Fuzzy Fur Coats and Putting On Christ



Mikayla



My grandaughter Mikayla loves to wear her pink fuzzy coat. 

She loves the pink. 

She loves the fur.

And she especially loves the way the white faux fur sheds.

When she waves her arms, the fur sheddings float around her like a dandelion puff.

And everytime she hugs someone with her coat on,

she leaves her love marks - the white fluffy shedding - all over them.

Whenever she spots someone new to bestow her fur hug on,

Mikayla's eyes sparkle and she dances with delight.

Her fuzzy fur coat hugs are a token of her affection.

An  expression of her love.

Mikayla doesn't realize that people may not want to be

covered in fuzzy white polyester hair.

So she keeps on hugging unsuspecting churchgoers and family members.

And she keeps on squealing with delight each

time she sees some white fur clinging to them.

A quiet reminder that they had been hugged by Mikayla.

The Holy Bible actually talks about Mikayla's kind of love expression in Romans 13:14

"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,

and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."

The apostle Paul told Christian believers to put on Christ.

To choose to wear Christ, in much the same way

that Mikayla chose to wear her fuzzy pink coat.

Mikayla wears her fuzzy pink coat because she likes it,

 and because she can sprinkle people with white fur.

Likewise, as Christians we are to wear Christ because we love Him, and

because we can affect those around us for the kingdom of God.

Consider what 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 says:

"For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing...To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. (King James Version)

The Message translation explains it this way:

"In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse.

This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No— but at least we don't take God's Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ's presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.

So in a sense,  as Chrisitans, we are to put on Christ with the intent of being so full of Christ's love that His spirit sticks to those around us just like the fur from Mikayla's fuzzy fur coat.

Because spreading the love of Christ is an important part of living every day with Jesus.

How do you spread God's love through the week?

What do you do to put on Christ each day?

Leave a comment.

I'd love to hear from you! 

 

Knowing God

"The whole meaning of prayer is that we may know God." -O. Chambers

Do you know God, the sovereign Lord, the creator of the universe?

He knows you.

He knit you together in your mother's womb. (Psalm 139:13)

He was there when you took your first steps.

He grieved when you grieved.

He hurt when you hurt.

He lovingly stood by at each triumph and failure in your life.

And more than anything else in this world, He longs for you to know Him.

To have a relationship with Him.

To be His friend. And to let Him be yours.


If you've never met Him, let me introduce you:

His name is Jesus. ( Isaiah 9:5-7, Matthew 1:20-22, Romans 14:10-12 )

I remember the first time I was aware of Jesus' presence.

I was 10 years old and playing outside with my friends. Halter tops were popular back then and I had one on under a button down shirt. I took off my outer shirt, to be like my friends, and immediately felt a deep sense that I needed to be covered.

It was a protective feeling. Like being outside in the cold without a coat and your mother and father bringing you a warm blanket.

I didn't understand at that moment that it was God reaching to me, but I knew it was something greater than I'd ever felt. And I knew instinctively that I needed to put my shirt back on. I learned much later through the study of the Holy Bible that there is a special safety and protection from God when one chooses to dress modestly and holy. (I Peter 1:15-17)

Not long after that, I started going to the Pentecostal church with my grandfather. The teaching I recieved there in the Sunday School classes taught me about God's reaching love and His desire for everyone on the earth to serve Him and be filled with His spirit.

I was 11 years old when I recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost as evidenced with speaking in tongues just like the apostles did in the book of Acts. (Acts 2:1-4)

What about you my dear friend?

When did Jesus first become real to you?

Have you yet experienced the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost?

If you haven't and are curious about what this incredible experience is all about,  I highly recommend a CD  called "Have You Recieved the Holy Ghost Since You Believed?" by Reverend Jason Sciscoe. It is only $10.00 and well worth the investment. You can order it by clicking here.

Jesus Christ seeks us out like an impassioned lover. His ways of wooing us to Him are always unique and personal. Have you felt him drawing you?
Share your experience with Jesus Christ in the comment section  so that others who are seeking may read it and believe.

Because you see, telling others about what Christ has done for you is a very real part of living every day with Jesus. (Revelation 12:11)

Love Notes

Do you remember your first crush?

Those all too common grade school notes that said "I love you, do you love me...yes or no?"

Although, I'd had a few gradeschool crushes, the one that is imbedded in my memory is when I was in high school.

His name was David.

In my 14-year-old mind, he looked like Elvis Presley.

 I swooned every time he walked by.

I wrote 'Mrs. David __________" over and over again all over my spiral notebooks.

I begged someone who knew him well to get me one of his school pictures.

All during my highschool years, David was the object of my affection - although I don't think he ever understood how infatuated I really was with him.

Oh, I dated other guys, even went steady with some of them. But none of them ignited my heart like David.

My heart was set on him...just as Jesus Christ's heart is set on us.

Jesus Christ has a crush on you that is way more than the strongest childhood crush you've ever experienced.

And He sends you love notes.

Consider what it says in the Holy Bible in Jeremiah 31:3:

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

Or in Hebrews 13:5, also in the Holy Bible:

"...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

According to the Holy Bible, Jesus Christ knows how many hairs you have on your head, He's written your name in the palm of His hand, and He's watched over you since you were a speck in your mother's womb.

If that's not love, I don't what is.

But just as the object of my childhood affection ignored my advances, you also can choose to ignore Jesus.

The choice is yours.

Jesus Christ, in all His might and power could force us to love Him. But then that wouldn't really be love would it?

So instead, He watches you and sends you love messages through the Holy Bible, through others around you, and perhaps even through this blog.

And then He waits longingly for you to respond. To notice His advances. To seek out a relationship with Him.

Why?

Because Jesus Christ loves you. Completely. Totally. Unconditionally.

His love is the most incredible benefit of living every day with Jesus.

Once you enter into a love relationship with Jesus Christ, your whole life will change.

Joy and peace will be in your heart.

And even when hard times come you will have a deep sense of never being alone because Jesus is watching over you.


 How will you respond?

(Please leave a comment and share with others ways that Jesus Christ has sent you love messages)