What Should It Cost?

I adore the simplicity and honesty of the above picture. Some may find it funny, others may lash out and call the guy cheap; the girl stupid and others may even begin to appraise their value making it very clear that no man or beast dare ever approach them with such cheap atrocities. 

But me, I like to think of my self as a simple girl, the rain makes me happy, going for a walk, fresh air. These things excite me.  

Now let's put this into perspective. How many of you get mad at God because you couldn't get the car you wanted, that guy you had your eye on for the past year hasn't even said hello to you much less asked you out or anything, the job you really, really wanted that is so perfect and convenient for you didn't come through so now all you have left is life, some clean air to breathe, good health and a God who loves you. 

Oh how your life must suck!  

This life that we have and live so freely isn't just a sad, horrible life. It's free to us but it cost Jesus His life. We live and complain so freely forgetting to remember that Jesus said He came so we can have life and it more abundantly (John 10:10) 

God isn't here to fulfill all your desires. Think about it, if your parents gave you EVERYTHING you asked for, you be a spoiled, impudent child with no real appreciation for how hard your parents had to work to achieve everything they have. 

God is here, lavishing us with grace, graceful enough to be our guide, to hold our hand and help us along, to fulfill HIS plan in our life. The purpose He created us for because He didn't make us then think what He should do with us; we're a forethought. 

God ain't our sugar daddy, He's not here to attend to your needs as and when we want them. He ain't here to stroke our egos or spoon feed us. 

He gave His life. It may not have been a gift wrapped with elegance, born to die; not in a palace amongst kings, He wasn't waited on by maids and butler but in my lowly theory He was born just like us, divinity in human form; He became me and you to redeem me and you.  

His humble beginnings, lowly sufferings and martyrdom shows us that we may not always have, might never even have the 28 carat diamond ring but as long as we have Him, we will be okay.  

It shows us that the "things" aren't important, it shows that the house, car, husband, the wife, the children, the ministry, these "things" cannot fulfill us like our Saviour can.  

So it shouldn't cost more than what has already been paid. Jesus laid down His life and if all He gives you is a bunch of bananas; rejoice, celebrate and be glad that you have His presence. No matter where you go, what you do, think or say, He will always be with you and that should be enough!  

 .....and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:20

I Receive Your Love

I Receive Your Love

“I receive Your love, I receive Your love for me, I receive Your love, I know I am accepted” – Israel Houghton 

I got to thinking about giving, I love giving, I have a real obsession and passion for giving. I will give the clothes off my back, literally if someone asks, or even if they don’t ask; I give, its who I am. I live to give, I love to give. 

But I once received a gift and I didn’t know how to act. I didn’t know where to look or what to think, how to feel or what to say. I have given so much of me, my time and gifts that I didn’t even know how to receive this gift, it was foreign to me. Do I return it? Do I lie and say I’ve already got one exactly like it? Ask for the receipt so I can return or exchange it? I had no clue, I took it home and literally didn’t touch it, look at it or use it. I wasn’t gifted in the area of receiving.

Which lead me to that song “I receive Your love”
Can I sing the lyrics of that songs honestly? I mean I can’t even receive a gift from a man that I can see; how do I receive a gift, the most perfect, flawless gift from a Man I can’t see?

I struggled.

How exactly was I supposed to accept a love that died for me? And every second I spend not accepting what was done on Calvary is another second I keep my Saviour nailed there, bleeding, paying a price over and over again because I could receive His love that would take Him down.

I find it hard to receive love, I found it hard to believe that God could love me. (My definition of love is when a person knows everything that you are, what you did and who you are and still accepts you and still accepts you; that is love) I found it hard to accept that God would know my past, my thoughts, feelings, ideas and desires and still, STILL accepts me and all my flaws, I found it hard to believe much less accept. 

On top of that, there was man’s idea and my perception of love. It was warped because the people who said they loved me didn’t mean unconditionally, they meant they loved me when it was convenient for them to “love” me. 

I found it hard to take my Lord off the cross, I found it hard to receive His love but I got there in the end.

I got to a place where I found out that His love has no strings attached, no demands and most of all, there was nothing i could ‘do’ for Him to love me. That was the hardest part of accepting God’s love is knowing that there’s nothing you can do or did in the past to make Him love you; He just does. 

God loves you, before you were created, before you were thought of by your parents; God loves you. It may be hard to receive His love but it’s there, it’s not going away and there’s nothing you can do to make Him stop loving you.
God, who is love, loves you! 

Receive it! Give it! 

Love hard. Receive freely!

They Have Eyes But Don't See

Haters, fakers and fornicators

Liars, thieves and murderers 

Yes Lord You died for them all, 

And Titus called it, 

He said: "they profess to know Him in word but deny Him deed and action" 

They look pretty Jesus when they dress up for You, 

Words sweet capturing the ear, 

Like a soft summer breeze, 

You can't help but notice 

You see,

And Lord YOU see, 

How? Why? I wanna know why? 

Where? 

Is the amazing saving grace they speak of? 

The convicting presence of Your precious Holy Spirit?

Why isn't it doing to them what it does to me? 

Why can't they see? 

How much they not only hurt themselves; 

But how they hurt You? 

Lord I know You bleed, 

I'll lie and say I feel Your pain but we both know that's not true,

You hurt much more than I do, 

Cuz You shed blood I couldn't, 

You sent Divinity, I couldn't do that Lord, 

But Lord, my heart does bleed, 

Sometimes I can't speak, 

But You know Lord cuz You see, 

The blood You still have to shed from Calvary,

Lord help THEM to see?