1 Corinthians 3: 16-17

1 Corinthians 3
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

2 Corinthians 16
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”

After church Sunday, one of the ladies told my friend Randy, “There’s a young man outside crying, could you talk to him?” It turned out the young man (Ivan) was heartbroken because his ex-wife had taken a job as a stripper to support their little daughter. He said, “She doesn’t have to do that, I give her money!” Then he admitted he had committed adultery in the first year of their marriage and that she was paying him back by stripping and sleeping with other men.

Randy asked him if he had ever received the Lord. He said yes, about 10 months before. He said he knew his ex-wife was bad for him, and that she was keeping him from walking with the Lord, but he felt he loved her too much to give her up. We prayed with him and told him the Holy Spirit could give him the strength to stay away from her.

Seeing his pain reminded me of my own intense struggle the first time I lost custody of all my children. I hadn’t realized until then that they had taken a place in my heart that God never intended. Yes, we are to love and cherish our children (and our spouses), but they should never become our reason for living. Through that great and painful loss, I learned that even if I lose everything I hold dear, Jesus Christ is still more than enough.

Did God have my children taken away? No, I don’t believe so. But I do believe that having my children as idols in my heart allowed Satan to get a foot in the door and manipulate the circumstances so that they were taken from me. Satan is the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy—don’t give him an excuse.

Check your temple. God idols? Get rid of them. Have an awesome Resurrection Sunday!

Cathleen

My Beloved is Mine

Song of Solomon 2
4) He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
16) My beloved is mine, and I am his.
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My dear Christian sister Brenda recently recommended I rent the movie “Pride and Prejudice,” with Kiera Knightley. It’s a beautiful story. After a series of false judgments and misunderstandings, the main character, Elizabeth, feels nothing but contempt for the wealthy Mr. Darcy. However, near the end of the movie, Darcy seeks out Elizabeth one last time. As he looks at her with pure longing and devotion, he confesses his love for her. In the next breath, he humbly tells her he will leave and never return if that is her desire.

When I saw my brother and Tarah get married, I was so filled joy I can’t even describe it. I told Tarah, “I’ve seen a lot of marriages, but I have never seen two people look at each other with as much love as you two.” I admit I don’t think any man has ever looked at me quite that way. And here’s a hint for all you guys out there: That is the one thing most women secretly long for but will never ask for. (In our minds, that would defeat the purpose!)

From before my brother’s wedding ceremony all the way through the reception, I caught myself constantly humming a children’s Bible song that consists of one line that repeats over and over. It goes like this:

“I am My Beloved’s and He is mine, His banner over me is love...”

When I saw Dan look at Tarah, and Tarah look at Dan, I felt God’s love for both of them—and for me. You know that look I mentioned? The one Mr. Darcy gave Elizabeth? That’s how Jesus is looking at you right now. His love for you isn’t just a garden-variety love. It’s an intense, intimate, all-encompassing love, greater than any two humans have ever felt for one another. I told a friend recently, “I know I’m finally ready to remarry because I am totally in love with Jesus!” I hope you are, too, because He is totally in love with you.

So, the next time you hit a bump in the road, you’re tempted to give up, or you’re anxious or fearful, just say it out loud: “I love You, Lord. I love You, Lord. I love You Lord.” Before long, you will feel His love coming right back at you.

Cathleen

Love Story

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
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Isn’t that verse comforting? Everything in your life can be going very, very wrong, and yet you can know and believe that THIS ISN’T THE END OF THE STORY. God has a plan.

About 10 years ago, things went very, very bad for a beautiful young woman named Tarah. Tarah seemed to have everything going for her, including a loving, wealthy family and a modeling career. But one night, while driving on a desert road between Arizona and California, Tarah lost control of her car.

When the California Highway Patrol officer found her, she was barely clinging to life. Her legs were badly broken and twisted, and she had already slipped into a coma. As the officer waited anxiously for a helicopter to airlift her to the nearest hospital in Arizona, he laid hands on her and began to pray. You see, this particular CHP officer was also a part-time pastor, and he knew that God was Tarah’s only hope. He claimed her life for God, fully believing she would recover.
However, in the weeks that followed, it seemed Tarah wouldn’t make it after all. If she did live, the doctors predicted she would be a vegetable, both physically and mentally. The CHP officer and his wife constantly lifted her up in prayer, and he continued checking with the hospital, but week after week she remained in a coma. And that officer became angry with God. How could He let this precious life slip away? But he didn’t stop praying, and one day the news changed. Tarah was out of the coma. Tarah was able to move. Tarah could talk. Tarah could sit up. And eventually, Tarah could walk.

I first met Tarah at one of our family get-togethers. She was engaged to my brother’s best friend since childhood. I fell in love with her the first time I met her. My whole family did. Her laugh and her smile fill up a room. If you didn’t know what she had been through, you wouldn’t realize she still suffers mild disabilities.

But that’s not the end of the story. In December I got a call from my brother, Dan. He said Tarah had recently broken up with her fiancé (Dan’s best friend). Once that happened, Dan was able to confess his love for her—a love that he had kept hidden all those years out of respect for his friend.

This weekend, I had the honor and privilege of attending Dan and Tarah’s wedding. The pastor who performed the ceremony was the very same CHP officer who rescued Tarah from her twisted car so many years ago. And that’s just half the miracle. Before my brother confessed his love to Tarah, he was a self-proclaimed atheist. The same day he called to tell me they were getting married, he also apologized for the hassle he gave me every time I tried to talk about Jesus. He said, “Cath, I know God is real. I know He saved Tarah’s life. Everything you used to tell me makes sense now. And for the first time, I know God loves me, too.”

I know that God is has a plan for Dan and Tarah, and that they are not too far from His kingdom. Please lift them up in prayer, that they will totally surrender their lives to Him.

Cathleen

A Handy Chart

YOU SAY.... GOD SAYS.... BIBLE VERSES

You say: "It's impossible" God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired" God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me" God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 3:34 )

You say: "I can't go on" God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out" God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it" God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able" God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it" God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )

You say: "I can't forgive myself" God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage" God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid" God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated" God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I'm not smart enough" God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone" God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

PASS THIS ON

Believe God is there just for you...

YOU NEVER KNOW WHO MAY BE IN NEED

Steve