December 4, 2013 - "Love Deep, Pt. 2"

Good morning and hope you all rested well. I am a HUGE proponent of "eat well, sleep well, and laugh a lot!" I think if we would try each day to work these angles more, we would find our bodies actually living longer and having more life-long relationships. Don't you like to be around people who laugh? Not "try to laugh," but those with a light spirit. I realize we will all have days where laughing is the LAST thing we want to do, but kindness and laughter are such medicine that we can offer ourselves and others. Preach! Last night while I was exercising, I started looking at my Christmas decorations and noticed only a few of my candles had ever been lit. Now if you have walked with me over the past three years, you know I have a candle story. About 10 years ago I was admiring my pretty, decorative candles at my other house and I felt the Lord speak to ME about denying them the fulfillment of their purpose. What? "If I light them eventually they will have to be replaced," I replied. Then the Lord reminded me that I didn't understand their purpose was to give light and without my igniting them, they would only be decorations and not candles. OUCH! So last night as I was smiling at my beautiful, white, circular candles again the Lord taps me on the shoulder. Yes, yes...but these are round, and white, and may be hard to find...perhaps they are out of stock. Can you see where I am going with this? Then I began to meditate on the candles and I felt the Lord showed me that we represent them. He actually comes and places His touch upon us through the Holy Spirit and once ignited, we actually become that light on the hill to fulfill our purpose, God's purpose in our lives. God actively pursues us and allows us to partner with him to convey the good news of the Gospel. The candles CANNOT LIGHT THEMSELVES. The scripture yesterday from Ephesians 3 points us to the will of God to bring about His purpose within each of His children. The Bible teaches that He chooses us - He calls us - He ignites our hearts for His good pleasure. God does not withhold his touch. He knows we will be consumed with His flame and He LOVES it. The cool thing is that a candle will be consumed and need a replacement. We, on the other hand, while being consumed with God's love will come to understand that the more we give that love away (display His light) the longer we burn and the stronger we get. Go figure! Let's check out the passage again: Ephesians 3:19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! 20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far overand above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]— 21 To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). Henry Blackaby writes, "You will find the call to a relationship with God is also a call to be on a mission with Him." Yes, I'm teaching tonight and this is in my lesson plan. :) God's plan in the earth includes us. How cool is that? Can God light your candle this morning for His purpose today? I say, "Yes, LORD!" What say you? Have a bright one - PK