Love

January 10th – Psalm 66:20

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Psalm 66:20

I love how psalm 66 starts out with songs of praise to God for His glory, greatness, and works. Oh how easy it is to sing such wonderful songs when we feel surrounded by God’s glory. Those times we experience a spiritual, physical, and emotional closeness with Him. Usually it’s due to a received blessing, answered prayer, or a need fulfilled. We feel as if we’re walking on a cloud. Our hearts are filled with the joy, comfort, and warmth of fellowshipping with our Lord. And in our thankfulness we swear to never again forsake God, vowing to faithfully follow His will. Then life goes on, and it’s business as usual. And slowly our focus wanders away from the Lord. But the joyful news is this. No matter how much we forget or reject God, He never does the same in kind. Never will our Heavenly Father withhold His precious love, time, or attention. Nor ever turn a deaf ear to our prayers.

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December 25th – 2 Corinthians 13:14

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2 Corinthians 13:14

As the year comes to a close and we reflect on birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I can think of no better blessing to pray for you all than Paul’s benediction to the Corinthians. This Christmas, and every day after, may you have grace, love, and fellowship. Unmerited grace is what Jesus gave when He paid our sin debt with His blood. May the same grace flow through you to everyone you meet. Love is why God sent His only begotten Son to be nailed on a Cross. May the same love shine through in all you do. Fellowship is what we can have with the Father and Son through the gift of the Spirit. May you always be led by the guidance of God’s Spirit, and follow His direction. And most of all, on this the most glorious of days, may you have a wonderful holiday overflowing with love and blessings! Merry Christmas!

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December 22nd – Zechariah 9:9

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Zechariah 9:9

When the Israelites thought about their coming Messiah, they envisioned a mighty, conquering, king riding in on a royal steed. Yet He came not wrapped in a royal robe, but dressed in the clothes of the poor and humble and mounted on a donkey. Why? Because Jesus came to conquer not through violence. But instead through love, grace, mercy, and His own sacrifice for His people. All to to fulfill the will of the Father, and the prophecy of Zechariah. So imagine the excitement and joy filling the crowd as they watched their promised Messiah entering the City of David as the as King of the Jews and heir to the throne. No wonder they couldn’t help but cry out in jubilation, “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest!” (Matt. 21:9)

 

 

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December 16th – Corinthians 13:4-8

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1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Every day society bombards us with false ideas of what love is. It makes us think that love just happens to us, and we have no control. For we’ve all heard the expressions “the heart wants what the heart wants”, or heard someone described as “hopelessly in love”. But the Bible teaches completely the opposite. Love is a choice we make, something we can control, and the fruit of a spirit filled life. And here in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul gives us a beautiful description of what a true, faithful, brotherly, selfless, love looks like. The same love perfectly exampled by Jesus. Such a love, “is an unconditional commitment to imperfect people. A love for the utterly unworthy, and a love which proceeds from a God who is love. It’s a love lavished upon others without a thought of whether they are worthy to receive it or not.” (Grace Notes) This is the love that Jesus gave so willingly to us with His sacrificial death on the Cross, and the same love He calls us to reflect.

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December 15th – 2 Peter 3:9

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2 Peter 3:9

Because God takes no pleasure in the destruction of His children, He implores each of us to turn away from our wickedness; crying, “Repent and Live!” But repentance isn’t easy, and if you’re like me, it’s usually two steps forward, one step back. God knows and understands our weakness. All He cares about is that we keep trying, and trust in Him to change the wickedness of our hearts. That means not just confessing and apologizing for our transgressions, but actually turning aside from that sin. And believing that change will come through the strength of Jesus (Phil. 4:13) Unrepentant sin brings with it a host of consequences. Consequences God wants to spare His children. Which is why His own heart aches for the wicked to turn aside from the path of sin leading to death, and back to Him and everlasting life. Gods wants all His children to live eternally by His side, and to experience the perfect, love, joy, and peace that He alone can give!

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December 13th – Psalm 51:1

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Psalm 51:1

David committed horrendous sins against God. Sins others might find unforgivable. The conviction was heavy on the mighty king of Israel. And the pain he felt knowing the hurt his sin caused God, brought him to his knees. It was there on his knees where David confessed his wrongdoings and begged God for forgiveness. And you know what? Because of His never ending forgiveness, love, and mercy, and David’s repentance, God did just that. And He promises to do the same for us. No matter how big or small the sin, when we come before Him with a “broken spirit and a contrite heart”, confessing all our transgressions, we too will receive God’s forgiveness. Our God is an awesome God! When we return to Him in true confession and repentance, He is faithful to wash away the filth in our hearts and cleanse us with His loving grace. Better still, God will renew in us an unmovable and unshakable spirit dedicated to Him alone!

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December 11th – Psalm 66:20

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Psalm 66:20

Don’t you hate it when you’re trying to reach someone and your call goes straight to voicemail? That never happens with God. Through the privilege of prayer, we have a direct and open line of communication with the Lord. And no matter how long it’s been, He picks up on the first ring. Because God is always excited to hear from His children. For He’s been anxiously waiting, ready and eager to receive our call. Some Christians mistakenly believe that God only wants to hear from us about the big stuff. But the truth is, He cares about every area of our lives, big and small. So much so that one of the many wonderful names of God is El Roi, the God who sees me. Our Lord never slumbers nor sleeps. His eyes are always watching over the righteous, His ears always listening for their prayers. Not a moment goes by where He takes His eye off of us. For He is the One who, “keeps us in life, and does not allow our feet to slip.” (Ps. 66:9)

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November 3rd – John 3:16

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John 3:16

I am thankful that God held nothing back to save me

When we consider the perfect, awesome majesty of our Father, we can’t help but ask the same question David asks in Psalm 8:4. “What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him.” We are but a speck in this vastness of the cosmos. Frail, wicked, and rebellious enemies of the Lord. But God loves us so much, He stopped at nothing to provide a way for us to be reconciled to Him. Not even sparing His only begotten Son. God fully knew the betrayal, brutality, and rejection His precious Son would face. Yet out of His unmerited love for His children, God sent Him anyway. And because of His love for both us and the Father, Jesus willingly left His glorious throne in heaven to ransom His life for ours. God gave all to call us His. And Jesus shed His blood to save us. We were purchased at a very high and precious price! That’s how wanted, valued, and loved we are by God!

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October 19th – Psalm 91:4

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Psalm 91:4

God’s Promises – “I will cover you with My feathers and protect you with My wings.”

We all need a refuge. But sadly, in times of trouble, some seek comfort through alcohol, drugs, food, relationships, or money. But these worldly sanctuaries are nothing more than paper houses that crumble at the first sign of an approaching storm. Yet those who take shelter in Jesus, have an unshakable refuge which can withstand even the greatest typhoon. Isaiah 40:31 compares God’s loving care to that of an eagle. Mighty warriors who protect their young, eagles carry their eaglets away from danger. They fly high above the clouds where the sun shines and no storm rages. Just like that eagle, God carries us on His wings providing all we need to soar through even the toughest of times. And from His unending faithfulness, when we abide in God, we are completely protected under His shelter of strength, love, and grace. And I can think of no safer place to be!

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August 31st – 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

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1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Loving others isn’t an easy thing to do. Yet that’s the call God gives to us. And although no one can love unconditionally and perfectly like Jesus, we do need to show each other that same Christlike love. That means practicing patience and kindness even when we are frustrated with those around us. And finding joy instead of envy at another’s blessings. Christlike love isn’t based in arrogance or pride. It doesn’t intentionally provoke others nor keep a record of wrongs committed against us. It’s a selfless love, that is demonstrated through action. And is perfectly exampled by Jesus on the Cross. When describing love, St. Augustine said, “Love has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” Such a love is impossible in our own strength, but through God all things are possible, including loving the unlovable.

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