Tag Archives: God’s Love

Feb5

Mountain-Moving Faith

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“…And if I have faith that can move mountains,

But have not love,

I am nothing.”

1 Corinthians 13:2b

I’m in awe of mountain-moving faith…the kind of faith that believes against all odds, without a glimmer of doubt, and beyond all obstacles that the mountain in front of you will be leveled.  The 11th chapter of Hebrews gives account of the Bible’s “Faith Hall of Fame.”  By faith, Noah built the Ark and saved his family from the Great Flood.  By faith, Abraham left his home to live in tents in the Promised Land and became a father late in life producing a line of descendants “as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore”…just as God had promised.  By faith, Joseph endured slavery and false imprisonment and rose to power in Egypt so that he could one day save his entire family, Abraham’s descendants, from severe famine.  By faith, Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born to spare his life.  Then Moses grew up to lead God’s people by faith out of slavery in Egypt by passing through the Red Sea on dry land!

The entire chapter of Hebrews 11 summarizes the lives of other great men and women of faith who conquered kingdoms, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, escaped the edge of the sword, whose weakness was turned to strength, and women whose dead were raised to life again.  They wandered in deserts, and mountains and lived in tents, caves, prisons and holes in the ground, yet through faith they persevered. The Bible is full of these amazing stories, which dramatize mountain-moving faith in action.

These stories of faith are so significant to God that He had them written into His Word for us to read about them today.  Yet I learn in 1 Corinthians 13:2b that…”if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am NOTHING.”

If God grants me the ability to “move mountains” in my life through faith in Him, it is worthless if I do not have His love flowing through me into the lives of others.  God’s love is always focused outward toward others.  The miraculous feats of faith, which we read about in the Bible, all had a grand purpose in God’s big picture and are evidence of His enduring love for His children.  Some lost their lives and died full of faith never realizing that their piece of the puzzle would some day help complete the masterpiece of God’s great love for us.

All of the people mentioned in Hebrews 11 were ordinary people like you and me.  They became famous for faith because they allowed God to work through their lives.  They said “yes” to God’s requests and trusted Him to guide them and take care of the details.  They put others ahead of their own comfort and convenience and didn’t take the easy way out in their daily path.  They didn’t realized that their actions of faith would one day make headlines in the pages of the Bible.  As children of God, we are each writing our own faith story today.  God wants to use our story to help complete His masterpiece.  You never know when a seemingly simple act of faith might have eternal purpose.  Allow God to use you in His grand plan, but be sure that love is the motivation of your mountain-moving faith.

…Because without love, we are nothing.

Feb1

The Most Excellent Way

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And now I will show you the most excellent way.

If I speak with the eloquence of men and of angels,

But have no love,

I become no more than blaring brass or crashing cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13:1

 Love is the greatest of all human qualities.  In fact it is an attribute of God Himself; 1 John 4:8 tells us, “God is love.”  So if we possess special abilities, such as eloquent speech, but we don’t have God, then those gifts are useless ~ nothing more than a noisy bell, a clanging cymbal, or the creaking of a rusty gate.

 Love makes our gifts and talents useful.  God’s love working through our lives is directed outward toward others.  He has blessed each of His children with unique and special gifts, and His great plan is for us to use those talents in the work of His kingdom serving others.  He desires for us to use our skills and abilities to build up and strengthen others in our sphere of influence. 

 We all don’t possess the same types of talents and abilities, but love is available to everyone.  By allowing God to live through us, we are able to show His love to others.   God’s love blended with our talents creates a dynamic synergy with divine purpose.  This is “the most excellent way.”

 

Jan21

Standing Firmly on the Rock

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He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
    and put their trust in Him.

Psalm 40:2–3

 When you experience a season of emotional or physical upheaval in life, it is easy to begin feeling like you are trapped in a deep, dark, slimy pit filled with mud and mire.  Your footings are unstable and no matter what you do to try and pull yourself out of this dismal situation, you seem to slip right back down to the bottom.  Every step you take becomes bogged down in the thick quagmire of your problems.

 If you find yourself in a dark place like this in life, do not give into the feeling of hopelessness.  You are not alone!  There is no depth so deep that God is not watching over you.  There is no place so dark that His light cannot penetrate.  Nothing can ever separate you from His love.  Instead of trying to climb out of the pit on your own, call out to God, and He will hear your cry of despair.  Lift up your hands to your Heavenly Father and allow Him to lift you out of the mud and mire.

He will place your feet upon a solid Rock and give you a firm place to stand.  Even in the midst of tumultuous situations, you will have a solid foundation with God.  The winds of controversy may gust, and the stormy problems may howl, but you will remain firmly rooted in God’s love and protection. 

The Lord will give you a new song to sing.  Your focus will turn from your problems and difficulties, and instead your thoughts will be centered on praising Our Savior.  Your life will be a testament to others.  They will see what God has done for you and be amazed.  As a result, many will also place their trust in the Lord.

Let your roots hold firmly to the Rock!  With Him you will never be shaken.

 

“Truly He is my rock and my salvation;
    He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”

Psalm 62:2

Jan12

Listen for His Song

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The Lord your God is in your midst,
A Mighty One who will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness;
He will quiet you by His love;
He will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

Take a moment to let the words of this scripture penetrate your mind and permeate your heart.  The same Mighty God who created the universe is in your midst.  As His child you are never alone.  Your Heavenly Father is beside you every step of the way.  He is always present in your life.  When the going gets tough, He’s not going to bail out.

God loves you unconditionally.  He celebrates and sings because of YOU.  As a mom of three sons, I know how it feels to “rejoice” over my children.  Be assured that my voice will be the loudest one cheering in the stands whenever there’s a home run, touch down or game winning basket.  I also celebrate other accomplishments with them such as good grades on a report card, learning a new skill, or making the team.  Truthfully, I rejoice over my boys each morning when I wake them up and each time they walk in the door from school.  So if an earthly parent can have such joy over her children, I can’t imagine how much more our Heavenly Father, who created each and every one of us, rejoices over all His children.

When you are fearful, hurting or sad, He quiets you and comforts you with His love.  Our All-knowing, All-seeing, ever present Lord knows your every need and thought.  He senses the pain you may be feeling.  He knows your circumstances and understands your fears with complete clarity.  Just imagine His divine arms wrapped tightly around you, holding you, consoling you, reassuring you, soothing you and calming all your fears.

God’s word is true.  So we can believe without a doubt that the Mighty One who will save is in your midst.  He is rejoicing over you.  He is quieting you by His love.  And your Heavenly Father is singing loudly over you with joy.  Acknowledge His presence in your life.  Sense His joy and gladness over you.  Feel His comfort, and listen for His loud singing throughout your day.

Jan11

God’s Answers

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Each day untold numbers of negative thoughts can swirl through our heads.  It is often difficult to control those thoughts, but I have found that the best remedy for negative thinking is through God’s powerful and positive Word. When you feel discouraged, weak, too tied to go on, unloved, condemned, depleted, confused, incompetent, fearful, guilty, unsure, defeated, worried, sad, or alone, God has an answer for you.   Say these verses out loud until you have memorized them.  Repeat them to yourself each time that negative thought creeps into your mind.  God loves you unconditionally!  He speaks to you through His Word.  Listen to His voice of truth instead of the lies that may be playing on “auto-shuffle” in your mind.

Here are just a few examples to get you started:

God’s Answers to our Negative Thoughts:

YOU SAY GOD SAYS BIBLE VERSES
You say: ‘It’s impossible’ God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27 NIV)27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:27
You say: ‘I’m too tired’ God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
You say: ‘Nobody really loves me’ God says: I love you (John 3:16 NIV)16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
You say: ‘I can’t go on’ God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15 NIV)II Corinthians 12:9

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Psalm 91:15

15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
You say:  ‘I can’t figure things out’ God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6)5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
You say: ‘I can’t do it’ God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13 NIV)I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
You say: ‘I’m not able’ God says: I am able (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV)8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
You say: ‘It’s not worth it’ God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 NIV)28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
You say: ‘I can’t forgive myself’ God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1 NIV)1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness

Romans 8:1

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
You say: ‘I can’t manage’ God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)New International Version (NIV)

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
You say: ‘I’m afraid’ God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7)New International Version (NIV)

7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
You say: ‘I’m always worried and frustrated’ God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7 NIV)7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
You say: ‘I’m not smart enough’ God says: I give you wisdom (James 1:5 NIV)If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
You say: ‘I feel all alone’ God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5b NIV)God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
Jul23

God’s Limitless Love

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If you ever find it difficult to comprehend the vastness of God’s love for you, He has placed a constant reminder in the beauty of the heavens. Lift your eyes from your daily grind and earthly concerns. Take a moment to gaze at God’s handiwork in the sky. Hear the whispers of His limitless love and embrace the truth of His eternal faithfulness to you.  Understand that His great love is for everyone…including you.

As surely as the sun rises and sets each day, His boundless love for you continues into eternity.

  • “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:11
Jul10

Dear Child of God…

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Dear Child of God~

 “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. 

  I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. 
   When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place, 
   it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God, 
   The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you…
That’s how much you mean to me! 
   That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, 
   trade the creation just for you.”

“So don’t be afraid: I’m with you.”

With My Unfailing Love,

                Your Heavenly Father

Isaiah 43:1b – 5a (MSG)

Feb16

A Love Letter From God

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Feb13

True Love

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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.

Feb12

The Definition of Love

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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!