"Pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body." (Proverbs 4:20-22)
Listen closely to His words:
I am your Father (John 1:12,1 John 3:1-2), you are my dearly beloved child (1 John 4:9-10). I choose you before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:2). I know everything about you and I still love you. You are not condemned (Romans 8:1). You have come out of the darkness and now live in the glorious light! I love you deeply and desire to free you from all that still entangles you. You are my workmanship. I have given you my word, my Spirit, and my promises to transform you and guide you as you walk this journey of faith.
Pay attention to what He says. Let Him fill you with his love. Give Him your heart and mind and let him reveal the truth to your soul. You are loved. You are accepted. You can have a intimate relationship where you call him "Abba Father" (Romans 8:15)
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade..." (1 Peter 1:3-4)
Just for a minute - Put away your intellectual side. Give up your hang-ups and fears about God and call on His name. Come, Lord Jesus, pull me out of the pit into your loving presence. He reaches down to take hold of you. He keeps you safe, hiding you in the shelter of his wing. He draws you out of deep waters and bring you into a spacious place. He delights in you! Dwell in his sanctuary. He will lead you beside still waters. Meditate on His unfailing love. Eat with Him, he has prepared a table of good and satisfying food - food for your soul! Taste and see that the Lord is good! Sing and make music - He has given you song. Dance with him, you are beautiful to him. Let the joy of the Lord be your strength. Clap your hands and shout to God. How awesome is the Lord Most High!! Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! For the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
"the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb." (Psalm 19:7-10)
"Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. And we who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is Spirit." (2 Cor. 3:17-18)
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May 19, 2011
May 03, 2011
Family Love
In the two week period between April 24 and May 7, my birth family and I all celebrate our birthdays. Growing up, it was a lot of cake to eat within a two week period! Now, distance separates us and we aren’t able to get together like we used to but every year at this time, I like to reflect on these most important people in my life.
My family wasn't perfect. All families have problems and dysfunction but God created the family unit that we might love and be loved. That we might forgive and be forgiven. Our hearts yearn for connection and relationship. It is what we were created for. We were made in God's image and God is perfect love. "God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God and God in him." (1 John 4:16)
Even if you did'nt grow up in a family that showed their love like I did, you have a heavenly Father who loves and accepts you. You are his dearly beloved child. He yearns to love you with his everlasting, most perfect love. Nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8). He knows where you've been, if and how you were loved, and he meets you right where you are and asks only that you open your heart to his most amazing love.
John tells us "this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another…We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers." (1 John 3:11,14)
We were created in love for love. The Father has lavished his love on us that we would be healed and whole - cleansed from our sins and enabled to love both him and others. "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:10)
Seek and receive God's most perfect love. " We love because he first loved us.." (1 John 4:19) Let him fill you with his fullness with which you will love your family. "God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit…" (Romans 5:5)
"In this way, love is made complete among us…. "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God…" (1 John 4:7) Many of us are familiar with the 1 Corinthians 13 - the love chapter. In it we learn that love never fails.
God's love for you never fails. You are a part of his family. He loves you with his faithful, everlasting love. He also loves your family and has equipped you to love and receive love from them. Forgive them, delight in them. You and your family are not perfect (yet), but it is in loving and being loved that we are made complete. God delights in seeing families living in and reflecting his love. He celebrates in heaven and with God, there is never too much cake and celebration!
Father God,
Thank you for my family. Imperfect as we might be, we were created in your most perfect love to be vessels of love. Help us to receive your love. Make it complete in us so that we can love one another. Bless my loved ones as they celebrate their special day. Let the light of your face shine into their moments revealing even more of your love and life. Father, I pray today for those with broken family relationships. Restore these relationships with your perfect love. We all yearn for connection and love. In those families where this is not possible, I pray a deeper revelation of your Father heart. It is a heart that comforts, forgives, a heart full of grace and mercy . Nothing can separate us from your love - it is wide and long, high and deep. There are no strings attached to your love. You simply love us because we are yours. Thank you Father. Amen
My family wasn't perfect. All families have problems and dysfunction but God created the family unit that we might love and be loved. That we might forgive and be forgiven. Our hearts yearn for connection and relationship. It is what we were created for. We were made in God's image and God is perfect love. "God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God and God in him." (1 John 4:16)
Even if you did'nt grow up in a family that showed their love like I did, you have a heavenly Father who loves and accepts you. You are his dearly beloved child. He yearns to love you with his everlasting, most perfect love. Nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8). He knows where you've been, if and how you were loved, and he meets you right where you are and asks only that you open your heart to his most amazing love.
John tells us "this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another…We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers." (1 John 3:11,14)
We were created in love for love. The Father has lavished his love on us that we would be healed and whole - cleansed from our sins and enabled to love both him and others. "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:10)
Seek and receive God's most perfect love. " We love because he first loved us.." (1 John 4:19) Let him fill you with his fullness with which you will love your family. "God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit…" (Romans 5:5)
"In this way, love is made complete among us…. "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God…" (1 John 4:7) Many of us are familiar with the 1 Corinthians 13 - the love chapter. In it we learn that love never fails.
God's love for you never fails. You are a part of his family. He loves you with his faithful, everlasting love. He also loves your family and has equipped you to love and receive love from them. Forgive them, delight in them. You and your family are not perfect (yet), but it is in loving and being loved that we are made complete. God delights in seeing families living in and reflecting his love. He celebrates in heaven and with God, there is never too much cake and celebration!
Father God,
Thank you for my family. Imperfect as we might be, we were created in your most perfect love to be vessels of love. Help us to receive your love. Make it complete in us so that we can love one another. Bless my loved ones as they celebrate their special day. Let the light of your face shine into their moments revealing even more of your love and life. Father, I pray today for those with broken family relationships. Restore these relationships with your perfect love. We all yearn for connection and love. In those families where this is not possible, I pray a deeper revelation of your Father heart. It is a heart that comforts, forgives, a heart full of grace and mercy . Nothing can separate us from your love - it is wide and long, high and deep. There are no strings attached to your love. You simply love us because we are yours. Thank you Father. Amen
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