No Christian will argue against the fact that everything we do is supposed to be based on love.
One of the greatest writings on this, which has been quoted countless times, is found in 1 Corinthians 13:
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
God is love. He demonstrated this through the cross. We show love because He first loved us. (1 John 4)
Recently, while listening to the song “One Thing Remains”, I was reminded of several things in general and one thing in particular.
The general things are easy:
We may face many things that may seem or are to big for us to handle, but God is always there loving us.
We may face things that terrify us, but God is always there loving us.
We may feel like no one in the world understands or loves us, but God is always there loving us.
What if I Stumble?
The thing that really hit me this time was how much God loves us … when we really mess up.
We may be forgiven, and we may be growing ever more like our Lord Jesus Christ. However, sometimes we stumble. Sometimes we outright disobey. Sometimes we walk into situations we know we should not.
Sometimes, we revert right back into our old selfish, prideful, arrogant, perverted mindset and do things our own way.
…
And God is always there loving us, calling us to repentance and grace.
What was accomplished through Christ on the cross at Calvary still covers our hapless, unthinking, uncaring, snubbing, defiant, sometimes unintentional sins.
Because His love never fails.
One Thing Remains – Jesus Culture (at Passion)
Your love never fails it never gives up
It never runs out on me.
Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love never fails, it never gives up
Your love
Your love.
Never gives up on me.
And it’s higher than the mountains that I face
And it’s stronger than the power of the grave
And constant in the trial and the change
This one thing remains.
Yeah.
Higher
And it’s higher than the mountains that I face
And it’s stronger than the power of the grave
And constant in the trial and the change
This one thing remains.
Your love never fails it never gives up
It never runs out on me.
Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love never fails, it never gives up
Your love.
On and on! Come on!
And on and on and on it comes
Yes, it overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never ever have to be afraid, this one thing
Remains!
This one thing remains!
Your love never fails it never gives up
It never runs out on me.
Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love never fails, it never gives up
In Death! In light! We sing!
In death! In light! I’m confident and covered
By the power of Your great Love!
My debt is paid! it’s nothing that can separate
My heart from Your great love.
Your love never fails it never gives up
It never runs out on me. sing it!
Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love never fails, it never gives up
Your Love!
ON AND ON AND ON!
And on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never ever have to be afraid
This one thing! Remains!
Your love never fails it never gives up
It never runs out on me.
Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me!
Your Love
It’s Your love!
If you think about it, many religions and beliefs attribute great importance to names.
Read the Bible. People were often named based on how or when they were born or how parents thought they may live their lives. Sometimes names were changed for important reasons (Think of Abram to Abraham, or Simon to Peter.)
If you want an idea of what my name means, read these haikus today:
haikus for
daniel
michael
klem
my God is my Judge
i am made in His likeness
He gives me mercy
my God is my Judge
no one else is like my God
He is merciful
For my post this week, I pass along Matt’s wonderful entry from his blog Well Spent Journey. What is really crazy about this is that one of our youth came over this fine Labor Day to help us do some work in our new house. While in the grocery store to pick up some things for lunch, we shared a deja vu moment. It was very odd, only to be followed by my reading this!
The fact is, only God can fill all of our needs (read Matthew 6:25-34). If each of our other longings can be filled by things on this earth, yet we have this longing that is never fully met here, does that not speak to something or Someone beyond this earth? A God who created us for intimate fellowship with Him fits this perfectly.
Go read Matt’s thoughts and quotes from C.S. Lewis, one of the greatest non-theologian theologians of the 20th Century!
The poem today was inspired by Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
be like Christ is
our priests and preachers say
live like Jesus did
but what if we need today
to be like Jesus is
i do not want to be like
a person that once lived
to live like Jesus Christ
we need to know Who He is if we want to change our world
the way that is the best
is to live out the Good Word
which is who Jesus still is
Do not forget your daily dose of wisdom, which can be found at Proverbial Thought!
I have quite a few blogs that I follow. One that I follow yet do not regularly interact with (Sorry, James!) is Men of One Accord. James’s goal with his blog is to bring about unity between Christians in Christ Jesus, and I highly recommend checking out his poetry, prayers, and quotes. The spelling might not always be the greatest, but the content is always full of grace, love, and Jesus! I strongly suggest you follow his blog!
This past week, as I was hurrying from work to seminary or youth group, or trying to get in all of my reading and assignments (the downside to taking 12 credits at the graduate level and working full-time while involved in ministry!), this little gem appeared in my inbox. It strengthened me, encouraged my spirit, and reminded me of why I push myself: it is all for His glory!
As he said in the post, “I could not keep it all to myself, I had to share. May all be blessed and peace be with you. Amen”
I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Philemon 1:6, NIV
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel . . .
Ephesians 6:19, NIV
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
Colossians 1:9-12, NIV
I post it today in hopes that any who read this will join me in praying for my education and for your own edification and growth in Christ!
Creator of all things,
true source of light and wisdom,
origin of all being,
graciously let a ray of your light penetrate
the darkness of my understanding.
Take from me the double darkness
in which I have been born,
an obscurity of sin and ignorance.
Give me a keen understanding,
a retentive memory,
and the ability to grasp things
correctly and fundamentally.
Grant me the talent
of being exact in my explanations
and the ability to express myself
with thoroughness and charm.
Point out the beginning,
direct the progress,
and help in the completion.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-14
Cultivate a loving heart, and practice being kinder than necessary. In the course of your day, you will inevitably encounter difficult people, but have patience and practice kindness. You won’t regret it. In my experience, the most trying individuals are fighting battles of their own, and they are the most deserving of compassion.
I tell myself that the people who are hardest to love need it the most. My attitude may suggest blind optimism, but I’ve pondered the subject for years, and I truly believe it’s accurate. When people are hard to love, it’s likely that they don’t consider the impact of their actions on others. But how do people cultivate a sense of empathy? How do they develop an understanding for difference?
I believe it begins with exposure to kindness. Be kind to the people that least deserve it, and I promise that they will ponder your behavior. They…
Teach your mind to worship in all wisdom by reading thoughts at Proverbial Thought!
Last week the poem looked at glorifying God by responding in faith to the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ.
How, then, do we continue to glorify God with our lives?
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. John 15:7-9, NIV
teach me to worship
teach me to worship show me what it means to live a dedicated life to live a life of praise teach me to honor You show me how to sing to go into the world and share Your Great Name how can i worship how can i praise how can i honor Your Holy Name You have told us to love You have said not to hate be kind to everyone as an act of praise
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!
a simple man of God 