I’ll Remember

When the mind’s a battlefield,

and the heart’s an angry sea, 

I’ll remember, you are my strength and shield, 

the one who brings me peace

When all is shifting sands

On Jesus the rock I firmly stand

When the soul in darkness swims

and the thoughts in fear descend, 

I’ll remember, you are my joy and strength, 

the one who gives me grace

When all is raging waters

By Christ my peace I safely stand

You’re the banner of love on in battlefield

You’re calmer of my raging seas

You’re the light of salvation that set me free

You’re the lover of my soul

I’ll remember – From heaven you came for me

I’ll remember – By your death you set me free

I’ll remember – In resurrection raised to life with thee

I’ll remember – remember – remember

I’ll remember all you’ve done for me.

Richard Hiebner © 2020

Again

Hear the cry within my soul,

Hold me now don't ever let me go.

I need your grace,

Your warm embrace.

See my tears from broken heart,

Only you can make me whole.

I need your grace,

Your loves embrace.

Restore to me the joy of my salvation,

Help my heart return to its first love.

For it's by your blood, Jesus

I've been born again

In your love and grace

I'm made whole again

Now with head held high

I'll let go again

To find my rest

In my Saviors love

You wipe my tears, heard my cry.

You heal my heart, my soul will not deny.

That you love me and I will sing

Hallelujah to my King

On my heart reading Mark 8

    In Mark 8:22-26 Jesus heals a blind man using his saliva. The process of this healing is very unlike the others, and it seriously made me wonder. Why when he had healed so many with just one touch, just a word does this man take the laying on of hands twice. So as you do, I read the verses before this event and those after and something slapped me real hard like. 

    Before this event Jesus was warning his disciples about the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod. I believe this can be seen as the unbelief of religious and worldly systems. The one with its strict adherence to man made laws which Jesus addressed several times and the others with it's striving after the worldly desires at the expense of holiness. 

    So here he is admonishing his disciples regarding unbelief, and their thoughts go to what they had forgotten to bring, their physical lack, they had forgot bread. Jesus asks several question of them that are very pertinent even today:

1. Do you still not see?
2. Do you still not understand?
3. Is your heart still hard?

He asks them if they remember the feeding of the five thousand and what remained. and asked one more question.

1. How is it you still don't get it?

    Interestingly enough before calling to their memory the feeding of the five thousand he says this, "You have good eyes, yet you still don't see, you have good ears, yet you still don't hear, neither do you remember." Mark 8:18 TPT

    Now they must of been thinking about this while heading to Bethsaida, which incidentally means "house of the hunting/fishing". These men who have been with Jesus he was leading to a town known for fishing to teach them a process, well this is my thoughts on the matter. And now this is where the blind man is brought into the picture.

    This blind man is brought by other to Jesus to be touched and healed. - I believe it is the same with each and every one of us, we are brought to Jesus by the work of Holy Spirit, For we know the Spirit pleads for us before the Father. To have us come into the fullness of life in Jesus.

    Jesus then leads this man outside of the town he was in. Now I believe that this is Jesus taking us out of the life we once lived, a life that would have distractions, desires and longing for the things not of himself. Also I believe it may have been to remove him from those seeking for a sign, wanting to see a miracle to believe in God's Son.

    Once away he places saliva on the mans' eyes. Now think about just how gross that would feel. Some-one spitting in their hands and the rubbing it on your eyes. I personally don't know if I would want to be touched. And this is how many can be when going through situations and circumstances that feel, well icky. Most would withdraw I think before even being touched. Yeah I wanna see, but eww. 

    

    This blind man though must have wanted to see, yet I think he had some concerns. We may have some doubts at what God is doing, yet remember, Philippians  1:6 "I pray with great faith for you, because I am fully convinced that the One who began this glorious  work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you and will put his finishing touches to it until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ." TPT

    Jesus asked him, "Now do you see anything?" He responds with yes I see things vaguely, to be more scriptural, "Yes, my sight is coming back! I'me beginning to see people, but they look like trees - walking trees." Now catch this okay. Jesus then laid his hands on the man a second time and "made him look up." This look up part which is only in The Passion Translation is important I believe. Why, would Jesus want some-one to look up? Where does my help come from. First he saw as through a mirror dimly, now he sees clearly. And seeing clearly is looking to God. 

   Finally Jesus tells him to go and tell no one of what had taken place. Now seriously, don't you think Jesus would have known that the fact that cannot be denied is this man can now see. So why instruct him to say nothing. This is in my view so that the miracle could speak for itself. People will see first, remember that first question he asked just prior of his disciples. They would ask and as he tells them what God has done their hearts may be softened. If he had gone in with a boast it may not have been received.

    Now hopefully you have kept in mind that the disciples are with Jesus. They continue on from the house of fishing to a town known for its immoral activities and pagan worship and while on the way Jesus asks, "Who do you say I am?" This is where that two famous things take place. Peter receives revelation of who the Christ is and get receives a rebuke. It is vitally important to have a revelation understanding of who Jesus is and to have our eyes set on God's plan and purpose.

    Okay lets review:

1. Do you still not see?
2. Do you still not understand?
3. Is your heart still hard?
4. Now do you see anything?
5. Who do you say I am?

    God's plan for us is to bring us into relationship with Him and with one another. True relationships are God centered and therefore blessed of God. The problem is we look at the outside and not what is clearly there. There is so much I want to say here, not yet, not now. All in God's time. Thankfully God has us walk with Him to help us along in maturing. And as long as we are willing to follow where he leads, have eyes that will see, open our hearts to understanding which makes it subtle and responsive to his touch we will start to see clearer and in so see Him more and more, for and as who He is. With this comes surrender and I can go on to the next event yet we will stop here for now.

    How many times have we seen the great and mighty works of God and walked away untouched? Every Sunday we gather and experience Gods presence and then Monday morning we walk in our own strength. After sing all his promises are yes an amen, do we not understand? Is our hearts hard toward him. Remember where he has taken us out from, none of that was in our own strength. Humble yourself before Him, He wants to love on you, share his joy with you and empower you. He wants to heal you and restore you and make you whole. Now do you see? Our God loves, is love and wants us to draw near to Him everyday. Why because He is God, He is Good and He knows what we need at any given moment of any given day and with our eyes on Him the right decision are made, the glowing influence of His grace shines forth and instead of feeling like we cannot speak to others about our God, they see Him in us and come to ask.

    What an amazing God we serve. Who is always for us, faithful in all His ways. Now come this day and ask that your eyes be open, that you understand and your heart receives. Paul prays and this is my prayer for you:

'Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people

everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God,

the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that

you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so

that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people

who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible

greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised

Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly

realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not

only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of

Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is

his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.'

Ephesians 1:15-23 NLT

    

Sharing the Love

    On Wednesday I had the privileged of speaking to a man loved of God. I cannot say whether he has a relationship with the Father, I can say that he had the look of a man needing to be loved. He was sitting on the low wall out the front of our church building. I approached him and we struck up a conversation.

    This man by his own admission needs a church home, by his own admission is struggling and by his own admission feels he has done to much wrong in life. There was a definite sense of unworthiness coming from him. Now I say, 'from his own admission' because we were just talking general conversation and without prompt he opened up.

    Here was a man hurting, and searching and longing to be loved. My bible says, "And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40. Now this for all the scholars out there may be a bit out of context. Yet it is the very verse placed on my heart. As Peter before the Sanhedrin said, "decide among yourselves, is it better to obey God or man?", I know my answer.

    We ended up chatting for a bit and when I left him, I felt a prompting to pray. When asked if he would mind if I pray for him, the response was a, to my eyes a, happy please do. I prayed for him and when finished received one of this best gifts this Christmas season. This man was moved and it showed on his face. He verbalized his gratitude for having come over to talk with him.

    He has an invite to our services and has admitted he needs to find a church family home to attend. I pray that he is moved of God to return and make our Church his home. The bible says, it is better to give than to receive. Leaving that moment, I felt elated that in some small way I was able to share God's great love for this man. I do not know what was happening on the inside of him at the time before sitting down with him, I do know that it was God ordained.

    In understanding that God prefers obedience over sacrifice, I've been honored to see a person touched. I don't know what seed/s have been planted. I trust God who say that He will complete the good work He has started. With a grateful heart, it is clearer now that love overcomes fear, for perfect love casts out fear, and when perfect love is shown even in a small manner He sheds light into the dark places and the darkness can do no other thing but flee.

    I have been blessed. Thank you my Lord.

Greatest of these is Love Pt 2

Some more thoughts on this vast subject.

"Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run."

1 Corinthians 13:13 TPT

            It is beyond a shadow of a doubt in my mind that there is nothing greater than love. Love holds all things together, empowers hope and upholds faith.

            Faith, trusting without doubt that all things will work out for good.

           

            Hope, knowing with absolute belief and certainty in a real not yet visible reality.

            Love, the anchor and support, foundation and power, faithful and true all-encompassing certainty of God great power, His love toward us.

            'Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love. Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of him. The one who doesn’t love has yet to know God, for God is love. '1 John 4:7-8 TPT

The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:13 clearly identifies that which should be the objective of the race we run. The apostle John in 1 John 4:7-8 goes on to clarify be a shadow of a doubt that the love that is the beautiful prize for which we run is God himself and does this not just once but three times in this chapter alone

.

In this then is the height, width and depth of God’s love that though He has the power to change all things as He would will. He chooses to demonstrate His great love through sacrificial means. Oh, what grief we should have knowing that the creator of all that is gave of Himself to die to bring that which He has created back into relationship with Himself. Yet what precious joy that He would condescend to become a man to lift us, those who would deny Him, up to a place of restored communion. And not just to know one another, yet also to walk in all the glory, majesty, power and authority that belongs to Him. Dare we believe Him. Can we believe with greater trust and certainty the loving Word of the one who holds all things in His hands?

If so, I would ask that we search our hearts for there are some very tell-tale signs as to whether we truly believe. Amazingly enough these are simple things, yet at the same time of a depth that can only be empowered by the God who loves.

1.    Positive confession of Jesus Christ – “Here’s the test for those with the genuine Spirit of God: they will confess Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh.”      1 John 4:2

2.    A continual outpouring of love for one another, first brothers and sisters in Christ and then those who as yet do not know Him – “Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love. Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of him.” 1 John 4:7

3.    Obedience of God’s command. - Anyone can say, “I love God,” yet have hatred toward another believer. This makes him a phony, because if you don’t love a brother or sister, whom you can see, how can you truly love God, whom you can’t see? For he has given us this command: whoever loves God must also demonstrate love to others. 1 John 4:20-21

These are just three things that can assist us in moving forward in God. And here is a principle that I personally have found in my walk. The more I pursue God’s love for me, the more I grow in love with Him. The more I love Him the more I find my faith growing for I find that I am trusting His Word to be true and in such I find myself holding onto a hope that knows that though I don’t see some things yet. When I ask there will be an answer. With this assurance a desire grows in me to share the love that is so profound. Sharing it with brothers and sisters in Christ and those who not yet know Him as Lord and Savior. There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Now based on them three things listed prior a few questions:

1.    Can I openly honestly and with all integrity before everyone I know, without any reservation declare Jesus is the Christ and he has come in the flesh and to continue is the only true and living Son of God?

2.    Is there a continual outpouring, that is expression, torrent and outburst of love for fellow believers and onward toward unbelievers that comes from my heart overwhelmed by the loved of God?

3.    Am I obeying, that is do my actions speak greater volume than the words from my mouth as to whether I love the Lord my God with every passion of my heart, with all the energy of my being, and with every thought that is within me, and do I love others as I love myself?

Still let me be clear there is so much more to the subject and this is, but things seen as in a mirror dimly. Yet in a heart such as mine that to be able to answer in affirmative to all of these helps to graft me more securely into the love that casts out fear. For my heart fears, but there is no fear in love. I have become the righteousness of Christ and this because of His great love no work of my own. I can stand because He has strengthened me in His joy, the joy He has, in loving me.

If you do not know this love, it is simply the act of faith to, as Jesus put it “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Turn from the way that does not lead to life and walk in the way that does. So, whoever confesses with their mouth and believes in their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord will be saved. If you have done so, believe that you have received into your being the living Holy Spirit of God as His seal that you are His child.

The Greatest of these is Love

For over two years now the theme of love, the concept of love, the understanding of love and the revelation of love has been like tidal waves rising and falling in my heart, mind and soul. The primary readings that have created such intense meditation on the subject comes from the letters of John the Apostle. Yet for the purposes of this blog I will be referencing some other portions of scripture. Enjoy the jumble of my thoughts. Be blessed

Over time I have come to grasp that love in scripture is not just a feeling. In 1 Corinthians 13 it starts  by taking about actions that are related to attitudes of the heart. Now this is just how I see it so bare with me. I believe that the first three verses are not actually addressing the actions but the heart behind them. Without love the heart behind these actions is a desire to be seen, heard and have influence, it is a self focused attitude. This bares a warning of sorts that whatever we do it needs to be from a heart of love which is to be after Gods own, if it is not, though the gifts and call are irrevocable the place of relationship with the gift giver is absent and there is a very real risk of hearing words a kin to "begone from me you doers of iniquity, i do not know you". Heed this warning then that whatever we do, it is essential to be done from a place of love. That place is found here in Matthew 22:37-39, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." English Standard Version.

Back to 1 Corinthians 13. From verse four through to seven we get a very practical break down of what love does and doesn't do. Yet without sounding heretical this is nothing special in and of itself. We read "love is patient and kind" and this is true in scripture and in the world. People in and out of the christian circles have been considered very loving based on the acts of kindness they have shown or the depths of patience that has been displays. So though practically these verses are quite clear, straightforward even, for some reason something for me seemed lacking. What is so different about something that the church and the world share.

It is verse eight that starts to point to something greater. and the verses that follow indicate that there must be maturity to truly see more than what was mentioned in the previous verse. Yet Paul the Apostle who wrote the letters to Corinth was fully aware that even as we mature there would be only so much in our understanding while we walked the earth. Yet another hint to the truth of love. In verse eight of 1 Corinthians 13 he states " Love never ends.". Interestingly enough in Psalms 136 there are 26 verses that end saying "his steadfast love endures forever." What makes this interesting to me is that his love is steadfast which at its grass roots means "will not be moved". Also that His love endures forever. So there is no end to love, it is not removed ever from the object laid upon. So it is fair that when Paul ends this as we have divided it up chapter of the letter that he should state "the greatest of these is love."

This is very likely the best place to take a look at the greatest act of love. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." Our friend Paul says something long the lines of, while we where still hostile toward God he reached down to redeem us through his own son. The greatest demonstration of love is sacrifice. Sacrifice for the benefit of others be they friend or foe. Sacrifice that pays dearly yet joyously. "For the joy set before him, he endured the cross" Hebrews 12:2. I shall be as clear as I can. God loves you, he longs for loving relationship with you. We could not come into relationship with him due to the effects having been born into sin. So to make way for the relationship he through his Son paid the debt we could not. Think on that. We say sometimes that we would do anything, anything at all for some-one or something we love. God our Father demonstrated his great love.

With that said my thoughts return to the Greatest of all is Love. For those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, we now come to the letters of John the Apostle. Chapter three starts with a simple yet deeply profound and impacting statement, " See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. ... Beloved, we are God's children now, ..." 1 John 3:1-2. This dear friends should for all intents and purposes set a fire in your hearts, yet we are familiar with it. Yep we know this and? Well if we are children the we need to be like our Father, for we are his representatives here in the world as Jesus was. As much as I would like to say this is amazing and oh what joy. Great fear grips my being, how great is our God that he would love me, call to me, rescue me and then be happy for me to be his hands and feet and voice in this world. Seriously like, I know me. God is good and knows what he is doing. I must trust and press in and love Him.

A little something about love - a thought, that may mean nothing, yet well. My identity is revealed in, from and for love. Let me rephrase, my identity is revealed in, from and for God. With even the slightest grasp of this thought I can see my value with greater clarity. How can I not love the One who has loved me so. Oh and we do, and for the longest time I loved God but did not love myself. And I know can't say this but I didn't love people, especially them that like me called themselves christian. But I digress.

I would like to think that by now a thought has been developing in your minds. Something along the lines of God equals Love. If so then to clarify. Love is more than part of Gods character and nature. It is who He is. He can not, not love. Oh but if that is so then why all the bad that happens. I am not here to address those arguments, other than to say, that as a parent I have allowed the decisions of my children to play themselves out, not because I haven't  loved them, but because I love them. There is a time when consequences need to be felt. Never the less, this is my thought.

Hear what John says about God. "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whomever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7-8 ESV Chapter four goes on to say a great many things. Some I would love to address yet for now I am still growing in my understanding and outworking of what God is showing me personally. What I can say is this. Jesus before he was taken yup into heaven gave a commission. He had fulfilled all he had done for the love of the Father. His last words according to the gospels, "All authority in heaven and on on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

We are children, we are told to follow the example of Jesus. The great commission has no fulfillment if there is no love. The first commandment love God, Jesus loved God so much he was obedient even to the point of death. The second commandment love others as yourself, though we don't see self love as we know it displayed in the world, we do see a love that completely trusts and therefore is assured and from the conviction of absolute assurance of trust placed in the one that loves, Jesus demonstrates love to others. That love, is love that comes from the Father flowing into his children and while it returns back to the Father also flows out to others. When we have God we have love, when we love on God we are pouring out to him what he has poured out in us. Because it is so great we want to pour it out to others so they too may know God's great love. Love is the light of the world. Oh to be free to write more of what is on my heart yet for now, practicality can wait. It is in relationship that the fullness of function comes about, and I do not want to lead any into dead works.

Lord I pray this mess of writing may be enough to touch any who may read it. May they be blessed and come to know the fullness of your love. May they be so enveloped in your love that from the overflow everyone around them will be blessed, touched and experience the love that you our Father in heaven have for us. Amen.

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