Tag: love

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The Secret Place

Have you wondered if you are making a difference?  Wondered if who you are enough?  Wondered if you are being the best you, you can be?  I just went through a period of time where I started to wonder if what I was doing was enough…if I was enough.

No, I wasn’t depressed, upset, or even confused.  You don’t have to allow yourself to become despondent to start to wonder if you are doing enough…you just have to allow doubt to enter your mind.

How should we combat this doubt?  We find a secret place, a quiet space, to spend some time with God.  All problems can be solved by spending one on one time with the Father.  It seems too simple to be true…  For anyone like me – a control freak – trusting anyone with your life beside yourself can be scary.  Face that fear and give it over…your life will be better for it.

Whenever you find yourself in that “dry place” – find some one on one time with the Creator.  Get into the word, pray in a secluded place, share your heart with Him.  Allow the precious Holy Spirit love on you & fight for you.  There is nothing too big or too small for Him to handle.  Abide in His shadow and watch what He does!

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.””

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

  

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Pursue Peace

There is a song I loved that we sang in church growing up.  My favorite line: “I know the Peacespeaker.  I know Him by name.”  I can still hear it being sung.  It depicts a part of the character of God so perfectly – the Peacespeaker.  The one who knows how to bring peace to this world by just a word, a touch, a breathe…how awesome it is to know Him!

It is awesome because this world is in need of peace!   Life gets crazy quick.  Things happen.  There are very few good news stories.  Sickness, pain, depression, anger and strife surround us.  People go hungry, homeless, are sold into slavery, or feel so alone they decide to take their own lives.  What a world in need of a Savior!  

Christ is what the world needs!  Since we are followers of Christ – aren’t we His examples on Earth? He is the Peacespeaker – therefore, shouldn’t we try to emulate Him? 

Start a journey with me – a journey to pursue peace.  In everything we do – try to speak & do in a way that brings about connection rather than division.  No more harmful, unnecessary or mean judgement.  I, personally, have had to clean up some messes because I decided to place judgement when it wasn’t my place.  

I am starting this journey – a journey towards speaking peace over my life, my family, my friends, my job, my church, my country, and our world.  Join me!!  Let’s show everyone who God is.  Not some judge with a mallet, but a good, kind  Father who loves everyone…even in the midst of our sins.

“Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭34:14‬ ‭NKJV‬

Be blessed my dear friends!

  

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Your First Love

Love…so often spoken about…we speak the most about love in the context of romance.  Finding that “one” that is yours and you their’s.  A special relationship indeed.   According to the world, this is the greatest love we can find.  But I contest there is one greater…our first love.

 Having a relationship with God, I understand that I already belong to someone…I belong to God, the Creator of the universe, the one who holds the entire world in His hands…I belong to Him and He belongs to me.  He is my first love.

He is your first love, too.  Sinners, Saints, anyone in between, He is your first love, the one Who loved you from the very beginning.  The one who sees every mistake, fault, problem, frustration, crack…loves you.  It doesn’t matter what you have done, who you are, how far you have ran…you cannot go too far to exceed the bounds of His love!

David describes this part of God’s character:

“If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.” Psalms‬ ‭139:8-12‬ ‭NKJV‬

God is love.  In that love He sent His Son to give us a chance at everlasting life:

“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” ‭‭I John‬ ‭4:9-10‬ ‭NKJV‬ (emphasis added).

If you ever feel insignificant, unimportant, forgotten, unloved…remember your first love. Remember that God loves you because you are His…you don’t have to do anything to obtain that love.  It was yours from the beginning.

Thank you, Father, for your love!

Be blessed, dear friends.

  
Haven’t accepted Christ as your Lord & Savior yet?  Pray this with me: 

Dear Lord, I am a sinner and am in need of a savior.  I ask that you forgive me of all my sins.  I ask Jesus to become my Lord & Savior and He makes a place in my heart.  I want to be made right with you.  Thank you, Lord, for loving me enough to save me.  Amen.

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You are enough

Be you.  No one else can be you.  You were created for a purpose, a plan, there is a reason you are here.

I stated in my bio that I have always been considered a little strange.  It’s true.  I dance to my own beat, do my own thing.  I have always been that way.  Some people get me, love me.  But I have had my critics as well. 

 As I finish my last few months of my 20’s, I have to admit – I no longer care how weird people think I am because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Designed by my Father to be who I am.  And so are you!

Be bold enough to be you.  Forget who everyone else says you are.  God holds your true identity.  Let His opinion rule!

I am loved.  You are loved.  Not for the things you & I do, but because we exist, were created, and am who we are.  Do not ever forget that!

“O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:1-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Be blessed, dear friends, and live fearlessly!

  

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Peace

This world is full of chaos, problems, violence and hate.  It is on every corner, in every family, group of friends, and even in the church.  We are humans, therefore filled with sin.  That is a fact so naturally, peace is not a quality we are free to live in.

So, how in the world can we expect to live in peace?  How can we, in any way, be able to sleep at night after a young man, obviously disturbed, walks into a community college and kills people for being Christians?  It is not something we can do on our own, live with peace.  If we rely on our own ability, peace will never come.  

Peace comes from the Father, the one who created this world, who is all knowing, all powerful, all loving.    If we place our trust in knowing that He has it in control, He knows what is going on, and He cares for us – we can be free to live in peace.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”” John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Give up your worry, chaos, unforgiveness, pain, issues over to God and allow yourself to rest in His peace.

Live boldly, dear friends, and be blessed.

  

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Redemption – part 2

For those that desire redemption & grace must learn to give it.  Don’t allow yourself to be an agent of the enemy.  Let go & move on!!  

We can start a movement.  As I stated in my last post – our society has no place for redemption.  Let’s find a place for it.  Let’s love boldly and unconditionally.  

This is the only way to win the war against our advisory.

Remember: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans‬ ‭8:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

  

  

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Redeemed

Redemption – defined as “the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.”  A word used in the church, but I think not many truly understand.  That is because our human brains cannot fully wrap our heads (or hearts) around it.  In reality, our society has little space for such a concept.

Have you ever seen a celebrity “fall from grace” and then try to get their life right again – only to be reminded of their past transgressions over and over again? That is the goal of our advisory – who isn’t our neighbor, church member, friend or foe.  It is the work of Satan himself.  He makes it very difficult to walk in grace, if we give him power.

Do I believe there are consequences to every sin?  Yes, of course there is.  But grace says the consequences are not a death sentence.  Once you have given your life to Christ, accepted the gift of redemption through the Cross, and make amends with those you hurt – you should get up and move on.

Don’t allow anyone or anything working for the advisory tell you otherwise.  You are redeemed, made new, whole again.  Walk with your head held high.  Love those who remind you of your past.  Let God fight your battles.  Don’t let Satan win.

If you struggle with this – I encourage you to place these scriptures somewhere you can see them everyday:

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” Ephesians‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Titus‬ ‭2:11-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” I Corinthians‬ ‭7:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians‬ ‭1:13-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Get the enemy out of your mind & put on the mind of Christ.

Live boldly, dear friends, and be blessed!

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Greatest of these….

Bold love changes the world.  Love those who can’t love you back, give grace to those who don’t deserve it, and forgive those who won’t change.  

“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.””

‭‭I Peter‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

  

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Under grace

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Declare liberty over the wages of sin today.  Remember that Christ paid it all so that you can claim that freedom and walk in grace.  I am so thankful He did!

“Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭143:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

  

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What should I do?

“A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Love conquers all!  Love even when you don’t want to.