Jesus is Love.

Love is a commitment.

Jesus came to be a servant. He served to the end. 

Jesus washed Judas' feet.

Jesus KNEW Judas was going to betray him and still yet he got down on his knees and washed his feet. 

Love people like Jesus. 

Jesus is committed to love.

Be committed to follow Jesus no matter what circumstances are.

No matter our circumstances God loves us. Jesus loves us! We are his!

Love is service.

We have to be a light in the community.

Stay committed. Jesus is committed. God is committed. Stay committed because Jesus loves you!

These are my notes taken from the Sunday Sermon given by Pastor Robert Trigo. This is a powerful message from the Lord! 

How Do I Love Thee Jesus? - Romans 8:38-39

Cloud picture taken at Sertoma Butterfly House, Sioux Falls, SD                 Photo taken by Keren Shafer  7/4/2017

I too am convinced that nothing can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Jesus is Lord of my life. I love my husband. However, Jesus is my first love and I love Jesus in the same way as the Apostle Paul obviously did. Similarly, my husband loves Jesus first and myself second. This is the way it should be. Jesus is first in both of our lives.

These two verses from Romans have always reminded me of Elizabeth Barret Browning's sonnet:

How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
 1850

I believe Elizabeth Barret Browning may have been expressing her love for Jesus as much as she was expressing her love for her husband Robert. After all, she had read the New Testament and was familiar with these two bible verses. 

Psalm of the Week - 16:11 AKJV - March 27, 2016

In reference to Psalm 16:8-11 Matthew Henry wrote, "these verses may be applied to all Christians, guided and animated by the Spirit of Christ... our hearts and tongues may ever rejoice in him..." 

As I ride my motorcycle down the highway, I am filled with joy. 

In fact, sometimes the joy just bubbles up inside of me until it can no longer be contained and I shout joyfully into the wind. Thankfulness fills my heart that Jesus called me to be a servant for him and I get to ride a thundering V-twin motorcycle, too. Does it get any better than this? 

As a servant of Jesus, I must remember two things.

1. It's all about Jesus.

2. Jesus is love and I must show love.  

Verse of the Week - Matthew 28:6 AKJV - March 27, 2016

...let us remember our Lord Jesus is not here, he is risen; therefore let our hearts rise, and seek the things that are above. He is risen, as he said. Let us never think that strange which the word of Christ has told us to expect;...  Matthew Henry

I am filled with joy as I type this message. My Jesus loves me, he is risen, he is alive, and he LOVES me. Yes, I know I am being loud in typing capitals. Truly, I feel like standing on my back deck and declaring this out loud to the back yard. Yep, I don't care if I get labeled as " that crazy Jesus biker lady." lol...lol 

As I sat in church, the words "He is risen!" seemed to resound through my heart and mind. Tears gathered in my eyes as I thought about Jesus' sacrifice.

He was nailed to a cross and took the sin of the world upon himself. He took MY sin upon himself. Then, he arose just like he had told his followers he would. 

The angel that delivered this message is described as having "a face like lightning." 

Can you imagine the intensity of lightning contained in a face? Truly, I would believe his words,"our Lord Jesus is not here, he is risen;."  Did you catch the fact that the angel said "our"? Jesus is lord of all in heaven, too. He is a living presence. 

My Jesus is not dead - He is Alive and he is Risen! 

Verse of the Week - 1 John 4:16 - February 7, 2016

Love Your Church Family as Yourself

Church members are a family.
Through Jesus, we are born again into a family that has one common thread - we all accept Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives. Additionally, brothers and sisters in faith share a love of Jesus which should extend to each other. However, siblings in faith do not always get along.

Hurt feelings, angry feelings, and snappy words are all harmful to the family of God.
Guess who is thrilled with dissension among a church family? Yes, you know the answer - Satan, the master of dissension and deception. Remember the slogan,"What Would Jesus Do?, or WWJD." That slogan is a simple way for brothers and sisters in faith to decide how to handle difficult situations with each other.

In our heart, each of us knows what Jesus would do. In fact, if we are listening, the Holy Spirit himself, our communicator between the Son and ourselves, will tell us exactly what to do. At that point, it is up to each individual to decide if he or she is willing to follow the wise counselor's guiding, or not.

Additionally, the Bible tells us over and over that we are to love one another.
Let go of grudges, revenge, and anger right now! In the end, God and Jesus will judge the right and wrong of things. Love your church family as yourself and spread some peace, love, and joy today!

1 Peter 2:17 NIV
Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor

Romans 12:10 NIV
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves

Leviticus 19:18 NIV
"'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

1 John 4:21 NIV
And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister

Running to Jesus Like a Child!

What an irresistible smile!

Early last week, I stopped in to see my daughter and grandson. Ashley knew I was stopping in, but Ashton didn't know Grammy was going to be visiting. 

My little grandson sat straight up and a HUGE joyful smile appeared on his little face when he saw me step through the door. He exclaimed, "GAM!" and lifted both of his arms straight up so I could pick him up for a big Grammy hug.

What an irresistible invitation! 
I scooped him up and held him close to me. Two, little arms wrapped around my neck and hugged me back. At the end of the hug, I looked at Ashton and he leaned his head toward me and said," Wuv u Gam." My heart swelled and overflowed with unconditional love.

I smile and my heart fills with love and joy every time I think about Ashton's greeting.
My three year old grandson's greeting will remain imprinted on my heart forever! What a treasure I was given; the gift of unconditional love from my three year old grandson.  

This morning, I applied my interaction with my grandson to my relationship with Jesus. 
I know I am Jesus' daughter. My love for Him fills me with love and joy. When Jesus shows up, I am going to sit up straight, smile a HUGE, joy-filled smile and exclaim,"Jesus!" Then, I am going to run to him with my arms uplifted for a big, loving Jesus hug.  

I know his heart will swell and overflow with unconditional love for me.
Every day, I am going to greet Jesus with a big, joy-filled smile as I run to him in prayer and tell him what is in my heart. 

• Matthew 18:3  And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
• Matthew 22:37   And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
• Luke 18:16   But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
• Luke 18:17  "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."
• 1 John 5:1    Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.