Pearls of Love, A Preview
Poetry and Devotional by Regina McIntosh
Photo Credit: by the author
Pearls of Love, a forty day devotional, will be the fourth in a series of Devotionals by Regina McIntosh. There is a strong probability that there will be as many as 12 books in this series. Beginning with Pearls of Grace, then Pearls of Hope, then Pearls of Faith and Pearls of Love… expect more! I would love as many comments and reviews as possible. These are always so helpful and encouraging to anyone who shares their words with the world. Enjoy!
Day Thirty-Five: 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Like lilacs, settled amid bursts of thriving green, my feelings sometimes gush forth from my heart. Fertilized by someone’s kind words, (or unkind words), a memory, a song I’ve heard, my feelings explode around me. Drenched in this flow of feelings, I often speak before I think. Later, I look at what I’ve said from a more focused perspective, and I realize that I shouldn’t have said that. Or, even thought that, for that matter. But, getting back to the subject at hand – Do you attend church? My feelings of fear have found me during the oddest moments of life. When I was about to embark on a beautiful journey – get married, get divorced, go to college, start a new job, write a book. Fear has typically approached, somewhat awkwardly, when I would have expected joy or pleasure, wonder even. Just not fear. Yet, fear is what I felt growing beneath my feelings, pressing into me like the last time I experienced a big change or a big challenge. Like the last time something amazing was in the air, a breakthrough moment, an epiphany or miracle. Isn’t it so strange that fear can enter into the equation just when a breakthrough is nearby? Just when I’ve been given the greenlight to go, reach for my dream, realize the amazing in grace, find the way that God has paved for me – I hesitate. Fear grips my emotions and my spirit. I feel like I must have heard Him wrong when He said GO, when He said begin, when He said He was about to do something great in my life and my soul, when I felt the tremble of a truth bearing down. That happened to me a few days ago when I was talking to a Christ follower who told me he didn’t think going to church was all that important. “I can follow Jesus without interacting with church members, who you may see entering an ABC store a few minutes after the Sunday service.” He told me this with the same sort of skepticism I’ve seen in so many eyes over the past decade. While I’ve been encouraging church going for those who love the Lord (and even more for those who don’t yet), there are so many out there in this world discouraging church attendance. Because, (and it is surely true) there are hypocrites and even preachers who are only in the pulpit for the money they are earning. Fear grips at my soul when I hear this doubt in a Jesus follower and I remember that Jesus overturned those tables in His day. The fear, though, comes from a lack of words, an inability to tell someone why they SHOULD attend church – despite the hypocrites. But, oh, there is more. SO much more. There are so many in the body of Christ who are seeking His face, seeking His grace, following where He leads even if that means that they’re having to carry a cross into the danger zone. And, sometimes, that danger zone could be inside the church. How can I explain to someone that a hypocrite is surely a sinner, but a sinner in need of a Savior? It is the hypocrite who needs Christ to reveal Himself. It is the sinner (and I am one too) that needs to hear the words coming from the pulpit, words that are intended to bring the Holy Spirit’s precious conviction – and, hopefully, repentance. I certainly am afraid that I fail when it comes to explaining my thoughts on church attendance. I believe we need the church, the invaluable foundation, the roots of so many worshiper’s relationships with Jesus. We need to hear the preaching, the bible studies and the hymns. And, it is the hypocrites themselves, who need this more than words can say. I fear that I don’t have the words. But, I’ll say it anyway, without the church to instill in us, conviction and faith, the wonder of His grace, where are we to go when we need to know what it is to be loved by others with the unconditional love that was encouraged by our beloved Savior? So, despite my fear, even though I don’t have the words, I’ll keep encouraging the people I come into contact with to attend church. And, hope that Jesus looks down at me and sees that my greatest hope is that I’m pleasing God with my sincerity! A Prayer & A Promise: Dear Lord, You know my heart! You know my thoughts, what I’m thinking, how it feels when I fear and how it feels when faith in You overrides those doubtful emotions. Even though I know that sin will always be a temptation and I sometimes falter, other times fail, I feel the pull of Your light leading me to sit in that pew, where I feel the wonder of a love that is much stronger than any feeling I’ve ever known of. It isn’t a feeling at all. It is the choice that You made when You died on that cross. Thank You, Lord, for saving me. Thank You for reminding me that I still sin and I still need a Savior. I still fail You, possibly and probably daily. But, YOU forgive and forget. You don’t hold my past against me. And, for that, I’m always going to be grateful. I love You more than anything, Jesus. Keep leading me! * But fear is a fruit, not the root. The root is unbelief in our hearts. That’s why the greatest obstacle to a life marked by miracles is not fear but unbelief. * Wilkinson, Bruce. You Were Born for This: Seven Keys to a Life of Predictable Miracles (p. 102). PRH Christian Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Photo Credit: by the author
Jesus, You are my right when everything feels wrong You are my light when the dark sings its song You are my sight when I’ve been blind for so long You are my might when I don’t feel so strong Jesus, You are the grace that brought me through the storm It was always your embrace, that left me feeling warm You are the face I hope to see, the face who’ll reform You fill this place with a love that will never conform Jesus, You are the understanding that assures my heart and soul You are the outstanding who gives me love to make me whole You are the long-standing who restores what darkness stole You are the undemanding portion of hope that will console Jesus, You are the amazing that lasts throughout all time I’ll always be praising because You’re better than springtime You are the star gazing wonder that sings the rhyme In every heart, blazing with this love that is so sublime Jesus, You are my heart’s life, the reason I survive You are the greatest sacrifice, one who’ll not deprive You are the answer to all strife, the faith who’ll revive You’ll be with me in the afterlife, meeting me when I arrive Jesus, You taught me about living, offering me sweet grace You were always forgiving, even when I was a disgrace You have been my thanksgiving who I’ll meet face to face You are so giving that nothing on earth can take Your place Jesus, You are the story written inside my heart You’re in my territory, please don’t depart Your love is mandatory, beyond any sweetheart You are the glory that keeps me from falling apart Jesus, You blessed my soul with a love that is alive You make me whole, sure that I can survive You always console, the minute You arrive You’re my life’s goal, music that helps me thrive! Jesus, I’ll keep singing Your song, the song of love that is strong I’m still clinging to Your hand, certain You’re never wrong I’ll love bringing You my heart as I keep singing this song With rhythms ringing, Your lyrics tell me that I belong – To You, my precious Savior – the One who’ll guide me home!
