Sliced, Diced and Mashed/Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

Here in is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love; perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

                                                                                                …I John 4:17-18

            A commercial caught my attention one day, but to tell you exactly what the commercial was for, I can’t say.  It did have something to do about a car and the tranquil feeling the father had as he placed the seat belt around his 6-7 year old daughter.  The little girl jabbered so much the father had a hard time trying to get back to the wheel.  He listened intently as he had finally closed the door while she continued, not missing a beat.

            I was so tickled over the determination of this little character to finish her story while her father drove nodding his head and grinning at her enthusiasm.  But mostly, I noticed what she was wearing.  It is a female thing I am sure, but nevertheless, I noticed her outfit thinking, she must have a mind of her own, because no mother in her right mind would have dressed her child that way. It did look like she dressed herself and had fun doing it.  Nothing matched, all the way from plaids to an array of colors.  It was humorous to say the least.

            I saw myself in this little girl as she kept going in her own direction, in her own little world and it would not have bothered her one bit if her daddy had not heard a word she said.  She had something to say and said it.

            Her unmatched outfit reminded me of this verse in I John 4:4 where John writes, perfect love casts out fear.  What does that have to do with this outfit? Some things in our lives don’t match.  We are to live for Christ, and be bold.  We should not fear as Christians about standing before the Lord with what we have done for Him in this life time.  If we fear because of shame, apprehension of God’s assessment of our life in Him, then we don’t have peace and do not have a mature or complete love. We are saved if we have asked Jesus to cleanse our hearts from sin and accept Him as Savior.  We then have the promise of eternal life in Him, but we live in fear, guilt and shame of not being or living the way He wants us too in the here and now.  We become not at all anxious about His return.  In other words, we don’t match up! 

            We are fearful when we should be at peace.  Our love for Him no matter how great came about because He first loved us.  Perfect love casts out fear of standing before Him.  If you think your love doesn’t and can’t match up to His, you are wrong.  Christ lives in us and we are to be like Christ. 

            Does your life feel mix-matched like this little girl’s lovely array?  Do you say one thing, live and talk another. Do you jabber on and on but are not prone to listen carefully to find out why you have those apprehensions about meeting your Savior?  Un-confessed sin is one thing that will hinder that joy.  Confess, and live for Him in little ways everyday.  That love you show to others will take that apprehension away.  In-fact it is a promise-- that complete love, will cast away fear.

Carol Levergood's blog: Sliced, Diced and Mashed/Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

Carol Levergood's blog: Sliced, Diced and Mashed/Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

Here in is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love; perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

                                                                                           …I John 4:17-18

            A commercial caught my attention one day, but to tell you exactly what the commercial was for, I can’t say.  It did have something to do about a car and the tranquil feeling the father had as he placed the seat belt around his 6-7 year old daughter.  The little girl jabbered so much the father had a hard time trying to get back to the wheel.  He listened intently as he had finally closed the door while she continued, not missing a beat.

            I was so tickled over the determination of this little character to finish her story while her father drove nodding his head and grinning at her enthusiasm.  But mostly, I noticed what she was wearing.  It is a female thing I am sure, but nevertheless, I noticed her outfit thinking, she must have a mind of her own, because no mother in her right mind would have dressed her child that way. It did look like she dressed herself and had fun doing it.  Nothing matched, all the way from plaids to an array of colors.  It was humorous to say the least.

            I saw myself in this little girl as she kept going in her own direction, in her own little world and it would not have bothered her one bit if her daddy had not heard a word she said.  She had something to say and said it.

            Her unmatched outfit reminded me of this verse in I John 4:4 where John writes, perfect love casts out fear.  What does that have to do with this outfit? Some things in our lives don’t match.  We are to live for Christ, and be bold.  We should not fear as Christians about standing before the Lord with what we have done for Him in this life time.  If we fear because of shame, apprehension of God’s assessment of our life in Him, then we don’t have peace and do not have a mature or complete love. We are saved if we have asked Jesus to cleanse our hearts from sin and accept Him as Savior.  We then have the promise of eternal life in Him, but we live in fear, guilt and shame of not being or living the way He wants us too in the here and now.  We become not at all anxious about His return.  In other words, we don’t match up! 

            We are fearful when we should be at peace.  Our love for Him no matter how great came about because He first loved us.  Perfect love casts out fear of standing before Him.  If you think your love doesn’t and can’t match up to His, you are wrong.  Christ lives in us and we are to be like Christ. 

            Does your life feel mix-matched like this little girl’s lovely array?  Do you say one thing, live and talk another. Do you jabber on and on but are not prone to listen carefully to find out why you have those apprehensions about meeting your Savior?  Un-confessed sin is one thing that will hinder that joy.  Confess, and live for Him in little ways everyday.  That love you show to others will take that apprehension away.  In-fact it is a promise-- that complete love, will cast away fear.

Curled Determination

Curled Determination

For in many things we offend all, If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

                                                                                                            ...James 3:2-3

            Missing his sister's company, our son Robert needed something to occupy his time out at the youth camp.  Not having her to pick on was no fun.  Our neighbor offered a horse to us, so thinking about it, Bill and I thought that would be a good activity and exercise for him.  "Boneca" was a beautiful horse but had a good memory of where she lived before coming to our place.  Each time the gate was opened, off took "Boneca" heading for her old place. 

            Robert and I placed the bridle and bit quickly and saddled her up with Robert on, before opening the gate.  She sure did not like the bit in her mouth, curling her tongue stubbornly she refused it wholeheartedly, determined not to let us gain ground.  Her tongue was strong and well trained for this moment.  After training her to wear the bit for short periods of time, she accustomed to it. 

            Boneca was finally trained, or tamed enough to wear the bit.  James 3:7-8 reminds us of the human tongue and how it cannot be tamed.  James says every kind of beast has been tamed of mankind, but verse 8 reads, But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

            What does this say about man?  God gave Adam dominion over the beasts of the field, but cannot gain control or dominion over a small member such as the tongue.  It is big enough though to defile the whole body.  Why is it so easy to forget this?  We do know, but we like "Boneca" push against the will of God, curling up our tongue from allowing Him complete control. 

The being in control feels powerful, but in the long run proves trouble for the Christian.  Go ahead keep pushing away, show everyone how strong you are on your own but one day the blisters from struggling against the bit, will be enough for us to give in and quit resisting. 

What is wrong walking with God, harness in His hand and a bit guiding us on the right path?  Why do we fight it anyway?  Try giving Him control and you will see the path is so much easier, and new pastures will be found. 

Do you have curled determination?

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/Curled Determination

Curled Determination

For in many things we offend all, If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

                                                                                                              ...James 3:2-3

            Missing his sister's company, our son Robert needed something to occupy his time out at the youth camp.  Not having her to pick on was no fun.  Our neighbor offered a horse to us, so thinking about it, Bill and I thought that would be a good activity and exercise for him.  "Boneca" was a beautiful horse but had a good memory of where she lived before coming to our place.  Each time the gate was opened, off took "Boneca" heading for her old place. 

            Robert and I placed the bridle and bit quickly and saddled her up with Robert on, before opening the gate.  She sure did not like the bit in her mouth, curling her tongue stubbornly she refused it wholeheartedly, determined not to let us gain ground.  Her tongue was strong and well trained for this moment.  After training her to wear the bit for short periods of time, she accustomed to it. 

            Boneca was finally trained, or tamed enough to wear the bit.  James 3:7-8 reminds us of the human tongue and how it cannot be tamed.  James says every kind of beast has been tamed of mankind, but verse 8 reads, But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

            What does this say about man?  God gave Adam dominion over the beasts of the field, but cannot gain control or dominion over a small member such as the tongue.  It is big enough though to defile the whole body.  Why is it so easy to forget this?  We do know, but we like "Boneca" push against the will of God, curling up our tongue from allowing Him complete control. 

The being in control feels powerful, but in the long run proves trouble for the Christian.  Go ahead keep pushing away, show everyone how strong you are on your own but one day the blisters from struggling against the bit, will be enough for us to give in and quit resisting. 

What is wrong walking with God, harness in His hand and a bit guiding us on the right path?  Why do we fight it anyway?  Try giving Him control and you will see the path is so much easier, and new pastures will be found. 

Do you have curled determination?

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/ What a Strange Thermostat

Strange Thermostat

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.                                                                                              

                                                                                                 …Romans 8:16, 26

            The sky blended from pink to a deeper pink on the horizon while I watched the day fade away into the early evening.  One sprawled tree became the backdrop for a beautiful picture that fine day.  It has been engraved in my memory for some time.  But something else stood out in this picturesque view even more this approaching night.

            Our Brazilian neighbor owned a Brahma Bull named Benfeitor that roamed the pasture as if he owned it.  In fact he could have it!  No one bothered to argue otherwise.  The silhouette of this huge bull was a sight to behold in proud stature, standing tall against the sky. 

            The muscled creature, strong in nature held his head up high as if king of the hill.  The outline of the silhouette showed a hump on the back of the neck, distinguishing the Brahma from other bulls.  The hump works as a thermostat to help cool the beast during very hot days; while veins run down the sides, to help the cooling process.

            Brothers and sisters in Christ we too have a thermostat that provides us with insight about our spiritual lives indicating if we are cooling in our attitude towards our Savior.  Interestingly most run to the Lord when things start to heat up in their lives.  All of a sudden when the heat is on, they suddenly look to God to be rescued. 

            The Holy Spirit is part of our life when we become a Christian, so running away won't get you far.  His work is to convict and bring you back to God in true fellowship.  If you thought much about this personal thermostat we possess, we would be so truly thankful.  It wouldn't be a pretty picture if we didn't have the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit to bring us back to the fold.  Now that is true fellowship as a believer.

            Let the Holy Spirit work in you not allowing sin to come into your life showing lukewarm on God's spiritual gage.

             Because of Christ, the Holy Spirit or thermostat has been made available to regulate your life and He will direct us to keep it ever level and at a temperature that pleases the Almighty. 

            When you start to feel the temperature dropping or cooling, remember it is not the thermostat. When you stop fellowship with other believers, remember it’s not the thermostat, because He doesn’t communicate a wrong reading.  You have hurt, sin, or disbelief going on inside.  Call on the Lord and permit the Holy Spirit to work and fellowship with you the way you allowed Him to before.  Don’t continue to push Him away.

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/It's Just Not in Me

It's Just Not in Me!

But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.                                           

       ... Job 28: 12-14

The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.

                                                                                                                        ...Job 28:17

Chuck loves using a metal detector every chance he gets.  When diamond rings are lost he is called to try to rescue the precious sentiments.  Looking for jewels, old coins, or just finding old keepsakes, these metal detectors help people who have lost precious belongings. At the time of writing this, our friend has found his way out to Arizona to the wide-open lands. 

Chuck will have stories to tell and adventures too numerous to relate.  A hobby like this could be quite relaxing, camping in the open air beneath the only light around, the stars. 

If our friend were to look for wisdom or understanding while out with his metal detector, it would not be found. Wisdom can not be found in the land of the living, as the scriptures read very clearly.  No matter how far down we were to go beneath the earth, or sea, it would not be retrieved.

The price of wisdom is not known.  Fine gold, crystal and jewels can not equal it.  Where is wisdom found?  Wisdom is found only in the Lord.  Job proclaims those who regard not God, die without wisdom. 

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

...I Corinthians 2:7

With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.    ...Job 12:13

How long have you been searching in all the wrong places?