Tag Archives: God’s Love

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

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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

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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?

Complaint and Contentment Series – Part 3: Dodge the Urge

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Complaining is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. (Which is ironic, because I certainly do it
enough.) Seriously, does anyone enjoy hanging out with a complainer? I don’t think so. But we
can all slip in to that mindset. So how do we dodge the urge to share our woes with whoever
will listen?

One way we dodge the urge to complain is by remembering the negative impact it can have on others.

Here are four good reasons to dodge the urge to complain:

Complaining causes De-joy. (vs. En-joy) I can be having a great day, and thinking
things are going well, and someone can gripe about the food, or the weather, or how
things are being managed, or about another person, and suddenly my mind is drawn to
what is wrong instead of what is right. Negative words are toxic– they dissolve our joy.
Complaining causes Dis-content. Once my mind is engaged in seeing the negative
instead of the positive, I start to notice the negative more and more. I am caught in a
whirlpool of unhappy thoughts that can spiral down into depression, hopelessness,
resentment and self-pity.
Complaining causes De-struction. Complaining can destroy your attitude and devastate
your relationships. The more you complain, the more it infects your mind with negative
thoughts, destroying your attitude. And the more you complain, the less meaningful
relationships you will have because:
Complaining causes Dis-trust. Not only to people dislike listening to complainers, they
distrust them. “If she complains about that person to me, what is she saying about me to
them?”

Jesus said “It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that
come out of your mouth.” Matthew 15:11 NLT

Are you fighting the temptation to complain? Dodge the urge by remembering what your
negative words can cause: de-joy, dis-content, de-struction, dis-trust.

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

Click below to read other posts in this series on “Complaint and Contentment:”

Complaint and Contentment Series – Part 1: Complaining

Complaint and Contentment Series – Part 2: From Bitter to Better

Complaint and Contentment Series – Part 4: 10 Tips to Overcome Complaining

Beloved

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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

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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

Sharing the Joy of Faith: Life-Giving Rain

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Today’s post is provided by guest blogger, Chris Lawson. Thanks, Chris!

Sharing the Joy of Faith Life-Giving Rain

by Chris Lawson

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what is not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

The summer of 2016, when I was recovering from surgery, I could only make it to the bottom of this mountain. Each day, I would get a little farther. My husband walked with me and encouraged me. I remember one day, I got to the top, and even made it around the turn. I had to send him down to get the car, to come up and get me. He was so patient and loving.

God is the same way with us. Our faith sometimes feels covered with fog, but the Son comes and breaks through the clouds and even turns them into life-giving rain in the far distance.

Prayer: Dear Father, Thank you for reaching out to us when we are frail and beg for healing. You are such a good Father. Help us to keep the faith and believe in healing and most of all to believe in Your will for us to heal. Help us to look beyond what we see as impossible to see Your Possible, to be able to experience the witnessing of Your Glory. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

Love Is… Part 4: Sunrays

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Here are a few more sunrays about love, God’s love:

Love Is… Part 3: Sunrays

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Love Is… Part 3: Sunrays

by Lydia Floren

Here are a few sunrays about love, particularly God’s love.

I Love You

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I Love You, by Lydia Floren

“I love you.” God says these three words to us over and over again, every single day. He did it yesterday, and He’s doing it right now. He’ll keep on doing it, tonight and tomorrow and the day after that. But just because He is saying “I love you,” doesn’t mean we hear it, or that the meaning of those words sink in.

Our hearts have to be tuned in, to listen for that sweet message.

How God says “I love you”

God’s “I love you” might be a beautiful song, a stunning sunset, the encouraging words of a friend. He may say “I love you” through a great conversation, a belly laugh, a good night’s sleep. Or, an “aha” moment when a truth strikes home. Sometimes, He just whispers “I love you” in the stillness of our minds. And if we ask, he will help us to understand just what that means.

This is a little conversation I had with God recently:

“I love you.”

Thank you. But what do You mean when you say “I love you”? And why does it matter?

I

I am the most powerful being in the universe. I made up love. I define it. I am only good. There’s no evil in me at all. I am patient, kind, faithful, generous–and present. I created you, and everything else in this world, and beyond. I wanted you with me always, and I sacrificed greatly to make this possible. I know everything. I am the only person that will ever completely know, and unreservedly love, you. I see you now, exactly as you are.

I love you.

Love

I cherish you. I enjoy your company. I want the best for you. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. I see exactly what’s going on, and I’m guiding you. I’ve got your back. I’m providing for you. I’m healing your heart from the faulty thinking that has kept you in bondage. And, I’ve already forgiven every wrong thing you have done, and will do, to me. I adopted you. I respect you, and I am protecting you.

I love you.

You

You are my precious creation. Before you were even born, I chose all the qualities that would make you uniquely yourself. And that hole in your heart? That is an incompleteness that can only be filled by me. And I am filling that hole. You belong with me. You are wanted. You are loved. You are my beloved child.

I love you.

LOVE

YOU.

I LOVE YOU.

I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3