We are told to love the Lord with all our hearts and to love others as we love ourselves. This may include feeding into the lives of others the very thing we need desperately…like a word of love and encouragement, or a hug. The good part, we’re encouraged too!
There is no truth more certain than God’s, no opinion more valuable than His, and He has entrusted it all to us…to be His vessels. So let it pour freely, speaking the truth in love to a world in need. It is a great responsibility, but also a blessed privilege!
He who is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise is the Lamb who was slain and rose again to redeem you and me from our sins! And our Risen Lamb is more than capable to handle everything we face today! Hallelujah!
In the beginning, HE made it all. The great Three-in-One God – the Father, Son and Spirit – collaborated, planned and created everything! Jesus was there from the beginning, and even at the beginning of you. Yes, YOU were His idea and He said, “It is very good!”
It is far better to be motivated by truth than by selfish ambition. Jesus was motivated purely by love and obedience before His Father and His followers. Imagine the impact we will have for the Kingdom of God as we follow HIS example! WoW!
O.K., who told! The truth is out…we don’t wake up looking like princesses… Well, maybe you do, but I sure don’t! Either way, surely that invisible crown is there somewhere! How thankful I am that God does not look at outward appearances, but looks on the heart…especially on Mondays! 😊
It is so freeing to know that no matter how we look or feel, or what we face today or this week…God loves us, goes before us, will be with us and stays behind us. He will never leave us or forsake us!! He never fails. Never!
Whether we trudge through valleys or climb to the highest mountain top, His yoke is easy and His burden is light! His favor surrounds us like a shield! So lets straighten our crowns, put on the full armor of God and prayerfully and confidently face the week ahead. Go get ‘em, Princess!!!
(Guess I needed a Monday morning pep-talk… consequently, you get one too! 😂)
Worry has never added a slice of bread to our tables, a hair to our heads or a day to our lives…it only robs the morning of its song, the day of its joys and the evening of its peace. How much better it is to trust God’s word, say a prayer and embrace today!
Do not be afraid…for even in the very presence of God Himself, John was comforted! Can you begin to imagine what it was like for him to feel the Lord’s hand on him…and what peace flowed through him? That same peace and comfort is yours, don’t be afraid!
Nothing is too hard, too big or too small for the Lord… He used a mere five loaves of bread to feed 5,000 people and there were leftovers, twelve baskets full! Jesus can do more with less when we put it in His hands. Nothing is too hard for Him, nothing!
Our Lord is kind, just and righteous, and He gives us free reign to ‘boast’ that we understand this and know Him! HE actually ‘delights’ in exercising these things in our lives, and seeking and knowing Him opens our eyes to see His heart more clearly.
As we follow the Lord’s lead – yoked together with Him, placing our burdens in His hands – we find that HE knows our limitations, so He takes our burden and does the heavy work. The more we trust and yield to Him, the lighter our yoke becomes!
God knows what hurts you, why you are hurting so deeply, why you feel so alone, and He is with you. Your Loving Father and Comforter, He who holds the Universe in place…HE catches your tears in a bottle and holds YOU close to His heart even now, especially now!
Life is full of wins and losses, health and sickness, joys and struggles, but God promises a double portion and joy in the here and now. Plus, being joint-heirs with His Son, we have everything He has…including full access to the Father and joy everlasting!
When we come into relationship with Jesus Christ, He makes all things new as He transforms us into His glorious image one day, one step at a time. The change can be as mesmerizing and beautiful as watching a butterfly emerge from its cocoon.
Hope, seek and wait…action words of the heart that exemplify active faith in quiet stillness. For knowing Who we put our hope in, seeking His truth through His comforting Word and knowing that surely He will deliver us can’t help but cultivate a soul at rest.
NOTE: Every once in a while I have thought, “Do people wonder why I chose this particular picture?” Or “Do others see what I see in this picture?” So today, I thought I’d share.☺️ If you have heard me speak or have read other writings, you may recall that I had a very loving dad, one who exemplified God to me, and one who I enjoy sharing stories about for those who never had that…for men and women who need some imagery of our Loving Father and what that might look like in this life. This picture made me think that she was looking with love toward her daddy…maybe he was making silly faces to make her smile, or maybe it was her mom (mom’s can exemplify God’s image too)…whoever it was, her tilted head, sweet smile and loving expression in her eyes looked so comfortable, trusting, relaxed and sweet. If we picture ourselves sitting on that bench, prayerfully pondering the promises of God, there is no doubt in my mind that His Holy Spirit would stir in us that same comfort, trust, rest and smile…and then some! God bless you with peace, comfort and rest for your soul today as you look to Your Loving Abba [Daddy] who loves you with an everlasting love….HE can’t take HIS eyes off of YOU!!
Once our righteousness becomes fully dependent upon that of our Savior, we inherently have His favor on our lives as well. Until His time came to walk the rugged road to Calvary, He was immortal and protected, as are we – from now until we reach glory!
When we taste and see that the Lord is good, we find that we not only have eternal life, but that He is the source of abundant life in the here and now. To know Jesus is to know the Father and Creator of all things…the One who daily gives us the breath of life!!
God longed to reveal His love TO US, and He did through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, exchanging our sin for His righteousness before the Father forever.. He doesn’t have to do one more thing to prove His love to us, but He does…because HE LOVES US!
Jesus’ love changes our life and motivation. We have ALL we need through Him who strengthens us to love others as He loves us. His obedient, forgiving, dying-to-self, perfect love is not a reaction to what others say or do, but an action of the Christ within us.
Jesus wants us to trust HIM in our times of trouble so HE can rescue us and we can give Him glory. He said that in this world we will have tribulation, but He has overcome the world, and HE even gives us peace and courage to praise Him sacrificially through it all!
God’s love for us is better than life or lobster! It is from everlasting to everlasting, an endless supply that will never need replenishing, it will never run out. Today and every day, He lives to satisfy our hunger for love and fill our hearts to overflowing praise!
“God so loved us!!!” GOD so loved us…God SO loved us…God so LOVED us…God so loved US! As we focus on these FOUR words and the magnitude of God’s giant love and great sacrifice for us, we can love the unloveable one more day…one more decade!
Stand still and see the Lord Himself fight your battles…just as He has promised. Don’t let tomorrow’s challenges discourage you, but fearlessly trust HIM! You are not alone, your loving God goes before you, He defends you and is with you as you face the day!
Please enjoy “Your Love Defends Me” by Matt Maher…
We’ve heard, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’ but Jesus taught that what does kill us, makes us more fruitful. It may seem a high price to pay at the moment, but the harvest of blessings will far outweigh the sacrifice…by the bushels!
Because our sin was judged and paid for on the Cross of Calvary, our Father gives us gifts we don’t deserve – He calls this grace – and He withholds the punishment we do deserve – He calls this mercy. The price is paid, redemption is finished – we call this is freedom!
Every life is precious to our Faher in Heaven, and it is His heart’s desire to reconcile every soul to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ…to first believe and receive His great salvation and abundant life here, and then to rise again and be with Him forever!
After all the instructions given in Ephesians, and knowing our human failure and frality, this last verse is a blessed reminder of God’s grace to those who love the Lord undyingly. This is the one thing we do, we love Him forever because of His ‘dying’ love!
No matter where we’ve been, what we’ve done or what we’ve become, we can always go home. The LORD is waiting, running toward us with outstretched arms, ready to celebrate. He says “Come to the table…take your place beside the Savior…”
Please enjoy this music video, Come to the Table, by Sidewalk Prophets (quoted above)…
God bridged the gap between our helplessness and His Holiness through the perfect sacrifice of His own Son who washes away every sin and stain, reconciling us to the Father. Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness…this is the message we share!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could love each other with the heart and mind of a child, as siblings who share the same parents, home and upbringing? The closer we walk with our Heavenly Father, the more tangible this becomes…boldly, freely loving one another.
Relationships, jobs, finances, daily responsibilities and life in general can zap our strength and energy. But as we commit our way to the Lord and diligently seek Him in the midst of it all, He truly strengthens the hearts as nothing else can! Thank You, Lord!
God has given us a new covenant… Instead of the law with all of it’s rules and rituals, we trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ to save us, God’s immutable Word to encourage our hearts and the power of the Holy Spirit to bring it to remembrance in times of need.
~ Celebrate His Love ~ with Dori Drabek 