"Love is the sum of all virtue, and love disposes us to good." - Jonathan Edwards
And here is to you having a wonderful weekend ! This post is about love - again. So much can be said about love that it is impossible to put it all in one blog post. Now I will focus primarily on how much God loves us using Scriptures, videos, and my own reflections on the subject.
Below is a video that shows how much Jesus loves us.
"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." - I John 4:10
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Jesus speaking at John 15:13.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
We humans cannot totally comprehend the great love God has for us; God is love, it is His very nature. I John 4:8, 16. Everything He does is out of love; yes, even when He disciplines us or allows hardships to overcome us. Because trials and hardships help mold us into what God desires us to become; we can grow spiritually from His correction.
Another music video below concerning Jesus' love for us. "Above All" by Michael W. Smith
"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.." - Romans 5:8
When I consider all that God and Jesus have done for me and all true believers, it fills me with so much love and gratitude that I could never explain the depth of it all in words. What amazing love ! Even when I am experiencing trials, I still have peace in my soul because of the Lord's great love and the fact that I am aware of His presence and helping hand.
"Doubt not His grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that He loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in of happiness." - Charles Spurgeon
My oil painting above tells you what "love letter" this post is referring to. Yes, the Bible, God's Holy Word, is His love letter to us. In it he gives guidance, comfort, love, instruction, and especially His qualities and characteristics so that we can come to know Him and Jesus better by reading the Word. And as we come to know God better, we can't help but be filled with gratitude and love for Him.
The painting above is full of symbolism. The cup with the forget-me-not flowers on it is a reminder to always remember with gratitude what God has done for us...especially in sending Jesus as our Savior; the red rose symbolizes Jesus' shed blood; the yellow peace rose is for the peace only God can give; the eyeglasses are to tell you to read closely the Word; the water in the small vase symbolizes living water from Jesus and nourishes the soul with peace. And then the Bible, which is God's Love Letter to us. .... And it is also His Instruction Manual.
The excellent video below is very uplifting and it will conclude this Inspirational Weekend post.
It is titled, "God's Love Letter For You."
"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. - Jeremiah 31:3
"It's not whether you get knocked down. It's whether you get up again." - Vince Lombardi
I hope your weekend is fantastic and that you are well and happy ! People need to be like these palm trees at Haleiwa Beach Park on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. If you notice, a lot of sand - and hence stability - has eroded away from the base of these palms; yet they are still enduring and still have stable roots to keep them hanging in there. People need stability as well as deep roots grounded in faith and hope in the good Lord to keep them strong and able to endure the erosions of life's trials, sorrows, anxieties,and heartaches. Christians as well as unbelievers will have occasion to suffer while on this earth. Remember, even Jesus suffered mockings, persecution, and eventually death.
It is not my intent to dwell on the troubles of this life on earth, but rather to share some encouraging thoughts and quotes and music to uplift you this weekend. Jesus said, "And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." John 16:22
"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.." - Psalm 30:5
Below is a music video to encourage and uplift you. It is "The Hurt and the Healer" by Mercy Me
God is the Great Physician and Jesus as well, being our Healer. "....And with His stripes we are healed." - Isaiah 53:5 b
Back in 1998 I went through much hurt and pain when my marriage broke up. I ended up crying a lot and traveling for a very long time to try to find my way through the heartache and to find a place where I could settle down and start over again. I had previously been very secular in my outlook, but I began praying more and more and reading the Bible for some stability. One Scripture that I read frequently was Psalm 56 and in particular verse 8, "Thou tellest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle: Are they not in thy book?"
Recently I went to 3 different Bible commentaries to find out what was meant by "tear bottle".
It is an allusion to a very ancient custom by the Romans and the Greeks. In times of sorrow tears were actually collected and put into tear bottles or lachrymatories as a remembrance. The word rendered "bottle" in this Scripture means primarily a bottle made of skin, such as was used in the East. But it could mean a bottle of any kind. A lachrymatory was a small bottle of thin glass or clay. Many of these have been found in the ancient Roman tombs. But the main point in Psalm 56:8 is that God was aware of David's tears and his wanderings and God did keep an account of them. God cares about us and takes special interest in broken hearts.
"He healeth the broken in heart, And bindeth up their wounds." - Psalm 147:3
Remember, hurt and suffering can be for our well-being. By it we learn life lessons and we also turn to God for help -- and in faith and obedience. This pleases the heavenly Father and we in turn grow spiritually in the process.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" - Romans 8:28
Another music video follows..."Jesus You Are My Healer" by Don Moen
Think happy thoughts and dwell on good things. There is much to be grateful for.
"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:" - Proverbs 23:7 a
"I do not want merely to possess a faith, I want a faith that possesses me." - Charles Kingsley
A very happy weekend to you ! You may not be lying under a palm tree in Waikiki, relaxing and watching the surf, but you don't have to be in order to have a fantastic weekend. It is all in the attitude, friends. You can live in a palace and still be miserable if you have a bad attitude. Most of you already know this. But I am speaking of more than having a positive attitude; I am speaking of true faith and the peace that that can give you. And if you have a peaceful mind and a peaceful heart, then you will also find happiness, even in the midst of trials.
I was around 5 years old when I had my first encounter with faith and answered prayer. I had left church services and my cousin, who was suppose to walk me back home, was no where to be found. I waited and waited, and I got scared. I did not know how to walk home....to find my way. I don't remember if I cried or not, but I do remember I prayed to God to help me. And right after that, my cousin showed up with her friend, saying they had forgotten about me. But the good Lord taught me the power of prayer and of faith that Sunday morning. Some will want to call it all just coincidence, but I know in my heart that God heard me then. I will not now mention all my prayers that the good Lord has answered during my lifetime, because this post is not about me, but about faith.
"Talk what we will of faith, if we do not trust and rely upon Him, we do not believe in Him." -
Anthony Farindon
"The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience, nor does it recognize any obedience that does not spring from faith. The two are at opposite sides of the same coin." - A. W. Tozer
"Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, And looks to God alone; Laughs at impossibilities, And cries it shall be done." - Charles Wesley
In my photograph above that is one determined tree and, I might add, it obviously has endurance to grow so precariously on the hillside and still survive .... upright and strong.
And so it is with people. If you have a strong faith rooted in the love of God and belief in His promises, you can survive anything with the Lord's help and much prayer. You can "grow" upright and strong in your Christian walk. One way to strong faith is to endure many trials, some severe. To wait on the Lord in these times is a sign of true and enduring faith.
Besides faith making you strong and giving you endurance to face life's trials, faith can also be a healing balm to the soul. It gives you hope, for without hope your existence is meaningless and all doom and gloom to your mind.
And Jesus said to him, "Go your way, your faith has made you well." And immediately he recovered his sight and followed Him on the way. - Mark 10:52
Jesus said unto her, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?" - John 11: 25-26 .
The bottom line is, have faith in God and Jesus; pray without ceasing for in prayer you draw closer to God and it will happen that He will answer your prayers, if it agrees with His will for you. You need a close, personal relationship with God and Jesus and that can only happen through reading His Holy Word to get to know His great love and all of His qualities and attributes and character; and also much prayer will draw you closer to Him.
Remember what Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
Following is a video by Kutless with lyrics about faith.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1
"I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." - Psalm 34:4
This photograph of mine was taken from an overlook which looks out over Hanalei Valley on the island of Kauai, showing the taro fields. Hawaii is often called Paradise, and indeed it is very beautiful here and if you are spiritually sensitive, it does cause you to dwell on the awesomeness of God and His power and might - and love - to create such beauty. Areas such as the one shown above give you a sense of peace and faith in a good God.
But when we feel threatened by anything, our sense of security is shattered and we can give way to fear and anxiety, which is normal and healthy when in danger. But things such as wars -- like what is going on in the Middle-East right now and Russia increasing troops and cruise missiles and fighter jets and other build up in Syria can make people fear it is leading up to another World War -- and it might be. In Ezekiel 38 and 39 the Bible speaks of Gog of Magog (which most scholars agree is referring to Russia) and it is a good description of what is beginning to happen right now. Another related note, Isaiah 17:1 says, "The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap." In other words, Damascus will be completely destroyed, and all indications are that that could happen soon. Russia is helping Syria and they are close to the Israeli border now. Isaiah 17:9 tells us that Israel will be the one who destroys Damascus : "In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation."
Some may feel that what is going on in the Middle-East doesn't concern them, perhaps because they are caught up in the struggle of everyday living and everyday problems and don't see beyond their own immediate needs. What happens in Israel and the other countries in that area will affect us.
"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars: and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring. Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh. " - Luke 21:25-28
Everyone will be affected. Unbelievers should tremble at the thought of what is in store for them if they do not turn to Jesus. Believers should not be afraid, but realize their hope and their Savior will soon take them home to heaven. Lift up your heads and keep looking up !
I had intended to write more about prophecy in this post....like about the war in Psalm 83 which many believe will occur before the Gog of Magog war ("They have said, Come, and let us cut them (Israel) off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance." - Psalm 83:4).
Psalm 83 goes on to list the nations that will come against Israel, and some of these nations are not mentioned in the Ezekiel 38 and 39 war, meaning they were no doubt destroyed first in the Psalm 83 war. God is going to protect and deliver Israel. I am sure most readers are familiar with how the Arab nations want to destroy Israel .."wipe them off the map"...because to them Israel is the "Little Satan" and America is the "Great Satan".
It is clear to me that I will have to touch on these subjects separately in future posts. Not only about Bible prophecy, but about fear and anxiety, and faith and courage. Below are some Scriptures to take into consideration ...and into your heart:
"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe." -
- Proverbs 29:25
"It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." - Deuteronomy 31:8
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
- 2 Timothy 1:7
Following is a video (not mine) of some beautiful landscapes to keep your weekend happy !
You gotta love this happy enthusiasm in the photograph below! (Internet photo)
May your weekend be a happy one ! Think good thoughts and delight in the Lord!
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. " - John 14:27
"Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you." - George Mueller
Happy weekend, everyone! I hope the beautiful orchids above brighten your day(s) as we share special thoughts together now; thoughts to encourage you and give you hope. We all need encouragement and at times a helping hand.
Internet Photograph
Someone to help us hang in there and hold on. Friends and family are wonderful supporters, but ultimately only the good LORD can give us the exact help and encouragement we need through His Word and the Holy Spirit. I speak from experience, because I have been through some horrendous times and only prayer and God's Word and the Holy Spirit have seen me through and given me strength and endurance to ride out the storm. I am very thankful and give Him all the glory.
One Scripture I have memorized is Isaiah 41:10 = "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Another comforting verse is Hebrews 13:5 b = ".....I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
What wonderful and encouraging promises from God !
Bird Of Paradise
"May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." .... 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
Calla Lilies
Remember, our attitude has a lot to do with how we respond to various trials and tests. So it is good to be absorbed daily in Scriptures so we will be inclined to always have a Christ-like attitude. Then we will not be overcome by our circumstances but will triumph over them with the Lord's help.
"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it." - Henry Ford
Remember, true friends and supportive family is a big plus, but even they can oppose you and turn against you unexpectedly. If you are a true believer, the Lord will never forsake you or leave you and, ultimately, He is our true source of help....our counselor, our redeemer, our comforter, our Savior. Yes, I need somebody....we all do....and first and foremost that is God and Jesus.
Below is a beautiful video (not mine) with soft music to relax you and to awe you with beauty:
Below is a photograph (not mine) for humor :
Psalm 55:22... Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.
This white Bali Myna is so beautiful and it is my favorite species of Myna birds. I have never seen one in "real life", however, I stumbled across it by accident on the internet. All myna (or mynah) birds belong to the starling family, particularly all those called Myna are in the Indian subcontinent.
Below is a video of this endangered bird.
Below are some of my own photographs that I took of the common myna, or Indian myna, here on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.
The common myna with the extra white plumage got my curiosity up so I tried to find information about it on the internet, to no avail. I guess it is a rare case of too much white on this species. At any rate, that is how I discovered the white Bali myna on the web. In 2000 the IUCN Species Survival Commission declared the common myna one of the world's most invasive species. I am not really fond of these birds; they are noisy and have an ugly screech. There was one myna I enjoyed, though, not long after I moved to Hawaii. I first lived in Makiki suburb, which was home to a myna that used to give frequent wolf whistles. I heard it often from where I lived, and it was great to get a wolf whistle from him when I walked down the street ! <Sigh ! Big grin.> I attended a church not too far from my apartment, and one Sunday that whistling myna was interrupting our Sunday School class so much that the preacher's wife also interrupted the study and said something to the effect of "Who taught that bird to whistle?" (It has been several years since that incident so I cannot remember all of her exact words.) The windows were open in our class so we got a good earful. :-)
Below is a video of a talking myna bird. He rather charms me into liking him.
In Hawaii the common or Indian myna is everywhere to be found on all of the islands. It was first introduced from India in 1865 to control the insect population. It is about 9 inches and both the male and female look pretty much alike. When it flies you really notice the white wing patches.
They are very social birds and travel in pairs. They gather in large groups and roost in trees. They breed from February to August and they raise one to three broods a year. They lay two to five eggs in each brood. Incubation time is over 13 days and the babies fledge sometime later between 29 to 35 days.
Below are some photographs from the Internet of other species of Mynas.
