...Reflection

As water reflects the man’s face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.

Proverbs 27:19

Hmm. How is my heart reflection today? Is my heart so focused on Jesus that I reflect him today?

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for your love toward us. Lord I pray that our hearts would reflect your love to the outside world around us. Lord you have made each one of us precious in your sight, you have given us the desire to love you Lord, and the desire to be Christ like. Lord I pray today our reflection would resemble Jesus, to all who are surrounding us today. In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen.

… Adopted

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation - but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.  For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.   Romans 8:12-17 (NIV)

Dear Abba Father,
Many years ago, Jesus brought me here to Your home.  In spite of my rebellion and many faults You welcomed me and loved me.  Jesus stood up for me and took the blame for all my wrong actions and bad behavior, and You Father punished Him in my place.  You were glad I was here, in spite of the punishment I deserved and Jesus took for me.  Jesus has continued to show me how to live in Your home and how to leave my old patterns and habits behind.  And Jesus is still now letting me know I have been adopted into Your home, but yet there are some ways I have not completely adopted the home You have given me.  Father where I lived previously, there was no discipline and no one cared what I did.  Most of the time I wasn't even wanted there and I think that is why sometimes I think You don't really want me here.  However Father, You do care and there are areas of undisciplined living that need to go.  Forgive me Father, I sometimes have fear, because I still have some of those things in my life.  Sometimes it's actions, sometimes it's just thinking I'm not good enough and I don't belong here, but You always come to my side and pull me in and tell me how much You love me.  You always remind me that You chose me to live with You, and You have a better life for me than I could ever think.  You remind me I am Your child, I belong to You.  Although sometimes leaving behind where I came from takes me out of my comfort zone and it feels like suffering, it's really not suffering at all compared to what Jesus did for me.  It's so that I may also share in the glory of what you have for me, the glory of living in Your kingdom.  When these times come, I struggle with the words, and then, I hear the voice crying out, Abba, Father.  And I know, My Jesus is again taking me in His arms to You, my Abba, Father.
Love,
Your Child

… He brings us thus far.

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?  
And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD!  And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD!  Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it.  Therefore you are great, O LORD God.   For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.  2 Samuel 18-22

This morning was one of those mornings with a fresh awe of Him and what He does in our lives.  Last night I had the privilege to visit our Youth group.  I got to hear and see the amazing work of our God among the teens.  Yes our great God has saved us from death thru Jesus.  And if that was not enough He goes even further and promises great things to us.  He loves us, provides for us, mends our broken hearts, restores us, restores our relationships, heals us, and gives us gifts we can’t even fathom at times.  He has done so much for us because of His own greatness, yet when was the last time we sat with Him in awe and pure excitement.

Last night was a night to say, YOU HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT ALL THIS GREATNESS AND MADE IT KNOW TO YOUR SERVANTS.  THIS IS WHAT OUR GOD HAS DONE AND HE HAS BROUGHT US THUS FAR!!!!!

Dear Lord, Heavenly Father, thank you!  I thank you for all You have done in the lives of the youth and their families and all of us.  Father I pray today we are reminded with fresh excitement and awe of You and what You do in our lives, and so we sit and marvel about how great You are, there is NONE like YOU.  In Jesus Name, Amen.