He First Loved Us

 

     We love because of Jesus. We are transformed because of Jesus. We can live with the Holy Spirit of the Creator of the universe because of Jesus. We can live supernaturally, with hope, because of Jesus.

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

     Because He first loved us. That love permeates everything about us. He lavishes us with the type of love that defeats death and brings life.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1

     We are children of God! He lavished His love on us with Jesus. And because of Him, because of His forgiveness, His grace, His new mercies every morning, because of His death, we can choose life, life now and forever.

Jesus,

Thank You for the gift of life everlasting, and for the great love You lavish on us each day. Help us to live out our lives with that same love for others. We love, because You first loved us.

Amen

Life Together

 

     This week, we are allowing God to lavish His love on us, and, in return, we will love and honor one another. One of the purposes of God’s love for us, is to take care of, and honor our brothers and sisters in Christ. We may have personality clashes, but we are to love. We may feel jealous of another’s gifts, but we are to be satisfied with our own. We are to rejoice with one another and suffer with one another.

     The deep fellowship in Christ is unlike any other. It will move from this earth to eternity. We are linked together forever as children of our Father. Let’s love.

So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.  Now, you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12;25-27

Rejoice with those who rejoice. Mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15

     We are in this together, equally and uniquely His. Our joys can be shared and our burdens cut in two when we live out life together.

Father,

Thank You for brothers and sisters in the faith. Jesus died for all of us. We want to learn to love and to live through and with Him. Help us to be examples in the world around us, as we share the generosity and unconditional love of Jesus.

Amen

Equally Loved

 

     I have to remind myself, continually, that God loves me and always wants the best for me. So many days, I feel guilty about one thing or another. You, too? As human beings, we have our weaknesses, our temptations, our emotions and a myriad of other attributes that take us away from God’s plan.

     Today, let’s soak in God’s unconditional love for us. Don’t be hard on yourself. He loves you just the way you are. He understands your unique personality and your unique gifts. The ways you serve won’t look like the ways I, or anyone else serves. Let’s not compare and compete. We are all members of the same body, with different parts, all valuable to Jesus.

     Some of our gifts are quiet and encouraging, others boisterous and generous, others behind-the-scenes and, still others, up on the podium. None is better than another. You are gifted and loved. You are a child of God, a beloved child of God.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them, and in everyone, there is the same God at work. 1 Corinthians 12:4=6

     The same Lord, the same Spirit, the same God, working in us and loving us, quirks and all. He loves you!

Lord,

You are our God and the same Spirit is within each of us. That Spirit understands us deeply and profoundly, leading us in ways we often don’t notice. Guide us into truth and into Your love today.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

Go and Tell

 

     The great commission from Jesus Christ is to “go and make disciples.” Do you find it challenging, awkward or scary to bring up Jesus in a conversation? Have you missed opportunities to share your faith? I know I have. I believe, if we are truly looking, God will place the right people at the right time in front of us. All He asks is that we plant the seeds.

     The Holy Spirit knows when a heart is seeking. As believers, we can jump in and assist in God’s work. I find that an impossibly amazing fact. God actually uses us! The Holy Spirit will give us the words. (Matthew 10:19) Let’s be ready the next time an opportunity arises.

     After their arrest, Peter and John were told by the rulers not to speak of Jesus. Even then, they could not keep the hope to themselves.

For we cannot help but speak of all we have seen and heard.  Acts 4:20

     Are you filled with the hope and joy of Jesus and His eternal hope? Let’s be ready!

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

Lord,

Fill us with courage, with gentleness, and with respect and give us answers to share with those who ask. You do not want to lose even one.

Amen

Blog will return on March 9th.

It's All Abot Faith

 

     Can we praise and trust God from the valleys in our lives? It’s easy to shout for joy when we are on the mountaintop, isn’t it? Our comfort zones can leave us lethargic and lukewarm. God asks us to believe and have faith throughout our lives, good and bad, ups and downs, from the pit, and from the top of the world.

     God loves to see our passion and love for Him. Our faith pleases Him. In fact, Scripture tells us it is impossible to please Him without it.

And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists, and  that He rewards those  who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6  

     Whatever your view right now, trust Him. Have faith in His presence. Have faith He is working. Watch for the blessings, even in the time of trials and sorrows. He stands in the pit with you. His hand reaches in to pull you out.  Jesus, the One and Only, is your Savior, your Shepherd, your salvation. Nothing is too hard for Him.

Is anything too hard for the Lord? Genesis 18;14a

Ah, Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17

Jesus,

Take our focus off of our troubles and onto You. You will work it all out in Your eternal time. We trust You above all else.

Amen

Our Comforter

 

     God knows each word that will come from our mouths before we speak them. He understands our deepest desires and our most fervent prayers. Before the beginning of time, He saw us. Our prayers, even before they are uttered, are being worked on by our loving Father in heaven.

     Can we trust Him with our very lives? Looking back over my life, I can say a resounding, “Yes!” There were times I simply did not know how to go on. There have been, and continue to be, times of deep joy and love, more than I could have imagined. He worked through the suffering and brought good. Sometimes the good can be our ability to share the compassion that Christ first gave us.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

     If you are troubled or tired or confused, let Him comfort you. If Jesus has comforted you, pass it along to those in trouble now. The love moves on and on to heaven’s door. He will use our lives in ways we can’t even imagine.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen  Ephesians 3:20-21

All Things

 

     When you pray or focus on Jesus, do you picture Jesus the man or the resurrected Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords? Jesus, the perfect man shows us the humble, compassionate, love-focused, forgiving One sent to die for us.  Remember, all things were made by Him and for Him. His glorious power and light are available to us!

For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen Romans 11:36

     Jesus, our Savior, created the heavens and the earth. He sits in heaven and rules over all. All of us, all of creation were made for Him.

For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16

Jesus,

All things have been created through You and for You. We don’t understand the magnitude of it all. We are grateful You became one of us. You are above all and through all and in all and we worship You. We bow down before You, Creator of all.

Amen