I Will Show You Love–From God’s Heart to Yours

A beautiful song, “I Will Show You Love”, by Kendall Payne:

I will show you love like you’ve never loved before
I will go the distance and back for more if you just say the word

You will come alive again and all the trying times you felt,
the pain that you have suffered through, will never get the best of you
You will hope in something real that won’t depend on how you feel
When you call my name then I will answer, answer

I am on your side though the wind and waves beat against your faith
You were on my mind when the world was made
Trust in me my child, Trust in me my child

Walk out on the water where you have no control
So scared to death of failure you sacrifice your soul, please let that go

You have climbed an uphill road, You have worn a heavy load
You have cried through endless nights and nearly given up the fight
Watched your dreams like falling stars the heartaches made you who you are
Now looking back you see that I have always been there

Where you gonna hide? Where you gonna hide from Me?
Where you gonna go? Where you gonna go that I can’t see?

I have heard you cry and it breaks my heart for I love you so
I would never lie, this is not the end there is still a hope

Why You Aren’t Dead Yet (repost)

Michael Hyatt, June 11, 2012

Several weeks ago, I had lunch with a friend I hadn’t seen in years. He had just turned eighty years old. His mind was as sharp as ever—witty, inquisitive, and focused. He was also a great listener. When he did speak, wisdom dripped from his lips like honey.

In a point of genuine humility but uncertainty he asked me, “Michael, do you think I have anything left to contribute? Are my best days over?” Tears welled up in his eyes.

I admit, his question caught me off-guard. I thought to myself, Here I am with one of the wisest men I have ever met. He is a living treasure. I would pay for the privilege of sitting at his feet and listening to his stories. And he is asking me whether or not he has anything left to contribute? I was flabbergasted.

I leaned in, grasped his hand with mine, and said, “Jimmy, listen to me carefully: your best days are ahead of you. I am not saying this just because I like you—and I do like you—but because it is the truth. I can prove it to you.”

I then began to make an argument that I first learned in The Noticer by Andy Andrews. In the book, Jones, the personification of wisdom, makes six points to Willow, a seventy-six year old lady, who had given up hope that she had anything left to contribute. (see chapter 6, pp. 83–85).

1. God has a purpose for every single person.
2. You won’t die until that purpose is fulfilled.
3. If you are still alive, then you haven’t completed what you were put on earth to do.
4. If you haven’t completed what you were put on earth to do, then your very purpose hasn’t been fulfilled.
5. If your purpose hasn’t been fulfilled, then the most important part of your life is still ahead.
6. You have yet to make your most important contribution.

Jones goes on to say, “If the most important part of your life is ahead of you, then even during the worst times, one can be assured that there is more laughter ahead, more success to look forward to, more children to teach and help, more friends to touch and influence. There is proof of hope … for more.” (p. 85)

My friend, Jimmy, sat back in his chair and was silent for a full minute. I could tell he was taking it all in. Finally, he said, “Then I better get busy. It sounds like I have a lot of work to do.”

You may be old. You may be sick. You may be divorced. Your kids may not be speaking to you. You may be out of work. You may be broke. You may be discouraged.

But you’re not dead yet. And that’s proof that you still have not completed what you were put on earth to do.

Can You Tell Me Why Disasters?

Happypizza: My deepest and sincerest prayers and condolences go out to all those who lost loved ones and/or suffered harm, injury or any kind of loss during the recent cyclone in Myanmar and/or earthquake in China.

I’ve been following the news of the two recent natural (or as some say “unnatural”) disasters in both Burma and China, which tragically resulted in the loss of an untold thousands of lives. It is so sad and sobering to watch as the full scope of the desolation unfolds before our eyes.

It’s real to me as I’ve been to Burma and have friends in both China and Burma—who thankfully are safe.

I will not get into the politics of the disaster, especially considering the one in Burma where the horror of the disaster is compounded by the political situation, but I do want to write about the perceived “God factor” of these events or “acts of God” as natural disasters are often referred too. Especially the question: How could and why does God allow these things to happen?

It seems that natural disasters naturally cause many to lose hope and faith in God and I don’t want to judge why, having never personally experience a disaster and/or lost loved ones tragically and unexpectedly. However, when I hear the news of some major calamity I find it can strangely enough, strengthens my faith and hope in God!

You might wonder how I find a natural disaster to be faith-building? Well, first off it’s helpful to start with a belief in a God or Creating force of Love and a belief in an afterlife of love. This life is definitely (and I want to emphasize this point) definitely not the end!!! The more we hear from people who have died and come back, claiming to have had a Near Death Experiences, the more we learn of the true beauty and scope of love and life after this earthly existence. No pain, no fear, and overwhelming unconditional love and light, especially if one tried to live in love here in this life.

I believe that death for the loving is not something to dread and fear. This physical life/existence is not the final story and we can look forward to an eternal life/existence beyond this life! So I feel no matter how tragic the circumstances are in our current physical reality, those who who have passed on to the next are in a better place. In the loving hands of their Creator and what better place can you be then that? I know my thoughts are simplistic and a huge disaster is a lot more complicated then any one person can fully understand. Each persons life, experiences and circumstance are also different. There is often great horror, pain and difficulties faced by the ones left behind and this is something I don’t fully understand or have an explanation for.  But when I hear about a huge amount of people suddenly losing there lives in a natural calamity, I often wonder if they’re better off. Especially in cases where the people lived in extreme poverty, difficult conditions and pain. Maybe it was the Creator’s mercy?

For a compilation on comfort read here:

“God’s Promises of Comfort and Deliverance”

One addition–not long after I watched a report of both the disasters on the international news, I came across and listened to a old song titled “Can You Tell Me Why Disasters” written and sung by “Zac Lightman”. Below are the lyrics. I think the song’s message is as hauntingly applicable for today as it was when it was written over 20 years ago.

Here are the lyrics:

Can You Tell Me Why Disasters?

Why do the innocent seem to fall for no reason?
They say the good die young,
While the guilty go along
You must believe in Love
to truly understand.

It is the same question down through the ages,
If God is love how could he let this be?
How could he allow the poor to suffer
and then let the guilty go free?

Although death is not a curse for the loving,
it’s a gateway from suffering and pain.
It’s the mercy of God to end their sorrow
and a chance to start over again

Can you tell me why, why, why disasters?
Why do the innocent seem to fall for no reason?
They say the good die young
while the guilty go along
You must believe in Love
to truly understand

Lyrics by Zac Waxman

Please continue to keep the victims of these disasters in your prayers. Pray that help, relief and supplies will get to those who need it desperately and that those who survived will be taken care of and comforted. Please also pray for the commendable and laudable efforts of all those involved in the relief and rehabilitation work–for their strength, courage, skill, and protection while they are helping those who were affected.

It Didn’t Come To Stay….

A wise woman once said “I have always been encouraged by the words “And it came to pass.” When I am upset by troubles, I go to the Word of God, and I never get far before I read “It came to pass.”–an old English phrase meaning “it happened” or “next” or “once upon a time” But I read that phrase and interpret it literally, “Thank God that the storms of life didn’t come to “stay” but that it came to…”pass” –it passed over, came and left.

I found that in my “storms” of discouragement and despair I just had to carry on faithfully. And as I did, these things came to pass, and I was brought through them. The storms did not always end when I wished them to. I had to go through the beatings and the thrashings many times, but God always gave me the grace, and afterwards brought me through, comforted me, healed me, kept me and rewarded me—It didn’t come to stay—it came to pass!

So next time you are weathering a storm or you are facing one of those test of endurance—tell yourself that it hasn’t come to stay but it has come, and will definitely pass!

Here for additional reading