Everlasting

"In a far-off land the LORD will manifest himself to them. He will say to them, 'I have loved you with an everlasting love. That is why I have continued to be faithful to you. Jeremiah 31:3

Everlasting.  Forever.  Boundless.  Undying. Endless.  Some words that describe God's love for us.  Jeremiah says that "in a far off land" the LORD will show Himself to them (us).  While we are far off...away from Him, He still chooses to love us.  Not just with an ordinary caring...but an unceasing allegiance to us.  This isn't puppy love, or an infatuation that will diminish as soon as someone else comes along.  Rather, a deep, abiding devotion.  And it isn't in word alone.  He goes on to say, that because of that love, this is why He has continued to be faithful to us.  Faithful to us...not us to Him!  It doesn't say only if you are faithful to Me, will I be faithful to you.  No conditions are present.  He is faithful to us because He loves us.  Period.

In the times that it feels as if God is far away, and His Love is distant.  Remember those words.  Though we may be going through an extremely difficult situation, God is there.  He is there in the distant, calling.  Letting you know that He does love you with a Love that will never end...and you can be sure He will never leave.

Dormant Beauty

My friend Lesli has a cactus vine in her yard.

It wraps itself around the mossy oaks.  It can be hard to see, as it tends to blend in the background.  But when the time is right...an amazing transformation takes place.  The sparse gray cactus becomes a beautiful sight to behold, as it sprouts big, lovely blossoms!  You would never know the plant had such beauty lying dormant inside.

Isn't that like us?  We tend to be bland, ordinary individuals, winding our lives around the surroundings...blending into the background.  Not particularly noticeable.  Then, with the Touch of the Master Gardener, we begin to change and blossom into a beautiful creation.  No one would have guessed that we had such beauty lying dormant within us...something that only the Spirit of God could bring out.

Feeling like an old gray cactus?  Pray for the Spirit of God to invade your being, making you into a new creation.  Ask forgiveness for your sins and turn your life over to God.  Accept the forgiveness that His Son, Jesus offers.  He promises that He will fill you with His Spirit.  Once that happens, you can bloom beautifully into the creation God has intended for you to be!

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

**Thanks, Lesli S. for permission to share your photos!**