Sometimes it's easy to rest in the knowledge that this is not my final home; that this aching, this longing is as it should be.
It's what keeps me searching and yearning for you, oh God.
Many days though, God, I need your help to choose contentment, to understand that it is your Spirit residing in me that completes me here.
That's what keeps me yearning and searching for ways to show you, oh God, to others.
Friday, June 13, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
identified by Christ's love
I do not want to be identified or defined by what I am against, but by the showing of the characteristics of the One who saved and forgave me.
I will not be effective in showing anyone the path to acknowledgement of and forgiveness for sin if I do not first feel the Father's love for them.
Think of the sin that most offends you in others. Are you, am I, being asked to pray for, intercede for, plead for those who struggle with and/or give in to that sin? Do you, do I, love them enough, even as Christ loves them, to sacrifice yourself, to sacrifice myself, for them?
I will not be effective in showing anyone the path to acknowledgement of and forgiveness for sin if I do not first feel the Father's love for them.
Think of the sin that most offends you in others. Are you, am I, being asked to pray for, intercede for, plead for those who struggle with and/or give in to that sin? Do you, do I, love them enough, even as Christ loves them, to sacrifice yourself, to sacrifice myself, for them?
Monday, January 13, 2014
love
Does someone else's sins take away my salvation? Does someone else's sins even threaten my salvation?
I am saved because I accepted Christ's sacrifice for my sake, for my sins.
You are saved because you accepted Christ's sacrifice for your sake, for your sins.
Your choices or sins, even the ones you don't acknowledge as sins, cannot take my salvation from me.
My choices or sins, even the ones I don't acknowledge as sins, cannot take your salvation from you.
I am first commanded to love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind. Then I am commanded to love my neighbor as myself. (Matthew 22:37-39)
If I cannot love my neighbor as myself because I do not love myself then I need to immerse myself in the Lord my God, my Creator in order to see myself as he sees me. If I do not choose to love that person whose behavior or lifestyle offends me or goes against God's commandments, love them as myself, then I am not worthy to do anything about it. I cannot even confront them about their sins or talk to others about it. If I am unable to love them, I must go to God for help with the "log" in my eye.
God, show me how to love you with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind.
God, show me how to love myself as you love me, so that I can love my neighbor, my brother, my sister as you love them.
God, help me first to love so that I am worthy to be used by you to show others your Light, your Word, your Life.
Oh God, use this weak and broken vessel, that is only made whole by your forgiveness, grace and love, to show others love, forgiveness and grace.
I am saved because I accepted Christ's sacrifice for my sake, for my sins.
You are saved because you accepted Christ's sacrifice for your sake, for your sins.
Your choices or sins, even the ones you don't acknowledge as sins, cannot take my salvation from me.
My choices or sins, even the ones I don't acknowledge as sins, cannot take your salvation from you.
I am first commanded to love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind. Then I am commanded to love my neighbor as myself. (Matthew 22:37-39)
If I cannot love my neighbor as myself because I do not love myself then I need to immerse myself in the Lord my God, my Creator in order to see myself as he sees me. If I do not choose to love that person whose behavior or lifestyle offends me or goes against God's commandments, love them as myself, then I am not worthy to do anything about it. I cannot even confront them about their sins or talk to others about it. If I am unable to love them, I must go to God for help with the "log" in my eye.
God, show me how to love you with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind.
God, show me how to love myself as you love me, so that I can love my neighbor, my brother, my sister as you love them.
God, help me first to love so that I am worthy to be used by you to show others your Light, your Word, your Life.
Oh God, use this weak and broken vessel, that is only made whole by your forgiveness, grace and love, to show others love, forgiveness and grace.
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