Category Archives: Finding God’s Love

There are many habits and strategies we can learn that help us draw nearer to the Lord. And sometimes finding Him simply involves an attitude shift.

how god speaks through the bible

How God Can Speak Through the Bible – First Things First Part 4

We’ve been talking about learning to listen to God. Here is an example of that.

Sometimes we fail. We mess up. We make bad decisions, and many times the heavy load we carry is the result of those choices. When we recognize this, we pile on self-condemnation—guilt and shame. But when we take time to listen, we don’t hear condemnation from God, but something far different:

Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.

Child come here. Put down that heavy load, and climb up in My lap and tell Me all about it. Receive the grace, the forgiveness I so want to give you, and let me release you from your worry. Quit accepting shame, and embrace the freedom-joy of My love once again. Just leave it to Me. I will help you know what to do as you move forward from here.

Take my yoke upon you and learn of me.

I will not only show you what to do now, but I will help you learn from this. I can teach you to be free of your compulsions, to see more of the world from My perspective, so you don’t make this same mistake twice. If you choose, My Holy Spirit will do this deep healing in your spirit.

For my load is easy, and my burden is light and you shall find rest for your souls.

It is so much easier–and more enjoyable–to follow Me when you aren’t carrying unnecessary burdens. The load I give you is quite simple: stay connected with Me. Don’t let anything get in the way of this connection, especially not your mistakes. Don’t let anything keep you from embracing the identity, value, belonging and calling I have given you.

When you stay connected with Me, you will be able to hear my voice and follow where I am leading you to go.

What has God been saying to you?

the cost of being with us is worth it to God

Worth It

When my husband Andrew and I started dating, we wanted to be together as much as possible, and went to great lengths sometimes to make it happen. We were both extremely busy physicians working in different parts of Orlando. Andrew was in residency at Florida Hospital in downtown, and I was practicing in a northern suburb called Altamont Springs. Many days I would hurry through my morning patients, jump in the car and drive downtown 20+ minutes or so to meet Andrew for lunch. I’d spent twice as much time in the car as I did with him. But it didn’t matter. To me, it was worth it just to see him for a few minutes in the middle of the day.

God loves us like that. He sacrificed a lot so that we could have access to Him. The cost—his son’s life–was worth it to Him. We were, and are, worth it. Hebrews 12:2 says “Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

The more we experience God’s love, the more we want to spend time with Him. His love draws us like a moth to a flame.

Do you know—really know—just how much God loves you? Are you aware of His desire to spend time with you, just to be with you? And how much it cost Him so that could happen? What can you do to stay more aware, more grateful for this love?

our loving father

Our Loving Father

As my boys were growing up, I remember having this thought over and over again: it can’t get any better than this. This is the perfect age (ok maybe not at 15). I would want to just freeze that place in time and stay there. Yet now my sons are all grown, and I wouldn’t trade this present time with them for any other. It is wonderful to know them as fully independent adults, discovering and enjoying life in the unique way every human being does. And it is awesome that they allow me to be a part of it.

God loves us like this. He is not waiting until we grow up or become “good enough” before He loves us and appreciates us. He delights in each part of our journey, and enjoys us most where we are right now. He does challenge us to grow, but doesn’t expect more of us than our maturity can handle.

Do I make mistakes? Misbehave? Rebel? Have an attitude? Think I know more than my Loving Parent? Of course I do. Too often.

But God’s grace is amazing, and His arms always open to love and forgive and restore.

The Choice Belovedlove Lydia Floren

The Choice

 

I’m messed up.

You are too.

 

We have weaknesses

Secrets

Scars

Fears

Blind spots.

 

God is aware.

He accepts us

in the middle of all our mess.

He knows us better than we know ourselves.

And He loves us more than we can comprehend,

So much so that He sacrificed dearly

so that He could lead us out of our confusion,

and into freedom and joy.

 

When we come to Him we are needy.

We’ve realized we can’t free ourselves from our dark tangle.

With one word, one costly Word, He erases all of our past wrongs.

even though we may repeat them (or already have).

He releases us

And then He reaches out to step alongside Him.

Will we accept His strength, His love?

Or will we turn away,

shutting our ears to our shouting need?

 

It isn’t easy to follow His way.

It takes hard work, persistence, perseverance

to shed the shackles that have long imprisoned us.

But we are not alone. And we are not on our own.

We do this together with Him.

Guided by Him.

Empowered by Him.

 

And the joy, the joy eclipses the pain.

The joy of belonging. Of being wanted, treasured.

Of understanding that we have a purpose. And make a difference.

The joy of knowing, to the depth of our souls

that we are loved–loved as we have always longed to be.

That joy is worth everything.

 

Where are you?

Are you just starting out?

Are you stuck in a pit of your own making?

Have you lost your way?

 

Right now, wherever you are,

God is there.

He knows

everything.

His eyes shine with a penetrating love that almost lifts you off your feet.

His hand reaches out to yours.

 

He’s made His choice.

 

What will yours be?

 

sunset over water, with words "Be still and know that I am God"

Be Still and Know that I Am God

Be still and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

In the swirl and stress of daily living, God often uses these 8 words to restore my soul.

“Be still and know that I am God.”

The simple acts of being and knowing, free us from the Twilight Zone of Anxiety, the Abyss of Never Enough.

“Be still and know that I am God.”

Be.

  • Just be.
  • Be aware of being alive. Appreciate that you have a beating heart, and air to breathe.
  • Settle into the truth that
    • You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
    • You are wanted. Treasured. Valued. Loved.
    • You are known and you are loved.

Be still.

  • Just stop. Rest. Take a breath. Or two. Be still.
  • Be still on the inside, as well as the outside.
  • Release all those thoughts swirling around in your head.
  • Take your mind off your responsibilities, your concerns, those things in your head that are nagging you.
  • Let go right now, and just be still.

And know.

  • Let truth sink in.
  • Be aware of what is real, and what is not.
  • What is beyond seeing and understanding—and is in the realm of just knowing.

Know that I

  • Know the Person who made you,
  • Who knows you better than you know yourself.
  • Who loves you with an everlasting love, which is in no way dependent on what you do or don’t do.
  • Who lives within you.
  • Who has your back.
  • Who has shown, and will show you how to live.
  • Who will never steer you wrong.
  • Who goes after you when you stray—deliberately or unintentionally–and brings you back to the path of life and joy.
  • Who restores your soul, leads you into the light and away from the darkness.
  • Who will never leave you or reject you.
  • Who keeps you safe—protects your identity, value, belonging and calling—for all eternity.

Know that I am God.

Know that this person–your heavenly father, your friend, your one and only guide in life, your creator—is God.

He is God.

He is

  • 100% good.
  • The most powerful being in the universe.
  • Wise
  • Trustworthy
  • Present
  • Compassionate
  • Understanding
  • Forgiving
  • Non condemning
  • Full of life and joy
  • Available
  • Ready to show you a better way to live
  • Committed to walking with you on that way.

“Be Still and Know that I AM GOD.”  Psalm 46:10

How has this truth changed your life?  Please share with us!

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

Preventive Maintenance

Sometimes my patients can try my patience.

Often a patient comes to see me only when they are very sick. They can’t figure out what is wrong, and how to get healthy again. So I do my best to diagnose the problem, but also try to look further, to see what may be behind the problem that affected their health in the first place.  And then I give my best advice on how to treat the illness. But I also try to say a few words about preventive maintenance. I encourage them to make some changes to improve their overall health, so they are less likely to get sick. To address the bigger issues that affect their ability to fight infection like diabetes, inactivity, overworking, extra weight, poor diet, lack of prevention.

Usually a patient will follow my recommendations for their acute illness, such as take the prescription, drink fluids, rest. But once he feels better, he sets aside the more serious issues. Often, I won’t see him in my office until the next illness strikes.

Preventive Maintenance for My Soul

If I am honest with myself, I can do the same thing, not so much with my physical health as with my spiritual health. I reach out to God with “fire alarm prayers,” but when things settle down ignore the preventive maintenance for my soul, those things that I do that keep my life more on an even keel.

It is so easy to chug along in life and neglect the soul-healing habits of my inner life that sustain my outer life. Reading God’s word, spending quality time with Him listening as well as talking, connecting with other believers—these things are preventive maintenance for my soul.

What habits of preventive maintenance for your soul have you developed? Are there any that have fallen by the wayside? What will you do to get back on track?

Where Do You Live?

When we moved to the small town of Florence, South Carolina, we bought a house in an established neighborhood. As we started to meet people, they would often ask where we lived. They didn’t just want to know what neighborhood we lived in, but which house in that neighborhood. Once someone realized which house we lived in they would almost always say “Oh, you live in the Whisenhunt house,” referring to the previous owners, whose last name was Whisenhunt. This happened so often that after awhile when someone asked me where we lived, I would just say “we live in the Whisenhunt’s old house.” Most times the person would smile and nod, and say something like “oh, that’s a great house.” 

 

One time I was at the checkout counter of a local store, buying a doorbell. When I handed my check to the clerk she glanced down at it, and then looked up, a big grin on her face.  “Oh,” she said, “I see from your address that you’re living in the Whisenhunt’s old house.”

John 8:31–32 says “If you abide in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

In the Greek, “abide” means to continue, dwell, remain. So abiding in God’s word, means to remain, or “continue to be present” in His word.  God’s word becomes our home, our safe place. The center of our lives.  

Abiding in His word means that we surround ourselves—our minds, hearts, spirits—with the words and truths of the Bible. We read it, memorize it, explore it in context. We talk about it, model our lives after it. When we do these things, the truths in God’s word sink deep down into us and becomes a part of us, influencing how we interact with others, and how we see the world.

Are you abiding in God’s word? Are you reading it regularly, reminding yourself of its truths?  Is it so much a part of you that it often in your thoughts?  

Take some time today to read the Bible–may be a long chapter, or only a few words.  Think about what you read. Write it down. Put it in your phone. Ask God to show you new insights from the passage, and how to apply it in your life.

Get so comfortable in God’s word that you feel at home there. As you do, it will change you. And it will bless those around you.

By Lydia Floren

the best kind of love is already yours

The Best Kind of Love is Already Yours

Last week I shared a reflection thanking God for the love He has for me.

Being loved by God is such a mystery. A gift. I’ve written on this before, to try to understand it for myself and in hope that you might understand it better, too.

Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I love you with an everlasting love.” Do you need a reminder of what it means when God says “I love you”?

Or perhaps your heart would be refreshed if you reread The Father’s Love Letter by Barry Adams.

Psalm 23 is a chapter that helps me to remember the peace and protection that come from being loved by God, so I created a bracelet to wear when I need a reminder.

God loves you, not just on February 14th, but every month and every day. His love is yours for the taking – you just need to remember to lay claim to it. What can you do this week to re-open your eyes to God’s love for you?

Beloved

Thank You that I am Your beloved. That You love me. You treasure my company, care about every detail of my life.  You want the very best for me.

Thank You for Your love.

Your love shines light into my soul. It illuminates my identity, my value, my belonging, my calling. It frees me to be completely myself and liberates me from false beliefs and destructive habits of thought and action that keep me from being fully myself, the person You created and love.

Thank you.

Your love settles me, and gives me peace and rest. It empowers me to do what I cannot do on my own. Your perfect love casts out all fear. You keep me safe.

Thank you.

You are love. You created it. Define it. Embody it.  You protect me. Cherish me. Heal me. Refresh me. Lead me. Teach me to love others in my own unique way. You accompany me every minute of every day in my journey through life. Showing me more and more about what it means to be loved. And what it means to love.

Thank You. For being You. And encouraging me to be me.

Fully myself. Fully Your child.

Beloved.

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.  Psalm 36:7

I trust in your unfailing love. Psalm 13:5

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love.  Zephaniah 3:17

Light in the Darkness – Light Series Part 3

A little while ago I talked about my struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder and the role of light therapy in helping to overcome that. Well, for the past few weeks I have been able to take advantage of the Ultimate Light Therapy—the sun. I’ve been in Florida, and am due to go back to Wisconsin shortly. It is amazing how being in the bright sunshine day after day has changed me. I actually feel more like myself than I have in a long time. And I actually feel tanked up, and ready to return to below 0 temperatures and piles of snow. I have had such a good dose of sunshine that I think it will see me through until the return of the long and beautiful days that make up a Wisconsin summer.

Isaiah 60:19 says “No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.”

The more time we spend in God’s presence, the less our circumstances affect us. He helps us to see things, even hard things, from His point of view. And His light shines brighter and brighter in our hearts. So bright that in carries over into our darkest days.

Have you been spending time in the bright light of God’s presence?

 

This is the third post in my series on light. Click below to read the previous posts in this series:

The Power of Light

Light to See