Treating People Right

If you watch the news, you will find stories about atrocities happening all over the world such as those occurring in Syria. You will see stories about gun ownership brought about by the tragedy at the movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. Right now, there a lots of political ads running. But recently, some of the biggest news has been about of all things, a chicken sandwich. The media seemed overwhelmed with stories about how mean and hateful a man named Dan Cathy is because he voiced his point of view about the definition of marriage. Mr. Cathy is the son of Chik-fil-A founder Truett Cathy. Chik-fil-A, which is a Christian owned fast food restaurant, is the parent company of an organization called WinShape. Mr. Cathy, Chik-fil-A and Winshape are being criticized for making donations to evangelical groups such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Focus on the Family. These groups promote Christian values and morals. However, according to gay rights activists, these groups demonize the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community on a daily basis. While there may be some individuals that use Christianity as an excuse to do this, the majority of Christians, churches and Christian organizations reach out to all people and do not demonize anyone; and that includes the owner of Chik-fil-A.

It is easy to get caught up in the back and forth when people attack Christians and accuse them of treating others badly. So we do need to be careful. We need to be sure not to come across hateful. No matter what a person's lifestyle is, Jesus loves that person. Jesus died for that person. We need to remember to treat people right. And the word of God gives us instruction on how to do that.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

As we consider God's instructions for us as individuals and as a body of believers, let's also consider Chik-fil-A's philosphy of service. They have taken Biblical principles and put them into action which is a big part of their success. And it is sad to say that a fast food restaurant does a better job of hospitality than some churches. From the moment you enter until you leave the employees at Chik-fil-A are intentionally kind, considerate and friendly. As a church, we should treat the people who come to our church the same way. We should go out of our way to "honor one another" above ourselves. This is especially true when someone new visits our church. We should go out of our way to "practice hospitality". We are to use hospitality like a mechanic uses tools. We should intentionally use ourselves as tools for God.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:8-10

Treating people right; showing hospitality should be our norm. Leaders are to be required to be friendly to strangers. If we all make an attempt to reach out to someone in our church, people who are attending the first time will all be reached. You do not know the burden a person carries as they enter the our doors. They may have no idea what brought them here. Statistics tell us that a person has determined in the first 5-7 minutes if they will ever return. So the first impression they get from us is important.

We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited 2 Corinthians 6:3

We don't want a lack of kindness to be a stumbling block to anyone's path to the Lord. We want all to have their hearts open to the Lord. 

Chik-fil-A can also teach us the a lesson by the fact that they do one thing and they do it well. The one purpose God has given us is to reach people with the gospel and show them how God loves them and to help them know Him and grow in His love. Jesus gave us this Great Commission:

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

As we reach out in Jesus' name, He has given us an awesome responsiblity that we can be involved in the ministry of reconciliation. God is all about reconciliation and His desire for all of us is to be reconciled to Him and for us to be involved and helping others do the same.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

We need to remember to major on the major and not minor on the minor. We need to major on the one thing God has called us to do. Don't let the minor stuff get in our way of doing the main thing He has called us to do. 

Another thing we can learn from Chik-fil-A is that they are family friendly. They provide a friendly atmosphere that is kid friendly and their stand alone restaurants have play areas and they have meals just for children that include toys. Our children are growing up in a very different world than we did. We need to do all we can for our children and for young families. In today's culture the truth can get twisted so easily and Christian guidance and morals are consider to be negative. We need to be positive to one another, especially to our children.

These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Deuteronomy 6:1-2

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:5-7

In today's world of technology, we sometimes become too involved with electronics and pass on the talking. But God wants us to be more intentional in our everyday lives - not just on Sunday morning and Wednesday night. This should be a normal part of our everyday life. It is great instruction for a family and for our church family. 

The final lesson we can learn from Chik-fil-A comes from the fact that they treat their employees well. Chik-fil-A is closed on Sunday. Their purpose in doing so is stated on their website: "Chick-fil-A Operators and their Restaurant employees should have an opportunity to rest, spend time with family and friends, and worship if they choose to do so." This statement says nothing of forcing their employees to attend church, but they merely offer them the opportunity. They appreciate and treat their employees well. If you serve in any capacity at NVF, your service is greatly appreciated. To those who do visible things that all can see and those who do things that are not quite so visible and those who do things offsite - Thank You! Thank you for all that you do. Jesus said that those who serve are the greatest. 

Treating people right is so important. It is important how we treat each other and especially those who come here for the first time. Let's practice hospitality and continue everyday to have a welcoming spirit. May we do the ONE thing with our best effort - to help win and equip disciples for Christ. Let's make sure we stay family friendly and we welcome EVERYONE with open arms. May we commit to be the church that God can use, that treats people right.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation 2 Corinthians 5:18a

Have you reconciled your life to Him?

Does God Like You on Facebook?

Social networking does not have the same meaning today as it used to have. What was once considered social networking generally occurred at social gatherings of all types and probably took place without much thought by those involved. If you attended a party, visited your local hair salon, or any gathering of people, you probably took part in some version of networking with your peers. Now social networking takes place on the internet. There are many different avenues on the internet to network, but one of the most popular is Facebook. Facebook is so popular around the world that more people use it than live in the United States. If the users on Facebook comprised a country, it would be the third most populated country on Earth.

People become "friends" on Facebook with individuals, business and organizations. People can use Facebook to interact with others, post their thoughts and photos and their "friends" can see what they post. New Vision Fellowship has a Facebook page and you can visit to find out about upcoming events, read scripture, etc. Sometimes people post things on Facebook and other social media that is questionable. A lot of employers now visit employees and perspective employees Facebook content to determine if he/she is a quality person to employ. 

Finally, there is another Facebook feature called the "Like" button. This is a way your "friends" can give positive feedback to your posts. If you like a post, you can just click on the  Like button. 

So what if God had a Facebook page? Would God like you on Facebook? One thing you cannot do is unfriend God. You cannot just click a button and suddenly He cannot see you anymore. There is nothing you can do to make yourself invisible to God. 

My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes. Jeremiah 16:17

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13

There is nowhere we can hide what we do, what we say or even what we think. God has a "Facebook" page on each of us and on that page He sees us just like we are; everything we say and each thought that we have is there. And no one has a perfect page with the Lord. 

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God  Romans 3:23

Even though we are all sinners, we should not be comfortable with that. Even though we mess up and we know we will, God is looking at our lives to see what kind of fruit we will produce.

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Luke 6:43-46

Jesus was pointing out here the kind of fruit God was looking at. One of the things He was talking about is what we say; the words that come out of our mouths. What we have in our heart, deep down in ourselves, comes out in what we say. God knows what is in our heart. Not only does he know what we say, but what we do as well. What we say and what we do is a direct reflection of what we have inside. The good man brings out good things about the good stored in his heart. The evil man brings out the evil inside him. How we talk and walk are reflections of what is in our heart. What we allow to come into our lives will influence us. There is a term that says "Garbage in, garbage out." There is a lot of garbage out there on the internet. It will pop up when you aren't even looking for and  it can become easy to get sucked into it. 

If we know God and have a personal relationship with Him, what is inside us? We are to be filled with the spirit of God. How do we know that we are filled with the spirit of God? If we are filled with the spirit of God we should show forth His fruit as being inside us. If we know Christ, the fruit that comes from us should be recognizable. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25

So how is your life? Is your life producing fruit? Are you showing forth love to other people? Is your life promoting joy? Are you promoting peace? Are you being patient with one another? These are different things God says we should be exhibiting in our lives as we go through life. We need to be active in being sure we are producing. God expects these fruits to show forth in our lives. Showing love, joy, patience, kindness and all of the fruits - these should be our objectives as children of God.

The online auction site eBay offers users the opportunity to leave feedback for buyers and sellers with whom you have recent transactions. If you choose to leave negative feedback, a box opens to asks you to be sure of what you are about to say as it will be seen by others. Here is an online retailer suggesting that you act in a Christian manner. God tells us the same thing. How do we bear the good fruits of God? We have excellent instructions He gives us.

Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:15-21

There is evil in the world. But don't be part of it. Do not be foolish. Be filled with the spirit, not with the mess of the world. When you are filled with the spirit, it shows. You can tell by your actions, words and walk through life. How can we be any more filled with Him. His influence in our lives is only at the level we allow Him to be involved. What can you do to stay full of His presence? Be careful by what you store in your heart. Store up great music in your heart. So many of the songs we sing in church come straight from the word of God. The world offers a lot of different music and we must be careful to stay clear of music that would lead us away from God. What we put into our hearts and minds will reflect in our lives. You can use the following qualifications when you are making music choices.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:3-4

We should also fill up our lives with thanksgiving. There are many thing in our humanity that bother us and leave us feeling like there is no hope; but these can be resolved simply by giving thanks. We live in a country where we are so blessed and we should be thankful. 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

The benefit of being thankful is having the peace of God; a peace that is beyond our understanding. You can take your anxiety to Him. God wants us to do this. God also wants us to make others a higher priority than ourselves. A lot of evil that comes into people's lives is the result of self interest.

  

To bear the fruit of God's spirit, we must fill ourselves with good things: good music, right attitudes, the right humility to serve others. As we consider our lives today and the fact that God knows everything about us, does He like what He sees? Or is there anything he would not like about what we do? Let's bear good fruit. May we overflow with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As you go through your day think about these things and apply them in your lives. And remember to be thankful for the blessings you have and receive the promise for peacefulness. The starting point to receive that peace is to have Him in our hearts. We must have Christ living in us. 

Our God Is An Awesome God

God is omniscient; he knows everything.

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. Psalms 139:1 

God's knowledge is perfect and exclusive to Him. We probably have a hard time comprehending God knowing all of the past, present and future right now. Adam and Eve, once they had sinned, attempted to hide from God. But there is no where to hide from God. It doesn't matter if it is an action, a thought, or speech, God is all knowing. He knows our hearts and minds. He knows what we are going to say before we say it. God knows us better than anyone, just as we are. He knows the real true inner selves that no one else may know.

Is there any doubt whatsoever that this awesome God we serve knows everything?

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. Psalms 139:2-4

Not only do we need to be sure we are not in the wrong place physically, but there are places we need to stay out of mentally. When things anger us, we often have thoughts that we would never verbalize. But remember that Our Savior perceives our thoughts from afar. Before the words we speak come out of our mouths, He already knows them.

We should attempt to put more effort into to what we say. It may seem like nothing when we say it, but to a person we have offended, it is a much bigger deal. With some effort, we can avoid this. We need to be careful with what we say and how we say it. We are all accountable. So if there are things in our lives that we need to repent, then we need to do that.

You hem me in —behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Psalms 139:5-6

David, the writer of this Psalm, did not understand how God knows all that He knows. While it may make us uncomfortable at first to think of how God knows our every thought, we should take comfort that even though He does know everything about us, He still loves us and will save us from our sins. God knew the true heart of David; and when David repented his sins, he was forgiven. We all let God down, but we can come to Him and be forgiven. Likewise, we need to have a forgiving spirit when we've been wronged. We need to not hold grudges and return to fellowship with another person following the pattern God has for us.

There are a lot of things we may never understand about God, but we don't have to understand - just accept it. He has given us what we need and He is awesome; He is wonderful. God loves us with an everlasting love. He gives us eternal life through the sacrifice He gave us through His Son. We do not need to put on a show for God - we can't fake it for Him. God will let us know what we need to do to be more in line with His direction for our lives. He knows all about us; live for Him. His greatest desire for us is that we be fully devoted followers of Him. He will not force His way into our lives; we must first invite Him in.

It is wonderful to serve such an awesome God!

To Dream The Impossible Dream

“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.“ Acts 2:17

"I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Acts 2:19-21

What about today and our vision? No matter where you are, what that next step is in your life, follow the dream God has for you. But what is the difference between being a dreamer and being a visionary? The word action comes to mind. To be a visionary, you must take the dream beyond a thought and take action. To have vision think of the word revelation. Let's consider two translations of Proverbs 29:18a;

Where there is no vision, the people perish (KJV)

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint. (NIV)

When we look around the world today, we are see things happening and wonder how people can think so much of it is okay. Mankind is unique in the ability to change its surrounding influences. If we choose to ignore God's influence, it becomes easier to engage in activity that goes against His desire for us. Things that were once considered wrong now become a part of our everyday culture. When there is no vision of God's correctness, no revelation from God's word, there is no restraint.

When pursuing your vision, there are many questions you must first ask yourself. Is your vision truly yours or the vision someone else has for you? Are you willing to sacrafice to fulfill the vison God has for you? Does working toward your vision bring about satisfaction? How significant is your vision? Is it self-centered or God-centered? If your vision is God-centered, then you must let go of your will and allow His will to be more important. Allow God to speak to you through His spirit, His word and His people.

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4

When we become God-centered and not self-centered that is when the impossible dream becomes possible. He will give us the desires of our hearts. This is true of all of us regardless of age. We must all strive to not be dreamers, but visionaries. When we have a vision that is God's direction, there is nothing we cannot do. 

We may ask if we can make a difference, especially when we feel like it is just a few against the world. Yes! With God on our side, we are always a majority. When God's vision is our vision, He can accomplish so much. Ask Him to help you with your dream. Ask Him to help us with our dreams. Envision the future He has for you. He will give you power you cannot even imagine. Dream the impossible dream and trust God; and all things will be possible. 

Always Remember

God did not put us on this earth just for us. He put us here for others. Each person we come into contact with is a person of worth in the eyes of God. 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

Each year in May, we take time to memorialize the soldiers who fought on the many battlefields for our country. We should always remember the folks who gave all for the freedom which we sometimes take for granted.

We each have people in our lives who have influenced us and helped us throughout our lives become the people we are. These people should be remembered. In everything in our lives, our forefathers paved the way for us to be what we are. We even have spiritual forefathers. These people should always be treasured and remembered. We are all in this together and we need each other. We are important to each other. And we are important to God, the Creator of all there is. We must continue on our journey and remember what we've learned and continue to learn.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14-15

This is an important lesson - to be thankful and remember from those that you have learned and who have influenced you in your spiritual life.

Finally, the most important person we need to remember is Jesus who gave all and above all for all of us. We should focus on Him each and every day and have Him foremost in our lives. Jesus paid all - the perfect sacrifice for each of us. He paid a penalty we can never do enough to repay and we need to remember that and thank Him every day for what He has done for us. But as great and as awesome as He is, His attitude did not reflect that. His attitude was that of a servant.

"Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

Christ came to serve and give His life for each of us. When we think about that, has there ever been a time in your life that you have asked Him into your life? That is His greatest desire to be an active, vital part of your life. He wants to give you the gift of salvation for eternity. He came and gave His life as a ransom for your life. When we celebrate communion, it is a special time of remembrance.

"And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24

There are other ways we can remember Him; with our time, our talents, and our treasure - which all come from Him. We need to remember Him with our thoughts and our tasks as we go about our daily lives. Remember always His love for us that he displayed as he was dying on the cross. Remember His comforting call for all of us to come to Him. Remember His charge for us to go into all the world and tell others of His love for us. We need to remember His commandments that He has for us and to keep these commandments.

But it is not enough to remember Him. We need to know Him in a personal way. That is His greatest desire. It is why He came and gave all on the cross. He wants an all consuming relationship with each of us, where He is part of our lives and our thoughts; and we love Him enough to want Him present in our lives every minute. He is knocking on the door, but you have to open that door and invite Him in. 

You Are The Light of The World

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 

If you know Christ and you have a personal relationship with Him - if you have the Holy Spirit living within you, He is there to help you work through all your fears. God will give you the ability to do what is required; the desire to love when others hate; the self control when all around you are throwing all restraint to the wind. God's will is that you have confidence. When you grow into adulthood, you go through big changes. You must be willing to face your fears and He will carry you through it. To live a Christian life in a secular world, it takes a lot of courage to say "yes" to Jesus. Especially when those around you are saying "yes" to things that are the opposite of what God desires for you. Not only do you have to be able to say yes to God, but also to say "no" to things. Saying no takes a lot of courage. But you are not alone if you have the Spirit with you. 

When you start to make decisions for your own life it is important to make right decisions. A lot of young people take advantage of their new-found freedom and veer off in the wrong direction. They have a tendency to let the world in and crowd Jesus out. Stay true to Him. He has a plan for your life. God desires from each of us that we are that shining light for Him.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 

These words from Christ bring to mind what it means to influence. One definition is the act or power to produce effect. You can have an influence on others or you can be influenced by others. You have a choice and you have to make it, as to which part of "Influence" you will be.

Your relationship with Jesus is personal, but in no way is it private. You are a light on a stand to show forth the light of Jesus Christ. You are called and challenged to be the light of the world. As we shine forth His light to the world, we are not the light: we reflect His light. That is a part of His Plan, be open to His leading, and He will!

"Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John 3:19-21

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12

We are called to receive this light. It is not enough to be exposed to this light, we have to respond to it. We have to make a choice. God gives us the right that if we believe and receive Him, we become a child of God. It is just that simple. When we receive that light, we are to walk in it. 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 

Isn't it wonderful to know we have One who came for us to purify us from all sin? He cleanses us in a way we cannot cleanse ourselves. You are a city on a hill, a light on a stand. We are to be His light in the world, reflecting His light. If you are in the darkness, you need to come to the light. And if you are in the light - if you have that relationship with Christ, then you need to start making a difference in the darkness that is around every one of us. We are also to be the salt of the earth. 

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. Matthew 5:13 

We are here to make an influence for Him the rest of our days. We can only benefit the world in which we live when we live as salt and when we live as light. If the people all around us are living immorally, dishonestly and complain all the time and we are doing the same, what is the difference? We cannot benefit the world around us if we are like the world around us. We are challenged by Jesus Christ Himself to show a better way. Our mission is to be the light of the world. We have a choice to let our light shine, or hide it under a bowl. We can find many excuses to hide our light. Sometimes we allow fear to hide our light. Sometimes we hide our light because of indifference. Other times we claim we are too busy. If you want to shine for the Lord in the darkness, you must keep yourself in the light. Stay close to Him. In a really dark place, a little light can make a big difference. Live you life letting your light shine for Him. 

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 

You are not called to be glorious chandeliers, you are called to be the light. God will decide in His infinite wisdom if you will be a big flood light, a nightlight or somewhere in between. God has called you to be a city on hill, the light of the world, the salt of the earth. He has given you this opportunity. Just open up your heart and let the real Son shine in and commit to not hide that light under a bushel, but shine, shine, shine.

What If I Give All?

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." Jim Elliot

God's desire for us is that we give all to Him - all of our problems, burdens, pain and sorrow, but most of all we give ourselves to Him. How much of you and yours are you giving to God?

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. John 6:5-6

Jesus already had a plan. Often, in our lives when we are busy trying to solve our problems, what we need to do is be still and quiet and see what the plan is that God already has in mind.

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” Matthew 14:15-16

Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” John 6:7

When Jesus tells us to do something we believe cannot be done, what is our initial response? Often it is denial and an attempt to evade and avoid the issue on our journey to discover that anything is possible when we give all to God. 

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:8-9

The disciples displayed a hopelessness each of us have experienced. Like these disciples, we may think we don't have very much to bring to Him. But you don't need riches to give all, we just need to bring to Him what we have. It may be that the world has been denied miracles because we did not give all to Him. Jesus wants us to give ourselves to Him. He wants to be first place in our lives. When we realize that, it removes so much stress from our lives.

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. John 6:10-11

It seems impossible to us that five loaves of bread and two fish would feed that many people. It just doesn't add up. But when you insert Jesus into the formula, things change. Without Him you have hopelessness. But if you put Jesus into the equation, then there is hope. There is always hope in Jesus Christ. The impossible becomes possible through the power of Jesus Christ.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. John 6:12-13

We see here not only the sufficiency of the care of Jesus Christ, but the abundance of Jesus and what He can do for us. Jesus wants to pour out His blessings upon us. Imagine what he can do to us and for us if we give all. God made all there is and he is allowing us to use some of those things for a while. He does not need what we have, He already owns them anyway. He just wants us to give ourselves, and doing that, we can find real fulfillment.

Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Malachi 3:10b

When we give all without reservation, but serve Him with joy and gladness, then we will have abundant blessings - richness beyond anything this world has to offer.

The Christian Walk

The New Testament calls the life we live in Christ the walk. It begins when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. Just as a physical walk progresses us in our travels, our Christian walk progresses us in our relationship with God. In our Christian life, we start out just as a baby, crawling then learning to walk before we can ever think of running.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7 

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 

For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 1 John 2:16 

Walk In The Light 

It is a lot easier to walk without falling when you are walking in the light. 

The time during which 1 John was written was a time of spiritual darkness. A group of false teachers had emerged who denied many things, one being that Jesus had come in the flesh. Many people of that time followed these false teachers. John wanted those who had accepted Jesus Christ to walk in the light. He wanted them to grow and progress in their faith and not waiver. John expresses that God is not only light, but there is NO darkness or evil in Him. 

We as His children, walking in His light should reflect in our actions what we believe. We must continually ask ourselves if our actions reflect His teachings. There are many things in this world that attempt to pull us away from the light into the darkness. When we accept Christ we have a spiritual nature, but we do not lose our natural human nature. We struggle with our dual nature. Even as we strive to live in the light, there is always that pull towards darkness. John's message is as relevant today as it was then. We need close fellowship with the Lord, to walk in the light and keep away from that darkness that wants to pull us away.

Walk In Fellowship

As John wrote this letter, he was writing to Christian people. We are to be in fellowship with one another. As we travel through our Christian life, in our Christian walk, we do it together. It so important in our Christian walk to be to walk with others. And best of all, Jesus is also walking with us. Walking in His light is the best path as we walk through this life. Have you been walking your path alone? If so have you been discouraged along the way? We do not have to walk alone. As Christians, we have each other to encourage us through whatever comes across our path. Christians should not live in isolation from one another. We really do need one another. We have much greater opportunity to make a difference for our Lord if we work together. 

Walk In Forgiveness 

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6 

Here Paul talks about being thankful for one another; he talks about praying for one another; he talks about partnering together with the confidence that He saved us and He will continue to work in us to complete the walk. We need to walk in the light and walk together and walk in forgiveness. 

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:8-10 

Forgiveness is a wonderful thing. It is great to receive it and to be the one to offer forgiveness. We are all sinners and to claim to be without it is a lie because we are all guilty. Our God is a faithful and just God and He will forgive us. However, the fact that we have this forgiveness does not give us free reign to sin over and over with the expectation that all we have to do is ask to be forgiven. If we are His children, He is the best Father that has ever been and as such, He will discipline us. 

How is your walk? Are you walking in the light, in fellowship with other Christians, in His forgiveness?

Transformation

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.  For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 51-52

The message here that Paul had for this church in Corinth was he had good news for them about resurrection. During Easter, we celebrate Resurrection and the sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross. We also have that promise of resurrection and not just at Easter, but always. As we put our trust in the One who made the sacrifice, we also will be transformed just as He was.

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE CROSS: Prior to resurrection, the cross was a cruel instrument of death. It was a horrible form of execution. A person who was being crucified experienced excruciating pain, difficulty breathing and a slow death. But because of His resurrection, the cross is revered as a thing of beauty and a symbol of hope. The cross is a reminder of the love God has for us.

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE TOMB: The tomb was a grave viewed as a symbol of finality. Because of His resurrection, it was transformed to show us that beyond death is where life really begins and it will never end. When we consider eternity, we know that everything we see on this side of resurrection is temporary and really does not matter. Only the things we cannot see that are on the other side of resurrection are eternal.

THE TRANSFORMATION OF TIME: Before resurrection, time has limitations. In relation to eternity, even the longest life is just a mist. On this side of resurrection, time is not very long; but on the other side, there is Jesus and eternity. That changes the whole meaning and scope of life.

THE TRANSFORMATION OF LIFE: The messages we get from the world are those of hopelessness and despair. We see diseases without a cure, children being abused and unimagineable crimes. If we watch and listen for very long, it would be easy to become discouraged. If all we depend on is what we have in this world, we are in sad shape. "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." John 3:16  Jesus Christ came to give us real life-- to transform us, to give us joy, hope, peace and show us how to live. We can live this life and live it abundantly. We can help others to do the same.

THE TRANSFORMATION OF DEATH: Without the resurrection, what promise do we have after death? None. But after the resurrection we don't have to fear death anymore when we put our trust in Jesus Christ. When we lose a loved one, we mourn. But we mourn as those who have a great hope. Because he lives, we too can live forever. When we have Him in our heart  our concept of death is transformed. We have a promise of a new life in Him forever. Death in this life is the beginning. It is the beginning of living forever with the Lord.

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory, Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:54-55

We can personally be transformed, because of what Jesus Christ did for us, as we accept His Sacrifice on the transforming cross; and because His tomb is empty, then the grave that awaits us at the end of this life will not hold us, but rather it will only hold the remains of where we used to live-- because we will be transformed!

Yes, our life and our death can be transformed, and that is what Jesus did for us, and that is what Easter is really all about. He is Risen! 

Explore Your Potential

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" Ephesians 3:20 

For archives From the Pastor's Desk visit: Each of us has potential and much greater than we can even fathom. We each have potential to do mighty things for God. But it is the main purpose of our enemy, Satan to rob us of our joy and keep us from reaching the potential that God has in mind for each person who knows Him. There may be problems or issues that prevent us from knowing what God has in store for us. Sometimes the barriers in our lives keep us from achieving our true potential. As we put our faith in the Savior, He makes all things work together for our good. As we consider our potential, we need to explore where it originates. Can we truly appreciate the power that is made available to us through Him?

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." Ephesians 1:18-21 

We have a glorious inheritance. We have an incomparable great power and that power is available to ALL who believe. It is exciting to know that we have within us the same power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead. That is amazing potential and it is up to us to realize His power that lies in us.

In order to reach this potential, we need to be awake. We human beings tend to coast through life at times. As we are coasting along, there eventually comes a time when we suddenly realize this potential we have. This realization is often accompanied by some change in our lives, a coming to our senses. With Jesus Christ in our hearts, we need to be awake to what God is calling us to do. Our potential is so much higher than what we can imagine. So we must be awake!

We must also be aware. In our minds, we may have contemplated what we have been called to do. But we allow ourselves to find as many excuses as we can to keep us from grasping our full potential. We may feel we are too small; or we consider ourselves unworthy, or not smart enough. We may feel like we just don't deserve to reach this potential. There are so many things in life that can come between us and our awareness. Sometimes we struggle through what may seem to be the darkest times in our lives. During these times, most of us cannot see any good to come from this. But God takes the trials and tribulations of our lives and uses those for our good, and for the good of others. We must stay aware of His will for us. We cannot choose to be confined to what this world would have us be. Our human struggles can blind us to the goodness God has in store for us; but we need to stay aware of the potential He has placed in each of us.

Finally, to really be open to our potential, we need to be alive to our responsibilities. We have many responsibilities in this life: to ourselves, our family and friends, our church, our community, but most importantly to our Savior, Jesus Christ. We need to be and must be alive to the opportunities God gives us and be willing to live up to our potential. 

The opportunities are there and only with the help and power of God, can we be awake, aware, alive, and live up to this awesome potential. 

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

Let Go and Let God

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:36

Sometimes, even though we want God, we want what is in this world too. Grabbing and holding onto the things of this world causes problems. In a lot of ways, we depend too much on this world around us. While it is true that what we need to survive comes from this world, we sometimes become much too caught up in this world in our effort to find emotional and physical fulfillment. It is best to remember this world is a temporary home, because our permanent home is elsewhere.

It is one of the desires of man to have a happy, significant life here - we want to be winners. No one wants to be considered a loser. But in some ways, if we want to be the best Christian we can be, we have to be a loser. We have to lose self in order to find the real self. We have to let go of some things and rearrange our priorities and have them in the correct order.

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:39

Consider the cross, the sacrifice Jesus made there. We can come to Him and receive freely the gift He has given to us. But we have to lose our former life to gain our new life in Christ. We may find it hard to completely let go, make changes and be a real follower of Jesus Christ. We have to be willing to let go of the life we have embedded in this world that is holding us back. God does want us to give up everything we are holding onto that will keep us from focusing on Him. For some He will ask us for that one thing that we refuse to let go. If you feel so strong about something that it has control of you, it may have a higher position in your life than God and the sacrifice Christ made for you. If so, you need to let go and let God. You need to give Him the rightful place in your life.

Jesus Christ wants to have a personal relationship with each of us. We desire that relationship and acknowledge the sacrifice He made for us; but do we ever consider the sacrifice we need to make to serve Him? Each person who has accepted His gift has been given something to do. We each have a ministry of some kind to be involved in for God. It may be in church, or it may be outside of church. But there is something He has in mind for you to do if you have a relationship with Him. God takes ordinary people and does extraordinary things with them. We were created to do works for Him.

Where is your dependence? Is it on the world? It should be on Jesus Christ. When confronted with troubles, we can try and try to solve problems ourselves. At some point, however, the light comes on and we realize we must take it to God. But our first course of action should always be to take it to God first. We must have that humble attitude. The true mark of a fully devoted follower of Christ is our dependence on Him. We must let Him lead and guide us. Stop trying to lead. In many hearts today, is the backward idea that wherever we go, He will follow. We do not have any importance. If Jesus Christ is in our lives, nothing else comes before Him. He wants to be number one in our lives. When we all truly worship Him as Savior and we put His desires out in front, revival will break out. But we must get self out of the way. When we let go and let God, we can make a difference.

We've got a job to. How does your life demonstrate your commitment to the Lord? Be willing to let Him lead you. Becoming a real follower requires a real commitment. It is time to let go and let God have control of your life.

Real Humility

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:  "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’  But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’  Luke 18:9-13

Jesus told the parable of a Pharisee and a tax collector who  were in similar situations but each had very different results. One of them had real humility and the other had a fake humility. When He told this story, the audience were those who looked down on everyone else. Today, we can most likely think back and find a situation in our own lives to make this story appropriate to us. 

The first person in this story was a Pharisee. One of the things we see in this story, is that God is most impressed when aren't trying to impress Him. The Pharisee, however, was arrogant. He had a heart for religion, but his religion had no heart in it. He had picked a strategic place right in the center of the temple so that all could hear him tell God just how wonderful he was. His prayer focused on himself. There is nothing wrong with what the Pharisee did by fasting and giving beyond what was expected. But the issue was that he was not giving with the right motive. He thought that giving beyond what was expected would gain him special recognition from God and he would get to heaven by his works. He thought he was impressing God.

The other person in the story was a tax collector. Tax collectors during this time were consider a traitor to their people. They charged high rates and would take money for themselves. The tax collector in this parable stood away from the others and prayed humbly asking for God's mercy. Real humility will show, and we see it clearly here. Looking on the outside, the Pharisee would have been thought of as being very close to God. But on the inside, the despised tax collector was the one who was really close to the Lord. He was not afraid to admit that he was a sinner. God was impressed with the simple humility of this man. Jesus said that the prayer of the tax collector was answered.

I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.  Luke 18:14

God sees each of us for what we are. He knows exactly how proud we are, or how humble we are. Try as hard as we can, by doing good things, being a good neighbor, attending church every time the doors are open, or reading the Bible all the way through, there is nothing we can do to earn His forgiving grace. It is freely given by God to those of who humbly acknowledge Him as the only way. We are redeemed because Christ died for us on the cross. Believe, and receive His gift. 

Real Humility. It's the only way.

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24

Seize the Day

If there is something that needs to be done, we need to get busy doing it because no one knows what tomorrow may bring.

Throughout history we have examples of folks who were instructed by God to act and they obeyed. God told Abraham to leave his home. Abraham obeyed and the result was the nation of Israel, just as God promised. David, when confronted with Goliath whom others feared, used a sling, a stone and his faith to bring Goliath down. And Moses left Egypt, found out that he was not who he thought he was, and received instructions from God to return to Egypt and free his people from slavery. Each one of these people obediently seized the day. All of these exhibit passionate obedience. To have that passionate obedience and seize the day go well together.

Throughout time, God has spoken to man in many ways: a burning bush, through angels, even a donkey. He spoke to us through a cross and an innocent carpenter who was hung upon that cross. Today, for all that have a personal relationship with Christ, we have a great privilege of the Holy Spirit within us. We do not hear God in an audible voice, but he speaks to us through the spirit. He presents us with opportunities to share the joy of Jesus Christ and what he has done in our lives. We must be passionately obedient, ready to seize the day and share Christ's love.

We can find a prime example of passionate obedience in Philip. Chapter 8 of the book of Acts tells us that Philip was in Samaria during a time of great revival. Everything was going well; but God had another plan for Philip, and it was not in Samaria.

"Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?” Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea." Acts 8:26-40

So Philip left that great revival and headed down the road to Gaza. He had no idea where or why he was going. He did not know he would meet this Ethiopian who needed to learn about Jesus. Even so, Philip went because he was obedient to God's will. We should be ready and willing to obey God even when it seems to make no sense to us. Don't miss any opportunity God puts in front of you because it is easier to just make excuses. There are people all around us who need and want to know the truth and as a member of God's army, it is our responsibility to share with them what Jesus did for us. When God calls us to do so, be available, be obedient. Seize the day!

True Love

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:1-12

The people of Corinth were very new in their faith and had many questions for Paul. He had ministered to them earlier in person, and later wrote to them several letters. Our book in the New Testament, 1 Corinthians, is one of those letters. The context of this letter was to help them grow in their faith. In Chapter 13, he wanted to reveal to them what real, true love is all about. The love that Paul communicated in this letter is agape love. Agape is the unconditional, sacrificial love of God; you can do nothing to deserve more or less of God's love. His love is unconditional and never wavers. Paul's letter was meant to convey to the Corinthians the value of real, true love.

Paul demonstrated in verses 1-3 that accomplishments and speeches without love are just noise and have no value. But one who acts and speaks with love, stands out among the rest. Without love, all that you give and do means nothing. Love is necessary, just as the air we breathe and the food we eat. There is real value in true love.

In verses 4-7, Paul shows the characteristics of this love. These show us the way we should treat one another. And that is not always easy, but even then we are not alone. It is with God's help, because He loves us, that we can truly love. When we look at patience, kindness, humility, trust, hope, perseverance and all the traits of true love, would it be a stretch for us to consider that many of us today do not have a clue what real true love is all about. There should be a re-focus on those qualities. We should focus more on the positives and less of the negatives because life is just too short.

In verses 8-12 Paul shows the permanency of true love. "Love never fails." There is a real message in those three words. We have God's promise that with His love, for sure, our love can never fail. There will come a day when all we know of this world will be no more. When that day comes our hopes will be realized. All will be clearly seen and we will have no need for faith. But Love will live on forever. Love is the fire that kindles our faith, the light that turns hope into a sure thing. As great as hope and faith are, Love is greater.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

God's Unconditional Love

"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19

God's love is so deep, so wide; it is so long; it is so high. His love has nothing to do with what you or I can do or say. God loves us because God is love. 

God's love for the nation of Israel was great, even during times when they seemed to reject this love. "The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 7:7-8) There are at least 13 times recorded that Israel turned its back on God - yet His love for them never faltered. And He loves us in spite of ourselves as well. 

There are many kinds of human love. This love is sometimes sporadic, comes with conditions and can even be temporary. God's love is unconditional, constant, and perfect. We cannot influence God's love. People sometimes attribute circumstances to God's love. If a person seems to do well in all aspects of life, some will say that God must really love that person. On the other hand, a person who seems to be suffering may be viewed as being neglected and unloved by God. Circumstances have nothing to do with the love of God. When looking for a gauge to measure God's love, do not look at circumstances, but look at the cross. 

God's love is everlasting, unconditional and all-encompassing. There is nothing in all creation that can separate us from the love of God. It is always there and all we have to do is believe and receive it.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom. 8: 38-39