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One thing that we can never do in this life is out run God's love for us.
No matter how many times we fall short, miss the mark, stumble, falter or
fail, we can still rest assured that our Heavenly Father will forgive us,
restore us and allow us to try again. God's mercies are renewed every
day. His lovingkindness towards us never wanes or lessens because of our
shortfalls. God's grace and mercy covers us in our time of need and we
are shown a pure love that envelops us and shows us that we are not beyond
redemption. The Lord Jesus told a parable that shows how great God's
mercy is towards His beloved child and I would like to share it with you.
(Psalm 69:16) (Isaiah 41:10)
The story of the prodigal son is about a father who had two sons, the
younger of which had asked his father for his portion of inheritance that
he would receive when his father died. The father gave his young son his
inheritance and after he had received it, the younger son gathered all of
his belongings and moved to a far country where he wasted his inheritance
with riotous living. After he had foolishly spent all of his inheritance,
there was a severe famine in that land and he began to starve and be in
want. He found a job in the field feeding pigs and he was so hungry that
he longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but
no one gave him anything to eat. (Luke 15:11-16)
When he came to his senses he thought “How many of my father's hired men
have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and
go back to my father and say to him: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven
and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me
like one of your hired men.'” He got up and went to his father, but while
he was still a long way off, his father saw his son and was filled with
compassion for him. The father ran to his son, threw his arms around him
and kissed him. The son said to the father, “I have sinned against heaven
and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the
father ordered his servants to bring out the best robe and put it on his
son. He also put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. He told
the servants to bring the fatted calf and kill it and prepare a feast to
celebrate his sons return. He said “This son of mine was dead and is alive
again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:17-24)
I believe that this is how God looks upon us when we fall away from Him.
He wishes for us to return to Him to be redeemed and reconciled back with
the Father again. Always remember and keep in mind that God's love is
unlike anything we've ever experienced. It is eternal, it is unwavering,
it is all encompassing and is available to all who will simply receive it.
If you have fallen away from the Lord and found yourself in the pigs pen,
I want you to know that God waits with open arms ready and willing to
receive you unto Himself again. His love is that great for you and I.
Know that you can call upon the Lord without fear or trepidation and the
Lord will hear your heart's cry. He will forgive you, cleanse you and
make you a new creation and all you have to do is ask Him for it.
(2 Peter 3:9) (Joel 2:12-13) (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I hope this message inspires and encourages your heart to think about God's
love for you and know that He waits with open arms for you to call upon Him.
RUNNING INTO HIS ARMS
This life is so full of beautiful moments. All you have to do is open your
eyes and your heart to see them. I saw one just the other day. The local
elementary school had just let out and I found myself behind a school bus
as I was driving home. The bus stopped by a house sitting on top of a
hill. A little girl no more than 7 years old hopped down the bus steps and
started running up the driveway toward the house.
The smile on her face was contagious. Her long hair was bouncing off her
shoulders and her pink backpack was trailing behind her as she ran. I
looked up the hill to see where she was going and saw her Dad waiting on
her. As she got closer and closer her Dad smiled and knelt down to greet
her. The second she got to him he wrapped his powerful arms around her and
gave her a huge hug.
My eyes watered a bit as I watched this scene and remembered all the times
my own children had ran into my arms with smiling faces and loving hearts.
Every single hug from them was a fountain of youth and a treasure of joy.
My lovely trip down memory lane was interrupted when I heard the car behind
me honk its horn. I saw the school bus quickly pulling away and started to
follow it again. I did so, however, with a fuller heart and lighter spirit
than I had before. I took that beautiful moment and stored it safely in my
soul where I knew it would remain forever.
One day we all will leave this school of learning and love and finally get
to go home again. I know that when it is my time that I will sprint from
that bus and right into my Heavenly Father’s arms. I know that my smile
will be bright and my heart will be light. Enjoy your day here at school
then. Teach, love, and learn. But know that one day you will be going home
to where the hugs are eternal and the love never ends.
By Joseph J. Mazzella
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Psalm 145:14-18 “The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those
that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them
their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the
desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and
holy in all his works. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him,
to all that call upon him in truth.”
Psalm 103:10-14 “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us
according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so
great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from
the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us. Like as a
father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him. For
He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.”
Romans 10:9-11 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture
saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.”
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men
count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless
His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who
redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness
and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy
youth is renewed like the eagle's.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: MY DECISION
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem12.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: AN ANGEL BY MY SIDE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony194.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
