A tribute to my mom and dad

It will soon be three years that our lives were suddenly changed with the death of our mother. She was the glue that held our family tight as a family should be. We were not without dysfunction that is for sure. I have fond memories mixed with hard, chaotic ones. Our family was characterized by our love for each other. We were a loud, demonstrative family and there was always something going on in our lives. You never knew when something was going to arise out of the blue and then explode with accusations and fears. Quickly as these episodes would arise they would subside and calm would resume without a mention of the transgression or transgressor. Consequently, most things were swept under the carpet and very few issues were ever resolved. Nevertheless, we were a family that loved one another. My parents were married sixty-seven years at the time of mom’s death. What a legacy! We all know that their marriage was not perfect; it had flaws like most marriages do. They were committed to each other and also to their family. I always knew that I was loved and that I had a place in Pensacola I called home. It is still difficult years later to acknowledge that she is gone. I often want to pick up the phone and call her to let her know about some milestone in my life. Dad just never seemed to enjoy hearing things about our family like mom did. I truly miss her so much. My husband Nate and I had the privilege of living with mom and dad a few years ago. They were in need of caregivers and we spent a year and a half with them. I will always cherish those memories. There were good ones and believe me there were those times that were extremely challenging. Anyone who knew my momma would understand she was not easy to live with. She was loving, yes, but also very opinionated. Dad was always easy going and went along with what everyone else wanted. I am glad for that season with them. I have no regrets in my relationship with mom or dad.

Dad lived thirty-one months longer than momma. I think we all expected him to pass away a lot sooner than he did. He was lost without her, but he valued his life until the end. He had such a sweet heart and I loved being with him. I have such fond memories of my daddy. When I was a child he would always take me upon his lap and give me lots of hugs. I felt very safe in his arms. He would pretend to chew on my toes and fingers saying, “Mm good chicken.” I also remember him bringing snowballs (chocolate cake covered with marshmallow) home from work for me. He would smell of mint (doublemint gum was the culprit) and government buildings. He worked in civil service for thirty-five years. These are some of my early childhood memories that put a smile on my face even today.

Dad was lovingly cared for by my brother and his wife until he became too feeble to live without assistance. He then went into an assisted living facility where he was still cared for by my brothers, my sister and my cousins. He was loved and cared for and never lacked provisions, even down to his fruit basket. You all truly exemplified the love of God to our dad. Thank you!

Our dad passed away November 27th, 2009 just two days after his ninety-first birthday. He lived a long and honorable life. My heart mourns for him because he is not here anymore. I have peace even though he is with the LORD and with momma. That gives me peace and makes me smile. His eyes are dark brown again and he can see! His body is no longer feeble and wracked with pain. I rejoice with him! I still sorrow though, not just for him but for our family. I have come to realize that the family is no longer there in Pensacola. That era has ended. I am learning how to allow myself to grieve. I have no regrets, but I am letting the process of grief have its way for a season. I think that this is one method of dealing with my grief. To write out my feelings brings some kind of closure that is healthy. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes that there is a time to mourn. So, I am taking this to time to remember our family. Obra William Solice and Anna Catherine Channell who in part made our lives what they are today. You are remembered and missed sorely.

Good Morning Holy Spirit! Let your presence fill this place as you grace me with your sweetness.


Only one thing is profitable and that my friend is sitting at the feet of Jesus. He brings so much life to you and he refocuses your eyes on things that are important.

My heart is stirred to know you better.

Keep yourself still and know me as God. Settle your thoughts, your desires, and your fears for the future.

Think about my character, my unchangeable goodness. You keep me in perfect peace because my thoughts are stayed on you. At this moment, at this time there is no doubt only complete trust.

I Peter 5:5-10

Vs5

Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

To clothe yourself speaks of action. I think it is a decision to walk in humility, of course with the Holy Spirit’s help. The very thought of God opposing me is frightening. Think about that for a moment. That puts a little fear of the LORD into being proud or it should anyway. I like the part where it says He gives grace to the humble. Grace here is defined as being an empowerment from the Holy Spirit to meet this evil tendency (pride) and all others fully.

Vs 6

Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you

This is what we are to do. We are to be meek and unassuming thinking more highly of others than we do of ourselves. This is not being unhealthy and it is not having low self-esteem. It is walking in gentleness and meekness the way Jesus did. He is our great example of humility. He walked in perfect love towards people even though he was God in the flesh.

He will exalt or lift us up in due season. What does that look like? I think it is working things out for us in every situation; causing all things to work together for good. Also, it feels good to honor one another, showing respect and gratitude.

Vs7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you

I can hear the Father saying, “Child, throw it to me. It’s much too heavy for you to bear.”

You were not equipped to carry this load of anxiety, worry and cares. Our Father cares for us! I was thinking today about the crazy love we have for our new granddaughters. It’s very similar to the love we feel for our own children. I guess I never thought I could love so deeply. Recently as I was pondering my relationship with God, He broke into my thoughts. “I love you more than what you feel for your children and grandchildren. I know you perfectly inside and out. I want to meet you early and just spend time with you the same way you did with them.”

WOW! Doesn’t it feel really good when you know you are held in special esteem by someone?

He cares! What a great Father we have.

Vs 8

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

We are told by Peter in this passage of scripture to be self-controlled and alert. This says to me to not let my guard down.

Be conscious of your actions, staying completely submitted to God.

What makes our minds fuzzy and confused?

Different things to each of us, I am sure.

For me it is:

• Watching too much television.
• Spending too much time in soulish conversation.
• Computer time

I think anything that preoccupies our time and our thinking can cause our minds to become spiritually dull.

Balance is the key word here as well as moderation.

You do not want to be taken off guard. For me it manifests in impatience with my husband. Also doubt, fear, and unbelief are big ones that I have to guard against.

Why are we admonished to be self-controlled and alert?

We absolutely do not want the enemy to get a foothold into our thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

We are warned over and over in scripture to guard our hearts and our eyes.

Vs 9

Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

We have been given amazing and effective tools to defeat the enemy:

• Holy Spirit living inside of us
• Powerful Name of JESUS
• Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God
• Grace which is an enabling power from the Holy Spirit

We are not alone in our battles! We are part of the beautiful Body of Christ! We are living in the Kingdom of God with great Kingdom benefits!

Vs 10

And the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself establish, strengthen, settle and perfect you.

He has all the grace, as much as we need, when we need it.

Start asking him for it when you are struggling with attitudes or when you are tempted.

Grace is real and tangible! I can literally feel its power covering me when I need it. It is peaceful and has a sense of well being. It is being covered with a blanket of strength in the midst of chaos and stress.

The 10th verse goes on to say we are called to his eternal glory in Christ.

What on earth does that mean?

We are called to experience Christ’s power and goodness forever. We are partaking of this heavenly goodness now and forever.

That even though we suffer through various trials and afflictions we are called to greatness in Christ!

Jesus Himself will:

• Establish us
• Strengthen us
• Settle us
• Perfect us

Beginning now and continuing forever and ever!

I have incredible hope for my future and for yours!

An excerpt from my journal and a quiet time with the LORD:

My desire, my great hope is for you to need me desperately. I want interaction with you. My heart is stirred within me when I hear you say, “Father I need you!” “I can’t do this on my own!”

II Chronicles 20:12, 15, 17
O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. He said: Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.

Our position is abiding in Jesus, and entering the rest of God!

There is an authority that Christ has given to us as believers a few examples of this is:

Matthew 16:19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

John 20:23
If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.

Luke 9:1
When Jesus had called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Christ said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, Go and make disciples of all nations.”

I believe the church has become too independent of Christ. Yes, I strongly believe in knowing who we are in Christ. In fact my husband and I are teaching a Bible study on this very topic. It is necessary for the converted believer to renew their minds and become transformed in their thinking. This brings us great stability and balance to our lives. But, even as I was pondering these truths I looked up the great commission and found that I was misquoting it. I was thinking, all authority was given to me meaning the church. In truth Jesus was saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth was given to me, now go and make disciples of all nations.”

John 17:20-22
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.

We also walk in this shared authority because we are one with the Father and with Jesus. Keep in mind it is shared, not autonomous.

There are times when we are definitely called to intercessory prayer. I had a few days this week where I needed to pray in the Spirit and also was praying the word of God out loud. It was a battle coming against my mind. I am usually very stable in my thoughts, but beginning on Sunday my mind was racing with thoughts. Suspicion, doubt and fear were coming against me furiously. I began praying against it in the authority that I share with Jesus. I then had a good friend and my husband pray for me. Sometimes, I can battle and see results this time I needed help.

There are also times when we are to stand in what we know to be true, and let the LORD battle for us. This is entering the rest of the LORD.

Exodus 14:14
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still
Oh my goodness! How many of us can receive this word from the LORD?
This truly requires an incredible amount of trust. You need to know and become very familiar with the LORD. When you really know his character you are able to rest and let him take care of you.

II Chronicles 32:8
With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us fight our battles. And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the King of Judah said.

Let me say this again. Our position is abiding in Jesus and entering the rest of God!

In the past three years I have had two very difficult jobs. I was persecuted terribly by co-workers to the point where I heard the LORD say, “Enough” The situations had to do with gross injustices in the work place. The first job the LORD suddenly removed me from it, and the second job He removed the person who was causing the hostile work environment. She had been with the company for eight years, but was removed because she was so hostile towards me. Amazing, how we do not have to battle in the natural. God is a mighty warrior.

Isaiah 30:15-18
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’ Therefore you will flee! You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses,’ Therefore your pursuers will be swift! A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away, till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.” Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!


Psalm 147:10-11
His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Let us repent this day of being independent of the LORD. We cannot live in this world without abiding in Him! Let us repent of our spiritual arrogance. Apart from Christ I can do nothing!

Let us enter the rest of the LORD…ceasing from our own labors and being co-laborers with Him!

On November 7th in my quiet time, I heard the Spirit of the LORD say to me:

I have gifts for you today!

· Gift of discernment stronger than you have ever had
· Gift of wisdom so that you will have specific insights into what people have need of
· Gift of love, the ability to love without conditions attached….a perfect love

Discernment comes by the Spirit of the LORD. It usually is a strong impression about someone, something or a geographical area that will not be shaken. It is not a fleeting thought or observation. Impression is defined as what stays in somebody’s mind. Impression is a lasting effect, opinion, or mental image of somebody of something. I think the key word in that definition is stays; it is not a random thought that is quickly forgotten. What comes next is a question, “Holy Spirit what is this”? “What do you want me to do with this information you have given to me”? I have learned recently that it can come through our five senses. I have known discernment through the Holy Spirit opening my eyes to see and opening my ears to hear, but it wasn’t until recently that I have had my sense of smell opened to discern the Presence of the LORD and the presence of an evil spirit.

Last year I experienced this in a very powerful way. I was having a quiet time with the LORD when I began to see a moving picture, a vision. I was fully awake and experiencing a very intimate time with Jesus. I saw him in His priestly robes of the purest white with a velveteen rope sashed around his waist. I then saw myself as a small child running to him. I ran right into him grabbing handfuls of this beautiful robe and pressing my little face into the fabric. It had such an amazing smell of incense. I said out loud in my living room, “It smells of cassia”! This I researched later was the oil Moses was instructed by God to use to anoint Aaron as High Priest. What a beautiful picture God gave to me of my High Priest!

This was a connection to the spirit realm that had I not been discerning could have alarmed me. The Spirit of the LORD gave me discernment during the beginning of this vision and I knew it was good, holy, and precious. Why was it given to me? To increase my faith mostly is why it was given. It also increased my desires and love for Jesus. There is always purpose in discerning something. The Holy Spirit’s job is to give me a strong impression in some way, our response is to say “what do you want me to do with this”?

Discernment is given always for us to pray. Hands down that is its main purpose.

Recently I experienced the other side of discerning an evil presence through my sense of smell.

I was in a public place checking out at the register and I began smelling a very foul odor. There was the lady at the register and myself. I knew it was not coming from me, and the lady did not appear to be sick or in distress. Never the less it was coming from her. I discerned an unclean spirit. There is a difference between familiar common odors and spirits that give off offensive odors. What was I to do with this information? Pray for her once I get to a private area such as my car, always asking Holy Spirit what was that? If you are bold enough which I confess I am not, you could quietly ask if you can pray for her. I personally think it wasn’t the time or the place for such as that. I will say that I am being trained in this by the Holy Spirit. I am certainly not comfortable or perfected in this gifting. I am a student and am learning how to use this gift properly.

Several months after that encounter I did have another one. I was in church and began smelling a similar offensive odor. It was extremely pungent so I put my face down into the fabric of my sleeve to breathe fresh air. I began asking God again, “What is this”. He immediately said an unclean spirit. I knew the smell was coming from someone behind me. I did not know the person, but had shaken hands with him prior to the service. Also, no one else seemed to smell it. My husband was sitting beside me and did not smell anything. That is definitely a sign that it is discernment of spirits. If it is a natural odor other people would smell it as well.

So, again I am learning what to do with this gift. I did not step out and pray for him. He did go to the altar during the invitation and was prayed for. I have continued to pray for him also. In the future when this happens I will ask more specifically whether I should approach and pray for them. This brings me to the next gift which is so tied to discernment and that is wisdom.

Wisdom is a gift of the Spirit available like discernment for those who seek after it. It is the very gift I seek after the most as of late. When I say that I mean I seek earnestly after Jesus, because He has become for me wisdom.

I Corinthians 1:30
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

I desire the gift of wisdom because I know it will be an instrument in my life to liberate many people from the bondage that they are in. I know if I had been walking in the fear of the LORD which is the beginning of wisdom I would not have bruised myself so in my pre Christian days.

Wisdom says:

I am pure, then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you.

We are in such need of wisdom in the body of Christ! As we walk in a hostile world we need to be led by Wisdom’s cry. The voice of Wisdom brings us peace and clear guidance. A sure foothold is wisdom’s path. A peg fastened in a sure place is the fruit of wisdom.

Discernment mixed with wisdom is freedom! It’s all of the above! Discernment without wisdom is laying a wound wide open and then not knowing how to suture it. You must seek wisdom’s leading as you minister to the body of Christ. Jesus has become for me wisdom. Everything that I need is encompassed in Him. How do we receive this wisdom? Ask!

Love, love, love, there is nothing better! God is love. Simply and profoundly He is complete and perfect love. I have been a student of the word for about 29 years, and it has been my earnest prayer to be perfected in love. I have probably prayed that prayer more than I have prayed for my husband, which is saying a lot! One of my passions is to rescue the broken and show them the Father’s unconditional love! The only way that I can successfully do this is to be perfected wholly in love. When I didn’t know there was a kingdom of love, I sought after love from people who were as broken and deficient in love as me to no avail. I was trying to fill a place inside my soul that only God could ever satisfy. So, when I met a beautiful man of God and he shared the good news of the Kingdom with me I finally found the love I so needed! From that moment forward I sought God and His Kingdom with all my heart.

Luke 7:47
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven- for she loved much, but he who has been forgiven little loves little.

Maybe that is why I have taken hold of Jesus with all my strength, because I have never experienced a love as pure and true as with him! The more we seek after Him the more we become like Him. I am taking on his nature of pure love. I have my Heavenly Father’s DNA. I think the thoughts of Jesus because I spend time listening to Him. He then shares what He hears from the Father with me.

I Corinthians 2:9-10
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him, but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Having said all of that in regards to love, I want to tie it all together with the gift of discernment and wisdom.

It all flows so beautifully together!

We can not successfully bring Jesus to people without it being done completely in love. There cannot be any other motivating factors otherwise it will cause more hurt and pain to these precious people. When Holy Spirit gives discernment about a particular issue in a person it is for healing, deliverance, comfort, restoration, or exhortation. We then as ministers of this love need to ask Holy Spirit for complete wisdom on how to proceed in praying for this person. If I did this apart from doing it in love I am amiss, and will injure instead of bringing life.

Love covers over a multitude of sin, love also remembers no wrong, love lays its life down, love always protects, love always trusts, love always hopes, love perseveres, and love never fails!

So, go forth and bless the people of God with your gifts. They need a touch from Jesus, and you are His connection to them.

I John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.

What brings the deepest satisfaction to a man or woman?

To know that they are loved in return.

It is one thing to love, and to give love, but to have that love returned brings great contentment. We share great joy with the newly engaged couple that is bursting forth with shared love. It is time to celebrate! The bride exclaims, “I have found the one who loves me in return!” The groom proclaims, “I have found the one who has deemed me honorable and trustworthy. She has chosen me above all other men, and her love is singularly towards me!”

I am reminded of a child’s game. You send a note to the one you like the best. They are to check the appropriate box, Yes or No. Do you like me in return? We are so programmed to love and to be loved. Our Heavenly Father made us in His image and He exudes LOVE.

I had a dream last week of a very handsome couple with two children. They had come to me for help concerning their marriage. She was sullen and withdrawn. He was concerned, and inquisitive as to why she was not responding to him as she once had. The children seemed to be on the peripheral of it all. They were not really apart of what was going on, sort of on autopilot. The husband had loved and she had loved in return in the beginning, but this had waned over the course of seven years of marriage and two children. He still loved her but his efforts were not what they were as during their courtship. He didn’t woo her anymore.

There is a remedy for this problem that sometimes arises in marriage. It is found within the guidelines of scripture.

Ephesians 4:22-33
Wives submit to your husbands as to the LORD. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his on body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church- for we are members of his body. For this reason a man, will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery, but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

A woman and a man will respond with a reckless abandoned love when truly one is loved and loved in return. It is a safe place within the marriage covenant and the marriage bed is undefiled. Your children also recognize and feel the security and sense the peace that comes from this beautiful union between their parents.


Nate and I had been married about seven years when I began thinking about this passage of scripture. I remember being naïve concerning the power in this passage. I was thinking why is it that the woman has to submit and the husband has so little to do? I will never forget saying this to my sister-in-law Becky. She gently set my thinking straight. She said, oh Jan, the husband has a great deal more of the responsibility. He is to love as Christ loves us. Laying his life down for his bride as Christ did for his beloved church. It became an understood word to me. It had become a rhema word or revealed word. When the husband freely gives of himself to his wife she openly gives herself in return. He does not lord over her in a demanding way. On the contrary he serves her. The wives response is to give in submission as to the LORD. It is a beautiful mystery, a beautiful symphony of giving and receiving. I said this statement recently about my husband.” I know that he would literally lay his life down for me.” There is no question of his covering me with his love.

What does this holy union do for me? It washes me clean, makes me holy, and presents me radiant, without stain or blemish. How many times do we make the statement about the newly married bride, She is radiant! That is because she is! It is a beautiful mystery of the holy union between a man and a woman.

Submission brings beauty to the woman of God.
I Peter 3:5-6
For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham, following his guidance and acknowledging his leadership over her by calling him lord, master, leader, and authority.
In conclusion to the dream, I remember dancing a waltz with the handsome gentleman. I shared the wisdom of love for his marriage and it gave him great hope. He kissed either side of my cheeks and I embraced his beautiful bride of seven years and kissed her cheeks. They left as a family reunited with hope for their future. They would follow the way of wisdom and His perfect love.

In the dream, I remember seeing a large sketchpad with a breathtaking portrait of a bride adorned for her husband, but with splotches on her gown. This I believe is a depiction of humanity. Desiring relationship and so desperate to be loved in return, but settling for less.

(Post Script: Tomorrow 10-14-09 Nate and I will have been married 31 years.)

Hosea 6:6-7
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings, like Adam they have broken covenant- they were unfaithful to me there.






We were created for noble purposes. Foremost, to love and serve an incredible faithful God! We were not made in the image of this God to be less than powerfully creative and full of His love. I am convinced that our potential is beyond our human thinking, but that’s just it! We need to be thinking and acting upon the thoughts of God! I believe we are seated positionally in Heavenly places. Christ bought this position for us on the cross. Lets begin walking in our greatest potential possible here on earth.

The conflict arises as we walk here on earth. We are in a human body but we house a supernatural God, who is continually at work in us. People who do not acknowledge our God surround us everyday of our lives. Unholy media everywhere bombards us. Hence, the conflict I spoke of in the beginning of this paragraph. A supernatural, holy God housed in a human body living on earth. Wow!

How do we stay faithful to God? God was telling them how through the prophet, but
I wonder if the children of Israel ever really listened to his Father’s heart. They certainly were having issues with being faithful. I would like to look at some of the dialogue out of Hosea. It is so apropos for this generation.

Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge against you who live in the land; there is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the land.

Hosea continues with the account of the Israelites wrong doings, their unfaithful deeds. He then says in verse 6 that my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Now lets keep in mind that this is Father God speaking his heart through the prophet Hosea. Do you hear the Father’s concern for as He puts it “my people”.

There is much more dialogue of God’s rejection of the priests and the judgments against Israel. I believe that even through these judgments God was acting in love. He cannot go against His nature. He is love. Comparatively we discipline our children for their good and well-being, God had to bring a stop to the chaos that was going on in that day. A spirit of prostitution was leading them astray; they were unfaithful to their God. A people without understanding will come to ruin and God loved them and us too much to allow this to continue.

When you continue to read on in Hosea you will see again and again the Father’s heart of love. He is so relational that He calls us over and over to come back to our first love. This love is beautiful, holy, perfect and fulfills us completely. We were not created to prostitute ourselves and carry the shame of unfaithfulness!


Hosea 6:1-3
Come, let us return to the LORD.
He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; He has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us that we may live in his presence.
Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.

His plea to unfaithful man is simply to return to Him. He will then bind up our wounds that we received through joining ourselves with the enemy. You see the enemy of our souls leads us astray. The enemy lures us into situations, habits, and relationships that appear harmless on the surface. This could be a slightly unethical business deal or just spending too much time on the computer. Anything that distracts, preoccupies you and takes away your interests in the lover of your soul has the potential to become spiritual adultery. We are left feeling empty and discontent. Our Father who created us in His image knows exactly how to restore us and bind up our wounds.

God loves us so much and this book (Hosea) beautifully portrays His heart for us. He speaks of fathering Israel and Ephraim. He says that He took Ephraim by the arms and taught them to walk. He says I healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.

Hosea 11:8
How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over Israel? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.

He is faithful Father! He will not give up on his children!

In the beginning of this dissertation I wrote that Israel had broken covenant like Adam. I say not just Israel, but mankind has broken covenant with God. We were in need of a mediator who would go before God and plead our case. This came through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. This brought us into fellowship once again with God and into a new and better covenant.

Hebrews 9:15
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance- now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

So, the invitation is the same under the old or new covenant.
Return to the LORD!

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning.



LOVE is the greatest gift!

It cannot be extinguished when once given by the Father of lights. He gives perfect gifts. The love of the Father once experienced cannot be satisfied from any other source fully. His love is complete. It is completely good! It fills every crevice of your heart and soul. It leaves you feeling very satisfied, but also desiring more of His encounters.

In my humanity I do my best to love my husband, children, grandchildren, parents and friends, but I guarantee you I fall short. Why? My love is imperfect apart from Christ mingling his love with mine.

I struggle to love unconditionally. I believe knowing how to love is a learned behavior. Our parents modeled for us how to give and receive love. This may have been a good model or a poor one. Unfortunately we cannot choose who parents us. This is where problems arise especially in a marriage relationship. One person may come from a very loving and giving home whereas the other one may have been raised with little or no outward affection. I am not a psychologist, but I can sure see where that would cause issues.

When we come into the Kingdom of Love, we have a new model to follow. It is a perfect one. We learn how to love by reading about Jesus’ relationship with his Father. We also observe his interaction with his disciples and with sinners as a guide. He always operated from the position of complete and perfect love.

When we were children we modeled our parents love. Now as children of God we model our Father’s and our Savior’s love. So, how do we do this? Simply stated, we practice what we see happening in the word of God. Also, we have the Holy Spirit living in us giving us divine help. We are not alone.

John 16:7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send him to you.

John 16:13
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own (authority) but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

Jesus does not leave us alone with only his good example to follow. We have the very spirit of Jesus living inside of us. So, how do we utilize this power of the Holy Spirit?
I believe the very first step is to completely surrender to Him. We do this upon our conversion, but it is an ongoing process.

Lets look at these examples. I might say:

“I cannot do this on my own anymore, I need your help Holy Spirit. I surrender my will to your beautiful plan for me.”

“I cannot love my co-worker because she is constantly nit-picking and badgering me. I surrender this to you and ask for your divine intervention.”

“I cannot love my husband because he is constantly doubting me and questioning my ability to run our household. I surrender my bad feelings towards him, and I ask Holy Spirit for you to give me your heart for my husband.”

We need the Father’s way of loving people. The Father’s love is perfect and His love strengthens those who encounter it. This love is never fake or dishonest. It is true, right, and always good. It will change you as you surrender your will to His. My prayer for many years has been to be perfected in His love. I ask for this, because I am so deficient in perfect love. There is an amazing thing that happens as we begin to surrender, and also as we pray for that person we are struggling to love. Father begins to show us this person through His eyes of complete and perfect love. It changes your heart. Father may give you insight into why this person is so hard to love. When you experience this kind of encounter you go away a little more perfected in His love.

This is such a beautiful process of exchanging our humanity with his divine nature!

I said earlier that it is not a fake expression of love. Why? Because we have been supernaturally touched and our heart is made more tender towards the one who has offended us. Something truly has changed and we know it deep inside. If only the whole world could love this way, how different things would be. The love of the Father satisfies us deep within. As we are continually filled with his love our strivings cease. I am no longer demanding selfishly. I no longer desire things that I cannot have.

The bible makes a clear distinction between the acts of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control

I would very much prefer the fruit of the Spirit operating in and through me. This is not a pie in the sky doctrine or dream. This can be your life surrendered to Jesus. He wants to meet you and fill you completely with His love!