BradRiley.Org – Page 18 – A Place for Authentic, Mindful, & Healing Thoughts

June 6, 2016

It’s All About Love

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

The entire message of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation can be summed up in these four words – “For God so loved”. God created because He loved. God saved Noah because He loved. God called Abraham, and made him the father of all who would be redeemed because He loved. God gave the promised land because He loved. He restored Israel to their homeland after their captivity because He loved. The story of God and humanity is all about love.

Too often we lose sight of the Father’s love by focusing on the difficult elements of the many stories of God’s people through time. We often think the story of God is about disobedience and punishment. Those are both a part of the saga, but they are not what the story is all about. Just as there are consequences to sin in our lives today, the many harsh punishments we see in the Bible were as such. And, punishment is actually loving if the intention is for us to learn from our disobedience. But, if we fail to see the love of God poured out over and over again in the pages of the Bible, we miss the main point.

God’s love is from before all things because His very essence is love. All that flows from Him, yes even His wrath, flows from His love. As St. John tells us, “God is light” and “God is love”, and there is no darkness in Him (1 Jn. 1:5; 4:8). And, in the ultimate act of light and love He sent His only son, Jesus Christ, into the world, that through faith, all who will believe on Him may be saved.

If God’s story is all about love, then shouldn’t ours be as well? Is yours? Believe me, I’m asking myself the same thing. Every day when we rise to look in the mirror, let us remember how much God loves us, and let that love overflow in waves of mercy to a lost and hurting world; that’s God’s plan; it always has been and it always will be, and – it’s all about love.

Grace and Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Merciful, loving Father, thank you for loving me even when I am most unlovable, and for your just punishments of my sin. Help me to learn from them, and help me today to be a conduit of your love to everyone I meet. Let your waves of mercy overflow through me. Amen.

Image credit: http://www.hbcridgeway.org/sermons/sermon/2015-06-28/pm-its-all-about-love:-love-my-family

June 3, 2016

It’s Not Luck

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalm 90:17

Do you ever ask God to establish the work of your hands? Many times we get so busy in life that even though we’re people of faith we don’t stop to recognize all our blessings, and to ask God to add His blessings. Sometimes we act like it’s just luck, but it’s not. God loves us and wants to bless us, and He wants to do great things for us, but he also wants us to remember him in the midst of what we do. It is good to pray daily, “Oh God establish the work of my hands”.

When we forget to ask God’s blessing on all we do, and all we want to accomplish in life, we take the grace of God for granted. God’s Mercy is from everlasting to everlasting, but we should never take it for granted. And, who knows how much more God May do for us and through us if we learn to acknowledge Him first in all things, and ask his blessing more often (Prov. 3:5-6).

Today, won’t you take a moment to thank God for the grace He extends to you everyday, and the waves of mercy He brings into your life. You wouldn’t be where you are today if it weren’t for his grace and mercy. And even if you’re not where you want to be, that’s all the more reason to ask God to establish the work of your hands.

Grace and Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Father of all mercy, I thank you for all you have done, and for all you are going to do. Please establish the work of my hands in your kingdom and for your glory. Amen.

Image credit: https://zulu7772013.wordpress.com/2014/08/page/3/

June 2, 2016

The Divine Portion

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!

Romans 6:14-15

Could there be a greater mercy from God than to deliver us from the dominion of sin? Some would say of course it is greater to have redeemed us. Perhaps. But still, redemption without deliverance is a difficult concept. The beautiful part of God’s plan of salvation was not just that he sent his Son to die for us, but rather that He has given us His Spirit that we might live free of sin’s grip.

St. Peter spoke of this miraculous giving of the Holy Spirit in his second epistle when he said, “…by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” (2 Peter 1:4). It is an indescribable act of mercy that God allows us to participate in His divine nature. Think on that for a minute. Let it soak in.

Through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, which comes to us in all of life in waves of mercy, we can live free of sin’s dark dominion. As children of God’s grace we are to live and walk in the light of His presence. We are not to sin, but rather choose holiness. Each of us has a choice every day whether to give into sin’s temptations or to just say “No”. And, it is by God’s mercy and grace that we are enabled to say “No”.

Have you experienced this divine participation in the nature of God? If not, you can. It is the privilege of every believer by His great promise. Just open up your heart and let the waves of His mercy overwhelm you.

Grace and Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Loving, Merciful Father, thank you for stooping to our level. For loving us so much that you give us a portion in your Spirit. May it be so in me today. Amen.

Image credit: https://felwijaya.wordpress.com/

June 1, 2016

The Blessing of Blessings

“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26

Today I’m reminded no matter where I go or what I do, I am nothing without the blessing of God upon my life. The Levitical Blessing from the book of Numbers reminds me of His mercy. Who am I that God would shine upon me and graciously give me His peace. But, that’s the beauty of God – He loves us, even when we don’t love Him back. He can do no other, because His essence is love. The Lord’s blessing flows out to us in waves of mercy, even though we don’t deserve it. As sinners saved by grace, it is only with God’s mercy upon us that we live and move and have our being in this world.

The traditional Hebrew blessing was prayed over the people at the end of their sacrifice at the Temple service. As the priests lifted their hands to the Heavens they held their fingers in sets of two, kind of like the “live long and prosper” V Mr. Spock made with his hand in Star Trek. The priests touched their thumbs together over their heads and the blessing of God was to shine down on the people through the gap between the priest’s fingers, and the people bowed their heads out of reverence so as not to look upon the mercy of God streaming down upon them.

When I serve at funeral services I like to use this blessing at the very end of the committal of the remains. Today I will pray that prayer in a few hours from now, for a friend who died at the age of 51. It is my prayer that God’s amazing grace will indeed flow out in waves of mercy upon you today also, and as I always add to the blessing prayer – in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Grace and Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

O God of grace and glory, shine down your mercy upon us today and every day. Forgive our sins and lead us in your way everlasting. Amen.

Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcan_salute

May 31, 2016

To Forgive Is Human?

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Matthew 6:14

Why is forgiveness so important? Apparently, it’s very important according to St. Matthew. In Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew tells us that Jesus taught our forgiving others is directly tied to our own forgiveness by our Father. At first this may not sound fair, after all, we’re not divine. We can’t be expected to be as forgiving as Jesus – or can we?

Christ forgives us through His great mercy. He gives us that which we can in no way deserve. Think about it. Do you deserve to be forgiven for ALL you’ve done wrong? I know I don’t; no one does. But in His great mercy, flowing from His heart of love, grace comes to everyone who repents.

If such mercy has been shown to you, by what reason do you withhold such mercy from others? “Because I’m human”, you say; sorry, not good enough. You see, we don’t forgive others out of our humanity, we do it out of the grace He pours into our lives. It’s in His strength that we show such love that forgives others’ sins against us.

Do you really want to let something someone else did to you be the cause of you’re not being forgiven? Jesus knows we can never be the person He died for us to be, if we hold on to such feelings; they will eat at our soul, and make us bitter. We are the conduit of His waves of mercy in this world. His mercy will flow where ever we let it. All that stands between us and the life Jesus wants for our world is our own feelings eating away at us from inside. We can make this world a better place.

Go ahead, pray these words like you mean them… “and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Grace and Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ, son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner, and teach me to have mercy on others. Amen.

Image credit: http://readlean.org/2013/09/the-power-of-forgiveness/

May 30, 2016

May Thier Memory Be Eternal

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Romans 12:1

Today is a very special day. It’s a day we stop and remember those we’ve loved and lost in this world. We visit and decorate their graves. We stop and pray the oldest prayer known to humanity – Lord have mercy. But, when we remember we do more than that, we actually celebrate the life they now live in eternity.

We miss our loved ones dearly. Whether they died long ago or recently, there’s still that empty feeling inside that used to be filled with their physical presence. But God, in His mercy, gives us their memory to fill our hearts, and those memories will never fade or die – they’re eternal.

The waves of God’s mercy flow not only on Memorial Day, but everyday. St. Paul tells us that as we remember God’s mercy, we need to prepare our own lives for death. We need to offer our very lives as living sacrifices to God in worship. When we live as such, then as St. Paul says in verse eight, “whether we live or die we belong to the Lord.”; this is true worship.

May today be a day of true worship as we remember all who gave their lives for our freedom; those whose lives passed far too soon, and those who lived long and full lives. May each of them inspire us to offer our lives a living sacrifice to God.

Grace and Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord, and may your perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, by your mercies O God, rest in peace. Amen.

May 27, 2016

Timing Is Everything

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!

Isaiah 30:18

You’ve no doubt heard the old saying, “Timing is everything”. It seems to suggest that the outcome of events is based on our doing things in just the right time. But, how can we know when the time is right for anything? I’ve certainly done some things in my life I wish I’d waited for a better time. You probably have too.

In the days of the Prophet Isaiah, the Israelites were always taking matters into their own hands, rather than listen to the Lord. I wonder if we aren’t guilty of doing just that as well. St. Paul tells us we are to live “in step” with the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:25). Unlike the ancient Israelites, we live in the age of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Since the day of Pentecost, He lives inside those who will invite Him into their heart, guiding and directing, but we must listen for His advice.

Isaiah said we’re blessed if we wait on the Lord. So why don’t we listen better for the Spirit to help us through life’s twists and turns? The truth is our God is longing to be gracious to us. He is compassionate toward those who listen to Him. And, we can always count on Him to be fair and just in all our situations. If you sense you’ve gotten out of step with the Spirit, stop and listen for his voice. Remember, God isn’t mad at you and His timing is perfect. He loves you and longs to bless you. Look up! He’s sending waves of mercy your way to bless you in your time of need.

Grace and Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Gracious Father, thank you for your unfailing love towards me, even when fail to listen to you. Thank you for sending your grace and mercy to rescue me in my times of need. Amen.

Image credit: http://elevatedtoday.com/2015/03/23/18-photos-taken-with-absolutely-perfect-timing/

May 26, 2016

What Sin?

Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.

Psalm 25:6-7

Do you have some things in your past you wish you could forget – youthful indiscretions? Everyone does. Sin always has consequences, and learning from them is important. While we may not ever be able to forget our past, we can take comfort in knowing that God’s great love flows from His mercy and compassion.

Psalm 103 tells us God removes our sins from us as far as East is from West. The prophet Micah tells us He “cast all our sins into the depths of the sea”. Forgetfulness is a human characteristic. We forget many things, but then something triggers a memory and it all comes back to us. We feel the guilt and shame all over again. But, God does better than forgetting.

In His perfect character, once we’ve repented it’s as if our sin never existed. He doesn’t hold the memory of our sins against us, like we do to ourselves and each other. The waves of His mercy never cease to flow, washing over our us in what an old hymn writer called, “fathomless billows of love”. While we may not be able to perfectly forget our past, we can rest in knowing that in the Father’s mercy there’s no memory of our sin.

Grace and Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Loving Father, thank you for not holding the memory of my sin against me. In your mercy help me to learn from my sin to live a life pleasing to you. Amen.

Image credit: http://baresouldaily.blogspot.com/2015/09/sea-of-forgetfulness.html

May 25, 2016

The Pursuit of Purpose

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

2 Timothy 1:9

Does it surprise you to learn God has a purpose for your life? He really does. Some people spend their whole life wondering what their purpose is here on earth. Instead of wondering, we need to dedicate time to the pursuit of learning His purpose for us. Too often we get busy in life fulfilling our wants and desires, and that’s not all bad. God does want us to be joyful and happy. Yet, scripture tells us that before time began God had a purpose in mind for each of us.

I’m not just talking about a vocation or calling type of purpose, although that’s a part of it. Each of us is gifted by God with certain aptitudes and we need to learn what those are. What I really want us to see is that the life we now live, whatever it is, is by the mercy of God. Absent His mercy we are nothing and going nowhere. In and of ourselves we don’t know how to live well in this present dark world. But by His mercy, and with His grace, we are able to find and fulfill His purpose for our life.

Everyone’s life looks different. We are all God’s children; each of us unique in our own way. However, one thing that’s the same for all of us – His purpose is for our holiness. God desires us to live holy lives, enjoying His salvation. How are you doing at finding God’s purpose for your life? Won’t you begin with knowing that His purpose is for you to be saved, and to be holy? Even if we’ve walked with God for many years, were still not as close as we could be. His waves of mercy will wash over us, and His grace will call us ever deeper into the pursuit of His purpose.

Grace and Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Almighty Father, Your ways are so far above my ways, yet I know You have a purpose for my life. Draw me ever deeper into Your purpose for me, into life in your Spirit. Amen.

Image credit: http://unlearnedradio.com/2016/02/03/episode-2-the-pursuit-of-purpose/

May 24, 2016

Little Letters Make a Big Difference

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

Titus 2:11-12

Isn’t it amazing to think of the difference one little word can make? Over and over the scriptures make the point that God loves everyone, not just some. Jesus told his disciples to go into “all” the world to teach the gospel, the good news that salvation has come. And, just as the love of God extends to every person in every place, so does His grace.

God’s grace offers everyone an opportunity to receive His waves of mercy, to jump into the flow of His river of love. His grace is completely free. There’s no way to earn or merit it by what we do or say; it has “appeared” in the form of Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection offering salvation to all who will receive it.

Those three little letters, a-l-l, make the difference for everyone. No one can claim they were excluded from the greatest act of love the world has ever seen or will ever see. But, that’s not all. There are two little letters that make a big difference also; N-O. “No” is a word that we can all say when it comes to temptation. Because of God’s mercy given through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and the gift of His Holy Spirit power, we can just say “No” to sin.

And here’s three more little letters that are very important today, Y-o-u. It’s for “you” this great love, mercy and grace was given. Stop and breathe that good news in for a moment…can you feel the waves of His mercy?

Grace and Peace,

+Pastor Brad

Prayer

Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your only son to die for even me. And thank you for His resurrection life and power that flow out to even me in your waves of mercy. Amen.

Image credit: https://ajathewriter.com/2013/05/03/word-challenges/