A Mother's love is something
that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendored miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.
--by Helen Steiner Rice
How sad it is when mothers do not love. How sad when they
use and abuse their children...when they condone inappropriate or even criminal behavior.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (1 Corinthians 13:6)
Praising God today that this world is not my home! Praising God today
that, as Christians, we look to a better country – a heavenly one!
All these people were still living by
faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they
only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that
they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show
that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been
thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity
to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly
one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has
prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:13-16)
Let us truly look forward!
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)
Today is a special day for me as I’m reminded of God’s love and the love found at
Sound Doctrine Church.
Lives are laid down for one another, single moms are cared for, the
lonely are set in families, orphans are adopted, needs are met, gifts
are given to the poor, lives are changed, sins are overcome, children
learn to love and obey their parents, parents learn to love their
children, families grow closer, and marriages are saved.
You are my God, and
I will give You thanks. You are my God; I will exalt You. Give thanks
to the LORD, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm
118:28-29)
Like the first church, enemies of the cross label
Sound Doctrine
a cult. Nothing could be further from the truth, but the attack is not
surprising as Scripture promises all who want to live a godly life will
be persecuted.
In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2 Timothy 3:12)
It’s difficult, if not impossible, to adequately describe the love experienced at
Sound Doctrine. It truly remains the fragrance of life (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).
I recall my first visit clearly. After years of attending churches where
leaders led with human wisdom, with rule upon rule and even coerced
monetary contributions, I became speechless because of the love I felt
at
Sound Doctrine. All my talk, all my words simply escaped me. I could only declare, “God is really among you!” (1 Corinthians 14:25)
Praise God! He had led me to a body of believers who truly wanted to
deny themselves, pick up their crosses daily and follow Jesus (Luke
9:23)! God had answered my prayer.
For He says: In an
acceptable time, I heard you, and in the day of salvation, I helped you.
Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation.
(2 Corinthians 6:2)
Gone are the days of fearing church leaders. Gone are the days of
emotional alter calls which only left me empty. Gone are the days of
man-made rules. Gone are the days of schemes to increase attendance and
thus tithes. Gone are the days of forced contributions.
Never, not once, have I been asked to give money to
Sound Doctrine Church.
Indeed, an offering plate is never passed. Instead, each member gives
what he has decided in his heart to give (2 Corinthians 9:7), and my own
family has received many generous gifts.
You see, God works a love among us that only He can through His Spirit.
As we hate our own lives as Jesus taught, God fills us with His pure
love. That’s what
hating for Jesus is all about – love!
"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife
and children, brothers and sisters--yes, and even his own life--he
cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:26)
The Spirit is the One who gives life. The flesh doesn't help at all. The
words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. (John 6:63)
Now is the acceptable time. Now is the time to be led by God’s Spirit.
All those led by
God's Spirit are God's sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery
to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by
whom we cry out, "Abba, Father!" (Romans 8:14-15)
And so today I praise God for His goodness, for His
mercy, for His grace and for His love.
You are my God, and
I will give You thanks. You are my God; I will exalt You. Give thanks
to the LORD, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm
118:28-29)
Do not be hardened by the lies you’ve heard, but rather be encouraged – Today!
But encourage one
another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be
hardened by sin's deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13)
Listen to “The Most Important Sermon,” available
here.
Download a free copy of eau de Cult, available here.
