The Industrialized Christmas

Posted on by stevenlucht1

As any good man would do, I was walking around in some different stores doing my last-minute shopping today. Typical guy… I know. I found myself getting overly annoyed with Christmas as I watched countless others running around trying to find that “perfect” gift for their loved ones. (Now hear me out, I am not putting down getting others gifts to display your love for them.)

Our society, secular and nonsecular communities, have this mindset that we MUST give out gifts of some kind. It’s rude or inconsiderate if you don’t. I always felt guilty when I didn’t get anyone a gift.

Recently I asked some people around the stores what they most enjoy about Christmas, most of them expressed getting gifts. Really? THAT is what you most enjoy? Yes, of course, you get the few that express the company of family and friends. However, How would you react if you came to the house on Christmas day and you heard that you were to receive no gifts?

The mindset we should really have is purely on Christ. It’s bothered me for a while that we have put “presents” above the “presence” of Christ. Christ came to this earth. Now, He didn’t just come down in this massive thrown and proclaimed His deity. (As He very well could have done.) He came down in a dirty manger. This was only the beginning of the ultimate display of divine love for us.

“… I have loved you with an everlasting love…”
~Jeremiah 31:3~

God loves us so incredibly much that He sent His only son into this filthy sin infested earth to cleanse us of our sins. Wow! I don’t know about you, but THAT blows my mind.

Romans 8:31-39

I’ve honestly not been the biggest fan of Christmas until this year because of the industrialized season. A dear friend of mine expressed that it’s the greatest time of year, because without Christmas there would be nothing to be thankful for! They couldn’t be more true. After they said that I decided to really get into the meaning of Christmas. Not the  presents but the presence of Christ. The very fact that we have a Savior that willingly came to this earth and died for our sins. Again…. WOW!

Maybe you are the few that TRULY focus on the meaning of Christmas. That’s amazing and I dearly want to encourage you to continue in such awe for our Savior. However, maybe you are one that tends to get caught up in the industrialized Christmas. Then I too want to encourage you towards reading what scripture says about the ultimately divine display of affection that God had unto us. Dive into the Word and read about this love. Read about the TRUE gift this Christmas.

Matthew 1:18-25.

The Blinders of Life

Posted on by stevenlucht1

Have you ever driven down the road and you see a horse and buggy traveling along the road? If you have, I’m sure that you noticed the horse (or horses) have blinders on. They will put those on the horse so that they don’t get spooked by whatever may be coming up behind or on the side of them. They are only able to see what is right in front of them.

Wouldn’t it be interesting to see a human wearing blinders? It was quite comical looking up pictures of such attire. (I see a new fashion coming soon) As humorous as it may be, so many Christians are wearing such contraption. Now, it may not be a physical blinder, but a spiritual blinder.

Too often my head can get the best of me. For whatever reason I will get in a frustrated mood. Once in this mood I will start to overthink whatever area of life that is giving me frustration or disappointment. From there, it only grows. I will get more frustrated because of my frustration. (Makes sense right?) My mind will start to believe whatever lie that has festered in my thoughts until I believe it to be reality. That’s when the spiritual blinders are put on. The reality around me turns into tunnel vision that looks right down on the dirt path I’m walking on. We see the potholes and mud puddles and forget to look up and see the beauty that surrounds us. It really boils down to ones pride and selfishness. One tends to see only what we want to see and not what God is trying to show us. In part, we forget who we are in Christ. In these times, I get thoughts of depression and negative self worth.

In our day to day lives we can get so caught up in the business. We quickly lose sight of our surroundings and all that God is providing. There are flowers flourishing and we see the dirt around our feet, He places paintings of awe and wonder around us in the sky and all we focus on is the cloudiness that dampers our day. He passionately pours out His love to us that we barely notice it because of our spiritual blinders. STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES! Satan loves the spiritual blinders, and he will gladly put them on for us. (Even though most of the time we put them on ourselves)

When these times of depression come, it’s like being in a small boat and it’s slowly sinking. I watch as I feel hopelessly fall deeper into thoughts of failure and doubt. Satan wants to destroy us in any way that he can. (John 10:10a) He would love to see us fall and to sink into these mindsets. Now the beginning of verse ten expresses the destruction that Satan would love to see. However, in the latter part of the verse it expresses to resist. Resist clearly means to block out or stop. He WILL flee from you! You have God on your side!

These blinders are just as easy to put on as they are to take off. Read God’s unfathomable Word, and get on your knees and pray. The greatest ways that you can resist those thoughts is by diving into the Love Letter from God, to get on ones knees in supplication and we should be in constant prayer throughout the day. What greater way than to spend time alone with God. Read about all that He has, is and will be doing in your life! I have a hard time being in a depressed mindset when I read about His love for me. Then spend time talking and pouring our your heart to Him. When we make a common practice of spending time devoted to God, we will experience a spiritual high that words will only dim the true breathtaking high.

Lately, I’ve started a habit that has greatly helped me in my day to day life. It helps keep these blinders off and be able to constantly see the blessings that God places all around me. Anytime a thought or lie creeps up into my mind I will immediately stop what I am doing and take a short time to ask God for help. God is the one that will give us strength to overcome whatever thought, sin, depression may try to creep into our heads. (Phil. 4:13)

So, will you join me in this quest? Life can get really difficult at times. Strive to keep the spiritual blinders off and to see all the blessings and beauty that is around us. God deeply desires a personal relationship with us! Take the blinders off and see what He is doing.

Know who you are in Christ.

A Sheepish Mistake

Posted on by stevenlucht1

It seems like any social media page or television show has some stretch to whatever truth is out there. (Some more than others.)  Not too long ago, I opened Facebook and saw an article “How to Spot Fake News”. We all know fake news is all around us, but how do we truly know the truth? How can we find fact in a world surrounded with fantasy.

In the beginning of this spring, I was on a walk around a small lake I live near. On this walk I crossed paths with a very unexpected guest. I called him, Mr. sheepish. Yup! That’s right! I saw a sheep standing in the middle of the trail. It looked incredibly thin with mud and its own feces all over it. I couldn’t help but feel some compassion looking at it. As I walked close to the sheep it quickly jumped into the woods and started walking off. I kept walking for a while and decided that I needed to do something and help the guy out. So I quickly ran over to the sheep. While it tried running away, I grabbed the back of its neck. Trying to get Mr. Sheepish to go forward, he wouldn’t move… So, what would any good person do? I rolled up my sleeves and picked the sheep up and carried it to the nearest road. At the road, I thought of a better idea. The sheep kept wanting to get away from me so I took my belt off and made it into a quick leash. Long story short I tried calling for help with my phone, asked people that drove by for help to no avail. I was completely on my own with this sheep for well over an hour. Frustrated and annoyed, I had enough and left the sheep at the side of the road as I walked back to my vehicle and drove home.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but that sheep would teach me more than I thought when it came to truth and love.

So back to truth, what is truth?

If you don’t have a  Bible, I suggest you get it out and open to John 8:32. Based off this verse we know that this “truth” is freeing.  Let us dig even deeper into this amazing truth!

“Teach me your ways,
O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.”
~Psalms 86:11~

God’s Word is Truth! I always imagine the Bible as the most beautiful written love letter between God and us. When we get a love letter (or a letter of any sorts) from someone we admire, do we toss it aside after just reading it once? Maybe throw it in the trash or in the depths of a drawer that we’ll never see it again? OF COURSE NOT! We cherish the letter because it’s from someone we dearly care for. The same goes with the word of God. We ought to take care of the Word of God and often get into it as a beautifully written love letter to us.

In John 17:17 it reads, “Sanctify them in the truth: your word is truth.” The Word of God is the truth! If we truly desire to know truth and where truth comes from, we need to get into the scriptures.  The word “truth” is Alētheia which in Greek is described as a noun. Why is this important you ask? Well, I’ll be happy to explain. If “truth” was as adjective in this passage that would mean it is describing another ultimate truth, and God’s Word would not be the absolute truth. Since “truth” is a noun, it is the absolute truth.

Here is my challenge to us. Open your Bible back to John 8:31-32. We are to abide in God’s word. Meaning to heed or accept and uphold the Word of God. Is our lives showing that we are in obedience with the Bible? If not, are you truly God’s disciple?

“This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.”
~John Bunyan~

“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone that isn’t”
~Charles Spurgeon~

Now I’m not advocating to tear and rip one’s Bible. However, you should be getting into God’s Word on a regular basis. Sunday morning at church is not enough time or effort when you are trying to pursue a personal relationship with God. It is an every day privilege. You cannot convince me you have a strong relationship with God and have dust on your bible. I can not stress enough the importance of getting into God’s Word!

How are you suppose to defend your faith if you don’t find the importance to reading the Bible. We need to stop making up our own faith in what’s right and wrong. The Bible speaks about the ultimate truth from God.

So, all this said, what do we do with this? When we are confronted, how are we suppose to respond?

The first way you could respond is in a sharp manor. The idea that “I’m right and your wrong!” It’s the same thing I did with the sheep. I tried to get the animal to safety and actually help it. That sheep wanted nothing to do with help. After a while, I just got upset with it and left. It wasn’t done in love. Yes, I understand we aren’t going to be going out and telling sheep about Jesus. However, just as the Bible says, we are all like sheep and have gone astray. (Isaiah 53:6)

The other way, and much better way, comes from Ephesians 4:15:

“Rather, speaking the truth in love,
we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”

 

Now, social media, television shows are going to stretch whatever truth is out there. In order for us to keep on the path for Christ, we need to get into the Word of God and seek the truth ourselves. Open God’s love letter today and read what He has to teach you.

The Glasses of Hope

Posted on by stevenlucht1

If I don’t put on my glasses in the morning, I can’t see very far. The picture is unclear and the details are morphed together. As soon as my glasses are put on, the details pop out and everything is clear again.

Where is your focus? Have you put on your glasses today?

Obviously, I don’t mean the physical glasses. The spiritual glasses. The glasses that help you focus completely on Christ. It seems that those glasses are the hardest to keep on for us. We tend to take them off and stay focus on just what we can see right in front of us. We lose side of what’s just beyond.

In my own life, if I don’t focus on Christ, I start worrying about what’s going to happen next and if God is going to provide in the areas that are always on my mind. I tend not to open my bible and seek wisdom but to try and stay oblivious to what God’s plan is by focusing in what is right in front of me.

Dangerous, I know. As Christians, we tend to do this quite often. We tend to only focus on the now.  We get worried about things working out or if God is going to provide for us.

Last night God had given me a clear sign that I have not been focused on Him. That I had lost my spiritual glasses… What a night… A quote that I have really enjoyed is by Billy Graham:

The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.’
~Billy Graham

 

Satan loves to use those moments for his advantage. When we get on our knees knowing that we are sinful and need our Savior’s comfort. It’s a beautiful bonding between us and God when we go to Him for help. Don’t let Satan come in and make you feel guilt and despair. These are not from God but from Satan himself.

Focus on the love of God. Focus on how much God cares about you.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

~Romans 8:37-39 (ESV)

Even though we may lose focus on God, worry like crazy, and fall into temptation, God will never cease loving us.

WHAT A RELIEF!

Like seriously, if this doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what will. God of the universe love you and cares so much about you that if you lose focus on Him and turn from Him, He will always take you back. He will wrap His arms around you and pour His love upon you. OH MAN!

So, what does this mean? How can we keep on the spiritual glasses of life?

It’s easier said than done. However, it’s fairly basic. Each morning I try and spend some time alone with God. Giving Him everything in my life from family, friendships, relationships, and my day to day walk. Open your bible and focus on how much God loves you. I’ve found that when I focus on God’s love and try applying that to showing others God’s love, my relationship with God only increases.

So, when you wake up tomorrow morning, remember to put on the spiritual glasses and focus on God. The hope and assurance that Christ is in control.

 

A Dusty Love Letter

Posted on by stevenlucht1
I could imagine most people have received a letter from a loved one they care very deeply for. Now this loved one could be a significant other to a parent or grandparent. What do you usually do with that letter? Well, you obviously save it either by placing it somewhere safe or possibly carrying it around with you.
I asked my father one time the story of how he met my mother. After a cute story of how God brought them together something really struck out to me. When my father asked my mother what her phone number was, she wrote it down on a piece of paper in which he still carries with him today. I think it’s a great idea and a very cute story. It’s sentimental to him as I know I would be the same way.
When I was younger, my parents always taught us kids that it’s very important to read our Bibles and to bring them to church. We always brought our Bibles to church. I found a couple quotes that I really enjoyed about the Bible.
“Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.”
~Ronald Reagan~
“The Bible will keep you from sin,
or sin will keep you from the Bible.”
~Dwight L. Moody~
I find it quite interesting when I look around churches today and notice that not even half of the people have a bible with them. It’s not required I guess, but don’t you think it’s important to carry with you? At least to church?
The bible is literally a love letter from God to you. It’s God expressing His unfathomable love from Him to us. Personally, I don’t like being apart from my Bible. It comes everywhere with me. I have a larger study Bible and another smaller Bible to fit into my pocket for when I’m working at the police department.
Now, I understand the thought that people would question if I read the Bible and not just carry it around with me. Absolutely! I can’t get enough of the Bible and what God has done.
On duty, I carry different tools with me, pepper spray, baton, handcuffs, firearm, and sometimes a taser. However, the greatest tool that I carry with me is carried in my right leg pocket… my Bible. It’s our sword and when we go into battle (which is our day to day life) we need to have our sword with us.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.“
~Hebrews 4:12~
Paul talks about picking up our armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-20. He explains that we need to be into the Word of God.
I know of a few people that can memorize more than I could ever dream to. I have never been the greatest when it came to memorization. It’s an area of life that I need to put more effort into. It’s one of the reasons that I carry my Bible everywhere. If I forget how a verse goes I open the Bible up and read it.
We need to start carrying our Bibles more. We need to get into the Word of God. Start carrying the love letter that God has sent to reveal His love toward us. Blow off the dust on your Bible and start carrying it with you. However, don’t just carry the Bible with you, read it.

Time Well Spent

Posted on by stevenlucht1

Where is it? Where are we spending our time?

There is a jealous God waiting for us to spend time with Him. Oh too often I neglect my personal time with God, time set aside that I build myself closer to Him. A relationship takes time and effort.

Time:
While looking at several different articles, the average American spends approximately five hours watching television. That’s JUST watching television and not including how much time we are on our phone or computers…etc. Fairly ridiculous if you ask me.

We are completely wasting our time! There God is waiting for us to start talking with us. Personally, if I were to be in a relationship, I would get quite jealous if she spent the majority of her day wasting her time and neglecting conversations and time with each other. That is exactly what we are doing to God when we neglect spending time with Him. He’s jealous of us. The Bible speaks about this several times. (Exodus 20:5, 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24, Joshua 24:19)

Why would we not want to talk with God and have our own personal time with Him?! It just shows that God just wants to have this personal relationship with us. He wants us! I don’t know about you but that definitely pushes me to invest more into my personal time with Him.

So many people say that they don’t have time, or it’s hard to work around their schedule to spend devoted time with God. Some even say that Sunday church should be good enough. Personally, Sunday is wonderful but I most definitely need to be fed so much more spiritual insight and guidance other than 45 minutes on a Sunday morning. Make time. I would struggle to say someone has a strong personal relationship with God and neglects personal time with Him. It’s like saying that I’m a really strong person, yet I only work out once a week for just an hour. Sure, you may be able to do a couple of push-ups, but don’t expect me to come to you for exercise advice.

Make time. It’s that simple. He made time for you, it’s your turn to make time for Him. If you have accepted Christ into your life then you have this relationship that you need to invest into.

 

Effort:
As it’s said, it takes effort to make something work. This relationship that we have for God takes a lot of effort. Those days that we are just too tired to set time aside and all we want to do is sit back in the lazy boy and relax are those very days we need to get into the Word of God all the more.

I very much enjoy my time of listening to messages online through trusted pastors that really challenge me and help me get into my Bible during the message. Most times after I listen to a message and look over my notes, I spend some time in prayer.

My weekends I try to be all the more into my relationship with God. I have thoroughly enjoyed putting different messages on my phone to listen to. When I work on the weekends I enjoy playing those messages and keeping myself encouraged while working. If I don’t work on Sunday afternoon that is when I take a nice long walk. Most of those walks last for four or more hours, but it’s valuable time spent with God.

Never let anything, and I mean anything, get in the way of you spending personal time with God. It is one of THE most important times that is very well spent. I can not describe the love I have for God on my walks. Everything in life seems to dwindle while my relationship with God goes to an entire new level.

Now, I will say, it takes a lot of effort some days. Today it started to rain and at first really didn’t want to go. However, it didn’t take so long for me to have that desire to want to have some personal time with God.

Find a place that you will not be distracted from your time with God. Preferably a place that doesn’t have any kind of electronic device. If that’s too much to ask then I highly suggest turning them off and putting them away for the time being. It’s way too easy to get distracted whether by the internet or communication with others.

 

All this said, I pray that we make it more of a priority in our lives to have a time each day to spend alone with God. Even if it means to say no to some activities we would have done otherwise. We have lost the importance in our alone time with God. It’s time we changed that and bring our relationship with God to a new personal level.

Redeemed…

Posted on by stevenlucht1

Being that other day was valentines day, I feel like this post will be quite appropriate.I’ve also been thinking about writing about this for a couple of weeks now.

So many of us single guys and gals can get so caught up in this time of year in not having that special somebody to spoil or be with. I’ll be the first to admit that those thoughts have came across my mind. We so quickly want a love from this earth to fulfill our hearts when there is  a love from God that no person could ever come close to.

…Redeemed…

What does it mean to be redeemed?

“The heart of the gospel is redemption, and the essence of redemption is the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ.”
~C.H. Spurgeon~

When I looked up the definition most dictionaries stated that it had to do with a payment that was cleared by a price. Thought that was pretty cool considering that we have been redeemed by God Himself.

I’ve had the opportunity to ponder this thought a lot lately. Being that I haven’t really moved away from my own bed, having been sick… It’s been a good reminder that He loves me. To sit back and just think that God loves me so much that he came to redeem me.

“In him we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.”
~Ephesians 1:7~

I’ve really enjoyed looking at this verse, even now when I am writing this. A key word that really sticks out to me is not only redemption but also LAVISHED. God has LAVISHED His love upon us. What an amazing thought.

LAVISHED!

I don’t know about you but I absolutely love the thought that God lavishes his love and grace upon us.

“waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
~Titus 2:13-14~

There is so much in those two verses. The phrase that really sticks out to me in these verses is “who gave himself for us”. It wasn’t a half-heart gift that God gave us, it was all of Him. My mind can’t even comprehend this kind of love. It completely blows me away. This whole concept that He came to this earth to give himself up for us.

“even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to sever,
and to give his life as a ransom for many”
~Matthew 20:28~

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all,
which is the testimony given at the proper time.”
~ 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Honestly, it’s amazing how much we forget the love of God, and what Christ has done for us. So often, our minds wander to the things of this world and what we desire for ourselves. One verse that meant a lot to me these past few months is Psalms 37:4.

“Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
~Psalms 37:4

This verse implies that if you are walking and delighting yourself in the Lord that the things that you desire will be what God wants you to have. Now for most people they see this verse toward that special person that means a lot to you, but it could also mean that job or that place you want to move to. If we keep this kind of love and desire that God has designed and has for us on our center focus, I do believe that he will provide with these desires in our hearts. We so quickly get discouraged as young adults that we don’t have a girlfriend or boyfriend, and we think that no one could love us. (Been there thought that.) However, we have this love that is burning inside of us. I kind of love that was bought with a price.

This Love is JESUS!

Let us never forget that we have this love from God that overflows into us. There are times that I get so in love with God that I just start to sing as loud as I can. That same kind of feeling that you get when you are around that person that makes your heart skip a beat and you just want to jump for joy because you were able to talk with each other. Yeah, it’s one of the most amazing emotions that I have ever felt, and only God can truly fill that emotion.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble.”
~Psalms 107:1-2

You see on facebook all the time, when someone gets in a relationship it’s posted all over the place. People are excited for them and they write messages back and forth to each other so that everyone can see that they love each other. (Personally I think it’s the worst place to put that information) Nonetheless they are publicly proclaiming that they love that person. I know personally, that when I am in a relationship I want people to know that I love her. (Not through facebook)

In the same way we need to publicly proclaim that we have this love in Jesus. That God has redeemed us!!!! My heart skips for joy knowing that I have this love within me. That I don’t have to wait to get married to feel this kind of love. We already have it through Christ. HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER! Let’s keep that in mind each day and I know for a fact that life will get so much more exciting. (It needs constant reminder.)

Right into the Heart

Posted on by stevenlucht1

Sunday mornings are by far one of my favorite mornings. Now don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy sleeping in, however this morning was a little different.

You see, I’ve been reading this book by Francis Chan: Crazy Love. This morning I really wanted to get through another chapter before going to church. There were some amazing quotes in there. As I was reading Francis Chan’s book, I couldn’t help but think about being called home. No, I’m not talking about my parents house or any other place that is close to my heart, but to my Heavenly Home.

The thought stayed with me as I went to church. Do I really desire to go home? I thought about it plenty of times before. The obvious answer that comes to my head is “DUH”! Then my mind starts thinking about all the things that I want to do in my life yet. The thought of eventually getting married, raising a family, being in the ministry… the list goes on.

…In other words, I wasn’t ready…

So, I went to church and sat down in the usual spot and looked up front to see that today was the day we were to take communion. I bowed my head and prayed that God would put my heart in the right spot and that I would be only focused on Him. It took a couple of songs but eventually my heart was falling in love with the songs that were being sung.

One of the points the pastor made was “Jesus is our bridegroom”. Now most of us have heard that so many times, but today it struck me in a different way. The verse he read with that was Ephesians 5:25-27. It’s a wonderful description of what Christ did for us!

I got up and took a piece of the bread and juice then took my seat. In my head the thought of us being God’s bridegroom overwhelmed me. That someday I will be with the one that died for me. The celebration that us, the Church, will be forever with our Savior.

All the thoughts of wanting to control my life and wanting all the things in life were gone… All I could think of was that I want to be with Him. It was amazing…

Have you ever had those times? Where nothing in the world matters but God! I couldn’t help but have my eyes water (obviously because the room was dry and I was deeeefinitely not tearing up…) and picture myself in the presence of God. GOOSEBUMPS!

I most definitely walked away that day more in love with God than I did walking in. I pray that more people feel the same way. To fall more in love with the one that loves us more than this temporary world could ever give us. Too many of us are falling into this world and not focusing on falling in love with God.

 

 

This past week we had a fairly good size snow storm. I decided that the day after the storm to go our cross country skiing by a lake. As I was driving down the hill going toward the lake the trees were just covered with snow. It was spectacular. Parking my car I got my skis on and headed off onto a trail into the woods.

…It took my breath away…

No joke. There were times where I couldn’t breath I was in so much awe of how beautiful it was. I’ve seen plenty of trees and woods that was just covered in snow, but it was as if it were the first time I ever saw this. I started giggling like a kid I was so in awe of God. Falling in love with what He has created for our enjoyment.

I need to have this same mentality toward Christ. When I come into worship and sing praises to Him or see the beauty around me to really start praising God as if it were the first time. To truly be in awe of God and to fall deeply in love with Him.

I can’t wait to be home with Him someday… to be His bridegroom…

His kind of Love

Posted on by stevenlucht1

This poem is, by far, one of my favorite poems that I have ever heard in transferring our relationship with Christ and relate it to a relationship here on earth. I hope you enjoy the read as much as I do.

Crucifixion Type Love Poem by Brent Rice

My biggest prayer is to love her right. I want to love her like Christ loved the Church, love her like her Father in heaven loves her, love her like the Holy Spirit loves her soul and love her like she was created to be loved but sometimes, sometimes my flesh tries to intimidate me with that kind of love. It’s like my spirit can rise from the depths of this corrupted prison with the voice of Abel screaming that ‘I have not yet loved her to the extent that Christ loves the church” see; I want a crucifixion type love.Every time I hug her I want my arms to be spread out on the cross and I want to die to my childish ways. And every time I look into her eyes I want a crown of thorns to be placed upon my head so that I will surrender my thought life to her honor. And I want the walls to be taken apart to be nail driven into my feet so that they would lead her with the authority of Moses, see; I want a crucifixion type love. I want my side to be pierced every time that we laugh together so that ill always remember that she is my rib. And every time I sleep and dream of her I want my back to be beaten with a cat o nine tail so that ill always carry her burdens for her. And every time I’m not with her I want to stand before Pilot and stand true to my relationship with her, see, I want those who have seen me to have seen her in me when we are apart. I want a crucifixion type love.

I want a love that will cause dead men to rise. When people gaze on us I want them to know who is this Christ that we speak of. And every time she falls I want to take her in my arms like my cross and carry her up to Calvary. I want men to mark me for not wanting to be like them, for not wanting to squander my love on various women but to have the passion to pour out my love onto one soul for all of eternity. I want a crucifixion type love.

I want a love that was pre-destined before eternity. I want a love that was birthed in my mother’s womb. I want a love that is willing to give up this world for her. I want a love that is immaculate. I want a love that makes angels wish they were in our shoes. I want a love that will make me pray to God and say who am I that you are mindful of me to bless me with her. I want a crucifixion type love.

I want a love that bleeds purity. I want a love that people will lie on us just to see us split apart. I want a love that will make me run away to a far village build a mansion for you with my bare hands and send you love letters every day reminding you of me, letters that you can keep in a book and spend time reading them every day. I want a love that will make my spirit pray for you. I want a love that will make me walk on water in the middle of the most dangerous storm for you, see; I want a crucifixion type love.

I want a love that my friends will betray me cause of my affection for you. I want a love that after we’re gone that for centuries to come men will aim to follow in our legacy. And every time I rise in the morning I want it to be my cross being raised up right for you, to stand up on the hill of my life and portray a beautiful sacrifice. I want to be placed in the tomb of your heart, the tomb that your mother and father built. I want a love that will rise with all power over adversity. I want a love that people will flock to see if it’s real. I want a crucifixion type love.

I want a love that shows my yearning for you. I want a love that even when we argue I still have a burning passion and desire to be with you. I want a love that heals, the kind of love that covers the wounds that were dug deep by the knives of infidelity and insecurity. I want a love that makes God get up and dance around his throne every time he sets His eyes on us. I want a crucifixion type love.

So, with all of that said…

Lord please give me the strength to love her like you love me. Like the way you didn’t consider being equal with the father, a thing to be grasped, but you came and gave up your throne for the filth of this world, and out of love you serve and in the same way let me serve her unconditionally, infinitely. So, let me man up and quite wasting time playing games and pursue her like you pursue your church because you have chosen me to be entrusted with her heart. So, let me cherish it like a jeweler cherishes a diamond, let me examine it and find out every minute detail about her worth, see, I want to love her

Like Abraham loved Sarah,
Like Isaac loved Rebecca,
Like Jacob loved Rachel,
Like Moses loved Ruth,
Like Solomon loved his queen,
I want a crucifixion type love.

So, into your hands I commend this relationship because I want to love her like you love your church. I want a crucifixion type love.

Head Over Heals in Love

Posted on by stevenlucht1

Honestly, I really don’t even know where to begin with this… this is focused more on the single men and women struggling to find what’s already waiting for them.

My disappointment and frustrations with people who call themselves “Christians” is beyond me. I’m sure I’ll get some criticism with this, but hear me out. I’m using examples throughout my day to day life and what I have been reading a lot of on social media.

Since when is it okay?? Since when is it okay to be in a relationship with Christ and think you need more. If you are truly and completely in love with Christ then you don’t need anything else.

Yes, I am definitely in favor of being married as God has given me that passion within me. However, why would I focus my being on finding a future wife when I could be growing in my relationship with God? We rush into relationships with people but don’t push to have a relationship with God Himself!

We are losing this emotion of falling in love with GOD! I want nothing else in this world besides Him.

I really enjoy asking young people how much they get into the bible. Most of the answers I get are “not too much” or “a couple times a week”. How is it okay if we are suppose to have a personal relationship with God, yet neglect reading his love letter to us!?! It blows my mind!

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am far from being perfect. However, I have finally understood that I am already in a relationship. And if I truly want to be a man of God I best get in His book and be in CONSTANT prayer to Him.

“pray without ceasing”
~1 Thessalonians 5:17

Did you know that if you have accepted the love of God into your life and are a follower of Him you are dead to sin and alive in Christ?

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.”
~Ephesians 1:7-8~

Look up the word lavished in the English dictionary… yeah it’s pretty amazing. Skip down a little bit:

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
~Ephesians 2:4-6~

These verses aren’t in the Bible so that you can just underline them and look at them once in a  while! There actually meant to live out! We should be challenged daily to have a BURNING passion to live for Christ.

Now I am no relationship expert, but I can see pretty well that when we truly follow Christ and keep Him (and only Him) at our center and to call in love with him on a daily basis He will provide a future spouse for us. So why fret over wanting to be in a relationship when you are already in one!?

Now I have nothing against this certain individual, but I saw this post on facebook where it quoted one of my favorite chapters in the bible:

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude/ It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all tings, endures all things.”
~1 Corinthians 13:4-7~

With this post the individual posted that they wanted a love like this. Well, we already do! God has lavished His love upon us.

I always liked looking at our hearts as having a hole in it. Now we can fill this hole with a lot of different worldly desires such as alcohol, drugs, pornography and relationships. Now for a very short time these instant gratifying desires satisfy this hole but will never fill it. The only thing that could ever fill that hole is the love of God. He desires to fill it and fill it with passion and love we could never imagine on our own.

Now maybe you’re sitting here reading this and saying to yourself “well duh, I already know all this stuff” but are you TRULY living it in your day to day life. It’s a constant challenge for myself. Is the last thought I go to bed to and the first thought that I wake up to showing my desire to be closer to God and want to strengthen my relationship with Him?

It’s time we fell in love with our Savior all over again.

When’s the last time you felt completely in love with God? When’s the last time that you couldn’t go to bed without reading the Bible or having a long conversation with God? When’s the last time you actually took time out of your day to have some personal time with God?

I’m not talking about ten or fifteen minutes. I’m talking about taking an hour out of your day and truly spend alone time with God. If the first thought that came through your mind was “I don’t have that kind of time” then you need to make that kind of time. He’s waiting…

I sit here and I can feel this overwhelming feeling as if someone is wrapping their arms around me. I feel God’s love flowing through my veins. I would never write this to condemn people but to want people to feel these same feelings. It’s that head over heals in love for Christ. I couldn’t be happier.

Let’s strive to love God with our entire being. I can guarantee that job that you can’t stand and the person that drives you nuts will dwindle away once you truly engulf your life with sharing Christ’s love.