Newlyweds

Sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Psalm 96:1 HCSB

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. Mother Theresa*

As a part of our 19th anniversary celebration, Kathy and I visited a park with several gardens. As we exited The Herb Garden, an elderly lady asked, “Is that garden worth visiting?”

Kathy answered, “Oh yes, it’s very nice!”

Humorously, I said, “She had to explain it to me. I kept looking for a guy named Herb.

The woman looked at me like I had stolen her hamburger before saying, “You better watch out or she might be looking for a guy named Herb.

We all laughed and I said, “Nope, she’s mine.”

As Kathy and I walked away, hand in hand, I saw the lady shaking her head and I heard her say, “Newlyweds.”

Just as we must keep our marital relationships fresh, we must continually renew our relationship with the Lord. We must tell Him that we love Him. We must sing to Him a new song.

Help us, Lord, to worship You in a new and fresh way.

*thinkexist.com

Restless

Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2 HCSB

Now we are free, there’s no condemnation, Jesus provides a perfect salvation; “Come unto me,” O hear His sweet call, Come and He saves us once for all. Philip P. Bliss*

I have restless leg syndrome. When I am lying still at bedtime, without warning, one of my legs jerks involuntarily. It’s almost like there’s a mad puppeteer waiting for my wife and I to almost be asleep when he makes my legs kick and wakes both of us. Finally, a sleep specialist diagnosed my problem and gave me the appropriate medication. Unfortunately, I have to take it every night or the kicking resumes.

Fortunately, when we accept Christ as Lord and Savior, we are completely free from the law of sin and death. It’s not a temporary fix for us. It is permanent. We don’t have to be saved all over again tomorrow or the next day. Jesus provided a perfect salvation that gives us perfect freedom.

Jesus, thank You for the freedom that you give to us.

*Free from the Law, O Happy Condition

Anointed

The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Luke 4:18-19 HCSB

Lord, send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power! Thy floodgates of blessing on us throw open wide! Lord, send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power, that sinners be converted and Thy name glorified! Charles H. Gabriel*

As a child, I never learned much about the Holy Spirit. However, as I’ve studied the Bible, I’ve noticed that whenever the Holy Spirit is involved in anything, God’s presence is felt and lives are changed. Jesus was both anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the ministry that the Father had given Him. In a similar fashion, we must also be empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Lord has given us spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities that we might minister to others and serve Him. How much more effective we would be if the Spirit of the Lord was upon us.

Father, empower us with Your Holy Spirit.

*Pentecostal Power