LAYERS OF LOVE IN COLOR

God has set the atmosphere for us to see the remnant and layers of love in color every time a rainbow appears in the sky. An eternal covenant has been made for humanity as a reminder to us that God loves us so much that He made Heaven and Earth to meet in all of His Glory beyond what we can see naturally; one must have a spiritual eye and personal relationship with JESUS to receive understanding. "I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my permanent promise to you and to all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will be seen in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with everything that lives..." [Genesis 9:13-15 - The Open Bible: New Living Translation]

Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons and showed that love by making him a "coat of many colours." [Genesis 37:3] Because of this love, Joseph was hated by his brothers that resulted in him being sold to the Ishmeelites and them lying to their Father, leading him to believe that Joseph had been killed by "an evil beast." [Genesis 37:33]. Despite this unthinkable, deceitful, and vicious choice of Joseph's brothers, the unexpected encounter many years later with Joseph reunited the family in extended love. Joseph understood that what they did was a benefit to save them in later years when the famine came. Had Joseph not been second in command to Pharaoh and in charge of all the land in Egypt, he would not have been available to help his family . "Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life." [Genesis 45:5] I began to think about conflict in my own family between myself as the youngest and my four older siblings. Sometimes there is misplaced anger transferred when perceived that one child is loved more than others. These barriers bring discord, hurt, and years of unresolved feelings. I encourage you as I do for myself to do your best to mend broken relationships within families when possible. This is certainly not easy because I have tried over the years and have not experienced the favorable outcome that I prayed for. But God, by His Grace and Mercy all things are possible with Him.

The Book of Ruth teaches us that people can become a part of our lives, although different, but offer blessings in ways that may not be possible for us to understand. Ruth chose to stay with Naomi, her Mother-in-law after all of the men in the family died. Her love was spoken and shown through this beautiful story of selfless love. "...I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God." [Ruth 1:16] Ruth was committed to being a faithful companion and caretaker of her Mother-in-law. This bond between women is seldom experienced today because the family unit is interrupted by many outside influences. May we adopt these loving principles from The Book of Ruth and cultivate relationships with the love of JESUS that can transcend to others in our lives. In the final chapter of Ruth, the union of marriage between Ruth and Boaz restores the family unit with an overwhelming love, hope, and new beginning. Naomi was blessed in her old age because of Ruth and the son that was born in the family - Obed. "He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David."[Ruth 4:16] JESUS is connected through this long genealogy because of Joseph, Mary's husband. The parallel of extended love to those who are not blood related through birth has provided for humanity the unconditional love that God has for people that allows us to be "joint-heirs with Christ." [Romans 8:17] Acceptance regardless of where we came from, but it is the who that we become that matters after being transformed from sinners, once separated from the Father, to being children of God because of JESUS. This divine order has established a relationship for believers in Christ that provides a birthright that will not be denied and has restored us to belong to a unified Family in Him. We are no longer outcasts because we have become "heirs according to the promise." [Galatians 3:29]

Such love from God should be intriguing for us because we cannot comprehend the magnitude of love that The Father has for us that appeared in the color of "Crimson" - Blood that flowed from Jesus that turned to water ("But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." John 19:34) to free and cleanse us from sin that we may be pardoned and be able to receive "Agape love" (unconditional love from God). "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." [John 3:16]

I pray that people will realize the power of love that started in the beginning of creation, extended through those we read about in the Bible, and re-emphasizing JESUS' love from the Father to us. May we be empowered by knowing that we are loved regardless of who we are and even if others see us as unimportant; The LORD loves us without conditions. The change starts within and is different for each individual to realize the image of who they become once accepting JESUS as LORD and SAVIOR. Remember to love yourself; the beauty inside matters to The LORD - not how you look on the outside. We are wrapped in layers of love because of JESUS and His Precious Blood that was shed for us. Lift up your head, forgive, love more, and pray for your enemies. Rejoice in The LORD and be grateful that you are loved by Him!

Additional Scriptures to uplift your spirit: Leviticus 19:18; Deuteronomy 6:1-5; Proverbs 10:12; Matthew 3:14-17; Matthew 5 (all); I Corinthians 13 & 14; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians: Chapters 3-5; Hebrews 13:1; I Peter 1:22 and 4:8; and I John 3 (all).

May you have a Blessed week filled with giving and receiving love.

Love-in-Christ, Apostle Joni A. Kindell

"And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald."[Revelation 4:2-3]