True Love

The other day I found the following printout on the computer desk. I don't know who printed it or where it came from, but it made me smile--and tear. I guess I should point out that this is directly toward you female readers...but, guys, God has an unending love for you as well; you're just as much a part of Christ's bride as any one else.

How can a woman not love the Lord?

• He is a gentleman
• He is confident
• He is a provider and protector
• He is rich and powerful
• He owns everything, there is nothing He wouldn't do for me
• He perfects all things concerning me
• He anticipates my wants and needs
• Every day He tells me and shows me how much He loves me
• I don't have to perform in order to earn his love
• He keeps all his promises
• No one can influence his opinion of me
• He is the ultimate intimate partner
• He can't "disown" me because I am part of him
• He prepares a table for me
• He covers me and doesn't expose me
• He wrote his loving words down so that I'll never forget how He feels about me

Wake up every day and thank God for being the best "man" in your life.


 I encourage you to print out the list and place it somewhere you'll accidentally come across it, i.e. a journal, the crevices of your junk drawer, or between the pages of your Bible. I know I find encouragement notes in the most bizarre places, but they're always the perfect thing for the moment. So maybe you'll do the same.

I know Valentine's day has come and gone, but we should never cease to show love-agape, storge, etc.- to others around us. And in the times you don't feel appreciated, remember God is always there for you.

"God is love."
-Tori

Something's Got to Change

My friend posted this on FaceBook the other day. I'm going to let the video speak for itself.

-Tori

The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!

I read a story recently that excited me greatly. It was full of hope, courage, controversy, good vs. evil, destruction of social norms, the underdog and an epic victory. This is prime Hollywood material right here, folks! This is a story of an oppressed nation and there is little hope of ever being the great nation they had been before. This is the story of the a boy becoming a warrior and leading the people to great victory!
 Does this sound familiar? I know if that above was told to me I would name quite a few stories before getting the right one.

I highly encourage you to go read Judges 6-8, it's some classic lit, let me tell you. (Don't forget to get a copy of my si-fi version when I finish it because it'll be a hit too.) When I read the story of Gideon recently I was struck by how cool the whole thing was. A man referred to as the Angel of God comes and visits this young man and tells him: "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!" (Judges 6:12) This is a farm boy, working hard in the field to hide the grain before their enemies steal it, and this random guy says the God that let them fall into the hands of their enemy is with him? He was confused, doubtful and had plenty of questions to ask. After their conversation Gideon was given a sign and he realized it was God he had been talking to and built an alter. Later he gets sneaky and goes at night and destroys the alter to the false god and chopped down the neighboring goddess statue and uses her as firewood for God's alter. Isn't that awesome?! I still think you should go read all this yourself.

Here's the part we all know, Gideon rounds up the people if Israel against the Midianite (who's number is greater than the sands of the sea) and after God thins the lines of men to a group of three hundred men, Gideon defeats the Midianite hordes and chases them out of the land and chops off the kings' heads. (For real, you need to read this.) But how? Well like the angel said: the Lord was with them. Gideon heeded the Lord and acted in faith. The likelihood of winning a battle is so slim when it's three-hundred against we-haven't-invented-the-number-yet but when God is on your side you can't help but win.

Here's the super cool part, when all was said and done the people told Gideon to be their ruler and for all his kids to be too and this is what he said. “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.”

I guess the point I mean to convey is this: God's hands and feet are His faithful. You read in Joshua, Esther, Acts and everywhere that where there are faithful believes there is God in action. In the gospels Jesus is always moved with compassion at the sight of faith. It doesn't take a great person for God to use them, it takes faith. God doesn't need us but He loves to use us and He uses the weak to show the world just how strong He is.

Christ, our Savior, once said: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)



For His glory,
Michael