American Idol or Heavenly Idol

Little Things Mean Alot

Away back in 1954 (I was still a teenager) Kitty Kallen had a hit single: Little Things Mean Alot. I loved that song then and I still do. I memorized the words long ago; I want to share them with you today:

Throw me a kiss from across the room;

And say I look nice when I'm not.

Touch my hair when you pass my chair.

Little things mean a lot.

Give me your arm as we cross the street.

Call me at six on the dot.

A line a day when you're far away.

Little things mean a lot.

Don't have to buy me diamonds and pearls,

champagne, sable, or such;

Hey, I've never cared much for diamonds and pearls.

Oh! Promise me, Honey; they just cost money.

Give me your hand when I've lost my way.

Give me your shoulder to cry on.

Whether the day is sunny of grey,

Give me your heart to rely on.

Send me the warmth of a secret smile.

Show me you haven't forgot.

For always and ever, now and forever,

Little things mean alot.

Well, the Bible tells us that...Little Things Mean A Lot also.

For who has despised the day of small things. 

Zech 4:10

Little things often seem unimportant to us but if we take time to think about it they actually are the spice of life, and it's a huge mistake to overlook them. What is a main course without the savor of those special spices? All to often we try to show our loved ones how much we care for them with hard work and devotion to the big needs they have. This is needful but there is no greater for need for any of us than unconditional love that is so often expressed in such little ways.

God himself knows and understands this and says it so well in 1 Corinthians 13:1-2.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,

and have not love,

I am become as sounding brass or tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy,

and though I have all faith,

so that I could remove mountains,

and have not love,

I am nothing.

I think it may be time for me to spice up my life a bit by paying more attention to the "little things" cause they surely do the big job of expressing His love better than any other thing.

Now that's what the whole world needs.

God Bless Your Day, in Jesus' precious name.
Amen.

The Book Of Love - iUniverse

The Book Of Love - iUniverse

Seeking Love

Song of Solomon 3:1-3

[The Shulamite] By night on my bed 

I sought the one I love;
 I sought him, but I did not find him. 
"I will rise now," [I said],
"And go about the city;
in the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love." 
I sought him, but I did not find him.
The watchmen who go about the city found me;
[I said], "Have you seen the one I love?

“Night” in the original Hebrew is plural; the Shulamite has sought him for many nights, and does not understand why it is so, but the Lord is capitalizing on her feelings for him, to draw her out and into his plan and purpose. She sought him in the bed and did not find him; she sought him in the streets and in the squares and did not find him; but we see the heart of a Believer in her seeking, and it is moving toward him. This is a picture of us; by faith we move forward in his plan; we move toward him, worshiping him who we cannot see.
She is not content to stay on her bed and wait, and want, and wish; when she cannot find him she goes seeking, and we who believe are ever seeking him also, for the promise is: "If you seek me you will find me." Wherever we go we ask: “Have you seen the one I love? Have you met him along the way? Do you know where he can be found? Do you know him? Oh, he is the one my soul loves! Do you know about him? If ever you did you would understand why I search.”
But we carry the testimony of God and his love with us, and we meet many who respond to it, for he has put them in the way and prepared the way—the hearts—and many are encouraged in his faith. This is where we find him; not in our bed, but in going forward in his great plan and purpose to take the Gospel of His love into the highways and hedges of the world of the lost. ^{(Mt 22:9-10; Lu 14:23)} What better way could there be to send his love to the lost, than to send it in a soul he loves? What wisdom this is? Seeking him, but finding the lost, and him in the process. So often we think we minister him to people, but we find that he ministers to us through people. We seek the one our soul loves, and we find him in loving souls that are lost. "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." ^{(Lu 19:10)} There are watchmen out in the world watching you, and they will find you; they think they’re not seeking anything at all, but their hearts actually are, and God is seeking them ^{(2Ch 16:9)} But they find her—the Shulamite—who has a heart that is loaded with Love and this love is ever contagious and spontaneous to save souls.

Love Liberates From Knowledge

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant…

Spiritual [gifts] is translated from the Greek, pneumatikos, meaning: spirituality relating to the human spirit as that part of a person that is an instrument of God; i.e. the new heart of a believer. Paul is saying to Corinthian believers: “I do not want you to be ignorant (Greek, agnoeo: without knowledge) and I’m glad you’re not, but I would that your knowledge always be in the proper context—pneumatikos.” Two other words used in the New Testament to delineate knowledge are soul (Greek, pseukikos: the soulish (inner, natural) man) and flesh (Greek, sarkikos: the carnal (outward, fleshly man, 11times). So there are essentially three perspectives on knowledge: 1) the flesh (world-conscious), 2) the soul (self-conscious), or 3) the spirit (God-conscious). In the original language Paul’s tone at the end of Chapter 12 is mocking knowledgeable Corinthian believers for their emphasis on spiritual gifts while many are yet carnal; they love to talk about their spirituality but the way they perceive knowledge reveals much carnality and worldliness.

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

PAUL: “Oh, you people say we ought to all be spiritual, don’t you? You’re the knowledgeable ones always talking about spirituality, aren’t you?" [And the Bible uses pneumatikos 25 times—11 times in the letter to the Corinthians. Paul has purposely led us through this chapter up to …a more excellent way (Greek, hyperbole: a way that is beyond natural perspective)]. "Well I’m glad you are knowledgeable—everybody has knowledge—but do let me show you a better way to manage your knowledge—with love!” Now, in the next Chapter of 1 Corinthians, we have the Bible’s word on LOVE but actually God’s Word on love IS the Bible. He is God; and God is love, (1Jn 4:8,16) and the Holy Spirit is love, and our constant Comforter (Jn 14:16-18)—for we have an accuser, accusing us to God, and accusing God to us, the devil, who stands before God day and night to accuse of sin and iniquity. (Re 12:11)

"And who really cares about us? The Psalmist looks to his right and his left but he can find no man who knows him, or cares for his soul. (Ps 142:4) But Jesus does know us, and he does care about us. He is our advocate—who is also before God interceding for us; (1Jn 2:1) and no charge can ever be brought against us on the basis of his shed Blood. We’ve been brought into the Family of God where love—the more excellent way—has made us secure. This is an amazing, incomprehensible, unfathomable love; we need to hear about it continually in order to just begin to grasp the power of its work in and through our lives:" "Mere knowledge puffs us up like a balloon full of hot air, but epignosis fills us up, with all the fullness of God—Love." P Schaller

Love's Wisdom

Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore, get wisdom, but with all your getting get understanding (Pr 4:7)

"Understanding" is to have divine perspective, discernment and instruction in the application of knowledge. If we practice eternal perspective we will understand what the will of God is, (Ep 5:14) we will know that all things are for our sakes, (2Co 4:15) we will know that His thoughts toward us are always good and never evil, to give us hope and a future, (Je 29:11) because He will lead us and guide us with lovingkindness. We will know that we are called beyond the woes of this world to the wonders of eternity. Jesus warns us that in the world we will have tribulation, even as he did himself. (Jn 14:2, 16:33) He also encourages us with assurance that he is preparing a place for us in eternity, and to store up treasures in heaven; where our treasure is there will our hearts be also. (Mt 6:21; Lu 12:34)

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Ro 5:3-5)

If there’s anything we need in the midst of the tribulation of the world it’s to have our hearts fixed on the eternal value system, not the temporal one; while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2Co 4:18) “Treasures in heaven” consist of much more than rewards for good deeds done on earth; they are the development of an eternal relationship with Him through trials of faith in time and space. In Heaven we will have a new name, (Re 3:12) and a “white stone” with a new name written on it, which nobody understands but the one who receives it—and of course, Jesus, the one who gives it. (Re 2:17) Wow!

Wisdom is the application of knowledge, understanding the is application of Wisdom; Love is their link.

The Wonder of the Incarnation of Christ

Most of the religions of the world want us to explain it: “How could God become a man?” And we simply say, “We cannot explain it to you. It is a mystery that must be revealed. But if you will allow yourself to believe, you will be in a state of total wonder, and you will worship God who made you in his image, and you will know Him in a personal way—is not that wonderful that you can know God—and He will satisfy your heart because He became a man for your heart.”

God is love in action—love rushing on a rescue mission.

He never intended His beloved man to be

lonely and miserable, wandering in a dark forest.

That is against His Own nature of light.

God took the initiative in Bethlehem when He became a human being

in the Person of Jesus Christ.

He joined us in the darkness of life and said,

“I am the Light of the world.”

The dark forest of human existence was lit up.

When Christ lived among men, He knew what poverty was.

He was hungry,

sorrowful,

lonely and tired.

He relieved pain in others,

but He experienced the full force of it Himself.

Christ died on the cross;

He bore the shattering responsibility of guilt.

He lifted the heaviest burden from man’s most sensitive part—

his conscience.

He brought peace to his mind

by forgiving the sins which caused the guilt.

Receiving Him is the greatest miracle in life.

Christ called it “to be born anew.”

Paul called it “to become a new person altogether.”

The broken relationship with God is restored.

We are at home with God,

and therefore at home with ourselves,

at home with our fellow men,

and at home in our world.

Festo Kivengere

What kind of Love is this that would leave Heaven to come down to a world inundated with evil, and wickedness, and iniquity; and then willingly surrender its life to pay the price death demands for every sin? (Ro 6:23)

This wonder is so great

as to hold the very angels of heaven spellbound

throughout the ages, (1Pe 1:12)

For God so loved the world;

that He gave His only begotten Son.