Do You Love Me?

 

 

"Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

It is an amazing concept that whatever we do to others, good or bad, we are doing to Jesus Himself. Our love and our commitment to God is demonstrated in how we treat others!

Are we kind or sharp tongued? Do we use our words to edify or do we use them to tear down? Do we take time to listen to the hurts of others or do we tune them out? Are we willing to lay down our agenda to lend a helping hand or do we find doing for others to be an interruption to our lives? Do we have a cheerful heart when we serve others or do we grumble and complain when we aren't recognized for our deeds? Are we quick to give when there is a need or do we hoard what we have rather than seeing that we are blessed to be a blessing?

The Scriptures are clear that God takes account of everything - down to EVERY idle word we speak! 

We are EXPECTED to exercise self control even when we are offended or irritated by another's actions. Why? Because when we don't we aren't being effective lights for Jesus in a dark world. We aren't representing Him correctly and ultimately we bring shame to His name. It's the love of God that leads men to repentance. If we can't love others with God's love, we cannot reach them for Christ.

"After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love You.”  “Then feed My lambs,” Jesus told him.  Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love You.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.  A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, You know everything. You know that I love You.”

Jesus said, “Then feed My sheep."

 

Our actions mirror our hearts. Is there enough evidence in how we treat others to convict us of being true lovers of Jesus? Jesus is asking us the same thing, "Do you love Me?"

(Matthew 25:31-45, Matthew 12:36, Matthew 5:14-16, Genesis 12:1-3, 2 Cor 9:8-12, 1 Cor 13, Prov 12:25, Prov 19:17, Prov 25:11, Eph 4:32)

Peace

 

 

Abuse endured by another?  Life is a roller coaster that never comes to a halt.  Cycle of confusion spins so fast that contentment can never take root.  It may not leave outward bruises and scars, but the inward “soul scarring” is a pain that doesn’t just go away with a Band-Aid and time.

 

Or is it a battle  all your own?  The war of inward struggles and pain from past choices.  The guilt and torment of regret and sadness never lets up... a daily chokehold.  You are surviving but you are far from living.  Your day becomes about holding it together for the sake of hiding it from those around you, but inside you are far from okay.

 

Only the One who made us can restore us back to wholeness. In the midst of your raging storm, I pray you look to Him ~ where your release and your peace is found.

Peace

Crashing waves

Bruise my shore

Howling winds

Blow in once more

Torrential rains

Pelt my skin

Lightning bolts

Come again

Turbulent waters

Staggered stance

Cycle repeated

In this dying dance

 

Trembling knees

Strike the ground

Eyes glance up

To where help is found

 

An instant hush

The storm to cease

All at once

A soul at peace…

Fear

 

We are all well acquainted with the emotion that bears a choke hold.  It's ruthless.  It's torment.  It's an enemy to faith, a thief that robs you of life - imprisons you to a false reality. 

Anxiety, depression, doubt, worry, hurt, anger, sadness, low self esteem, unworthiness.  It comes disguised underneath many different emotions, but it all comes down to one thing:

 

FEAR.

 

The paralysis for some is the dread of what could happen years down the road, anxiety associated with an unpredictable economy, and for many it is the torment of what today, the next hour, the next minute will bring. 

"...fear has torment." 1 John 4:18a

Fear is not only an emotion, but a spiritual force. It is very similar to faith in that both have an unshakable belief in an unseen future. Fear trusts circumstances, natural predictions, the enemy's lies, and self.  Faith trusts God and what His Word says.  Fear is negative faith. 

 

Fear is an enemy of God.  It in essence rips Him of His lordship in our lives. We become self focused and not God focused.  We put our trust in the wisdom of man rather than in the power of God (1 Cor. 2:5).  We no longer see Him for Who He is and who He desires to be in our lives...  He solely becomes a gateway to Heaven, but in our day to day living He is diminished to a dusty figure placed on a shelf.   

God is love, and the Bible says that Perfect Love casts out fear.  God is THAT perfect love. 

 

"There is no fear in love (dread does not exist), but perfect love turns fears out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment.  He who is afraid has not fully experienced His perfect love." 1 John 4:18

Father, we want to know Your love... Your love is our freedom.  Your love removes shackles. Your love delivers us from all fear.  You are not what our circumstances look like. You are not what the latest trends define You as.  We commit to growing in the knowledge of who You truly are as defined in Your Word, and through that knowledge - growing in intimacy with You... We know that in experiencing that intimate love - fear has no more room in our lives. Thank You for Your love and the hope and peace it brings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uztHkNujb5o

"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4

Fly on the Wall

   

 

Remember times you have wanted to be a fly on the wall? ...to listen in and see what someone truly thought of you or if they even spoke about you at all?  Likewise, we have all had conversations that we dreaded anyone ever hearing or repeating.

God IS interested in what we are saying or not saying. Because of His omnipresence - (and I say this with absolutely no disrespect or to demean who God is) - He is a "fly on the wall" in our life.  He not only hears and sees what we are doing, but is keeping notes!

"Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name." Malachi 3:16

He loves it when we not only talk about Him, but OFTEN!

Notice the reciprocal of that Scripture:

"But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle, [empty, careless] word they speak. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37

The God of all creation is listening to us! May the conversation of our lives bring Him the glory He desires and deserves!

(Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 3:8, Psalm 19:14)

I AM

I feel Your breath within the breeze

I know You're breathing life in me

A shattered heart

Placed in Your hands

Putting my trust

in the Great I AM

Your loving voice

Calls out to me

"You shall know the Truth

and it will set you free."

 

You reveal to me

All who You are

"I AM your All in All

The Bright Morning Star

 

I AM Agape Love

My anger is slow

I AM the God of Compassion

Lover of your soul

 

I AM the Whisperer

That gently speaks to You

I AM Alpha and Omega

I came to make things new

 

I AM Mercy and Grace

Forgiver of your sins

I AM the Most High

I will stand in your defense

 

I AM your Comfort

Your Provider, Your Friend

A Faithful Father

My love never ends

 

I AM Wisdom

Your Shepherd, your Guide

I AM the God who sees

Every tear you've cried

 

I AM your Hiding Place

Your Rest, your Calm

I AM your Safe Shelter

From every storm

I AM your Hope

I AM Faithful and True
The Author of your life

Who came to deliver you

 

I AM the Bread of Life

The filler of your heart

The God of new beginnings

Who gives you a fresh start

 

I AM the Light of the world

The One to be revealed

I AM the Prince of Peace

I AM the God who heals

 

I AM your Redeemer

The only One who saves

The perfect Lamb of God

For you, is why  I came

 

I AM the Resurrection

I AM Absolute Truth

The Anointed and Chosen One

Who has chosen you

I AM the Vine

Living Water for your soul

Refreshing comes from Me

I AM the God who makes you whole"

Such depth to who You truly are

In awe – I humbly stand

My everything, my every need

Found in You,  the great I AM!

True Beauty

"We have to STOP agreeing with what the world has said about us while it exploits us: We are only as good as we are sexually desirable." ~Beth Moore

From early on, young girls are subliminally trained to "use what you've got to get what or who you want" ... For those who don't feel they measure up to what society portrays as a woman, life can be an ongoing body image struggle resulting in eating disorders and depression.  Sadly, life's goal becomes minimalized to squeezing into a size 0. 

This is NOT what the Lord intends for His daughters.  It is an ugly lie from the enemy that is embedded in us as women.  It has infiltrated us to the point of "normal" - where we don't even recognize how non-stop we are bombarded with it.  It is a clever decoy to keep us focused on everything but who we are called as women to be in Christ. 

Feeling beautiful, the need to feel beautiful is okay, but Hollywood does not define true beauty. 

"You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful." 1 Peter 3:4-5

Not only are we bombarded with "image based" worth, but men are seeing the very same thing and getting a warped sense of who a real woman really is, expecting us to live up to unattainable ideals.  Fact of the matter is, we ALL, men and women alike, are being deceived into a false reality all in order to keep us flesh conscious.  If the enemy can keep us there, we will not be walking in the spirit ~ where our true worth is found. 

"Perfect love casts out fear."  This whole issue is fear based.  Fear of not measuring up, fear of rejection, fear of being unwanted, fear of being second best...  I pray that we all can get to the point where we allow Christ's perfect love to penetrate every broken part so we can walk in wholeness ~ viewing ourselves the way He intended.

"But God told Samuel, "Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. I've already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7 MSG)