Worth Living ~ Worth Dying ~ Part 2

If a nation's ideals are worth dying for, how much more important are the people who make up that nation ~ or all the nations, for that matter? We sent men and women to war to preserve our freedoms and liberties, and those who volunteer to serve know full well they may pay the ultimate price.

God loved this world (people) so much that He sent His only Son to die for us. (John 3:16) Why did Jesus have to die? Our sin. God said in the Old Testament that blood had to be shed as forgiveness of sin. He provided a way for that through the sacrifice of lambs. But then again the ultimate sacrifice comes into the picture. Lamb's blood had to be shed repeatedly.

God had a once-for-all plan before the beginning of time, knowing we'd fail. Fulfilled how? He would die for the sins of us all. But God is spirit, and spirit doesn't have blood. So He did what only God could do and sent a part of Himself (not a piece ~ God the Son) to the world through Mary. And because God the Son, named Jesus, came through a human line, He became the ultimate Blood-sacrifice.

Willing to die because we were worth living? Hard for me to comprehend God loving me enough to do this. Jesus faced agony going to the cross and even more agony on it. Yet He was obedient to God the Father and sacrificed for the sins of us all. Wow.

I've thought a lot about being willing to die so someone else can live. I say to myself I'd do that. But, if the situation called for that, would I truly die for someone else? I don't know. I think I'd die for someone I loved, like my husband or children. I also figure it would be easier to say I'd do this for someone who loved me as much. But die for who-knows-who, a person who doesn't care about me, God, or even him/herself? Hmm.

Yet God did this. "For one will scarcely die for a righteous person ~ though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die ~ but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:7,8 ESV

We're worth living? God thinks so and proved it. And not only did Jesus give the ultimate sacrifice, He rose again! May my life make His dying known to others who have yet to know their lives are worth the living.

"Who loves you best?"

Photo by Laura Kee Clouse

Every morning we read some sort of devotion to start the school day. These are short and on the age level of our child at that time. 

When our youngest was in elementary school, we usually read a short biblical account, followed by questions. Sometimes our learning disabled son could answer, sometimes not.

One particular day I wanted to help him get the correct answer ~ boost his morale. Question: "Who loves you best?"

He guessed ~ his mom, dad, brothers, Grandma. 

I tried again~simplifying my question. Still no correct answer. Then I said, "I'll give you a clue. This is how you spell the answer: G-O-D."

Our very good speller's eyes lit as he clapped his hands together and exclaimed, "The dog!"

We had a good laugh over that one. And, although the dog did love him very much, that wasn't what I was going for either. Yet several times since I've thought about our son's connection to animals~man's best friend in particular~and seen correlations between the dog and God.

Please do not throw your computer and scream, "Heretic!" I mean no disrespect to God, as I revere Him above all. But think about it. On an earthly scale, aren't dogs great examples of unconditional love? Parents or friends can be, but they aren't always. Yet the family dog will greet you like you're royalty every time you enter your home, lick you and show affection even when you've wronged it, and remains loyal and true.

Photo by Laura Kee Clouse

God's love is unconditional. I cannot compare His amount of love with anything on this earth~only use one of His creations as a mini-example. Our dog, however, didn't lay down her life and die for us. (Who would? Military? Parents? Given that choice.) Only Jesus, God The Son, did that and then rose again~proving He is our Living God.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God ...

1 John 3:1 

God loves so much He's made a way for us to be with Him for eternity. You can click on one of the tabs near the top of this blog to learn more about that. If you're not His child, you can become His today. If you are His yet have erred, He hasn't stopped being your Father or ceased loving you. 

So, who loves you best? I'll give you a clue. This is how you spell the answer: G-O-D!

Aurora Borealis

Use by permission from photographer, Timothy Sloma*

At breakfast last week our son announced, “I want to see the Northern Lights, so I prayed to God to bring them here.”

I smiled and replied, “I don’t about that. I think Northern Lights stay pretty much in the north.” I reminded him we had a glimpse of them when we lived in Central New York, but he didn't remember and wanted to see them NOW.

Min is multiply disabled. Everything he does (outside of his Aspergian niches) challenges him. Yet, when Min prays for something, God always seems to answer his requests. So much so, that we often ask Min to pray when we have a need. It’s like a gift God’s given him—a ministry.

So Min fully expected God would bring the Northern Lights to Kentucky. I, however, doubted and wondered if Min’s bubble would burst. Later I told my husband about the morning’s conversation.

He replied, “Oh well”…as if to say maybe God wouldn’t answer this one…this time.

Imagine our shock and awe when that afternoon’s weather reportor announced that, should the sky be clear, the Aurora Borealis would be visible in Kentucky. Hubby and I looked at each other, eyes popping and jaws dropped.

When Min came home, we told him God had heard his prayer and planned to send the Northern Lights our way.

Min smiled. “I knew God could do that, but why did He do it for me?”

I wondered too. “Maybe God wants you to know He loves you so much and wanted to do something special for you.”

“I think that means, if He cares about me this much,” Min pondered aloud, “He will help me when I grow up to live in an apartment and get a job and help me be able to do those things okay.”

Sadly, cloud-cover stopped us from seeing this sight, but the lights were there, non-the-less. That’s all that mattered to Min. That and knowing God loved him so much that He answered yet another of his prayers.

...With God all things are possible. 

Matthew 19:26b ESV

*Tim captured this sight on film in Alaska. This photo may not be copied without his permission.