Love Before Its Too Late
Usually I write my blog based on Biblical principals God has laid on my heart, but this blog is something that I just had to get out. I have been feeling saddened lately. I tend to be so compassionate toward people at times that when something saddens them it also saddens me. Lately I have had many friends lose loved ones brothers, grandparents, friends, etc. it seems in the past two weeks that every time I turn around someone is has lost someone again. I know that these people will see their loved ones again if they were saved and that the ones who have passed on are in a better place but it still hurts for the people left behind. Whether it hurts because they will miss them or because they feel like they didn’t do enough to show they loved them, it doesn’t matter the hurt is still there. No matter what we are always going to miss people when they are gone, but we don’t have to have the torment of wondering if we loved them enough and showed every chance we got. Its time to slow down the pace of life. Enjoy it. And love unconditionally all those we come in contact with. No matter how young or how old someone is we never know what tomorrow holds. Walk in love and do it always. Never leave or go to sleep angry and never stop loving. Love is a miraculous thing. It heals and brings happiness and smiles. It lifts spirits and bestows confidence. LOVE NEVER FAILS!!!!! So NEVER FAIL TO LOVE!!!!!!!
“For LOVE is as STRONG as DEATH” ~Song of Solomon 8:6b
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Love is the best...
For this blog I just wanted to let you guys read the devotion that I read this morning. It was very powerful for me especially the second paragraph but I will type the whole thing because it is worth reading. It is titled "Love is best when God is first".
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart." Matthew 22:37
"Loving your spouse more than you love God is a form of idolatry. Far too many marriages suffer from this inversion. It places a created thing higher than the Creator. God should always be the first and primary object of our affection. He created us to love Him, and something unexplainably beautiful happens when we direct all of who we are at delighting in all of who He is. It is proper worship of the One who is worthy."
"If love is the greatest thing you can do, Then loving with all you are is the greatest expression you could ever make. Furthermore, if God is the greatest object of love, then awaken to the priceless purpose you have been given. You are wired, commanded, and invited to do the greatest thing, in the greatest way, for the greatest One. There is no higher calling. Yours is the most important over all of creation because you have been made in His image and are uniquely designed to express love in ways the rest of creation cannot."
"Embrace this eternal privilege. Let every breath be an opportunity to learn how to better love the God who first loved you."
guys, i know that the blogs i am writing probably seem repetitve but I read these devotions and feel a closeness to God that helps me to go throughout my day with his love working through me and enjoy it. I don't worry as much and everything seems easier in the world. I know this place is a bad place but understanding the vastness and depth of God's love has been an amazing journey for me that I am continuing on. I feel his love every time I write you guys about it and I love that feeling. i hope that you guys are not getting bored with what I am saying. It is just what God is showing me and i am sharing withyou. I love you all and i am so blessed to have each one of you for different reasons. Thank you for everything.
Love you,
Rachel
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart." Matthew 22:37
"Loving your spouse more than you love God is a form of idolatry. Far too many marriages suffer from this inversion. It places a created thing higher than the Creator. God should always be the first and primary object of our affection. He created us to love Him, and something unexplainably beautiful happens when we direct all of who we are at delighting in all of who He is. It is proper worship of the One who is worthy."
"If love is the greatest thing you can do, Then loving with all you are is the greatest expression you could ever make. Furthermore, if God is the greatest object of love, then awaken to the priceless purpose you have been given. You are wired, commanded, and invited to do the greatest thing, in the greatest way, for the greatest One. There is no higher calling. Yours is the most important over all of creation because you have been made in His image and are uniquely designed to express love in ways the rest of creation cannot."
"Embrace this eternal privilege. Let every breath be an opportunity to learn how to better love the God who first loved you."
guys, i know that the blogs i am writing probably seem repetitve but I read these devotions and feel a closeness to God that helps me to go throughout my day with his love working through me and enjoy it. I don't worry as much and everything seems easier in the world. I know this place is a bad place but understanding the vastness and depth of God's love has been an amazing journey for me that I am continuing on. I feel his love every time I write you guys about it and I love that feeling. i hope that you guys are not getting bored with what I am saying. It is just what God is showing me and i am sharing withyou. I love you all and i am so blessed to have each one of you for different reasons. Thank you for everything.
Love you,
Rachel
Monday, February 8, 2010
Love is a VERB.
This statement is something that has been stuck in my mind for days. I have thought about... and thought about it... and thought about it some more. I have started a new devotional. One of the first things that it said in the introduction was that "Love is a decision, not just a feeling". After I read those words I considered this for a while. Then I thought about how we use the word love in our language. We say things like I love you or He really loves her. When we use it in this way we are saying that it is an action. Something that is communicated from one person to another. Love is a journey. The desire outcome is that we show love to one another even when we don't feel like it .
When we think of love we think of our heart, but the funny thing is that Jeremiah 17:9 tells us "the heart is more deceitful than anything else". Maybe we should think of love as something that we do with our head by choice and not just something that we do because it feels right at the moment.
I could say so many more things but right now I will leave you with this something I learned about Saturday. Love is life's motivator. "For Christ's love compels us..." 2 Corinthians 5:14
Paul endured beatings, persecution and hardships throughout his life. He did it because of Love. "Christ's love compelled him..."
Thank you Jesus for your loving Spirit that is in us. Let Your love flow from us each and everyday to all of the people we meet. I pray that you would give them hope, love and happiness just by coming in contact with us because you are flowing from us. I than you for everything that you are doing in me and I pray that You continue to work in me showing real love and making me a more loving person. I want love to be my default, my automatic response. I want love to always be on my lips so that i would be an encouragement to my family. Thank you Lord for your strength because without you I would be nothing. I am truly blessed and grateful for all that you are showing me. I love you and praise you. In Your Holy Son Jesus' name, Amen.
i know I said I was going to end this earlier but I got carried away in a moment. I will not apologize because it was a great experience. I will leave you now with the words to the chorus of one of my favorite songs, Warren Barfield's Love is not a Fight.
"Love is a shelter in a raging storm. love is a peace, in the middle of a war. And if we try to leave, may God send angels guard the door. No, love is not a fight, its something worth fighting for..."
This statement is something that has been stuck in my mind for days. I have thought about... and thought about it... and thought about it some more. I have started a new devotional. One of the first things that it said in the introduction was that "Love is a decision, not just a feeling". After I read those words I considered this for a while. Then I thought about how we use the word love in our language. We say things like I love you or He really loves her. When we use it in this way we are saying that it is an action. Something that is communicated from one person to another. Love is a journey. The desire outcome is that we show love to one another even when we don't feel like it .
When we think of love we think of our heart, but the funny thing is that Jeremiah 17:9 tells us "the heart is more deceitful than anything else". Maybe we should think of love as something that we do with our head by choice and not just something that we do because it feels right at the moment.
I could say so many more things but right now I will leave you with this something I learned about Saturday. Love is life's motivator. "For Christ's love compels us..." 2 Corinthians 5:14
Paul endured beatings, persecution and hardships throughout his life. He did it because of Love. "Christ's love compelled him..."
Thank you Jesus for your loving Spirit that is in us. Let Your love flow from us each and everyday to all of the people we meet. I pray that you would give them hope, love and happiness just by coming in contact with us because you are flowing from us. I than you for everything that you are doing in me and I pray that You continue to work in me showing real love and making me a more loving person. I want love to be my default, my automatic response. I want love to always be on my lips so that i would be an encouragement to my family. Thank you Lord for your strength because without you I would be nothing. I am truly blessed and grateful for all that you are showing me. I love you and praise you. In Your Holy Son Jesus' name, Amen.
i know I said I was going to end this earlier but I got carried away in a moment. I will not apologize because it was a great experience. I will leave you now with the words to the chorus of one of my favorite songs, Warren Barfield's Love is not a Fight.
"Love is a shelter in a raging storm. love is a peace, in the middle of a war. And if we try to leave, may God send angels guard the door. No, love is not a fight, its something worth fighting for..."
Friday, January 22, 2010
Love Conquers Fear
So I intended for my next blog to be about kindness since that is the next characteristic in I Corinthian 13, but as we all know our plans are not always God’s plan. In fact, in my life I have noticed that my plans hardly ever coincide but I try to listen to His plans so here goes. I know that dad has already talked about love and fear and a lot has been said about I John 4:18 so I am going to continue on that topic.
I was reading in my Bible today in I John and when I got to that verse I noticed that there was an extra letter in my Bible written by Lisa Bevere. So I am just going to type this letter for you guys to read. My Bible is a Women on Destiny Bible so the letter is written to women, but it is really for everyone.
Dear Woman of Destiny,
I warn you of an insidious force that stands between you and your destiny in Christ -- an adversary so strong it is capable of causing reason and wisdom to flee as it drives to the brink of unbelief. Our deadly opponent is fear. Fear is not a mental state of mind or a bad attitude. It is a spirit, it is not from God(see 2 Tim. 1:7).
It is sent by the enemy to torment your soul and defile your human spirit. It is after your power, love, and soundness of mind. It is empowered to the degree that you yield to its deception. Imaginary fears can become real if you believe in them. Even the most unfounded ones can alter the course of our lives and, in turn, change our destiny.
But, dear sister, you are not defenseless in this matter. God has provided a strong tower, a shelter of protection and defense from you enemy. There is a haven that fear cannot inhabit. There is no greater protection afforded you than to live in God’s love while the love of God resides in you. It is here that you are hidden and inaccessible to the enemy. First John 4:18 tells us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
The love of God drives or casts out fear. This description confirms that fear is a spiritual force that must be dealt with spiritually. We are to cast out spirits and deny our flesh. Fear is conquered when we resist the base human tendency to preserve ourselves.
The spirit of fear wants to prevent this from happening, so it tries to trick us into believing that we must protect our selves. But the very of nature of love opposes the nature of fear. Love lays down its life while fear tries to preserve it. I have learned that I am incapable of protecting myself. I have tried and failed. But love never fails.
Fear and love both operate from belief in the unseen. Love challenges us to doubt what we see and believe what we cannot. Fear urges us to believe what is seen while doubting the unseen. Fear displaces love, and love casts out fear. Fear is the spiritual force that is in direct opposition to God’s love and protection in our lives.
Jesus conquered the greatest fear any of us will face -- the fear of death. As our High Priest, He was moved with compassion by our weaknesses and understood not only the fear of death, but all out fears. By victoriously facing the greatest fear (death), He conquered all lesser fears and their bondages. This victory over fear, death, and the grave was won when He laid down His life as the supreme example of perfect love.
Woman of Destiny, escape the clutch of fear. Lovingly lay down your life and embrace His.
-- Lisa Bevere
I know this is long but I know it was worth it for me and if I am the only one it reaches then it was worth it to me to type it, but maybe you will take something from it so I figured I would share it with you. I love you all very much. I am going long so I will stop for now. I do have much more I want to say though so I will not be gone long.
I have one more quick thought when I started talking about love in the first blog I went straight to I Corinthians 13:4, but I skipped three very important verses by doing this. I will not type all of them right now but I think that that is the point of why the spirit of fear attacks us. These verses basically say that all of the power and gifts are not worth anything without love. If the spirit of fear can move us away from love we have nothing.
Be filled with Love to the brim so there is no room for fear to move in.
May God’s Love fill us always,
Rachel
I was reading in my Bible today in I John and when I got to that verse I noticed that there was an extra letter in my Bible written by Lisa Bevere. So I am just going to type this letter for you guys to read. My Bible is a Women on Destiny Bible so the letter is written to women, but it is really for everyone.
Dear Woman of Destiny,
I warn you of an insidious force that stands between you and your destiny in Christ -- an adversary so strong it is capable of causing reason and wisdom to flee as it drives to the brink of unbelief. Our deadly opponent is fear. Fear is not a mental state of mind or a bad attitude. It is a spirit, it is not from God(see 2 Tim. 1:7).
It is sent by the enemy to torment your soul and defile your human spirit. It is after your power, love, and soundness of mind. It is empowered to the degree that you yield to its deception. Imaginary fears can become real if you believe in them. Even the most unfounded ones can alter the course of our lives and, in turn, change our destiny.
But, dear sister, you are not defenseless in this matter. God has provided a strong tower, a shelter of protection and defense from you enemy. There is a haven that fear cannot inhabit. There is no greater protection afforded you than to live in God’s love while the love of God resides in you. It is here that you are hidden and inaccessible to the enemy. First John 4:18 tells us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
The love of God drives or casts out fear. This description confirms that fear is a spiritual force that must be dealt with spiritually. We are to cast out spirits and deny our flesh. Fear is conquered when we resist the base human tendency to preserve ourselves.
The spirit of fear wants to prevent this from happening, so it tries to trick us into believing that we must protect our selves. But the very of nature of love opposes the nature of fear. Love lays down its life while fear tries to preserve it. I have learned that I am incapable of protecting myself. I have tried and failed. But love never fails.
Fear and love both operate from belief in the unseen. Love challenges us to doubt what we see and believe what we cannot. Fear urges us to believe what is seen while doubting the unseen. Fear displaces love, and love casts out fear. Fear is the spiritual force that is in direct opposition to God’s love and protection in our lives.
Jesus conquered the greatest fear any of us will face -- the fear of death. As our High Priest, He was moved with compassion by our weaknesses and understood not only the fear of death, but all out fears. By victoriously facing the greatest fear (death), He conquered all lesser fears and their bondages. This victory over fear, death, and the grave was won when He laid down His life as the supreme example of perfect love.
Woman of Destiny, escape the clutch of fear. Lovingly lay down your life and embrace His.
-- Lisa Bevere
I know this is long but I know it was worth it for me and if I am the only one it reaches then it was worth it to me to type it, but maybe you will take something from it so I figured I would share it with you. I love you all very much. I am going long so I will stop for now. I do have much more I want to say though so I will not be gone long.
I have one more quick thought when I started talking about love in the first blog I went straight to I Corinthians 13:4, but I skipped three very important verses by doing this. I will not type all of them right now but I think that that is the point of why the spirit of fear attacks us. These verses basically say that all of the power and gifts are not worth anything without love. If the spirit of fear can move us away from love we have nothing.
Be filled with Love to the brim so there is no room for fear to move in.
May God’s Love fill us always,
Rachel
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Love is Patient
I have been thinking alot about God's love for some time now. Ever since I watched the movie Fireproof. After watching the movie, I decided to do The Love Dare. I didn't do it because my relationship with my husband was in turmoil because but because I knew it could be better, but along the journey i learned way more than I bargained for. God shows us things when we least expect it.
When we think about love and the Bible, we often think about I Corinthians 13. In this chapter love is described in many ways, by many different characteristics. The first characteristic we see is Patience. In my Bible which is the NKJV Spirit filled Life Bible, it says LOVE SUFFERS LONG. Being patient is so much more than holding your temper in certain situations or waiting for something to happen. Patience is suffering and not for a short time but for a long time. It is as if Patience is being a martyr.
A martyr is someone who loves God unconditionally as HE loves us and does not sway from that. They are willingto give up everything for Him, to SUFFER just for HIS name alone. If that is not showing love then i don't know what is.
Patience isn't jumping front of a bullet and then dying quickly because you were protecting someone, it is jumping in front of a knife and dying a slow death just to save the one you love. This may seem a morbid example, but when I think of suffering this is the most vivid picture that comes to mind. When some people think of suffering they might think of waiting an extra thirty minutes for lunch after they skipped breakfast but this is not the kind of suffering that the Bible speaks of.
When the Bible describes love and its first words are long suffering. It is speaking of Jesus and His unconditional love that he would cry out so desprately to God in the Garden the night before his death that He would bleed drops of blood and then be betrayed by one of His own and even then still love him. The next day, He was beaten in a manner that most of us can not even think about without shedding tears and He still carried the cross to the mountain and was nailed to it raised up and mocked. Not to mention watching His own mother stand before Him in tears as she watched him die. Jesus suffered every form of death. He did all for us and why because He loved us so much and had so much patience with us and our misgivings and sin that He refused to just let us die. Even after everything we had done He wanted us to live and to live forever.
Next time you start to feel that temper rise up, remember that it is from Satan and He knows not love. he would never suffer for you. He wants you to suffer for him. Jesus never asked this of us. Instead, He took it upon himself.
Okay so this is alot to think about and it is just my thoughts. if you disagree that is fine. I am always open to conversation and new enlightenment to things that maybe i do not understand. You are welcome to comment.
I Love You and I do not take Love lightly anymore. May God Bless You in Everything You do.
Rachel
When we think about love and the Bible, we often think about I Corinthians 13. In this chapter love is described in many ways, by many different characteristics. The first characteristic we see is Patience. In my Bible which is the NKJV Spirit filled Life Bible, it says LOVE SUFFERS LONG. Being patient is so much more than holding your temper in certain situations or waiting for something to happen. Patience is suffering and not for a short time but for a long time. It is as if Patience is being a martyr.
A martyr is someone who loves God unconditionally as HE loves us and does not sway from that. They are willingto give up everything for Him, to SUFFER just for HIS name alone. If that is not showing love then i don't know what is.
Patience isn't jumping front of a bullet and then dying quickly because you were protecting someone, it is jumping in front of a knife and dying a slow death just to save the one you love. This may seem a morbid example, but when I think of suffering this is the most vivid picture that comes to mind. When some people think of suffering they might think of waiting an extra thirty minutes for lunch after they skipped breakfast but this is not the kind of suffering that the Bible speaks of.
When the Bible describes love and its first words are long suffering. It is speaking of Jesus and His unconditional love that he would cry out so desprately to God in the Garden the night before his death that He would bleed drops of blood and then be betrayed by one of His own and even then still love him. The next day, He was beaten in a manner that most of us can not even think about without shedding tears and He still carried the cross to the mountain and was nailed to it raised up and mocked. Not to mention watching His own mother stand before Him in tears as she watched him die. Jesus suffered every form of death. He did all for us and why because He loved us so much and had so much patience with us and our misgivings and sin that He refused to just let us die. Even after everything we had done He wanted us to live and to live forever.
Next time you start to feel that temper rise up, remember that it is from Satan and He knows not love. he would never suffer for you. He wants you to suffer for him. Jesus never asked this of us. Instead, He took it upon himself.
Okay so this is alot to think about and it is just my thoughts. if you disagree that is fine. I am always open to conversation and new enlightenment to things that maybe i do not understand. You are welcome to comment.
I Love You and I do not take Love lightly anymore. May God Bless You in Everything You do.
Rachel
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