With tomorrow being Valentine's Day, I thought it fitting to write a blog about the greatest love in the universe. God's love for us. There is NOTHING more fantastic, magnificent, or breath-taking than God's love for us. We are SO undeserving of His love. Isaiah 64:6 says that, "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." There is nothing we can do to earn God's love. He gives it to us because we are His children and He created each and every one of us.
John 3:16. You're probably reciting it in your head right now. But have you ever taken a moment to really, truly grasp the enormity of that verse? We all know it and for many of us it was the first Bible verse that we memorized. But just because we can say it backward and forward doesn't mean that we understand it's full meaning. So take a minute and truly look at the words that are written.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." ~John 3:16
God loved us SO much that He gave His ONLY Son to die in my place and yours. Jesus died for something. He died so that we, undeserving, filthy human beings, could have a way to Heaven, a way to spend eternity with our Lord, God, Father and His Son who died for us.
Are you really letting this sink in? It's ridiculously crazy. The God who created everything in existence let the Son that He loved die a horrible death so that we would have a way to be with Him. He gave up EVERYTHING for us. What are we giving Him?
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." ~Romans 12:1
God asks for our lives to be a living sacrifice for Him. Are you honestly devoting your entire life to His service? It's not something that happens overnight. Becoming a devoted Christ-follower takes an amazing amount of work. But doesn't God deserve every ounce of you? AND you're never working in vain. If you're working for God then you are building up treasure in Heaven while furthering His kingdom here on Earth. I think that should be every Christian's goal.
So, I present you with this challenge: This Valentine's Day show God's love to someone that you don't know. Smile, not only with your mouth, but with your entire being. Be happy and joyful in God's love and let the world see that you are His.
Happy Valentine's and God Bless,
Taylor
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
God's Love
Romans 8:37-39 - Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There is nothing that you can do to make God love you any more than He already does. His love is perfect, never ending, unchangeable.
There is nothing that you have ever done or will ever do that could make God love you any less.
His love is perfect, never ending, unchangeable.
We're His children, and He loves every one of us. We all sin and have come short of His glory, but that's one of the MANY amazing things about God: He can separate US from our SIN! God hates sin with a perfect hatred, but He still loves us with a perfect love.
We have to be willing to accept His love for what it is. He is able to forgive and forget our sins, but oftentimes we aren't able to forgive ourselves. If the God of the universe is able to see the goodness in us, why can't we see it in ourselves? We have to learn how to forgive ourselves and let go of the wrong that we've done. If we keep piling junk onto our list of sins then we're discrediting the death that Jesus died on the cross. He DIED to forgive us of our sins. It doesn't do us any good to try and hang on to the past. God has forgiven us, so it's time to forgive ourselves.
Nothing can separate us from God's love, but we can separate ourselves from God by hiding in shame. God knows everything about us. There's nothing that we can hide from Him, though we may try. Let your sins go, forgive yourself, and run to God with open arms. He's waiting, and He loves you no matter what.
Psalm 103
1Praise the Lord, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits--
3who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel;
8The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10he does not repay us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for hose who fear him;
12as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children--
18with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all,
20Praise the Lord you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21Praise the lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22Priase the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, O my soul.
God Bless,
Taylor
There is nothing that you can do to make God love you any more than He already does. His love is perfect, never ending, unchangeable.
There is nothing that you have ever done or will ever do that could make God love you any less.
His love is perfect, never ending, unchangeable.
We're His children, and He loves every one of us. We all sin and have come short of His glory, but that's one of the MANY amazing things about God: He can separate US from our SIN! God hates sin with a perfect hatred, but He still loves us with a perfect love.
We have to be willing to accept His love for what it is. He is able to forgive and forget our sins, but oftentimes we aren't able to forgive ourselves. If the God of the universe is able to see the goodness in us, why can't we see it in ourselves? We have to learn how to forgive ourselves and let go of the wrong that we've done. If we keep piling junk onto our list of sins then we're discrediting the death that Jesus died on the cross. He DIED to forgive us of our sins. It doesn't do us any good to try and hang on to the past. God has forgiven us, so it's time to forgive ourselves.
Nothing can separate us from God's love, but we can separate ourselves from God by hiding in shame. God knows everything about us. There's nothing that we can hide from Him, though we may try. Let your sins go, forgive yourself, and run to God with open arms. He's waiting, and He loves you no matter what.
Psalm 103
1Praise the Lord, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits--
3who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel;
8The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10he does not repay us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for hose who fear him;
12as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children--
18with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
19The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all,
20Praise the Lord you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21Praise the lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22Priase the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, O my soul.
God Bless,
Taylor
Thursday, February 4, 2010
A Hardening Heart
Today's blurb is going to be based in an online devotional: In Touch Ministries Daily Devotional with Dr. Charles Stanley. I think The Danger of a Hardening Heart is something that we will all face at some point in time. I'll comment more as we go along. =)
The Danger of a Hardening Heart
Hebrews 3:7-19 - Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, TO DAY IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS, AS IN THE PROVOCATION, IN THE DAY OF TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS: WHEN YOUR FATHERS TEMPTED ME, PROVED ME, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS. WHEREFORE I WAS GRIEVED WITH THAT GENERATION, AND SAID, THEY DO ALWAY ERR IN THEIR HEART; AND THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN MY WAYS. SO I SWARE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER INTO MY REST.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, TO DAY IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS, AS IN THE PROVOCATION. For soe, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
God repeatedly calls His children, but the condition of each heart determines the result. Those with soft and tender hearts hear His voice and yield to Him in obedience, but those with hard hearts resist His warnings and instructions. Surprisingly, upon hearing the same voice, some believers are motivated to a deeper and more obedient relationship with the Lord, while others reject and refuse Him.
Since hardening is a slow process that's often accompanied by rationalizations and excuses, the danger signs may not be readily recognized. How do you respond when the Lord speaks to you through His Word, your conscience, or messages based on Scripture? Carefully consider the following characteristics of a hardening heart:
-Insensitivity or resistance to what God says
-Refusal to put yourself under His authority
-Disobedience to what you know the Lord is instructing you to do
-Justification of sinful conduct
-Resistance to the reproof of others
-Preoccupation with the things of this world (career, relationships, possessions)
-Little interest in spiritual matters
-Absence of private devotion (Bible reading and prayer)
-Avoidance of public worship (gathering with other believers)
I just want to add that not all of things have to be present to show that a heart is beginning to harden. If even one is beginning to show up in our lives, we should take the time to evaluate our relationship with Him.
A hard heart does not have to stay in that condition. If you have discovered any of the above traits in your life, begin today to return to the Lord. Ask Him to give you a new heart to know Him.
Jeremiah 24:7 - And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
Remember, He specializes in making all things new.
II Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
In my own life, I find that being in God's way and in His Word is extremely comforting. For instance, I didn't even realize that this devotional ended in the Bible verse that I wrote my first blog based on (it was the sermon at my church this past Sunday) until I got the bottom and typed it just now. But it makes me feel amazing to find these "coincidences." A very wise man (Albert Einstein to be specific) once said, "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous," and I believe that to be very true. It's easy to forget about God's constant presence in our lives, but I think that we should all try to see His goodness in everything around us. Even if that thing is just a small coincidence. =)
Psalm 34:8 - O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (KJV)
Psalm 34:8 - Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good God is. Blessed are you who run to Him. (The Message)
God Bless,
Taylor
The Danger of a Hardening Heart
Hebrews 3:7-19 - Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, TO DAY IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS, AS IN THE PROVOCATION, IN THE DAY OF TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS: WHEN YOUR FATHERS TEMPTED ME, PROVED ME, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS. WHEREFORE I WAS GRIEVED WITH THAT GENERATION, AND SAID, THEY DO ALWAY ERR IN THEIR HEART; AND THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN MY WAYS. SO I SWARE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER INTO MY REST.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, TO DAY IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS, AS IN THE PROVOCATION. For soe, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
God repeatedly calls His children, but the condition of each heart determines the result. Those with soft and tender hearts hear His voice and yield to Him in obedience, but those with hard hearts resist His warnings and instructions. Surprisingly, upon hearing the same voice, some believers are motivated to a deeper and more obedient relationship with the Lord, while others reject and refuse Him.
Since hardening is a slow process that's often accompanied by rationalizations and excuses, the danger signs may not be readily recognized. How do you respond when the Lord speaks to you through His Word, your conscience, or messages based on Scripture? Carefully consider the following characteristics of a hardening heart:
-Insensitivity or resistance to what God says
-Refusal to put yourself under His authority
-Disobedience to what you know the Lord is instructing you to do
-Justification of sinful conduct
-Resistance to the reproof of others
-Preoccupation with the things of this world (career, relationships, possessions)
-Little interest in spiritual matters
-Absence of private devotion (Bible reading and prayer)
-Avoidance of public worship (gathering with other believers)
I just want to add that not all of things have to be present to show that a heart is beginning to harden. If even one is beginning to show up in our lives, we should take the time to evaluate our relationship with Him.
A hard heart does not have to stay in that condition. If you have discovered any of the above traits in your life, begin today to return to the Lord. Ask Him to give you a new heart to know Him.
Jeremiah 24:7 - And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
Remember, He specializes in making all things new.
II Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
In my own life, I find that being in God's way and in His Word is extremely comforting. For instance, I didn't even realize that this devotional ended in the Bible verse that I wrote my first blog based on (it was the sermon at my church this past Sunday) until I got the bottom and typed it just now. But it makes me feel amazing to find these "coincidences." A very wise man (Albert Einstein to be specific) once said, "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous," and I believe that to be very true. It's easy to forget about God's constant presence in our lives, but I think that we should all try to see His goodness in everything around us. Even if that thing is just a small coincidence. =)
Psalm 34:8 - O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (KJV)
Psalm 34:8 - Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see - how good God is. Blessed are you who run to Him. (The Message)
God Bless,
Taylor
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Winning and Losing?
Life is not about winning or losing. Life is about understanding, compromising, and growing. If life were about winning and losing, we would all be doomed. No one can win all of the time. It's impossible. None of us is perfect enough to dodge defeat. But there is still hope for us. Christ isn't judging us based on whether we win or lose. He loves us when we're on the top of the world and when we're on rock bottom. The only way for us to even begin to look towards the idea of perfection is to live through God. And even then we Still won't ever be perfect. We will Always fall down and need God's forgiveness. BUT by living through Him we will learn more from ALL of our experiences combined than we could ever learn through just winning.
God wants us to win and to lose. But wait. Wouldn't we think that our loving Heavenly Father would always want His children to win? Some people might think that. But in reality, God teaches us valuable lessons from losing. He wants us to win and lose graciously. Most importantly He wants to be the one that we turn to when we win AND when we lose. He is the ultimate coach in our lives and because He loves us, He won't always let us win. If you've ever played a sport or maybe even a board game, you can relate to the fact that you usually learn more when you lose than when you win. When you lose a softball game, you take the time to assess what may have gone wrong. Maybe you had a hole in left field because your centerfielder was standing to the right because she was mad at the leftfielder. The opposing team saw this and consistently hit the ball into the hole. After the game, you would huddle up and have a talk about working as a team and about doing your job. I use this analogy to say that if you had won the game, you may not have realized that there was a hole on the field. You wouldn't have taken the opportunity to evaluate your game afterwards.
God uses loses to teach us lessons. Sometimes we have to lose to learn from Him, and I know that in that case, I am okay with losing. I can only hope that in any case, whether I win or lose, I will praise Him for the opportunity to play the game.
Hebrews 7:19 - For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. (KJV)
Hebrews 7:19 - For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God. (NLT)
At the end of the day I would ask you to remember the words from the song:
I was sure by now God
You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as your mercy fall
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives
and takes away.
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
That you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives
and takes away
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
That you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
my help comes from the Lord
the maker of Heaven and Earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
my help comes from the Lord
the maker of Heaven and Earth
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
That you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
Even when we're down and out, and feel like we're at the bottom, God is still there. =)
God Bless,
Taylor
God wants us to win and to lose. But wait. Wouldn't we think that our loving Heavenly Father would always want His children to win? Some people might think that. But in reality, God teaches us valuable lessons from losing. He wants us to win and lose graciously. Most importantly He wants to be the one that we turn to when we win AND when we lose. He is the ultimate coach in our lives and because He loves us, He won't always let us win. If you've ever played a sport or maybe even a board game, you can relate to the fact that you usually learn more when you lose than when you win. When you lose a softball game, you take the time to assess what may have gone wrong. Maybe you had a hole in left field because your centerfielder was standing to the right because she was mad at the leftfielder. The opposing team saw this and consistently hit the ball into the hole. After the game, you would huddle up and have a talk about working as a team and about doing your job. I use this analogy to say that if you had won the game, you may not have realized that there was a hole on the field. You wouldn't have taken the opportunity to evaluate your game afterwards.
God uses loses to teach us lessons. Sometimes we have to lose to learn from Him, and I know that in that case, I am okay with losing. I can only hope that in any case, whether I win or lose, I will praise Him for the opportunity to play the game.
Hebrews 7:19 - For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. (KJV)
Hebrews 7:19 - For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God. (NLT)
At the end of the day I would ask you to remember the words from the song:
I was sure by now God
You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as your mercy fall
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives
and takes away.
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
That you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives
and takes away
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
That you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
I lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
my help comes from the Lord
the maker of Heaven and Earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
my help comes from the Lord
the maker of Heaven and Earth
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
That you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
Even when we're down and out, and feel like we're at the bottom, God is still there. =)
God Bless,
Taylor
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Difficult Relationships
I was going to pull today's content from a devotional, but I have something bigger going on in my life that I think I have to write about.
I try so hard to pour our my heart and my love to those around me, especially those closest to me. But some days I feel like all I get back is hate. It's hard to be friends with someone who hates you, but for some reason I keep pouring my love into the relationship.
John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
I guess the only thing I pull strength from is the fact that Jesus loves us with an unconditional love, and He instructs us to love one another as He loves us. I'm not trying to put myself on a pedastal. Definitely not. I'm just trying to understand why I get hate shoved back at me when all I'm trying to do is love those around me. It's especially discouraging.
I John 3:16 - Hereby percieve we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (KJV)
I John 3:16 - We know what real love is because Christ gave up his live for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters. (NLT)
I just don't understand how someone could harbor so much hate towards a person who loves them so much. But again, I guess that is what Jesus felt a zillion times over as He died on the cross for our sins.
Romans 8:35-39 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, FOR THY SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL THE DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In the end I just have to remember that God loves me more than I will ever be able to imagine. He knows every ache I feel, every pain that I go through. I have to give Him my hand and trust that He is leading me down the path that I am supposed to be on. I have to place ALL of my faith in Him and draw my strength from Him and His word. I cannot let the discouragements and the heartache of this world separate me from His direction.
Matthew 25:23 - His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thow hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the lord.
It is my hope to be considered a good and faithful servant of the Lord. I am just a visitor in this world. My home is in Heaven, and until I get there, I will do my best everyday to glorify my God. I want Him to be proud of me and what I am doing here on earth.
I hope that things will get better in the particular relationship that is crashing and burning right now, but until then I am putting all of my trust and my faith in God to get me through.
God Bless,
Taylor
I try so hard to pour our my heart and my love to those around me, especially those closest to me. But some days I feel like all I get back is hate. It's hard to be friends with someone who hates you, but for some reason I keep pouring my love into the relationship.
John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
I guess the only thing I pull strength from is the fact that Jesus loves us with an unconditional love, and He instructs us to love one another as He loves us. I'm not trying to put myself on a pedastal. Definitely not. I'm just trying to understand why I get hate shoved back at me when all I'm trying to do is love those around me. It's especially discouraging.
I John 3:16 - Hereby percieve we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (KJV)
I John 3:16 - We know what real love is because Christ gave up his live for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters. (NLT)
I just don't understand how someone could harbor so much hate towards a person who loves them so much. But again, I guess that is what Jesus felt a zillion times over as He died on the cross for our sins.
Romans 8:35-39 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, FOR THY SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL THE DAY LONG; WE ARE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In the end I just have to remember that God loves me more than I will ever be able to imagine. He knows every ache I feel, every pain that I go through. I have to give Him my hand and trust that He is leading me down the path that I am supposed to be on. I have to place ALL of my faith in Him and draw my strength from Him and His word. I cannot let the discouragements and the heartache of this world separate me from His direction.
Matthew 25:23 - His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thow hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the lord.
It is my hope to be considered a good and faithful servant of the Lord. I am just a visitor in this world. My home is in Heaven, and until I get there, I will do my best everyday to glorify my God. I want Him to be proud of me and what I am doing here on earth.
I hope that things will get better in the particular relationship that is crashing and burning right now, but until then I am putting all of my trust and my faith in God to get me through.
God Bless,
Taylor
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