Love

October 23rd – 2 Corinthians 12:9

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2 Corinthians 12:9

Have you ever prayed for something with all your heart, only to have God say no? Maybe you prayed for a door to open, a situation to change, or for something you desperately wanted to work out, but it didn’t happen the way you hoped.

It’s hard to understand sometimes, isn’t it? We wonder why God didn’t answer the way we wanted Him to. Especially when our hearts were so invested in the outcome. Paul knew what it was like to ask God for something and not receive the answer he wanted. But God reminded him that His grace was sufficient and His strength was made perfect in weakness.

Sometimes God’s answer is no, not because He doesn’t love us or hear our prayers, but because His purposes are bigger than what we can see. And sometimes, instead of changing our circumstances, He gives us the strength to walk through them.

I’m learning that faith isn’t just trusting God when He says yes. It’s trusting Him when the answer is no, too. We may not understand His reasons today, and we may still feel disappointed. But we can rest in knowing that His love for us never changes. When God says no, His grace is still enough, His strength is still available, and His love is still holding us.

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October 22nd – John 15:15

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John 15:15

Have you ever stopped to really think about what it means to be called a friend by Jesus? The Son of God, the One who created us, loves us so much that He invites us into a relationship with Him. Can you think of anything more wonderful?

Of all the things we could ever be called in this life, I can’t think of a greater privilege than being called a friend of Jesus. He doesn’t just want us to know about Him; He wants us to know Him personally. He invites us to talk with Him in prayer. To share our hearts with Him, lean on Him when life gets hard, and walk with Him through every season.

Our Lord knows our struggles, fears, failures, and our deepest hopes. And still He loves us. The beautiful thing is that Jesus doesn’t wait for us to get everything right before He loves us. His love is faithful, patient, and beyond anything we could ever earn. And while He is our Savior and Lord, He also welcomes us close as a friend.

What an incredible gift! May we never take for granted the privilege of walking through this life with Jesus, knowing we are loved by Him and invited to draw near to Him every single day.

October 22nd – John 15:15 Read More »

October 21st – Proverbs 3:3

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Proverbs 3:3

When life feels hard, what want most is to be treated with kindness and understanding. But Proverbs 3:3 reminds me that these are the very things I should be giving to others, too. I need to give grace when someone disappoints me. And choosing kindness when I’m frustrated.

Living in truth means being honest, keeping my word, and letting God’s Word guide the way I live. I’ll be honest, I don’t always get this right. Sometimes my feelings get the best of me, or I find it harder to show mercy  when Ive been hurt.

But I don’t want the way others treat me to determine the kind of person I am. I want God to keep working on my heart. I want Him to help me respond with love instead of frustration, and understanding instead of judgment.

With so much anger and division in our world today, I think we could all use a little more mercy and truth. My prayer is that God continues to shape my heart so that the kindness I show, the words I speak, and the way I treat others reflect Him.

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October 18th – Ephesians 4:2

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Ephesians 4:2

What does it mean to bear one another in love? It means being willing to give people grace. Even when they test our patience, disappoint us, or have a different opinion. And it means remembering that we all have days when we don’t get things right.

Sometimes loving others means listening instead of judging. Or being patient, and choosing kindness when it would be easier to walk away. That doesn’t mean we always have to agree, nor accept hurtful behavior. But we are to treat others with the same grace and compassion we hope to receive.

Actress Katherine Hepburn once said, “Love isn’t what you expect, it’s what you’re willing to give.” A beautiful reminder that love isn’t just about what others do for us, it’s about what we’re willing to offer them. Jesus showed us that kind of love through His mercy and sacrifice. And with His help, we can learn to love more generously and hold one another up rather than tear one another down.

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October 16th – 1 Corinthians 16:14

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1 Corinthians 16:14

The world around us seems to grow more divided by the day. Where anger is loud and hate is even louder. But as Christians, we have an opportunity to be different. God’s Word reminds us to do everything in love, and that means more than loving those who agree with us or treat us kindly.

Do everything love means being mindful of our words, attitudes, and the way we treat people. Especially when we disagree. We can stand firmly in our faith without being unkind, speak God’s truth without tearing others down, and hold on to our convictions without losing sight of compassion.

It’s easy to respond to anger with anger or to judge someone without knowing what they’re going through. But Jesus calls us to a higher way. He calls us to love our neighbors. To show the grace shown us. And to remember that every person we encounter is someone He loves.

We may not be able to change the hearts of everyone around us, but we can ask God to keep changing ours. So before we speak, react, and before we decide how to treat someone, let’s ask ourselves this. “Am I doing this in love?” May the way we live reflect Jesus so clearly that others see His love at work in our hearts.

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October 15th – Galatians 5:16

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Galatians 5:16

What does it really mean to walk by the Spirit? It means allowing God to guide the way we live, the choices we make, and the way we respond when life doesn’t go as we’d hoped. It’s easy to react out of frustration, speak out of anger, hold on to hurt, or let our feelings lead the way.

We all have those moments when our first reaction isn’t the one that honors God. But walking by the Spirit means learning to pause, turn to Him, and ask for His help instead of doing what our flesh wants to do.

It means choosing forgiveness when we’d rather hold a grudge. Or showing kindness when someone is difficult to love. All the while, trusting God when worry tries to take over. Walking by the Spirit doesn’t mean we’ll never struggle or make mistakes. Instead, it means we don’t have to let our old ways control us.

If we let Him, the Holy Spirit will work in our hearts. He will gently correct, strengthen,  and help us become more like Jesus. And the more we learn to listen to His leading and follow His Word, the more our lives begin to reflect His character of our Savior.

Walking by the Spirit isn’t about getting everything right. But about surrendering our hearts to God and letting Him lead us one step at a time. Today, let’s ask Him to guide us so that the people around us can see a little more of Jesus through us.

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October 8th – Romans 8:34

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Romans 8:34

When we’re hurting, struggling, and don’t know what to do next, we can turn to Jesus. Because He isn’t standing at a distance watching us struggle. He’s at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us. He knows our hearts completely. He knows the pain we don’t have words for.  And He sees the tears we hide, the battles we don’t tell anyone about, and the burdens that feel too heavy to carry. Jesus is there, pleading our case before the Father.

Think about that for a moment. The very One who understands our suffering is the One praying for us. When we’re too exhausted to pray, Jesus is praying. When our hearts are broken, Jesus knows. And when we don’t understand what God is doing, Jesus is still there.

Our hope is found in Jesus, our Savior, our Advocate, and our Intercessor. So if you’re hurting today, take comfort in this. Jesus knows, Jesus cares, and Jesus is praying for you. You are being held by a love that never lets go.

Whatever you’re carrying today, you don’t have to carry it alone. Bring it to Jesus and rest in the assurance that He is already standing before the Father on your behalf.

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October 2nd – Proverbs 4:32

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Proverbs 4:23

In ancient times, kings would have guards stationed around their most valuable treasures. Their job was to protect what was precious and keep thieves from getting inside, taking what mattered most.

Our hearts are precious too. Scripture tells us to guard them carefully because what takes root in our hearts eventually makes its way into our thoughts, words, attitudes, and actions. We have an Enemy who would love nothing more than to steal our peace, rob us of our joy, and fill our hearts with fear, bitterness, discouragement, and doubt.

But our hearts belong to Jesus. And we have been given something far more valuable than earthly treasure. The peace, joy, love, and hope that come from knowing we are His. And that’s worth protecting.

So today, let’s be mindful of what we allow through the gates of our hearts. Not every voice deserves our attention. Not every thought deserves a place to stay. And not everything we encounter needs to take root.

Guard what God has entrusted to you. Protect the peace He gives, hold tightly to His truth, and don’t let the enemy steal what Jesus died to give you.

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September 25th – Galatians 6:10

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Galatians 6:10

Sometimes the hardest things to let go of are anger, bitterness, and the need to be right. When someone hurts, disappoints, or treats us unfairly, our first instinct may be to defend ourselves, and make sure the other person knows just how wrong they were. We struggle to move past the hurt. And before we realize it, that anger begins to take root in our hearts and steal our peace.

But God calls us to something better. He calls us to lay down our anger, release our bitterness, and stop letting the need to win every argument control our hearts. That doesn’t mean pretending we weren’t hurt. Or excusing someone’s behavior, and allowing others to mistreat us. But we can speak the truth without being cruel and stand up for ourselves without allowing bitterness to take hold.

God wants us to do good to all people. Not just those who are kind to us, agree with us, or treat us the way we think we deserve. All people. We may not be able to change how others treat us, but with God’s help, we can choose how we respond. We can let go of the need to prove our point and trust God to handle what we can’t. Because our goal isn’t to win every battle, but to reflect Jesus in the way we love others.

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September 22nd – 1 Peter 1:16-16

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1 Peter 1:15–16

What does it really mean to be holy? Holiness doesn’t mean we’re perfect, never make mistakes, or somehow earn God’s love by being good enough. We could never do that. Holiness means being set apart for God, belonging to Him and allowing Him to shape the way we think, speak, respond, and live.

And notice that Peter says to be holy in all we do. Not just at church, or when people are watching. Holiness reaches into our homes, marriages, friendships, conversations, attitudes, choices, and even the thoughts we keep hidden in our hearts.

Sometimes holiness looks like choosing forgiveness when we’d rather hold onto the hurt. Or keeping our mouths closed when we really want the last word. Sometimes it’s walking away from temptation, admitting when we’re wrong, loving someone who’s difficult to love, or choosing obedience when God’s way isn’t the easiest way.

We’re never going to do this perfectly. But God isn’t asking us to become perfect overnight. He’s transforming us little by little, teaching us to become more like Jesus. To live differently. And not because we’re better than anyone else, but because we belong to God.

September 22nd – 1 Peter 1:16-16 Read More »