For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world
that He gave up His only begotten Son,
so that whoever believes in
(trusts in, clings to, relies on)
Him shall not perish
but have eternal (everlasting) life.
John 3:16 (AMP)
Jesus is the missing piece to your life’s puzzle.
God is love.
We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:16b, 19 NLV
My oldest son’s favorite movie as a little boy was (and still is!) Toy Story. In the movie the character, Buzz Lightyear, is famous for the phrase, “To infinity and beyond…!” My sweet son took that phrase and used it to try and describe how much he loved me – “to infinity and beyond…”, and I would respond by telling him, “I love you more…”
The truth is that God loves all of us even more than that! It is unfathomable to think of the magnitude of God’s love for us. He is the definition of love, and He loved you and me before He created the earth and everything in it. He loved us before the beginning of time and will continue to love us into eternity…and beyond!
God’s love is the source of all human love, and He is the only reason we are able to love others. His love does not fade over time. It doesn’t change depending upon His mood, and it definitely does not disappear if we make a mistake… or multiple mistakes. His love is forgiving, kind, compassionate and eternal. The way we love others is a true testament to our love for God. How we treat the people around us – family members, neighbors, friends, co-workers, store clerks, even strangers – is evidence of our love for our Heavenly Father. By allowing our hearts to be filled with His love, we can in turn love others around us with His divine love.
God loves you – to eternity and beyond!
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Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. Love Never Dies…” |
Today love has become a mixed-up term with little significance, and many confuse love with lust. God’s brand of love is directed outward toward others and is characterized by unselfish motives. This type of true love is able to forgive and forget, keep looking forward, and always hope for the best. It is characterized by patience, perseverance and unselfishness.
Love is an attribute of God Himself, and is one of the greatest of all human qualities. By allowing God to fill our hearts with His true love, we are able to express this pure version of love to others in our lives. This love keeps going to the end…and never dies.
So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
1 Corinthians 13: 3 MSG
I’ve found the recipe for being happy
whether full or hungry,
hands full or hands empty.
Whatever I have, wherever I am,
I can make it through anything
in the One who makes me who I am.
Philippians 4:12-13 (MSG)
Are you content in any circumstance you face? True contentment is that divine sense of inward sufficiency which comes from finding your worth through God’s point of view instead of through worldly gain. Often the drive to accumulate more or better possessions is an outward sign of an inward void. The continual desire to acquire greater wealth, recognition, fame or belongings is sometimes evidence of an inner longing to fill an empty place in a person’s life. The emptiness appetite is insatiable if we try to satisfy it with money or assets.
We can trust that God will supply our needs in ways that He knows are best for us. If we focus on finding our purpose in Him and drawing our strength from Him, He will replace our attitude of discontentment with inner peace. With God as the center focus of our lives, we can say with confidence, “Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”
OH LORD,
our Lord,
how EXCELLENT
MAJESTIC and GLORIOUS
is YOUR NAME in
all the earth!
You have set
YOUR GLORY
above the
HEAVENS
Psalm 8:1
Take time to look for glimpses of God’s Glory throughout your day today and praise his Excellent, Majestic and Glorious Name!
wis·dom (noun) [wizdem]
“the ability to see into the future the consequences of your choices in the present”
The Noticer; Andy Andrews
While we can’t “see into the future,” we do know the One who holds our future in His hands. How many times have we made decisions on our own, without seeking God’s counsel, and suffered terrible consequences as a result? His wisdom provides insight into all areas of our lives, including finances, relationships, marriage, health, time management, friendships, career, school, and child rearing. He scripted your entire life’s story, from before your birth to your last breath. He knows the unique purpose for which He created you, and He definitely knows what is best for your life.
Seek God’s wisdom for your choices today, and the future consequences of your choices in the present will be divine and not disastrous.
For the LORD gives wisdom,
and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:6 (NIV1984)
“I am only one; but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something;
I will not refuse to do the something I can do.”
(Helen Keller)
“May the God of Peace…
Equip you with everything good for doing his will,
And may he work in us what is pleasing to him,
Through Jesus Christ…”
Hebrews 13:20a – 21 (NIV 1984)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 (NIV1984)
| Think This b | Not That |
| Whatever is….. | Whatever is….. |
|
True |
False |
|
Noble |
Dishonorable |
|
Right |
Wrong |
|
Pure |
Unwholesome |
|
Lovely |
Dreadful |
|
Admirable |
Disgraceful |
|
Excellent |
Inferior |
|
Praiseworthy |
Blameworthy |
What we put into our minds will eventually come out in our words and actions. If we feed our minds on a diet of thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy, there will be marvelous results in our outward behaviors. A continual feast of rightful thinking will transform your thoughts and lift your spirit. Your heart will become so full of goodness that it will eventually spill over into your communication with others around you; it will show in the expression on your face, and will be evident in your attitude and deeds.
If you have problems with negative thinking, examine what you are feeding into your mind through websites, social network sites, text messages, email, television, magazines, books, radio, movies and conversations. There may be people you gravitate toward who bring you down with gossip. Purposefully replace any harmful input with wholesome material. Don’t leave room in your mind for thoughts that are false, dishonorable, wrong, unwholesome, dreadful, disgraceful, inferior or blameworthy.
Ask God to help you focus on what is good and pure. Feast upon His Word and pray throughout your day. At first it may be difficult to wean yourself away from a diet of inferior thoughts and negativity, but eventually you will feel a refreshing transformation in your mind and spirit which will be evident in your countenance, conversations and conduct.
Think this…not that!
God’s love is meteoric,
his loyalty astronomic,
His purpose titanic,
his verdicts oceanic.
Yet in his largeness
nothing gets lost;
Not a man, not a mouse,
slips through the cracks.
Psalm 36:5-6 (MSG)
God’s vast love for us is unfathomable. It is deeper, wider and broader than our human minds can comprehend. His love is unchanging and never-ending. It’s sometimes difficult to imagine how the Creator of the Universe could care about the smallest details of our lives, but the truth is that even in His largeness…NOTHING gets lost. Be mindful of God’s attention to detail in your life. Share everything with Him. He cares about each tiny facet of your existence. Not a man, not a mouse, slips thought the cracks.
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, a Peace which surpasses all understanding , will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6-7(MSG)
Worry causes us to experience our troubles many times over. Most of what we worry about never comes to pass, and we expend enormous amounts of brain power fabricating thoughts of what might happen at some point in the future. How many times have we lost sleep with agonizing thoughts running through our heads instead of peaceful dreams? As we try to think ahead and rehearse different scenarios of “what ifs” on the stage of our mind, we lose focus on the fact that God is right beside us through any trial we face, and He knows every detail of our lives. He has planned each moment of our days, and He will perfectly equip us for any battle. When we take our concerns to our Heavenly Father through prayer and focus our hearts and minds on Him, His presence displaces our anxieties and infuses our soul with Peace that surpasses our understanding. Instead of worrying…pray.
everyday encouragement 