love - Revelations From The Road

Advent Week 3 and 4

December 21, 2024 by Bill Leave a Comment

As we learned last week, the word “advent” means, “coming” or “arrival”. They were awaiting the arrival of our Savior and King during this Christmas season. We talked about HOPE and PEACE last week and, this week, I’m going to move it up a little, and focus on JOY and LOVE.

JOY. Some view joy and happiness as the same thing, but that’s not the case. Joy is more Spiritual and intentional. Happiness is shaped by what happens to you, joy is found deep within no matter what’s going on around you. If you’re going through a hard time and feel like all your strength has been sapped, declare this verse: “The joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).Be reminded of the promises of God, (they’re in the Bible), and don’t listen to the temptations of the enemy. And, as a witness, people would expect you to be happy when good things happen to you. But the best witness could be that, when you’re in a storm of life, that you show joy and faith that God will bring you through. That is Spiritual and internal. Jesus endured the cross, “for the joy that was set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2). We can too.

LOVE. “An intense feeling of deep affection:” Oh wow, love. How much love is displayed during Christmas? We see the love of God toward us in action by the events of Jesus’ birth and early life. God is love! We should be showing our love for God during Christmas, and every day, by the way we love others. Jesus said, “Love one another.” (John 13:34). God loves us with a never-ending love and we should try to do the same toward Him and His creation. We can love our car, our sports team or our phone but what about people? We can love our spouse, kids, grandkids and others in our family but what about those we meet each day, our co-workers, our church family? Show the love of God.

Let’s demonstrate our Christianity during this Christmas season by showing our JOY and LOVE. God will be pleased.

Who Are You?

April 27, 2024 by Bill 1 Comment

Each one of us was created a unique person with special gifts and talents to fulfill a mission on the earth. I wrote about this topic a few years ago but have gotten some new insights into it. We are Selected, Directed and Protected. Let’s look at these attributes.

We are Selected. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;” (Jeremiah 1:5). Isn’t it amazing that God knew us and had made plans for us even before we were born? We’re special and God is good!

We are Directed. When God chose us, He knew we would need direction. He knew the enemy would always be trying to redirect us to his way. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8). “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” (Isaiah 30:21). We MUST listen, trust and obey, for there’s no other way.

We are Protected. Have you ever been is a dark place but remembered Psalm 23:4? “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” We have to keep going “through”, don’t stop or turn back. God is always there. “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:8). We are protected from the enemy but we have to stay close to God.

One prayer I often pray for my kids, grandkids and myself is, “God, please make us aware of who we are, what we have and what we can do.” We are God’s special creation, we have special gifts and talents to use and it’s amazing what we can do with what God has given us. But just like an athlete, we must join the team, obey the coach and commit to the challenge. Are you one who will do this? “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Advent Week 4

December 24, 2023 by Bill Leave a Comment

This week is the fourth and final week of Advent. In previous weeks we have seen that during this Christmas time we should be focusing on Hope, Preparation, Joy and this week LOVE. We have had Word given to us of a Savior and people Hoped for that. He came and now we Hope for His second coming. Because of that Hope, we should be Preparing our hearts and minds for that event. Jesus’ first coming brought great Joy to the people and we should have great Joy during this time when we celebrate His birth.

And now, LOVE. “For God so LOVED the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3: 16-17). “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14). “This is LOVE: not that we LOVED God, but that he LOVED us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1John 4:10). “And now I give you a new commandment: LOVE one another. As I have LOVED you, so you must LOVE one another.” (John 13:34).

LOVE. It’s a strong word that is used in many different ways in our society. This week remember the unconditional, sacrificial, incomparable LOVE that was shown to us on that glorious night when LOVE was born into our world. LOVE your family, LOVE your friends, LOVE your neighbors, LOVE your enemies, LOVE everyone, and LOVE yourself! LOVE Jesus and show it in your life. Merry CHRISTmas! I LOVE you!

Action

June 25, 2023 by Bill Leave a Comment

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22)

During Tuesday night’s revival service, something was said about being active in service to God and it started me thinking. I began getting several action words or verbs that are given to us in God’s Word. I wrote them down and will write about it later. But I was going through some of my blog posts and came upon one from 2016 that was on this same topic. I want to re-share it with you.

You won’t get the job unless you apply for it.
You won’t accomplish the task unless you start it.
You won’t get closer to your destination until you take the first step.
You can’t get in shape unless you get off the couch.
You can’t be a good athlete unless you go out for the team.
You can’t harvest a crop unless you plant the seed.
You can’t walk on the water unless you get out of the boat.
You can’t receive Heaven’s blessings if your arms are full of the world.
You won’t receive until you ask. You won’t find until you seek. Your door won’t open until you knock. (Matthew 7:7)

God will do His part WHEN we do our part.

“Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:8).

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7).

Think about what we are doing for God. What are we doing in service to our fellow man? God has given each of us at least one Spiritual gift to use to accomplish His plan for us. And, He will be with us all the way. Let’s get moving and show some Godly action.

Advent 2

December 18, 2022 by Bill Leave a Comment