Glory of Love, Peter Cetera

"I am a man who will fight for your honor. I'll be the hero you're dreaming of.
We'll live forever knowing together that we did it all for the glory of love."
Glory of Love, Peter Cetera, 1986

Young girls often dream of the same thing. Prince Charming, or their knight in shining armor, riding in on a white horse to save the day. A hero! Someone to love us and fight for us and save us. The thing, real life isn't a fairy tale. And those fairy tales fill us with unrealistic expectations of what a relationship is.

Psalm 146:3 says "Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save you." We shouldn't be waiting for Prince Charming. He is a mere mortal man! He cannot save us. But there is a man who can, who will, and who did: Jesus.

Jesus came in all his glory, he came for the Glory of love! John 3:16 says, "for God so LOVED the world..." (emphasis mine). God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to die on the cross to pay the price for our sin. To be our hero. He did it all for love!

Instead of Peter Cetera, it would make more sense for Jesus to be the one singing, "I am a man who will fight for your honor. I'll be the hero you're dreaming of. We'll live forever knowing together that we did it all for the glory of love." Jesus died for our honor, so that we could be found honorable, holy and blemish free in the sight of God, so that we could live forever, knowing together, that HE did it all for the glory of love.

Musical Musings:

1. Do you look for other people to "save" you, or do you look to the One who can & did save you?
2. Do unrealistic expectations in your earthly relationships cause conflict, that could be avoided by putting your faith in God, not mankind?
3. Jesus died for your honor. Be honorable for His name sake. Love one another as God loves us.

Karaoke:
Dear Lord, thank you for coming to earth and becoming a man. A man who would die for my honor, to create righteousness for me in place of my sin. You did it for love, just because you loved me. I didn't deserve it, and I still don't, but I thank and praise your glorious name that you are the hero I've been dreaming of. Thank you for the gift of eternal life. In Jesus name, amen.

Rock on:
Read John 13:31-34 to read about the glory of love.

It was Great!

"Did I tell you about the excellent restaurant I ate in the other night?"

Don't you love it when you learn about great things from friends? Whether it is an excellent sale, an excellent restaurant, or an excellent movie, we love hearing it, so we too can experience it. One of my favorite book series is Left Behind. I read it because a co-worker kept insisting how excellent the books were. I had no interest in reading them, but she kept insisting so I tried it. Like the old saying goes, "Try it, you'll like it." And I did!

So why are we so insecure about sharing about Jesus? Talk about EXCELLENT! He is! First Peter 2:9 states, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." Did you catch that? We are to PROCLAIM THE EXCELLENCIES of Jesus.

It seems we don't have any problem telling people about the great movie, restaurant or book we just tried. Why not tell them about someONE really great. Who knows, they might just try it...and like it. Jesus is excellent. Who are you telling?

I Wanna Be A Star!

If I were to tell you I wanna be a star, you'd probably not be overly surprised. Our society is filled with folks looking for stardom. The problem is, fame today does not come from virtue, courage, patriotism and honor as it has in years gone by. No, look at the cover of the magazines in the grocery check-out aisle. Today's stars are famous for drug addiction, adultery, self-made adult videos or having multiple children.

However it is Biblical to want to be a star! Really!

Join me over at Titus 2 in Action, where I am a featured contributor every other Wednesday, to find out how you too can become a star!

Don't Leave Me This Way

My heart is full of love and desire for you.
So come on down and do what you got to do.
You started this fire down in my soul.
Don't Leave Me This Way, Thelma Houston, 1976

Do you love God? Do you really love God? Do you love God? Those are the questions that Jesus asked Simon-Peter. "Simon, do you love me?" Three times Jesus asked Peter this. Each time Peter said yes. Why did Jesus ask Peter three times?

Some mark the significance of the fact that Peter had denied Jesus three times during Jesus' trial before the Crucifixion. Peter, so full of ego, had said he would lay down his life for Jesus. Now just as Jesus predicted, Peter would deny Jesus 3 times before the rooster crowed to save Peter's own life.

But there is more significance to this story. The Greek language has several words that we translate into love. Phileo is friendship or care, while agape is truly love. Jesus asked Peter the first two times "Do you love (agape) me?" and Peter answered, "Yes, I care (phileo) for you." The third time, Jesus asked if Peter "phileo" cared for him, realizing that was all Peter could offer. Still Jesus charged Peter to take care of his Sheep (his people).

We often exclaim to Jesus, "My heart is full of love and desire for you, So come on down and do what you got to do, You started this fire down in my soul." But we are like Peter, full of ego and gusto, but easily swayed. Jesus accepts us even with our weaknesses, like he did Peter. But Jesus challenges us to change. We ask "Don't leave me this way. I can't survive. I can't stay alive without your love."

Jesus agape loves us. And even when we only phileo care about him, he takes us in our weakness and charges us with our call for his kingdom. We don't have the ability to love like Jesus. But he loves us anyway. And that's a great thing. "Cause only his good loving can set us free!"


Musical Musings:
1. Do you care for (phileo) or love (agape) Jesus?
2. Would people who know you answer the same way you did? Why or why not?
3. Even in our weaknesses, Jesus still has ministry for us. What ministry are you doing to show your phileo and agape for Jesus?

Karaoke:
Dear Lord, I want to agape love you! But I am a sinner, and that sin pulls me so many directions, I follow the wrong things, and end up only phileo caring about you. Forgive me. Please start a fire in my soul to make my heart full of love and desire for you, because only you can set me free. Thank you for agape loving me always. In Jesus name, Amen.

Rock On: Read the story of Peter & Jesus in John 21:15-19.


Video of Don't Leave Me This Way.
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The View from Here

Believe it or not, this beautiful picture is taken right outside my back door. One would think that with a view like this, I'd be outside enjoying it every minute. But over time I've come to take it for granted.

When my husband & I moved into this house 14 years ago, I had my coffee out on the back deck every morning it was over 60 degrees. We often ate dinner outside too. After the first year, life happened. We got busy. I got a promotion at work, his company took on a big project, next we had kids. And suddenly this view was forgotten.

Isn't our relationship with God like that sometimes? When our relationship is new we are so excited and want to spend so much time with God. Quiet time every morning, we enjoy our coffee with God. Then life happens. We get busy, and certainly our kids - especially babies keeping us up at night - interfere with our relationship with God. How can we get it back?

Friends can help. When a friend says to me "wow, the view here is amazing" I get reminded to enjoy it more. A friend can also be an accountability partner for your relationship with God, becoming a bible study or prayer partner.

Schedule it! This spring we've already had a deck party so that we could enjoy the view with some friends. The same is true with God. If you schedule your quiet time every morning, or your bible study every week you'll make it happen.

Get your kids involved. All it took was having dinner on the deck one night and now the kids want to eat out there every night. They too enjoy the view! And now that I do daily devotions with them, they can't wait for it to happen and ask if I forget. (I've also seen a positive behavioral change in my youngest since beginning the devotions!)

It doesn't take much work to renew my interest in enjoying my view. And it doesn't take much work to renew your relationship with God either! Why not get started today?

With God in your life, you'll enjoy a new point of VIEW!

"Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they're bursting with health." Proverbs 4:20, The Message Bible

"And how blessed all those in whom you {God} live, whose lives become roads you travel; They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks, discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain! God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!" Psalm 84:5-7 The Message Bible

Heaven, Bryan Adams style

And love is all that I need, And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see we're in heaven.
Heaven, Bryan Adams, 1985

Do you ever think about what Heaven will be? Different ideas abound. Some think we'll have angel wings and float on clouds. Others think it will be like a "boring" church service. Some make mention of the streets of gold. What will we do in Heaven?

I love the quote by A. W. Tozer: "If worship bores you, you're not ready for heaven." I love singing praise songs to God. The idea that heaven could be one big worship service where we all lift our praises to God is thrilling to me. From old standards like "How Great Thou Art" to modern praise music like "How Great is Our God" I love worship! Still, that doesn't mean I have the full idea of heaven.

I remember one Sunday as we launched into the 100th chorus of "I could sing of your love forever" I began to wonder if we were going to. And I was no longer sure that I could sing of his love forever. So even though I love music, I can also relate to folks who don't get into singing fearing a boring heaven.

Bryan Adams lyric is fitting here. "Love is all that I need, and I found it there in your heart. It isn't too hard to see, we're in heaven." That, to me, is the summation of what heaven will really be like. Pure love. We will feel the full presence of God's love for us, without sin as a barrier. We will experience pure love for God, and others, in our perfected bodies without the influence of sin, shame and hurt we experience now in our earthly lives.

Revelation 21 tells us that in heaven there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Boring? I don't think so! So while I get a little excited about thinking that every day in heaven will be a "Musical Monday," and that my voice will be more than a "joyful noise" in heaven, the best part about heaven will be God's love and standing in the presence of God.

"You're all that I want! You're all that I need!"

Musical Musings:
1. What do you think heaven will be like?
2. Do you enjoy worship? If not, what changes can you make to find it a more enjoyable experience?
3. If you don't enjoy music, what are some other ways that you can praise God?

Karaoke:
Dear Lord: I'm excited about heaven, but I know that the thought scares some people. Lord, offer them your peace and comfort. Give them a glimpse into your love so that they will be excited heaven. Help us to have focused and spirit filled worship on earth so that we can get a taste of heaven and desire more. Thank you God for offering us eternal life, a chance to be with you forever. Thank you that your love truly is all that we need. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Rock On:
Read Revelation 21 to get an image of the end times. Or if you're feeling adventurous, read all of John's Revelation in the Bible.

Bamboo Two

This is Bamboo. Bamboo is one of the favorite stuffed animals of my youngest daughter. But what she doesn't know, is that this is actually Bamboo II.

You see Bamboo was left unattended downstairs. And when you have two dogs, bad things can happen to unattended stuffed animals. Bamboo gotten dirty, beaten up and ripped apart. I made an emergency visit to the store and purchased a new Bamboo. Hence Bamboo II. Now Bamboo is clean, fresh and "like" new...because he is new.

In life, we too get beaten up. We are dirty from our sins, ripped apart by our problems. Life is like two dogs chewing on us. But then there is Jesus. He makes us new again! He didn't make a trip to the store, but a trip to the cross. And like Bamboo II, we are brand new!

I love my daughter so much, I didn't want her to feel the loss of her beloved stuff animal. God loves us too much to lose us too. All we have to do is love and accept Jesus, then we'll be made brand new, just like Bamboo II.

"And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'" Revelation 21:5