Monthly Archives: October 2013

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Who is like The Lord?


Exodus 15:11 “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Deuteronomy 3:24 ‘O Lord God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds?

Sometimes I wonder if we are too familiar with the way we speak to and/or about the Trinity. I know that things changed when Jesus died for our sins.
When He shed His most precious and completely Holy blood for us on the cross.
When He bridged the gap between mankind and God.
When Jesus made a way for us to enter into the holy of holies and approach the throne of the Most High God.
When He BECAME sin in our place.

But let’s go back to the beginning. Let’s go back to the 6th day of creation when mankind was created.
(Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.)

I think, of course, it was a joint decision. I believe mans body was fashioned, but before the breath of life was breathed into man I think God turned to Jesus and said, “Are you sure you want to do this? You know they are going to sin against Us, you know they are going to break Our hearts…they will seek after everything under the sun to satisfy that longing deep in their hearts. You know You will have to be born as one of them, live an uncomfortable life, be ridiculed by them, die a horrible death, be buried and resurrected, and then walk among them in Your glorified body to prove Who You are. He waited for Jesus’ answer and all of heaven stood holding their breath. Then came Jesus answer “I love them. I will do whatever it takes for the fleeting moments of joyous fellowship and communion. I wait anxiously for my beautiful, spotless bride and the day she comes to me in fine linen made ready for our union and the marriage supper.” There was a collective exhale as all of heaven breathed.

Thank you Jesus for loving us so much and wanting an intimate relationship with each of us.

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Love…actually.


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God loves me. It’s true He does. I’ve known it for a long time but I’ve never really acknowledged it. God loves me. Jesus loves me. Just like the children’s song…you know it…we have all sang it as children growing up in church.
“Jesus loves me this I know. For the bible tells me so. Little ones in Him belong. We are weak but He is strong…”
How is it that you can know something and not “KNOW” something? Like knowing water is wet, fire burns, and you don’t lick a metal pole when it’s below freezing outside. I knew God loved me. It was just something that IS. Did I feel loved… Did I act loved… Did I reciprocate… Not often and definitely not consistently. You would think that if the Creator of everything that is loves me and I know it I would take better care of myself. Not be so cavalier with myself. Not be so self destructive.Not only does He love me, He has a plan for my life. It has been told me in a variety of ways in the last 14 years. I am to preach and teach. Ok so if God loves me, Jesus loves me, and They have a specific plan for my life aren’t I special. To Them I am. So if I’m special to them shouldn’t I, at least be special to myself? I don’t treat myself special. I have a hard time forgiving myself. I don’t take care of myself. I don’t monitor what I eat very well therefore I have gained 30 pounds in the last year. I don’t get enough rest. I don’t spend enough time with the One Who loves me unconditionally. There are specific things Debbie, my counselor, has told me I need to do to get better. Why am I not doing them? All I can figure is that I’m not ready to be well. Is that true? If that is true it has to change today! I can’t continue this life the way I’m going.It is like the man by the pool that Jesus asked “do you want to be healed?” Well, Marianne, do you want to be healed? Do you want to be set free to accomplish that which the Creator of everything has set for you to do? Yes I do. I want to be happy, healthy, whole. I want everything that God has for me. So what do I do now? Well, I guess I should start by doing the things that Debbie says will make me better. I am physically getting better after the cancer. Now its time I start taking better care of myself. Lord, I know you love me so please help me to recognize things that I do that are harmful to me. And once I recognize them help me to act according to Your will for my life. I realize that I can’t do this on my own but I also know that I’m not on my own. You are with me. You never leave me or forsake me. You are unchanging.  And Your love is unconditional.

thank your Lord.