"Sometimes we want things we don't need. Sometimes we need things we don't want. Sometimes we want things we already have." --Adrian Rogers Prayers for Wants Instead of Needs Prayer can take several avenues. The first one is praying for things we want while not realizing that we do not need them. Indeed, maybe the things we want could be bad for us. Many of us have prayed that God would bring us a husband or a wife. Perhaps we knew that the person we were in love with was the "one" but still the relationship ended. Has God failed us? No! Does God love us and still leave us alone? Our concern is that we pray as the Lord teaches us to, "Thy will be done" . God sees the future. Only He truly knows if that person, or any person, is the perfect mate for us. God Sometimes Makes Us Wait Have we prayed for healing and not received it? Have we prayed for children? A particular job? Perhaps God is making us wait for a reason. Maybe waiting will make us grow stronger in our faith if we trust and believe that God's timing is perfect. Do you ever thank God for unanswered prayer? I have. Praying for the Wrong Reasons Sometimes the reason our prayers are not answered is because we ask for the wrong reasons. Ask yourself why you want what you are praying for. James 4:3 says we ask amiss when we pray to spend it on our pleasures. Is God Disciplining You? The second avenue prayer can take is asking God to remove a situation, a pain, or an emotional hurt, but perhaps God is really disciplining us in that situation. Perhaps we have an unconfessed sin that is hindering our relationship with God and others and God, as the loving Father that He is, is disciplining us so that we make much needed changes. He wants us to see our sin and repent. God May Not Hear Our Prayers Because of Unconfessed Sins Sometimes our prayers are not answered because we have unconfessed sin in our lives. According to Isaiah 59:2, our sins have hidden God's face from us and he will not hear us. '‘'When the request is not right, God says “No”. When the timing is not right, God says “Slow”. When you are not right, God says “Grow”. But when the request is right and the timing is right and you are right, God says “Go”.’ - Rick Warren God Has Promised to Provide for our Needs The third avenue prayer can take is praying for something we already have. God has already promised to provide all of our needs (Philippians 4:19). Make sure you aren't just praying for better things when your needs are all already provided for. Glorify God in Prayer The objective of all of our prayer is the praise of God. Indeed prayer is " ...of Him and through Him and to Him ...." (Romans 11:36) Who are we praising when we pray? Do we say to God, " Lord, your servant is speaking, listen to me? " in essence, or do we pray, " Speak Lord, your servant is listening? ". How much listening do we do when we pray? We should always glorify God in our prayers. Praying the Will of God Removes Anxiety There is no anxiety when we pray the will of God. In Philippians 4:6, we are told that we should not be anxious about anything but pray with thanksgiving and let God know our requests. And what happens when we pray " with thanksgiving "? The next verse in Philippians tells us that our mind, from whence comes our anxiety, our stress, and our depression, will be guarded by the " peace of God". Sometimes it is our greatest trials that teach us the best lessons about having the peace of God. When I was dealing with cancer, I had the greatest peace in my life. I can say with certainty that my heart and mind were being guarded through Jesus Christ! Prayers are Answered When We Pray the Will of God Prayer is the Holy Spirit showing our hearts the will of God the Father and then returning that back to Heaven. Our prayers are answered when we pray the will of God. This is effectual prayer . We have to learn to trust God our Father who truly loves us, truly wants what is best for us, and learn to accept His will and learn from it. How do we know what the will of God is? First Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to pray without ceasing, to rejoice always, and to give thanks for everything because that is the will of God. " Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! " (Philippians 4:4) Paul tells us. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will make our will and God's will one! This is the first verse of a beautiful hymn called "Sweet Will of God" by Lelia Morris My stubborn will at last hath yielded; I would be Thine, and Thine alone, And this the prayer my lips are bringing, “Lord, let in me Thy will be done.” Sweet will of God, still fold me closer, Till I am wholly lost in Thee; Sweet will of God, still fold me closer, Till I am wholly lost in Thee.

Understanding Biblical Love As Christians we talk about love a lot. Sadly, for many, that is all we do, talk. The Bible tells us to love God and love one another. Paul explains that love is longsuffering, kind, not envious, not proud, or rude. Love doesn't want things for itself, it isn't provoked, it doesn't think about evil. He says love doesn't rejoice in sin but in truth, and that it bears, believes, hopes and endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). But what does that mean in practice? So, in other words, love doesn't lash out at people when they aren't nice to us. It isn't envious of other people's success or possessions or beauty. Love isn't rude to people when we have had a bad day. Love doesn't have to have its own way all the time. Love doesn't let people make you get mad. Love doesn't sit around thinking about doing bad stuff. Love isn't happy when it sees sin. Love is happy because it knows what is true. True love can put up with suffering and still love. Love in Action, Not Just Words The evidence that we love others is in our actions (James 2:14-17). The evidence is not that we walk around talking about how much we love others, but the evidence is that we actually do things for others. If your brother is in need and you tell him or her you will pray for them but do nothing to actually help them yourself then all you have done is talked about your love. Jesus loved us while we were still sinners. He loved with a sacrificial love. Do we love, do we forgive, those who sin against us? How can I love someone, really, if I can't forgive them. Sometimes in our own strength it is nearly impossible to forgive but in Christ we can forgive the unforgivable. Love Covers a Multitude of Sins Peter says our love for each other should be fervent or with passionate intensity. According to him love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). We read something similar in Proverbs 10:12. "Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins." Proverbs 10:12 What do Peter and the author of Proverbs mean when they say that "love will cover a multitude of sins" ? As John Piper says, " Love wants peace, not conflict. Love wants holiness, not sin. Love wants the good of the sinning person, not public vengeance." Love will overlook hurts and misdeeds. It will make us eager to let go and overlook the sins of others towards us so that the person we are dealing with will see God's love in our patience and endurance. The Good Samaritan: An Example of True Love Jesus himself gives us a story that exemplifies what love towards others really means. Love isn't just offered to our family, to our church family, to people who are the same color as us or to people with the same socio-economic status. Love is action and it is to be given to anyone who needs it. We are to serve because He served. In the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 Jesus answers the question, "Who is my neighbor?" Three men pass by an injured man but only one stops to help. We see that the Jewish man, lying naked and beaten by bandits on the side of the road, was bypassed by two other Jewish men - a priest and a Levite. These men would have been considered his neighbors. The very people who were supposed to be most knowledgeable about God could not be bothered to help, whether out of fear or simply lack of love. The Samaritan however, who belonged to a group of people that were hated by the Jewish people, saw simply a human being in need. The Samaritan people were so despised Jewish literature says this about them: “ He that eats the bread of the Samaritans is like one that eats the flesh of swine.” (Mishna Sheviit 8:10) The Samaritan is the last person a Jewish man would consider his neighbor. The Samaritan bandaged his wounds, placed him on his animal, brought him to an inn and took care of him. When the Samaritan left the next day he left money for the man's care and promised to repay the innkeeper if the man's expenses were more than that. The Samaritan went far beyond what many would have done. What situation have you been in where you went the extra mile for someone that you knew didn't like you? Maybe even hated you? The scripture never says that the man thanked the Samaritan. The Samaritan is our Lord's example of someone who loved, who was a neighbor, not just in word, but in deed. The Samaritan didn't just pause on the road to pray for the man, he didn't just bandage his wounds and leave him, he didn't just get him a room for the night, but actually took care of him, and he didn't just leave him with nothing, but made sure there was money for the man's continued care. Can you think, right now, of someone that doesn't like you? Maybe someone who hates you. Now imagine that you help this person, a lot, and they don't even thank you. Can you imagine still showing love to them? Jesus says we must. Being a Neighbor in Today's World In today's world, we see so much division and separation. Jesus says we are each other's neighbor and that we need to act like it. Can you imagine a world where what Jesus taught was put into action? Instead of people tearing each other down they would lift each other up. Building up our neighbor is expected. Instead of people waiting for someone else to help they would reach out and help others themselves to the best of their ability. Do we look at others and see a different color? See a different religion? See a different sexual orientation and say NO I can't help that person; I won't serve that person. I can't be their neighbor. Jesus asks hard things from us sometimes. Jesus washed the feet of the man He knew would betray Him. Think about that.... We Truly Love When We Act On It

Should We Judge? One of the most difficult passages of scripture in the New Testament is found in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians chapter 5. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5: 9-13 on an interesting topic, judging others. Should we judge others and, if so, who do we judge? Paul warns the Corinthians not to keep company with people who are sexually immoral, or people who covet or are idolaters. He immediately clarifies himself as to his meaning. He isn't talking about not keeping company with people in the world who do these things. Because as he says, " then you would need to go out of the world ". Who then judges those people? Paul tells us that God does. Not Here to Judge the Lost Our purpose is to be salt and light to the world. We can't be removed from it. We are here to show God's love to everyone. We are not here to judge the lost, those who do not know Christ. That is God's business. Jesus prays in John 17: 15 that God would not take us out of the world but that God will us from the evil one. It's unrealistic as a Christian to expect non-believers to act like believers. Our only job is to bring Christ to them. The Holy Spirit will convict them of their sin, not us. Judge Those Who Are Inside Paul explains in this passage that the people we should not keep company with are those who are so called believers who are sexually immoral. Paul mentions several sins but the list could go on with many other examples. He speaks of idolators. These can be those people who obviously put other things before God like money, power, influence, or sports, for example. He also mentions those who are, revilers*, drunkards and extortioners. Those people we should remove ourselves from. Paul says, "... judge those who are inside " (1 Corinthians 5:12(b). Those are the only people who are judged by other Christians. He reiterates this in 2 Thessalonians 3: 14-15, "And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." Such a person is to be admonished, warned, as a brother in Christ. In the church, we shouldn't overlook unrepentant sins that are obvious to all. This passage isn't talking about the occasional sin that is then repented of, but those sins who are consistently present. For example, if someone becomes a Christian but remains a drug addict, and doesn't repent of it, that is someone who should be warned. They should be addressed in love. For Correction Why should this be done? Literally Paul says so that the person should be ashamed and see their sin and repent of it. It isn't done for punishment but for correction. It is done to bring this person back into fellowship with other believers. When Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13(b) , " put away from yourselves the evil person ", he is reiterating what is said several times in the book of Deuteronomy. Jewish people always have taught that people who sin against God blatantly and without repentance should be removed. 1 Corinthians 15: 33 tells us that " Evil company corrupts good habits. " We warn people of danger for a reason. We warn people to wear seat belts, we warn people to have smoke detectors in their homes, how much more should we warn people about their relationship to God. In addition, to continue to associate with a person like this threatens your own walk with God. Sin crouches at the door waiting to attack when we are vulnerable. We Warn Those We Love At first glance this passage seems to many to be unloving. Chapter 5 begins with an example of sexual immorality that was present in the Corinthian church. A man was sleeping with his father's wife, presumably his step mother. This was known, not hidden. How loving would it be not to warn this man? If warning people we love in order to save their physical lives is a good thing, how much better would warning them to repent and restore their relationship to God be. Who Do We Associate With We are asked not to keep company with brothers who sin willfully, openly, and without repentance. Imagine what non-Christian people would think about what it means to be a Christian, if we associated regularly with so called "brothers" who lived this way. They would see you hanging out with people who called themselves one thing but acted the opposite. They would wonder to themselves, "I thought these people were supposed to be different." But are we different ? Open Sinning This "judging" is only allowed in this specific instance. Only someone who calls themselves a brother, only someone who sins openly and repeatedly, and only someone who is unrepentant. Remember that before the 4th century confession of publicly known sins was usually open and public. According to one author , "It was a way for the Church to show non-Christians that they took sin seriously and weren’t trying to cover up the actions of hypocrites." The church quite literally knew who had repented and who had not. Not for Finding Flaws So what Paul is NOT saying is that we should run around finding every flaw in our fellow brothers and sisters and pointing them out for all to see. No not at all. This public warning was only for severe, ongoing and open sins. In the early church people were being martyred for their faith. Being a Christian was serious. We have perhaps become too accepting in our present age, which is to the detriment of the church as a whole. * A reviler describes someone who sins in their speech, for example slander, insults, angry outbursts, and bad language.

What’s Shame All About? When I was young people would often say to someone who was guilty of misbehaving, "Do you have no shame?" Shame was not considered a bad thing necessarily. Shame was what was expected if you had done something wrong, even if you hadn't gotten caught. It was the assumption that you would feel deep regret and shame. First let's define shame. Shame is a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the realization that our behavior has been wrong or foolish. When we have no shame, it is a sign of a deeply hardened heart. Shame is usually the result of sin. However, trauma and abuse can also lead to feelings of shame. We may confuse guilt and regret with shame. Like shame, guilt is something you may or may not have. You may have done a bad thing and felt guilty about it or you may have done nothing wrong but, because of a misunderstanding, feel guilt over it. Worse yet, you may have done something really bad and feel no guilt. I like the way Rory Shiner puts it in his article, " Jesus and our Shame ": "Guilt says, “I did the wrong thing”. Shame says, “I am the wrong person”. We need to also talk about regret. When we do shameful, sinful things we should have regret. This is a feeling of sadness or disappointment in ourselves over our choices. Our memories are often filled with moments of regret. How We Feel Shame—and How Others Can Make Us Feel It Shame is something that we can feel inside ourselves, but we can also be put to shame. People can shame us in how they treat us, the things they do to us, and how they make us feel by their words or actions. Jesus was put to shame on the cross, not for anything He did, but as a result of how He was treated. Have you ever felt ashamed or been shamed by others? The famous philosopher and theologian, Blaise Pascal, said this, "The only shame is to have none." Is this us? If our hearts are hardened we can sin without shame. In Mark 8:17-19, Jesus asks His own disciples if their heart had been hardened. If you've ever been shamed by someone, was it because you deserved it, or was it unjustified? How did that make you feel? When Shame Helps vs. When It Hurts So as a Christian, is shame good or bad? The answer is that it can be both. We need to feel shame over our actions. Shame motivates us to change. When we feel shame it means we need to seek forgiveness, we need a rebirth into a new way of living. Shame can make us realize our need for Christ, and helps us look to Jesus as the only One who can make us right. In 1 Corinthians 15:34, Paul says we should be ashamed to continue sinning because some are ignorant of God. When is shame bad? 2 Timothy 1:8 gives specific examples of when shame is bad. Paul says we shouldn't have shame over speaking about Jesus nor should we be ashamed if this leads to imprisonment. The false beliefs people have about us as Christians should never cause us shame. Peter tells us the same thing in 1 Peter 4: 12-16. Suffering for Christ because we are honoring God should never make us feel ashamed, in fact it brings us honor. Suffering shame for sin on the other hand is well deserved shame. But should we continue feeling shame? Letting God Heal the Shame As Christians we need to move past shame. In 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul says that because He knows who it is that he believes in, he is not ashamed, nor should we be. Romans 10:11 and 1 Peter 2:6 tell us that if we believe in God we will not be put to shame. Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus endured the shame of the cross for us because of the joys set before Him. These same joys await us as God's children. Jesus Himself tells us that " If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him " (John 12:26). There is no fear of being shamed by our loving God. As a Christ follower our shame should only be for sin. When we acknowledge that sin and repent, then our feelings of shame should be gone. We have been completely forgiven. We need to embrace His forgiveness. Will we still have regret, yes, probably. But shame should not remain because Christ suffered shame on a cross for us to bring us into the family of God. Those feelings that shame brings of unworthiness as a human being should be gone because our worthiness now comes from Christ's sinless sacrifice for us. While Christ removes the condemnation of shame, the emotional struggle with shame is something God continues to heal in us over time. Learning from the Past Without Getting Stuck But forgiveness doesn't mean we forget what we have done. How could we learn from past mistakes if we forgot we ever made them? We are all broken people, we all come to the Lord with a past, and none of us should be without shame. Overcoming shame and learning from past mistakes is a matter of trust. Do we trust the Lord to do what He has promised? Do we trust Him to " make all things new " (2 Corinthians 5:17)? Do we trust Him to welcome us with open arms as the prodigal son was? And what if we fail and sin again, as we will do, even after turning our lives over to Him? God forgives and forgives again. He removes our shame with His forgiveness. What would life be like if we walked around all the time wracked with shame over our sin, with no way to rid ourselves of it? Miserable! But Jesus offers us " joy unspeakable and full of glory " (1 Peter 1:8). This, praise be to God, is not a life of misery but a life of joy. When Shame Feels Overwhelming Shame can become so deeply rooted in some people that it is the lens through which they see everything. Shame can make us feel like we are never good enough. It can turn us into perfectionists and people pleasers. It can make us feel so much like a failure that we stop trying. It can make us defensive and critical of not only ourselves but others. This kind of shame needs to be rooted out with God's help. Discovering Your True Worth in God It is God who heals the broken hearted and the wounded (Psalm 147:3). Remember, the Devil is a liar and would love for you to feel unworthy of God's love and forgiveness. You are a child of God, fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). You matter to God . Our value comes from Him and nothing that you do or say can change that. Jesus has given us the power and authority to live our lives according to His plan (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Breaking Free from Shame Through God’s Grace Today, this very moment, let us promise to trust God's plan for our lives. Shame can serve a purpose, but shame is not our master. God is. Breaking free from shame through God’s grace means that we can learn to live for God's honor and glory which, praise God, is why we were created.

Are you ashamed of your past? Do you feel like God can never use you for His Kingdom because of the things you have done? Of the four women mentioned by name in Matthew's genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1:1-17), one is a prostitute (harlot). Not only was she a prostitute, but also a gentile (a non-Jewish person). It was unusual to mention a woman in a biblical genealogy, but a harlot, and a gentile—even more so! Rahab: A Woman of Unexpected Faith We read about this woman, Rahab, in several places in the Bible. Her story is told in Joshua, chapter 2, and she is referenced in Hebrews 11, in what is often referred to as the Hall of Faith chapter. Finally, James 2:25 refers to Rahab as being "justified by her works" . In context, James is talking about the fact that our works are proof of our faith. Who was Rahab? Some people try to say that Rahab was a cult prostitute in the Canaanite religion, but there is no proof of this at all. Others want to say she was simply an inn keeper who took care of her guests, but again there is little evidence for this. She is quite plainly referred to as Rahab the harlot multiple times—a simple prostitute. The Risk of Faith: Hiding the Spies The truth can be startling. The Lord can use us for His work in spite of a shameful past. When we meet others with shameful pasts we should remember this story. Don't judge other people by what they once were! Rahab’s redemption—from harlot to heroine—reminds us that no past is too broken for God’s grace. We must remember even Moses was a murderer. Her story in Joshua 2 is a simple one. Joshua sent two spies to scout out the land of Canaan, especially the important city of Jericho. It was a well fortified city with large defensive walls. When the spies entered the city they came to stay at Rahab's home. What better place to escape detection than godly men staying in a prostitute's home? After hearing that spies were in their midst, the King of Jericho sent men to Rahab's home to look for them. In the meantime, Rahab hid the spies on the roof. She lied and told the King's men she didn't know where the spies were from, that they had left and she didn't know where they had gone. A Confession of Faith: The Lord is God She returned to the men on the roof and told them, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you" (Joshua 2:10). The faith she had in their success was more than many of the Israelites themselves had. When the spies eventually returned to Joshua it was with her very words that they described the situation (Joshua 2:24). She knew these things because she had heard the stories of the parting of the Red Sea and the great victories the Israelites had over other enemies. The citizens of Jericho had probably all heard these stories, but only Rahab discarded her people's false gods and turned to the One who saves. As Paul tells us, "Faith comes by hearing..." (Romans 10:17). Then Rahab revealed why she helped the men, "...for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath" (Joshua 2:11). Rahab’s Plea: A Family’s Salvation Rahab feared God more than she feared the King of Jericho, whom she was defying. Her fear led to the correct response, siding with those who served the Lord. Many people today have a foreboding fear, a feeling that something bad is coming, but instead of responding with faith and obedience they cling to the world looking for comfort. But what led Rahab to such confidence in God’s plan? Her faith was not blind; it was rooted in the stories she had heard, stories that stirred her heart and convinced her that Israel’s God was the true God In return for her kindness, for which she risked her life, she begged them to spare her and her family from the coming destruction. She then helped them down through her window in the city wall to safety. They promised to spare her and her family but she must hang a scarlet cord out of her window so they would know what house to spare. This she would do. She then gave them advice on how to hide in the mountains for three days to escape capture, which they did. Rahab’s faith led to action . Recognizing the power of Israel’s God, she took a step beyond just believing and sought protection for herself and her family, knowing that judgment was imminent. The Scarlet Cord and the Promise of Salvation Rahab faithfully obeyed the spies and placed the scarlet cord, or thread, out of her window. Her obedience was evidence of her faith, just as our faith in the sacrificial blood of Christ saves us. This also reminds us of the blood of the lamb painted on the door posts and lintels of the Jews in Egyptian captivity. They were passed over by the angel of death and spared destruction, while the rest of Egypt's first born died (Exodus 12). Again, when Abraham took Isaac to the mountain to sacrifice him, God provided the blood of a ram instead, saving Isaac. Rahab’s Redemption: From Harlot to Heroine When Jericho was finally destroyed, only Rahab and her family survived. Even though she was a gentile and had been a prostitute, she was allowed to live in the land of the Israelites (Joshua 6: 17 and 25) . Hebrews 11:31 says, "By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace." Rahab married an Israelite, Salmon, who was known as " a prince of the sons of Judah " (1 Chronicles 2:10). So this former prostitute married a prince and eventually became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth (Ruth 4:1-12) and later the great grandmother of the great King David. The faith that Rahab showed, her courage, and her quick thinking aided the Israelites and saved her and her family. The simple faith of this simple woman in an ungodly profession was used by God to aid in Israel's conquest of the Promised Land and through her descendants to bring Jesus into the world. God's Grace for Every Sinner So if you remember a time when you were in the midst of darkness and sin, know and believe that Jesus, our sacrificial Lamb whose blood was shed for you, is here to wipe that sin away and transform your life into a new creation, one that can be used for His kingdom, just as He did Rahab. Rahab will be forever remembered, not for her sin but for her faith and obedience. May we, like Rahab, be remembered not for our past, but for our faith and obedience to the Lord. Enjoy Shane & Shane singing, There is a Fountain Filled with Blood

Being blessed by God is something we all want. Being blessed means more than just "being lucky"; it means more than what the world says it means. We can be blessed without material possessions. We are blessed because of our undeserved relationship with God. In Matthew 5:1-12, Jesus explains who the blessed are. Are you one of them? Be Poor in Spirit In Matthew 5:3, Jesus says those who are poor in spirit are blessed. They will have Heaven. A person who is poor in spirit realizes that they can do nothing to receive the saving grace of God. They realize it is a gift given freely. And how blessed they are! Heaven is their reward. Mourn In Matthew 5:4, Jesus says mourners will be comforted. Who are those who mourn? In this case it refers to those who mourn over their sin. No matter how far from God we are, we can find comfort in Him when we grieve over our failings and repent. God will restore our life. Yes, God whispers sweet peace to us! Listen to this beautiful song here . Be Meek In Matthew 5:5, Jesus says the meek are blessed because they inherit the earth. A meek person is not a door mat like popular culture wants you to think. They aren't someone who never stands up for what is right. The meek are those who have strength that is under control. Meek people don't force their way. A meek person is not a fearful person, but according to the dictionary they are someone who can endure injury with patience and without resentment. Be Righteous In Matthew 5:6, Jesus tells us that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. Do we hunger for God and His word? Are we like thirsty animals seeking after water? Do we strive to find God more than anything? If so, then you will. You will be filled with His righteousness. The only true righteousness. Be Merciful In Matthew 5:7, Jesus announces that the merciful are blessed because they shall also obtain mercy. This beatitude may be one of the most difficult. We love that God is merciful to us, even while we were sinners, but do we show this mercy to others? Do we show mercy to people who have persecuted us, lied about us, harmed us, belittled us, or harmed or killed someone we love? We are to be as gracious to others as Christ was to us. As Jesus reminds us in the Lord's Prayer, " forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." Be Pure In Matthew 5:8, Jesus says the pure in heart are blessed because they will see God. Loving people externally has to be matched by loving them internally. Why we do the things we do is what matters to God. A great show of reverence at church is worth nothing if we don't truly love God on the inside. Doing good for your neighbor is worth nothing if it is done for show; if we don't love that neighbor in our heart. Be Peacemakers In Matthew 5:9, Jesus says that peacemakers are blessed because they will be called sons of God. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He brings peace to us like no other. In return he asks us to bring His peace to others. In our world today we need this so badly. Where are our peacemakers? Where are those who want to bring the peace of Christ to the world? Be Persecuted In Matthew 5:10, Jesus tells us that being persecuted for the sake of righteousness will bring blessings. For those people Heaven is theirs. We need to be sure that if we are persecuted it is for the right reason. If I march down the street and loudly proclaim that God has perfected me and everyone else is going to hell, I most certainly will be persecuted but it probably won't be for the right reason. When we approach people the Bible says it should be with "humility and meekness". Then when you are persecuted you know it will be for the right reason. Rejoice in the Lord When Jesus sums it all up, he reminds us to be joyful in spite of our persecution. No matter what life gives us we know that it is in Him that we rejoice. Jesus reminds us that the prophets of old were all persecuted, how can we expect different? Blessing Does Not Equal Wealth Ultimately then, when God blesses us, it is about so much more than the things of this world. We can be poor and be blessed beyond measure. We are to be generous people because generosity was given to us. The story of the widow's mite in Mark 12: 41-44 illustrates this so well. The widow gave all that she had, even though the amount was small, she gave literally "till it hurt". The rich were giving from their excess. The amount may have been large but they barely felt it. God promises to take care of our needs, not to make us wealthy. So surely this blessed widow was taken care of by God. We are not promised wealth. Remember that in this day of prosperity gospel preaching. True Blessing The true blessings of God are found when we walk in His way s in every aspect of our lives. Let us pray for those blessings as those are the ones our Lord specifically promised us. Blessed are you to know God! Blessed Are You

Any Mom has heard those words from her children countless times. The answer, "Yes, you have to." The response, "But why?" The answer, "Because I told you to." God tells us, as the loving Father that He is, that we must be obedient. We are told to separate ourselves from the ways of this world because we as Christians are not of this world. “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:17. Apply the Word It does no good to read the Bible and listen to sermons on Sunday if we don't apply that word to our lives. " Thy word is truth ," says the Lord in John 17:17. And truth calls us to obedience . Is it hard? Of course. Just as hard as it is for our own children. The Bible is not just words on a page about God, but it is the living voice of God in print. The absolute source of truth. This in a world where increasingly people see truth as being completely subjective. The world says to live your truth and your truth doesn't have to be mine. Don't Fit In The world we live in, the people around us will think we are odd. We won't fit in . We won't get to have "fun", at least not the kind that the world sees as fun. We won't drink too much, we won't get as angry, we won't lust, we won't have sex outside of marriage, we won't commit adultery, we will honor God with our obedience. And if we do engage in any of this we will know we have done wrong and seek forgiveness. Just like our children do. As Samuel says in I Samuel 15:22, "Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." Obedience isn't Legalism We don't obey to prove to God we are worthy of His love. We don't obey to prove to others that we are Christians. We obey because we love God. In John 14:15, Jesus states very simply, “If you love Me, keep My commandments." Obedience is expected because we love Him. As children we often obeyed our parents simply because we loved them. We couldn't wait to see them when they came home from work. We looked up to them as our protector and defender, as the one person who would love us no matter what. They weren't perfect but our Savior's love is. Our Savior offers us unconditional, perfect love. He is our protector and defender. As Psalm 46:1 reminds us, "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble." In our obedience we find blessings. Being Obedient Brings Blessings Galatians 6:9 reminds us not to get tired of doing good for others. Paul tells us that eventually we will reap a harvest. Sometimes doing good can be difficult. It can be hard work. We may not see the immediate results of our actions. But Paul explains that the harvest will come. The works that are done by the power of the Holy Spirit will bear fruit. The love we share, the money and time we give to others, the forgiveness we show, will plant seeds that will grow into an abundant harvest in the lives of others. In our own lives, we will harvest a crop of eternal life. Obedience is More Than Words God longs for obedience, not just lip service. Our obedience to the truth, in love, is what is our greatest witness as Christians. Obedience leads to hope. Obedience is not just about what we don't do but, as importantly, it is what we do. We care for the poor, we love the broken hearted, we act justly, we forgive and forgive again, we make Christ visible to the world. Like a loving parent we don't call wrong right, but we teach what right is and we do it with tenderness and care. Christ loves us and still calls us to repentance. He calls us to turn away from wrong doing and turn towards His light. Thanks be to God who has called us out of darkness. Do I Have to Be Obedient? So to answer the question, do I have to? The answer is YES! God Expects Our Obedience

Does a typical Sunday morning church service run through your mind like this? "I like that Bible verse. I need to remember that. When do we get out of here? Oh, we're singing my favorite song. I had Chinese last week, maybe Mexican today. Good point pastor but I've heard it before. Why is that woman over there dressed like that? Oh, time for communion. Wait a minute where's my phone? etc. etc.... " What Is The Heart Of Worship? Are we worshipping the living God, the maker of Heaven and Earth or are we biding time till we can eat, get on our phones and live our "real" lives? What is the heart of worship? Romans 12:1 tells us what true and proper worship really is. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." Romans 12:1 Living Sacrifice In the Old Testament, an animal that was to be sacrificed was set apart from the other animals. It was kept as free from spot and blemish as possible. Now in Romans, Paul tells us that we are a " living sacrifice " set apart to live a life as close to God as possible. Seeking His will above all things. Paul says that this act of service to God is our true act of worship. Vain Worship In Matthew, our Lord tells us what vain worship is as he quotes from Isaiah. The word vain means useless, non-existent, really. Worship with words, but not with the heart, is vain worship. People who worship in vain go through the motions of worship, but their heart is not in them (Matthew 15:8-9). The Heart to the Mouth Later on, in Matthew 15:18-20, Jesus says that what comes out of our mouth comes from our heart. He tells us that from the heart comes all manner of evil and sin which defile us. And in Jeremiah 17:9, we read that the heart is " deceitful above all things ." Hope For True Worship If our heart lies to us and all these terrible evil thoughts, and sins come from the heart, how can we worship God " in spirit and in truth "? Where is our hope? We have hope because the Bible tells us that when we follow God, as Paul continues on to say in Romans 12:2, that we will be transformed by the renewal of our mind. Indeed our very hearts will be transformed! In Ezekiel 36:26, the prophet told us there would be a time when we will be given a new heart and a new spirit. A time when our heart of stone will be replaced with a heart of flesh. We will put on " the new man " as Ephesians 4:24 tells us. God has promised us a new heart. One that has the law of God written on it (Jeremiah 31:33). Purpose of Transformation We are transformed by the working of the Holy Spirit into a new creation. One that is capable of worshipping God rightly. Being a new creature we give our lives as a sacrifice of praise to God. In Hebrews 13:15-16, we are told to offer a sacrifice of praise to God and give thanks. This sacrifice means giving to the Lord whatever He requires of our energies, our time and our earthly possessions to further His work. Set Apart Truly we are set apart and changed, renewed so that our worship is acceptable to God. Our worship becomes true heart worship, not just lip service on a Sunday morning. How easy it is to feel like we have done our duty by attending church and participating in the service. Yet God tells us without a renewed heart and a renewed mind, one set on God and His will, we are actually not worshipping at all. True worship requires action not just talk. It's All About Jesus "I'm comin' back to the heart of worship 'Cause it's all about You It's all about You, Jesus" -- from "The Heart of Worship" by Matt Redmon Worship with a Renewed Heart

So much focus today is on how we humans are all very different. Actually we have much more in common than we might think. Paul reminds us of this in Romans 3:22-23, "even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," There Is No Difference All Have Sinned " There is no difference ", whether I am the leader of a country or a small rural school boy, whether I am a genius like Einstein or failing in school, whether I am a Democrat or Republican, black or white, male or female we all have sin in common. All of us know this. We may not call it sin because that sounds so serious, so religious; but we all have failings, flaws, and weaknesses. Some of us may be "better" than others. Some of us may be genuinely nice people, but all of us sin. The commonality of sin makes us uncomfortable. Am I really like the bad guy on television? In that we are all " slaves to sin " (Romans 6:20) without Christ - then yes. Compared to the righteousness of God there is " none good, no not one " (Romans 3:10). We can cover up our sins. We can hide them from others. But from God nothing is hidden. God Loves Us Also we have another thing in common. God loves us. Whether I am the nicest person you ever met or the most evil, my sin cannot separate me from this great love. Because as Paul says, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). In McClaren's Expositions he says this about God's great love, "God does not love men because of what they are, therefore He does not cease to love them because of what they are." Because God literally is love, He does not love of us because we have earned it, no; He loves us because that is His nature. We can't make Him unlove us. However, the most blessings God gives are for His righteous ones who are made righteous by the shed blood of His Son Jesus. In Romans 4:7 Paul quotes David from Psalm 89:2, when he tells us, " Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;" However, sin can't go unpunished by a loving and just God. Even though God longs to bless us, if we remain in sin there will be a just punishment. The Gift Of Salvation The Cross of Christ and the grace that it provides also joins us as one. No matter how great a sin we may have committed and no matter how long we have been enslaved by that sin the cross and the gift of salvation is for all. No matter your status or your condition, no matter your age, there is no difference. God loves me and He gave His life for me , individually. He thought of me while He was on that cross. He took my sins upon Himself and He did it willingly. And so for every person that ever lived or will live, each and every one, His atonement was for them all (1John 2:2). Faith Unites Us "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28 So what is it that unites us like this with Christ? Only one thing, faith in Him. It is not faith plus something, it is faith alone. Will good works follow this faith? Absolutely, if it is a true faith they will. The fruits of our faith are the evidence of it (Matthew 7:20). The Bible clearly tells us that there is only one way to God and that is through faith in Jesus. We receive Christ as an undeserved gift, not as something we have earned. We can never do enough to save ourselves, our faith in Christ is what saves us. We All Enter Through The Same Gate We all enter through the gate the same way. Those of high social status or the powerful must go through just like the poor and insignificant in the world. Who we are in the world doesn't make a difference to God. Everyone must humble themselves and seek forgiveness in faith for their sins (2 Chronicles 7:14). The gate is narrow and the way will be difficult our Lord tells us (Matthew 7: 13-14), but with God's love and grace we will arrive at our our desired Haven that is Heaven. Our Sins Are Forgiven For those who have believed in Christ, the forgiveness of our sins also unites us. In Hebrews 8:12, we are told that God will no longer even remember our " sins and lawless deeds ". When God forgives us, those sins no longer condemn us (Romans 8:1). 1 John 1:9 says that when we confess our sins that God, who is always faithful and just, will forgive us and make us pure. Colossians 3:13 reminds us that as Christians we are to forgive others as God has forgiven us. And when we pray the Lord's Prayer, we ask God to " Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. "(Matthew 6:12). This means that we are asking God to forgive our sin in the same way that we forgive those around us who have done wrong to us. Be Like Minded Paul says in Philippians 2:2 that we should be like minded, that we should have the same love, and that our spirit and mind should be one. In other words, we should be united and not divided. The Lord brings us together in this world in a way not possible by any other means. His love, forgiveness and grace make us one in Him. Thanks be to God!

How many times, when people describe a failed marriage, have you heard them say, "We just drifted apart"? When a person drifts away from another person it is usually a gradual, slow process. It isn't something you plan on doing or you actively seek to do. Sometimes we don't even know how it happens. We just wake up one morning and the other person seems like a stranger. When a boat begins to drift it can be carried very far away in a short time. Depending on how strong the currents are, and how big the wind is, it may drift miles. If you were asleep on such a boat, you might be surprised to wake up in an unknown and unrecognizable place—a place you really didn't mean to go, maybe even a dangerous place. Drifting Away from God This can happen to us with God as well. The things in life that happen distract us from our real safe harbor, from our safe haven with our Lord. One moment everything seems fine. We're attending church, loving our neighbor, reading the Bible and praying and then the next moment we can't remember the last time we prayed or studied the Word. We may feel alienated from God. We may feel like, not just that we don't know Him anymore, but that He doesn't know us. The Role of Neglect in Failing Relationships When relationships fail it is often due to neglect. We take things for granted. We think the relationship will always be there and that we don't really need to do anything to make it work. When we commit to someone, or to God, we agree that we want this relationship to continue in the future. We understand that we will continue to spend time together, work on growing our relationship with each other, and continue nurturing it. Do you notice the action verbs in that sentence: spending time, working, growing and nurturing? Is that what we are doing with God? Nothing ends well when things are neglected. Do you neglect your school work? Do you fail to care for your family, your spouse, your business. You will discover that even though you didn't actively try to destroy your life, it will happen all because of simple neglect. We have to consciously decide to work at our life for it to be successful. To be a successful Christian, and to have the best relationship to God that we can, also takes work. Avoiding the Danger of Spiritual Drift Hebrews 2:1 says this, " We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away" (NIV). Is that what we are doing? Are we paying careful attention to God and His Word? Drifting can happen easily. Without making a real effort that is exactly what will happen to us. The opposite of this is diligence. The Bible tells us it is very important to be diligent in our faith because this helps us avoid the danger of spiritual drift (Hebrews 6:10). Hebrews 11:6 says that we are rewarded when we diligently seek God. The Bible repeatedly warns us about the dangers of neglecting faith, as Paul does when he tells Timothy to hold onto his faith and good conscience because some people have put away those things and shipwrecked their faith (1 Timothy 1:19). Paul is telling Timothy to stand firm in the truth that is in Christ. Our good conscience is one that doesn't offend God (Hebrews 10:22). A good conscience wants to stay away from sin and follow the will of the Father. But some have abandoned these things, they have become unmoored from their first love, they have put them away and drifted until sadly they finally shipwrecked their faith. To shipwreck one’s faith means to lose direction entirely, drifting so far from the truth that it is spiritually devastating. The Consequences of Neglecting Salvation The writer of Hebrews continues and reminds his reader that " every transgression and disobedience received a just reward" (NKJV). Some translations use the word penalty or punishment instead of reward. Hebrews 2:3 asks how can we escape if we neglect or ignore this great salvation that has been given to us. There will be consequences to drifting away from God. Our lives will not produce the Fruit of the Spirit that God intended when we live outside of His will. While neglect can affect our fruit, for non-believers, neglecting salvation will have everlasting consequences. This great salvation, if ignored, will lead to eternal suffering and separation from God in hell. Thankfully, we serve a gracious God who desires a relationship with us and made that possible through the Cross of Christ. He invites you, even now, to turn to Him. Despite the severe consequences of neglect, as Hebrews 2:3-4 explains, there is ample evidence of the truth of the Gospel message, which leaves no excuse for disbelief. There is the witness of Jesus, the testimony of His disciples, and the evidence of the mighty miracles He performed. The spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit to believers also testify to this truth. Together, these speak to the hope and salvation found in Christ, encouraging us to remain faithful. No Escape for Neglecting Salvation Notice that the writer of Hebrews does not say that there is no escape for murderers or adulterers or liars. No, he says there is no escape for those who neglect salvation. Some people think they have plenty of time to make a decision about believing and repentance. Some people think that just believing He exists is enough to save them. They may be the best and kindest of people, but they also may have neglected to come to Christ. Many of us have seen in our own families or other people's families, children who grew up as Christians, in Christian homes, believing in God and studying His word only to drift away when they became adults. They ignored the great salvation that had been given to them. The world became more important to them than Jesus. They forgot who the anchor for their soul is. A Great Salvation: God's Gift to Us Why does the author say it is a 'great' salvation? Because it is our great God who provided it for us. It is great because our salvation saves us from a terrible eternal fate and offers us the greatness and glory of Heaven. No matter how great our sin, this great salvation is offered to each of us. The Parable of the Sower and Neglect In Matthew 13:7, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower and discusses the seed that fell on thorny ground. The weeds sprang up and choked them. Jesus goes on to explain this by saying that these are people that hear the word but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke out their growth and they bear no fruit. They, in essence, fail to apply what they have heard to their life. They drift away because other worldly things distract them. They don't bear fruit because they have been neglectful farmers as it were. Staying Connected to the Vine Have we neglected our great salvation? Have we taken for granted our relationship to God or have we unintentionally drifted from it? In John 15:1-8, we learn that the only way to produce fruit is to remain connected to the vine. We are nourished by Jesus, the vine . That connection, as we said before, needs to be nurtured, grown, and worked on. We can only produce fruit if we spend time with our Father. We read, study, listen and we hear and obey. Regularly confessing sins and turning back to God restores fellowship with Him (1 John 1:9). We should be hard workers. Being a diligent Christian rewards us with a deeper relationship with our Savior, one that causes us to become more like Jesus in every way. When we pay attention to our walk with Christ we won't drift away. While diligence strengthens our relationship with Christ, it is always God’s grace that sustains us (Philippians 2:12-13). Remember, if we aren't diligent it is not Jesus that is drifting, it is us. God remains faithful even when we are not (2 Timothy 2:13). He says we must bear fruit and to do so means that we have to stay close to Him. This great salvation He offers us can't be neglected. It is eternally important.

We live in a world full of noise. A person can barely find anywhere that is truly quiet. From the doctor's waiting room filled with obnoxious 'canned' music, the mall, or the nice restaurant down the street, it seems that everywhere is filled with noise. If it isn't musical noise it's people talking. YouTube videos, TikTok influencers, news show hosts: you can almost never escape the chatter, buzz and hum of some kind of sound. The Discomfort of Silence In fact, some of us feel more comfortable like this. Often I have heard people speak about not liking too much quiet. They don't like quiet because they don't like the thoughts that intrude into their mind when it's silent. The way to avoid some of these unpleasant inner thoughts is simply to drown them out with noise. Noise: A Tool of Distraction? Sometimes I wonder if all this noise, this cacophony of sound, is just a tool that Satan uses to keep us from hearing our Lord. If we never have quiet, how can we hear Him? Isn't it strange that the world so feels the need to fill up quiet spaces with noise? Maybe for a change we should purposely have quiet time with God. Truly quiet. Ask Him to speak to you. Not necessarily in an audible way, but to your heart. Ask Him to make known His truths to you. To help you really hear and understand His word. The Coming Silence What would silence be like? True, absolute quiet? Can you imagine it? There will come a time when all the earth will be silent. Habakkuk 2:20 says, “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him” . Both the nations that know Him and the ones who do not, the people who are His and those that do not—"a ll the earth " will keep silent in awe, wonderment, and submission. As Matthew Poole says, " but the Lord" , "He is Jehovah, fountain of being, life, power, and salvation to His people; He can do all He will for or against a people." This truth explains why the earth will be silent before Him and awed by His greatness and power. Scriptural Calls to Quietness In Isaiah 30:15, the Lord says that quietness and trust will be your strength. David tells us in Psalm 62:1, " For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation." And in Psalm 46:10 the Lord tells David to "be still and know that I am God." Over and over the Word of God emphasizes the importance of being silent before Him. Why Silence Matters: Welcoming Spiritual Growth What is there about silence and quiet that is so important? When you were a child your parents may have told you, "Hush, stop talking, I need you to hear me." If some danger was around your parents might have said, "Be quiet. Listen to me and I will keep you safe." In school, we had to be quiet to listen to important information from the teacher. When anyone speaks in an official capacity in a courtroom, silence is demanded. Why? Because important facts are being shared and people have to be able to hear. Oftentimes, the more important the message, the more important the silence is. Why silence matters is because when we welcome quiet we experience spiritual growth. Silent Trust in God's Protection This lesson can also be seen in Exodus 14. The Egyptians are chasing the children of Israel. The children of Israel are terribly afraid but then in Exodus 14:14 Moses tells them, " The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. " (ESV). Just hush! Hearing God's Still Small Voice We also need to learn to be silent when the Lord speaks. Of all the voices we hear it is His that is most important. Psalm 62:5 says, "For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him." and in Lamentations 3:26, "It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." The Lord expects us to be silent so we can hear what He needs to tell us. The Holy Spirit won't be shouting above the noise we surround ourselves with. He will be speaking in a still-small voice, like a whisper (1 Kings 19:11-12). Just as we must learn to wait in silence to hear God's still-small voice , silence also holds great significance in Heaven. The Silence in Heaven The silence in Heaven spoken of in Revelation 8:1 is incredible if you can imagine it. The angels who praise the Lord, the elders who throw down their crowns and all the others who attend our great God, will, for thirty minutes—stop, as the seventh seal is opened. In silent anticipation for what is about to happen there will only be quiet in Heaven. It is as if all of Heaven holds their breath anticipating what is about to come. And then, after the silence, the mighty seven trumpets of judgment are sounded against the earth. From the awe-inspiring silence in Heaven to the quiet reverence of holy communion, silence plays an important role in deepening our relationship with God, allowing us to hear His voice and experience His presence. The Quiet of Holy Communion One of the blessings of Holy Communion is silence. The church is quiet, the people are quiet. There is an expectant reverence that can almost be felt. There is a realization in this quiet that we are all one with our Lord. We are the family of God . In this quiet awe we often have a profound sense of our weakness and our great need for Him whom our soul loves. The Blessing of Silence in Relationships Silence and quiet can also be a blessing in our relationship to others as well. Our silence can prevent quarreling (Proverbs 11:12). Proverbs 17:27 tells us that a knowledgeable person " uses words with restraint ". Ecclesiastes 3:7 explains that there are times we should be silent. James 1:19 reminds us of the importance of being quick to listen, but slow to speak. The Example of Christ and the Martyrs Our Lord was an example of this. He was silent before His accusers (John 19:8-9) and in Isaiah 53:7 it was prophesied that He would not open His mouth, but be like a lamb led to the slaughter. About 110 AD, Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, was accused by the Romans of refusing to worship Roman gods. Before he was torn apart by lions in the Coliseum, he did not defend himself, but instead remained calm and focused on Jesus. In the face of our storms are we calm and quiet? Is our focus on Jesus? Reflection and Stillness Silence can unlock feelings that we have never experienced before. Quiet can be a time, not just for self-reflection, but for reflecting on the One in whose image we are made. How can we serve Him better? What does He ask of us? How can we grow in our knowledge of the Creator of the universe? What is this love that He offers me so unconditionally? Be still and listen.

"God Loves You." How many times have we heard this from friends, strangers, preachers and others? When you hear those words do they mean anything to you? Or do you just hear them and think, "So, what else is new?" Or maybe you hear them and think that is just impossible because of whatever sin you are participating in at the moment. God Loved Us So God does love us, in Romans 5:8 Paul says he loves us so much that Christ died for us " while we were STILL sinners. " God became flesh and died on a cross for us before we ever repented or believed. His perfect Son died for you and me. Truly this is love divine. God Wants To Protect Us He longs to love and protect us from the evil one, Satan. "He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; " Psalm 91: 4 I always loved the imagery of God as a mother hen covering us with His feathers and giving us refuge under His wings. There is something so touching and so tender about this illustration of God's love. Jesus uses the same imagery in Matthew 23:37, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" The Metaphor Of The Hen According to an article in the journal, Animals (1), a mother hen provides many important things for her chicks. Her maternal care influences the behavior of her chicks, she helps reduce fear and stress in her young when they feel threatened, she trains them how to find food that is nourishing and the mother hen's clucks help the unhatched baby recognize their mother when they are born. The Bible tells us in Psalm 139:16 that God knew us before we were born; that his Holy Spirit influences our behavior (Galatians 5: 22-23); that we are nourished and provided for by Him (Matthew 4:4); that His sheep hear His voice and they know and follow Him (John 10:27); and that He keeps us from fear (Psalm 34:4) Divine Love Not surprising that the Lord picked the image of a hen to show how He loves us. When we realize, maybe for the first time, that in spite of our failings, He truly loves us, it is humbling and thrilling at the same time. We realize that our worth comes from Him. That He longs to cover us and protect us. We repent and seek His face and the love of His Holy Spirit fills us and trains us, guides and protects us, nourishes and feeds us and in all things, because of His love and forgiveness, we give Him the honor and the glory. The Love of God is Greater Far - Frederick Lehman "Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made; Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky." (1) Edgar J, Held S, Jones C, Troisi C. Influences of Maternal Care on Chicken Welfare. Animals . 2016; 6(1):2. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani6010002