much faith?

Faith comes from seeing God act. It comes from previous experience with Him. The longer we dwell with God and the longer we rely on Him the more we see that He is faithful.

We do not have to worry because God is taking care of us. God is protecting us. Just as a good parent protects and provides for his children, our Father in Heaven provides for us.

Handing over our worry to God is hard, and it is harder yet to leave it in His hands. We want to take it back up. In a strange way worry is comforting. We feel that if we worry enough we will solve the problem.

That just isn't true. Worry alone isn't going to pay those bills, make our family well, solve our child's problem. Worry gets in the way of problem solving. Worry focuses us on the problem and not on the solution. God wants to be the solution. God is the best problem solver, so why not just let Him?

Giving up worry doesn't mean that we go through life with our head in the cloud, oblivious to life, but that we go through life with our hearts focused on God. God will take care of us.

Worry steals away our power to live in the moments. It steals away our life quality. Worry is a nasty bugger, and it so easily ensnares us. It is one of Satan's favorite tools. Worry is a lack of trust in God as provider.

"Do not worry", yeah it is HARD and there are no easy solutions, other than to just remember how God has provided in the past, live wisely, pray much and focus on God. Trust and lack of worry doesn't come over night. It comes from a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly walk with God. The closer we are to Him the easier it is hand our worries to Him. Also, the closer we are to Him the more prudent we will be in our lives and the less we will have to worry about.

Do not worry. It is one of the commands that I am working on. I am working on surrendering my worries to God, and leaving them there. I am excited for the day when I can honestly say, "Thank you Lord for giving me the faith and trust to leave everything at your feet."

Next time you read those 3 words don't scoff, but pray for that kind of extraordinary faith.

-JP-

Making the Most of Moments

As I browse through our wedding pictures and think about life I can't believe how quickly the time goes. As a child I remember thinking that time lasted forever. The school days seemed long, and events I was eager for would NEVER arrive. I now know how misguided I was in my child's perspective.

The older I get the more I realize how important it is to live in the moments. We get so busy with our day to day lives, with the business of living that we fail to take advantage of the moments. We always assume that we will have more time later. We think, "If I can just get this one thing finished then I'll take time out for family and friends." That thinking isn't good.

Last year I was reminded that we don't control our lives. A girl I know well (my sister's best friend) was at a hockey game with her husband when he got really sick and had to be rushed to the ER. He never left the hospital alive. One minute he was playing hockey and the next his wife was planning his funeral.

We don't control much. We can do everything possible to live healthy lives, and that doesn't guarantee us any extra days. Being healthy can improve our life quality, but not our quantity of days.

One thing my friend says, and one thing I know from losing my best friend a few years ago, when someone you love dies what you miss most are the moments. You want just a few more moments. Nothing fancy, just time to be together and enjoy each other.

The moments don't have to be fancy. Take time to hug your spouse and just stand together and be with each other. Go for a walk in the park with your friends. Call your Grandma and tell her you love her. Take your kids outside and kick the ball around.

Making the most of the moments doesn't have to cost any money. In fact, a lot of the best moments are free- they are the walks, the hugs, the times playing ball, the phone calls, or the afternoon in the kitchen baking together.

We are so busy and we assume that we will have time later to take a time out. Don't get so caught up in life that you fail to honestly live it. The old cliche is right. Life isn't measured in the number of breaths we take, but in the number of moments that take our breath away.

What are you going to do to have a breath taking moment with your family and friends this week?

-JP-

H-O-P-E

Yesterday was a gloomy, wet day. A day that brought much needed rain, a day that I thought I would have free to get things accomplished around the house. It is amazing how easy it is to give in to not feeling good and let our house turn wild! I was looking forward to getting caught up on the house work.

Lo and behold the world had another plan for me. Unbeknownst to me the schedule at work had changed. No one had warned me this could happen, nor had anyone shown me how to check my schedule online, or that I even could. So I get a phone call, "where are you?" I'm like, "At home. I don't work till Tuesday this week." So, I had to quickly get dressed and drive 25 miles in rain to get to work.

Work wasn't too bad. It was long and not as many customers, but it wasn't too bad. I made it, and now I know how to check my schedule online! I can even look at my pay stubs online, that is pretty nifty.

Anyway, I've had to change my whole week around to accommodate the schedule change, and I actually like the new schedule. Not that this is where I want to be forever, but I am finding joy in each day and praying for more opportunities to reach people and share Jesus. After all, if I can be Jesus to other people than the job is worth it.

I've been asked by co-workers why I'm a cashier, and I say because they hired me. I have hope that there is a reason I'm here, and that this is temporary. I have hope that God will provide something that I'm trained and enjoy doing. Something that leaves me more fulfilled and excited to go to work. We spend too many hours a week at work to have to go to jobs that we hate.

Not that my job is a bad one, it just isn't my thing. I want to help people, and not just bag their groceries. I want to be able to use my training, my education. I have hope that someday I'll be able to do that. I also have hope that someday God will provide the finances for me to stay home with our children.

I have a lot of hope. I have hope because I can look back and see all the answered prayers. I have a God that never lets me down. He may do things in His timing, and in His way. But so far that time and that way have protected me and given me more than I could imagine. Why would He do all that and then just quit looking after me? God is in this for the long haul, so I am too.

Today I'm going to start March by getting the house clean, going to work and resting on the joy that comes from hope. It is going to be a joy filled day because it is going to be a God filled day!

-JP-