I love to study about God's love because I believe love is truly the essence of who God is. In fact, I John 4:16, tells us "GOD IS LOVE". Last night I was reading 1 John 4 and rediscovered verses 9-10, "God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life though HIm. This is real love - not that we loved God, but that HE loves us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." !!!!
I don't know how you feel, but to me - that's exciting news! Often we think the key to our success as Christians is loving God more. However, scripture clearly reveals that our relationship with God is based on His love for us! We don't have to perform for God's love or be perfect. He loves us unconditionally, always has and always will!
I'm not suggesting that we should just live any kind of way because we know God loves us. I'm suggesting if we focus on God's great love for us, then the only response would be loving Him in return. A revelation of God's love toward us would make obedience and trust a piece of cake. We would never think that God is withholding something good from us. We would realize that when God says, "Not now" or "She/he is not right for you" it comes from His desire for us to experience true joy and peace in life. We would also have a confident assurance that when God promised to provide all our needs according to His riches in Glory - HE MEANT IT!
For those struggling because of gas prices and the economy, I encourage you to take this time and jump deep in God's love for you. Worry and complaining won't bring the prices down and does nothing to give you peace, but focusing on how much God loves you will position you to receive the provision He has already provided! I pray that you will grow to perfection in His love. I am convinced that the same God who gave his Son to give us life is willing and able to provide gas (and anything else) for his children. What do you think?
Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Love Like This?
Are you looking for a love like this?
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done?
What you said? Or where you’ve been?
Let me tell you where to find it—
The only place it exists – in God
God loves you
Completely
Eternally
In spite of your sin
His love is unconditional
It never changes
Doesn’t matter what happens
His love always remains
Patient, kind, enduring
No recording keeping
He’s not judging
Why judge?
He already knows all about you
But yet He loves you anyway
This is the real deal – truth
Not looking to pay you back
For all the wrong you’ve done
God ain’t mad no more!
Your sin debt paid by his SON
Not breaking you down
To teach you right
Not using fear of hell eternal
To make you see His light
Instead He woos you
Calls you to him
Showing mercy and grace
Far beyond what you deserve
Always loving you anyway
No one else offers love like this…
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done?
What you said? Or where you’ve been?
Let me tell you where to find it—
The only place it exists – in God
God loves you
Completely
Eternally
In spite of your sin
His love is unconditional
It never changes
Doesn’t matter what happens
His love always remains
Patient, kind, enduring
No recording keeping
He’s not judging
Why judge?
He already knows all about you
But yet He loves you anyway
This is the real deal – truth
Not looking to pay you back
For all the wrong you’ve done
God ain’t mad no more!
Your sin debt paid by his SON
Not breaking you down
To teach you right
Not using fear of hell eternal
To make you see His light
Instead He woos you
Calls you to him
Showing mercy and grace
Far beyond what you deserve
Always loving you anyway
No one else offers love like this…
Friday, May 9, 2008
I Choose Champion
I refuse to be defined
Confined by labels
Society tries to stick on me
Carving out limitations
Based on gender, race, or nationality
I am not restricted to merely repeat
That which has already been achieved
Endless potential within my soul
Maybe a cure to cancer or HIV
God wrote out my purpose
From beginning to end
By my choices I decide
If I lose or if I win
SO I choose victory
Living life giving God glory
Taking my place in history
Touching society in a way
That is uniquely me
Unwilling to become
A cheap carbon copy
Embracing the Designer’s plan
A vision of originality
Life may attempt
To place me in a category
But only I have the ability
To determine what I become
I chose CHAMPION!
Confined by labels
Society tries to stick on me
Carving out limitations
Based on gender, race, or nationality
I am not restricted to merely repeat
That which has already been achieved
Endless potential within my soul
Maybe a cure to cancer or HIV
God wrote out my purpose
From beginning to end
By my choices I decide
If I lose or if I win
SO I choose victory
Living life giving God glory
Taking my place in history
Touching society in a way
That is uniquely me
Unwilling to become
A cheap carbon copy
Embracing the Designer’s plan
A vision of originality
Life may attempt
To place me in a category
But only I have the ability
To determine what I become
I chose CHAMPION!
Monday, April 28, 2008
You have the ultimate power
Are you ready for change? Do you wish that you could change your life immediately? Well, I have great news....you can! It may sound too good to be true, but it's not. Just stick with me a moment and I will show you to change your life in a minute.
No matter what circumstances we face, we can change our lives instantaneously with one simple act - a decision!
The moment you make a decision, your life begins to move in a new direction. Let me give you an example, early in my marriage, my husband and I experienced major difficulties. We had the kind of problems that usually lead to divorce. Sometimes it was so bad that divorce seemed to be the only viable option. But we didn't want to be divorced! So we took divorce off the table as an option. In other words, we made a decision to stay married.
The power of making a decision to stay married changed the course of our lives because a true decision cuts off the other alternatives. When we decided to stay married, we cut off the possibility of divorce and opened ourselves to learn how to be happily married. As a result we are happily together ten years later.
You may thinking...well great for you, but how does that help me? I'm glad you asked. Pick one thing you want to change in your life. It may be losing weight, saving more money, getting a new job or ending a relationship that's headed no where. Now decide right now to do it! Don't worry about how hard it will be or how much time it will take....just decide that it's the only option for you.
If you made a decision, then you just exercised the ultimate power. You have taken control of your life and empowered yourself to change. You have closed the door to being overweight, struggling financially or continuing to work in your current job.
How will you know if you have truly made a decision? Cutting off other alternatives will force you to act. So start exercising, saving and looking for another job - call your signficant other and tell them it's over - you are moving on to better things. You have the power to change your life now use it!
See you next week~
No matter what circumstances we face, we can change our lives instantaneously with one simple act - a decision!
The moment you make a decision, your life begins to move in a new direction. Let me give you an example, early in my marriage, my husband and I experienced major difficulties. We had the kind of problems that usually lead to divorce. Sometimes it was so bad that divorce seemed to be the only viable option. But we didn't want to be divorced! So we took divorce off the table as an option. In other words, we made a decision to stay married.
The power of making a decision to stay married changed the course of our lives because a true decision cuts off the other alternatives. When we decided to stay married, we cut off the possibility of divorce and opened ourselves to learn how to be happily married. As a result we are happily together ten years later.
You may thinking...well great for you, but how does that help me? I'm glad you asked. Pick one thing you want to change in your life. It may be losing weight, saving more money, getting a new job or ending a relationship that's headed no where. Now decide right now to do it! Don't worry about how hard it will be or how much time it will take....just decide that it's the only option for you.
If you made a decision, then you just exercised the ultimate power. You have taken control of your life and empowered yourself to change. You have closed the door to being overweight, struggling financially or continuing to work in your current job.
How will you know if you have truly made a decision? Cutting off other alternatives will force you to act. So start exercising, saving and looking for another job - call your signficant other and tell them it's over - you are moving on to better things. You have the power to change your life now use it!
See you next week~
Monday, April 21, 2008
Keep It Moving
Couldn’t stay here
In this place
Living in a house made of
Other people’s expectations
Started to stifle me, strangle me
In time it would have silenced me
Felt like I was losing me
Had to set myself free
Stopped marching to the beat of another’s drum
Making my own sound now
Found my voice
Feels so good to be free
From the urge to fit in
No longer stuck in mediocrity
Waiting for the world to get the epiphany
Of the greatness in me
I am great – make no mistake about it
Although it took a time for me to see
Cause the loudness of average was blinding me - binding me
Shook myself loose from the chains
I’m crying loud my voice will be heard
Different isn’t always easy
But it’s always necessary
In this place
Living in a house made of
Other people’s expectations
Started to stifle me, strangle me
In time it would have silenced me
Felt like I was losing me
Had to set myself free
Stopped marching to the beat of another’s drum
Making my own sound now
Found my voice
Feels so good to be free
From the urge to fit in
No longer stuck in mediocrity
Waiting for the world to get the epiphany
Of the greatness in me
I am great – make no mistake about it
Although it took a time for me to see
Cause the loudness of average was blinding me - binding me
Shook myself loose from the chains
I’m crying loud my voice will be heard
Different isn’t always easy
But it’s always necessary
Thursday, April 17, 2008
You can do it!
What are you dreaming about?
What do you want to accomplish in life?
What would you do if you couldn't fail?
If money wasn't an issue?
Too many times we allow what we don't have to keep us from expanding what we do have. We sit on the sidelines watching life pass us by hoping for someone to see our potential and give us a shot. I'm encouraging you to take your shot. You were created to do something that this world needs. Stop waiting on someone to notice you and make something happen.
If you want to write a book, start with a blog - you can send those out for free. Get some feedback, improve and then write that book even if you have to sell it out of your trunk!
If you think you are the next great singer or musician, sing in the park, the barbershop or your next family reunion. Maybe your uncle has a friend in the business.
If you want to lose weight, put the cookies down, put on your shoes and hit the door.
Don't be afraid of hard work. If it's worth having it's worthing working for. Don't be afraid of being different. Only those who stand out are remembered. Don't be afraid of being told no. Everyone who has done anything great has been told their dream was too lofty, too extravagant or too difficult. Silence your critics by accomplishing what they say can't be done.
You only get one chance to live this life. When you stand at the end of your life, will you see all you have accomplished or all the opportunties you missed waiting on someone else to notice you? The choice is yours, but just so you know....I think you can do it!
What do you want to accomplish in life?
What would you do if you couldn't fail?
If money wasn't an issue?
Too many times we allow what we don't have to keep us from expanding what we do have. We sit on the sidelines watching life pass us by hoping for someone to see our potential and give us a shot. I'm encouraging you to take your shot. You were created to do something that this world needs. Stop waiting on someone to notice you and make something happen.
If you want to write a book, start with a blog - you can send those out for free. Get some feedback, improve and then write that book even if you have to sell it out of your trunk!
If you think you are the next great singer or musician, sing in the park, the barbershop or your next family reunion. Maybe your uncle has a friend in the business.
If you want to lose weight, put the cookies down, put on your shoes and hit the door.
Don't be afraid of hard work. If it's worth having it's worthing working for. Don't be afraid of being different. Only those who stand out are remembered. Don't be afraid of being told no. Everyone who has done anything great has been told their dream was too lofty, too extravagant or too difficult. Silence your critics by accomplishing what they say can't be done.
You only get one chance to live this life. When you stand at the end of your life, will you see all you have accomplished or all the opportunties you missed waiting on someone else to notice you? The choice is yours, but just so you know....I think you can do it!
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