Romans 10:9-10

My husband is the only man, that I am not genetically related to, to whom I have ever said, "I love you." 

And because of that, the build up of actually getting the words to come out of my mouth was huge! 

You see, our entire courtship was long distance. We only saw each other once a month, a few days at a time. He knew and expressed his love for me in June. I knew that I loved him too - but I was so nervous about saying those three little words out loud, that I flaked out. And the plane ride home was awful because I knew I'd have to wait a few weeks more to tell him face to face that I loved him. 

And so those weeks s-l-o-w-l-y dragged on and then it was time to fly back to Texas to see him. And then, I had to figure out when and where I was to say those three words. 

We were touring the George Bush (#41) Presidential Library & Museum (romantic, I know) and we found ourselves in this spot.

And I figured it was just as good of place as any to tell the man that I loved, that I loved him. And it felt good to say it to him, because I could finally express what was in my heart. 

I could do and say all the loving things that I could think of, but it wasn't until I said "I love you" that those things were substantiated by a declaration. 

I think that it is why it is so important, that scripture calls us to not just believe in our hearts, but to confess with our mouth. To say to someone, anyone, everyone, that we believe that Jesus is the Son of God. That he died on the cross for our sins. That he was raised on the third day. And that some day soon, he'll return.

For when we confess to others what we believe, there's no going back. We are taking a stand, pledging our allegiance, and identifying ourselves with the most sacred and significant relationship that we could ever commit to - and letting others know about it. 

All of our actions, our thoughts, our beliefs, our existence hinges upon our confession, "Jesus is Lord". It makes it real, not just to ourselves, but those who have witnessed that confession. 

So if you haven't said it lately, or even at all, say it to someone. Confirm or reaffirm your faith today, and declare, "Jesus is Lord". 

Romans 5:8

Ugh. Today I have to tell you something that I really don't want to confess. So please be kind and gentle and understanding and forgiving as I share how God is working on me...

Last week I posted this on my Facebook page:

And it occurred to me yesterday on my (almost) daily 2 mile walk that lately, God has been telling me to "pull myself together", after all, I am a child of the Most High God. 

So here's the deal, a few weeks ago, I was reviewing another memory verse, Psalm 139:2-24:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Now usually, I focus on the "anxious thoughts" because, well, I tend to have anxious thoughts sometimes. But on this special day, my mind wandered over to the "offensive way" portion of the passage. And so I dared to ask God, is there any offensive way in me?

Me: God, is there any offensive way in me?

God: You want to know what I find offensive? I'll tell you what I find offensive - the words that come out of your mouth. 

Me: That?

God: Yeah, that. What about that other verse you've memorized...Ephesians 4:29-32?

Me: Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

God: Go on...

Me: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

God: Go on...

Me: Git rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 

God: You want to be my witness? Work on this. You are my child. I love you. 

And so as I work on becoming more conscientious about the words that are coming out of my mouth, I am also processing Romans 5:8. 

Knowing that I am a sinner, knowing that I'd have imperfect issues, habits, behaviors, and thoughts...Christ still died for me. That is mind-blowing. He didn't die for me because I was already righteous or even a good person (Ro 5:7). He died for me precisely because I wasn't those things; because I needed him to die in order to be made right before God. 

God is a good, good Father (title of a great song by Chris Tomlin, by the way...) and there is no end to his mercy - not giving us what we deserve - and grace - giving us what we certainly do not deserve. 

His forgiveness is gentle and healing and draws us in to a deeper relationship with Him. 

His love cannot be measured or matched. And it is because of this love, that he disciplines his children. He instructs us and guides us, so that we can experience as the Psalmist writes, the way everlasting. 

So, if you happen to stumble upon this post and you haven't yet taken God up on his offer of eternal life because you think that you're not good enough, let me tell you that you'll never be good enough, but God definitely is. And that's all that matters. 

Let God love you and forgive you. Accept that you are one of the ones that Christ died for. Yes, even you. 

John 3.16

Like many children who grew up going to church, John chapter 3 and verse 16 was the first scripture that I committed to memory. And even if a person didn't memorize this text, if he or she watch any kind of televised sporting event, the chances of seeing a fan at the game wave a poster with the reference are likely fairly high. 

But I wonder for how many people, believers and non-believers alike, the regularity of seeing "John 3:16" that the message of what this verse is really about gets glossed over? I wonder this because if we really took it seriously, the world would be radically different for the way that we treated one another.

The world is made up of you and me, our families, our friends, our co-workers, our neighbors, the clerk at the gas station, the teller at the bank, the plumber, the homeless veteran, the convict spending part of his/her life in prison, and the person who practices a faith that is completely different than yours.

Knowing that God sent his one and only Son to be the Sacrificial Lamb for each and every one of us, should change the way we see each other and treat each other. I shouldn't look at you as only what I see, but how God sees you - worth sending His Son to the cross for you.

I recently saw this video of Jose Antonio, 55, getting a makeover. He's been homeless for 25 years and life had taken a toll on him. 

In other videos of the same story, Jose goes to his local spots and starts talking to the people that he would regularly encounter and they didn't recognize him. And to be honest, who would? And surely people started to treat him differently because of the way that he looked. 

But let's remember that God loves the new hipster Jose Antonio, just as much as He loves the worn down Jose Antonio. And our love for others should be no different. 

If we really believed that God so loved the world, wouldn't we be less judgmental and more compassionate?

If we really believed that God so loved the world, wouldn't we be less stingy and more generous?

If we really believed that God so loved the world, wouldn't we be less afraid and more courageous?

These are just a few ideas, and I'm sure that you could add more. 

It's not that God so loved the world, but that he loves each of us, just as we are - no matter our circumstances or what skills, talents, or abilities, we have, no matter how many wrongs we have committed, His love is unconditional. 

Let's remember this with each person we encounter today.