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She Still Calls Me Honey

She Still Calls Me Honey

A Tribute To Marcia June Starr Ballestero

Who Has Been My Loving And Romantic Wife For Fifty Years.

No man has ever deserved a love so sweet as hers. Fifty years ago, Honey, was the first sweet name she called me when we fell in love, it’s what she still calls me now. I was very thrilled then and today I still am.

It started from the beginning when we both told each other, “I Love You!” Somehow, before the conversation was over, my new name became, Honey. It was just that easy for her!

It was exhilarating to know I was a Honey to the girl I loved most!
I felt cherished. I felt wonderful. I wanted to boast!

I’d never been anyone’s Honey before. I started walking around with that new Honey–feeling and it created a tingling in my heart. I felt different. I acted different. I was different. I was her Honey!

For fifty years or so, whenever I’ve heard that name called in a crowd, I immediately turn because I know it must be me being called. After all, I now am the man named, Honey.

If I were a cowboy, the name wouldn’t have fit.
Had I been a Marine, I would have suffered a bit.

How does one become a Honey?

How did I become a Honey in her eyes?

By the way, what is actually the definition of someone who is a Honey?

Webster says that a Honey is “a person for whom one feels love or deep affection; a sweetheart, a darling.

Honey is an affectionate term of address to a romantic partner, lover, or sweetheart.”

“Something sweet, delicious, or delightful.”

“An affectionate or familiar term of address, as to a child or romantic partner.”

“To call someone Honey is to talk flatteringly or endearingly to.”

By calling me Honey…

She is calling me her Sweetheart.
She is saying I am her Dear.
She is confessing I am her Lover.
She is bragging that her Heart belongs only to me.
That my Heart belongs only to her.

Even though by now she knows how imperfect I really am, she still calls me Honey. There have been days when lemon or persimmon would have described me much better, but she still called me Honey.

“Honey,” I like that better than… “The Old Man,” or “Dodo.”
It sure feels much nicer than… “Quail Head” or “Bozo”

Oh yes, when our babies were little, for their sake, she also added the name of Daddy in her vocabulary when they were in the room.

But now, even though our children are grown it is still the same. In our private moments, when she could call me whatever she really thinks of me, she still calls me Honey.

When I am upset or stressed, my name is still Honey.
When I have no money, my name is still Honey.

I have no memory of her ever starting a fuss. Yet, even when I was out of sorts, or out of line she still called me Honey.

When I’ve embarrassed her and myself, she still called me Honey.
When I needed to be put in timeout, she still called me Honey.
When I had zits on my face too horrible to kiss, she still called me Honey.
When I lost my hair, she still called me Honey.
When I didn’t preach well at all, after church she still called me Honey.
When some old friends criticized me and walked away, she stood by me and called me Honey.

She seldom ever calls me by the name my parents gave me. I’m always Honey to her. What makes her use that word? What have I done to deserve such a sweet name? Even when I’ve wrong, she still calls me Honey.

How do you get mad a girl who calls you Honey and means it?
How do you not respond sweetly to her words of endearment?

When I wake up, she says, “Good morning Honey!”

When I walk in the door she welcomes me home with, “Hi Honey.”

The sweetest words I can ever hope hear when answering my phone is, “Hi Honey!”

It still fires up my furnace and turns all the lights on in my heart!
I can still hear the Love oozing in her voice!
I can still see the Love radiating in her eyes!
I can still sense Romance as it walks into the room!

She doesn’t throw that word around like a waitress in some cheap diner.
She saved that word for only me, the one she chose to walk beside her.

Some say when a wife uses the word Honey that it soon becomes expensive for the man because some time and labor will certainly be involved. But, there have been no Honey–Do-Lists drawn up for me by her. I draw them up myself.

The things I do for her are the things I get to do for her as my way of showing appreciation and saying thank you for calling me Honey.

She says it like she means it with her voice so soft and sweet.
It’s the word romance is made of, there’s nothing that can compete

When she says Honey, she means it. She says in a way that:

Softens the harshness of life
Melts the feeling of pain
Creates a spontaneous smile
Nurtures the weariness
Embraces the hurts
And Comforts the soul

I have stood on the platform before huge crowds and referred to her publicly as “Sugar Booger.” Some people smile and shake their heads because they are embarrassed for my wife. There are many thousands and more who only know her by that name.

She has never bristled or looked embarrassed in public when I spoke those words. She knows that is not the name I use when we talk. When we are together and I am looking at her it only makes me think of words gentle, loving, soft and sweet, so I try to say them.

There is nothing harsh about her.
She doesn’t speak unkind words.
She doesn’t ever nag.
She never starts fights.

Her touch is soft and gentle; her words are just the same.
I am blessed to be around her and hear her call my name.

At this major marriage milestone of fifty years and counting, my bragging rights are still securely in place.

My special name is sealed forever in her heart and mine. I am the man she calls Honey… and I absolutely love it! I wouldn’t change it for the world!

She has spent fifty years calling me by the sweetness name she could think of. Her wondrous love for me could never be matched.

So as your Honey, I thank you from the depths of my soul.
Your love has nourished me and made me feel whole.

No man could have been made to feel his wife’s love than I.

No man ever deserved a love so sweet as yours.

No man could be happier with his marriage than I am.

Thank You, My Darling Marcia June Ballestero, For Loving Me Totally Without Restriction Or Reservation!

You’ve Made Fifty Years Of Loving You And Being Married Seem Like Just A Few Days…

And By God’s Mercy, It’s Not Over Yet. Because…

When We Get To Heaven And Start Looking For Each Other, The First Words I Want To Hear From Another Mortal Is You Saying,

“Hi Honey!”

I Truly Love You,

Marty, (Your Honey)

Written by Martyn Ballestero

June 1, 2015 at 3:55 pm

Posted in Love, Marriage, Romance, Treasured Memories

Tagged with I Love Her, Love, She calls me Honey, She Loves Me, Tenderness

King David Is My Hero, But…

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King David Is My Hero, But…

When it comes to praise and worship, I am hard pressed to find a greater example and leader in worship than David. He is my hero when it comes to worship.

His writings gush out praises to Jehovah, and I love it. He makes constant calls for everyone of us to join him in praising the Lord! He never stops thanking God for His new mercies every morning. What a worshipper!

The Lord even said that David was a man after His own heart. Maybe part of that was because even though David was flawed like the rest of us, he was quick to repent. God always forgave him. Where then does my reticence to brag on my ‘hero’ come from?

His Family Relationships Frighten Me.

He showed love and affection to God, but I see little evidence that all of his family felt loved and nurtured by him.
It may be just my uneducated opinion, but that family flaw is what scares me as a father and a grandfather.

His First Wife, Michal

Remember the background story of his first wife, Michal? She must have been quite a beautiful woman.

King Saul, her father, offered her hand in marriage to any man who could kill 100 giants and bring him the proof. What young man in is right mind would go fight a hundred giants for an ugly girl? She must have been a trophy wife. David killed 200 for her.

The scriptures say twice that Michal loved David. Yet, nowhere is it ever mentioned that David loved her. She is never referred to in the Bible as David’s wife. She is always called ‘Saul’s daughter.” David never called her his wife, or said that he loved her.

When Saul tried to kill David, Michal helped him escape her father’s wrath. She loved him. When a girl stands up for her husband against her own dad, that is a major event! I see no sweet return of thanks from him for her efforts or love.

David then takes Abigail as his wife, after he removes her husband. When Saul hears of this, he goes and finds Michal and gives her to another man for a wife. That new husband was head over heals in love with her.

Much later, when Abner secretly approached David about reuniting the divided kingdom, David’s response surprised me. David’s only requirement to agreeing with Abner was, “Bring me Saul’s daughter.”

He never said, “Bring me my wife,” or “Go get me my wife and bring her back to me then I will.” He used the term… “Saul’s daughter.” That is not the expression of a man who tenderly loves his wife.

Abner forcibly brought Michal down the road to David. Her new husband followed behind her crying for her. Abner threatened him and sent him home. The wrong man was crying for Michal.

No wonder when David was dancing before the Ark of the Covenant with not very much on but a linen ephod apron, Michal was upset and maybe jealous.

What she said cannot be justified. God even paid attention and closed up her womb because of her attitude and comments.

What it appears to my unscholarly mind is that she was feeling like David was putting his physical anatomy on display by dancing half naked, and the young maidens in the street could see more of him than she was allowed to see at home.

David’s home life shows little evidence of romance. Everyone woman he was attracted to was married to someone else, it seems. She was the unloved trophy wife.

Abigail and Bathsheba were already married when he met them and fell in love. He loved them deeply, but not the woman he was married to. It was as though she didn’t exist.

David conquered many giants, but he lost in love.

His Children

Absalom

Absalom showed zero respect or honor for his father. How did that happen? Something went wrong in the early stages of home life for this to happen. Because of his treasonous behavior Absalom became banished from Jerusalem. David chose not to ever see him again.

Another son, Ammon was a pervert. He had twisted desires for his own half-sister, Tamar. He plotted with and took the advice of his evil friend to entrap her and rape her. He succeeded in his evil plan. The Law demanded that he be put to death. Not one finger was raised against him for two years.

Ammon, and Tamar Fleeing From Him

Tamar ran to the tent of her full-blooded brother, Absalom. Most girls would run to their father for protection and safety, but not her. Why? Was it because she didn’t feel protected him? I don’t know for sure, but that is my guess.

Two years pass and Absalom waits for his father to defend his daughter’s honor. David doesn’t.

Absalom then takes matters into his own hands and sees to it that Ammon is killed. David then mourns for Ammon and it appears Tamar is the second-class citizen, and still unloved. Her father never defended her. David never allowed the law to punish his son Ammon for what he did to Tamar.

It seems that David was never there for his family when they needed him.

My Family

Information and stories like this frighten me. In my mind, the Church, and this Holy Ghost filled life is the greatest thing in the world. Family is the next greatest gift of God I can think of.

I Ask Myself, “Do I Make My Wife Feel Cherished? Or, Is My Life All About Me?”

I really strive to make a conscious effort to make sure my wife feels cherished. My life is supposed to be about her and my family, not just about me.

In my loving God, going to His house, and serving Him, I never want to ever forget about the wonderful wife He gave me.

I am a husband who is still head over heals in love with my beautiful wife after all these years. I feel the desire to tell her often every day that I love her, and need her.

I Ask Myself, “Do I Make My Children Feel Cherished? Or, Is My Life All About Me?”

I am the father, the example to and defender of the five most wonderful children in the world. I am a blessed father. My love for them is not defendant upon their behavior. I love without reservation. Even if I don’t approve of their actions, they know that they are still loved.

I am Papa to fourteen and soon to be fifteen of the best Grandchildren a man could ever hope to have.

No matter what happens to them, they know that Papa will always be there for them. I often go overboard with sweet words and affection.

My Bottom Line

When to a wayward child I close the door to my house, more often than not, I have just closed the door to the church as well. My heart may break and I may cry watching them self-destruct and hurt, yet my heart and my door is always open to them.

Where Do Your Children Go For Help, To You, Or To Others?

Dad? Fathers will always be remembered and maybe despised for their lack of love. A wise father, even through heartache and tears, shows love to his family especially when they hurt.

A dad doesn’t have to be a king to be loved and honored. Even loving dads that are paupers are placed on the family pedestals. Just show them that you love them and even say, “I’m sorry” when you need to, and your family will think you’re the best.

I am greatly flawed as a man, a preacher, a husband, a father, a papa, and a friend. Yet, I have no reservation in showing praise and affection to the Lord, or to my precious family!

Today as always, I choose to express my total love and affection to Jesus Christ.

Today as always, I choose to express my total love and affection to my wife and family. If, (God forbid) they ever stray away from the Lord, I don’t want to be the cause. I have no ‘throw-away’ children.

Now Dad, Go Wrap Your Arms Around Your Family Like You Mean It And Love Them!

It Matters Not That The Whole World Sees You As A King,

If Your Wife And Your Children Despise You.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

September 16, 2014 at 11:52 am

Posted in Family, Love, Marriage, Mercy, Romance

Tagged with Discarded Children, Love, Unloved Wives

A Nursing Father

Happy Birthday Marisa Ballestero – Hartzell

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Happy Birthday Marisa Ballestero – Hartzell

From the very first moment I laid eyes on you and held you in my arms, I was smitten! A daddy will cherish baby moments like those forever. I have.

I’ve loved you from that moment on!

I enjoyed holding you in my arms, and selfishly wanted those baby moments to never end. You were absolutely gorgeous then, and if possible, even more now!

No father could be more proud of his daughter than I am of mine. Your beauty and grace became legendary in your youth. You are the word ‘Hospitality’ wrapped up in a lovely dress.

Your creative talents and abilities never cease to amaze everyone that knows you. Especially me! You excel at everything you attempt. You have never stopped making your old dad proud!

I know for a fact too, that you are the Second Best Cook in the world. (You already know about your Mom. J)

How blessed your husband and children are! How blessed your Mom and I are!

I watch you sing and worship in church with all your heart and I thank God you’re my girl.
I look at you living modestly in an immodest world, and I thank God you’re my girl.
I see how tender and loving you are with your family and friends, and I thank God you’re my girl.
I see the wonderful things you do as a mother and homemaker, and I thank God you’re my girl.
When there is fun and laughter in the building, I hear your voice in the middle of the festivities, and I thank God you’re my girl.
I know how loving, faithful, supportive, and complimentary you are to your husband, and I thank God you’re my girl.
Every time I pick up the phone and hear your sweet voice saying, “I love you Daddy!” I thank God you’re my girl!

I love You Marisa!

Have The Happiest Of Birthdays

Written by Martyn Ballestero

May 2, 2013 at 10:02 am

Posted in Love

Tagged with Daughters, Happy Birthday, Love

Everyone Counts Or No One Counts

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Everyone Counts Or No One Counts

1. That was what the Homicide Detective told himself as he looked at the pictures of the dead street-walker. Some people were glad she was off the streets. Cops had busted her many times over the years for solicitation. Her rap sheet was about as long as her arm.

He certainly did not approve of her lifestyle. But just because she had lived on the streets didn’t mean she didn’t deserve justice. He would do his best to find her killer.

The ‘perp’ was still out there. He looked at the cold case file again. He reread the files that recorded all the initial investigating efforts on her case, hoping to find a clue.

No one else in the department seemed to care about finding her killer now. It had been eight years, but that didn’t matter. He wasn’t going to give up. “Everyone counts or no one counts.” That was his motto.

2. The Sunday School Bus Captain from The First Pentecostal Church and her team pulled up into The Richland Heights’ parking lot. The church name was prominently displayed on the side of the bus.

Some of the older church members had given her disapproving stares last Sunday because she had brought a big load of children from these projects.

One Sunday School Teacher had resigned because she resented the ‘low income’ people coming to their fancy new church. After all, this was a congregation whose members had a lot of money. Some argued that influential people may not come now, because of these undesirables. Besides, the children were wild and out of control. “Another good reason not to bring them here,” someone had said.

The pastor accepted the Teacher’s resignation. He told her, the Bus Captain, and the whole congregation, “Everyone counts or no one counts.” The Bus Captain agreed. That was why she was back, trying to fill up her bus again this week.

3. Jesus hung on the Cross and looked at the throng gathered there. These were the ones He was dying for. Some were mocking and taunting Him. He knew their hearts. The actually hated Him and wished Him dead.

Standing there too, were some of His followers. His Disciples, and His Mother stood close by. They mourned. Some had tears running down their cheeks.

Others just stood there uncaring. They watched Him without any reaction.

His faithful believers and those who rejected Him surrounded him now. The sinner and the righteous believer stood there together, shoulder to shoulder.

He was dying in their place. He was their substitute. He was suffering this punishment of all sinners. Most didn’t even appreciate what He was doing for them. But He was not willing that any of them should perish. Salvation was for everyone.

He Knew, “Everyone Counts Or No One Counts.”

John 3:16 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.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

November 4, 2011 at 1:42 am

Posted in Love, Personal Evangelism, Salvation

Tagged with Love, Salvation

The Unwanted Girls

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The Unwanted Girls

The news story told of 285 young Indian girls that had chosen new names.

“Nakusa” or “Nakushi” (two variations of the Hindu word meaning “unwanted”) were among the names abandoned in an effort to promote their self-worth.

“Now in school, my classmates and friends will be calling me this new name, and that makes me very happy,” a 15-year-old girl told the AP after the ceremony. The teenager was formerly named Nakusa by her disappointed grandfather, but chose to be called “Ashmita,” which translates to “very tough” in Hindi.”

Girls hold certificates stating their new official names during a renaming ceremony in Satara, India, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011. Almost 300 Indian girls known officially as "Unwanted" have traded their birth names for a fresh start in life

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/10/24/unwanted-indian-girls-get-new-start-in-naming-ceremony/

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Reading this story made me very sad. Their culture devalues women. An unborn baby girl might well be aborted if the parents knew its gender. It’s heart breaking to me. The very thought, is unthinkable in my family.

I have been blessed more than most men to have been surrounded all my life by loving and amazing women. Their lives are blessed of God. My life has been blessed to the highest level because of them.

In my family, the women and girls are cherished, and loved. They are also respected, listened to, and honored. I always want them to know that!

Each of the married women love and honor their husbands and treat them like kings. No wonder each husband finds it easy to treat his wife like a queen and cherish her.

The daughters love and honor their fathers. They treat him with great respect. They in turn are loved and doted on. They have never felt unwanted, but rather are treated as if they were a princess.

The same is true for all the grand daughters.

It would be a near impossibility to find a family that loves it’s women more than the Ballestero family loves theirs.

With all of the above in mind, today I wish to stop and honor the women in my world.

I want to tell all of you that I love you, I honor you, and I cherish you, and I am proud of you. You all have me forever wrapped around your little fingers. I have you wrapped around my heart.

You are so gifted and talented. You are:

Singers
Song Writers
Musicians
Music Teachers
Choir Leader
Speakers
Writers
Authors
School Teachers
Recording Artists
Artistic
Designers
Business Owners
Leaders
Beautiful
Loving
Nurturing
Tender
intelligent
The Best Cooks In The World.
The Best Mothers In The World.
The Best Wives In The World.
And… You really love the Lord.
(This list could go on awhile…)

You might often be embarrassed by me, but you will never be unwanted! I love you and pray God richest blessings on you in all you do! There will never be such a thing as an unwanted girl in my family!

Let me show my readers a picture or two of why I am such a blessed man!

My Mom, Mother-in-law, Wife, Daughter, Daughters-in-law, Grand Daughters, Sisters, Sisters-in-law and Nieces are shown below. Besides all these, there are my wonderful cousins, close friends and “adopted” family members.

: My Mother – Content Faith Ballestero

: My Mother

: My “Other” Mother – Marian June Davis

: Mom Davis

: My Wife – Marcia Starr Ballestero

: Marcia & Marty Ballestero

: My Daughter – Marisa Ballestero Hartzell

: Pastor Brandon & Marisa Hartzell

: My DIL – Kim Elrod Ballestero

: Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero

: My DIL – Christy Huntley Ballestero

: Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero

: My DIL – Courtney Phebus Ballestero

: Pastor Martyn II & Courtney Ballestero

: My DIL – Jasmine Robinson Ballestero

: Andy & Jasmine Ballestero

: Grand Daughter – Kalyx Ballestero

: Grand Daughter – Christyana Ballestero

: Grand Daughter – Chloe Ballestero

: Grand Daughter – Ainsley Hartzell

: Sister – Beverly Anne Ballestero

: Sister – Carlene Branham

: Sister – Ramona Yandris

: Pastor Nathan & Ramona Yandris

: Sister – Nila Marxer

: Rev. Eric & Nila Marxer

: My SIL – Alexa Starr Olson

: Pastor Rick & Alexa Olson

: My SIL – Rebecca Starr Trammell

: Pastor David & Rebecca Trammell

: My SIL – Priscilla Starr Spears

: Pastor Curtis & Priscilla Spears

: My SIL – Sara Starr Copple

: Pastor Tom & Sara Copple

: Pastor Royce & Step-SIL Glenna Davis Walker

: Carlene, Nila, Ramona, seated – Martyn

: Priscilla, Mom Davis, Marcia, Alexa, Rebecca, Sara

: Niece – Stacy Branham

: Niece – Elisha Yandris

: Niece – Erica Marxer

: Niece – Shauna Olson

: Niece – Elizabeth Olson

: Niece – Lindsay & Aaron Olson

: Niece – Farrah Trammell Erwin

: Niece – Heidi Trammell

: Niece – Britt Spears

: Niece – Charity Spears

: Niece – Natalie Spears Colegrove

: Niece – Michelle Hutchison

: Niece – Sharayah Copple

Every One Of These Ladies Are Wanted!!

It don’t get any better than this. I, my friend, am a blessed man!

Written by Martyn Ballestero

October 28, 2011 at 1:10 am

Posted in Family, Honor, Love, Marriage, Mother, Pride, Thankfulness, Treasured Memories

Tagged with Family, Love

All He Ever Wanted, Was Someone To Love Him

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All He Ever Wanted, Was Someone To Love Him

Proverbs 30:18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

Proverbs 30:19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

He had it all.

Actually, He had everything.

Well, He had everything, except one thing.

He had no one to love Him.

He had Angels who praised Him continuously.

He had Angels who did His bidding without question.

But He had no one to love Him.

He had no one to dote on Him.

He had received honor before.

He had received praise before.

But He had never been loved before.

He had never seen love demonstrated.

He had never seen love displayed.

He had never seen love expressed or shown.

He had never seen romance before.

He understood things like physics, gravity, light, sound, space travel and how to make something out of nothing.

He understood emotions like rebellion, pride and obedience.

He just wanted to know more about this thing called love.

He had always heard over 10,000 Hallelujahs at any given moment of every day.

He heard multitudes cry “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty” every day.

What He’d never heard was some one say, “I love you!”

He knew the journey to finding love would be long.

He had seen twinkles in stars before, but never in an eye.

His plan already included man, Calvary and the Church.

He was prepared to do whatever it took to get a bride.

He wanted to find someone to love Him.

He spoke and the heavens and the earth came into existence.

By His own words, the sun, moon and stars were created and flung perfectly into space.

By His own voice, light was created, flowers and trees sprung up.

He said the words, and fish, birds and animals appeared.

He looked it all over and said. “That’s good.”

Then He stopped talking.

Adam And Eve

He knelt down on the ground and with His hands he began to form someone He could love. He called the man, Adam. The woman, was named Eve.

He loved them. He visited every day. They walked and talked together every day without distraction.

He watched Adam and Eve smile at one another. He saw how Adam responded to Eve’s touch and Eve to Adam’s.

He watched them hold hands and kiss.

He liked what He saw. He saw the twinkle in Adams eye. He saw romance in its purest form.

He tried to imagine a mere mortal loving Him.

His mind raced ahead thousands of years. He thought of Himself and the Church. He pondered about His bride-to-be. “So… this is what it’s going to be like to be in love!”

He’d never been in love before. He saw Adam and Eve enjoying each other’s company. He told Himself, “That’s the kind of love I want. That’s the kind of romance I want.”

He so enjoyed being with Adam and Eve, that He turned His attention from the sounds of “Hallelujah” and “Holy-Holy” for a few hours everyday just to come and see them.

He had no competition in the love department on earth. Maybe they would fall in love with Him.

Then came the heart-wrenching day when the evil serpent beguiled Eve. Sin, the enemy of the Most Holy One entered the picture. Paradise was no more.

Pain, sorrow, shame and regret now entered the picture. The hope of Adam and Eve continuing their relationship with Him was over. Sin did it’s best to destroy that relationship.

They chose to listen to the voice of His enemy rather than listen to His voice.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

Enoch

Seven generations later, a man was born by the name of Enoch. He heard his father and grandfather talk about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He heard the stories about God walking with them in the cool of the day.

Enoch began to imagine what it would be like to have God for a friend. That seemed to be all he could think about.

He inquired often of his family, asking them many questions, hoping to hear more stories about those precious days. He even got to talk to Adam himself and listened intently. He dreamed of having a similar experience with God.

One day Enoch started calling on the Lord as he walked. He began talking to God as if He was beside him. The Lord did appear beside him and they began walking together and talking together every day.

Enoch was perfect in God’s eyes. His love thrilled the Lord. This was true love. Here was someone who chose to love Him, who took time out of their day and focused only on Him.

They walked and talked together every day for years. Then one day while they were walking, the sun started going down.

The Lord noticed it too. He also knew it was a long way back to Enoch’s house. So He said, “Enoch, it’s closer to my house, than it is to yours. Why don’t you come on home with me?” Enoch said, “Yes.”

“And Enoch was not, for the Lord took him.”

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

Israel

He looked the world over and His eyes fell upon her. He could really love her. Her father was a Hittite and her mother was an Amorite. But He didn’t hold that against her.

He stood there looking at her, watching her. She was beautiful to Him.

She had no family, no one to look after her. There was no one else that loved her.

She was unwanted and unloved by every one else in the world. She was considered second class and discarded by those who knew her.

She wasn’t beautiful, but He loved her.
She wasn’t rich, but He loved her.
She wasn’t mighty, but He loved her.
She wasn’t even faithful, but He loved her.

He, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the First and the Last, The Lord God Almighty tried vainly to woo her. He did every thing He could to show her He could supply her every need.

He was the richest Man in the world and of all the people in the world; He chose her, the poorest of all. He alone could make her prosper. She wasn’t impressed for long.

He showed her things about Himself that no one else had ever known. He gave her some names she could call Him by that would reveal His protecting love for her.

Jehovah Jireh – The Lord will Provide.
Jehovah Rapha – The Lord our Healer.
Jehovah Nissi – The Lord our Banner
Jehovah Shalom – The Lord our Peace
Jehovah Raah – The Lord our Shepherd
Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord our Righteousness
Jehovah Shammah – The Lord is Present

When she got sick, He made sure she got well. When she was hungry, He provided food for her and took care of her every need.

He loved her, and yet she wasn’t happy with Him. Her heart easily turned aside. She often looked at others the way He wished she would look at Him. It grieved Him continually.

While still on their honeymoon, problems arose. They hadn’t been gone from Egypt a month and things turned ugly. Before He could even get her to the Promised Land and the home He had given her, she showed her unhappiness.

He talked with Moses about His plans for her and gave him detailed instructions.

But before Moses could talk to her she started looking at someone else. She began to dress to please them. She brazenly displayed her disdain for His wishes.

She murmured.
She complained.
She rebelled.
She flaunted herself in front of others.
She became brazen.
She couldn’t even blush.

It broke His heart. Yet He fought for her when everyone tried to kill her. He supplied her every need. He cared for her more than she cared for Him.

He still loved her. He sent her letters, but she ignored them. Even after she got settled in her new home, she started looking for other lovers.

She played the harlot and was unfaithful to Him. She only dressed to please Him if she was in the mood. She often saw others that attracted her and she dressed and displayed herself in a way to please them. She longed for their affections, not His.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

Hosea

No one seemed to care how He felt. He had no one to share His pain and problems with.

In His Divine Heartache, He looked upon His prophet, Hosea. Hosea was unmarried.

He told Hosea to marry a woman who stood on the street corners at night. “Just go pick a prostitute, anyone will do.”

He wanted someone to feel like He felt, every day.

He wanted to see again how mere mortals handled rejection from those they loved.

Hosea found such a girl. Her name was Gomer. Everyone in town knew Hosea. They were shocked at his choice of a wife. In their minds she was trash.

She had dirtied herself.
She had lowered herself.
She had ruined her name.
She would destroy their marriage.
Of all the girls, why pick her?

The romance burned brightly and then quickly faded. The Lord watched how their love life went.

He watched Gomer sweeten his coffee with her kisses and then walk out the door disappearing for long periods of time.

Then came the babies. Their very names carried not only a prophecy to Israel, but also a wake up call to Hosea about his two-timing wife.

Jezreel, “God will disperse”
Lo-ruhamah, “Not pitied, or No Mercy”
Lo-ammi, “Not my people”

Hosea could tell by the names he named his children that he was not their father.

Gomer eventually got so involved in her wild lifestyle that she was overpowered and put into slavery by one of her lovers. She later was placed on an auction block and sold like a farm animal.

Hosea got word that his wife was being sold. He knew what she was and what she had done. But he loved her in spite of it all.

Anyone can tell by what he paid for her, that he gave all the money he had and emptied out his meager panty besides. He gave his all to buy her back. He paid fifteen pieces of silver, and 1½ homers of barley.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

The Lord watched as Hosea gave all he had to buy his unfaithful wife back.

He turned his attention again to Israel. She wasn’t on an auction block. She wasn’t held against her will. She was happy to be unfaithful.

So He wrote her a bill of divorcement and He didn’t talk to her for 400 years.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

Calvary

One day, He finally stepped into His closet and clothed Himself in a robe of flesh. He was born in Bethlehem to a young virgin.

He chose not to arrive in splendor, so He came to earth in obscurity. He came as God manifested in the flesh. He walked almost unnoticed around her.

He didn’t make Himself handsome so that she would love Him for His good looks. He wanted her to love Him for who He was, not what He looked like.

But He came unto His own and His own received Him not. They didn’t believe Him.

He wept.

His love was everlasting. Her love was fickle.

She tried to find fault with Him. She only followed Him for what He could give them.

He wanted to talk.

She was too busy, too preoccupied.

He said to her, “You say you love Me, but you say that only with your lips. It’s just words. Your heart is far from Me. You don’t love Me with your heart.”

He saw her as she really was. A slave. She was in bondage and held fast by her own sins.

He knew He was the only One that could redeem her.

He willing offered Himself on Calvary for Her. He willingly gave His all to buy her back. He gave His blood to wash away her sins and He arose on the third day to give her hope of a new life.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

The Church

Over 2,000 years have come and gone. He’s ready now to take His bride to a home He has prepared just for her.

He wanted someone who would love Him enough to heed all of His Word. After all, if she really loved Him, she would keep His commandments. Not pick and choose which ones she liked. He was in love, why wasn’t she?

Yet He sees her still looking at the world. Some times she tries harder to please her other lovers than she does Him.

She has started complaining again if she thinks He’s asking her to dress a certain way just for Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him. She says, “He doesn’t care how I dress. He doesn’t look on the outside. He only looks on the inside, on the heart.”
But when He looked in her heart, He saw nothing there that looked like love to Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
She dreads talking to Him on a daily basis. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
She doesn’t think about Him during the course of the day. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
Yet she talks freely to everyone else but Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
All she seems to want is a sugar daddy. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
She has to be begged to visit at His house. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
He blesses her with money and yet she is not faithful in her tithe to Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
He sends blessings her way and loads her down daily with benefits. She soon forgets. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
He sends healing to her every situation. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
He calms her storms of life. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
She has all the songs memorized and sings them without feeling. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
She hears His Word preached and chooses which parts she likes and doesn’t like. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
He says He’s coming to get her and she’s not even looking out the window for Him. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.
He says He is coming to get and to take her to heaven with Him; and she is not even making herself ready. She doesn’t act like she is in love with Him.

He knew it would happen this way.

A long time ago He said that she would love pleasure more than she loved Him.

He said that her love would wax cold.

He said she would leave her 1^st love.

And He was right.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

You

Do you love Him? I mean, do you really love Him? Do you love Him with all of your heart? He wants to know.

He wants to know if you love another. Do you?

He wants to know if your heart belongs only to Him or not. Does it?

He’s looking for a bride that will love Him with all of her heart, her soul her mind, and her strength.

Could that person be you? He’s looking your way right now. He wants it to be you.

All He Ever Wanted Was For Someone To Love Him.

Written by Martyn Ballestero

October 26, 2011 at 12:00 am

Posted in Christian Living, Love

Tagged with Love

Beaten To Pieces

with 6 comments

Beaten To Pieces

The thugs used their brute strength to inflict injury. They meant to do major hurt to their victim. The victim had to meet with Munley Law, however the damage they had done to him was unbearable. Most of them didn’t even know the man. They didn’t care. They were professional killers. They were just carrying out orders from their boss.

Someone hit him in the face. Another smashed him on top of his head. Blood ran freely down his face and was smeared all over his cheeks.

Then the real beatings began. They hit him. They hit him again. Then they hit him some more. They beat him till his flesh turned black and blue. His arms had horrible bruises. His bruised back and sides looked like a slab of freshly butchered meat. His body was a bloody mess from the beating he took. It was as if they had beaten him to pieces.

His hands were tied. His legs were so weakened he could barely stand. He wasn’t very old either. He looked young, maybe early thirties or so.

That they wanted him to die was apparent. No one could believe this was really happening! He was a good man. Yet they were beating him to a bloody pulp. It was almost like they wanted this to be a public spectacle. They didn’t care if anyone watched them beat him senseless or not.

He was totally surrounded by his enemies. There was no one willing to come to his aid. It was just a matter of time.

Why were they doing this?

Where were the authorities?

Someone wanted him dead, real dead.

The bystanders were frozen in their tracks.

They all knew if they intervened, they would be beaten next.

Grown men winced with each blow as the looked at him. Mothers shielded their children’s eyes from the view. They didn’t want their little innocent eyes seeing such a terrible sight.

Bruises covered what the crowd could see of his body. They were deep ones too. Every bruise seemed to be smeared with blood. He looked a mess.

If they were going to kill him, why not do it? Why just bloody and bruise his body up like this? What was the point?

Really, What Was Point? Isaiah 53:5 Was The Point!

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

“Bruise: A primitive root (compare <H1794> (dakah)); … (literal or figurative) :- beat to pieces, break (in pieces), bruise….”

Strong’s Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

Over 700 years before Jesus Christ was born, Isaiah prophesied that the Savior would allow Himself to not only die for our sins, but to be bruised, and to be ‘beaten to pieces.’ Why? It was for our iniquities.

Now Then…

When the enemy of our soul says that we have sinned too bad to ever be forgiven, remember His bruises. He allowed Himself to be ‘beaten to pieces’ for our iniquities. He went through that so you would know He loved you enough to always forgive you.

Thank You Jesus!

Written by Martyn Ballestero

October 13, 2011 at 12:59 am

Posted in Forgiveness, Love

Tagged with Forgiveness, Love

You’re Doing It Wrong

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You’re Doing It Wrong

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

If In Your Christian Journey, You Did Not Acquire The Love Of God; You Did It All Wrong.

If In Your Life Of Holiness And Righteousness, You Did Not Acquire The Love of God; You Did It All Wrong.

Then on “The Judgment Day” It Won’t Be Funny! Because You Did It All Wrong!

Written by Martyn Ballestero

September 28, 2011 at 1:09 am

Posted in Love

Tagged with Love

Do You Love Your Doctor More Than You Love Your Pastor?

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Do You Love Your Doctor More Than You Love Your Pastor?

It seems like people love their doctor more than they love their pastor. There is a great disparity of respect in the hearts of society between the two. This is openly demonstrated in the way their advice is treated.

That was a sentiment shared with me in a recent conversation with my friend, Pastor Jerry Rowley Jr. I have taken great liberties attempting to expound on his comment.

†††

The role of a doctor is greatly honored by our society. A doctor’s diagnosis and his orders are so respected that state laws support him. In extreme cases some states have been known to incarcerate individuals for their non-compliance to the doctor’s orders.

A pastor is greatly honored as well. The members of the congregation can choose to heed his advice. His words are sometimes received with suspicion or outright rejection. The following fictional scenarios may help describe the difference:

PATIENT 1

The new patient sat anxiously in the examination room while the doctor looked over the file holding all the test results. He made notations every now and then. Without a word, he picked up a thick book and thumbed back to the index. He located the reference he was looking for and made a few notations on the chart.

The doctor then asked a few pertinent questions, and checked the patient’s vital signs. He then turned and began to write several prescriptions.

The doctor folded the top cover back over the chart and in his best bedside manner broke the news to the patient and his spouse.

“As you know, your blood work came back and I didn’t like what I saw. So, that’s why I ordered the MRI. The bad news is, you have a mass that concerns me, it’s still contained, but if it is cancer and left untreated, it will be fatal.”

The patient then willingly goes through several months of chemo treatments. They endure more moments of pain and nausea than they wish to remember. They change their eating habits and strictly adhere to the diet the doctor gave them.

They also go back every week or so to the doctor’s office for checkups. The journey to recovery may be years. They will pay the cost and tolerate every inconvenience just to survive. They brag on their doctor and sing his praises when they go into remission.

The cost of the treatment: It varies, but sometimes runs into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The weekly office visits aren’t cheap either.

Patient 2

The Holistic Doctor looked at her patient. She told him that the cancer had spread. Her prescription was not written on paper, but she advised her patient to drink nothing but a mixture of carrot and asparagus juice. Eat no solid food, and drink only water and the carrot juice cocktail.

She then sells the patient an expensive juicing machine. The patient goes home and ingests nothing into his body but water and the prescribed juice for one year. Friends shake their heads at the patient’s willingness to follow through with the strict regimen.

Visits are made to the office to monitor his progress. After a year, the results are in. The patient is cancer free. He testifies openly and brags on the results. The diet worked.

The costs of the doctor’s visits weren’t cheap either. Even though the health insurance wouldn’t pay, he happily refinanced his house to pay for his recovery.

In both scenarios, the patient did whatever was asked of them, and willing paid for their costly treatment. They had no problem doing weekly or monthly follow-up visits. They love their doctors. They are healed.

Church Scene 1

The pastor sits in the office with a crying young man. He tells the pastor what has happened. He is ashamed.

The pastor had great hopes for him. He had shown so much potential. Now there’s much damage and others will be affected.

When the crying ends, the pastor prays with the man and then says, “I’m afraid I’m going to have to take you off the platform and set you down for a while. I want to help you recover yourself”

“How long will I be set down?”

“We’ll see. It depends on how you do. I want to see you in the prayer room before every service. I don’t want you having anything to do with the people we just talked about. I want to see some evidence of your repentance. You can recover. I will be here for you. Call me anytime if you need me or feel yourself getting weak again. I love you.

When the office visit is over, the pastor/saint relationship is over too. Rather than submit to the pastor’s prescription for recovery, and be set down for a while, the man changes churches.

The cost was nothing to the church member. The pastor gave of himself to no avail. The church lost money, a member and quite possibly, a soul.

Church Scene 2

The pastor stood behind the pulpit, his sermon had been impressed upon him in prayer. The Lord stirred his heart to preach against the things of the world that were in the church.

Signs of worldliness had shown itself here and there in the congregation. He preached the essentiality of Acts 2:38. He said when you get this Holy Ghost experience, your life changes. Your friends change. You dress holy. You don’t do the things you used to do. You no longer go to the places you used to go.

The lack of response from the audience loudly stated their reaction to the sermon. A few members looked sideways at their friends and family to catch their reaction. They mostly just looked at the preacher without visible reaction.

After service a few phone calls were made. A private meeting was set up. Then a formal meeting was arranged. The pastor was voted out.

The cost? Whatever it was, the people refused to pay it.

†††

I am not talking about bad doctors or bad pastors. I am addressing how even good doctors and good pastors sometimes get treated differently.

There are many people alive today because they followed the good doctor’s advice. There are many people spiritually alive today because they followed the advice of their good man of God.

Thank God for every saint that loves his or her pastor enough to obey him.

You follow the advice of those you love.

Jesus said: John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Do You Love Your Doctor More Than You Love Your Pastor?

Written by Martyn Ballestero

May 27, 2011 at 12:29 am

Posted in Love, Loyality, Ministry, Pastors, Respect

Tagged with Honor, Love, Respect